Record bookings for Italian Small Luxury Hotels, which in 2023 generated revenues 65% higher than last year. 

Three new 2023 openings bring the total to 77

With three new openings in 2023, La Roqqa in Porto Ercole, Cape of Senses in Torri del Benaco and Furore on the picturesque Amalfi Coast, the SLH collection now totals 77 properties in Italy. "A deep affection binds us to Italy, which is also our flagship destination since the brand's launch in 1990,- says SLH's chief operating officer, Richard Hyde. 

“The 65% increase in Italian bookings exceeded our forecasts"

“This year Italian bookings exceeded our forecasts, posting a remarkable 65% increase in revenue year-on-year. Our guests continue to be fascinated by Italy's cultural and scenic heritage, thanks in part to the vast selection of elegant historic residences in our portfolio."

As announced a few months ago the IHG group is to open a 50-room Indigo hotel in Turin. 

The hotel is undergoing renovation, and expected to have 50 rooms

The opening of the new Indigo hotel is scheduled for 2024, in the former Grand Hotel Venezia. The property in Via XX Settembre 70 is currently operated under the name Chc Torino Castello: a 4-star hotel with 48 rooms. InterContinental has signed a franchising agreement with the property, the Rimini-based City Hotels Company (Chc) Holding group, which will continue to manage the hotel which is currently undergoing renovation, and expected to have 50 rooms.

Rotten Indigo’s portfolio has four hotels in Italy

Rotten Indigo's portfolio currently includes four hotels in Italy. In addition to Turin, two further expansions are planned: in February 2024, the 160-room 4-star hotel Florence is scheduled to open in cooperation with Grape Hospitality Group, while another 109-room 4-star hotel in Trieste (formerly Palazzo Kallister) is planned for 2025.

28 midscale, upscale and luxury IHG hotels in Italy

IHG is also planning the opening of the 224-room Holiday Inn Express Rome Airport in the coming months, in collaboration with the Borealis Hotels Group, while the debut of the 150-room 5-star Six Senses Antognolla, in the province of Perugia, is already scheduled for next year, and the Six Senses Milano in Via Brera in 2026. Finally, in the first half of 2025 the new Vignette Collection brand will make its entrance in Italy, with the 81-room 5-star Alexandra Hotel in Rome. IHG currently boasts a portfolio of 28 properties in Italy, with a total of 4,300 rooms, under six different brands in the midscale, upscale and luxury segments.

Milan Malpensa airport has inaugurated Welcome to Italy Access Point, the first information desk for Chinese visitors.

A valuable new tool for arriving Chinese visitors 

Providing directions, services and assistance to travellers arriving from China, in addition to being a point of cultural exchange, the Access Point - created jointly by Sea Aeroporti di Milano, Italy China Council Foundation-ICCF and Guang Hua Cultures et Media (Italy) - also represents an opportunity to understand consumer needs. Passengers will be able to access useful information regarding transport, shopping and the attractions of the city and the area through a specific QR code. This QR code will allow them to access the YesMilano WeChat channel, guaranteeing immediate access to all the information they need.

“We are the fastest growing gateway to China in Europe”

Brunini Armando“This new initiative confirms our commitment to services aimed at the Chinese market,-  says Armando Brunini, CEO of SEA Milan Airports. “With the arrival of new companies and the consolidation of those already present, Malpensa connects Milan and the entire north Italy to China, offering direct flights to seven major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Wenzhou, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Shenzhen and Zhengzhou. Currently, Air China, Cathay Pacific, Juneyao Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Eva Air to Taipei operate at our airport. We are the only Italian airport with a direct connection served by an Italian carrier, Neos, thus offering a total of 32 weekly frequencies. We are the fastest growing gateway in Europe and we are applying to be one of the Preferred Gateways for traffic from China.”

“We are certain Chinese visitors will grow”

“We believe this initiative is a useful and functional service for Chinese tourists who, we are certain, will continue to grow,” underlines Mario Boselli, president of the Italy China Council Foundation-ICCF. “Italy’s beauty and lifestyle are recognised the world over, and loved in particular by the Chinese. Offering them a warm welcome upon arrival is certainly the best way to ensure that we remain a popular destination, with constantly growing flows from the East.”

Ryanair Cagliari-Perugia flights are the novelty for Umbria Airport’s winter 2023-24 season which is operative until next March 29.

Ryanair, Wizz Air and Albawings flights

The Ryanair flights to and from Cagliari will be operated also during the winter months with two weekly frequencies scheduled on Fridays and Sundays. Ryanair connections with London Stansted (with between three and six frequencies a week), Catania (between two and three frequencies a week) and Palermo (two frequencies a week) are also confirmed. Wizz Air and Albawings will operate flights to and from Tirana with three and two frequencies per week respectively. 

The new services include a family and a fast track

The new services in San Francesco d’Assisi airport’s terminal include new charging stations for electronic devices, free and unlimited WI-FI, a smoking area, a business lounge, new shops and car rentals, a new bar in the sterile area, a courtesy line for families and passengers with reduced mobility, a fast track, a new gate, turnstiles for e-ticket reading and a new security gate. Outside the terminal, more than 200 new parking spaces have been added, with a dedicated space for bicycles, two parking spaces for recharging electric cars and, last but not least, a new road system and new signage. 

Alfonso Pacifico is the Belmond Group’s new area managing director for Portofino.

The role encompasses the Splendido Mare and Bagni Fiore

In his new role Pacifico is in charge of the multi-phase restoration project of the Splendido Hotel, of which he has also been appointed general manager. He is also responsible for the strategic guidance and operational management of the Splendido Mare and Bagni Fiore, a private beach club managed by the company which has been part of the LVMH group since 2021. Pacifico will report directly to vice president and divisional leader Southern Europe, Christian Boyens. Having joined Belmond as front of house manager at the Caruso in Ravello in 2014, Pacifico took over as general manager in 2019, and three years later was promoted to managing director and director of special projects.

“I am looking towards new goals”

"I am honoured and grateful to take on such a prestigious role in an iconic structure such as the Belmond di Portofino but, above all, I am happy to be able to further share my great passion for hospitality while looking towards new goals,- says Pacifico. – The Splendido and Portofino more than just an exceptional combination, they are a highly sought-after destination and a shining beacon in the world of hospitality.”

The former San Gottardo in Como will be branded a Radisson Collection and open in 2025. 

The new Radisson will have 72 rooms and a gourmet restaurant

Renovations have begun on the hotel, which has been inactive for some thirty years. The former San Gottardo was acquired in the second quarter of 2022 by Pessina Immobiliare, a company linked to Como entrepreneur Maurizio Critelli, who was already active in the hotel sector. It was sold by Milan-based Beatrice d'Este, which had owned the property since the 1980s. The plans now call for a Capex investment of about €30 million for the construction of a five-star property branded Radisson Collection with 72 rooms, a bistro, lounge bar, spa, fitness areas, and a panoramic gourmet restaurant on the top floor. The opening is scheduled for the first half of 2025.

Ryanair has brought back the Luton-Treviso route with two weekly flights. 

The 40 routes to Treviso support over 2,000 local jobs

The winter operation of the low-cost flights from Treviso will include over 280 weekly flights and 40 routes, with 10 new destinations such as Gdansk, Madrid, Marseille, Cork, Santander, Tirana, Toulouse, Vienna, Zaragoza, and London Luton. Additionally, there will be increased frequencies on 11 routes, supporting over 2,000 jobs in the region.

Ryanair now operates on 29 airports in Italy

This winter Ryanair will have two aircraft based in Treviso, aiming to transport 2.5 million passengers in the 2024 fiscal year, marking a 6% growth compared to the previous year. “The route from Treviso to London was the first operated by Ryanair in Italy in May 1998,-  says Mauro Bolla, Ryanair's head of communication for Albania, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and Romania. - We are pleased to reinstate this route and so are local businesses. Since 1998 Ryanair has grown, and now flies to and from 29 airports across Italy, 17 of which are bases, and we have carried some 500 million passengers to and from Italy.”

“Excellent results from the partnership with Ryanair”

“Connecting Treviso with London is a great return for our city, many people from Veneto and Treviso live and work in London,- added the mayor of Treviso, Mario Conte. – To see more fights on our airport is another important signal, following the excellent results from the partnership with Ryanair and the Consortium for the Protection of Prosecco Doc.”

Discover Balsamic Vinegar, a symbol of Italian culture, with a visit to a vinegar factory.

A resort with 8 junior suites

In the picturesque Modena hills of Levizzano, Opera|02, an elegant farmhouse, offers a unique and immersive dining experience, which us a perfect blend of elegance and tradition, in its vinegar factory. “The traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is the beating heart of Opera|02, binding the past, present, and future of our people and territory,- says Mattia Montanari, founder of Opera | 02. -It started with the land, and the first generation of farmers in my family. The initial five hectares of organic Lambrusco Grasparossa vines have now expanded to twenty. Subsequently we opened the restaurant and the resort consisting of eight junior suites with unmatched views of the vineyards outside and the vinegar factory inside.”

Mattia Montanari

A dining experience engaging the senses

More than three hundred barrels now occupy the space that was once a stable, and to enhance the recognition of this symbol of excellence, Opera|02 offers a one-of-a-kind experience in Italy: dining in the vinegar factory. These are not mere post-visit tastings but an immersive journey surrounded by hundreds of barrels. The five-course menu, by Chef Pietro Gisondi, guides guests through a tasting adventure that highlights the distinct characteristics of each vinegar with varying aging. The meals are served at elegant tables in the vinegar factory, engaging four senses – taste, smell, sight, and touch.

An unparalleled culinary journey through four senses

This unique experience begins in October, continues through November, takes a pause from December to February, resumes in March, and concludes in April, meticulously respecting the vinegar's delicate cycle. Anyone interested should note that here is no heating or air conditioning during these periods. To embark on this unparalleled culinary journey and reserve your table, visit www.opera02.it.

This year is witnessing a peakof food and wine experiences as the primary motivation for tourists choosing to come to Italy. 

Many visitors are by driven their passion for gastronomy.

There has seen a significant surge of travellers coming to Italy to explore its food and wines, with 58% making at least one trip driven by their passion for gastronomy. This is a remarkable 37% increase since 2016 and translates into an estimated 9.6 million visitors.

Food experiences and nature holidays topped the list

The trend is not limited to a specific group, as it has become widespread among all travellers exploring Italy’s charming landscapes. Seven out of ten tourists have engaged in at least five food, wine, or beer-themed experiences during their recent trips, marking a 25% increase compared to 2021. This aligns with findings from the European Travel Commission, revealing that food, wine, beer, and themed experiences were among the most popular attractions for travellers to Europe during the summer, alongside nature-themed holidays.

One in three visitors has upped their budget for food

Despite the ongoing crisis, a positive outlook prevails, with one in three tourists coming to Italy stating that they have allocated a budget exceeding that of 2022 for the purchase of food and wine offerings. These insights are drawn from the sixth edition of the "Report on Italian Food and Wine Tourism," authored by Roberta Garibaldi, a professor of Tourism Management at the University of Bergamo. Garibaldi, also the president of the Italian Association of Food and Wine Tourism and vice-president of the Tourism Commission of the OECD emphasises the immense potential for growth in this sector. 

“The challenge is to explode the potential”

“The high interest of tourists, the excellence Italy has to offer and the expected growth in tourism in the coming years gives us an incredible trio of aces for the future. Now the challenge is to explode the potential. There is a large gap between interest in experiences and actual use, and all of Italy’s regions boast a wealth that can be further valorised. It is important to preserve and enhance the Italian culinary heritage, the landscapes, small traders and artisans.” The latest edition of the Report on Food and Wine Tourism is available for free download www.robertagaribaldi.it/raiuto-sul-turismo-enogastronomico-italiano. 

United Airlines has announced an expansion of its seasonal services from Italy to the U.S. for 2024, with a second daily Washington-Rome flight.  

Seasonal United Airlines flights for Milan, Naples and Venice

The airline’s nonstop seasonal service between Washington D.C. and Rome will increase from once to twice daily, whilst seasonal flights from Chicago and San Francisco to Rome, from Chicago to Milan, as well as from New York/Newark to Naples will start up to a month earlier for summer 2024. The seasonal service expansion will build on United’s existing year-round daily services from New York/Newark to Rome and Milan as well as seasonal daily flights between New York/Newark and Venice. United is offering up to eleven daily nonstop services from Italy to the U.S. for Summer 2024.

“United will operate its largest-ever transatlantic summer schedule”

“We are excited to announce this expansion of our seasonal services from the United States  to Italy for summer 2024,- said Walter Cianciusi, country sales manager Italy, United Airlines. -For summer 2024, United will operate its largest-ever transatlantic summer schedule, offering our customers even greater travel choice and the possibility to connect via our U.S. hubs to other destinations across the Americas.” 

United has served Italy from the United States since 1997

United has served Italy since 1997, offering year-round daily services from  New York/Newark to Milan and Rome,  seasonal daily services to Rome from Chicago, Washington Dulles and San Francisco, between Milan and Chicago, as well as to Venice and Naples from New York/Newark.