The new FCO Connect check-in area in Rome Fiumicino Airport’s railway station, is an innovative train-air product.  

Checking-in seconds after stepping off the train 

Developed by Trenitalia, ITA Airways and Aeroporti di Roma, the new check-in desks can be used by passengers travelling to the airport on a Frecciarossa train, or on a Leonardo Express train in conjunction with a high-speed train to Rome’s central Termini station, and departing on an international or intercontinental flight operated by ITA Airways (with the exception of the USA and Israel). This means these passengers can check in and deliver their baggage seconds after stepping off the train in the airport station.  

More efficient connectivity for passengers

The new integrated product is another step by ITA Airways to team up with key passenger transport players, and to reply to the diverse needs of travellers by offering integrated and efficient travel experiences, said Fabio Lazzerini, ITA Airways CEO and general manager. "Integrated train-to-air mobility, through our airport hub, will enable more efficient connectivity to and from Italian cities with international destinations."

“We put ourselves in the passenger’s shoes” 

"We put ourselves in the passenger's shoes and thought about how to make the service better, guaranteeing a simple experience from the minute they buy a ticket,” said Luigi Corradi, CEO and general manager of Trenitalia.  "Working together as a system is crucial for the development of intermodality, which is a key theme in Trenitalia's strategy." 

Making train-air travel an advantageous alternative

For Marco Troncone, managing director of Aeroporti di Roma, intermodality is a way to multiply sustainable connectivity opportunities.

"Together with ITA Airways and Trenitalia, our aim is to make integrated train-air travel an advantageous alternative for passengers."

If you are looking for seaside relaxation with great cuisine on Liguria’s western coast, the Mare Hotel is the ideal choice.

Located in Savona, between Genoa and the Côte d'Azur

Equipped with every comfort, including a private beach of fine sand, Mare Hotel has 67 rooms and is located just a few minutes from the centre of Savona. Its strategic location, halfway between Genoa and the Côte d'Azur, makes it the perfect destination for a break and the electric bicycles provided by the hotel are a great way to discover the Ligurian hinterland. 

Fine dining in the A Spurcacciun-a restaurant 

Mare Hotel's pride and joy is the fine dining A Spurcacciun-a restaurant, helmed by Chef Simone Perata, who with flair and creativity uses local products that arrive fresh daily from local fishermen, breeders and farmers. The Marea Savona bistro offers a more classic menu for light and tasty lunchs, or informal dinners with traditional Ligurian dishes.

A Sushi Bar and a seaview terrace

For fans of Japanese cuisine, Sushi Beach celebrates the freshest fish with sushi, sashimi, carpaccio, nigiri and tartare freshly prepared by Japanese chefs.  And for a refined aperitif or a romantic after dinner, the large panoramic terrace facing the sea is the ideal place from which to admire a sunset or the night sky wile sipping a cocktail by the pool. 

La Plage Resort, by the sea and overlooking the Isola Bella in Taormina, is a top choice for a spring break in a magical setting. 

Maldivian-style bungalows hidden among centuries-old pine trees

Inside a nature reserve and directly overlooking the beach, La Plage Resort has Maldivian-style bungalows hidden among centuries-old pine trees, a few steps from the cable car that leads directly to the centre of Taormina. The jacuzzis on the private terraces of the renovated suites, are ideal for spending relaxing moments in the privacy of your home away from home overlooking the blue Mediterranean. 

Sicilian and Mediterranean cuisine in the Fusion Restaurant and the Beach Club

"Over the past two years, we have used eco-friendly materials to upgrade facilities and the property, hidden as it is between the sea and the pine forest, offers guests something new every year," says Giuseppe Marchese, CEO Ragosta Hotels Collection.  The resort also stands out for the quality of its Sicilian and the Mediterranean cuisine, which is helmed by chef Giovanni Puglisi and to be enjoyed in the Fusion Restaurant or at the Beach Club, which is also the perfect place for an aperitif at sunset or for a special event. 

The Group’s Roman property is the Palazzo Montemarini 

Guests looking for total wellbeing will head for the gym and the Expure Spa, with a maxi jacuzzi, Turkish bath, massage room with dedicated treatments, relaxation area with herbal tea corner, and regenerating paths that combine the benefits of water with warm baths. La Plage Resort Taormina is part of the Ragosta Hotels Collection together with the Hotel Raito Amalfi Coast and the Relais Paradiso, both in Vietri sul Mare, as well as Palazzo Montemartini Rome, A Radisson Collection Hotel, next to the Baths of Diocletian in the centre of the capital. 

Italy is gearing up for summer 2023 with "Italia open to Meraviglia", a €9 million campaign in which Botticelli's Venus steps out from the famous painting, which hangs in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, to be seen in spectacular Italian destinations, wearing trendy contemporary outfits. 

The campaign will debut in Dubai in May

The campaign "Italia Open to Mraviglia" will debut in the United Arab Emirates at the ATN Dubai from May 1 to 4, on the stand of ENIT, the Italian national tourist board. The new artwork also includes the new italia.it logo, which features the Italian flag in the shape of a window wide open to the globe. The claim is "Open to meraviglia,” and the campaign is from the Armando Testa Group. It features different Italian locations with Venus in Venice lingering with her smartphone and wearing an elegant outfit, and Venus in Rome holding a bike with the Colosseum behind her.

Italia Open to Meraviglia - Venice

In 2022 visitors spent over 26 million euro

The campaign "Italia Open to Meraviglia" will target major international airports and railway hubs in Europe, the United States, Central and South America, China, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia. In terms of tourist flows, Italy ended 2022 with a nearly complete recovery compared to 2019. In 2022, international visitors spent over €26 million in Italy, with Germany spending the most (€8,195 million), followed by the United States (€4,686), France (€3,907), the United Kingdom (€3,566), Spain (€2,332), Austria (€2,249), Switzerland (€2,115), Canada (€1,010), and Japan (€274 thousand).

“We will support all the actors involved”

“Enit is working with the Ministry for Tourism to achieve a unified and homogeneous vision of Italy that can involve and support all the actors involved,” says Ivana Jelinic, president and CEO of ENIT, the Italian national tourist board.

Italy’s food and its art cities, followed by its sea are the top priorities expressed by international buyers interested in joining an Italiabsolutely fam trip. 

Over 150 international buyers want to join a fam trip

Requests are pouring in to join one of Italiabsolutely’s upcoming fam trips. Over 150 international buyers have shown interest by registering on the Italiabsolutely database from which the participants will be selected.

Italy’s food and wine were the runaway favourite 

Among the priorities expressed by international buyers food & wine, perhaps not surprisingly stand out, having been indicated as fundamental by no less than 94.5% of respondents.  Next are Italy’s art cities with 82.7%, while Italy’s sea product placed third at 74% ,and its mountains at 54.3%, underlining the emerging trend of mountain destinations even in the summer months. There was also substantial demand for experiential tourism (52.8%) as well as for outdoor tourism (42.7%), which has always been a major attraction especially for visitors from Northern Europe.

88.2% of the buyers who registered specialize in tailor-made

In terms of product specialization, 80% of the agencies and operators who registered said they are interested in individual and/or group travel, with 88.2% of the sample saying they specialize in tailor-made programmes, while 72.4% do tour packages according to the answers which were multiple choice. Another important factor was the turnover generated, with some 41.7% declaring between $50,000 and 500,000 and 17.3% declaring over $500,000 ,while 45.7%  replied that they bring an average 50 to 500 passengers a year to Italy, with another 25.2% putting the figure at over 500. 

Italiabsolutely reaches over 90,000 travel buyers worldwide

"Italy has always been a favourite with buyers from all latitudes,” says Daniela Battaglioni, CEO of Travel Open Day, the media group that owns Italiabsolutely.  “Our fam trips represent an important opportunity for them to experience Italy first-hand, which will allow them to propose Italian destinations in-depth to their customers. Our Italiabsolutely portal reaches over 90,000 travel buyers worldwide. We are proud to be the only ones to connect with so many global travel specialists. Our media provides invaluable support to the market, allowing Italian tourist boards and agencies, DMC's and tour operators to connect with a wide range of global players who are often different from those encountered on institutional occasions.” 

Holiday rentals in Italy’s great art cities and, increasingly, in small towns and rural areas, are growing by leaps and bounds. While this is a boon for local economies, more and more communities are being impacted by episodes of antisocial behaviour that are making residents see red.

In England, in the wake of sanctions currently being drafted in record time in Brussels by the European Commission, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced the launch of measures against B&B owners and guests. His aim is to eliminate antisocial ways of behaving such as excessive noise, late-night parties with bright lights, blaring music and the abuse of alcohol, as well as other inconsiderate forms of conduct.

Airbnb.com disclaims any responsibility, stating it “has no control over the conduct of hosts,” and in many countries, chiefly in Scandinavia and the Far East, the problem seldom arises because communities are built on respect and trust. Despite the valuable income stream these short-term tenancies bring in, they are increasingly becoming hotbeds of disorderly conduct that is threatening the tranquility of entire populations. 

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor