The Tuscan Via Francigena wants to reinvent itself, and the Tuscany Region is charting a new course for the historic road.  

A new body to manage the historical itinerary

Five years after the convention signed in 2020, a proposal has been put forward by  president Eugenio Giani and tourism councillor Leonardo Marras for a new body, run by a regional association, to manage the historical itinerary.  "Tuscany believes strongly in the valorization of the Via Francigena and in the “Comuni in Cammino” project,” says regional president Eugenio Giani. 

“A suggestive way to discover our region”

“Since 2009, the Region has invested over €20 million in the Via Francigena, bringing it to ideal levels of safety for travel on foot, bicycle, or horseback. It is a different, suggestive way to discover our region, its history and traditions, and I am happy that last December the state funds for the candidature of the road as a UNESCO heritage site were finally released. Tuscany is the lead region among the seven regions involved in this project.” 

The Francigena runs through five countries and 16 regions

The Francigena, with its 1,700 kilometres from Canterbury in England to Rome, and another 1,300 in its ideal continuation to Santa Maria di Leuca in Puglia, has been recognized by the European Council as a cultural itinerary. There are five countries and sixteen different regions involved on some one hundred and fifty stages of between 20 and 30 kilometres each. 

In Tuscany the road passes through 39 municipalities 

Religion is not the only dimension of the route, which is a melting pot of cultures and territories, as it is a slow walking, sustainable tourism product.  It crosses Tuscany for almost 400 kilometres passing through 39 municipalities, including Fucecchio, Lucca, Siena and Pontremoli.”

The 2022-2023 fiscal year of Hnh Hospitality concluded on 31 October with record revenues and a 15% profits and margins growth.

Heightened demand notably from the United States

The unprecedented figures topped the £100 million revenue mark for the first time. Direct management saw a notable surge, reaching £105.7 million, a 48% increase from 2022. Gross operating margins stood at £16.1 million, equating to 15%, reflecting a one-percentage-point rise over the previous year. Statutory net profit reached £6.4 million. The strong growth in both primary destinations, such as Rome, Milan, and Venice, and secondary cities like Verona, Bologna, and Trieste, was bolstered by heightened demand from foreign markets, notably the United States. 

“New openings have already been identified” 

In addition to the inauguration of Almar Giardino di Costanza in Sicily, 2023 saw the opening of Pullman Almar Timi Ama Resort & Spa in Villasimius, Sardinia, enhancing the luxury segment. 

“We'll remember 2023 as the year we topped the £100 million turnover milestone, but it's not just that,- said Luca Boccato, the company's CEO. -It was a year marked by sales consolidation, with employment levels returning to 2019 levels. However, the average price has soared by nearly 40% compared to the same period. Moreover, with the partnership of Fondo Italiano d'Investimento and Euler Capital, we've bolstered our strengths. This year we want to explore new avenues for growth and pursue diversified commercial development in a multi-brand approach. We look forward to soon announcing new openings that we have already identified.”

Foreign markets, and in particular the German-speaking countries are showing lots of promise for Grimaldi Lines. 

“Crossing Italy is a way to reach our ports of departure” 

"For passengers from the German-speaking countries crossing Italy is the way to reach our ports of departure and from there embark for the final destination of the journey, for example from Livorno to Olbia or Palermo, but also to Tunisia, - says Francesca Marino, head of  Grimaldi Lines’ passenger department.  -There is also strong demand from Poland and the Czech Republic, using Italy to reach the final destination by ferry.”  

In line with 2023 prices and still affordable

In terms of costs, “We are in line with 2023 prices: of course, in the August peak prices are higher, but that is natural. Maritime transport is still affordable and, as we have many departures, the dynamic pricing gives the market the opportunity to find the option that best suits their needs.” 

“The port of Brindisi has grown” 

In addition to the connections to Sardinia and Sicily, the network to Greece includes the recent debut of Europalink "which increases the capacity offered on the line to Greece by around 20% and joins the connections already operated by Kydon Palace on the Brindisi-Igoumenitsa route. We have great expectations for Greece. The port of Brindisi has grown a great deal and Greece is a very popular destination, and not just for people from southern Italy: the connections are also attractive for those leaving from regions further north, who use the car and then switch to the ferry."

Spanish airline Volotea has further expanded its network from Verona for summer 2024 with the addition of five new destinations, four of which are international.

A new Airbus A320 aircraft at Verona’s Catullo airport

In total Volotea offers 20 destinations from Verona, 11 of which are international. From this year, Verona, a UNESCO heritage site since 2000 but famous worldwide for being the city of Romeo and Juliet, can also be reached from Madrid, Prague, Copenhagen, and Valencia. And to support the expanded network Volotea has also positioned a new Airbus A320 aircraft at Verona’s Catullo airport, thus employing another 30 people directly, with over 170 indirectly.

“We are concentrating our growth in Verona this year” 

“Verona is reconfirmed as an airport of strategic importance for Volotea's development plans, – said international market director Valeria Rebasti.  -We continue to work in close synergy with the airports of Verona and Venice, to offer passengers direct and fast connections to an increasingly large number of destinations. In Verona, where we are concentrating our growth this year, we operate flights ranging from Greece to Spain, from France to Germany, as well as from Denmark and the Czech Republic. The nine Italian destinations should also not be forgotten with the new additions of Comiso and Salerno, gateway to the Amalfi Coast, starting next autumn."

Maggiore, the rent-a-car brand part of the Avis Budget Group, is launching a new offer aimed at tour operators and travel designers.

A new web platform with immediate confirmation

Designed to offer advantages and exclusive rates and make your trip to discover all the wonders of Italy even more unforgettable. Maggiore is offering its business partners the possibility of booking a car rental in Italy from a new web platform, with immediate confirmation. The platform provides them with full inclusive products with unlimited mileage, eliminating the end customer's responsibility in the event of damage or theft and offering clear and competitive net rates. Also, reservations can be canceled without penalties.

From city cars to spacious minibuses and nine-seaters

Maggiore’s large fleet consists of 16 car groups ranging from comfortable city cars to more spacious minibuses, up to nine-seaters for groups of families and friends. There are also electric and hybrid cars in line with the brand's sustainability strategy, to meet the needs of operators and allow them to offer customers the perfect rental experience.

Over 200 rental offices in Italy

In addition, those who choose Maggiore as their rental partner can count on the brand's widespread presence thanks to more than 200 rental offices distributed throughout Italy in airports, railway stations and major cities. All they have to do is access the dedicated page on the brand's website and fill in the request form, at the end of which they will receive an exclusive code to access all the offers.

For information: https://www.maggiore.it/en/area/tour-operators/the-programme.html

La Dolce Vita Orient Express trains are due to debut in April 2025, departing the Roma Ostiense railway station. 

La Dolce Vita Orient Express train will make its debut in April 2025

Some 80% of the  Dolce Vita trains will depart from the Rome Ostiense railway station, with the most varied itineraries: from the coast-to-coast Venice and Portofino, to Bella Italia, Venice and Siena, the Italian Trans-Siberian Railway, Matera and Palena (Chieti), the wine and truffle itinerary in Monferrato, the South Italy of Maratea and Palermo, as well as tours to discover the Tyrrhenian coast, the Wonders of Sicily and the Mediterranean with the Palermo-Rome. The Dolce Vita Orient Express train will make its debut in April 2025, and is owned by the Arsenale company, in collaboration with the Accor Group's hospitality brand and FS, the Italian state railways group. 

La Dolce Vita embodies the Italian lifestyle of the 1960s

The fleet of six trains, each consisting of 12 carriages, is currently being built in CPL's workshops in Brindisi and Palermo. The first two Orient Express trains, inspired by the Dolce Vita embodying the Italian lifestyle of the 1960s, will be completed by the end of this year, reports the Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore, while the other four trains will follow in 2025 and 2026, for a total investment of some €240 million. 

Some 47% of pre-bookings come from the USA

Bookings will be open worldwide starting next April, but pre-sales started last 2 December, and in these first months of marketing 47% of bookings were made by Americans, 17% by Australians, and the remainder by European and Middle Eastern travellers. Prices start from €3,500 per night per person, going up to €4,700. When fully operational, the plan is to operate 600 trips per year in Italy, on dedicated routes of from one to three nights, with a maximum capacity of 62 passengers per train.

La Dolce Vita trains are planned for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Uzbekistan and Egypt

Arsenale has already signed a series of agreements abroad to replicate the initiative in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Uzbekistan and Egypt. Arsenale is controlled by the Barletta family (71.91%) and is also owned by the American fund Oaktree (16.11%) and Nicola Bulgari's Annabel Holding (11.98%). In February 2022 the company signed an agreement with the Oaktree for €300 million to develop the Orient Express Dolce Vita train project.

The Spanish white label company Panoram Hotel Management continues to focus on Italy.

Fabrizio Trimarchi  is the new development director Italy

After Room Mate, LHG and Casual Hoteles it is now also the turn of Panoram, a partner of groups such as Hilton and Accor. The white label company already manages the Grand Hotel Imperiale in Forte dei Marmi, but aims to expand further in Italy, and to do so, it has chosen Fabrizio Trimarchi as development director Italy. 

Panoram manages 6 hotels in Spain and Italy

The company is now looking at Italy’s main cities such as Milan, Turin, Rome, Venice, Verona, Florence, Naples and selected secondary cities, as well as prime leisure destinations.  The approach will be white label, associated with the hma hotel management contract and franchising agreements. Panoram Hotel Management currently manages a portfolio of sixteen hotels in Spain and Italy.