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AG Boutique Journey celebrates 20 years of operating

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AG Boutique Journey, the DMC within the AG Group, sole Tourist Group in Italy that is capable of satisfying internally any request for hospitality, whether Hotel or land services (DMC/Tour Operator & Event Management Company, Hotel Group, Hotel Consultants, Restaurateur and Retirement Homes), founded and directed by Andrea Girolami, is now celebrating its twentieth birthday.

Born under the name of RSI Travel, today known as AG Boutique Journey, offers highly professional solutions for all Travel solutions, Events, Weddings and Luxury Travel. Grown from a great love and passion for Italy by Andrea Girolami, the founder and his team, has today become a contagious addiction and reached out to its entire staff.


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RSI soon established itself as a dynamic reality, becoming “RSI GROUP” with five separate divisions: RSI Communication, RSI Travel, Corporate & Events, Luxury Travel and Weddings. Today, integrated into the new group, it participates in the internationalization of a wide variety of brands and thanks to its customer base, which stretches from every corner of the globe, particularly the Americas, Europe and Oceania. The company today continues to offer five separate departments, embracing every segment of demand, Individuals-FIT Groups, MICE, Luxury and Weddings.

Statement by Andrea Girolami, President and founder of the AG Group

“We are proud to have adopted an advanced business module, unique in Italy and possibly also in Europe, by positioning ourselves as a one-stop-shop for anyone who wants to visit our country at its best.

“AG Boutique Journey is not just a DMC, it is the passport to an integrated Group which operates all-round in the hospitality world and offers its own Executive and Luxury hotels, 360° scope of Consultancy to hoteliers, Gourmet Restaurants, Bistrots, stunning rooftop Terraces and a solution to any dream request of every possible and imaginable trip.  Whoever contacts us will discover not “only” rooms, but unique and original ingredients for creating a boutique journey in all forms.

“Over the many years of operating, we have adjusted our organization several times over, always in accordance with changing demand and market trends and shifts, thus confirming our dynamic and competitive nature. Today, thanks to the excellent reputation which we have gained from continuously surpassing expectations, our high standards of service, our passion for Italy and our client oriented nature, we have created an efficient and competent  format that is in a position of writing a new chapter in the history of hospitality.

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“To those who continue to ask me how we got here? I reply rather moderately, by our company motto to which we still stand by today. One of our secrets is to always be large enough and small enough, that is to efficiently manage all aspects of the journey but also by giving each and every program a personal touch. “Boutique” is not just a whim or a claim, it is the necessary element in supporting the Operators, particularly at a time when moderate sales are posing as a threat and are dangerous rivals to the professionalism of the Agents, who fortunately find in us, more than just service or a supplier, they find support, friendship and partners.”

Visit the website. 

AG Group–Your gateway to Italy is the first tourist group in Italy capable of satisfying all aspects of the incoming tourism demand internally. DMC/tour operator and event management, Hotel Consulting Company, Own Hotel Chain, Gourmet Restaurants and Retirement Homes.

Founded and directed by Andrea Girolami, an entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience in tourism and hospitality, includes:

  • AG Hotels, executive hotels in the centre of Rome, plus a deluxe property opening in Florence at the beginning of 2020.
  • AG Boutique Journey, tour operator, DMC, event agency and wedding planner with an important specialization in the luxury segment.
  • AG Hotel Consulting, consulting agency for hotels, which contributes to the marketing of many hotels in central Italy.
  • AG Foodies, bistrot in Rome and the Terraces of the AG Hotels as well as the Florence shortly, equipped with gourmet kitchens.
  • AG Domus Nova, the novelty of the Group: an important retirement home project, beginning in central Italy, to also meet the demand for hospitality for the elderly.

MEDIA CONTACT: Stefano Ferri, Press Officer, Mob. 349 5506421 stefanoferri@aggroupitaly.it

AG Boutique Journey a new reference for event organization in a growing Italy

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Two decades of experience at all levels of Incoming with a proclamation in the Luxury sector on the forefront for the ever growing demand for events from overseas to the Bel Paese.

AG Boutique Journey, the DMC & Tour Operator of AG Group, the first Tourist Group in Italy in a position to satisfy in-house all forms of demand. DMC/Tour Operator & Event Management, its very own Boutique Hotel selection and Consultants for independent Hotels offering support in Marketing, Revenue & Yield Management, Selection of fine Bistros with focus on eno-gastronomy excellence, and the opening of Retreats & Retirement Homes for the elderly.  All founded and Directed by Andrea Girolami who has more than twenty-years of experience on all levels of Incoming tourism. From leisure to corporate to MICE – Meetings Incentives Conferences Events – and with a department dedicated solely to the Elite luxury Sector. Today they are proposing further enhancement to the world public as a reference for the organization of events in an Italy which is increasingly growing and is highly preferred by overseas Corporate Businesses and  Associations.

AG Boutique Journey a new reference for event organizatin in a growing Italy
fontana di trevi

Congress Italy and AG Boutique Journey

Released by the OICE only a few weeks ago, the Italian Observatory of Congresses announced that in 2018 Italy registered 421,503 Congresses and Events which were held for a total of 597,224 days and thus showing an increase of  +5.8% and +6.7% in comparison to 2017.  These are the gratifying results, in particular, International Events are consistently increasing from 7.9% in 2017 to 8.1% in 2018, with significant numbers of the participants arriving from abroad.

AG Boutique Journey has a dynamic and professional team and hundreds of collaborators and partners around Italy and GSA abroad. It has a background of numerous hugely successful events of all kinds including Political and Federal Congresses, Corporate Incentives which advantageously draw special attention by focusing their knowledge and know how in the luxury sector.

AG Boutique Journey a new reference for event organizatin in a growing Italy
  Florence
AG Boutique Journey a new reference for event organizatin in a growing Italy
Pompei

The recognized presence of AG Boutique Journey in the Americas and Australia as well as throughout Europe where it is particularly recognized and appreciated for its unique and unusually large range of Experiential Tours and Bespoke trips, they make AG Group today, a point of reference for the organization of important Events in Italy. Thanks to the very tested and experienced leisure know how it is able to offer niche exclusivity, Traditional ideas, Artistic-cultural visits, original team building and more…. something both Corporate and Affiliate customers appreciate and which are unique in their offers for MICE.

Visit the website www.aggroupitaly.it

AG Boutique Journey a new reference for event organizatin in a growing Italy

AG Group – Your gateway to Italy is the first tourist group in Italy capable of satisfying all needs in-house, DMC / Tour Operator and Event Management, Hotel Consulting, Own Hotels, Restaurants and Retirement homes. Founded and directed by Andrea Girolami, an entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience in tourism and in hospitality, which includes:

  • AG Hotels, five 4 star hotels in the center of Rome, with a sixth opening in September and shortly after a 5 star Hotel in Florence.
  • AG Boutique Journey, Tour operator, DMC, event organizer and Wedding planner with an important sector specializing in luxury travel.
  • AG Hotel Consulting, consulting agency for 4 & 5 star hotels, which contribute to make up the content of 30 hotels within central Italy.
  • AG Foodies, Bistro in Rome and the Rooftop Terraces of 2 of the AG Hotels with new openings soon in Florence with Diana’s Place Bistro and Rooftop Terrace. All Gourmet menus are creatively managed and directed by the well-known Michelin star chef Andrea Fusco.
  • AG Domus Nova, the novelty of the Group’s important Retirement Home project, already open in the centre of Italy, in response to the demand for hospitality for the third age.

Media Contact:  Stefano Ferri, Mob. +39 349 5506421, stefanoferri@aggroupitaly.it

SITA: Tracking airline passenger bags drives 66% improvement in baggage delivery

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Airlines that are adding tracking at more points of the baggage journey are enjoying a huge improvement in bag delivery globally. The SITA 2019 Baggage IT Insights – officially launched at an event in Abu Dhabi International Airport today – shows that where tracking is done at check-in and loading onto the aircraft, the rate of improvement is as high as 66%.

These results come as the record drop in the baggage mishandling rate achieved globally over the past decade plateaus, with the rate steady at around 5.7 bags per thousand passengers over the past three years. In 2018, the rate was 5.69 per thousand passengers.

Over the past year, an increasing number of airlines and airports have started to introduce tracking at key points in the journey – check-in, loading onto the aircraft, transfers and arrival – to improve baggage management and further reduce the chances of a bag being mishandled. SITA’s research provides the first glimpse of the success of this tracking. It reveals that where bags were being tracked when loaded onto the aircraft, the rate of improvement ranged between 38% and 66% depending on the level of tracking introduced.

Peter Drummond, Director of Baggage at SITA, said: “While the mishandling rate has started to plateau over the past few years, this comes against a continued growth in passenger numbers and their bags. In 2018, 4.36 billion travelers checked in more than 4.27 billion bags. More bags makes things more challenging. Everyone across the industry needs to look beyond the process and technology improvements made in the past decade and adopt the latest technology such as tracking to make the next big cut in the rate of mishandled bags.”

Ahmed Juma Al Shamsi, Acting Chief Operations Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “For our passengers the timely delivery of baggage is key to ensuring a seamless passenger experience and therefore an area in which we continue to make further improvements. Looking forward, baggage tracking is fundamental to driving more accurate bag delivery not only at Abu Dhabi International Airport but across the entire passenger journey. We have led the way with the introduction of tracking on arrival and we have already seen significant improvements.”

Transferring baggage from one aircraft, or airline, to another remains a pinch point in the journey and in 2018 it was again the main reason for bags being mishandled. Transfer bags accounted for 46% of all mishandled bags.
Drummond added: “Transfer is by far the most difficult stage to track a bag as there are multiple airlines and airports involved. However, data from this year’s report shows that tracking at key points in the journey, such as transfers, will go a long way to eliminating mishandling and will allow airlines and their passengers to keep tabs on where their bags are at every step of the way.”

Over the past decade, total number of mishandled bags per annum has plummeted 47% from 46.9 million in 2007 to 24.8 million in 2018, while the annual bill footed by the industry has shrunk 43% to $2.4 billion, down from $4.22 billion in 2007.

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New culinary experiences launched in Victoria Falls

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Earlier this year Pure Africa Destination Management announced its latest restaurant management partnership with Afro-Chic destination venue Zambezi House Restaurant, which was voted as one of the ‘Most Beautiful Restaurants in the World’ by Condé Nast Traveller.

The team at Pure Africa have since then been busy with the reimagination of designing culinary journeys in Victoria Falls for the menu relaunch of Zambezi House, which has taken much of its inspiration from the meandering journey of the venue’s key feature, the Zambezi River.

Pure Africa recently appointed head chef Mike van Rooyen for the development of the latest tasting menu at Zambezi House, forming part of the greater Pure Africa culinary art initiatives aiming to raise the benchmark for food tourism in Victoria Falls.

Our passion is rooted in travel, innovation, design, culinary art and impact, which form our company’s philosophy in looking to awaken this new African spirit together with local talent, international culinary techniques served with the key ingredient, which is warm Zimbabwean hospitality.

“Seasonal ingredients and traditional dishes reimagined, prepared with local knowledge, global culinary techniques and eventually served with the key ingredient, which is warm Zimbabwean hospitality.”

Pure Africa has coincided the latest Zambezi House menu offering, launching in early May 2019 with full day culinary packages for those travellers looking to experience the local food scene in Victoria Falls;

Pure Africa Culinary Journeys in Victoria Falls:

Historic Tram & Bridge Tour + Zambezi House Dinne

What to expect:

A guided tram tour of Victoria Falls Bridge paired up with freshly baked gourmet sandwiches to start, followed by a craft gin pop-up bar and gourmet snack table overlooking the spray of the Falls from the Zambian border and ending off with a three-course dinner tasting menu to be enjoyed later that evening at Zambezi House Restaurant.

Culinary Features:

Artisanal Sandwiches, Pimm’s Train Station Bar, Craft Gin & Tonic Pop Up Bar, Gourmet Scenic Snacks and a three-course Zambezi House dinner experience.

Luxury Deck Sunset River Cruise + Zambezi  House Dinner

What to expect:

A sunset river cruise down the Zambezi paired up with a relaxing three-course dinner experience perched on the edge of the river.

Culinary Features:

Gourmet sunset tasting boards, craft selection of premium beverages onboard the sunset river cruise followed by a three-course Zambezi House tasting menu prepared by head chef Mike Viljoen.

For more information about Pure Africa Destination Management and their latest culinary journeys please email or visit the Pure Africa Destination Management website.

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Indian travelers expected to spend $136 billion by 2021

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The Indian traveler has come of age, spending approximately $94 billion in 2018, on around 2 billion domestic and international trips, helping the Indian travel and tourism industry achieve unprecedented scale.

The momentum is expected to continue and the industry will grow at a 13 percent CAGR to $136 billion by 2021, according to a report, ‘How Does India Travel’. The report outlines how India spends on travel, the influence of online channels in their purchase journey and potential growth opportunities for travel businesses till 2021.

Deep diving into the $136 billion spends, the report cites a 12 percent growth in transportation ($50 billion), 13 percent growth in lodging ($21 billion) and consumption, which includes spends on shopping, recreation and food, to grow at 13 percent ($65 billion) over the next three years. Additionally, as more people come online, smartphone penetration improves and use of digital payments goes up, the report estimates that Indian travelers will spend an additional $24 billion on online travel bookings over the next three years, a growth from 25 percent in 2018 to 35 percent in 2021.

Online is a significant source of research

Elucidating the planning journey of Indian travelers, both for business and leisure, the report calls out five phases of a customer journey – Interest, Research, Booking, Experience and Sharing. The report states that during key research-heavy phase of interest, research and experience, digital plays a pivotal role with over 86 percent of consumers being influenced by online channels. During this phase, travelers spend their maximum time on search, travel tour provider websites, price comparison websites, and travel articles. Online video too plays a significant role with 21 percent of travelers being influenced by this platform. In the booking and sharing phase, the report states that nearly 60 percent of customers book transport and lodging online, and over 50 percent share feedback online with social media being the dominant platform.

Talking about the market opportunities for online travel players, Vikas Agnihotri, Country Director – Sales, Google India said, “New users perceive that online channels are geared towards the more frequent flyers and experience-oriented travellers; and existing travelers research online but the lack of trust in payments and booking experience make them end up booking offline. If travel players tap these online users through personalised marketing, messaging and travel plans, they can further augment online travel bookings. This can be done by adopting digital technologies to influence customers early in the journey and moving from one-time engagement to ongoing relationships to have a positive impact.”

“There is a perception amongst consumers that online channels are geared towards premium customers, along with a marked distrust around payment and pricing terms. It is imperative for businesses to address these concerns in order to effectively tap into the growing base of users.” Arpan Sheth, partner Bain & Company said.

Decoding the Indian travelers

The report further identified the five cohorts of travelers in India, across business and leisure travel, and categorised each against their online research behavior:

Frequent flyers: Nearly 70 percent of them booked online, cumulatively spent $17 billion in 2018. They make their choices based on convenience, availability, brand preference and past experiences.

Budget business traveler: 86 percent of them researched online whereas only 60 percent book online, cumulatively spent $20 billion in 2018. This cohort makes their decisions based on cost of travel, availability and consultation amongst their personal business network.

Experience-oriented traveler: Around 70 percent of their bookings were done online and cumulatively spent $22 billion in 2018. They extensively research both online and offline for ‘authentic’ experiences and convenience of options; display high loyalty towards preferred brand of airlines or hotels and actively share experiences.

Budget group traveler: 90 percent researched online and 55 percent booked online, cumulatively spent $29 billion in 2018. They make multiple decision-makers in the process and take the final decisions based on minimal cost.

Occasional travel visiting friends/relatives: 92 percent researched online but only 60 percent booked online, spent $6 billion in 2018. They maximize family convenience within a budget and believe online terms and conditions are restrictive.

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