The new Italica Hotels & Resorts brand manages five hotels and intends expanding with more properties.

Resorts and hotels throughout Italy

The Italica Group which is part of the Italica DMC, in the past worked in partnership with the Spanish company Smy Hotels. The operator currently has five directly managed properties: the Bellamonte Hotel in Trentino, the Borgo Magliano Resort in Tuscany, the Garden Area in Rome, the Sighientu Resort in Sardinia, and the Tonnara di Bonagìa Resort in Sicily.

Italica Sighientu Resort

“We work with leading Italian tour operators and agency networks”

"We are back on the market with a new brand that replaces the original Italica Turismo after merging with Smy Hotels and reinventing ourselves with a new look,- says CCO Mauro Mazzola. -Attention to sustainability, enhancement of the area and local traditions are the foundations on which we have revised the brand, the logo and our place in the market. We are currently working with leading Italian tour operators and agency networks.”

Italica Tonnara di Bonagia

Looking for medium-sized hotels that need management

The Italica Hotels & Resorts Group had a turnover of €11 million in 2022 and is planning to expand.

“We are interested not just in medium-sized hotels in Italian holiday resorts, both in the mountains and by the sea, such as Calabria, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily, but also in small and medium-sized hotel chains looking for management. One of our goals is to satisfy the increasing number of requests from abroad, mainly from European tour operators looking for an all-inclusive product.”

From April to December 2022, over 97,000 rooms were sold, resulting in an average occupancy rate of 65% for Belstay Hotels. 

“Revenues have increased by 7%”

“The vision, strategy and product we envisioned have been met with success, and we are pleased with the outcome,” says Roberto Di Tullio, Belstay’s CEO.  “In comparison to the previous management, revenues have increased by 7%and our average rate has grown by 15%. And this is only the beginning.”

Events contributed to Belstay’s success

The focus on hosting corporate events has significantly contributed to these figures for Belstay Hotels. Following the opening of the hotels in Milan Assago and Venice Mestre the company processed approximately 1,500 requests for cost estimates for events or conferences. Some 300 of these were successfully fulfilled, primarily in Rome and Milan

The “Clever Wherever” slogan

“Our success in the first year can be attributed to two key factors: flexibility and credibility,” adds cluster director of sales Daniele Montemurro. “Our Clever Wherever slogan has resonated exceptionally well in the corporate events sector. Our versatile and adaptable events spaces are chosen for team-building activities, presentations, and training courses covering a wide range of topics, from human resources to NLP.”

Successful Milan, Rome and Venice properties 

Belstay Linate has become a prominent destination in the airport vicinity, with occupancy rates surpassing 80% and an added focus on the restaurant, where seasonal menus are curated by renowned chef Andrea Ribaldone. Belstay Roma Aurelia, known for its revenue performance, hosts events on average three to four times a week, Belstay Milano Assago has successfully attracted a series of events, while Belstay Venezia Mestre benefits from an excellent reputation, largely due to its high levels of service.

Villa Relais San Martino in Martina Franca, in the enchanting Valle d'Itria in the province of Taranto gets  Ninò, a new gourmet restaurant.

Rooms and suites with all modern amenities

Renowned for its breath-taking landscapes and historic villages, Villa San Martino is nestled in lush greenery in the heart of Puglia, in the Valley of the Trulli, and has been featured in prestigious guides such as the Touring Club and Relais & Chateaux. The Relais San Martino has 21 rooms, including the San Martino Suite, two Executive Suites, two Corner Suites, two Junior Suites with balconies, one Maison Rose Junior Suite, ten Maison Rose Deluxe rooms and three Deluxe rooms. Each room has modern amenities, including Jacuzzi tubs and state-of-the-art Samsung smart televisions.

Exclusive and personalised spa wellness treatments

The large outdoor swimming pool on the sun terrace is complemented by the luxurious Spa that offers exclusive and personalised wellness treatments. The Spa has a Finnish sauna, bio sauna, Turkish bath, emotional showers, sensory tank, and a hydro-massage pool.

The new gourmet fine-dining Ninò restaurant  and guest activities

The recent renovation of Villa San Martino has also enhanced its culinary offerings, resulting in the creation of Ninò, an exquisite fine dining restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Giuseppe Germanà. Alongside the gourmet Ninò, which is a gastronomic highlight at Villa San Martino, there is also the Trullo di Ninò, a restaurant showcasing the deep-rooted culinary traditions of the Puglia region. For sports and excursion enthusiasts there is a wide range of activities e, including horse or carriage rides, mountain biking with expert MTB guides in the surrounding countryside and hills, and guided tours of farmsteads, olive mills, local shops, and wineries.

The new Is Arenas Resort from Baja Hotels with an 18-hole golf course made its debut at the end of May. 

Set in a pine forest the resort has 75 rooms

Located 27 kilometres from Oristano in Sardinia the resort, set in a 936-hectare pine forest, has 75 rooms a gourmet restaurant, a panoramic terrace, a beach, two bars, a swimming pool, a 70-seat meeting room and a spa. It also includes an 18-hole par-72 golf course designed by world-renowned architects Von Hagge, Smelek and Baril.

Offers and packages including flights and excursions

Is Arenas Resort is also marketed through DMC Sardinia 360 and the tour operator Gastaldi Holidays, a brand of the Baja Way group which also includes Baja Hotels, with offers and packages including flights, transfers and, of course, a wide choice of excursions and experiences in the area.

“We are marketing the resort for golf enthusiasts”

“Curiosity, passion and care are the levers that have been driving our choices in the world of hospitality for decades,- says Baja Way director, Marco Bongiovanni.  -Today we are proud to present what we consider the flagship of our collection. We invested in this property with the intention of guaranteeing the resort a long seasonality, a full five months (it will close on 31 October), marketing it as a product for golf enthusiasts and for those who want to get back in touch with nature without sacrificing comfort. I am sure that we will have many satisfied guests.”

The seven Aeolian Islands, recognized as UNESCO world heritage sites, are the focus of Evolution Travel’s new tailor-made portal.

A wide range of affordable options and high-end experiences

Evolution Travel’s new website provides the opportunity to choose from various enchanting itineraries and stays on the Eolian Islands which are off the north-east coast of Sicily: Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Panarea, Alicudi, and Filicudi. Personalized activities and tailored itineraries are also available. "The Aeolian Islands are versatile and cater to different budgets, from affordable options to high-end experiences. They are suitable for all types of travelers," explains travel consultant Chiara Ameglio.

Stromboli

All seven islands are close together 

The seven Aeolian Islands are in close proximity one to the other, with a perfect island to suit every type of traveler. It is recommended to explore the Aeolian Islands between April and November. Ships and ferries arrive in Lipari and Vulcano, while hydrofoils and boats provide connections between the islands, allowing visitors to join tours or follow itineraries that encompass all the islands. Or opt for a holiday staying on a single island and then venture out to explore the others.

Trek up to the crater of an active volcano

Panarea is renowned as the island frequented by VIPs, with its glamorous ambiance and white and blue houses. Alicudi represents a journey back in time, devoid of roads or transportation options, where travel is mainly on foot or by donkey. Stromboli, with its impressive volcano erupting every 20 minutes, provides a unique and incredible experience, and it can be climbed with a local guide to reach the crater during the most spectacular moments, or admired from a boat. Another volcanic island, Vulcano, features a large crater known as La Fossa which can be reached on a comfortable one-hour walk after which there is a panoramic viewpoint encompassing all seven islands.

Lipari

The 7-night boat tours start in Catania 

The portal offers a plethora of travel ideas, including an 8-day and 7-night Tour of the Volcanoes, which can be customized and starts from Catania. This tour allows travelers to explore both the volcanoes of the Aeolian Islands and Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. For those seeking to discover all the islands, the Tour of the 7 Sisters is an experiential itinerary with tastings, boat tours, idyllic beaches, and cultural excursions. Another option is the Cruise on a gulet to the Aeolian Islands, offering a week-long journey aboard a traditional wooden boat to experience the poetic beauty of the archipelago by sea. 

Wizz Air’s Malta-Catania flights, to launch on I July, are the 6th new route for the Sicilian city.

Malta-Catania starting on 1 July for two months

Wizz Air, Italy’s third largest Italian airline and the most sustainable globally, will launch the new route from Catania to Malta with six weekly flights for the summer season. The  Malta to Catania flights will start on 1 July 2023 and will be operated in July and August. Tickets are already available on the Wizz Air website and via the WIZZ app from €14.99.

Wizz Air offers over 3 million seats to and from Sicily

In addition to the five new routes recently announced from Catania, Wizz Air now announces these flights to Catania from Malta, offering more convenient and affordable opportunities between the two popular holiday islands. The flights will be operated with the A321neo aircraft, and with this new route Wizz Air strengthens its leading position at Catania Airport, offering a total of over three million seats for sale to and from Sicily.

“This brings the number of routes from this Sicilian base to 30”

Tamara Nikiforova, Corporate Communication Manager of the Wizz Air Group said:

'We are delighted to add another route to our network in Catania, bringing the total number of Wizz routes from this Sicilian base to 30. With six new routes from Catania, two from Comiso, an increase in frequencies and the fourth aircraft arriving next winter, Wizz Air remains committed to improving connectivity for its passengers in Sicily with more comfortable, convenient and sustainable travel opportunities." 

With the opening of the B&B Hotel Ischia San Nicola, the number of properties in the Group's portfolio in Italy rises to 61. 

A pool with thermal water, and 65 rooms

Located halfway between the beaches of Maronti and Citara, the property is in wonderful natural surroundings and has 65 rooms, some of which terraces overlooking the sea. There is also an outdoor swimming pool with thermal water.

“Affordable prices and high quality”

"We are very proud to open our second property on a fascinating island like Ischia, which has always been popular with  Italian and international visitors," says Liliana Comitini, president and CEO of B&B Hotels Italia. "We always keep a close eye on the new needs of our customers. and our strategy allows us to maintain affordable price standards, while offering high quality.”

The Leonardo Hotel Lago di Garda–Wellness and Spa on Lake Garda is the sixth property of the company under the ownership of the Israeli Group Fattal Hotel.

Leonardo Hotel Lago di Garda–Wellness and Spa Suite

Suites with private terraces and whirl-pool tubs

With a total of 127 rooms and suites, the Leonardo Hotel Lago di Garda–Wellness and Spa offers luxurious amenities, including a spa suite with a two-person whirlpool tub as well as two hydro suites with terraces and two-person whirlpools. The wellness area boasts eleven treatment rooms, an indoor pool, and two outdoor pools, one of which is exclusively for adults.

Leonardo Hotel Lago di Garda–Wellness and Spa - Comfort Room

“Italy is a one-of-a-kind experience for travellers”

The resort, formerly known as Principe di Lazise, was acquired by the Israeli fund Fattal European Partnership II, managed by Guy Vardi and Yaniv Amzaleg in April of last year.

Leonardo Hotel Lago di Garda–Wellness and Spa - Wellness Spa

“We are delighted to offer another captivating leisure option with this splendid establishment in Lazise,- says Yoram Biton, managing director Leonardo Hotels Central Europe - This is a crucial step in our expansion strategy, which will now also focus on leisure destinations. Italy is the perfect place for this kind of growth, as it offers a one-of-a-kind experience for travellers.”