TTG Travel Experience, the 2021 edition is already a “success”

The Rimini TTG presents itself with fanfare for the 2021 edition. Despite being the only large in-person tourism fair during the pandemic, the October 2021 edition begins to record staggering numbers: nearly 40% more registrations by mid-June.

There is a desire for in-person fairs. And this second half of 2021 has all the prerequisites for a restart in this sense. The Rimini international tourism fair, TTG Travel Experience, presents itself with all the requirements of a great success.

Big names and indicators all on the rise for the IEG event at the Rimini Fair from October 13 to 15, concurrently with SIA Hospitality Design and SUN Beach&Outdoor Style. For tour operators and hotels, three key words: health safety, open spaces, tailor-made experience. The sea is the most loved tourist product.

TTG Travel Experience from October 13 to 15 in Rimini

From October 13 to 15, the business for all sector operators at Rimini Fair thanks to an edition that is expected to be excellent and which to date records a +39% increase in registrations compared to the previous year.

TTG, in conjunction with SIA Hospitality Design and SUN Beach&Outdoor Style, represents the largest tourism marketplace in Italy. Overall, for the 2021 edition, there will be 12 pavilions occupied, with high-profile participations confirmed and an extraordinary snapshot of products and services. Just some names among the companies participating in the 58th TTG Travel Experience. For Tourism Entities: Slovenia, Morocco, Qatar, Greece, and Croatia; for accommodation facilities: Bluserena, TH Resorts, Human Company, Blu Hotels, Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences, Zacchera Service, Gruppo UNA, Barceló Hotel Group, Best Western Italy; and still within the tour operators and network area: Nicolaus Tour / Valtur, Futura Vacanze, Gattinoni Travel Network, KEL 12 Tour Operator, Uvet American Express.

In the Contract pavilion, the 70th SIA Hospitality Design has already recorded confirmations from prestigious names such as Colombini Group and Pollini; among others, those of Per Dormire and Permaflex in the supplies; while in the technology and services clusters, participants include Allegrini, 5 Stelle, Indel B, and Stark. Important registrations also for the 39th SUN Beach&Outdoor Style. Among others, for the SUN Sea area: Ramberti, Tessitura Fabbri, Tessitura Selva, Ombrellificio Magnani, P.F.G, Tecnopress, Migani Industrie, 12 Living; for SUN Camping: Bio Habitat, Pircher, Pacchiani, Holz.

For tour operators and hotels, which look confidently toward the green pass and the return of international flights to rebalance market flows, three key words are reshaping the summer 2021 tourist product: health safety, open spaces, to live and cycle, tailor-made experiences, which confirm the trends of the Vision TTG presented last year for 2021.

What operators think about participating

“Federalberghi Penisola Sorrentina – states Gino Acampora, president of Acampora Travel – has signed an agreement with Federico II University and private operators to respond with medical personnel to any critical situations on vacation. But we still lack the European green pass, and both Americans and British are currently postponing reservations to autumn or 2022. Offering events, even small ones, will be essential for destinations in Southern Italy to extend the season”.

“At this moment – explains Sergio Testi, general director of Gattinoni Travel Network – Italy accounts for more than 50% of our revenue, with the sea representing 95% of reservations. Following are Greece and Spain, accounting for 25%, and finally, the remaining 25% in Egypt, Maldives, and the USA, showing signs of recovery. In this scenario, consumers are changing habits, and the offer is changing accordingly: fun is no longer the priority, replaced by the search for experiences in nature and well-being. The subscription of insurance policies is becoming more common, not necessarily covering cancellations but rather potential early returns”.

“After a year of pandemic – summarizes Roberto Pagliara, president of the Nicolaus Group – the importance of tourism intermediation has increased to ensure assistance, professionalism, and safety for travelers. Those who have worked on their brand now enjoy an advantage within their audience, regardless of the channel through which the booking is made. For example, we have promoted flexible bookings, allowing customers to revise their reservation up to 21 days before departure, and a modular insurance type with different levels of guarantees, which is now chosen by 85% of our clients”.

“There is a need for human contact – explains Sara Digiesi, Chief Marketing Officer of BWH Hotel Group Italy – during the booking phase. Customers expect a human voice that provides information and reassurance. Then, during the vacation, digital service prevails. For vacation experiences, bike tourism is becoming an engaging activity, now combined with comfort services and stays, wine and food stops, especially in Veneto but also in the Langhe”.

In defining the tourism offer, digital technology plays a key role, as explained by Angelo Guaragni, CEO of Zucchetti Hospitality: “Alongside our CRS applications, we have integrated revenue management tools for optimizing room rates and advanced digital marketing solutions, as well as solutions to manage access to properties using digital keys on smartphones. Moreover, we have launched ZDatalake, an analytics system capable of aggregating all data related to booking intentions flowing through Zucchetti platforms, used by over 15,000 hotels, providing our clients with updated information on tourism flow trends: main destinations, stay duration, spending budget, to help them best shape their offer strategy”.