With the season practically almost over, it can be said that the hospitality world in Italy closed in the best possible way from a revenue point of view, but it certainly cannot be denied that it went through a series of problems, more or less known to all.
All this can be confirmed by the owners and managers of Italian hotels, but above all by Alessandro D'Andrea, President of the ADA (Association of Hotel Managers) and General Manager of the Hotel Senato in Milan, who says: 'The season certainly went very well in terms of occupancy and average price. Throughout Italy, tourism has returned and a very good job has been done. However, there were some difficulties towards the end of the season, due to the price increases that we are all aware of by now'.
In fact, hotels will not only have to cope with rising bills, but also with the consequent increase in all costs, starting with suppliers, who in turn will have to bear rather high costs to cope with the demands.
The problems we are facing at the moment also concern an uncertainty related to state intervention, which we still do not know how it will be set up to support companies and citizens. The situation in Eastern Europe with the war, the Covid-19 contagions and other international situations could put the rest of the season at risk, but there are also positive aspects that should undoubtedly be highlighted: Italy remains a very strong country and a country that the whole world wants to visit, so much so that even at this time of year Italy remains one of the most popular and sought-after destinations for national and international tourists.
Tourism and sustainability. What can be done?
There is a lot of talk about sustainability these days, and the hospitality world can also do something. The topic is quite important and deserves to be explored. Believing in sustainability is necessary, but the first step is related to the behaviour of the individual, in order to reduce waste, without ever giving up product quality.
As Damiano De Crescenzo, General Manager Planetaria Hotels and President of Hospitality in Asso Lombarda states, 'It is the behaviour of the customer, the behaviour of staff, third parties and suppliers that makes the difference.
Being attentive to energy savings and consumption is essential, but today it is very difficult to sustain a business because there are so many responsibilities. Social commitment therefore seems primary in order to be able to talk about sustainability.
Within a discourse in which the focus is on sustainability linked to the world of tourism, one cannot fail to mention the catering sector; hotel catering was penalised for a certain period, but by focusing on the territory, on zero km and on the values of healthy eating, the point of view has changed, bringing the concept of sustainability to the fore.
Tourism in Italy: the importance of smaller towns
Investing in smaller cities is a wise decision, either because the main cities are now saturated or because of the costs involved, but there are also many luxury operators who are moving to secondary cities, always looking for the best locations.
Dedicating oneself to tourism in these locations is an extremely professional choice and allows one to work to the best of one's ability, seeking to reap benefits that extend across the board.
PHOTO CREDITS: Photo by Jonathan Bean on Unsplash
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