TOP NEWS

🏨 JLL's Global Hotel Investment Outlook projects a 15%-25% increase in global hotel investments by 2025 compared to 2024. Despite complex macroeconomic conditions, the hotel sector shows resilience with global demand reaching 4.8 billion overnight stays in November 2024, 102 million more than in 2023, and a 4% RevPar growth. While Asia-Pacific is 10% behind 2019 levels, Americas, Europe, and Middle East have fully recovered with RevPar growth between 17%-26%. In 2024, global hotel investment volumes hit $57.4 billion, a 7% rise from the previous year but below historic levels due to fewer portfolio transactions and smaller deal sizes. Italy saw €1.7 billion (around €2 billion including property conversions) invested in 2024, with luxury hotel conversions in markets like Rome being key transactions since 2019. The 2025 outlook anticipates a significant investment increase, driven by debt restructuring, investment plans for competitive upgrades, and exit timelines for recent private equity deals. Luxury and service sectors remain most attractive to investors, with increased foreign investment expected, particularly from the Middle East and American private investors targeting Europe and select U.S. cities.

🏖 In 2024, Italy's tourist balance recorded a surplus of €21.0 billion, a 5% increase in foreign tourist revenue and a 6% rise in Italian spending abroad. Foreign spending in Italy grew equally from EU and non-EU residents (5%), while Italians spent 8% more in the EU. Vacation travel constituted 63% of total income and 47% of Italian expenditure, with work travel at 27%. Accommodations in hotels, B&Bs, and similar establishments accounted for 43% of Italians' stays abroad and 41% for foreigners in Italy. Rental homes represented about 25% of overnight stays for both groups. 🏖️

🍷 Wine tourism in Italy grew by 24% in revenue in 2024, despite 81% of the 237 wineries surveyed by the Movimento Turismo del Vino and the Lumsa University's Ceseo reporting cost increases. Margins are significantly impacted, with 29% experiencing 5-10% hikes, 16% 10-25%, and 8% over 25%. Most are small businesses (64% micro, 31% small), with only 9% exceeding €2 million in annual turnover. Wine Hospitality expertise is present in 38% of wineries, though 66% of producers personally welcome visitors, and 90% offer local products. Environmental appeal is strong, with 43% certified organic and 38% following sustainable agriculture standards.

💰 Jfc's tourism research estimates that each tourist costs a municipality at least €3. Italian destinations face annual costs of at least €20 million, while medium-sized locations like Perugia or Siena may incur up to €7 million. The average cost to manage overtourism is €2.9 per guest per day, rising to €4.7 in Venice and at least €400,000 yearly for small municipalities. Cinque Terre's daily cost is €4.5 per visitor, and the Dolomites' "hit and run" tourism costs municipalities about €3.5 per visitor per day.

🏖️ Gianluca Caramanna, consigliere del Ministero del Turismo per i rapporti istituzionali, highlights the importance of travel agencies despite commercial desertification and digitalization. He emphasizes the need for personalized advice post-Covid and protection against European regulations on tour packages that may benefit large digital platforms. Caramanna advocates for tailored travel experiences and confirms government support for the sector's unique and reliable services.

🔐 In the hospitality sector, personal data management is vital during check-in, adhering to privacy regulations and ensuring legal compliance. Key regulations include the GDPR (effective 2018), explicit consent, the right to erasure, Italy's Privacy Code (Legislative Decree 196/2003), and guidelines from the Italian Data Protection Authority. Best practices for secure check-in involve minimal data collection, informed consent, and digital security. Advanced technologies like digital check-in platforms and electronic signatures enhance data protection. Self check-in and remote check-in systems offer privacy-compliant data collection, minimizing physical contact and errors. Ok Home exemplifies secure self check-in through personalized passwords, integrated privacy polices, and GDPR-compliant platforms. Self check-in and remote systems are seen as the future of hospitality, offering efficiency, convenience, and privacy respect.

🏖 The beach resort sector employs about 60,000 people and generates over €2 billion in revenue. Many beach establishments extend their services beyond the summer months by offering restaurants, sports equipment rental, and accommodation. To manage seasonal fluctuations, personnel shortages, service integration, multi-channel booking, and to improve customer loyalty, beach resorts increasingly rely on integrated management software and cloud-based cash register systems, which allow for mobility, software integration, automation, and integrated payments.

🍷 In Rome, at Palazzo Giustiniani, the first survey by Movimento Turismo del Vino and CESEO of Università LUMSA was presented, indicating a 13% annual growth in the enotourism sector. The survey analyzed 237 member wineries, revealing 53% reported revenue growth, with 24% experiencing double-digit increases. Despite this, 81% noted rising costs, significantly impacting 64% micro-enterprises and 31% small enterprises. Only 38% have specialized wine hospitality personnel, and 63% of visits are received by owners. Enotourism attracts families and nature lovers, with 26% offering electric car charging stations. Most wineries (68%) accept visitors without appointments, and 53% are open on Sundays. Digitalization remains a challenge, with only 20% using AI, mainly for digital communication (70%) and marketing (63%).

📖 During FUTURA 2025's second day, the Associazione Italiana Ambasciatori del Gusto (ADG) held its Soci Assembly at Grand Hotel Villa Torretta, reelecting Alessandro Gilmozzi as President and Mariella Caputo as Vice President. The ADG reinforced its commitment to enogastronomic tradition, innovation, sustainability, and artificial intelligence. The event spotlighted 18 new members and new strategic partners including Aquanaria and Terre D’Oltrepò. Key institutional activities of 2024 and future projects were discussed, with financial projections and membership fees for 2025 examined. The third and final day of the event will focus on technology, tradition, and innovation in Italian cuisine.

🏖 LOOP, the high-end tourism trade fair for the DACH market, will host LOOP MICE Spring (March 12-15) and LOOP Leisure Spring (March 15-19) in Puglia, Italy, at the renowned Borgo Egnazia. The event connects influential travel agencies and tour operators from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria with international luxury hotels and tourist brands. Astrid Oberhummer, Managing Director of Lobster Experience, highlights the commitment of Italian luxury brands to evolve and offer an exclusive platform for elite travel designers. The fair enables Italian brands to align with the luxury travelers' needs for authenticity and sustainability, vital for competitiveness in the evolving market. By 2025, Millennials and Gen Z will make up 45% of the luxury market, as per Bain & Company, emphasizing the need for brands to adapt and form strategic, long-term partnerships to boost bookings and revenue.