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ANNO III - N. 1 7-9 MARCH 2023

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Frasassi

aves The Marche’s underground complex of grottos and tunnels

es m a n s u o i Cur e caves in th MILAN - The Frasassi Caves in with some 270,000 visitors.

BY PAMELA MCCOURT FRANCESCONE

the heart of the marche region, about a forty-minute drive from the regional capital of Ancona, are europe’s largest cavern complex with grottos formed by a series of caves and connecting tunnels. many of these are of unbelievable dimensions, and the first impression you get at the main entrance prepares you for what is to come, as this massive area could easily hold milan’s Cathedral. For those who worry about being underground, the caves are equipped with comfortable walkways and the theatrical lighting will assuage the fears of those who are not too comfortable in dim interiors. The tours last just over an hour, although for expert cavers there are also challenging speleo-adventure routes.

in 2022 the Frasassi Caves were one of the most visited and popular natural sites in italy

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The complex was discovered in 1971 and was opened to the public in 1974, going on to become one of the region’s biggest attractions. Visitors will find astounding natural sculptures carved over 190 million years by water and rock with formations of stalactites and stalagmites - the former descending from the cave ceiling while the stalagmites reach up from below – and there are also lakes and wells that are 25 metres deep. Very often these works of nature are not just simple columns, but much more elaborate sculptures, and for their appearance they have been given evocative names like the Giants, the Camel, the Dromedary, the Bear, and the Sword of Damocles.

The most famous stalactites and stalagmites are known as the Giants, the Camel, the Dromedary, the Bear and the Sword of Damocles

Nature has outdone itself in creating this breath-taking spectacle, but man has also made his contribution to the

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.000 270 Visitors to the Frasassi Caves in 2022

ature n t s u j t No In 1828 they built the Temple of Valadier, an octagonal church in travertine marble with a domed roof

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caves. in 1828 they built the Temple of Valadier, an octagonal church in travertine marble with a domed roof. And there is an even earlier work of man inside the caves, the Hermitage of Santa maria infra Saxa which is said to date back to as early as 1029.

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Cities and Regions

Beauty

art and nature take pride of place in the northern Marche

BY PAMELA MCCOURT FRANCESCONE

MILAN - Two new projects from Confcommercio Marche Nord were presented at the BIT in Milan: the 2023 edition of the Itinerario della Bellezza nella Provincia di Pesaro Urbino guide, and the motorbike tourism guide Marche, Emozioni in Moto.

«In the new edition of Itinerario della Bellezza we feature 21 municipalities in the province of Pesaro Urbino. Last year we had 16, and when the project started five years ago there were just five municipalities,» says Amerigo Varotti, director general of Confcommercio Marche Nord.

«With this new guide we are promoting

beauty as a great opportunity for the economic and social development of our region, along with fascinating archaeological itineraries that start with the Golden Bronzes of Pergola, one of the world’s most exceptional museums. These golden bronzes of the Roman era are quite unique because, of a similar size, there are only the Horses of St Mark in Venice and the statue of Marcus Aurelius in Rome.»

The guide reveals a charming territory, an uncontaminated environment rich in art, history, culture with extraordinary food and wines, from the Adriatic Sea to the beautiful Marche hills and mountains, on a discovery of fortified villages, places of silence and faith, fortresses, historical theatres, and Roman vestiges.. It also tells the stories

of the peoples and great personalities who have lived here, from Rossini - the Marche is also the land of great music - to Raphael, and from Vitruvius to Bramante and Duke Federico da Montefeltro.

Motorbike tourism is, with cycling, among the fastest growing forms of outdoor tourism, a journey in search of nature, traditions, culture and gastronomy, it is a direct and authentic way to experience an environment and its people. «In the new Marche guide, the first on motor tourism for our region, we present fifteen itineraries, three for each of our provinces,» says Varotti. «These routes are suitable for all levels, especially for those who love beauty and want to experience it in complete freedom. Le Marche is a region rich in opportunities for motorbike tourism.»

Amerigo Varotti,

Gardaland’s new i j n a m u J h t n i r y b a L The CASTELNUOVO DEL GARDA Preparations are in full swing for Gardaland's new 2023 attraction, Jumanji - The Labyrinth, which will be operational this Spring. A newly planted Strelitzia Augusta, a very large bird of paradise flower, officially marks the beginning of the long labyrinth that will give a hard time to all the brave adventurers who enter it.

Inspired by the successful cinematographic series by Sony Pictures four cosplayers, Doctor Smolder Bravestone, Ruby Roundhouse, Professor Sheldon “Shelly” Oberon and Franklin “Mouse” Finbar posed a few days ago with the labyrinth’s first symbolic plants. The

is a natural fantasyland

The most important theme park in Italy has become even more attractive thanks to our longstanding partners, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Scott O’Neil

attraction will also include a game of mirrors, a snake-infested tunnel and much more, offering adventurers of all ages a new chance to immerse themselves in the fantastic wild world of Jumanji, following the dark ride The Adventure which opened last year. «The most important theme park in Italy has become even more attractive thanks to our long-standing partners, Sony Pictures Entertainment, producers of the successful film series,» says Merlin Entertainments

CEO Scott O’Neil. «Continuing to bring this world to life is a fun challenge for our award-winning creative teams.»

Upon completion of the planting, more than 2,000 Mediterranean plants, belonging to more than 30 different species, will bring the labyrinth to life. Along the path, created with broad-leaved trees, bushes, palms and tree ferns, courageous visitors will come across detours, forks, dead-ends and sur-

prise effects. Thanks to plants such as Acanthus mollis and Bletilla striata, with their white flowers in stark contrast to the pink and red-purple shades of the other plants present, the labyrinth will also be full of colours that will enchant visitors of all ages. The layout of the labyrinth will be made even more impressive thanks to the imposing heights, up to more than 50 metres, of the plants selected to bring the new multi-sensory adventure to life.

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S O S T ra v e l N , ew PRoducTS comPeTiTiVe PRiceS aNd digiTaL SuPPoRT

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Properties in Sardinia

- The Janna & Sole - The Red Sun Village - The Le Rose - The Piccolo Hotel

MILANO - Sostravel.com S.p.A. offers digital services for travellers, operating through the sostravel and flio, and the web platforms www.sostravel.com and www.amareitalia.com. It develops ad hoc solutions such as Lost Luggage Concierge for luggage tracking and protection, and Dr. Travel, a telemedicine solution for travellers.

«Among the novelties of 2023 is the innovative Dr. Travel service,» says Massimo Crippa COO Sostravel.com Spa, «a telemedicine service for travellers which, in real time 24/7 via vicall, provides a deo medical/specialist consultation for minor, unforeseen events that are generally not included in traditional cover.»

The novelty for summer 2023 is The Rocca The new www.amareitalia.es, Dorada Resort designed and dedicated to the

Spanish market, was inaugurated in Madrid during Fitur. «Du-

Dr. Travel Service

A telemedicine service for travellers which, in real time 24/7 via video call, provides a medical/specialist consultation for minor, unforeseen events that are generally not included in traditional cover

ring the course of the season,» adds Crippa, an innovative digital service will also be introduced, offering holiday packages for Sardinia, including the ferry with the best shipping companies and at negotiated rates, in a single online transaction. Also new is the Rocca Dorada Resort, in Santa Margherita di Pula in the south of Sardinia, which joins Sostravel.com Spa’s exclusive facilities.

2022 saw the merger of Digital Destination Company and Sostravel.

«The merged company,» Crippa continues, «has presented its business plan up to 2027, and the 2022 closure forecasts are better than expected, with a positive EBTDA. The season, still focused on the Ita-

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lian sea and specifically on Sardinia, as well as the investments in digital marketing, has turned out as expected.»

The properties in Sardinia are the Janna & Sole the Red Sun Village, the Le Rose and the Piccolo Hotel while the novelty for summer 2023 is the Rocca Dorada Resort.

«The company has registered the digital Secret Village Sardegna ®’brand,» adds Crippa, «thanks to which the customer is assured considerable savings on prices. This is because the customer will receive confirmation of which property will host him only two days before departure, enabling hoteliers to optimize occupancy by reaching previously unheard of yield levels.»

The amareitalia.com portal includes all the best products available on the global market at competitive prices. Many, with direct agreement, checked, verified and in some cases managed directly, offer maximum customer satisfaction, but are still for a limited number of destinations. «The assistance of destination managers, - Crippa concludes, - is now a certainty for customers on their second or third experience, and for the trade. The challenge is to continue to expand the product range while maintaining the quality offered to guests and the profitability for our shareholders, growing one step at a time.»

The amareitalia.com portal includes all the best products available on the global market at competitive prices

Massimo Crippa

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The Marche

The Region by numbers

Record numbers compared to pre-pandemic years

2,507,756 Tourists arrivals 11,376,381 overnights

marches ahead with a record 2022 and ambitious targets

BY PAMELA MCCOURT FRANCESCONE

The Marche definitely has what it takes. It’s a great challenge, but we face it with our hearts, and above all with a smile

Going2Italy

Marco Bruschini

MILAN - Tourist arrivals and overnights in the Marche continue to grow, the 2022 season having closed with more than positive results: 2,507,756 arrivals and 11,376,381 overnights which were record numbers compared to pre-pandemic years. Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Belgium are the leading markets, with Poland and the UK also showing strong growth. And there are great expectations for the new summer flights to Ancona from Paris and London Gatwick.

«Today, tourism in the Marche is 80% Italian, while only 20%

A view of Urbani Beach, Sirolo, Marche

of our visitors come from the rest of the world,» said Marco Bruschini, director of the AITM

Marche Tourism Agency, speaking at the BIT travel fair in Milan. «By linking tourism to the region’s manufacturing sector, which is one of the excellencies of Made in Italy, we will promote the destination on international markets. With this critical mass we aim to at least double that 20%, bringing it to 40%, because Marche has all the characteristics to be a leader on the tourism scene.»

«We have six Michelin chefs in our region, and they will be our ambassadors in the world. This

year we will be at many of the international trade fairs including the Free in Munich and the ITP in Berlin, together with the new ENIT with which we will be working closely. I had the honour of being director general of ENIT for ten years, and the new tourism minister Daniela Santanchè has realized the great potential of the agency. The Marche definitely has what it takes. It’s a great challenge, but we face it with our hearts, and above all with a smile.»

New, high-end Italy for connoisseur travellers MILAN - (p.mcf.) The Italy of charm, of exclusive experiences, of private visits, of unprecedented and fascinating tours.

Going2Italy, the new division of Going which is part of the Bluvacanze Group, is dedicated to travel agents who cater for a high-spending target group looking for boutique hotels and 5star facilities, luxury villas and private services.

«The inbound market was the only missing piece for the Group, which also counts MSC Crociere,» says Going2Italy’s incoming director Roberto Pannozzo.

«We offer exclusive tailormade travel experiences in Italy. We don’t have prepackaged programmes, we are consultants specialized in bespoke, private experiential travel.

«MSC, Going and Cisalpina are part of our network and that gives us a lot of confidence; no one has this kind of strength behind them. It allows us to focus 100% on the product, and on our relationship with our travel agent partners. The development of the Going2Italy platform is very important as everything will be customized, fast reliable technology allowing us to craft quality products for the end customer. We

Tourists in Siena

We offer exclusive tailor-made travel experiences in Italy.

We don’t have pre-packaged programmes, we are consultants specialized in bespoke, private experiential travel

We get valuable support from the MSC and Cisalpina offices worldwide. Our first bookings have already come in from New York and Izmir in Turkey. North America is our number one market, but of course we are also targeting Europe and the Middle East among others

Roberto Panozzo

The leading markets Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Belgium with Poland and the UK also showing strong growth Great expectations The new summer flights to Ancona from Paris and London Gatwick

Aims Only 20% of our visitors come from the rest of the world. We aim to at least double to 40%

are also working on very interesting proposals for families, with activities that give parents and children the chance to have fun together. And we intend proposing hidden excellences, for example Italian caviar, which few people know is second only to the Russian variety. What we want is to offer visitors the chance to engage with little-known aspects of Italy and what it produces. Actually we are discovering some of them ourselves. While we pride ourselves on being experts, we are not omniscient and so every day we find exciting new angles and unexpected places that we will be bringing to our target audience.»

«We get valuable support from the MSC and Cisalpina offices worldwide. Our first bookings have already come in from New York and Izmir in Turkey, and we are expanding our sales network globally. Our debut at international trade fairs was at the BIT in Milan, then we’ll be at the ITB and at the end of March we will host a group of American luxury travel advisors for an Italian fam trip. North America is our number one market, but of course we are also targeting Europe and the Middle East among others. Our enthusiasm is through the roof, there is a lot of positivity, and while we have a very ambitious target for this first year, we are confident we will hit it.»

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3 2 0 2Tuscany’s push to verticalize

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and capture new markets

BY MARIA CARNIGLIA

MILAN - Tuscany is consolidating a trend that emerged in 2022, namely the growth of international arrivals. «Estimates show that in 2023 we will return to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, and probably even exceed them,» says Leonardo Marras, regional councillor for tourism. «This year we will re-launch our offline and online promotional campaign and work with public and private players to guarantee efficient services, and we will be giving substance to the commitments made with foreign markets to help make them grow.»

Tuscany’s promotional plan foresees a strong push for the verticalization of travel themes and for targeting specific countries, in particular in certain sectors such as wellness and long business stays. «We are ready with new ideas for school, wedding and sustainable tourism, - adds Marras - and bike tourism and hospitality facilities for female travellers are also in the pipeline. In the coming months our tourist destinations will set in mo-

tion projects financed by regional funds, collaborating with public and private concerns to maximize the effectiveness of our promotions.»

«We have set up horizontal governance, - continues the councillor, and this allows for the continuous exchange of information both between the individual territories, and between the territories and the Region. Within a year we will make a further qualitative leap with the realization of the projects launched with the contribution of regional resources. Teaming up is not always easy, despite the efforts and great strides made in recent years.

And paradoxically the wealth of content and proposals can also be a limit, but it is a challenging limit that makes us always feel proud to be in

In the picture on the left Leonardo Marras, regional councillor for tourism

Tuscany and committed to doing better day after day.»

Tuscany’s promotions will focus on Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, and the UK, but also on Greece, Spain, and Poland, also through collaborations with countries that, like Tuscany, are part of the Necstour network. «We are also looking at more distant markets,- Leonardo Marras concludes, -especially America, and we are also starting to open up to the Chinese market. Currently our destination portal, visittuscany.com, is available in five languages, Italian, English, German, Spanish and French.

Estimates show that in 2023 we will return to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, and probably even exceed them

Leonardo Marras

Wellness and business

Ready with new ideas for school, wedding and sustainable tourism bike tourism and hospitality facilities for female travellers

The Region’s promotion We will focus on Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria UK, but also on Greece Spain Poland

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a i n i d r a S

BY PAMELA MCCOURT FRANCESCONE

MILAN - «After a record-breaking 2022, with more than seven million arrivals, we are looking forward to another good year for the tourism industry,» said Sardinia’s regional councillor for tourism, Giovanni Chessa, speaking at the BIT in Milan.

«This year’s BIT marks a historic turning point for the relaunch of tourism both in Italy and internationally. I believe that Sardinia’s strong attraction goes beyond a destination exclusively linked to the sea. We want to go beyond the sea, and our heritage is an important tool at the disposal of our tourism product.

With a deep sense of identity and pride in our roots, we must strive to ensure that popular traditions, which are still deeply rooted in our island, are examples of uniqueness that Sardinia can exploit to strengthen its position as a prime tourism destination.»

Six new guidebooks dedicated

We want to go beyond the sea, and our heritage is an important tool at the disposal of our tourism product

Cities and Regions

Traditions, sea and nature for all seasons

Giovanni Chessa

Six Guides Trekking cycling, mountain biking, canoeing & kayaking, climbing & canyoning, and diving.

Also featured are Sardinia’s archaeology, monuments, folk groups and religious trails

to active tourism in Sardinia were presented on the Sardinian stand.

Each guide contains around thirty of the most attractive and exciting routes for outdoor activities: trekking, cycling, mountain biking, canoeing & kayaking, climbing & canyoning, and diving.

Also featured are Sardinia’s archaeology, monuments, folk groups and religious trails.

Ryanair recently announced the addition of two new routes to the Sardinian capital from Gothenburg and Genoa, and it is also increasing frequencies on over ten popular routes like Bologna, Pisa, Milan and Rome.

This season Italy’s number one airline will be operating over 370 weekly flights on Cagliari, offering travellers to and from the island low fares on 39 routes.

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Spa towns, famous wines and culture in Tuscany’s

Va ldichiana Senese

BY PAMELA MCCOURT FRANCESCONE

MONTEPULCIANO - Montepulciano, nestled in a bucolic setting in the Valdichiana Senese in southern Tuscany, is a true oasis of peace with vineyards as far as the eye can see, and all the charm of a classic medieval Tuscan hill town. It is also the land where Nobile di Montepulciano is produced, the famous red wine with the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG), esteemed by connoisseurs and wine enthusiasts the world over.

Mayor Michele Angiolini says the town and its surrounding area draw visitors looking for tranquility and relaxation, and that they also come to stay and take the waters in its spa

towns, Montepulciano Terme, San Casciano dei Bagni and Chianciano Terme. «Visitors are very attracted by our nature and also by our foods and wines. We have a wide range of accommodation in both hotels and non-hotel facilities. PostCovid the hotels, which are mostly in Chianciano Terme, suffered somewhat while alternative facilities were in strong demand.»

Many of the cultural events organized in the area are concentrated in the summer months, «but our Christmas in Montepulciano draws thousands of people from November right

through to the end of the holiseason,» day Ma said Mayor AnAngyor Mi giolini. iolin chel e i «During Covid prime foreign markets like the US and Russia dropped considerably, but we took advantage of those months to work, plan and invest in promoting our region, and this proved to have been a good move as it led to a rise in domestic visitors and also boosted arrivals from proximity markets.»

Iglesias

d n a e d i s a e s Cultural, s y a d i l o h e r u t na

Mauro Usai, mayor of Iglesias

It takes time to visit our territory, but there are many sites that are worth visiting, and so we have set out different itineraries. The best way is along the Camino Minerario di Santa Barbara mining trail

IGLESIAS - (p.mcf.) Iglesias, on the south-west coast of Sardinia is a handsome city with diverse cultural and natural attractions. Perhaps less well known than other tourist resorts, it is perfect for many different types of holidays: seaside, cultural and trekking.

The coast is dominated by rugged headlands and the hinterland beaten by paths along which one comes across evidence of the near and distant past like the mines that existed in the area from the early 1900s up to the 1960s.

«We have many famous industrial ar-

chaeology sites that are unique - this was the oldest mining basin in Europe - and for some years now the municipality has been focusing a lot on their experiential enhancement not only for the beauty of the area but also because they tell story of the identity of a community,» says Mauro Usai, mayor of Iglesias. «It takes time to visit our territory, but there are many sites that are worth visiting, and so we have set out different itineraries. The best way is along the Camino Minerario di Santa Barbara mining trail, which is to

say the historical and mining paths that the miners used to take to go to work.» This 500-kilometre loop, along pathways, mule tracks and dirt and paved roads, has been divided into 30 stages, each of about 16 kilometres.

Crossing towns and villages it is suitable for walkers and also for bikers, while those who prefer to admire the landscapes from the sea can do so by boat.

The city of Iglesias itself has a fascinating history that goes back thousands of years, from Roman times through

the Pisan domination and then under Spanish rule when it got the name Iglesias, the city of churches. «Many of our visitors are from France, England, and Europe, Iglesias can be enjoyed at any time of year. So even when the temperatures are lower it is still possible to experience the mountains and the coasts, drawing many visitors in the low season,» adds Mayor Usai. Another very popular time of year is Easter and the Holy Week to see some of the most fascinating processions in Italy. When visitors arrive in Cagliari airport - there are many flights both from Milan and Rome daily as well as from other European cities or disembark in the post of Cagliari there is a train that brings them to Iglesias. «We have a very wide range, and we have a wide choice of accommodation with many bed and breakfasts nestled in the heart of the city.»

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n o i g e r o t e n e V Ita ly’s ob jec tive Digitalization: Veneto’s tourism agencies are working together with local players to create Smart Tourism Destinations where the stakeholders, under the management of a DMO, facilitate access to tourism and hospitality products

BY PAMELA MCCOURT FRANCESCONE

MILAN - «Dealing with tourism today calls many factors into consideration, including sustainability and the ecological and digital transition. These are essential elements to ensure the development of our destinations and a better redistribution of tourist flows,»- said Veneto’s tourism councillor Federico Caner. - We are focusing on the new way people are choosing to travel today. They tend to want to discover hidden places, different cultures, and local products, and for this kind of slow tourism there are many itineraries on our rivers and walking and cycling trails around our region.»

Digitalization is a prime objective for the destination, and Veneto’s tourism agencies are working together with local players to create Smart Tourism Destinations where the stakeholders, under the management of a DMO, facilitate access to tourism and hospitality products.

In focusing on slow tourism, sustainability, and the beauty of its cultural and natural heritage, the region’s innovative appro-

IS playIng The carDS Of SuSTaInabIlITy anD DIgITal TranSITIOn

The total revenues in 2019, made us Italy’s number one inbound operator

Federico Caner

ach puts the spotlight on its nine UNESCO sites - from Venice and its lagoon to Verona, and from Padua to the Prosecco Hills and the Dolomites.

Numbers show that the strategy is going in the right direction as in 2022 Veneto recorded some 62 million overnights, of which 42 million from abroad, thus returning almost to pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

«Our seaside resort towns on the coast alone recorded 35 million overnights in 2022,said Councillor Caner. - These numbers are also thanks to the investments made in new tourism products that enhance the entire region and help govern the phenomenon of over-tourism.»

The Region by numbers

Numbers show that the strategy is going in the right direction 62 millions overnights, of which 42 million from abroad

35 million overnights in Veneto’s seaside resort towns on the coast alone in 2022

NINE UNESCO sites from Venice and its lagoon to Verona, and from Padua to the Prosecco Hills and the Dolomites

SLOW TOURISM There are many itineraries on rivers and walking and cycling trails around the region

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CEFALÙ is so much more

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Currently we are investing in upgrading many facilities like the waterfront and adding new parking areas

BY PAMELA MCCOURT FRANCESCONE

MILAN - Cefalù is one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, and one of the most picturesque destinations in Sicily.

Located on the northern coast, in a strategic position about an hour from Palermo, it has a millennial history.

«Our identity and our

image in the world is the Cathedral that dominates the old town, which in turn is dominated by the Madonie mountains, and we have been a UNESCO site since 2015,» says Cefalu’s mayor, Daniele Tumminello.

«The rest is obviously done by nature, and then there is the historical beauty of the city.» And also the warm welcome the townspeople reserve for visitors, which is something that dates back centuries, «but took on new meaning at the end of the 50s when the Club Med

Daniele Tumminello

first opened. Last year we recorded 811, 000 overnights against 784,926 in 2019.»

Foreign tourism accounts for 63.7% of arrivals to Cefalù, with France and Germany in the lead and a significant presence of American, British and Swiss visitors, with Italians accounting for 36.3% per cent annually.

«While many of our visitors use the city as a door to discover the surrounding area, being a port city Cefalù has a unique appeal and a wide range of accommodation of all levels, and

currently we are investing in upgrading many facilities like the waterfront and adding new parking areas.»

At the ITB Cefalù will be promoted through images, typical products, and brochures that tell of the history, places, and experiences that the city offers in terms of culture, nature, food and wine. The aim being, added mayor Tumminello, to consolidate the annual presence of Germans and other loyal visitors, while reaching out to conquer new international markets.

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Raffaello tailor-make Travel unforgettable Group

experiences and adventures

MILAN - Raffaello Travel Group is a B2B platform specialized in tourism services and travel experiences with brands that tailor-make unforgettable experiences and adventures. «We offer tours in the Marche but also in other Italian regions,» says general manager Federico Scaramucci. «While we specialize in hospitality for events and conferences, we also have products that range from the sea to wine and food tours, to culture and outdoor activities. We have just received the GIST Best Green Italian Accommodation award for our chalet on Monte Nerone which has been completely renovated to the highest sustainable standards. It is open all year and has 25 beds in rooms for eight to four people as well as a restaurant.»

With orders already arriving for the summer season Scaramucci says requests are coming from travel agent partners in Germany, Holland and other central European countries, and that there is a strong demand for holiday homes, villas and farmhouses. «One of the acti-

BY PAMELA MCCOURT FRANCESCONE

vities we promote is guided bike tours for which we have designed special itineraries and which include wine and food tastings. The tour I always like to mention is the one-day Raphael Tour that, like all our tours, can be done with your own bike, or we can rent out the bikes.»

While being a specialist in nature and eco-sustainable experiences, the Raffaello Travel Group also promotes the cultural beauty of Urbino, which is a UNESCO site with a very well-preserved historic centre. «Every year at the end of July we have the Urbino Festival of Ancient Music, then the Jazz Festival in August and the Festival of Urban Theatre which moves from one small town to another, and there are also the Rossini Festial and the Arena Sferisterio opera season. We also get a lot of enquiries for the region’s craft breweries, like those in the town of Apecchio, and then of course we work very closely with the Frasassi Caves, which are one of the prime attractions in the Marche.»

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ThGroup’s

The

new Sardinian property is the Costa Rei-Free Beach Resort

PADUA - Th Costa Rei-Free Beach Resort is the new Sardinian property of the Th Group, which now has 16 beach, eleven mountain and four urban properties in Italy. The new acquisition was conducted in partnership with Iti Marina Hotels

The addition to our Sardinian portfolio of this important holiday village is part of our growth

Giuliano Gaiba

& Resorts and the property, the former Free Beach Resort, was owned by Giovanni Nonne, former Gestitur president.

The complex, located in one of the most picturesque areas of the south-eastern coast of Sardinia, has 400 rooms arranged in a natural amphitheatre, and is immersed in Mediterranean vegetation in front of the Costa Rei beach. «This is an important milestone for us,» says Th Group President Graziano Debellini, «The Th Costa Rei-Free Beach Resort had been in our sights for some time, and further consolidates our positio-

ning and presence on the island.» After the Th Chia-Parco Torre Chia, the Paduan company therefore returns to invest in Sardinia, where it also manages the Th San TeodoroLiscia Eldi, and the Tci La Maddalena in the north of the island.

«These years have been a difficult challenge that we feel we have overcome with great sacrifice, flexibility, trust and a strong team spirit, which has always characterized the Th family,» adds the group’s administrator, Giuliano Gaiba. «The addition to our Sardinian port-

folio of this important and historic holiday village, which is much appreciated internationally, is part of our growth and expansion project, which includes the acquisition of another resort over the next few months.

«Having worked for 45 years in this area, to have the historic Free Beach Resort among our 35 properties is, for me and my family, a source of great pride and heartfelt professional, as well as personal, satisfaction,» concluded Piero Loi, General Manager Iti Marina Hotels & Resorts.

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Francesco and Riccardo Lazzarini

MILAN - For now the focus is undoubtedly on the restyling of the new Rome entry, the Rose Garden Palace, as well as the Shangri La. But Omnia Hotels is

We are currently working on operations both in the Eternal City and in other Italian destinations

Francesco Lazzarini

Next

Omnia Hotels:

stops Milan, Venice and Cortina

BY MASSIMILIANO SARTI

not pausing its development projects and, with eight hotels, all in Rome, is already looking elsewhere. «We are currently working on operations both in the Eternal City and in other Italian destinations such as Milan, Venice and Cortina d’Ampezzo,» explains CEO Francesco Lazzarini.

The company, born in 2019 from a spin-off of the Loan Group, at the behest of the two Lazzarini brothers (in addition to Francesco there is also Ric-

cardo. Ed.), immediately aimed to boost its initial portfolio of six properties. «Covid obviously slowed down our initial plans a bit, but we still managed to add the St. Martin in addition to the Rose Garden. Since last April demand has picked up, even exceeding 2019 levels. So we were able to recover the turnover lost in the first three months, and close the year above the pre-Covid year, with a total turnover 30 percentage points higher than the initial growth forecasts.»

17 2023 seems to be following a similar trajectory: «In January and February in terms of both occupancy and average price, we have already performed better than in 2019 - adds Lazzarini. - And so we can reasonably believe that we will once again exceed the set targets, which for this year are +20% on 2022.»

The competition that could come from the wave of new Rome openings by international chains does not seem to be a deterrent. «On the contrary, I believe this is a great opportunity for the destination. Having major investors confidently bankroll the capital undoubtedly brings additional competition, but at the same time it makes the city increasingly appealing as a destination for international congresses, sporting and artistic events. And this generates the possibility of attracting additional demand from higher spending travellers. Stealing the scene from other European capitals for this type of event supports the growth of the average rate, making it possible to close that price gap with competitors that we suffered in pre-Covid years.

And it contributes to the seasonal adjustment of the market, often covering those periods when there is a drop in leisure travellers.»

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All our lines recorded excellent load factors, particularly on the IschiaCasamicciola and Procida routes in the Gulf of Naples

Giuseppe Langella

Croatia the new entry, s r o t c a f d a o l t n e l l e c x e d an NAPLES - The guarantee of a reliable and punctual service, but also great attention to safety in terms of both navigation and booking. These are the 2023 objectives of SNAV, a leading Mediterranean ferry services company, which for next summer is offering the possibility of booking well in advance, with cancellations possible up to 30 days before departures and with 100% refunds.

Throughout the year SNAV will be present at the main trade fairs and industry events to meet its travel agency partners.

The trade is, in fact, a privileged sales channel to which the Group has dedicated a series of incentives and ad hoc commission schemes. It is also focusing on Croatia which, with the arrival of the euro, «becomes a more usable destination for Italian tourists. The adoption of the single currency has not led to any changes in the fares applied by our company,» explains SNAV’s administrator, Giuseppe Langella.

The summer comes on the wave of the 2022 season which

was one of great recovery with numbers that came close to those of 2019, which had been a record year. «All our lines recorded excellent load factors,» Langella adds, «particularly on the Ischia-Casamicciola and Procida routes in the Gulf of Naples, where the sailings to Capri also confirmed their traditional popularity. And the same can be said for the Aeolian and Pontine islands and for sales to Croatia: a destination that responded well to late departures in October.»

The routes

SNAV

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OBJECTIVES 2023

- The guarantee of a reliable and punctual service - Great attention to safety in terms of both navigation and booking

Seasonal connections Ancona - Split by ferry from May to October Naples - Aeolian Islands by fast ferry from May to September Naples - Ventone/Ponza by fast ship from June to September

All year daily high-speed connections in the Bay of Naples Naples - Capri Naples - Ischia Casamicciola Naples - Procida Castellammare Capri Sorrento – Capri

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Transportation

years of success

i c o l e V i v a n i d n G ra celebrates

BY MARIA CARNIGLIA

In May 2023 we will launch a new reservation system that will revolutionize booking

Matteo Della Valle

MILAN - Grandi Navi Veloci, an MSC Group division, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It was in 1993 that GNV’s owner Aldo Grimaldi created the cruise ferry: a combination of car and cargo transport with passenger comfort on a par with a cruise ship, while at the same time speeding up sailings. For its 30th anniversary celebrations the company is planning a series of B2B and B2C programmes, and at the end of 2024 it will take delivery of the first unit of the planned new builds.

«We have 100 travel agents in our Elite programme»

«In May 2023 we will launch a new reservation system - says Matteo Della Valle, GNV’s passenger sales & marketing staff director. - This will revolutionize booking. It took us three years, and it will be a major change, simplifying the entire sector.» ADVs, who are fundamental partners for the company, will come in for s o m e

2023 GNV Italian and foreign Routes

even more complete support with dedicated teams for the Italian and foreign markets. «The Elite programme, with a series of pluses and services, currently counts some 100 travel agents and is a highly soughtafter cluster. We are thinking of launching a TOP Elite to reward our best partners.»

In 2022 GNV carried over 2,200,000 passengers

Having closed 2022 with over 2,200,000 passengers, this year the aim is consolidation. «Despite the two years of crisis, capacity has increased by 50%. Shipowner Gianluigi

Aponte believes in the company and we have strengthened our routes. All the indicators, including advance bookings, are positive and are pointing to a very strong demand. Foreign markets were back again in 2022, with the German market recording double-digit growth.» Guests can now choose to pay in instalments, and safety on board remains a key factor. «The large areas available on board represent an added value. There is a high focus on clusters such as families with children and those travelling with pets. In both cases,- explains De la Valle - there are ad hoc areas, dedicated routes and activities, and we are constantly renewing the food & beverage facilities in line with the tastes and requests of customers.»

In Italy this year, on the Civitavecchia-Olbia route there will be six sailings a week from both ports, in addition to four ships on the Genoa-Olbia and Genoa-Torres routes, with two daily departures for both lines. In Sicily GNV will operate daily sailings to and from Palermo with Genoa and Naples, Civitavecchia-Palermo and Termini Imerese, and Naples-Termini Imerese. On foreign markets GNV will be present in the Balearic Islands with four daily departures to and from the ports of Barcelona and Valencia for Menorca, Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, guaranteeing daily connections to all the islands, but also operating in Morocco where it will be present with six routes to and from Italy, Spain and France. This complete network to all the major Mediterranean ports will consistsof the bi-weekly and tri-weekly Genoa-Tangier, Civitavecchia-Tangier, Barcelona-Tangier and Barcelona-Nador, Sète-Tangier and Sète-Nador, in addition to the Almeria-Nador which was inaugurated last summer. GNV will continue to operate daily Bari-Durrës sailings to Albania while departures from the ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia and Palermo to Tunis are also confirmed for 2023.

Trenitalia’s regional network ly a t I le b a n i a t s u S

BY PAMELA MCCOURT FRANCESCONE

MILAN - «For Trenitalia’s Regional Division this post-Covid year promises to be a turning point,» said Regional Business Director Sabrina De Filippis at the BIT travel fair in Milan.

«With the recovery of international markets, and the increase in demand for proximity travel, we are looking to surpass the volumes of 2019.»

More than 6,200 Regionale trains operate daily on the network from the north to the south of Italy, and the aim is to focus on shared and integrated modes of transport including buses to continue journeys to the more remote parts of the country.

With the recovery of international markets, and the increase in demand for proximity travel, we are looking to surpass the volumes of 2019

Sabrina De Filippis

«This allows our passengers to discover many beautiful and lesserknown parts of Italy. Due to the success of our train + bus LINK services we are now also integrating our train connections with ferry services to many of the most evo-

cative islands in the Mediterranean.»

With the emphasis on sustainability the new Regionale trains, like the hybrid Blues, consume 30% less energy than the previous generation, and both in terms of techno-

logy and on-board services they are able to meet the needs of an increasingly wide and diverse range of travellers, from families, to bikers, including those who travel by e-bike, thanks to the onboard charging stations.