Some 30 incoming operators from the Marche region, members of Inside Marche Live, and the Lindbergh Hotels & Resorts chain, have formed a partnership to promote tourist arrivals.

A partnership to promote the region

The project starts with a proposal of reduced rates for bookings made through Inside Marche Live members for the Lindbergh Hotels & Resorts chain's hotels. The aim is that of promoting the Marche region by offering quality services and hospitality to tourists, also in view of the upcoming  Pesaro Italian Capital of Culture 2024.

Organizing events and educational tours

For Inside Marche Live and Lindbergh Hotels & Resorts this new partnership will go hand in glove with projects aimed at boosting the Marche region’s image in Italy and around the world. The focus will be on actions aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of the territory by organizing events, tourism promotions, participatng in workshops, fairs and meetings, and through marketing and communications both on and offline, as well as the organization of educational and media tours.

Pesaro will be Italy’s Capital of Culture in 2024

"To mark Pesaro2024 we thought it would it be a good idea to bring together quality accommodation facilities such as those of the Lindbergh chain with inbound tour operators who promote the Marche as a destination," says Federico Scaramucci, president of Inside Marche Live. - Our commitment will be very focused on digital, and on packages and offers for both Italy and worldwide.  We have just heard that a new Ancona-Paris Orly route will have its inaugural flight on 27 May.”

"This is a new opportunity for us to stimulate demand”

"On our Pesaro municipal platform we will feature the history and culture of our area, as well as its food and wine to make local products known,” said economic activities municipal councillor for Pesaro Pesaro, Francesca Frenquellucci."This is a new opportunity for us to spread the word about the region and stimulate demand. Some 85% of the summer holiday turnover is generated by Italians in the main travel destinations. We must create new interest in the Marche region, with the institutions and local businesses working together on promotional campaigns,” says Nardo Filippetti, President of Lindbergh Hotels & Resorts.

The new high-end lifestyle hotel Adler Historic Guesthouse is set to open in Bressanone on 2 June. 

A historic building with a VIP guest list

This new destination for luxury living is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Christoph Mayr and Silvana Messner and has been extensively renovated from an old building that in the past hosted guests such as Emperor Maximilian I, French philosopher and writer Michel de Montaigne, Archduke Ferdinand, Eleanor of Mantua, and Crown Prince Cosimo de' Medici.

A spa, pool and 43 rooms with city views

The hotel's architecture is a blend of traditional and contemporary styles. With 43 rooms and a spa located on the upper floors, the Adler Tagesbar will serve coffee and cocktails, and the hotel also boasts a rooftop swimming pool with a 360-degree view of the city, the White Tower and the bell towers of Bressanone Cathedral.

A Historic restaurant and a wine shop

Managed by the second generation of the family, the Adler Historic Guesthouse also owns the historic Finsterwirt-Oste Scuro restaurant and the Vinothek Vitis wine shop, both located in the city's historic centre.

“We are delighted with this new venture, - say the owners, - and we are proud to have realised our dream of creating a new elegant and stylish hospitality destination in Bressanone.”

The Falkensteiner Kronplatz joins Leading Hotels of the World, the third LHW affiliation for the Falkensteiner Group. 

“Being in LHW opens up markets in the US, UK, Middle East and Asia”

After the Austrian Schlosshotel Velden and Montafon, now it’s the turn of the South Tyrolean Kronplatz.

"We are proud to further strengthen our presence within the Leading Hotels soft-brand,- says Otmar Michaeler, CEO of the Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group (Fmtg). -This new milestone is an important recognition of what we have done to date, and lends prestige both to our individual hotels and to our brand awareness. Our increasing presence in Leading is also an important strategic lever, enabling us to be even more competitive and to open up to new potential market segments such as the US, UK, Middle East and Asia."

Inaugurated in 2020, the five-star Falkensteiner Hotel Kronplatz is a contemporary concept with an Alpine touch. The hotel is located in the picturesque setting of Plan de Corones, at the gateway to the Dolomites. In addition to the many sporting activities in winter and summer, the hotel proposes local traditions in its 7Summit Restaurant, which mixes South Tyrolean cuisine with influences from countries that have the highest mountains in the world, hosting leading chefs from these fascinating places. The hotel's jewel in the crown is its wellness centre: the Acquapura Mountain Spa on approximately 1,400 sqm with a rooftop pool and panoramic views. 

Quality Group’s Italyscape acquires Escapade, a DMC specialized in the MICE sector. 

New offices in Padua 

Italyscape has started 2023 with the acquisition of the Escapade brand, a destination management company specialized in MICE tourism. With offices opening in Padua, the new department will be tasked with monitoring the quality of suppliers throughout the supply chain, from restaurants to transfer agents and from hotels to guides.

The Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, Sicily and Puglia are in high demand

All of this follows a 2022 which closed with a turnover of €12.5 million, double the 2019 figure, while 2023 has started with significant growth. Among the most requested destinations by customers are the Amalfi coast, Lake Como, the main art cities while Sicily and Puglia, which are posting an increasingly strong demand.

“2023 is showing high growth margins for events” 

“The acquisition of Escapade, – says the CEO of Italyscape, Vincenzo Emprin, – coincided with a particularly profitable moment for us. If in 2022 the MICE segment showed signs of a slow restart, the first part of 2023 has shown a definitive recovery for events, with consistent numbers and very high growth margins. Our goal is to be able to carry on this historic brand, extending its operations to new markets, starting from those traditionally closest to Italyscape, such as the United States, Canada, the UK, Mexico, Spain, and France."

Volotea has announced its new Florence base and 12 new domestic and international routes from its Tuscan hub.

Volotea now has seven bases in Italy

From Florence Volotea has launched new destinations in Italy (such as Bari, Cagliari, Olbia, Catania and Palermo) and internationally with France and Spain.

"We are very happy with this new launch, which allows us to reach the quota of seven bases in Italy," says Valeria Rebasti, Volotea's country manager Italy & Southeastern Europe. "On the Italian market we have returned to the capacity levels of the pre-pandemic period.”

Olbia and Verona are another two Volotea hubs

"This summer Olbia will have 28 destinations and over 1.1 million seats on sale”, says Sebasti.  No less important is the carrier's presence in the Veneto region, with two operating bases in Venice and Verona. "For the first time in our history Verona will be connected with two capitals (Paris and Berlin, with flights starting in May) and also Barcelona.

Access for foreign operators selling Italy

"A section of our site allows agents to access products exclusively for them and for foreign operators selling Italy we have an 'important route network, with direct flights to France on destinations that are normally not directly connected.”  

Contemporary design and stunning views of the Eternal City blend in MAIO Restaurant & Rooftop, the new gourmet rooftop of the Rinascente department store in the heart of Rome.

Open from 10.am to after dinner

The new MAIO Restaurant & Rooftop on the 6th and 7th floors of the Rinascente Roma department store on the central Via del Tritone, is now open from 10 a.m. to dinner and is one of the most beautiful in Rome. With the kitchen helmed by chef Umberto Vezzoli, guests are welcomed at the entrance in the scenic bar area where they can sip a drink while waiting for a table, enjoy an aperitif or an informal meal.

The 7th floor is another dining area

The covered terrace and the adjoining interior have large windows that give breathing space to the restaurant area with its warm woods, antique mirrors and carpets, while plants help to create areas of privacy. Stairs lead to the 7th floor where the terrace has a long counter and wonderful views to be enjoyed from high tables or at classical tables for lunch or dinner, and there is also a lounge area for informal drinks. 

The menu features fresh, seasonal dishes with a nod to Roman cuisine along with MAIO classics. Rendez-vous on the 7th floor with the champagnerie and oyster bar by Moët & Chandon is a “terrace above the terrace” with a selection of raw dishes and more, accompanied by the iconic champagnes of the Maison Moët & Chandon.

A Caribbean-themed water park with crystal-clear water and white sand is due to open near Venice at the end of May.

Lagoons, sandy beaches and waves

The theme water park is in Lido di Jesolo, 300 metres from the sea and 45 minutes from Venice. It was awarded Italy's best water park in 2022, and will open on Saturday 27 May. An immense tropical oasis, it is inspired by the beaches of the Yucatan and has over 2,000 palm trees, 10,000 tons of fine sand, lagoons and a series of exclusive engineering solutions, such as Shark Bay, the only pool in the world with waves and sand on the seabed. 

Solutions from €30 pp per night from June to September

Stefano Tamborino, sales manager of Caribe Bay, says:

"The park is a real destination within a destination, ideal to be enjoyed with a visit to Venice or as an unforgettable experience to enrich a beach holiday on the upper Adriatic. We have an area on our site reserved for the trade, and travel agencies can access the ticket office at net rates, for individuals and groups, or commissionable park+stay packages. In the low season, from June and September, we offer solutions starting from €30 euro per person per night, with 2 days' admission to the park."

A kids’ area and a slow river

Caribe Bay has relaxation areas and beach umbrellas and 27 attractions immersed in tropical vegetation: from Captain Spacemaker, the highest slide in Europe, to Roatan, a fun and relaxing slow river which is one of the longest in Italy. The Pirates' Bay lagoon, which is just a few centimetres deep, is for families and has a nursery and various attractions that allow the little ones to experience the thrills of the Caribbean. 

Limbo Show - Caribe Bay

An area with reserved access and cabanas

Playa Paraiso is an absolute novelty for guests who want a few extra privileges: a panoramic terrace with reserved access, cabanas for four people with all comforts and a scenic infinity pool carved out of the rock. The park also offers live shows, 11 dining outlets with culinary specialties from around the world, Caribbean Golf, shops and other facilities. 

Tiqets, the world's leading online booking platform for museums and attractions, has some suggestions for some stunning attractions and not-so hidden gems in Sicily.

Italy’s ancient sites are appealing to visitors

According to Tiqets data, relating to the purchasing behaviour of  Tiqets platform users, the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, the Aquarium of Genoa, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and Pompeii were among the most purchased attractions in Italy from Saturday 22 April to Tuesday 2 May 2023.

Taormina's Teatro Antico 

Taormina’s Teatro Antico is 2000 years old

The amphitheatre was cut into the rock of the Sicilian hills about 2000 years ago and still gives unsurpassed views over the coast of Sicily, up to Mount Etna on the clearest days. Not only is this a wonderful place for history and nature, but it is also a natural setting for theatrical performances, opera, and Elton John to Robert Plant and  Stewart Copeland to David Garret are just a few of the international stars who have performed there. 

Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples has magnificent temples

The entire world is envious of the two ancient sites in Sicily. Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples is the world's largest archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spans 1,300 hectares and houses some of the most remarkable ruins of the ancient Greek and Byzantine empires. Visitors find the Temple of Concordia, one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world, the Temple of Hera, where the ancients made sacrifices to the goddess Hera, the Temple of Zeus and the lovely Kolymbetra Gardens.

Selinunte

Selinunte’s archaeological park has an acropolis

The archaeological park of Selinunte, a Roman-conquered and destroyed city has panoramic views of the sea. Walk through the ruins of these temples, some of which were the largest in the ancient world. The magnificent acropolis, which sits on an 8-meter-high wall and was the first object seen by travellers arriving by sea, can still be admired from the highest point.