ItaliAbsolutely returns with a mission to the Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum from March 24-27, 2025.

Showcasing Italy’s rich travel experiences

Reaffirming its commitment to showcasing Italy’s rich travel experiences, ItaliAbsolutely returns with a mission to the Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum from March 24-27, 2025. The premier English-language portal for Italian tourism will be in Las Vegas to host the exclusive ItaliAbsolutely Village, highlighting diverse Italian offerings, from Sardinia with a rich tapestry of partners to Brescia, and from the Frasassi Caves to Master Group Italia DMC. 

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ItaliAbsolutely has redefined the promotion of authentic Italian travel. Developed by the Travel Quotidiano media group, the platform leverages decades of publishing expertise to serve inbound tourism professionals. Since launching in 2021 it has produced some 3,000 articles, and it attracts over 70,000 international operators weekly via its newsletter. The portal serves as a trusted resource, offering up-to-date, reliable information for buyers, while providing DMOs and DMCs with a strategic channel for high-impact promotion.

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Print editions for major international fairs 

Actively promoting Italy at global trade fairs, it distributes special print editions at the WTM London, TTG Experience Rimini, BIT Milan, ITB Berlin, and Las Vegas Travel Forum. In addition, the platform orchestrates targeted initiatives, including fam trips, workshops, post-tours, and B2B meetings, creating immersive experiences that deepen industry knowledge and expand business opportunities.

Fam trips for international buyers 

In 2024 ItaliAbsolutely hosted fam trips for selected travel buyers from a pool of over 300 global applicants. These exclusive experiences took participants to Messina, Bologna and through the Marche region and beyond, offering firsthand insights into local tourism landscapes and strengthening ties with regional stakeholders.

Be our guest on a Fam Trip to Italy!

Read the article: ItaliAbsolutely Makes a Splash in Las Vegas for 400 enthusiastic buyers

Rome Fiumicino airport is looking to a future that will see it managing up to 100 million passengers a year, almost doubling its current capacity with an investment plan of €5 million. 

Aeroporti di Roma is planning for 100 million passengers annually 

Aeroporti di Roma, which currently handles almost 50 million passengers annually, has presented an updated masterplan with a significant expansion project involving around 260 hectares, 151 of which are in a protected area. The area will subsequently be returned or compensated with environmental interventions, creating a park of 85 hectares.

The airport will get a fourth runway

The centrepiece of this huge project is the construction of a fourth runway that will be built within the perimeter of the existing airport, parallel to the existing runway 3. It's not just a question of runways and internal infrastructure, work will also be done on the external road network. One important aspect is the improvement of the road that connects Rome to  the airport. In addition to the inauguration of  Pedalaria, the cycle path connecting the city centre to the airport, a new road structure is planned with an investment of €250 million.

Some 53 million passengers are expected this year 

The official go-ahead from the institutions is still pending, as part of a process that includes the subsequent technical clearance from ENAC (the Italian Civil Aviation Authority), the “Environmental Impact Assessment” process, and the services conference: 18-24 months in all. Then planning permission will be needed for the expropriations and the start of work. And in the meantime? This year 53.5 million passengers are expected and Leonardo da Vinci can handle up to 60-62 million: consequently 2027-2028 risks being critical, with ITA Airways struggling to guarantee feeder flights for its intercontinental flights. In 2029-2030, depending on the scenario, the system may not be able to meet the potential demand for travel adequately if the project doesn't start as soon as possible.

At ITB Berlin Italiabsolutely spoke to Alessandro Anello, Palermo city council’s tourism councillor, who said his city is presenting exciting new developments aimed at boosting its appeal to international travellers.

The Mosaic Path Project is a UNESCO route

One of the key highlights, Anello said, is the Mosaic Path Project, a dedicated initiative to further promote the Arab-Norman itinerary which is a UNESCO World Heritage route.  “This itinerary comprises nine historic sites. It is a testament to the rich cultural legacy of Sicily and the sites include the Cathedral, the Royal Palace, the Zisa Castle, the Admiral’s Bridge, the Church of San Cataldo, San Giovanni degli Eremiti and the Cathedrals of Monreale and Cefalù. The Mosaic Path Project incorporates digital tools, including a dedicated App and website for easy access, and it allows visitors to explore not only the stunning mosaics but also a broader "mosaic" of history, culture, and experiences across Palermo.” 

“We are using culture and sport to promote Palermo year round”

Palermo, continued the councillor, is also partaking in major international trade fairs like the ITB to increase tourist flows throughout the year, particularly during traditionally low seasons such as November, January, and February. An expanded calendar of events for 2025 will cover both cultural and sporting attractions including the Extra-Hotel Tourism Exchange and the November  Luxury Travel Fair. “Sports tourism,- said Councillor Anello, - is another way to extend the travel season and attract diverse visitor segments, and this year we will host the Palermo  Montecarlo International Women’s Tennis Tournament,  the Florio Trophy, and the World Powerboat Championship among others.”   

Alessandro Mazza, an ambassador for Italian tourism

We also met up with Alessandro Mazza, a well-known television presenter and a familiar face at key events promoting Italian tourism.  Alessandro’s passion for Italy is not just professional but also personal, and he has spent many holidays in Italy, particularly in the Marche region where his father was born.  Alessandro’s enthusiasm for Italy goes beyond professional engagements, “I gladly share my love for Italy with friends and colleagues, and I welcome any opportunity to act as an ambassador for Italian tourism.” 

ENIT is present in force at ITB Berlin with managing director Ivana Jelinic, the minister of tourism Daniela Santanchè and the Italian ambassador in Berlin Fabrizio Bucci.

“A thermometer for understanding future trends”

“It's always a pleasure to return to the Berlin event, one of the most important trade fairs in the world,- said Ivana Jelinic. “The ITB is a kind of thermometer for understanding future trends in world tourism from which we can draw indications for our operators. Germany is our leading European market, and is therefore very important. The Germans know and love Italy, but we must never tire of making even the lesser-known parts of Italy known, and of reminding them why they should come back to our country. We are here with a large delegation from 14 regions, and with over 250 operators, which shows how important this market is for us.”

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will drawmore German visitors

“Tourism is an essential source of wealth for our country, not only in economic terms, but also in terms of culture and image. Italy is in fact among the top ten countries in the world for the number of foreign tourists, and among these Germany is the driving force, with 14% of total arrivals in 2024 - said the ambassador Fabrizio Bucci. -Over the next few years we expect an even greater presence of German tourists, also thanks to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, which will see more than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries compete for 195 medals in the splendid setting of the Dolomites, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

“Italy is ready to meet the expectations of German travellers all year round”

“Relations between Italy and Germany are a fundamental pillar for our economy and, in particular, for the tourism sector. Germany is the primary market of origin for travellers who choose Italy as their destination, and this is a tangible sign of the trust and appreciation that the Germans have for our culture, our history and our natural beauty. In 2024 we saw a significant rise in the number of German visitors, and our intention is to continue developing initiatives that can attract more and more tourists. Investing in tourism means investing in the future, and we are committed to promoting Italy as a welcoming and innovative country, ready to meet the expectations of German travellers all year round. Strengthening these ties is essential, not only for tourism, but also for the commercial opportunities that come with it, creating a virtuous circle that will benefit both countries.’

ITA Airways is back at the ITB in Berlin, at the Lufthansa Group stand for the third year running.

Germany is a strategic market for ITA Airways

Present for the airline at Stand 119 in Pavilion 25 are Emiliana Limosani, ITA's chief commercial officer and CEO of Volare, and the international sales team. Germany is confirmed as a strategic market for the airline, which this summer will operate up to 59 weekly flights (118 flights) between the two countries. The flights will depart from Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Düsseldorf to Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate. Among these is the new Milan Linate-Munich route which will take off on 30 March with twelve weekly flights. Thanks to these convenient connections, German passengers will be able to access the entire ITA Airways network, including the main destinations in Italy and worldwide.

A total of 59 destinations this summer 

ITA Airways will therefore be offering 59 destinations this summer, 16 of which are intercontinental, 27 international and 16 domestic. During the peak summer season ITA Airways will increase the number of destinations on offer with 12 additional seasonal destinations, of which three are domestic and nine international. Among these are the direct flights to Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate from Rhodes, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Menorca, Heraklion, Corfu, Lampedusa, Pantelleria, Zakynthos and Kefalonia. 

New flights to Mauritius from 7 November

From 30 March ITA Airways passengers will be able to benefit from additional connections to over one hundred destinations thanks to flights in codeshare with the five carriers of the LH Group:  Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Air Dolomiti.  Looking ahead to winter, the novelty of the 2025-2026 season will be the opening of the Rome Fiumicino-Mauritius route. Operated with an Airbus A330neo, it will be inaugurated on 7 November 2025 and will have two weekly flights.

ITA Airways aims to become the youngest carrier in Europe

In 2024, ITA Airways carried 18 million passengers, about 20% more than in 2023. The intercontinental sector performed particularly well, with an increase of over 700,000 passengers (+38%). The overall average load factor was 81%, but even in this case the best performance was recorded on long-haul flights, with an average load factor of 84%. The fleet, which at the start of operations in October 2021 consisted of 52 aircraft, now comprises 99 Airbus models, of which 64 are new generation (22 for long haul and 77 for short and medium haul). The aim is to have 90% of the fleet new generation by the end of 2027, with fuel consumption reduced by 20-25% and a decrease in CO₂ emissions, with the goal of becoming the youngest carrier in Europe.

Starting on April 5 Gardaland Resort will celebrate 50 years of magic, excitement, and innovation, with a season full of new attractions designed to captivate all generations. 

One of Italy’s most popular attractions

This extraordinary milestone marks half a century of unforgettable adventures that have made the park, which is part of Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in branded entertainment, one of the most popular destinations in Italy and Europe, having welcomed millions of visitors both young and old.

New experiences and innovative shows 

To celebrate this 50th anniversary the park is unveiling extraordinary experiences and new themed areas that are sure to amaze visitors. They are the Animal Treasure Island which will transport adventurers on an underground dark ride, featuring twenty never-before-seen scenes and unique characters, and the Dragon Empire which is inspired by Eastern traditions and will spirit visitors into a festive atmosphere. And there is also the Gardaland Theatre, an innovative show where technology and creativity will blend to engage audiences.

Special benefits and themed hotels

To celebrate its 50th anniversary Gardaland is also offering special experiences for its visitors. For example, guests can enter the park for free on their birthday, enjoying a unique day filled with attractions, shows, and the company of their loved ones. And the magic of this season doesn’t end in the park thanks to its themed hotels: Gardaland Hotel, Gardaland Adventure Hotel, and Gardaland Magic Hotel for a total of 475 rooms, 264 of which are fully themed.

The Palazzo Velabro in Rome opens the year in the name of art, with 50% of its guests from the USA.

A vocation for art andexhibitions

The union between art and hospitality is becoming increasingly popular. Almost at the same time as the announcement of the opening of the first Neapolitan branch of the Finarte auction house at the Hotel de Bonart Naples, Palazzo Velabro in Rome is also starting 2025 with creativity.  The Design Hotels property, operated by the white label company LHM and opened in 2023, was created to mirror the original vocation of the building, once a place of refuge for intellectuals and tourists from all over the world. It therefore regularly hosts exhibitions in collaboration with renowned curators and artists. After having hosted the photographs of Gabriele Basilico and celebrated the Italian maestro Mimmo Jodice, Palazzo Velabro is ready to inaugurate a new exhibition: the photography of Luisa Lambri and the drawings of Ettore Spalletti, which will be on display until the end of June.

Suites and designer rooms

This selection of works, curated by Benedetta Spalletti the founder of Galleria Vistamare, explores a visual poetics centred on light and harmony. Luisa Lambri's photography, in particular, reveals a special interaction between light and architecture, creating a suspended atmosphere that invites reflection. Ettore Spalletti's drawings, on the other hand, immerse the visitor in a mental space, made up of geometric shapes that seem to float on the whiteness of the paper. With 27 home suites and six designer rooms on five floors and separated by thick Roman walls, Palazzo Velabro is highly appreciated not only by Italian customers but above all by international guests. An analysis of the data shows that 50% of guests come from the United States, especially from New York, Texas and California. The average length of stay is about three days, with a clientele made up largely of couples (40%) and families (25-30%) with children or other family members, from different parts of the world, including Canada (4%), the United Kingdom (3%) and China (2%).

“Tourism and catering are central to our brand” 

“We are thrilled that our mixed-use hotel formula is proving so popular with international customers too,- said LHM CEO Cristina Paini. -Our goal is to create a hospitality format that enhances urban assets, enriching them with design and art, and that welcomes our guests with traditional Italian hospitality. We firmly believe that tourism and catering are central elements of our ‘Made in Italy’ brand.”