Bids for new projects, and a €100,000 budget to promote the city of Genoa as a top-tier MICE destination, are how the city council, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, intends developing the city’s conference tourism.

This promotion of the city as a prominent destination that attracts events, meetings and congresses took another step towards realization with the allocation of the €100,000 budget. These funds come from the 2021 tourist tax and from sale of the Genova City Congressuale 48h pass.

Projects to boost arrivals and overnights

Universities and convention bureaus, associations and companies in the cultural, sports, tourism and pharmaceutical-health sectors all presented projects aimed at boosting arrivals and overnights. An analysis of the data gathered shows an investment of just over €1 million for the organization of events, with an estimated 14,000 participants. Of these 500 will be international visitors who will spend over 5,000 nights in the city. 

Laura GaggeroPositioning Genoa as a sustainable brand

"The MICE sector is a very important market segment for the entire tourism industry, and it is not seasonal. One of our main objectives is to position Genoa as a sustainable brand - explains Councillor for Tourism and Territorial Marketing, Laura Gaggero – and to this end we are investing 5% of the tourism tax, compared to the 1% allocated by other major Italian cities.

“Genoa’s congressional vocation is solid” 

Confirming Genoa’s position as an ideal destination for congressional tourism, last September the city hosted the Convention of the Association of Swiss Engineers, the Boat Show and the G20. "Genoa’s congressional vocation is solid - concludes Genoa’s Chamber of Commerce  Secretary General, Maurizio Caviglia – and it grew in the pre-pandemic years. From 2014 to 2019 participants at events in Genoa’s 82 congress venues doubled, and this is where we need to start again, as soon as conditions allow, with Genoa’s tourism supply chain functioning twelve months a year." 

Italian fashion house Gucci returns to Florence with the opening of Gucci Garden 25, the Maison’s first cafe and cocktail bar. The opening, initially scheduled for mid-January, has been postponed to a date yet to be announced due to the pandemic, but the excitement for the new opening is palpable in the Florentine city. 

25 is a lucky number for Gucci’s creative director

Gucci Garden 25 will open at number 37 Piazza della Signoria, which is the historical heart of Florence, and a must-see for every visitor to the city. Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele has turned number 25 into a good luck charm, and it is a recurring motif in his creations, while the "garden" was added for the historic florist who once occupied the premises. The new café and cocktail bar will be the latest addition to Gucci Garden, the creative and multidisciplinary space opened in January 2018, which also houses the Gucci Osteria helmed by the young Mexican chef Karime Lopez. The winning Alessandro Michele-Massimo Bottura tandem that launched the Florentine Gucci Osteria then opened one in Los Angeles (which has just won a Michelin star) and another in Tokyo.

Opening hours from 8am to 1 am

The mood of the interior features large beams on the ceiling, inlaid parquet flooring, a mustard-coloured bar counter and peacock-blue leather for the large sofas: a harmonious blend of unusual contrasts that echo the typical style of the osteria in its colours and furnishings. The opening hours will be from 8am to 1am, making the bar a multifunctional space from breakfast to the after-dinner hours. Apparently the menu will be Mexican and Japanese inspired, and the cocktail menu will feature old stalwarts and sizzling new mixes. 

Italy’s Dolomite Val Gardena valley has mountain chalets in which to enjoy culinary delights. The joy of skiing becomes a real pleasure when it is accompanied by a good lunch in a mountain chalet or lodge on snowy slopes. In the Val Gardena there are 65 lodges, almost all of which have been family-run for generations. Each one offers unique culinary experiences, ranging from traditional dishes to the most sophisticated cuisine, and the menu is always complemented by a wide selection of wines, mainly from the South Tyrol.

Some of the most popular lodges

The Emilio Comici Lodge, at 2,150 metres, directly on the mythical Sellaronda, is famous for its fresh fish specialties. In addition, themed dinners are organized here on special evenings followed by a night descent on the slopes.  The Baita Daniel, on Monte Seceda at 2,230 meters, is a typical spot serving local specialties such as dumplings and ricotta desserts filled with chocolate, as well as with plums, strawberries and apricots.

Local meat specialties and traditional soups

The Curona chalet is located on the La Longia slope, which from Seceda leads to Ortisei with a spectacular view of the Alpe di Siusi and the Sciliar. Here you can enjoy grilled meat specialties from the local farms and you must try the Krapfen with chestnut or poppy jam and the delicious caramelized Kaiserschmarren. The Saslonch is at the entrance to Run 3 which leads from Ciampinoi to Selva. In Tyrolean style and with a panoramic terrace, it serves traditional soups of all kinds and game dishes with yeast dumplings and cranberry jelly.

Omelettes with chocolate

Baita Vallongia is on Run 5, which from Ciampinoi leads to the Plan de Gralba ski area and towards the Sellaronda. Here an absolute must-have are the Bavarian white sausages with sweet mustard and the traditional brazen omelettes with chocolate that are served every day from 3.00 pm.

Michelin and Gault Millau restaurants

The iconic Ciampac lodge, made entirely of wooden logs is at the mouth of the Vallunga, and is  accessible on foot from Selva, or on skis from Dantercepies. Near the lodge there is also the cross-country skiing centre with three circuits, one of which is 12 kilometres long and leads into the Puez-Odle Nature Park. Here you will find numerous traditional dishes on the menu and many South Tyrolean wines to accompany them. In addition to the ski lodges, in the Val Gardena you can find good food in the many traditional restaurants, pizzerias and gourmet restaurants that have won Michelin stars and Gault Millau chef hats. Their menus are a blend of typical Alpine cuisine and Mediterranean delicacies.

Rome should be the fourth Mandarin Oriental destination in Italy following Milan, Lake Como and the pipeline property in Cortina d'Ampezzo.  And in Sardinia Hyatt will debut its soft brand mid-2022. The news of the Rome Mandarin Oriental comes from in the Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore, which stated that the property chosen by the group should be the Villini Sallustiani, acquired a few months ago by Merope from Colony Capital.

€100 million invested in a Rome villa complex

The Villini Sallustiani is a complex of ten villas set in a centuries-old park and represents one of the capital’s main trophy assets. In order to secure its ownership Merope is believed to have invested €100 million, to which a further 80 million will be added for a makeover.   

New branding for the 7Pines Resort in Sardinia

From Sardinia the news is that a hotel property originally planned to be a Kempinski will now be branded by a major US group. Following the departure of the group's CEO, Martin Smura, the Geneva-based Kempinsky pulled out of the deal for the new 7Pines Resort in Sardinia, scheduled to open in mid-2022.

Italy’s first Hyatt Destination property

But now we know that the 76-room, 4-star complex will become a Destination, Hyatt’s soft brand which will thus make its debut in Italy. The Hyatt Group already boasts a portfolio of five hotels located in the so-called Big Four  - Milan, Venice, Rome and Florence - with a total of 500 keys. Among these, the latest arrivals, Jdv by Hyatt The Tribune, and the Unbound Collection Tornabuoni, located respectively in Rome and in Florence, are the result of a deal with Ag Hotels. 

This original and romantic Valentine’s Day Training & Love travel package with food experiences, wellness and training from Yuniqly combines sports and romance. The package, valid 12 to 14 February, includes the Love Path, which is two nights at the Leonardo Trulli Resort in Locorotondo with breakfast, two dinners and a bottle of wine in the ArteCibo restaurant which is helmed by Chef Francesco Cataldi, a Gambero Rosso Emerging Chef.

Training with a Yuniqly Sport Leader

The package also gives free access to the solarium and to the heated saltwater pool.  The training consists of a personalized training bike or running programme with a qualified Yuniqly Sport Leader, a gift box containing a T-shirt, an eco bike water bottle and a Yuniqly logbook. The price is €370 per person.   

Love, gourmet dining and relaxation

Strolling through the gardens hand in hand, caressed by the morning breeze and warmed by the first rays of sunshine is the perfect way to start the day at the Leonardo Trulli Resort in Locorotondo which is about 70 kilometres from Bari, Apulia’s main city. The Resort is surrounded by typical old limestone trulli dwellings, beautiful gardens and manicured paths. These trulli are authentic old stone houses that were built in the 18th century, and have been beautifully restored 

Biking or running with Yuniqly’s tailor-made professional training programmes

The biking programme uses Aria Disc model or similar Bianchi muscle bikes, and there is also a running program. The training sessions are a totally new experience, thanks to the expertise of the Yuniqly Sport Leaders and their knowledge of the region. From the pre-training warm-up to nutritional advice and the support of the mental coach who advises how to manage a race.

No, I’m not talking about the Chinese New Year, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger.  Goat is the acronym for the Greatest of all Trips.  Which is apparently what travellers are going to want this year.  In these very challenging times for travel companies, with airline restrictions and entry requirements changing practically daily around the globe, it’s not easy to forecast which direction things are going to take in 2022. But perhaps we can take heart from the results of a recent survey by Expedia, which coined Goat.

The American online travel shopping giant found that over 40% of world travellers surveyed in Australia will be willing to splurge on travel in 2022, and that many are eyeing Rome as one of their top picks. They will also be looking for immersive rather than touristy experiences, with 40% saying they want to try new food, and 23% wanting to explore more off-the-beaten-track destinations.

Over to you travel designers to set up these Greatest of all Trips!
 

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor

Five days on foot in Southern Tuscany with Maremma Safari Club. This ultimate slow travel adventure, walking through the little-known Mount Amiata region from 19 to 24 April, accompanied by founder and walker extraordinaire Rudston Steward (he’s been guiding customized walking trips in Italy for 15 years), kick-starts Maremma Safari Club’s six scheduled 2022 walking tours.  

Routes are off the beaten track in unexplored places

Host Rudston says his routes are off beat and off the beaten track in mostly unexplored parts of the country, from the Dolomite peaks in the north to the sunny island of Sicily at the toe of Italy. The Monte Amiata walk is a journey into Etruscan history, stunning nature, and some of the best red wines in Italy. “While Tuscany is quite familiar for many travellers, the Amiata area with the Etruscan holy mountain and ancient sites, the Maremma with the sea, and the Montalcino winegrowing area, is little known,” says Rudston.  

The average walking distance is 20 kilometres a day

Maremma Safari Club’s fixed-date walking tours can be for up to 12/14 in double rooms, and the itineraries are as published. Private walking trips (from one person) are completely customizable to suit personal preferences and fitness levels, and prices have a different price structure. The average distance covered on any day is around 20 kilometres with a lunch break. “Sturdy walking shoes and walking sticks are recommended,” says Rudston. Much of the walking is through natural areas in remote and often untrodden territory, “which is of course the USP and beauty of our itineraries.”   

Alfresco picnics and lunches in local trattorias

A typical day is divided by a lunch break. Guests can also decide for a half day, with a vehicle pickup bringing them to the overnight stop, although both the Eolian Islands and Dolomite safaris are full-day walks. Alfresco picnics in the countryside and lunches in typical trattorias in little towns along the way are precious time for relaxing and exploring the local folklore.  Rudston leads all the walks and is joined by local guides with in-depth knowledge of the region’s history, flora and fauna, and there are occasions to stop and chat with locals. 

Relaxing in hot springs and gala dining

“In the south of Italy the accommodation can be fairly simple but always charming, on other occasions we stay in exclusive properties.” On the Monte Amiato walk the first night is in a charming hotel in the little town of Bagno Vignoni, famous for its ancient Roman hot springs, with time to enjoy the hot waters. Nights two and three are in a private farmhouse and in the medieval Castello di Potentino, and the last two nights are in the Castello di Argiano. This is one of Montalcino’s finest wine estates and guests sit down to a gala dinner in the castle’s candle-lit chapel.  From the Castello di Argiano, it takes about 2.45 hours by car to Rome or to Pisa which has a large international airport, and the Bagno Vignoni starting point is a couple of hours by car from Florence.  

“We very rarely come across other walkers” 

Published 2022 tours run to the first week of October, with the final group departure to the Supramonte region in Sardinia, and there is no tour in August. “It’s just too hot, and there are too many crowds. One of the things guests really appreciate about our safaris is that we very rarely come across other walkers. For example on the Monte Amiata route we can go four days without meeting other hikers, while over in the Val d’Orcia the Via Francigena is always packed,” says Rudston. 

Six fixed-date departures in 2022

Maremma Safari Club’s published 2022 departures are Monte Amiata in Tuscany 19-24 April, Aspromonte in Calabria 10-14 May, the island of Elba in Tuscany 21-26 May, the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily 31 May-5 June, the Dolomites in Alto Adige 5-10 July and the Supramonte in Sardinia 4-9 October. Travel transfers and add-ons can be requested for all tours and breakfast, lunch and dinner, and local table wines are included.   

Photo Credits: Maremma Safari Club

Waking up at dawn to plow down snowy slopes and catch the sunrise in Italy’s Val di Fassa is the perfect gift to start Valentine's Day. Then stop in a high-altitude refuge for a super breakfast. The Trentino Ski Sunrise event is planned for Monday 14 February to celebrate this most romantic of days in the Buffaure ski area which is accessible from Pozza di Fassa. This little town is about 60 kilometres northeast of Trento, in Italy’s Trentino-Alto Adige region.

Chairlifts up to 2,354 metres and a traditional breakfast 

Participants will meet at 6.30 a.m. at the Pozza-Buffaure cable car. From there on foot, or on skis or ski boards, they will take the nearby Col de Valvacin chairlift up to the El Zedron refuge at 2,354 metres. Here the Pozza School ski instructors will join them as the sun starts to rise. After this recharge of positive energy those who wish can descend together with the instructors along the red Valvacin run and then return to the refuge by chairlift. Here they will enjoy a traditional breakfast of local cured meats and cheeses, honey, yogurt, eggs and the Trentino’s famous apples.

Sleeping in chalets with panoramic views

The views are spectacular over the Val San Nicolò and Val Jumela valleys and the most beautiful Dolomite peaks - from the Sassolungo to the Sassopiatto, the Marmolada, the Catinaccio and the Sella Group. At 8.30 the other lifts will open and it’s time to tackle the other slopes in this beautiful ski area or take the Sellaronda route. And to make Valentine's Day even more special, the Buffaure also offers high altitude overnights.  The choice is between the Baita Cuz, a chalet with beautiful panoramic rooms and an outdoor barrel sauna on the terrace facing the Catinaccio, or the Buffaure Refuge at 2,050 metres.

Special prices for children

The Trentino Ski Sunrise experience at Buffaure is priced at €40 for adults and €25 for children from 6 to 12, while it is free for children under 6. The price includes the gondola ride and the two chairlift rides (including the return for pedestrians), the support of the ski school instructors and breakfast at the refuge. 

The Stregato champagne cocktail at the Baglioni Hotel Regina in Rome, made from Strega liqueur  - a blend of over 70 herbs and spices - and Biancosarti with aromas of basil, has won the contest for the best new signature champagne-based cocktail. 

Champagne and 5-star hospitality

This is the first initiative of the new partnership between the Baglioni Group and the Comte de Montaigne maison, a company in the Aube region of France which has been producing the most popular champagne in the world since the days of the 12th-century crusades. The Baglioni Group owns the iconic 5-star Baglioni Hotel Regina on the Via Veneto as well as sister properties in other Italian destinations including Venice, Milan and Punta Ala. 

A selection of champagnes and fine dining

The Italian Group’s gourmet offerings, inspired by the local traditions of the cuisine overseen by their teams of chefs, now blends with the champagne of the French maison: Brut, Extra-Brut, Rosé, Blanc de Blancs and the Cuvée Speciale (100% Pinot Noir) to accompany the signature dishes on the menus in the Baglioni restaurants.

Gourmet specialties and bubbles

For example, the Baglioni Hotel Luna in Venice offers its guests the prime pairing of Cuvée for its On the Moon dish, enhancing the flavours of fried cod with cuttlefish ink and guaranteeing a well-rounded culinary experience. At the Baglioni Relais Santa Croce in Florence, the Comte range of champagnes is an integral ingredient in the restaurant’s signature risotto recipe, and in each suite, guests will find a bottle of the Comte de Montaigne Brut.