Over 150,000 passengers chose four Italian airports this summer with a load factor exceeding 80%.

The two major stopover airports were Dubai and New York

In June and July flights to and from the four gateways served - Rome, Venice, Milan and Bologna – gave Emirates a load factor that exceeded 80% according to data released by the Dubai-based airline on the occasion of World Tourism Day.  The carrier operated over 600 flights with a mix of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s through the four Italian airports. The two main international airports for stopovers were Dubai and New York, although they were not necessarily the final destinations. In fact, beyond these two major hubs, passengers departing from Italy continued their journey to destinations such as Denpasar, Tokyo, Bangkok and Malè.

Arriving passengers stayed almost 17 days 

Considering the 150,000 bookings of the peak period, Emirates' data revealed an interesting trend: as many as 59% of travellers chose to travel alone. This figure underlines a growing trend towards individual tourism and highlights the growing number of business travellers. In contrast, sone 5,900 bookings were made for group travel with three or more people. Passengers arriving in Italy stayed for almost 17 days and spent an average of €1,700 for the flight. Inbound passengers were from Australia, Dubai and New York.

“A summer load factor of 80.9%”

“Italian tourism has experienced an exceptional year – says Flavio Ghiringhelli, Emirates Italy country manager. - Emirates, with a load factor of 80.9% during the summer, consolidated its position as leader in the air sector. Thanks to top quality products and services, unrivalled connectivity and a strong commitment to the Italy, Emirates has contributed significantly to the growth of Italian tourism this summer.”  

Tirolo, a small village on the hillside just above the city of Merano, is a perfect choice for autumn walks and enjoying nature. 

Trails to suit all levels and tastes

The network of trails that start from Tirolo cater for every type of walker, from the slow-pace enthusiast to trained amateurs and pros.  From the centre of the village, a series of easy trails cut across the hillside. Walkers will also want to explore the Apple, the Wine Trail, the Cultural Trail and the Panoramic Trail. These can be walked all year round, but in autumn they have a very special charm, with the colours of the vegetation ranging from golden yellow and orange to red and brown, with dashes of bright green. 

A trail for wine enthusiasts

The Wine Trail winds its way through vineyards and pleasant cultivated hillsides, and along the way, there are interactive stations. The sun-exposed hills and mild climate make Tirolo an ideal area for cultivating Lagrein or Schiava vines as well as other varieties such as Pinot Noir, Sylvaner and Merlot. Tirolo is one of the oldest wine-growing areas in South Tyrol and was known as far back as Roman times.

A trail that avoids motorized traffic

The Apple Trail is an undemanding walk through the apple orchards of Tirol, and here, too, the trail is dotted with interesting educational stations,  The third trail, the Falkner Promenade, is dedicated to Hans Norman Falkner (1906-1988) who financed a promenade leading directly from the village to Castle Tyrol and avoiding all motorized traffic. 

A cable-car to 1,800 metres asl

Other interesting routes are the Cultural Trail and the Panoramic Path a pleasant two-hour walk with panoramic views of the spa town of Merano.
The village of Tirolo is located at the foot of the Texel Group Nature Park and a cable car carries visitors up to 1,800 metres asl. 

For information: www.dorf-tirol.it

Some 320,000 visitors visited the the Frasassi Caves in the Marche region from January to the end of August, with over 250,000 arriving from June to August.  

The Caves are now 100% managed by Genga

The Caves also offer the possibility of discovering the town of Genga, the San Vittore Museums and numerous art sites in the area. The recent establishment of the new Grotte di Frasassi S.r.l., which is wholly owned by public capital, is the new company resulting from the transformation of Consorzio Frasassi, and now sees the municipality of Genga holding 100% of the shares.

“A more timely and dynamic management of the Caves”

Leading the new company is Lorenzo Burzacca, former vice-president of Consorzio Frasassi, who was appointed by Marco Filipponi, the mayor of the municipality of Genga. “I am delighted by this important milestone,- says Lorenzo Burzacca. -The assembly of Consorzio Frasassi agreed to the formation of the new Grotte di Frasassi S.r.l., with a shareholding entirely held by the Municipality of Genga. Today marks the start of a new chapter that will allow a more timely and dynamic management of the Frasassi Caves, the aim being to guarantee a continuous adjustment to tourist needs, while at the same time raising the level of the services available.”  

A popular location for religious tourism 

With a view to the upcoming 2025 Jubilee year the Frasassi Caves are also at the forefront of religious tourism. The area is also known for its sacred dimension and is one of the natural stops along the itinerary from Loreto to Assisi, the pilgrimage road that connected Rome to the Sanctuary of the Holy House in Loreto in the Middle Ages. Thanks to the presence in the area of numerous evocative churches and hermitages like the Madonna di Frasassi Sanctuary, the Santa Maria Infra Saxa Hermitage and San Vittore alle Chiuse Romanesque Abbey, while waiting for UNESCO World Heritage status, the Frasassi Caves will be offering pilgrims itineraries of faith and numerous events and initiatives during the Jubilee year.

Following its debut in 1995 Futura Vacanze expanded rapidly, and today is one of Italy’s leading tour operators as well as a benchmark for sea, mountain and wellbeing holiday clubs.  

Futura Clubs combine sea and relaxation with emotions, fun and sport

An important turning point for the company came in 2016 when it first specialized in holiday villages with the creation of the Futura Club and Futura Style brands. The Futura Club brand quickly became international with the opening of medium-haul destinations. “The philosophy of our Futura Club brand combines sea and relaxation with emotions, fun and sport,- says key account manager inbound Anna Simonelli. -The highest levels of hospitality, entertainment and customer assistance are the guarantee of the quality of Futura Vacanze’s branded service.” 

“New alliances and partnerships in 2025”

 “This summer we registered a consistent upswing of international guests in our Italian hotels. In the last two years we saw the return of the French market, and the reconfirmation of Italy as a preferred destination for the Eastern European and German markets- added Anna Simonelli.  -We are confident that by 2025 we will be able to further improve these numbers both through new marketing alliances and by strengthening partnerships with our faithful partners.”

Club Baia di Conte topped Sardinian sales this summer

The new Futura Club Le Cale D’Otranto with 400 rooms is set in a park with a private golf course and a pool and is just 1,5 kilometres from Otranto and close to Brindisi airport. The Futura Club Torre Rinalda is a large property right on the sea in the Salento, and the Futura Club Barone di Mare is also on the sea.   Futura Vacanze has three Futura Clubs in Calabria: Futura Club Itaca Nausicaa Futura Club La Praya, near Tropea, Futura Club Casarossa which is ideal for families, while another 2024 new entry is the Futura Style Baia Tropea. The top seller in Sardinia this year was the Futura Club Baia di Conte, which with its 320 rooms and location directly on the sea, is a jewel in Futura Vacanze’s crown.

Cibreo’s sustainable and innovative journey through Tuscan cuisine boosts the Group’s development.

Many traditional Tuscan recipes are vegetarian

“Food has always been important in people's lives. But never before has awareness and attention to quality been so widespread,- says Giulio Picchi, CEO of the Cibreo Group, for 35 years a leading F&B player in Florence.  -Today there is a lot of checking of provenance and certification, and products are increasingly required to come from controlled or organic cultivation,- says the Florentine-born chef and restaurateur. -But there is also an increasing focus on offering creative variants for gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan solutions.  We are particularly happy about this, because we have always maintained that many of the tastiest Tuscan recipes are naturally vegetarian.”

In the face of this evolution the profile and role of the chef is also changing. “One can no longer simply be a cook because it would be impossible to transform one's food into ideas and messages for the world,- continues Picchi. -Through his creations a chef can be the vehicle of a fundamental and necessary message for the food of tomorrow. He must also be an ambassador of biodiversity, environmental and cultural protection, where traditions and history reside. And, in order to deliver his or her own message through every dish and every idea, he must always keep in mind the most important issues of today, from climate change to waste and resource conservation.” 

Today Cibrèo is a global brand

The original Cibrèo restaurant and the adjoining trattoria were opened in 1979 by Fabio Picchi who soon made a name for his ecologically ethical use of raw materials. His idea was a cuisine with as short a supply chain as possible and always in step with the seasons. Down the years new concepts have been added and the brand has become known all over the world.  Cibrèo Caffè was added in 1989 and then it was the turn of Teatro del Sale, a circus that combines culture and good food, theatre and conviviality. In 2017 Picchi opened Ciblèo which fuses oriental traditions with Tuscan raw materials, and in 2021 the new Cibrèo Caffè brought a Parisian bistrot atmosphere to the historical centre of Florence.

With the Full Life Holidays model, Club del Sole’s Italian holiday village campsites are evolving into full-service outdoor retreats. 

Far-reaching expansion strategies

The Trentino Alto-Adige region is one of Club del Sole's principal medium-term development objectives. The aim being to diversify the group's offer, de-seasonalize the product and guarantee an uninterrupted workflow for the company's human resources. ‘Thanks also to the support of financial partners such as NB Aurora and The Equity Club, which are minority shareholders, the Giondi family has great confidence in our expansion strategies,” says Angelo Cartelli, general manager of the open-air operator,

“High occupancy rates and return guests”

“This year Club del Sole has added three new villages to its portfolio: the Tenuta di Primero in Friuli, the Mimose in the Marche and the Adriatico in Emilia-Romagna, all of which have been very well received by the market. The response from clients has been enthusiastic, with a high occupancy rate and excellent feedback from both new and regular guests. The new entries have boosted our presence in strategic areas of Italy, in line both with our strategy of diversification, the location and the type of experience. We have noticed how in particular the German-speaking countries (Dach) appreciate the Tenuta Primero and its premium services which include two marinas and an 18-hole golf course. This demographic guarantees a 70% share of the total number of overnights in this Friuli complex.”

Strong growth from the Dach area

In terms of performance Club del Sole's 2024 is tracking as planned in the budget. Having closed 2023 with a consolidated turnover of €100 million, the company estimated a growth of more than 10% for 2024. “At present the results are in line, both as far as the domestic and international markets are concerned,- says Cartelli. –We have also recorded strong general growth from the Dach area, as well as from Poland, Belgium, Holland and France. A clear sign of the interest in open-air tourism and above all in our Full Life Holidays model, a new holiday concept aimed at evolving the format of the traditional camping village into a full-service open-air proposal.” 

Lindbergh’s Excelsior Spa & Lido in Pesaro has joined the Preferred Hotels & Resorts network. 

The only 5-star in the Marche region

The Excelsior Spa & Lido is a true unicum in the Marche region: the only five-star hotel in Pesaro that can boast a private lido and a first-floor spa overlooking the sea. For the group, founded by Nardo Filippetti, this is the second entry into Preferred since the Grand Hotel San Pietro in Taormina was welcomed into the luxury Lux Collection.

“We are very proud to have joined the Preferred family,- says the Filippetti family. -In addition to being the only hotel in Pesaro, we are also the only Preferred partner hotel in the entire Marche region. Our aim has always been to offer our guests an unforgettable, elegant and relaxing stay, and the affiliation with Preferred proves that we are on the right track. Receiving this recognition is not only an honour, but also a great opportunity to further raise our level and attract an international clientele seeking unforgettable luxury experiences.” 

The Villa Cortine Palace in Sirmione is the latest Italian property to enter the Relais & Châteaux network. 

Set in a park with cypresses and palms

This is the fifty-first Relais & Châteaux associate in Italy, and the property is surrounded by mature cypresses and palm trees in a large private park on Lake Garda, just a few minutes from the small medieval town of Sirmione.   

Three restaurants and 52 rooms and suites

The 19th-century building is accessed by a large pier and has soaring colonnades, coffered ceilings, frescoes and marble or mosaic floors. The 52 rooms and suites feature the typical décor of patrician residences, with windows, balconies and terraces overlooking the lake. The property can boast Mediterranean-style cuisine that can be enjoyed in the Le Gardenie, Al Molo (with a terrace) and Maria Callas restaurants, or on the large panoramic balcony of the Belvedere.

The Stockholm Stadshotell also joined Relais & Châteaux at the same time as the Sirmione property. Ths Stadshotell is a historic residence, in the fashion district of Södermalm, in the heart of Stockholm, and is the brand's debut property in Sweden. 

A new spa has opened at the Quellenhof Passeier Luxury Resort in the northern South Tyrol region.

An adults-only environment

The new 4 Elements Spa features a design entirely inspired by the four natural elements - air, water, earth and fire. This is an adults-only environment, with a Pirts bio-sauna (55 degrees with humidity between 40% and 55%), a ritual sauna built from natural Pseirer stone from the nearby Passeier valley, a Fire Lounge with a wood-burning stove and sitting area, two hot-cold tubs for soaking and a sun terrace with a relaxation area. The entire extension of the sauna area was designed primarily as a nudist area.

The group has three 5-star resorts

As a corollary to the new addition to the Passeier, in October the group will launch the brand-new cosmetic line of creams The Q Touch and the perfumed The Q Sense water.  All this was made possible by the contribution of the group's new general spa and quality wellness manager, Alessandra Scatà. A true Venetian, she acts as a point of reference for the group’s three 5-star resorts, boosting communications and the close collaboration between the hotels, as well as expanding the beauty offer with new personalized treatments and the development of original cosmetic lines.