"What tourism and the Government's Strategic Plan need, in our opinion, is not the discouragement of intermediation, but rather its elevation in terms of professionalism and capacity to generate substantial volumes. It is crucial to establish a network, as emphasized in the Plan, that acts as the irreplaceable bond of trust between supply and demand," said Fiavet's legal counsel Federico Lucarelli at the Senate.

Fiavet predicts that travel agencies will enhance their services to travellers by improving communication, marketing, and digital marketing capabilities. And they will benefit from specialized training focused on specific themes.

Fiavet continues to emphasize the importance of the Tourist Digital Hub, which is regarded as essential as long as it remains aligned with the guidelines set forth by the Ministry of Tourism, encouraging operators to join the Italia.it portal. "In particular," said Federico Lucarelli, "with reference to the intermediation in the realm of 'experiential' tourist services, we need to ensure that the portal supports the tourism economy while avoiding any duplication of responsibilities between DMC/DMOs and commercial entities, as has happened in certain regions in the past.

Play continues to bet on Italian routes with the launch of new routes from Reykjavík to Venice and Verona.

New Venice and Verona flights

The flights from Reykjavík’s Keflavík airport to Venice, starting next 29 June will operate on Thursdays and Sundays, and join the flight to Bologna Marconi, operational since last summer and which will be relaunched on 6 June. The Icelandic low-cost carrier will also add a new service from Reykjavík to Verona for the next winter timetable, operated once a week, on Saturdays, starting from 20 January 2024.

“This summer we will get four new aircraft and launch 13 new destinations”

During the summer of 2023 Play will connect Iceland with 37 destinations in Europe, the United States and Canada using a fleet of Airbus A321Neo and A320Neo aircraft. “In recent months we have grown a lot, - says Birgir Jónsson, CEO of the carrier - and with the summer 2023 timetable we are welcoming around 200 new colleagues to our team, receiving four new aircraft, and launching 13 new destinations, including Venice. Our load factor is increasing significantly, as is the number of passengers carried, and bookings for the summer are doing very well."

The mayor of Ponza, the charming little island off the Lazio coast, is striving for enhanced accessibility and eco-compatibility.

Franco Ambrosini, mayor of PonzaPonza is the largest of the six little Pontine Islands

Among his priorities, says Franco Ambrosini who was elected mayor last year, is the need to boost maritime services to and from the island. “We need new ferries, those currently making the Formia-Ponza crossing are more than forty years old.”  Mayor Ambrosini is also enforcing measures to steer the Pontine islands (an archipelago of six islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, of which Ponza is the largest) towards new standards of sustainability, and taking steps to regulate the island’s traffic and waste management systems, with the aim of creating an authentic “eco-sustainable” island.  

“Tourists arriving in Ponza by car must be able to find a place to park”

Mayor Ambrosini also wants to prolong the tourist season, and ferry crossing times have already been extended to allow visitors arriving on the island, even in the low season, to spend the whole day there. He is also introducing paid parking, but there are no limits on accessibility, with unlimited numbers of cars able to access Ponza.

"There are no restrictions on cars, but there are special off-limit zones for non-residents, for example in the harbour area. And it is absolute necessary that citizens and accommodation facilities provide sufficient parking spaces for visitors. Tourists arriving in Ponza by car must be able to find a place to park.” 

 

A destination for relaxation and adventure

Ponza is a paradise for sailing, sea and nature lovers, and an ideal destination for those seeking relaxation, adventure and authentic experiences and the mayor, in collaboration with the authorities and trade associations, is stretching his limited budget for tourism promotions. “We are investing in digital technology to increase the visibility of the island, and we are organizing fam trips for the national and international media with the aim of attracting more tourists.” 

Creating an environmentally-friendly island

Based on municipal receipts from the landing tax there were 168,000 arrivals on the island in 2019 and 250,000 last year. International tourists make an important contribution to the local economy and, thanks to the efforts being made to enhance services and promote sustainability, Ponza is projecting itself towards being a more easily accessible., and ecologically responsible island. 

Cala Cuncheddi Hotel is a gem set on the Capo Ceraso promontory in Sardinia’s northern Gallura region.

A resort with an infinity pool and a private beach

Just 40 minutes from Olbia’s international airport, Capo Ceraso has beautiful panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Situated in a magnificent private park with century-old olive trees, Cala Cuncheddi Hotel is a charming resort with its own enchanting infinity pool and private beach. 

Three restaurants and a private yacht

The beautiful Li Cuncheddi beach with golden sand, crystal clear shallow waters, and dramatic cliffs is a short stroll away. The Cala Cuncheddi Hotel has 85 rooms and suites overlooking the Sardinian Sea and is home to three restaurants, Asumari, Asarena and Zinnibiri, all inspired by Sardinia’s culinary culture which combines a passion for traditional recipes and local produce. The two bars, extensive wellness area, Sa Cantina wine bar and very own 16m Papik Yacht make Cala Cuncheddi Hotel an unforgettable Sardinian stay. 

Breakfast Ph Credits. Monica Spezia LivingInside

Direct summer flights from Ireland

With the much-anticipated new Little Mermaid film soon coming to screens, guests hoping to visit Sardinia will be able to spot some of the filming locations. The Gallura area is also the perfect destination for anyone travelling from Ireland, as the Irish flag-carrier Aer Lingus has added a new Olbia route to its 2023 summer schedule. 

Tiqets, the world's leading online booking platform for museums and attractions, has added three new languages, bringing the total to 17.

Navigate and purchase tickets in 17 languages

Since the start of April users can now navigate the Tiqets platform, make purchases, and use its services in Swedish, Danish, and Czech, as well as Catalan, Chinese, French, Japanese, Greek, English, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and German.

Check with Tiqets to visit Leonardo da Vinci’s Milan vineyard 

Leonardo's Vineyard is just a few feet from the Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, which houses the master's great masterpiece, the Last Supper. The vineyard was one of Leonardo da Vinci's most prized possessions, and was given to him in 1498 by the former Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza who commissioned the artist to paint the Last Supper. Visitors can stroll through the house, the vineyard, the garden, and the greenhouses and admire the original vines. To round out the visit the ticket includes a downloadable tour of Milan on smartphones, to explore the city's highlights from a new perspective.

Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

Milan’s Pinacoteca Ambrosiana with a Leonardo Codex

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, located in the heart of Milan is an ideal destination for art and history enthusiasts looking to discover the Italian Renaissance. It is the world's oldest public art gallery and houses masterpieces such as Leonardo Da Vinci's Portrait of a Musician, one of only 15 paintings attributed to him. Other masterpieces include Botticelli's Madonna del Padiglione while the museum's centrepiece is Da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus: 1119 pages replete with drawings and notes on engineering, hydraulics, optics, anatomy, architecture, mathematics, and astronomy. This is one of history's greatest treasures.

The Torba Monastery, from Roman to Byzantine days

The Monastery of Torba, hidden in the Lombard forest, about an hour from Milan, was built by the Romans and it is possible to enter the ols Roman tower that protected the monastery from the barbarian invasion. It then passed into the hands of the Goths, the Byzantines and, finally, the Lombards. The tower once housed magnificent frescoes, traces of which can still be seen today.

Some 30 incoming operators from the Marche region, members of Inside Marche Live, and the Lindbergh Hotels & Resorts chain, have formed a partnership to promote tourist arrivals.

A partnership to promote the region

The project starts with a proposal of reduced rates for bookings made through Inside Marche Live members for the Lindbergh Hotels & Resorts chain's hotels. The aim is that of promoting the Marche region by offering quality services and hospitality to tourists, also in view of the upcoming  Pesaro Italian Capital of Culture 2024.

Organizing events and educational tours

For Inside Marche Live and Lindbergh Hotels & Resorts this new partnership will go hand in glove with projects aimed at boosting the Marche region’s image in Italy and around the world. The focus will be on actions aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of the territory by organizing events, tourism promotions, participatng in workshops, fairs and meetings, and through marketing and communications both on and offline, as well as the organization of educational and media tours.

Pesaro will be Italy’s Capital of Culture in 2024

"To mark Pesaro2024 we thought it would it be a good idea to bring together quality accommodation facilities such as those of the Lindbergh chain with inbound tour operators who promote the Marche as a destination," says Federico Scaramucci, president of Inside Marche Live. - Our commitment will be very focused on digital, and on packages and offers for both Italy and worldwide.  We have just heard that a new Ancona-Paris Orly route will have its inaugural flight on 27 May.”

"This is a new opportunity for us to stimulate demand”

"On our Pesaro municipal platform we will feature the history and culture of our area, as well as its food and wine to make local products known,” said economic activities municipal councillor for Pesaro Pesaro, Francesca Frenquellucci."This is a new opportunity for us to spread the word about the region and stimulate demand. Some 85% of the summer holiday turnover is generated by Italians in the main travel destinations. We must create new interest in the Marche region, with the institutions and local businesses working together on promotional campaigns,” says Nardo Filippetti, President of Lindbergh Hotels & Resorts.

The new high-end lifestyle hotel Adler Historic Guesthouse is set to open in Bressanone on 2 June. 

A historic building with a VIP guest list

This new destination for luxury living is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Christoph Mayr and Silvana Messner and has been extensively renovated from an old building that in the past hosted guests such as Emperor Maximilian I, French philosopher and writer Michel de Montaigne, Archduke Ferdinand, Eleanor of Mantua, and Crown Prince Cosimo de' Medici.

A spa, pool and 43 rooms with city views

The hotel's architecture is a blend of traditional and contemporary styles. With 43 rooms and a spa located on the upper floors, the Adler Tagesbar will serve coffee and cocktails, and the hotel also boasts a rooftop swimming pool with a 360-degree view of the city, the White Tower and the bell towers of Bressanone Cathedral.

A Historic restaurant and a wine shop

Managed by the second generation of the family, the Adler Historic Guesthouse also owns the historic Finsterwirt-Oste Scuro restaurant and the Vinothek Vitis wine shop, both located in the city's historic centre.

“We are delighted with this new venture, - say the owners, - and we are proud to have realised our dream of creating a new elegant and stylish hospitality destination in Bressanone.”

 

The Falkensteiner Kronplatz joins Leading Hotels of the World, the third LHW affiliation for the Falkensteiner Group. 

“Being in LHW opens up markets in the US, UK, Middle East and Asia”

After the Austrian Schlosshotel Velden and Montafon, now it’s the turn of the South Tyrolean Kronplatz.

"We are proud to further strengthen our presence within the Leading Hotels soft-brand,- says Otmar Michaeler, CEO of the Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group (Fmtg). -This new milestone is an important recognition of what we have done to date, and lends prestige both to our individual hotels and to our brand awareness. Our increasing presence in Leading is also an important strategic lever, enabling us to be even more competitive and to open up to new potential market segments such as the US, UK, Middle East and Asia."

Exciting cuisine and a mountain spa

Inaugurated in 2020, the five-star Falkensteiner Hotel Kronplatz is a contemporary concept with an Alpine touch. The hotel is located in the picturesque setting of Plan de Corones, at the gateway to the Dolomites. In addition to the many sporting activities in winter and summer, the hotel proposes local traditions in its 7Summit Restaurant, which mixes South Tyrolean cuisine with influences from countries that have the highest mountains in the world, hosting leading chefs from these fascinating places. The hotel's jewel in the crown is its wellness centre: the Acquapura Mountain Spa on approximately 1,400 sqm with a rooftop pool and panoramic views. 

Quality Group’s Italyscape acquires Escapade, a DMC specialized in the MICE sector. 

New offices in Padua 

Italyscape has started 2023 with the acquisition of the Escapade brand, a destination management company specialized in MICE tourism. With offices opening in Padua, the new department will be tasked with monitoring the quality of suppliers throughout the supply chain, from restaurants to transfer agents and from hotels to guides.

The Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, Sicily and Puglia are in high demand

All of this follows a 2022 which closed with a turnover of €12.5 million, double the 2019 figure, while 2023 has started with significant growth. Among the most requested destinations by customers are the Amalfi coast, Lake Como, the main art cities while Sicily and Puglia, which are posting an increasingly strong demand.

“2023 is showing high growth margins for events” 

“The acquisition of Escapade, – says the CEO of Italyscape, Vincenzo Emprin, – coincided with a particularly profitable moment for us. If in 2022 the MICE segment showed signs of a slow restart, the first part of 2023 has shown a definitive recovery for events, with consistent numbers and very high growth margins. Our goal is to be able to carry on this historic brand, extending its operations to new markets, starting from those traditionally closest to Italyscape, such as the United States, Canada, the UK, Mexico, Spain, and France."