American Express and Italo have renewed their partnership, with the Italo Più loyalty programme adding new exclusive benefits for Italo American Express cardholders. At the same time the Italo Impresa portal, dedicated to SMEs, also joins the partnership, introducing important innovations and advantageous offers to ensure the best solutions for business travel.

Discounts of 50% on business fares  

Registration on the Italo Impresa portal is free and members can travel with discounts of up to 50% on business fares, managing their invoices independently and simply. Furthermore, by purchasing Flex Comfort, Prima and Club Executive tickets, Italo returns a 40% cash back that can be immediately used to purchase other Italo Impresa tickets. The partnership also allows holders of an American Express card for business expenses, who register for the first time on the Italo Impresa portal, an additional cash back of 5%, 6% or 7% based on the American Express Green, Gold or Platinum card, valid for six months after registration.

One point for every euro spent on the card

The renewal of the partnership between the two companies also brings extra Italo Più benefits for holders of the Cobrand Italo American Express Card. In addition to automatic entry to the Membership Rewards® Club, which allows one point for each euro spent with the card, holders will be entitled to four annual accesses to Italo Club Lounges with the possibility of hosting a travel companions using the voucher system. 

Preferential Fast Track access

The Italo American Express Card also allows a free upgrade for every five Italo tickets purchased and, in the stations where the service is available, preferential access to the Fast Track. Special Italo Più points bonuses are also reserved for cardholders, equal to 20% more points for the purchase of Flex fare tickets for travel in all classes. With the Italo American Express Card it is also possible to obtain a bonus 4,500 Membership Rewards points against € 7,000 spending in a year which can subsequently be used to request free Italo awards tickets. www.americanexpress.it/clubmr

Museums, noble palaces, a large historical centre, the port and the sea, the aquarium, theatres, exhibitions, year-round activities and gourmet traditions. Genoa has all of this, and is not just a city to visit for its cultural and architectural legacy, but also a place of a thousand delights to discover and enjoy at any time of year.

Green experiences to attract visitors

"To revitalise the city and send a clear signal to everyone - explains Tourism Councillor Laura Gaggero - we have brought operators together to create a tourist experience. Even smaller operators, as it only by putting all the pieces together that we can attract the attention of tourists." The Green Hub facility, sponsored by the Municipality but administered by different operators, has just inaugurated and concentrates on green experiences. 

A tourist pass for transport, museums and visits

“We have also developed a tourist City Pass - adds Gaggero - which includes various services such as buses, but also experiential visits and some of the city’s museums. The pass can be topped up according to the services the user chooses. This initiative has also helped to revive tourism in the city.”

One free night for every two in participating hotels

Genoa has just reintroduced the autumn edition of the Genoa, seize the moment project which was first presented in May and is heavily reliant on the Genoa City Pass. Until 20 December guests staying two nights in participating hotels will receive a free night in addition to the Pass, while those staying in non-hotel facilities will receive a free 48-hour city pass with a limited use of mobility and some free guided tours.

A visit to the beautiful historic heart of Aosta centres around the remains of Augusta Praetoria, the arch erected in 25BC by Caesar Augustus as a symbol of the power of Rome. The city’s imposing theatre and walls date back to the Augustan age, while the amphitheatre is Claudian and the cathedral is attributed to the Emperor Constantine. 

Aosta also boasts the medieval complex of Sant'Orso, originally built in  Romanesque style but modified later with Gothic additions like the evocative cloister which was built in 1132. A unique iconographic display adorns the many capitals including stories from the Old and New Testament, hagiographic themes and isolated images of men and animals.  In honour of Sant'Orso, the legendary name saint of the valley, every year on 30 and 31 January a thousand Aosta Valley artisans exhibit their works in an extraordinary event, its climax being the night Vigil.

An example of environmental protection 

To admire an example of research and development of regional agriculture you can book a visit to the Institut Agricole Régional in Loc which is committed to the protection of the area and its environment, and a leader in this field due to their innovation and the quality of their work.

Saint-Pierre a medieval village under the Gran Paradiso 

A short distance from Aosta, on the flat valley floor of the Dora Baltea river, which is a tributary of the Po, Saint-Pierre is a charming village overlooked by a medieval castle. History is, yet again, the main draw to this beautiful location which is surrounded by lush apple orchards and vineyards and dominated by the imposing Grivola, one of the magical peaks of the Gran Paradiso mountain range. History and culture are important elements to be discovered while holidaying here and can be enjoyed in the Natural Sciences Regional Museum inside the castle.

Rome’s Palazzo Naiadi is Anantara’s debut in Italy. While it was doing the rounds that the Thai hotel group had acquired Rome’s historic former Hotel Boscolo building, it is now official.  The 238-room property close to the Termini railway station, the Trevi Fountain and other landmarks, boasts one of the largest terraces in the city. With four renowned and varied restaurants as well as a champagne bar overlooking the Naidi Fountain, it also has a spa, fitness centre and eight flexible spaces befitting work or events.

Renovations start in January 2022 and will include a new rooftop area  

There are also changes on the way for this significant rebrand. In the coming months Anantara will roll out its full range of guest experiences for the property through an estimated year of renovations set to begin in January 2022. The innovations will include an elegant new design lobby, an Art Nouveau themed bar, a health corner, a new rooftop area and a top floor spa with a Hammam, Jacuzzi and relaxation area.

New properties ahead for Amsterdam, Budapest, Nice and Dublin

Anantara’s European expansion is set to continue into 2022 with properties in Amsterdam, Budapest, Nice and Dublin in addition to the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort in southern  Portugal and the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace in Marbella.

Cagliari Cruise Port, thanks to its Safe Travels Stamp, was among the first to resume post-pandemic operations, welcoming 14 three different cruise ships in 2020, while in 2021 about 50 ships from 13 different cruise lines are expected. This goes to show the appreciation ship owners have for this cruise port and it’s up-to-date services. One such update, a wired data network system, guarantees excellent connection standards and ever faster boarding operations.

A new cycle-pedestrian path  

The city waterfront has also been renovated with several redevelopment works in the port area. For example, the Buona Onda, a carved wooden wave that provides shade for the pedestrian path from the port to the city centre. A new cycle-pedestrian path has also been added, ending in the new Parco del Nervi, an area of green among the industrial archaeology of the port. This park is also the starting point for visits to the natural oasis of Molentargius.  The new Cagliari, land of cruises project is also underway and aims to further facilitate cruise ship stopovers in the Sardinian capitals’ port.

Among the proposals to boost tourism to Sardinia the Regional Council is promoting Isola dello Sport, 26 international sporting competitions and tournaments, from world tennis to the under-21 World Volleyball Championship and from water sports to motocross. Tourism Councillor Gianni Chessa said these sporting events are a great way to promote the island for the attention they have attracted worldwide. 

Volotea intends boosting flights

“We are also concentrating on other sectors like religious, gastronomic, experiential, cultural, archaeological, cycling and congress tourism. We need to boost the quality of services but are confident the direction taken by the president of the region and the council is a valid one and will bear fruit. Regarding transport – said Chessa - we are talking with Volotea which has confirmed its intent to boost flights and guarantee continuity. For now, due to EU laws, the programme is provisional but they are working to extend it from next May to October. The goal is to have flights 12 months a year.”

An archaeological exhibition in four great museums

“Archaeological tourism, which is the identity of Sardinia’s history, is currently in the world spotlight with the Island of Megaliths exhibition which is in four of the world’s most important museums. Berlin just closed with 96,000 visitors in three months, now it’s the turn of St. Petersburg for another three, then Thessaloniki and finally Naples.”

Creating opportunities for growth 

Italy’s second largest island is also investing in religious itineraries and in slow tourism. “We are committed to enhancing the interior of Sardinia which has 3,200 km of routes touching on 250 municipalities, but they need better accommodation facilities. This is a challenge for the region, a chance to create opportunities for growth in the area, and a breath of fresh air for the hinterland which remains isolated in the winter months,” added Chessa.

August was a bumper month is many areas

Sardinia bounced back this summer with between 15 and 18 million overnights from June to October, and with August surpassing 2019 figures in many areas, in particular those with the best tourism services. In pre-pandemic years visitors came for the most part from Germany, the rest of Italy, the UK, Switzerland, Belgium and America and with growing numbers of Russian arrivals.      

Rome once again took centre stage last week with a major tourism event, Federalberghi’s Art Cities Exchange at the Crowne Plaza St. Peter Hotel which was attended by over 80 top international buyers and organized by Comitel & Partners. At the over 3,000 meetings between buyers and sellers, business was brisk during the two days of the event and there was much cautious optimism in the air.  

“Covid protocols are in place in Italy and travellers can feel safe”

Many buyers expressed in glowing terms how efficiently Italy is handling the Covid situation. Tim O'Neill from EZ Italy of New York said his clients want to feel safe when travelling. “I explain that the protocols in Italy are in place and that they can really feel safe.  In Italy I see how careful and cautious they are, without being restrictive. It is very important that they maintain this. Italy sells itself, it is a magnificent destination.” Joke Paans, owner of Historia Events, Lisserbroek who specializes in historic tours and hotels said she felt safer in Italy than in the Netherlands. “Here everyone wears masks and there are always checks on the Green Pass, this is strict but it is a good thing.” For Ivana Libertone of See Italy Travel in California the important thing is to reassure clients.  “Many people are still scared to travel, but we give them all the information and assure them they can travel without risk in Italy.”   B2B operator Connie Lücke, Director of Sales, One World Travel in Frankfurt said most of her clients only sell to people who are vaccinated or have recovered from Covid, and Charlotte Gouget of Autentik Events, France said that health and safety are vital to getting tourism moving again. 

“It is good to get back to live events. People are tired of webinars” 

For Marina Rossi of Behringer Touristik, Germany  “It is great to be back at a live event. You come in contact with new ideas.” Daniela Calzetta of Jet Vacations, Florida found the buyers at the Exchange were enthusiastic. “There is good energy here, we are all crossing our fingers that next year will be a good one. Italy is one of the European countries that have been serious in treating the emergency - she added - I feel quite safe travelling to Italy compared to other countries.” Joke Paans told us that after having no business during the pandemic she is hoping next year will be better. “It will be good to get back to live events, online is better than nothing, but people are tired of webinars.”    

A systematic approach to health and safety measures 

One issue needing to be faced is a systematic approach to the new rules and restrictions travellers are having to deal with. The pandemic has added another layer to the travel experience and it’s not a good one, said Tim O’Neill, who explained that in certain countries, and even in cities and regions in the same country, there are different protocols. “They need to come up with a uniform policy to make it easy for travellers to come. If someone is coming from the States to Europe they can’t be expected to do one thing to go to Italy and another to go to Spain. It’s very cut up right now.”  Daniela Calzetta said she works mainly with groups and that some museums are splitting them up, allowing only allowing eight or ten in at a time. “That’s ridiculous, these kind of restrictions do not help our business. Of course we will follow them, but they should be a little more reasonable.”  Ivana Libertone found that some of the lesser-known regions are not doing enough to make themselves known, “but that depends on the administrations.”  Marina Rossi said not everyone at the Exchange knew enough about their product. “It is important to invest in staff, to provide them with the right tools.”  

“The mood is let’s treat ourselves to something special”

Connie Lücke was surprised to be approached by groups and hotels attending the event that would never have worked with her company before the pandemic “Suppliers who have always relied on other markets like the US and Russia did not need us, but now they do. And hotels are more approachable, which makes our life easier. When things return to normal I think that will change again, but until that happens I’m going to take advantage of it.” Leo Long, Executive, Luxury Tourism, Macao said he was delighted to discover what Latium, Veneto and Piedmont had to offer. Connie Lücke added that she will be putting more services into her itineraries. “People don’t want to queue for hours, so they are willing to spend more on special services and exclusive experiences. Hotels tell me foreign guests are not buying prosecco, now they want champagne. The mood is ‘let’s treat ourselves to something special’ and the trend is the same for travel.” 

With 727 biosphere reserves in 131 countries, 20 of which are in Italy, the MAB programme, which turns 50 this year, was set up to promote a balanced relationship between man and the environment through the protection of biodiversity and good practices of sustainable development. 

The Biosphere now includes 80 municipalities

The Tuscan-Emilian Apennine Biosphere Reserve was created in 2015 on an area of ​​over 223,000 hectares, across 38 municipalities. This year UNESCO approved the extension to an area of over 490,000 hectares and 80 municipalities, including the Ligurian municipality of Luni, the first municipality in Liguria to join the Unesco project. 

“An ethical and voluntary pact”

The mayor of Luni, Alessandro Silvestri explains: “Entering this worldwide network does not involve costs or constraints. It is an ethical and voluntary pact that commits us to a sustainable use of natural resources, to a model of equitable economic and social development, to the promotion of cultural values ​​and traditional practices with an eye, above all, towards the younger generation.”

A new bond between the Apennines and the Tyrrhenian coast

The president of the National Park Fausto Giovanelli, adds: “ Luni is an important addition to our Biosphere Reserve. Today’s agreement is a pact, a new bond between the hinterland and the sea, the Apennines and the Tyrrhenian coast. It represents a step forward for our network and communities, which are ready to share projects and best practices.” 

Nicknamed the Florence of the South, Lecce is the capital of the Salento region, and just 12 kms from the Adriatic coast. With strong Messapian roots and called Lupiae under Roman rule, the city stands welcoming in baroque splendour. Palaces and churches line the streets enclosed by the three ancient gates to the city: Porta Rudiae, Porta San Biagio and Porta Napoli.

Master stonemasons created a work of art

The reason for the unique baroque exuberance of the city is Lecce’s soft and malleable stone which allowed the master stonemasons to create incredibly detailed and refined work. This is best represented in the extraordinary facade of the Basilica of Santa Croce on the equally spectacular Piazza Duomo square. Strength and grandeur, on the other hand, characterize the city’s castle, rebuilt by order of Charles V. The Roman Amphitheatre stands adjacent to the central Piazza Sant’Oronzo and is an evocative reminder of the city’s ancient history.

Strolling through the city’s ancient districts

A visit to this city of rose windows, twisting columns, arches, squares and alleyways can start from under the arch of Porta Napoli. Before entering the historic centre stroll along Via Palmieri with its noble palaces, into the Piazza Duomo square. Then, entering the Porta Rudiae gate you leave the paved streets for the ancient low-lying ward of Giravolte. As you stroll along these alleys and squares tinged with pink when sunset hits the glowing Lecce stone, you will capture the true essence of this splendid city.