Sina Hotels’ Milan boutique hotel The Gray has won a tender for a municipal building.

The property overlooks the Vittorio Emanuele II gallery

In Via San Raffaele, a stone's throw from the Duomo the building, owned by the municipality of Milan located inside the Ciro Fontana gallery, overlooks the Vittorio Emanuele II gallery. The Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper reports that the Florentine hotel group, led by the president of Federalberghi, Bernabò Bocca, won the tender thanks to a bid for €43 million or €1.2 million per year. Given the investment needed to convert the building into a hotel, the duration of the concession has been set at 36 years, instead of the more traditional 18, to guarantee Sina an adequate amortization period.

30 new rooms, public areas and a spa

The building, which is under the protection of the Fine Arts and is on ten floors, will be an extension of the adjacent Sina The Gray, with some additional thirty new rooms and public spaces, as well as a restaurant and a wellness area. In addition to Sina Hotels the Aries Group also participated in the tender. The starting bid was €1.150 million per year, equal to about €550 per square metre.

A new era is taking off for Genoa airport with the 19 March opening of the new East Wing for an investment of €15 million and after 18 months of work.

Serving three million passengers

The total surface area is 5,500 square metres, of which 550 are destined for a new commercial area with Duty Free and a multi-product sales point.  The new East Wing allows the Cristoforo Colombo Airport to boost its potential capacity to three million passengers and is the first important step in a broader restyling plan that, after 12/18 months of work and a further €12.6 million of investment, will completely redesign the face of the airport by the end of 2026. The new spaces also house the four security control lines equipped with the latest generation of automatic baggage inspection machinery, three new boarding gates, 250 seats (a third of which are equipped with power sockets for electronic devices) and a new boarding pier with access to the apron, which is fully air-conditioned and equipped with a lift to access the runway.

“Offering travellers the best possible experience”

“The new terminal,- said Enrico Musso, president of Genoa Airport, -has been designed and built to offer travellers the best possible experience and allows us to increase the potential capacity of the airport to a maximum of three million passengers. An ambitious goal that we are confident we can achieve thanks to the airport's strong growth potential linked to the increase in tourist flows and the huge investments underway in our area.”

The check-in desks will increase to 22 from the current 12

The restyling work will be carried out while the airport remains fully operational, and when the work is finished, the total surface area of Cristoforo Colombo airport will be 20,000 square metres (+38%), of which 1,200 will be given over to commercial areas the number of check-in desks will increase to 22, from the current 12, the number of gates to 10,from the current nine, of which three will be in the new East Wing, the number of aircraft parking spaces in front of the terminal will increase to 8 (+2) and the new lounge will be on  200 square metres (+50).

The new Genoa Airport railway station

In addition to the €27.6 million of investments in the terminal, the airport will benefit from further important infrastructural investments, with a total value of about €80 million, destined to significantly modify the accessibility and connectivity of the airport with the territory. In particular, the construction of the new Genova Aeroporto railway station and a pedestrian walkway with a moving walkway is planned to connect the airport to the new station in just six minutes, thus connecting the airport to the railway network. 

Palermo Airport has posted a rise in foreign arrivals and announced new international routes.

The new year started with a positive trend

The beginning of the year has been marked by growth for Palermo airport which, in the first ten days of January 2025, recorded a 9% increase in transit passengers and a 5.5% increase in flights compared to the same period in 2024. “The start of the year confirms a positive trend for our airport,- says Vito Riggio, CEO of Gesap, the company that manages Palermo airport. -Every effort must be made to make travel increasingly safe and comfortable.”

Direct United flights from New York Newark

For the Falcone Borsellino airport 2024 was a record year in terms of passenger traffic, with 8.9 million passengers, 10% more than in 2023, and with international traffic at 30% (2,400,000) of the total number of travellers. The summer promises to bring further news as United will introduce  direct flights with New York (Newark Airport) from May, while Neos has confirmed summer flights from New York JFK.

easyJet, Condor and Volotea are adding flights 

Three new routes have been announced so far by easyJet: Lisbon, the only connection from Sicily, Palma de Mallorca and Bristol, while from 2026 - but flights are already on sale - Jet2 has opened Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle. Swiss, on the other hand, is adding an extra daily flight on the overnight route. And from May:Condor will fly to Rome Fiumicino, while Volotea will add flights to Heraklion/Crete and Bilbao this summer.

Aiming to close 2025 with half a million passengers

Last December ended with over half a million passengers (552,247), +8.56% compared to the same month in 2023 (508,701 and there were some 21,600 passengers from 23 December 2024 to 7 January 2025 compared to the same period in 2023/24. For 2025, a 10% increase in passengers is expected which, according to traffic estimates prepared by Gesap's planning and control office, will close at around half a million transit passengers.

After the success of the 2024 season, Dimensione Sicilia again proposes Sicilian Secrets tours and gulets to the Aeolian Islands.

Showcase the authenticity and beauty of Sicily

 “This year is also starting very well,- says Julian Zappalà, general manager of Dimensione Sicilia, - and this encourages us to continue offering itineraries that showcase the authenticity and beauty of Sicily. The strength of our flagship product, Sicilian Secrets, is the regularity of the weekly departures, which allows us to offer group tours designed to guarantee a peaceful and flexible travel experience, scheduled every week from 8 March to 18 November.”

30 destinations and more than 70 guaranteed departures 

The Sicilian Secrets 2025 programme is even more extensive and varied, with a calendar that includes 12 different itineraries, over 30 destinations and more than 70 guaranteed departures. The tours are the perfect combination of art, culture, tradition and extraordinary landscapes, confirming Dimensione Sicilia's commitment to creating authentic and quality experiences to discover every aspect of the island.

“Our partner agencies can count on dedicated conditions and constant support”

“An undisputed plus of many of our itineraries,- adds Zappalà, -is the private experience at Cantine Florio, which we have been offering since before the boom of the famous TV series. It is a truly special added value for this product segment, and offers our customers exclusive moments making the experience even more authentic.” To complete the Sicilian Secrets offer, we have also added the winter departures already published, with four special itineraries dedicated to the bank holidays of the Immaculate Conception, New Year's Eve, Saint Agatha and Carnival. And we always reserve special attention for our partner agencies, who can count on dedicated conditions and constant support.”

An 8-day cruise of the Aeolian Islands 

“The success of our tours has motivated us to invest also in the nautical sector, with a product that has also become one of our strengths: the gulet cruise to the Aeolian Islands, with guaranteed departures every Saturday from 31 May to 27 September.”  Available both in the cabin charter and the exclusive formula, the cruise offers an 8-day experience to discover the seven pearls of the Mediterranean. On board, guests can enjoy cabins equipped with every comfort, a dedicated chef and the chance to admire the eruptions of Stromboli directly from the sea. 

Rome Fiumicino airport has retained the title of best airport in Europe for 2024 for the eighth consecutive year.

The survey is by the Airports Council International and Amadeus

This recognition goes to Rome’s airport in the category of hubs with over 40 million passengers, for the quality of services offered to travellers, according to the Airport Service Quality survey carried out by Airports Council International in collaboration with Amadeus.

Fiumicino first among 119 participating European airports

With a record score of 4.61 (on a scale of 1 to 5), Rome Fiumicino ranked first among all 119 European airports participating in the survey in 2024 and is the only one among the major international hubs, together with Singapore, to win all the award categories. With this result, Leonardo Da Vinci, which in 2024 handled almost 50 million passengers, is also the airport with the highest passenger satisfaction rating among all airports with traffic exceeding 25 million travellers per year in EMEA and the Americas. 

Ciampino Airport won in the 2-5 million passenger category

In addition to the Best Airport award, Fiumicino was also recognized this year in the following subcategories: Airport with the Most Dedicated Staff in Europe; Easiest Airport Journey in Europe; Most Enjoyable Airport in Europe; Cleanest Airport in Europe. And once again, Ciampino's Giovan Battista Pastine airport was also recognized, winning the Best Airport in Europe award in the 2 to 5 million passenger category.

“We must urgently develop Fiumicino's infrastructure in a fully sustainable way”

 “Once again this year, Fiumicino and Ciampino airports have been recognized internationally for the quality and services offered to passengers: an increasingly important and not to be taken for granted acknowledgement that once again testifies to the dedication, passion and commitment of our people and all the colleagues from companies, organizations and institutions that work synergistically in our airports,- said Marco Troncone, CEO of Aeroporti di Roma. -Looking at the traffic forecasts for this year and the next few years, we are aware that, in order to continue to guarantee this level of quality and increasingly innovative services, we must urgently develop Fiumicino's infrastructure in a fully sustainable way. Only this way will we be able to consolidate the leading role that Italy, a global reference tourist destination and high-potential transit platform, deserves in international air connectivity flows.”

Southern Italy is strategic for ITA Airways, said the airline’s chief commercial officer and CEO of Volare  at the Borsa Mediterranea del Turismo (Mediterranean Tourism Exchange) in Naples.

ITA Airways to operate to 59 destinations this summer

At the start of the summer season, during which ITA Airways will be operating to 59 destinations. Of these  16 are domestic, 27 international and 16 intercontinental, to which another 12 seasonal destinations are to be added during the summer peak (3 domestic and 9 international).

“Over 7 million passengers from Rome and Milan to Southern Italy” 

“Southern Italy is strategic for us, both for outgoing and incoming traffic,- says Emiliana Limosani, chief commercial cfficer of ITA Airways and CEO of Volare. -The data in our possession confirms that in 2024 we transported over seven million passengers from Rome and Milan to destinations in Southern Italy and this summer season we will offer over 500 weekly flights to Bari, Brindisi, Naples, Reggio Calabria, Lamezia Terme, Cagliari, Alghero, Palermo, Catania, Lampedusa and Pantelleria. Furthermore, Naples will host the first of seven legs (Naples-Palermo-Catania-Rome-Milan-Venice-Bari) of our Italy Sales roadshow, during which we will meet some 800 representatives of local travel agencies, who are essential partners for us.”

Codeshares with the Lufthansa Group airlines

From 30 March ITA passengers will also be able to benefit from additional connections to over one hundred destinations thanks to codeshare flights with the fie Lufthansa Group airlines: Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Air Dolomiti. New for summer 2025 are also the connections with the city of Olbia to and from Turin from 26 July to 6 September; in addition to the new international Milan Linate-Munich route, operated with two daily flights from Monday to Friday, and one flight on Saturdays and Sundays starting from 30 March. While from 7 November 2025 the company will operate the Rome Fiumicino-Mauritius route for the first time, with two weekly flights.

Shedir Collection, the prestigious luxury hospitality brand, has announced the appointment of Silvia Collepardi as chief commercial officer.

Expanding the group’s presence on new markets

Collepardi will lead the group's commercial vision with the aim of expanding the brand's presence on new markets, while strengthening the consolidated positioning of Shedir Collection in the United States. She brings with her a wealth of international experience in the luxury hospitality sector. Most recently, she served as vice president sales and marketing at Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts.  

The best of Italian hospitality 

In her new role at Shedir Collection, Collepardi will be responsible for guiding the group's commercial strategy, boosting revenue growth and optimizing global partnerships. Her leadership will be crucial in ensuring that Shedir Collection continues to win over the most refined travellers with its unmistakable Italian hospitality—where art, history, exclusive locations, gastronomic excellence and attention to detail create an experience so unique and engaging that guests are motivated to return again and again.

“Our commitment is guaranteeing authentic, world-class experiences”

”I am honoured to embark on this exciting journey with Shedir Collection, a brand that embodies the essence of Italian hospitality,- said Silvia Collepardi.  -I am proud to be able to count on an excellent team to develop and strengthen our commercial strategy with the support of our representative offices, Wanderluxe Destinations and D Luxury Hospitality. Cristiano Zucchiatti, general manager Shedir Collection, added: “Silvia's extensive international experience and her in-depth knowledge of the luxury hospitality sector make her the ideal person to lead our commercial strategy. Her vision fits perfectly with our commitment to guaranteeing authentic, world-class experiences.”

A prestigious luxury collection

Shedir Collection is a prestigious Italian hotel group committed to excellence. The property portfolio includes Hotel Vilòn, Hotel Maalot, Hotel Umiltà 36, Hotel Palazzo Roma and Palazzo Shedir in Rome and Capri Tiberio Palace.

Wizz Air is launching new routes to Rome from Bilbao in Spain from 30 March 2025, followed by Zaragoza from 1 April.

Airbus A321neo flights

Flights from Bilbao will operate four times a week: on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, while Zaragoza will be served three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. All flights will be operated with Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Zaragoza is a pilgrimage destination

Wizz Air will be the only company to connect Fiumicino with Zaragoza, a city that is a well-known pilgrimage destination, thanks to the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. During the Jubilee year, this route offers a unique opportunity for residents of the region to reach Rome and vice versa.

New travel options at affordable prices

“With these two new routes we are further boostingthe connections between Spain and Italy,’ said Tamara Nikiforova, senior communications manager Wizz Air. – We are thrilled to be the first airline to connect Zaragoza and Rome with a total of over 60 routes from Rome. Fiumicino is one of our largest bases in Italy and, with the 2025 Jubilee Year underway, we wanted to offer our passengers new travel options at affordable prices.”

Traffic from Spain in 2024 grew by 20% over 2023

“These flights will further stimulate traffic to and from Spain, already the leading international market for Rome, which in the year just ended set a new record, reaching the threshold of 6 million passengers with a 20% growth compared to 2023,” said Federico Scriboni, aviation business development director Aeroporti di Roma.

Ryanair's summer 2025 schedule at Rimini airport counts eight destinations, six of which are international flights.

New summer routes and flights from Cagliari and Palermo

The summer routes to Rimini are from Budapest, Krakow, Kaunas, Prague, London Stansted and Vienna as well as domestic flights from Cagliari and Palermo. Overall, there will be over 50 weekly flights. 

Pushing for the abolition of municipal surtaxes

The low-cost airline, which has been operating to and from Rimini for 27 years, did not fail to bring its requests to the Italian government and regions to the forefront on the occasion of the launch of summer operations. “To stimulate the growth of Italian tourism we ask for the abolition of the municipal surtax at all Italian airports - reads the airline's note -, thus allowing Ryanair and other carriers to promote a rapid growth in tourism and employment throughout the year. Should the Italian government abolish the municipal surtax, Ryanair would respond with an investment of four billion dollars in Italy, adding 40 new aircraft, an increase in traffic of up to 80 million passengers a year, over 250 new routes and 1,500 new Ryanair jobs in the Italian regions».

Rimini is a favourite destination with foreign tourists

The appeal of Rimini on the Romagna coast is clear from the final figures for 2024: 6,934,419 overnight stays, an increase of +2.7% compared to 2023, while arrivals exceeded 1,856,501, equal to +1.2%, again compared to last year. This growth was driven in particular by foreign tourists, who recorded a +7% increase in arrivals and a +9.2% increase in overnight stays. The provisional Istat data therefore paints a picture of ‘an excellent year’ thanks to the return of foreign tourists. If these remarkable percentages of foreign tourism are spread over all twelve months of 2024, they settle at a record 30.3% of foreign arrivals out of the total (at a provincial level, the foreign percentage out of the total is 23.6% of arrivals).

Eastern European countries are boosting arrivals

The significant number of foreign visitors recorded in 2024 is largely due to the German and Austrian markets, as well as the explosion of new markets (led by Poland, followed by Romania and Ukraine), which have compensated for the forced collapse of what until 2019 was Rimini's main foreign asset, Russia.