The 4-star Hotel Atilius in Limone sul Garda and the Artnatur Dolomites on the Alpe di Siusi are the two latest Blu Hotels properties to open. 

Lakeside views, or healing wood for the interiors 

The Hotel Atilius joins the Royal Village, also in Limone sul Garda, overlooks the lake and is surrounded by a 5,000 sqm park. It offers 61 rooms and a swimming pool with a view. The Artnatur Dolomites is another four-star hotel that will reopen in May, in time for the summer season. Situated at an altitude of 1,000 metres, it has 42 rooms furnished with five different types of South Tyrolean wood - pine, spruce from the Alpe di Siusi, larch, oak and walnut, which combined, according to their healing properties, create an atmosphere of wellbeing. 

An indoor, and an outdoor saltwater pool

A heated indoor pool and an integrated whirlpool are also available to guests, there is a large panoramic glass façade that brings  the natural surroundings into the spa, and the outdoor saltwater pool is perfect during the summer season. TheArtnatur Dolomites is part of the Vitalpina Hotels South Tyrol.

“A greater focus on increasingly exclusive properties”

Both properties will be part of the BH Collection: a selection of properties ranging from boutique to design and business hotels. "The integration of these two new hotels confirms our commitment, passion and desire for continuous growth, with a greater focus on increasingly exclusive properties, in line with today's more demanding and knowledgeable clientele," says Blu Hotels president Nicola Risatti. The brand today comprises 30 hotels and villages, for a total of over 3,100 rooms and over one million overnights per year.

For many travellers food is a major consideration when planning a holiday and, while Italian cuisine with its delicious pastas, pizzas, and gelatos comes out very high on most personal preferences, many Europeans say that their favourite meal is breakfast. 

But which European countries offer the best breakfast?  To answer this question the online travel agency weloveholidays surveyed over 60 cities, factoring in the number of bakeries, breakfast cafes, coffee and tea shops, and the average price of coffee in each. 

And the top city for morning gourmets are both Italian: Rome and Milan. 

Italy’s capital took the top spot as the best city for breakfast enthusiasts thanks to its 1,660 breakfast cafés, 240 bakeries and 394 coffee shops. And Italy’s famous coffee is also very affordable in the Eternal City, at an average of just €1.50 per cup.  Milan, Italy’s second largest city, follows in second place with its 1,237 breakfast cafés, 197 bakeries and 323 coffee shops where you can get your coffee for an average of €1.92, while Naples, Italy’s third most populous city and the home of piazza, ranked 7th with just 660 breakfast cafés.

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor

West of Sicily is a brand representing 17 Sicilian towns and  private operators in the province of Trapani. 

“West of Sicily offers integrated and unique products”  

dalì"We believe in working together to promote our destinations, and so we created the West of Sicily brand, which offers integrated and unique products.-  said Rosalia D'Alì, president of the DMO West of Sicily who we met at the ITB in Berlin. -Today we are positioned in the Italian and European markets. We have a portal in five languages, we are present on social networks and we organize incoming events, press tours and fam trips. 

Looking at Europe and also America

“We are working to transform the DMO into a DMSI, bringing together operators who have complementary offers for targeted packages that can be proposed at trade fairs, and also through online sales. We are not only promoting the destination, but also aiming to offer products that can be sold to tourists. At the moment we are looking at the European market, but we are already looking ahead to the USA thanks to the capacity of our airports.” 

“You need at least five days to enjoy it fully”

D’Ali stressed that Western Sicily is a journey of discovery. “It brings together many forms of tourism, unlike areas that have just one attraction.  Being a fairly small area in Western Sicily you can find a variety of attractions ,from small villages to the exceptional coastline, and from the islands to the Caribbean beach of San Vito Lo Capo. We also  have two archaeological parks: Segeste, Selinunte. And the history of the Phoenicians, as well as the kore recent history of the Florios and Marsala, not to mention the salt pans of Trapani. In short, Western Sicily is always a discovery and you need at least five days to enjoy it fully.”

ItaliAbsolutely made a splash in Las Vegas this week with a presentation for 400 enthusiastic buyers.

Italiabsolutely’s presentation was a resounding success 

The presentation of the digital portal ItaliAbsolutely by Travel Quotidiano at the Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum proved to be a resounding success, capturing the attention and enthusiasm of over 400 buyers. Held y at the Paris Las Vegas Casino & Hotel, the presentation garnered unprecedented interest and appreciation from the travel creators present. 

Putting Italy on the map for American travel specialists

Ligia Hofnar and Quirino Falessi of the Travel Media Group took center stage to introduce the English-language portal, tailored exclusively for foreign markets and showcasing Italy as a prime tourist destination. From the great art cities to quaint villages, and from extraordinary experiences to a plethora of accommodation options, ItaliAbsolutely offers a comprehensive overview of what Italy has to offer, and it is updated daily with fresh news, views and reports.

A significant milestone for the portal and the Travel Media Group

The overwhelming response from the buyers underscored the potential of this innovative media product. Attendees also expressed their admiration for the print issue of Italiabsolutely which was distributed among the 1,200 US buyers present at the Las Vegas event. Joining forces with Italian partners Italia Highlights, Keys of Italy, Frasassi Caves and  City of Messina, ItaliAbsolutely’s relevance was bolstered at the Las Vegas event, marking a significant milestone for both the portal and the Travel Media Group.

 

 

 

 

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Italiabsolutely is making its US debut at the 14th Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum from 24 to 27 March 2024. 

A privileged showcase of Italy's offerings

ItaliAbsolutely, the English-language portal of Italian travel experiences, marks its inaugural appearance in the United States at the 14th Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum. Set to take place at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino from 24 to 27 March, this promises to be a privileged showcase of Italy's offerings. The 4-day event will be attended by over 1,000 of the industry’s leading professionals who will be able to connect at roundtable discussions, educational sessions and one-to-one travel meetings with over 300 travel suppliers, and as well as to network with partners and peers at social events.        

Four Italian partners including the city of Messina

ItaliAbsolutely is the English-language online portal of the Rome-based Travel Open Day Media Group, and it will be partnered by two distinguished Italian tour operators: Keys of Italy and Italia Highlights. Keys of Italy specializes in uncovering hidden gems and enchanting properties nestled in some of Italy's most iconic destinations, while Italia Highlights proudly promotes Italy's rich cultural heritage through its art, museums and authentic lifestyle experiences. Also joining them are the city of Messina, which is the gateway to Sicily, Italy’s largest island, and the Caves of Frasassi, the leading natural attraction in the Marche region.

Exploring exciting collaborations and travel possibilities

For ItaliAbsolutely and its partners, who will be at booths #416-418, this forum will represent a unique opportunity to forge new partnerships and expand business horizons between Italy and North America. And for the over one thousand travel professionals attending the event it will be a chance to explore exciting new collaborations and travel possibilities while uncovering the essence of Italy. 

The Val d’Orcia valley is the Tuscany of everyone’s dreams with medieval castles, rolling landscapes, ancient hill towns and vineyards.

Less than two hours from Florence

Crossed by the river Orcia, from which the valley takes its name, this beautiful region in the south of Tuscany runs through the provinces of Siena and Grosseto and is less than two hours by car from Florence. The entire area is now protected, having been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. What makes the Val d'Orcia so special is its uncontaminated and beautiful nature, but this is also the land that produces some of Italy’s most famous and excellent wines, like Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso Orcia among other DOCG denominations.

Pienza, the ideal Renaisance city, and spa towns

The beautiful Val d'Orcia is dotted with small hill towns, castles, abbeys, and hamlets, each with its own incredible history. Towns like Pienza, a real jewel and known as the Ideal City, is a Renaissance monument designed by Pius II, the great humanist pope. Then there are Castiglion d'Orcia with its fortress, the Abbadia San Salvatore and its ancient Benedictine abbey, hilltop Radicofani which has an imposing watchtower, and Montalcino which is dominated by its 14th-century fortress, After a day visiting museums, ancient castles and abbeys, no visitor will want to miss time to relax in one of the many thermal towns like Bagno Vignoni or Bagni di San Filippo which are the Val d’Orcia’s natural spas.

A destination for gourmets  and a wine and food trail

The Val d’Orcia produces some of Italy’s best-loved products such as the fabulous pecorino cheese of Pienza, flavoursome olive oil and excellent wines. But the ancient traditions do not end here, because gourmets can delight in specialties like saffron, mushrooms, truffles, wild game and more, also to be enjoyed by taking the Strada del Vino e Sapori wine and food trail. https://visitvaldorcia.it

Etihad Airways will increase its flights between Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport and Rome Fiumicino from 11 a week to twice a day from 1 November.

“Connecting guests with our growing global network”

"With our morning and afternoon departures from Abu Dhabi, our twice-daily flights to Rome will offer perfect schedules for UAE residents wishing to take a break in Italy,- says Arik De, chief revenue and commercial officer. -In addition, the new flights from Rome allow travellers arriving in Abu Dhabi time to explore more of what the city has to offer in terms of business and pleasure. This further reinforces our commitment to welcoming more guests to enjoy Abu Dhabi, as well as connecting them with our growing global network."

Boeing 887-9s and 777-300s will operate on the route

The double daily flights will allow Etihad to offer 10,000 seats per week between Abu Dhabi and Rome, which is a 22% increase in capacity year-on-year. The fights will be operated with Boeing 787-9 and Boeing 777-300 aircraft from the carrier's young wide-body fleet. Through Wi-Fly, all Etihad Guest members can enjoy free chat packages, while all guests can choose to purchase a full Surf package with unlimited data for the duration of the flight. The expansion of the Abu Dhabi carrier's global network, in addition to growth on Rome, also includes increased flights to Frankfurt along with other new features to be announced shortly.

American Airlines is poised for a record-breaking summer with 11 daily US-Italy flights.  

This summer five US hubs - New York JFK, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Charlotte - will have direct links to Italy including the debut of the new Philadelphia-Naples, along with the restoration of the second daily flight between New York and Rome.

“Our transatlantic network is expanding”

“Our transatlantic network is expanding with new flights to Naples and an additional daily flight from JFK to Rome,- said José Freig, vice president international operations. -With 11 daily flights between Italy and the United States, American's summer schedule provides passengers with easier access for their summer vacations.” Visitors from the United States will have ample opportunities to explore ancient ruins, glide along the canals of Venice, bask in the sun along the Amalfi Coast, savour authentic Neapolitan pizza, or immerse themselves in Italy's latest fashion trends.

The JFK-Rome will extend the season by nearly four months

This summer, American Airlines will serve Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Naples, and Venice. The airline operates year-round flights between Milan and New York, Rome and Philadelphia, and Rome and Dallas-Fort Worth.

The daily seasonal connection between New York JFK and Rome will commence on 31 March. The reintroduction of the second daily flight between JFK and Rome will begin on 5 June and operate until 25 October, extending the season by nearly four months.

The seasonal Chicago-Venice returns on 5 June

For the first time since 2019, American will reintroduce seasonal Chicago-Venice flights on 5 June with a Boeing 787-9 capable of accommodating up to 285 passengers. Additionally, this summer the airline will kick off the season for flights to Venice early with a non-stop service to Philadelphia, starting on the 4 April.

The Laqua Collection has reopened the 5-star Le Cattedrali Relias in Valleandona in Piedmonte, with Cannavacciuolo’s Le Cattedrali Asti restaurant. 

Le Cattedrali Relias has a Cannavacciuolo restaurant

The 5-star luxury Le Cattedrali Relais boasts 13 spacious rooms and suites ranging from 43 to 133 square metres. Guests can indulge in amenities including a lounge bar and a wellness area featuring an outdoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, and vitarium. However, the standout feature of the Relais is undoubtedly the Cannavacciuolo Le Cattedrali Asti restaurant, complemented by an extensive cellar housing over 2,000 labels from across Italy, with a notable focus on Piedmontese wines. All of this is set in natural surroundings, including a park with a small open-air theatre. To complete the external offerings, the property also has a padel and pickleball court, and a helicopter landing pad is available for guests.

A harmonious interplay between lightness and grandeur

“I drew inspiration from nature in conceptualizing the property,” says Livio Negro, owner of Le Cattedrali by Laqua Collection. “My vision was to create a harmonious interplay between lightness and grandeur, authenticity and beauty within this space. Today, the graceful forms of the Relais, often mirroring those found in nature, seamlessly blend with the surrounding woods, pathways, scents, and colours, embodying the diverse and captivating essence of this region.”

“Le Cattedrali Relais is a beacon of excellence and a source of pride for the entire region”

The management of the establishment is entrusted to Massimo Chiappo Buratti, a seasoned hotel manager with over 25 years of international experience spanning Switzerland, China, Taiwan, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Buratti, who is deeply passionate about food and wine, is constantly on the lookout for new trends and innovative ideas to enhance the sector. “From its inception, Le Cattedrali Relais has positioned itself as a beacon of excellence and a source of pride for the entire region. The creation of this establishment has involved numerous local businesses and professionals, significantly impacting the entrepreneurial landscape of Asti. This project stands as a unique testament, owing to its distinctive location and the unparalleled quality of its spaces, making it a rare gem on the international stage.”