Many ancient convents, monasteries, and towers are now luxury hotels and popular for high-end luxury stays.  

The Fresco Room in an ancient convent turned Relais in Umbria

The Relais Borgo Campello is located in a tranquil and picturesque Spoleto valley, not far from Spoleto in Umbria, in what used to be the Convent of Saints John and Peter.. The Relais has many guestrooms in the former cells once inhabited by monks, including the precious Fresco Room with frescoes dating back to 1342, while there are other rooms in the castle. To unwin there is a spa and for culinary delights the Sapori nel Borgo Restaurant awaits. 

A suite in the chapel of a former monastery in Sicily

An ancient Benedictine monastery nestled in the heart of the Syracuse countryside, just a few kilometers from the sea, has been transformed into an elegant villa with beautiful rooms and suites and views of the golf course. The crown jewel of Borgo di Luce I Monasteri dei Mira Hotels & Resorts is the suite created within a former cult chapel, making it one of the remarkable residences in this extra-urban abode that features 102 elegantly furnished rooms and suites. Set amidst 200 hectares of parkland and 20 kilometres from the sea, this is the heart of  Sicilian Baroque.

Former convent and monastery hotels in Emilia

In Emilia, a region known for its castles that rise among the Apennine landscapes, cities of art, and ancient convents, many religious buildings have been converted into unique hotels in Parma, Piacenza, and Reggio Emilia. Explore these hidden gems with Visit Emilia, the Land of the Slow Mix. The former monastery of Fontevivo in Parma, next to the renowned Cistercian abbey, has been transformed into the Relais Fontevivo hotel. Here, you can savour Emilian dishes at the 12 Monaci Restaurant in the ancient Refectory Hall, and stay in rooms once occupied by seminarians, in a peaceful oasis surrounded by nature. 

Bypillow, the Spanish hotel company, has opened its first Italian property, a 3-star in Florence. 

“We are thinking of adding new three to five hotels every year”

Albert Duran and Marc Molas

The young hotel company founded by Albert Duran and Marc Molas recently acquired the former Hotel Goldoni, located in the piazza of the same name, a hotel with more than a century of history. Once renovated, the new Bypillow Goldoni will have 20 rooms and be a 3-star boutique hotel with the official opening planned for the second half of 2024.  

This is only the first step in an ambitious expansion plan for Italy. “We are thinking of adding new three to five hotels every year, much as we did in Spain,” says Molas. We are aiming for the so-called Big 4 cities, but we also do not disdain secondary destinations. As long as they are close to an airport and enjoy international demand.”

“We plan to open a 40-45 room property in Rome”

The objectives are therefore properties with at least twenty rooms, located in the centre of cities such as Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice (the Big 4), but also Bologna and Naples. Bypillow has already set up an Italian office and the development team is currently in negotiations for further acquisitions. "We are in the exclusive due diligence stage for a 40-45 room property in Rome," adds Molas.

Expanding in many European countries

The company currently boasts a portfolio of 18 boutique hotels in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Cadiz, Bilbao, Girona, Malaga and Vilanova i la Geltrú. A further six are in the pipeline with contracts already signed and openings scheduled by 2025 (the majority of the properties are managed with long-term leases. Ed.), and group also aims to expand in Portugal, Malta and Greece.

The Garda Trentino area transforms into an even more magical place at Christmas with its many markets.

Christmas decorations in old towns and villages

Between the end of November and to the beginning of January there will be numerous Christmas markets scattered throughout the Garda Trentino area, which transforms into an even more magical place during the winter. The Christmas markets will take place in some of the most beautiful small towns and villages in Italy. In addition to the traditional stalls, old stone stairways, arches, vaults, narrow alleys, and picturesque squares will also be decorated, making these townships even more charming.

Special visits from The Grinch 

The rocky walls of Arco form the backdrop for the splendid Di Gusto in Gusto Christmas market with typical stalls and wooden huts which transforms the historic centre of Riva del Garda into a miniature gastronomic paradise: an invitation to discover the myriad of flavours that this land has to offer. New for 2023: the Grinch House. For the first time, the Bastione of Riva del Garda will be home to the little green creature best known to the world as "the anti-Christmas". The Grinch himself will be present on some days, from 1st December to 7th January, to entertain adults and children in a show filled with Christmas spirit.

Photo Credits: Garda Dolomiti Spa Archive

Complimentary food tastings

From this year guests staying in local accommodation facilities, and who are participating in the festivities, will receive a free drink or a typical dish: an opportunity to the local taste brò brusà, polenta, or one of the many other delectable food and wine options. 

The Markets in detail

25 and 26 November; 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17 December 2023

Advent with a medieval charm at Canale di Tenno’s market

18 and 19, 25 and 26 November; 2 and 3, 8, 9 and 10, 16 and 17, 23, 26, 29, 30 and 31 December 2023

A miniature nativity scene at the Christmas market in Rango

From 17 November 2023 to 7 January 2024

The Christmas market in Arco with festive treats and musical notes

From 17 November 2023 to 7 January 2024

 A gourmet Christmas with the Di Gusto in Gusto market in Riva del Garda

On 2 and 3; 8, 9 and 10; and on 16 and 17 December 2023

Vite di Luce with sparkling Christmas lights in Santa Messere

VRetreats recently officialized its new entry, the Hotel Cervino in the ski resort of Breuil-Cervinia Valtournenche Zermatt.

The hotel has a golf course and mountain views

The property is part of the poker of new entries announced by the luxury hotel brand of Alpitour in June. After an extensive and recent renovation completed in the autumn of 2021 the property is now a design refuge in harmony with the panorama of the Aosta Valley Alps. In line with the VRetreats philosophy, the hotel connects to the environment with large windows and terraces that create continuity with the outdoors, where there are larch forests, a golf course and the majestic Matterhorn mountain.

The Adara Spa and two pools are for relaxing

The hotel boasts 66 rooms divided into superior and deluxe and ten suites, including four spa suites. Added to the offer is the Santus Lounge Bar, a cocktail bar with a view of the Matterhorn, the Buvette at Buca 9, a rendezvous for golfers who like to enjoy a drink before the game, and the Le Saveur restaurant, which offers traditional Valdostana cuisine with an innovative twist. The hotel also has a 615-square-metre wellness area, the Adara Spa, which is perfect for relaxing after a day spent skiing or hiking, two swimming pools, a gym, a multi-purpose room with the Aosta Valley Alps as a backdrop, and a shop where sports equipment can be hired.

Ticket booking is live for the global travel community secure entry to the 43rd edition of World Travel Market London, the world’s most influential travel & tourism event, which takes place between Monday 6th - Wednesday 8th November 2023 at Excel London.

Organisers are enabling visitors to book tickets well in advance of this year's show and have announced several new and exciting changes showing that the global travel community has the Power to Change travel.

After in-depth customer research carried out late last year, WTM London has announced a host of developments to improve the attendee experience and ensure that every member of the travel community extracts as much value from the event as possible.

This year, WTM London will open its doors earlier than usual – ready to welcome visitors from 09:30 am providing an additional hour for visitors and exhibitors to have spontaneous meetings.

Visitors are invited to make use of the new, open-for-all Community Hubs right in the centre of the show, and attendees can also look forward to an 'everyone's welcome' Networking Party that will take place within ExCel London on its first day, Monday 6th November from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm. 

Developments include a new VIP badge to host senior industry leaders and a big-name, inspirational Closing Keynote on Wednesday, 8th November.

WTM Connect Me – the show's meeting booking platform – will return in 2023 and is available for Buyers, VIPs and Media. All attendees will also have access to the official WTM App, which returns this year with exciting new enhancements. 

The conference programme will cover eight themes over three different stages throughout the three-day event. The eight conference themes are Sustainability, Technology, Geo-Economics, Emerging Markets, Consumer Trends, Marketing, Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) and Experience and aim to help the global travel community succeed and thrive by informing, entertaining, and influencing their business decisions.

In response to the ever-increasing importance of influencers to the travel and tourism sector, on Wednesday, 8th November, content creators will be invited to a lunch with global destinations to support collaboration and networking opportunities.

In other changes the Ministers’ Summit at World Travel Market in Association with UNWTO and WTTC, where dignitaries from around the world gather to discuss and ratify key tourism agreements, will return for its 17th year, and will take place on Day One, Monday 6th November.

The November show is set to launch its first Diversity and Inclusion Summit on Tuesday 7th, supporting WTM's belief that the travel sector has the power to evoke positive change in the world. 

Tickets to the three-day show will be free until 31st October, after which there will be a charge of £45 per person. Organisers are encouraging early booking to ensure visitors take time to plan and maximise their visit.

Juliette Losardo, Exhibition Director, WTM London, said:

“We’ve been working behind the scenes to bring some exciting developments to World Travel Market this year. As the travel and tourism sector grows and changes, it’s essential that WTM evolves to guide and support this change; a place for inspiration, for making plans and fixing issues, for diversifying thinking and hardening supply chains – it is our job to ensure the travel sector is equipped for the next chapter.

“Developments you’ll see at WTM this year are entirely reflective of what our attendees are asking for. We’re bolstering the ways you can maximise value from your visit, with more networking, better business opportunities, a refreshed education programme and a host of new partnerships.

“We’re pleased to be opening ticket booking ahead of the summer and are committed to ensuring travel professionals have the best three days possible.’’

Play your part at the world's most influential travel and tourism event. 

Visitor: World Travel Market 2023 | Your details (eventadv.com)

Media: World Travel Market 2023 | Your details (eventadv.com)

The organisers of WTM London 2023 – the world’s most influential travel & tourism event – are celebrating World Tourism Day by shining a spotlight on sustainability in the sector.

World Tourism Day is an annual UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) initiative to highlight ways the sector can help countries make progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals – the UN roadmap for a better world by 2030.

This year, World Tourism Day (September 27) has the theme of “Tourism and green investment”, with an emphasis on investing in three key areas: education, sustainable infrastructure and technology.

To highlight the importance of sustainability in tourism, WTM London has announced details of its sustainability sessions across all three days, which will include the Sustainability Summit on Day Three.

The first Summit session is entitled ‘Where Next? Reimagining Tourism in a Constantly Changing Climate’. The debate will ask questions such as “What should good tourism look like as the climate and biodiversity crises keep getting worse?”; “How can we keep selling holidays and avoid greenwash?” and “Do we need to tell a new story?”

The discussion will be moderated by Jeremy Smith, who co-founded Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency in 2020 – the first grassroots global initiative that brings together tourism destinations and businesses to work together on climate action.

Other sessions during the Summit will ask how the tourism sector can provide more sustainable holidays and explore greener transport options in Europe, such as rail travel.

Experts leading these debates will include Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor; Ruth Wright, Euronews Travel Managing Editor; Carlos Abade, Chairman, VisitPortugal; Martin Brackenbury, Advisor to UNWTO; Sacha Dench, CEO & Ambassador for the UN’s Convention on Migratory Species; and Vincent Nijs, Chief Strategist, Visit Flanders.

Speakers at the green transport session will be Paloma Zapata, CEO at Sustainable Travel International, Björn Bender, CEO at Rail Europe and José Ramón Bauzá Díaz, Committee of Transport and Tourism, European Parliament.

Juliette Losardo, Exhibition Director at World Travel Market London, said:

“Sustainability is the cornerstone of tourism development. Investing in sustainable infrastructure and green policies across our sector is now more critical than ever.

“Some of the extreme weather events we’ve seen this year, such as wildfires and destructive storms, highlight the urgency for action to limit emissions and to integrate sustainable and responsible measures at every stage of tourism development projects.

“Sustainability is one of the key tracks for our agenda at WTM London 2023, which means there will be several sessions throughout each day, culminating in the Summit on Day Three.

“Travel has the power to change the world and through our influential debates with leading experts, our delegates will understand how they have the power to change travel.”

This year’s conversation at the Sustainability Summit will align with the overall World Travel Market campaign around the Power to Change, with a big focus on sustainability, diversity, and inclusion.

The sustainability discussions begin on Day One of WTM London on the Discover Stage, with sessions that will highlight success stories from around the world and explore how tourist boards and tour operators are adapting to new green regulations and consumer trends.

On Day Two, Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor and Managing Director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership, will lead the debate across six sessions on the Innovate Stage. The discussions will ask why responsible tourism makes business sense and examine the issues of “greenwashing” – then delve deeper into areas such as aviation, technology and overtourism.

Losardo added:

“The sustainability sessions and the Sustainability Summit will offer a unique platform for stakeholders to come together, exchange ideas and forge innovative solutions that will contribute to shaping the drive to greater sustainability in the tourism sector, fostering prosperity and responsible growth for all.

“With investment in sustainable infrastructure being a key pillar of World Tourism Day, I’m delighted to take this opportunity to announce details of our sustainability sessions and the Sustainability Summit.

“WTM London is where tourism professionals come together to play their part in the global conversation to create new futures.”

• The Sustainability Summit at World Travel Market will take place from 10:30 - 13:00 on the Elevate Stage, on Day Three of WTM London (November 8)

Val Gardena, the quintessential Dolomite valley and UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, is a haven for hikers, climbers, and mountain bikers. 

A colourful market

Among the valley’s historic and significant events, Segra Sacun stands out as the most important market. Following tradition, on 9 October Segra Sacun will fill the square of Ortisei with vibrant stalls selling typical gastronomic and craft products. This market is not just about commerce as it carries an ancient romantic tradition. During these festive days, bachelors have traditionally gifted their ladies with a pear adorned with a coloured bow. If the lady is interested, she will dye an egg in the following months, and the brave bachelor must collect it in person at Easter.

Segra Sacun

Michelin-starred and Ladino restaurants

Simultaneously, Ortisei will host an exciting gastronomic event until 15 October, Culinarium Urtijëi which showcases Val Gardena's typical local cuisine and its peasant roots. Ortisei, the largest town in Val Gardena, renowned for its diverse gastronomy, is home to famous Michelin-starred restaurants as well as traditional Ladin eateries. While agriculture may be a secondary activity for most farms in Val Gardena, it is the farmers who play a crucial role in shaping the gastronomic culture. They focus is on environmental respect and health, preserving ancient Gardena recipes. 

Autumn paints the landscape with vibrant colours and features honey and chestnuts in the Valle d’Aosta region. 

Honey and chestnuts take centre stage in October

Ph Credits: Virginia Neyroz

This is a season when flavours take centre stage.  One of the highlights in the autumn calendar is the La festa de lo pan ner, held on the weekend of 14 and 15 October in various locations, offering a chance to taste and purchase typical wheat and rye bread. To close October this northern Italian region celebrates its honey, which is produced in the traditional way without undergoing heat treatment. From 27 to 29 October the streets of Châtillon showcase various local types of honey. Autumn also signals the arrival of chestnuts, with events organised in Donnas, Fénis, Avise, and Courmayeur at the end of October. These events offer cheerful outdoor experiences for visitors.

Ph Credits: Enrico Romanzi

An autumn weekend filled with flavours

For those seeking an autumn weekend filled with flavours, nature, history, and folklore, the Valle d’Aosta is the perfect destination. The Valle d'Aosta booking portal provides a list of accommodation facilities in the region, including hotels, RTAs, B&Bs, farmhouses, and apartments. Visitors can book directly online without intermediaries and without any booking costs.

Aleph Rome Hotel has addes two new types of suite.

The Aleph has 88 rooms with 14 suites

Given the increased demand from families and guests wanting more space the Aleph Rome Hotel, affiliated to the soft brand Curio Collection by Hilton, has decided to add two more suites: The Aleph Suite and the Two Bedroom Suite. With the addition of these two new suites the hotel has a total of 88 rooms, including four suites and ten junior suites.

The new suite have Acqua di Parma courtesy lines

The Aleph Suite on some 50 sqm, consists of a double bedroom and a living room with a sofa bed and can take up to four people. This contemporary suite also has two marble bathrooms and an Acqua di Parma courtesy line. The Two Bedroom Suite, is a family format on some 75 sqm comprising two double bedrooms, a living room with a sofa bed and three bathrooms, also with an Acqua di Parma courtesy line and it can accommodate up to six people. 

“The first step in a series of small but substantial changes”

"Our priority is to adapt to the needs of our demanding clientele. And this just the first step in a series of small but substantial changes that will be made to our already luxurious and functional hotel," says Aleph Rome Hotel's general manager, Valeria Fruscio.