Italy is the second country of choice for French travellers this year. If the summer season saw a general increase in foreign and domestic tourist arrivals to Italy’s art cities and seaside resorts, it also brought renewed French interest, following the encouraging results of 2021 (2,535,309 arrivals and 6,929,254 overnights). 

ENIT, the Italian national tourism board, returned to the IFTM Top Résa B2B fair in Paris Porte de Versailles from 20 to 22 September with 200 Italian destinations, 1,700 brands, 34,000 tourism professionals, and 150 conference sessions.

France is Italy’s fourth largest home market

According to the most recent available data (2021), France accounts for 13% of total foreign tourist spending in Italy (21.3 billion euros) during this phase of recovery from Covid. France is now the second largest foreign market (after Germany), pending the complete recovery of arrivals from the US. In terms of attendance France is the fourth largest home market, accounting for 6.5% of the international total (106 million), trailing only Germany (41.7%), Switzerland (7.8%), and Austria (7.1%).

The Cannes ILTM luxury fair

ENIT will also attend the ILTM luxury fair in Cannes with seven major Italian regions from north to south: Friuli Venezia Giulia (www.turismofvg.it), Lombardy (www.in-lombardia.com) with a focus on the Province of Brescia (www.visitbrescia.it), Tuscany (www.visituscany.com), Lazio (www.visitlazio.com), Basilicata (www.basilicataturistica.it) and Sicily (www.visitsicily.info), while a group of tourism professionals will represent Liguria. Some sixty tour operators will be present on the regional stands  - there will be 23 individual participants -  with the Italian representatives including TOs, accommodation facilities, hotels and  resorts, DMCs, car rental companies, golf courses, associations, festivals, airlines and more.

The Piadina Experience Museum has opened in the town of San Giovanni in Marignano in the Romagna region.

The story and the secrets of the piadina

This multimedia facility (which is less than half an hour by road from Rimini) tells the story and the secrets of the iconic piadina, the symbol of gastronomic Romagna. Through an unusual itinerary, celebrating the local area and the raw materials of which the piadina is made, visitors are transported into the world of the piadina, from the Neolithic age to the present day, discovering its most ancient history up to its modern evolution.

Discovering the production process

Visitors will dream in the Magic Room as in a film by the great Federico Fellini, as wheat and the other elements come together to tell us of the alchemy that is renewed every time a piadina is made.  Walking through the Panoramic Tunnel they will witness the production process, following the different stages from the dough, to resting in the Piadina Spa, to cooking at different temperatures, and discovering the secrets of technology at the service of tradition and quality.

High-definition projectors for a colourful experience

And of course every tour will end with a piadina tasting. The curators have chosen a new exhibition concept, using ultra-high-definition projectors that make the impossible possible, with the history of the piadina and Romagna being traced on walls and ceilings in the hues of the Romagna region. Compulsory booking 24 hours in advance for Mani in Pasta and 48 hours in advance for the Azdora Piadina Show.  Available every day by appointment for groups.

For information: www.thenewsmaker.it 

The 5-star Mountain Spa Resort in Cortina d’Ampezzo has come up with a new 4-day package that combines the fun of sport with the wonderful Dolomites, without forgetting relaxation thanks to the hotel's pride and joy: the Spa, with its semi-Olympic-size swimming pool. 

The refined and exclusive ambience of the rooms blends with the charm of traditional furnishings and the highest international standards of hospitality. 

A special welcome for bikers

The 4-day E-bike and Relax package is designed to perfectly balance sport, wellness and relaxation, in one of the world’s most fascinating natural settings. To make this stay even more special, the 5-star Ampezzo hotel has a special welcome for cyclists and biking tourists: from the availability of e-bikes to guided tours, and from dining to relaxation with three-course menus and ad hoc energy massages.     

The excursion programme 

In cooperation with Cortina pro sport the stay is designed to get the most out of the most beautiful parts of the Dolomite range. On the first day guests will enjoy a welcome aperitif after a relaxing afternoon in the spa. On the second day the instructor will propose two itineraries to choose from: one to the Fanes waterfalls with small canyons and torrents for the more adventurous, and the other to the Rua Ring, with a marvellous view of the Dolomites Park from Mount Rua. 

Cycling to San Vito di Cadore

On the third day the instructor will take guests on a discovery tour of the Ampezzo Dolomites via two routes of their choice: a panoramic tour of Cortina d'Ampezzo and the five towers, or a trip to the Dibona Refuge. On the last day, cyclists will have the opportunity to cycle to San Vito di Cadore, and visit the San Wido farm with a food and wine tasting. 

Relaxation time 

At the Faloria Mountain Spa Resort guests can  enjoy wellness treatments in the Spa, and in their free time they can choose to relax in the Faloria Spa. To support the sporting activities, the Faloria Mountain Spa Resort offers guests fantastic Alpine breakfasts and three-course dinners at the exclusive Faloria Restaurant.  For information: https://faloriasparesort.com/it/

Tinoleggio, the car rental broker that has been on the Italian market for 11 years, has launched its new global brand Tintorent.

“The aim is to be more competitive on international markets”

Created by a group of Italian entrepreneurs passionate about technology and innovation, the group specializes in tourism and business vehicle rentals throughout Italy and most of Europe thanks to agreements with hundreds of local operators.

"Down the years we have diversified our product, - says Michele Sole, sales manager, - going beyond the consumer and approaching the B2B market. The aim is to make Tinorent our reference brand on international markets. The price lever makes us competitive and being smaller and more flexible we have products that other brokers do not.”

Travel agency and tour operator partners

On the corporate side, the winning push lies in the inclusion of smaller players, thanks to the local partnerships that make it possible to cover more territory, while on the distribution front the company has partnered with travel agencies, networks and tour operators. Among the B2B services offered are tailor-made purchasing conditions, agreements with major international rental partners, a dedicated platform and voucher customization.

 

Having renovated its 157 rooms and public areas, Unahotels Malpensa has reopened its doors. The makeover includes new beds featuring new pillows, duvets, and a topper, and a mattress combination custom-made by Dorelan for Gruppo Una as part of the Made for Una project. In addition each room has been outfitted with a 55-inch Samsung smart TV, and the bathrooms have been updated. The rooms on the 9th and 10th floors have been converted into Executive Rooms with coffee makers and kettles.

The Volare Bar & Restaurant is by Una Cucina

The redesign has also expanded the number of accommodation options available to guests, with the addition of two 2-room apartments with kitchenettes. Apartments can be converted into 3-room apartments by combining them with an adjoining room. The entrance hall and the Volare Bar & Restaurant by Una Cucina have been completely renovated with new furniture and indoor greenery.

The fitness area is on the first floor

The hotel’s conference centre has also been refurbished.  The four elegant and functional meeting rooms have been technologically upgraded with new video projectors, and 65-inch TVs in the smaller rooms. Finally, an absolute novelty is the fitness area on the first floor, which rounds out the hotel facilities with an area dedicated to guests who want to train even while away on business or leisure.

Portico is Numa's latest new entry in Rome, as the brand marches head in Italy with the opening of this new property in the Eternal City. 

The hotel has 26 rooms

Portico takes its name from the arch leading to the Pantheon, and the hotel has 26 keys. It can also boast an ancient history, as the classic red plaster covering hides three levels of ancient flooring, right in the heart of the Eternal City.

A new design hotel in downtown Rome

The historic building is located in a central area with narrow streets and sunny squares. The design is original and bright, combining tradition with modernity in a stylish blend. Guests can live like ancient Romans, taking a seat under the porticoes at the entrance to enjoy the famous laidback dolce far niente pace of the Eternal City. 

Online check-in and pin codes

With its modern concept and advanced technological solutions Numa aims to combine the quality of a boutique hotel with unlimited flexibility. Thanks to online check-in and pin codes to be used to enter the building and the rooms, guests don’t waste any time and also need not worry about losing their room keys. 

   

The new Vis Urban Suites & Spa has opened in Bari, a boutique hotel with a wellness facility in the city centre.

In a period 1876 building, the Vis Urban Suites & Spa is the result of an architectural recovery that combines Art Nouveau with contemporary design. 

The Vis Urban Suites & Spa has a suite with a private swimming pool

This project is thanks to the professional partnership of two families of Bari entrepreneurs: Gaia and Giuseppe Cobol and Mariadele and Francesco Casillo. The hotel has 12 large rooms-apartments, four of which also have outdoor terraces, while one suite has a private swimming pool carved into the rock. 

“Bari is the nerve centre of Apulia” 

The spa has a swimming pool and treatment areas, will also be open to external guests by appointment, and it will offer treatments using cosmetic products linked to the Apulian region. The rooftop is due to open next spring and will be, among other things, a location for private events in the city centre. “We are proud to enhance our city, the nerve centre of an ever-expanding Apulia – say Mariadele Casillo and Gaia Cobo - hence the decision to invest in the world of luxury hospitality.” 

Elba is a biker’s paradise and it recently signed a sponsorship agreement with SCOTT; the bicycle manufacturer.

The little island is a highly sought-after destination for holidays thanks to its charming little villages, nature trails and over 200 beaches. But it is also perfect for adrenaline junkies and outdoor enthusiasts.

Over 400 kilometres of roads and bicycle routes

Due to its size and the presence of tracks and trails suitable for all levels, the island is much loved by bikers who travel the length and breadth of its over 400 kilometres of roads and routes. From the quietest and most panoramic traails to the most challenging and demanding ones.

Enhancing sports on the island

In such a fertile and dynamic context SCOTT, the Swiss manufacturer of bicycles, winter and motorcycle equipment and sportswear, has laid the foundations for a collaboration with the island. This includes a series of projects aimed at enhancing sports and life in the great outdoors. 

“We can't wait to get on track and start this adventure"

"The sponsorship with Elba Island is strategic for SCOTT Italy as it will allow us to create and support projects that will boost all our market segments," - says Ivano Camozzi, Brand Manager of SCOTT Italy. - "We are very happy to undertake this path that focuses on the experience and enhancement of sport and the territory. We can't wait to get on track and start this adventure."

Races and new signposting 

Many activities are planned with, in October, the Capoliveri Legend Cup mountain bike race, and during the season a big boost will be given to the Capoliveri Bike Park project and to the signposting of routes. Elba will also become the headquarters and location for all SCOTT pro teams and there are photography and video projects planned that will see Elba and the athletes as the main protagonists.

A natural oasis with diversified products

"A little spirit of adventure is enough to discover the secrets of the other Elba ", the one less frequented and known by seaside tourists,” said Niccolò Censi, coordinator of Elba’s tourism board.” SCOTT Italy, he added, is the ideal partner to help attract more visitors looking for a natural oasis with diversified products.

The Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda has been acquired by CDP Group for €59 million under a sale and lease back operation. 

The Garda property is to get a facelift

The operation, conducted through the Turismo 2 Fund, was completed last November, but the official confirmation only came a few days ago, with the publication of the supplementary note to the financial statements of the company based in San Felice del Benaco: "The sale price - reads the document reported in the Giornale di Brescia newspaper - includes a condition outlining the execution of certain structural works on the Garda property, as well as the purchase of new furniture."

A new resort in Montalcino in Tuscany

At the same time as the sale, a "leaseback contract for the Gargnano real estate complex was signed for a duration of 30 years (possibly extendable for a further 10 years), reserving the option to redeem the complex after seven years from the effective date of the lease." The capital will enable the Lefay Group to accelerate the development of new projects, including a new resort in Montalcino which the company bought in December for €16.9 million.

Looking to expand abroad

However, the group's aims are not limited to central Italy. In fact president Domenico Alcide Leali also confirmed expansion abroad, through the development of a fee-based model with a management or rental contract. The 2021 budget also shows a recovery in revenues, which went from €25.8 million in 2020 to €33.5 million last year.

Sereno Lago di Como, the 5-star hotel designed by Patricia Urquiola, reopened in spring with a new penthouse suite inspired by post-war Italian glamour, the Dolce Vita, Italian designers and Como’s silk excellence. 

Furthermore, for the first time in Europe, the furnishings of the new suite launched a unique experience because they will be shoppable (https://shop.serenohotels.com/).

Ph Credits: Sara Magni

A historic rowing boats for picnics on the lake

Also new for 2022 is the Inglesina, a rowing boat built on Lake Como in the 1930s for British tourists. Thus this classic and elegant boat, which was used in a hotel in St Moritz and in other alpine lakes for 30 years, returns to its homeland. Guests of the Sereno will be able to enjoy a romantic trip lulled by the waters of the most famous lake in Italy, accompanied by a luxury picnic from Chef Lenzi, served in an elegant basket handmade by the Milanese boutique Larusmiani.

ph credits: Angie Silverspoon

A new exfoliating spa treatment 

The Sereno also has a new treat for guests at the spa: Rejuvenation at the Lake a soothing exfoliating treatment from Valmont with products from the Como region. “We are very happy to have opened after the difficulties of last year, - comments Luis Contreras, owner of the Sereno group. - Our property on Lake Como is delighted to be able to welcome back clients from all over the world, including those from the USA, the United Kingdom and Australia who were unable to reach us in 2021.”