Continuing Minor Hotels’ European expansion, Anantara Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi will open this Spring following extensive restoration and renovation works.

New-look rooms and refreshed dining concepts

The heritage hotel on the stunning Amalfi Coast south of Naples, occupies a 13th-century monastery and former Cappuccini Friars Convent and will be lovingly restored to its original glory. The historic property will reveal new-look accommodation, refreshed dining concepts and a completely redesigned spa, all perched on a clifftop 80 metres above the sea level with spectacular views of the Mediterranean coastline.


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Suites with terraces, plunge pools and stunning views

To convey continuity and heritage, the property’s 52 rooms and suites will see existing tiled flooring, vaulted ceilings and lime-washed walls carefully preserved. Anantara’s signature hospitality experience will be created through the addition of rich textiles, sculptural furniture, locally-sourced contemporary art and the latest in high-tech comforts. The suites will retain their vast terraces with plunge pools and sweeping views of the coast, while the resort’s pool area will be redesigned with custom-made furniture. Signature Anantara experiences, a new Anantara Spa and Italian dining concepts will ensure that every guest experience at Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel is exceptional.

Belmond has signed an agreement with Sardegna Resorts S.r.l., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority to manage the Hotel Romazzino in Porto Cervo, on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda. 

“Romazzino revives the timeless charm of the 1960s”

Under Belmond's management, the property will be named Romazzino, A Belmond Hotel, Costa Smeralda an, commenting on the deal, Belmond President and CEO Roeland Vos said:

"We are very excited to add Romazzino to our portfolio, further strengthening Belmond's position as a leader in luxury hospitality in Italy. This agreement is part of a strategic expansion that includes unique and exclusive properties within our prestigious collection. With its white sandy beach, great views and wide range of activities, Romazzino revives the timeless charm of the 1960s."

The hotel is a refined beachfront oasis with retro 1960s charm

Romazzino overlooks the most picturesque part of the Costa Smeralda and stands on the beach of the same name, a seductive patch of white sand and one of the most iconic views of the entire Costa Smeralda. Originally conceived by the Aga Khan in the 1960s, over the past 40 years, the hotel has earned a reputation as a refined beachfront oasis thanks to its retro 1960s charm that infuses the property with character. The property seamlessly into Belmond's existing portfolio of properties and will undergo rebranding to enhance the more authentic and traditional characteristics of the property and its surroundings, offering guests superior service and experiences. 

Two swimming pools on the private beach 

When it opens as a Belmond Hotel in 2024, Romazzino will feature a number of enchanting rooms, suites and villas, as well as two stunning swimming pools along the private beach. Guests will be able to enjoy the typical Italian resort lifestyle at a slower pace, relaxing with dedicated wellness facilities, carefully crafted adventures on land and at sea, and experiences to discover local craftsmanship. This epicurean journey will be enriched by a wide variety of restaurants and bars showcasing the best Sardinian products, to be enjoyed surrounded by enchanting landscapes. 

Tourissimo presents a 7-day culinary cycling tour of Sardinia hosted by celebrated Chef Gabrielle Hamilton. 

Cycling and culinary delights in Sardinia

Sardinia is famous all over the world for its beautiful coasts with fantastic beaches, and its mountainous and wild interior is also worth visiting. Many travelers describe Sardinia as being a continent unto itself, with each area and town having diverse landscapes and local traditions. Guests on Tourissimo’s cycling tour will experience the culinary specialties of both the coast and the mountains and discover the cultural roots of the island while cycling some of its most scenic and traffic-free roads. 

Discovering local cuisine with Chef Gabrielle Hamilton

Chef Hamilton, the chef/owner of PRUNE, which she opened in New York City’s East Village in 2019, will play an important role in helping guests understand and experience the local cuisine and culinary techniques that tell the story of the territory. Highlights that guests will be able to enjoy are include dishes not found elsewhere in Italy, lunch with a shepherd in a unique setting, a visit to the bronze age site of Santa Cristina with its unique water temple and to the Barbagia and Ogliastra geographical and cultural areas that are the true soul of Sardinia, and of course 7 days of stunning cycling in the rural inner island and along the Mediterranean coast.  

Professional tour guides accompany the tour

The tour is scheduled for May 26 - June 1, 2023 and prices start at $5,995 per person double (all meals included) and e-bikes are available upon request.  Also included are two or more professional tour guides throughout the programme, all accommodations in 4-star hotels, all breakfasts, all lunches, and all dinners, wine with meals, coffee, cappuccino, gelato stops and wine tasting.

For full details see https://www.tourissimo.travel/chef-tours/sardinia  
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Follador Prosecco has devised three Wine Experience getaways: a not-to-be-missed opportunity to discover in springtime, delighting in the evocative atmosphere of the Valdobbiadene Prosecco hills, a World Heritage Site in the Veneto region.

The Prosecco hills are a World Heritage Site

As well as the romantic and historical enchantment of Venice, discover the hinterland to the north-east which boasts a very special charm: hilly landscapes that are a World Heritage Site, where the virtuous interaction between man and nature has created a unique landscape. Why not indulge in a moment of discovery in the Valdobbiadene’s Prosecco hills: the three Follador Prosecco Wine Experience packages? 

Three exciting wine tastings of the Veneto’s famous prosecco wines 

These wine tastings include, in addition to an initial welcome reception and guided tour of the winery's production process, a transfer to the ancient Torri di Credazzo fortress towers to enjoy a private tasting of five Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. wines, in the heart of the vineyards. Completing the experience is a guided tour of the plant with a tasting of five Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. wines. The Perlage di Prestigio package includes a welcome by a member of the Follador family and a tasting of five Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. wines.

  

The three Follador Prosecco packages are:

Perlage of Prestige
A journey to discover contemporary and family values 
The experience includes a welcome by the hospitality manager or a family member in the tasting room followed by a tasting of 5 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G.
- NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 2 to 10
- DURATION: 1 hour
- TIMES: Mon-Fri 09:00, 10:30, 14:30 or 16:00 and Sat 09:00 or 10:30
- LANGUAGE: Italian, English
- LOCATION: Azienda Vinicola Follador Prosecco
- PRICE: € 15,00

Blending History & Innovation
- From the vine to the goblet a centuries-old history 
- The experience includes a welcome at the winery, the viewing of a short film about the winery's history, a visit to the plant with an explanation of the production process. To conclude, a guided tasting of 5 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore wines is included.
- NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 4 to 10
- DURATION: 2 hours
- TIMES: Mon-Fri at 10:00, 14:00 or 16:00 - Sat at 10:00
- LANGUAGE: Italian, English
- LOCATION: Azienda Vinicola Follador Prosecco
- PRICE: € 25,00

Tasting with a View
- The experience includes an initial welcome, a visit to the winery with an explanation of the production process, a transfer to Torri di Credazzo and, to conclude, a guided tasting of 5 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore wines, while admiring the breathtaking view.
- NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 4 to 8
- DURATION: 4 hours
- TIMES: Mon-Fri at 14:00
- LANGUAGE: Italian, English
- LOCATION: Follador Prosecco Winery & Towers of Credazzo
- PRICE: € 40,00
- NOTE: In the case of bad weather, the visit will be the "Blending History and Innovation" wine experience   

Unahotels Bologna San Lazzaro reopens with a new name and design after almost three years of closure.

“We want to become a benchmark for Bologna”

"It is with great satisfaction that we announce our reopening,” sais Fabrizio Gaggio, general manager Una Group. "Our intention is to become a benchmark for Bologna, with areas and services available to both guests and the public.” The main restyling on the strategically located property in San Lazzaro di Savena, a short distance from the historical centre of Bologna and close to the main connecting routes, includes a new restaurant,  renewed outdoor areas and new services in the rooms.

Close to the Una Group’s conference centre for up to 1,000 people

One of the hotel's strengths remains its proximity to the Una Group's conference centre, which serves all four of the chain's hotels in the city. The venue has meeting rooms with high-speed wireless Internet access, natural light and can accommodate up to a thousand people.

Omnia Hotels will renovate the Rose Garden Palace and the Shangri La in 2023. The Rose Garden is a boutique hotel near Via Veneto in Rome that is currently undergoing a complete renovation, while the Shangri La Roma in the EUR business district will get a congress centre.  

A garden, congress centre and swimming pool

The facades of the Rose Garden Palace have already been restored and the property will have a new design look in the guest rooms, public areas and interior garden, which is a natural setting for private events. After a complete renovation the Shangri La Roma Eur will have a congress centre, as well as large open spaces, while a swimming pool is planned in the future.

Donna Laura Palace

Work is also underway on the Imperiale and Donna Laura Palace

“Our goal is to redevelop our hotels and enhance our building heritage and guest services,” says Francesco Lazzarini, CEO Omnia Hotels. In Rome Omnia Hotels is redeveloping its other hotels: the Donna Laura Palace, a villa in the Prati district that has just completed work on the facade and the interior garden, anf the Imperiale, which will add lustre to via Veneto with a completely restored facade that is nearing completion.

Ryanair, Italy's No.1 airline announcs that from Turin this summer it will operate 310 weekly flights on 35 routes including four new routes.

An unbeatable choice at the lowest fares

Ryanair's operations from Turin for summer 2023 include 2 based aircraft, a $200 million investment, 35 routes including four new ones - Alicante, Stockholm, Porto and Vilnius, over 310 flights per week, increased frequencies on five routes: Brussels, Cagliari, Pescara, Seville and Valencia and over 1,800 total jobs.  The summer schedule offers customers and visitors an unbeatable choice at the lowest fares. 

“Ryanair has carried over 13 million passengers to and from Turin” 

"Ryanair is delighted to offer even more choice to the citizens and visitors of Turin for summer 2023 with the launch of our largest new operation there, operating over 310 weekly flights on 35 routes, including four new ones to Alicante, Arlanda, Porto and Vilnius,” said Ryanair's Eddie Wilson. “Marking the first anniversary of our Turin base, Ryanair continues to be committed to the growth of the region with over 13 million passengers carried to and from Turin since we launched operations on the airport. To celebrate we are launching a special promotion with fares starting at just €29.99 for travel between April and October 2023 only on Ryanair.com." 

“The international flights have fuelled new tourist flows for Turin and Piedmont”

Andrea Andorno, CEO of Torino Airport said:  "We are happy that the investment made by Ryanair on our airport has led to an increase in the offer also for this summer. All the international flights activated so far have fuelled new tourist flows for Turin and the Piedmont region." 

Will easyJet and Wizz Air end up in the hands of legacy carriers? “After covid we are certainly entering a 4 to 5 year period of consolidation of European airlines," Ryanair's Michael O'Leary told Reuters on the sidelines of a press conference in Lisbon.  

In Italy traffic should grow by 50% over a 5-year period 

According to O’Leary, the Italian government should obtain a commitment from potential buyers to grow airline traffic by 50% over a 5-year period.

“Europe will move towards having four major carriers”

"It is inevitable that ITA Airways will be bought,- O'Leary continued, - and then I think it is likely that in the next two years easyJet and Wizz Air will also be taken over by the legacy carriers." O'Leary said he believes the industry in Europe will move towards having four big airlines: Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, IAG and Ryanair. 

Valentine's Day is always a good occasion to celebrate love, and the Starhotels Collezione hotels have exceptional gourmet, wine and wellness experiences for two. 

Romantic getaways in the world's most beautiful cities  

Valentine's Day is a special occasion to dedicate to love in all its forms, and for those who want to celebrate love and treat themselves to a romantic getaway, the Starhotels Collezione hotels have unique proposals in the world's most beautiful cities.  

A package with hotel transfers and exclusive wellness treatments

From 1 to 19 February, staying in a suite the LOVE SUITE LOVE package at Starhotels Collezione includes extras such as hotel transfers, strawberries and sparkling wine on arrival, minibar included and breakfast in the room. And the Helvetia & Bristol Firenze - Starhotels Collezione is the ideal setting for celebrating Valentine’s Day as guests are pampered with the Ama-Ti con Gusto package that includes dinner plus a series of exclusive wellness treatments.

Presidential Suite Helvetia & Bristol Firenze Starhotels Collezione

Oysters and lobster in the Cibrèo Restaurant

The wellness menu includes an entrance for two to the Roman Baths, a rose facial scrub and a citrus body scrub, as well as the scenic aufgass ritual in the sauna.  In the Helvetia & Bristol’s Cibrèo Ristorante & Cocktail Bar the Love Night! signature menu is a sensory journey of aphrodisiac inspired dishes, including oysters and lobster and sophisticated classics of international cuisine such as Fillet Wellington. 

Terme di Saturnia natural destination

Terme di Saturnia’s relaxing natural thermal waters 

For those who choose to immerse themselves in nature and wellness, there is no destination more satisfying for the senses than the Terme di Saturnia: 120 hectares of wellness at the foot of a fascinating medieval village where a thousand-year-old spring gushes forth thermal waters. This unique place in the heart of Tuscany’s Maremma has the Love, Spa & More pakage which is valid for relaxing and pampering two-night stays that include couple's treatments, cooking or golf lessons. 

Italian hospitality in the Starhotels Premium

Starhotels is synonymous with the excellence of Italian hospitality. Starhotels Premium, located in the heart of Italy's most beautiful cities in Bergamo, Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Parma, Rome, Saronno and Turin, are distinguished by their contemporary style, a perfect synthesis of elegance and comfort, and by the excellence of their service. 

Tobogganing, skiing and a day spa, all this is possible in the Val d'Ega in the heart of the Dolomites in the province of Bolzano. 

The Dolomites have snowfield trails for snowshoeing and hiking

This snowy wonderland is far from being the exclusive prerogative of skiers, as the Dolomites have a myriad of alternative sporting activities such as snowshoeing, hiking, sledding and wellness. The snowfields surrounding the Catinaccio and Latemar in the heart of the Dolomites are to be explored with patience and a pair of snowshoes on your feet. The snow is a carpet on which to walk through woods and pastures cushioned by a blanket of white. It is also possible to follow in the footsteps of an expert guide, on a planned excursion or booking a private snowshoe hike.  And the same goes for those who like forest hiking along snowfield trails.

Snowboarding and skiing in the Val d’Ega

Skiing and snowboarding some of the activities that come to mind, but in the Val d'Ega, sledding is also the prerogative of the downhill run. Nestled in the Dolomite landscape, between the Obereggen and Carezza ski areas, there are numerous toboggan runs of varying lengths, from easy to medium difficulty. The highlights are the famous Hubertus and the Gardonè Alpine roller coaster which are kilometres of absolute fun for young and old. Twice a week in Obereggen it is also possible to go sledging on an illuminated track until 10 p.m. The Ochsenweide cable car is the direct route to the Epircher Laner hut, the starting point for a 2.5km adventure with 280m of altitude difference.

Relaxation and pampering in a day spa

For lovers of Alpine wellness, a day at a spa in the Val d'Ega means floating in a heated pool, the intoxicating excitement of the whirlpool and the crystal-clear mountain air. Enjoying views of the snowy landscape you can choose a massage, a beauty treatment or simply a few hours of total relaxation reading a book or immersing yourself in the silence. For more information go to www.valdega.com where you can discover all the hotels and accommodation facilities that offer wellness days.