In just five months Italy has gone from sixth to first place, and is the number one country in Europe for the number of congresses hosted.

An absolute first for Italy 

Italy is the first destination in Europe for congresses and conventions hosted in the year 2023 according to the annual report of ICCA - International Congress and Convention Association, the international association grouping MICE operators. The achievement is an absolute first for Italy and is the result of years of growth in the sector, with a gradual climb from sixth position in 2018-19, to second place in 2022, and reaching the coveted first position in 2023

“Conference tourism is a fundamental asset for the entire industry"

"Every great result brings with it a lot of satisfaction, but also the energy and courage - which the Meloni government certainly does not lack - necessary to support the sector towards constant, structural and intelligent growth that sees conference tourism as a fundamental asset for the entire industry," said tourism minister Daniela Santanchè.

The Barceló Group’s new acquisition is the Midas Hotel in Rome for €60 million.

17 Meeting rooms for 1,300 people 

The 4-star, already owned by the Alpine Capital fund, is located on the Via Aurelia, has 350 rooms and is a benchmark for the capital’s Mice segment. With 17 meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 1,300 people, the hotel has extensive gardens and a swimming pool. Barceló has been operating the hotel since last 9 May when the purchase agreement was signed. The aim of the company is now to reposition the hotel, which will be marketed under the Barceló brand after renovation.

Barcelo continues its expansion in Europe

With the acquisition of this new hotel in Rome, and following recent openings in Warsaw and Slovenia, the Spanish company confirms its commitment to expansion on the European continent, where it opened its first hotel in Prague in 1993. The group currently manages a total of 16 hotels on the Old Continent, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal and Slovenia. And it has a hundred or so properties in Spain.

A historic house that becomes accessible and inclusive, a transformation that allows everyone to discover an asset using their five senses. Sunday 2 June will sees the inauguration of the path of inclusion and accessibility of Casa Lajolo, an 18th-century historic house in Piossasco which is 40 minutes from Turin in the Piemonte region. The project is part of the Musei accessibili 2021 (Accessible Museums 2021) project of the Piedmont Region, and of the project for historic parks and gardens of the Ministry of Culture, financed by the European Union through Next Generation EU funds. 

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is on 2 June

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, with a day dedicated to the five senses, will symbolically take place at 11.00 on Sunday 2 June. Historical residences are often seen and experienced as inaccessible places. "Our idea, on the other hand, is to open them up, allowing everyone, including those with disabilities, to enjoy a complete visiting experience," says Alberto De Vecchi Lajolo, owner of the mansion and president of the Casa Lajolo Foundation, which has been set up to conserve and enhance the historical asset. 

Solutions for visitors with disabilities

Solutions have been adopted to ensure an adequate visiting experience for visitors with motor disabilities. There is an elevator for wheelchair entry and platforms have been installed providing access to the historic building and the toilets, while roll-out walkways are available to facilitate wheelchair passage through the green areas. Information and illustrated panels in the gardens and inside the historic house have Braille relief printing for the visually impaired. Digital QR codes have also been placed on the panels, allowing users to download an audio guide for an independent visit and to access the videos in the Italian sign language. In collaboration with the Paideia Foundation, communicative supports in CAA (alternative augmentative communication) symbols have created to identify the areas and highlight the most important elements of the garden and vegetable garden itinerary, making it accessible also to visitors with communication difficulties. 

"With eyes closed in the garden": sensorial visits to Casa Lajolo

Anyone at Casa Lajolo can take part in the walks organized in collaboration with The Unione Italiana Ciechi e Ipovedenti (Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired). These last an hour and a half and are designed to allow visitors to discover and experience the garden and its green spaces “with other eyes.”  An experienced professional leads the sensory tour and anyone can do the tour blindfolded to grasp more intensely the sensations and the wonder of their inner resonances. 

QR codes and English and French translations

All content on the QR codes is also translated into French and English and a 360-degree virtual tour of the garden and the historic residence is available at https://www.casalajolo.it/tour-virtuale. Guided tours of the house, garden and vegetable garden with guide for €8 Up to 25 years, Friends of Castelli Aperti, Piemonte Card: 6 euros and Fai members and children are free. For information groups interested in discovering the house or garden can write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 333 3270586.

The Vacanze col Cuore group will open the new Trasimeno Glamping Resort in Umbria on 28 June. 

“We are breathing new life into an area that was already a campsite”

“We are expanding on the shores of Lake Trasimeno, in a green paradise directly overlooking the lake. Our new resort in Magione is in the province of Perugia,- explains the founder, Loek Van de Loo. “As with our other resorts in the past, we are breathing new life into an area that was already a campsite, to which I was linked both for professional reasons, when I was involved in tour operating, and for emotional reasons because I have always loved this place.”

Mobile homes, safari tents and pitches for caravans and campers

This is the ninth property of the Italian-Dutch group, which has its operational headquarters in Manerba del Garda. In a resort area of some six hectares there will be state-of-the-art mobile homes, safari tents, accommodation and pitches for campers and caravans, with direct access to the lake, a beach and jetty, and a total capacity for about one thousand guests. 

Two units for limited-mobility guests

Numerous services are also available from a new restaurant-pizzeria, a bar and an ice-cream parlour. There will also be a water park, multi-language edutainment activities, an electric mini-jeep service to help children discover the surrounding nature, as well as a bicycle hire service, a multi-purpose synthetic ground, a five-a-side football pitch and a volleyball court both on grass. Thanks to the orographic conformation of the site, two barrier-free accommodation units have also been set up for guests with limited mobility.

Dotcampus is an innovative concept for business stays in Rome.

Sustainable high-tech accommodation, wellness and good food

Encompassing smart-working, multinational company composition, economic and cultural changes, hi-tech, connection and security requisites, Dotcampus offers the flexibility that has changed the world of work and business travel in recent years. Hospitality is increasingly in demand from digital nomads, start-uppers, freelancers and creative thinkers seeking accommodation that comes with high-tech and multifunctional workspaces without renouncing well-being, sustainability and good food. 

Smart hospitality with the right quality-price ratio

These kind of travellers are influential targets for the travel industry, and identifying and satisfying their needs is a smart sales strategy for travel concerns in step with the times. Dotcampus, state-of-the-art hybrid hospitality a stone's throw from the Basilica of St. John Lateran in downtown Rome, is all of this. An ecosystem which is a sought-after interface between the worlds of university and business, it is the ideal choice for graduates making their way in the professional world, for Italian SMEs and for short-break travellers seeking smart accommodation in an area well connected to the main tourist sights and with the right quality-price ratio. 

The Roof

“Dotcampus is a connected, digital and innovative environment”

Gianni Massimo, admissions manager

"Dotcampus is the ideal place for companies looking for a comfortable place to work and stay in Rome," says admissions manager Gianni Massimo. "We are not just a hotel, but a connected, digital and innovative environment where they can work in a youthful and stimulating space. Our membership offers flexibility and premium services to companies and professionals. Joining Dotcampus means discovering a new way of working, staying, creating and meeting in a stimulating, international and contemporary environment." 

Meeting rooms, a spa, and a rooftop restaurant with an American bar

The property has 83 doubles, twins and quadruples, 200 sqm for business events, training and meetings including a multimedia room, with a recording studio to stream events, that can accommodate up to 30, a hi-tech room that can accommodate up to 50, three 8-seater meeting rooms each with interactive 65-inch displays for video calls and presentations, and an open co-working space of some 100 sqm. There are also a 500 sqm gym with Technogym equipment that links with remote courses through a dedicated App, a yoga room, a small spa with sauna and emotional showers, a communal kitchen for individual and corporate cooking classes, and a rooftop with a restaurant, an American bar and views of the basilica. Dotcampus: a workplace sanctuary in harmony with well-being and with the splendor of the Eternal City. 

Visit the new website!

For more information write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fancy Tour specializes in organizing visits to Pompeii and tours of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.

“We pride ourselves on our logistics and organization”

Among Fancy Tour’s most popular tours there are visits to the excavations of Pompeii, a World Heritage site that hosted almost four million tourists last year.

“We are a small Neapolitan agency founded in 1987, which over the years has specialized in inbound activities,- says Cesare Foà, president of Fancy Tour. -We organize many events in the area, facilitating the influx of tourists to our city, and we pride ourselves on our logistics and organization.” 

Reliving the days before Pompeii’s destruction

Visiting the excavations of Pompeii goes far beyond a passion for art and history; it is something that strikes a special chord, attracting lovers of mystery, rituals, and the cults of populations so far removed from ours in time, yet so close physically. The fact that Pompeii was destroyed, but at the same time preserved, by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. makes it even more fascinating. Walking through the alleyways of that time, you seem to relive that remote era, thanks also to the houses, workshops and utensils that have remained intact, giving you an insight into the lifestyle of the time. 

Sorrento Coast

Visits to Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello 

The operator also organizes tours of the Sorrento and Amalfi Coasts, which have some of the most spectacular views in Italy.

“The adventure begins with a stop of about an hour in Sorrento, famous for its elegance and timeless charm,- Foà continues. -Thanks to its location and mild climate Sorrento was one of the favourite places for the ancient Romans.  The trip continues to Positano, located in the centre of the Amalfi coast, to admire its white and pastel-coloured houses, the Church of Sant Assunta with its splendid majolica dome, the beaches, and the alleyways packed with shops. We then continue to Amalfi, a charming little historic town, with an hour to discover its hidden treasures, admire its majestic Cathedral dominating the square, and the alleyways of small white houses perched one on top of the other. The tour ends with a visit to Ravello, a hidden gem on the Amalfi Coast, famous for its tranquillity. Its image is linked to villas such as Villa Rufolo, with its breathtaking views and beautiful gardens.” 

 

Virtus Viaggi organizes experiences, trekking, tours and sustainable stays in Sicily.

Unique experiences, like making a Sicilian sorbet

Discovering how to prepare a typical Sicilian sorbet as it was once made on the snowfields of the Madonie mountains or on Sicily’s majestic Mount Etna volcano, visiting the lesser-known areas of Pantelleria or trekking to thermal springs hidden in a rocky landscape. These are just some of the new tours from Virtus Viaggi a tour operator specialized in tours and experiences in Sicily, also in combination with Malta and Greece. 

Art cities, nature reserves and Sicily’s islands

“Our most popular products are the multiple experiences we offer in Sicily, as well as a wide selection of accommodation from hotels to resorts, holiday homes, apartments, villas and charming residences, in Sicily and on the smaller islands. We also offer transfers and excursions with the fleet of cars and minivans at our disposal in both the standard and deluxe categories,- explains Angela Conciauro, commercial and booking department of Virtus Viaggi.  “Our experienced local guides design themed tours or classic, archaeological and food-and-wine tours. We are passionate about our work and we convey this in every programme we create.” 

Virtus Viaggi’s products range from art cities to medieval villages and from nature reserves to the Egadi, Aeolian, Pantelleria and Lampedusa islands. 

Stays with excursions designed for the disabled

“We take advantage of the many events in Sicily such as the May Kite Festival and the Couscous Festival in September in San Vito Lo Capo, as well as classical performances in Syracuse featuring Greek tragedy, and the classical and sacred music festivals in Palermo and Catania, not to mention the gastronomic festivals with our famous street food. We create ad hoc packages both for groups and individuals, that leave fascinating memories and a desire to return a second time”.

For Virtus Viaggi sustainability and accessibility are paramount, and it also organizes stays with excursions designed for the disabled, providing the necessary equipment and qualified personnel. It chooses facilities with no architectural barriers, rooms and bathrooms accessible to those with mobility problems, with chairs for pool access and equipped minivans.

Garibaldi Hotels' real estate assets have been boosted by the purchase of the Avalon Sikani Resort in Sicily. 

The owners are assessing an upgrade from 4 to 5 stars

The property in Gioiosa Marea on the northern coast of Sicily, has been managed by the Ostuni-based company since 2019. The total investment of some €5 million also includes a renovation with a view to a possible repositioning of the complex. "This beautiful location has given us great satisfaction and as soon as the opportunity arose, we decided to invest here,- says Fabrizio Prete, general manager of Garibaldi Hotels. -The project not only concerns the purchase of the property, we are also assessing various options for the future development of the Avalon Sikani Resort such as an upgrade from 4 to 5 stars, to make it the group's flagship and we are talking to international brands regarding possible partnerships."

A private beach, restaurant and spa

The complex, which enjoys views of the Aeolian Islands, has 119 rooms, with another 18 under construction, and all have sea views. It also has a large panoramic swimming pool, a private beach at Gioiosa Marea as well as a restaurant, gym, spa and mini club for kids. The resort is easily accessible by motorway from the international airports of Catania Fontanarossa and Palermo Punta Raisi.

International brands are interested in less touristy areas

The Sikani will probably not be Garibaldi Hotels' only investment in Sicily, where the group is also already present with the Baraka Village in Scoglitti, near Ragusa: "We want to further strengthen our presence here. There is strong interest from international chains interested in investing not only in well-known areas, such as Palermo, but also in less touristy destinations with strong development potential, such as Gioiosa Marea,- says Egidio Ventimiglia, managing director of the Ostuni-based group. Garibaldi Hotels created its real estate business unit in 2018 then taking over two of historic properties in Trentino: the Hotel Monzoni (2018) and the Hotel Piaz (2023).   

The Ne[S]t at the Club del Sole's Spina Family Camping Village has changed its name to Treeship.

The tree as protagonist of a new hospitality concept

The camping village at Lido di Spina, just half an hour north of Ravenna and an hour and a half from Bologna, will be a true immersive experience set in a bio-diverse setting and allowing guests to experience an even more authentic contact with the surrounding environment. The project is a new hospitality concept with the tree as protagonist, blending a love of nature with technological innovation.

“To enhance…the comfort & nature concept”

"This project speaks the language of the future, helping to promote and enhance in an even more innovative way the comfort & nature concept,- says Club del Sole's general manager, Angelo Cartelli.  -Experimenting with creative hospitality solutions that are in harmony with villages’ environment is in our DNA. This futuristic type of accommodation will be unique in the camping sector.”

A future Tree Village 

In the setting of the Po Delta where the Spina Family Camping Village is located, a shuttle made of recycled materials will connect to the tree-base. In the future guests will be able to enjoy a night under a starry sky, connected to the tree as a living system. This is the first step towards creating a Tree Village in the future: an oasis of tranquillity immersed in the green of the pine forest, with suspended paths connecting the different areas and allowing guests to move in harmony with their surroundings, without disturbing nature.