Our Italy Expert Participates in 7th Italy Symposium

Tiziana Minchillo, Atlas Travel International's Italy expert, recently returned from a trip to Sardinia, Italy, the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (Sicily is the first). Minchillo, born and raised in Italy and a resident of the U.S. since 1979, has traveled back to her homeland every year since 2000 to participate in the Italy Symposium, a prestigious gathering of U.S. travel professionals organized by the Italian Tourist Board (ENIT) in collaboration with the Italian Travel Promotion Council (ITPC).

“I always tell our customers that Italy is the friendliest place for Americans,” said Minchillo, and her trip to Sardinia confirmed that yet again. “When we arrived in Rome for our connection this year, the gentleman manning the checkpoint wouldn't speak Italian. He wanted to speak English because he was so happy to see us there from the U.S.”

The 300 guests from the U.S. (travel agents and journalists) had the opportunity to examine this region's wide array of tourist options in person, through a five-day program of tours and workshops.

The President of ENIT, Matteo Marzotto, emphasized that "Sardinia should be made more known for what it truly offers, for its unique way of life, its peculiarities and culture; it is an area that should be given further attention, through a detailed system of promotion."

According to a survey taken in cooperation with the George Washington University, Sardinia takes 31st place in the rankings of the 111 most fascinating islands around the world, based on criteria including traditions, culture, landscape, and environment.

“This was the seventh Italy Symposium I've participated in over the past 8 years,” said Minchillo. “You see many of the same faces each year, as these are the travel professionals who really know Italy and want to help customers select just the right region for their vacation or business conference.”

According to Minchillo, Sardinia is a fairly arid island inland, but the Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) is a very upscale beach region where famous stars from all over the world come to vacation and escape, although paparazzi sightings are frequent.

The Costa Smeralda, on the eastern coast of Sardinia, became famous during the 1960s when the Aga Khan bought it and convinced his jet-set friends to start building villas and a yacht club on the beautiful, but previously undeveloped, island. The coast also served as the backdrop to the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. One of the Aga Khan's acquisitions was the 100-room Hotel Cala di Volpe, where the late Princess Margaret celebrated her 37th birthday in 1967.

While Minchillo did not stay overnight at the Hotel Cala di Volpe, she did tour this extraordinary property, saw the Presidential Suite (which commands €30,000 per night) and enjoyed a Gala Dinner there.

She did stay overnight at the Forte Village Resort, an enormous family-styled property that has accommodations ranging from double rooms to villas and two- and three-bedroom cottages.

“It is beautiful, but enormous, and is like a city by itself,” said Minchillo of the famous resort located just a few miles from Sardinia's capital Cagliari.

Last year Minchillo explored Sicily on the Italy Symposium and she will continue to go until she's been inside all 18 regions and two islands of the country.

“Sardinia is perfect for travelers who are exploring Rome or Venice or any other region of the country and then want to get away to the beach for a few days,” said Minchillo.

Minchillo offers Americans, both vacationers and business travelers, a totally unique perspective on Italy . “It's important to really know where you are going in Italy ,” said Minchillo, “so that you get exactly what you are looking for. There's something for everyone and I try to help my customers create the Italy vacation they imagine.”

If you would like to discuss traveling to Italy, there's nobody better to contact...

Tiziana Minchillo
Atlas Travel International
1656 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA  02420
781-879-1858
tiziana.minchillo@atlastravel.com