Robert Allyn, chairman of Through Eternity Tours, says post-pandemic demand for Italy has exploded. 

“A year ago we opened in Fort Lauderdale” 

The demand is focused on Florence, Pompeii and Venice. But also Padua and Verona and many other destinations, especially for repeat customers, with a focus on customized products, “ said Robert Allyn, chairman of Through Eternity Tours,  speaking to Italiabsolutely at the Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum.  “Our head office is in Rome, but a year ago we also opened an office in Fort Lauderdale in Florida, to be closer to our customers and partner travel agents in the US and avoid problems linked to the time difference of at least six hours.”

Working in Europe but also in Greece and Turkey

Grasping the importance of a diversified offer, and eschewing the fashions of the moment, Through Eternity Tours has expanded its products and today, in addition to Italy, it also markets other important European cities from London, Paris and Madrid to Barcelona and also destinations such as Greece and Turkey.   

“Sometimes we have difficulty meeting demand”

The post-pandemic for Allyn has been a real explosion. “Towards Italy in particular we are handling huge numbers. They are so impressive that sometimes we even have difficulty meeting demand for some top attractions, such as the Vatican Museums or the Uffizi, where it is not always easy to get enough tickets.” 

The new Rome-Riyad route was presented by Visit Saudi and ITA Airways in Rome.

100 million tourist arrivals in just three years 

For the occasion the downtown Rinascente Roma store was transformed into a living showcase of Saudi Arabia with dedicated panels, videos and corners with tourist information about the country.  In the just three years since it opened to tourism, the country has exceeded 100 million tourist arrivals, said Hazim Al-Hazmi, president Europe and Americas of the Saudi Tourism Authority, Visit Saudi, who expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration with Rinascente. 

“Saudi Arabia is now closer than ever”

"For us, this represents an extraordinary opportunity to inspire Italians and introduce them to the wonders of Saudi Arabia, while offering a unique and unforgettable immersive experience for all who enter the store. Thanks to the opening of direct connections between Riyadh and Rome, and the flights to Jeddah which ITA Airways will introduce in August, Saudi Arabia is now closer than ever.” 

New ITA flights from Jeddah to Rome in August 

Saudi Arabia is a strategic market, and one in great expansion for ITA Airways especially for business traffic, said Emiliana Limosani, chief commercial officer ITA Airways and CEO Volare. “Having a prestigious partner like Visit Saudi marks a further step towards the growth of our international network. Thanks to this collaboration,- continued the CCO, -not only will travel between the two nations be facilitated, so will the power of cultural exchange in building bridges and promoting relations between our peoples.  Our commitment to the Middle East region will continue with the introduction of new direct flights from Jeddah to Rome in August."  

More and more international travellers are boarding Italo trains, and the company's web domain has changed to italotreno.com. 

A new web domain name

The change in the name of the web domain reflects the new clientele, with an increasing proportion of tourists and visitors from all over the world. With this change for Italo it will be easier to reach beyond Italy’s borders, inviting even those planning their first trip to Italy to discover the service it offers on high-speed trains, which stand out for their quality, comfort and safety. 

“Our plan is to conquer markets such as South America and Korea”

The aim is to offer international tourists better services both on digital channels and at the station, with language assistance, exclusive Italo Club lounges throughout the country, while working with various partners involved in international mobility. “The start of the year saw the launch of the first international Display and Sem campaigns, flanked by SEO and digital PR activities aimed at introducing the Italo name to the US and UK markets,- says Gianluca Marchio, Italo's head of digital & loyalty, who is leading the international digital transformation. -Thanks to the changeover to the .com domain, we will be able to boost our trust and accelerate our visibility plan, conquering new markets such as South America and Korea.

New multi-modality bus and regional services

In addition, to meet the demand of domestic and foreign tourists, Italo has extended its network with multi-modality bus and regional services, which now make it possible, for example, to reach the main Italian airports, such as Leonardo Da Vinci in Rome Fiumicino with the combined high-speed train and regional ticket which can be purchased from the Italo Treno website and from the mobile app. This also applies to locations not reached by high-speed with the combined Italo plus Itabus ticket, such as the tourist destinations of Sorrento, Pompeii and Salento.

“Travelling ‘plus’ is a good choice for everyone”

"For tourists fond of Italy, Italo is working to launch its Italo Più loyalty programme also to non-Italian residents. With the launch in April, on the occasion of Italo's 12th anniversary, of the new edition of the programme, the “Più” became “+”, a simple graphic change which sums up a new approach: travelling “plus” is a good choice for everyone and signing up becomes possible and easy even for non-residents.”

Discover Sorrento, a sun-soaked paradise of charm, history and beauty where lemon trees and pastel buildings meet turquoise waters. 

Luxury hotels and quaint cobbled streets

Sorrento which is on the Sorrentine Peninsula across the bay from Naples, the home of the much-loved Limoncello liqueur and luxury hotels, and attracts visitors with its charming streets and proximity to some of Italy’s most iconic destinations like Amalfi and Positano, without forgetting the city of Naples and, of course, Mount Vesuvius.  Starting at Piazza Tasso which is the heart of Sorrento, visitors wander along narrow cobbled streets lined with little shops, stopping at pavement cafés for a leisurely lunch.

Hidden Mediterranean coves and luxury dining

Culture vultures will not want to miss a visit to Queen Giovanna's Baths. This is a stunning natural swimming spot and archaeological site where, it is said, the Anjou queen bathed in the 14th century.  Many like to take boat trips to enjoy the Mediterranean coast’s breathtaking cliffs and hidden coves and these tours can include stops at Amalfi and Positano as well as on Capri, the renowned celebrity playground. With its luxurious shops and restaurants, take time for the Monte Solaro chairlift, coastal walks, and for a boat trip to the famous Blue Grotto. For Capri it’s best to beat the crowds by arriving from the mainland on an early-morning ferry or hydrofoil.  

Ancient history, and stunning nature

Not far from Sorrento there is Pompeii which offers a glimpse into ancient Roman life and has been preserved by Mount Vesuvius’s 79 A.D eruption. Walk the historic streets, exploring houses, temples, and amphitheaters frozen in time. Nature lovers will not want to miss climbing Mount Vesuvius, which towers over the city of Naples and is one of the world’s most monitored volcanoes. Coaches also depart for Vesuvius from Sorrento and Pompeii, and the more adventurous will want to hike the final stretch to the crater for the stunning panoramic views. Back in Sorrento many of the best sights are accessible by walking the numerous trails and mountain paths that lead from the town center through lush greenery, lemon groves, and charming hillside villages. 

For the past five years Japan and Singapore have tied for the top spot on the Henley Passport Index for the number of destinations their passport holders can access without obtaining a visa before arrival. 

They have now been joined by four European countries: France, Germany Italy and Spain, with citizens of these six nations now also having visa-free or visa-upon-arrival access to 194 destinations. So now six countries can claim to have the most powerful in the world. 

The London-based Henly & Partners survey ranks the passports of 193 United Nations member countries plus six other nonmembers  - ROC Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Kosovo, Palestinian Territory, and the Vatican,- in its ranking of the 227 possible travel destinations worldwide that passport holders can travel to.

In second place on the most powerful list we find Finland, South Korea, and Sweden tying with visa-free access to 193 destinations. In third place there is another tie between Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands which are now accessing 192 destinations each. The last name on the list is Afghanistan at 104th place with access to only 28 destinations. 

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor

A Sardinian new entry for the Virtuoso network: the Abi d'Oru hotel in Porto Rotondo brings to six the Sardinian hotels in the luxury agency network’s portfolio of 154 properties in Italy.  

The hotel has 130 rooms and a new pool

The Abi d'Oru - Sardinian for the Golden Bee - opened its doors in 1963, just four kilometres from Porto Rotondo and directly overlooking the Gulf of Marinella. In 2023, it launched new rooms and suites (and the new swimming pool with a pool bar) for a total of 130 different rooms designed by Sardinian architect Antonio Simon Mossa.  

Many of the suites are named after local celebrities

The mainstay of Abi d'Oru's hospitality is its strong link with the territory, which is why many of the suites are named for local celebrities: from the Nobel Prize winner for literature Grazia Deledda to politician Antonio Gramsci and from the great artist Maria Lai to Eva Mameli, Italo Calvino's mother and the first woman in Italy to a university lecturer in botany. And with its three different restaurants, the Abi d'Oru is offering a new range of menus. 

“The Virtuoso affiliation is right for a destination like Sardinia”

“I am delighted to announce the entry of the Abi d'Oru into the Virtuoso network, which is thanks to our sales team headed by Nicola Monello, and all the hotel staff,- said the general manager Diana Zuncheddu. -With the investments and the restyling undertaken in recent years, the hotel has reached the level of hospitality we set ourselves, and it is now at a true international level thanks to Virtuoso. I believe the Virtuoso affiliation is right for a destination like Sardinia as well as for a pioneering hotel and icon of quality hospitality like ours.” 

The Minor Hotels Tivoli brand will officially open in Florence this June with the former Nh Collection Palazzo Gaddi, the brand's second property in Italy after Portopiccolo Sistiana. 

A historic building with 86 rooms and a Michelin chef

Formerly Nh Collection, the building, located in the city's historic centre, dating back to the 16th century and recently restored, has 86 rooms, including four suites. In addition, there is a fine dining restaurant with a winter garden helmed by Michelin-starred chef Iside de Cesare.

A rooftop bar and five meeting rooms

The hotel also has a rooftop and a lobby bar. There are also five meeting rooms with a maximum capacity of 200 delegates. “We are delighted to become part of the Tivoli brand,-  says Pierluca Chiavetta, general manager of Palazzo Gaddi. “This historic property will be a perfect addition to the portfolio, representing a hotel where the brand's hospitality will blend with Florentine history, in terms of service, experiences and cuisine.”

Sea Prime is investing in Milan Linate Airport where it will expand both the terminal and the parking areas in view of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.

Enlarging the lounges and passenger service areas

Sea Prime, which is part of the Sea group that manages all the airport infrastructures dedicated to business and general aviation at both Linate and Malpensa airports, is to enlarge the lounges and passenger service areas. This will be done by incorporating the adjacent hangar, increasing the overall surface area of the Linate Prime terminal by about 2,000 square metres. At the same time, a functional overhaul and extension is planned, as well as a restyling of both the landside and airside facades.

Materials that enhance the terminal's essential and elegant design

This extension is an opportunity to give the area a new identity that reflects the service offered which is iconic and respectful of the surrounding landscape. A reflective, undulating metal exterior was designed adding brightness and integrating with the environment thanks to its reflective properties. Inside a dynamic layout has been designed to accommodate the flow of passenger movement, together with material selections that enhance the terminal's essential and elegant design. 

The first Saf incentive programme

Sea Prime has also launched the first Saf incentive programme aimed at business aviation operators refuelling at Linate and Malpensa Prime airports, with the Saf “drop in” programme. This will be launched in 2024 and will provide a contribution of €1,000 per tonne of certified pure Saf, with a proportional adjustment mechanism in case demand exceeds the available funds of €50,000 for the current programme.

Creating a modern and sustainable terminal”

“Sea Prime is constantly striving to meet the growing demand for business aviation services and infrastructures in Milan,-says Chiara Dorigotti, CEO of Sea Prime. -The main objective of the terminal expansion is to create a modern and sustainable terminal while respecting the surrounding environment, embodying principles of environmental responsibility and innovation. The new Saf contribution programme, the first of its kind in Europe, is a tangible support to the sector's decarbonization commitment”.