Portrait Milano, one of the most recent and exciting additions to luxury hospitality in Milan, will soon be unveiling its brand-new wellness centre, the Longevity Spa.

An enlightened spa brand

The Longevity Spa is powered by one of the most advanced European biohacking and anti-age city clinics, The Longevity Suite.  This enlightened brand, born from the work of more than 20 years of research by the team of Dr. Massimo Gualerz, promotes integrated, high-performance, high-tech protocols that guide clients towards personal wellbeing through a perfect balance of health, conscious beauty, and mental energy. 

In the heart of Milan’s fashion district

Portrait Milano, part of the Ferragamo-owned Lungarno Collection, is located in one of Milan’s most fascinating secret spaces, the former Archiepiscopal Seminary, Europe’s oldest, and the world’s second largest, seminary. Accessed through an ornate Baroque gateway, the 5-star overlooks the city’s Piazza del Quadrilatero, which, at 32,000 square feet,  is the largest public square in Milan’s famous fashion district. 

The new sales & marketing manager for the Tuscan Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco is Angelo Vignola. 

A brilliant career with leading hotel groups

Having graduated in business administration from the Bocconi University in Milan, Angelo Vignola began his managerial career at the Chia Laguna Resort in Sardinia, going on to work with Eleganzia Hotels & Spas at the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia and Castel Monastero in Tuscany. More recently, he led the sales & marketing team in the role of director at the J W Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, then opening the Lungarno Collection's Portrait Milano. 

“Castiglion del Bosco best expresses the Rosewood philosophy”

"After many years in the wonderful world of hospitality, I have found a new family at Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco,- comments Vignola. -I am extremely proud to represent the resort on this fascinating estate with a history stretching back thousands of years. Castiglion del Bosco is a destination where culture, nature and elegance meet with authenticity, to and best express the philosophy around which the Rosewood brand revolves."

After two years under the management of Egnazia Ospitalità Italiana, the Santavenere Hotel in Maratea, owned by the Arsenale Group, enters The Leading Hotels of the World. 

Eight of the rooms have been restyled

Due to open in April with a new look, the result of renovations aimed at making some of the rooms even more elegant and comfortable, the Santavenere Hotel’s main innovations include the restyling of eight rooms in the large garden area, as well as the creation of a padel court.

“Maratea will be one of the most sought-after destinations this summer”

"Seeing the Santavenere become part of such a prestigious circuit is a source of great satisfaction for all of us,- says Egnazia's managing director, Aldo Melpignano. -We are delighted to be able to collaborate with Arsenale, and to reach together this important milestone that will carve the hotel's future path. We are certain that Maratea will be one of the most sought-after destinations this summer, as it is bound to conquer a prominent position in the panorama of Italian leisure tourism."

Expo Tuscia, a Destination Management Organisation (DMO) that brings together the territorial and entrepreneurial marketing of Southern Etruria in northern Lazio, involves public and private players in actions aimed at promoting an area with an appealing range of natural, cultural, archaeological and food and wine attractions.  A series of strategic objectives are being developed to attract new tourist flows, stretch the season and the length of stay by offering a diversified range of services and products.

vincenzo peparello"Ours is a constantly growing consortium," emphasized President Vincenzo Peparello. "We are expanding our base with new members ranging from hotels to non-hotels and from agritourism properties to the agri-food sector. We are the only DMO in the province that embraces the entire provincial territory of Southern Etruria,” he said.

For 2024, Peparello continued, there are plans to participate in various trade fairs such as the BIT in Milan and the BMT in Naples, while a press tour with workshops for Italian and global tourism professionals will be organized in Spring, presenting a series of themed tourist packages by product lines. "In addition, we are about to launch a bilingual sales promotion platform in English and Italian, targeting both individual Italian and international tourists. There will be a reserved area for professional operators, and while not offering intermediation we will offer a full range of services. It will be connected with other networks and platforms aimed at both individual and professional demand."

Expo Tuscia is one of the few DMOs in Lazio that covers different types of clusters with alternative and complementary products, as well as niche offers related to its culture and traditions, food and wine, says director Francesco Comolli. "For us, foreign markets are complementary to Italian demand. Northern European markets in particular are showing great interest in what we have to offer. Our product meets their needs for authentic and genuine experiences, food and wine, and hospitality."

Bluserena's summer 2024 sales are already open, and the Abruzzo-based company is adding new services to its resorts in Sardinia.

A new full all-inclusive service

With 12 resorts in Sardinia, Apulia, Calabria, Sicily and Abruzzo, Bluserena is preparing for the next high season. The Is Serenas Badesi Resort near Gallura in Sardinia, will be offering a full all-inclusive formula including drinks, cocktails, and unlimited snacks. And Prestige Room guests will also have an exclusive pool with a bar, as well as a reserved area with table service in the restaurant, and an exclusive check-in and check-out lobby. 

A 15% discount for holidays booked by 31 January

The Calaserena Resort in southern Sardinia will also start the 2024 season with some new features. In addition to the restyled public areas, the rooms have been refurbished, there are new suites and a brand new fitness and spa area. Summer holidays booked with Bluserena Hotels & Resorts by 31 January afford a 15% discount on the next summer stay.

SAS heads into summer 2024 with new Copenhagen-Genoa flights and more flights to Milan and Florence.

SAS’s Copenhagan-Genoa is a new entry for Italy

With a network of over 130 destinations in more than 40 countries, the Scandinavian carrier has added nine new destinations in Europe, including a new entry for Italy with the Copenhagen Genoa, which will be operated every Saturday.  "In addition to seamless connections to major cities and capitals, our summer operations offer new holiday destinations such as Genoa, Ibiza and Tivat,-  says chief revenue officer, Erik Westman. - In addition, we have increased capacity to destinations such as Malaga, Florence, Palma and Alicante.” 

Milan and Florence both get extra flights

Two more Italian cities, Milan and Florence will also have boosted services: Milan with four daily flights from Copenhagen, and Florence with daily flights to Florence.

Italy is suffering from a new and disturbing ailment: the Instagram-ization of travel. Last year this global phenomenon was aided and abetted by the White Lotus television series which was set in Portofino. The little town’s popularity soared to such levels that the mayor had to pass a law fining tourists up to $303 for "lingering" to take selfies at some of the best Instagram spots.  

As destinations scrambled to cope with crowds that threatened to engulf them, Italy hit a new record of 445 million visitors, and new regulations were introduced to combat overtourism, which is increasingly Instagram-driven. On the little islands of Lampedusa and Linosa, located between Sicily and North Africa, and on Procida in the Gulf of Naples, private tourist vehicles were banned.

In an earlier editorial we commented on how Venice - which last year attracted a staggering 68 million visitors – is introducing a day-tripper entrance fee and banning groups of over 25.  Sardinia too took stern measures last summer, limiting numbers on some of its most gorgeous beaches by forcing holidaymakers to make reservations. And - horror of horrors - making them pay in advance for their place in the sun.

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor