ItaliAbsolutely’s fam trip to Emilia Romagna and Marche hosted 40 buyers from all over the world.
Meetings with local stakeholders
The international guests were able to appreciate first-hand the beauty and authenticity of some off the beaten path locations and meet with local stakeholders. The variety of the products on offer and the networking sessions generated a lot of interest and new prospects for collaboration: "This fam trip with ItaliAbsolutely allowed me to get to know many places I had never been before. It was a real pleasure to take part in this tour in Emilia-Romagna and Marche, I saw many interesting things that I will share with my clients once I return, I will be sending many people here", said Armine Asatryan, of Harmony Travel and More, Los Angeles. "I’ve seen many new things that fit perfectly into my schedule. I have many Hungarian customers interested in visiting this area and now I can enrich my offer with all the places I have discovered,- said Péterné Dávid of Grosz Utazás kft, Hungary -The workshops were really interesting for us because we made contacts with local companies, from services to restaurants.”
“The visit to Gradara’s Castle was magnificent”
The buyers were impressed by the quality of the programme, which had a particular focus on some of the destinations visited, such as San Marino, Frasassi Caves, Gradara and Pesaro. “We have many karst caves in the Czech Republic, but the Frasassi Caves are really wonderful: they are different, they have limestone formations that stimulate the imagination with their myriad shapes,” said Emil Pulka of EMMA Agency. Jenny Rosenius of Tema Toscana, Sweden, told us: "Gradara amazed me, it is a truly fascinating medieval village. The visit to the castle was magnificent, and very engaging thanks also to the actors who played roles of Dante's characters Paolo and Francesca.” "Pesaro is one of the reasons why I chose to participate in this tour. It is an incredible city, with spectacular beaches, luxury hotels for families and solutions with every comfort, even for children, a factor that I seek out and appreciate. And I sell what I like.” was the opinion of Cynthia Espinosa of Cynthia Tours Travel, Madrid.
Networking with Western Sicily at Castle Benelli
After a welcome and networking evening at Castello Benelli, with the presentation of the Distretto Turistico Sicilia Occidentale the guests then met with incoming operators, visited Ferretti Hotels properties and took part in workshops with Italian and Emilia-Romagna DMCs. The programme included networking with the participation of the city of Messina at The Regent Boutique Hotel&Spa and Toscana Promozione Turistica at Villa I Tramonti. The tour organized by APT Servizi Emilia-Romagna, led by its general manager Emanuele Burioni, included a visit to the historic centre of Rimini, and ended with a lunch offered by Collina dei Poeti, a venue for weddings and events and a wine and olive oil producing farmhouse. They also had a guided visit to the Republic of San Marino.
A visit to Gradara’s Museum and meeting hoteliers in Pesaro
In Gradara in the Marche region the buyers were welcomed by Luca Baroni, director of the Marche Nord museum network, and they visited the castle. Then it was the turn of the coastal city of Pesaro, with an overnight in the Nautilus Family Hotel by Lindbergh Hotels. A UNESCO Creative City of Music, Pesaro is the birthplace of the composer Gioacchino Rossini, and has a seaside tradition and numerous cycle paths. At lunch in the Polo Restaurant in Pesaro, the travel agents met with the president of the Pesaro Hoteliers' Association, Marco Filippetti, and the owners of several local hotels.
Genga and the Frasassi Caves were much appreciated
The final stop of the fam trip was the area of Genga and the Frasassi Caves, presented by the marketing manager Sara Bonacucina. During their stay, the guests were welcomed at the Hotel Le Grotte and the Hotel Terme di Frasassi and they then visited the cave complex. The programme also included a visit to the Romanesque Benedictine Abbey of San Vittore delle Chiuse and the Speleo-paleontological and Archaeological Museum before arriving in Pierosara, a picturesque village overlooking the Frasassi and Rossa gorges, the neoclassical Valadier Temple, and the ancient hermitage of Santa Maria Infra Saxa. They then visited the Genga Museum of Art History which gave them an engaging perspective on the entire experience.
Thanking our Emilia Romagna and Marche partners
We would also like to thank, in alphabetical order: Amare Italia, Arcadia Tour Operator & DMC, Avire Viaggi, Bologna Welcome Incoming Travel Agency, Cesenatico Holidays, Egocentro/Atitur-Firmatour, Fair Winds Tour/Keys of Italy, Giratlantide, Incoming Gradara, Life in Tour by IF Imola Faenza Tourism Company, Modenatur Incoming Tour Operator & DMC, Parma Welcome Travel, Positive Tours, Promhotels Tour Operator Incoming & DMC, Ravenna Incoming & Visitors Bureau, San Marino Welcome DMC, Sognare Insieme Viaggi, Somewhere Tours, Studiowiki and Visit Rimini. Special thanks go to the GoOpti transfer service, responsible for all the transfers.
