Episodes

  • Episode 37: (IT) Gianfranco Vitali – FAITA Emilia-Romagna

    Episode 37: (IT) Gianfranco Vitali – FAITA Emilia-Romagna
    Oct 28 2024
    We met Gianfranco Vitali, President of FAITA Emilia-Romagna and Vice President of the national FAITA organization, at the InOut | The Contract Community event in Rimini. Vitali shares an in-depth analysis of the 2024 camping season in Emilia-Romagna, noting an impressive 7% increase in campsite visitors, boosted by a 15% rise in international tourists. He highlights how strategic investments and natural attractions have made the region an appealing destination, particularly for visitors from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands. Additionally, Vitali discusses challenges posed by natural events and the sector’s resilience, adapting to seasonal shifts with a growing emphasis on year-round activities and sustainable tourism. He also explains the recent legislation on mobile home registration, offering much-needed regulatory clarity and consistency across Italy. This conversation underscores the ongoing evolution of Italian camping, including future aspirations to expand and enhance tourism with a focus on sustainability and customer experience. Watch the full video to gain valuable insights from one of the key voices in Italy’s camping sector and learn how the industry is innovating to meet the demands of modern tourism.
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    9 mins
  • Episode 36: Podcast (IT) – Alberto Granzotto – FAITA FederCamping

    Episode 36: Podcast (IT) – Alberto Granzotto – FAITA FederCamping
    Jun 4 2024
    In questa puntata di Conversazioni@Campingbusiness, Alberto Granzotto, presidente di FAITA-FederCamping, sottolinea l'importanza della raccolta di dati in tempo reale per il settore del turismo all'aria aperta attraverso il progetto realizzato insieme ad HBenchmark. Questa iniziativa, sviluppata anche con università italiane, fornisce dati in tempo reale sulle prenotazioni e sul comportamento dei turisti. Granzotto sottolinea la necessità di dati tempestivi per adattarsi alle tendenze del mercato, ottimizzare i prezzi e prendere decisioni informate. Sottolinea l'impatto economico più ampio del turismo outdoor e l'obiettivo di estendere questa ricerca in tutta Italia per sostenere la crescita e la sostenibilità delle imprese. Granzotto spiega come i dati in tempo reale consentano un'analisi immediata delle tendenze del mercato, aiutando a comprendere l'impatto di fattori come il meteo sulle prenotazioni. Questi dati consentono un confronto continuo con gli anni passati per valutare le prestazioni e apportare le necessarie modifiche. Sottolinea l'obiettivo del progetto di espandersi a livello nazionale, migliorando la partecipazione degli uffici FAITA regionali. Inoltre, il progetto aiuta l'analisi finanziaria e la pianificazione degli investimenti, ricevendo un feedback positivo dagli istituti bancari. Buona visione!
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    11 mins
  • Episode 35: Podcast (EN) – Uwe Frers - PiNCAMP

    Episode 35: Podcast (EN) – Uwe Frers - PiNCAMP
    May 29 2024
    Camping Business met Uwe Frers, CEO of PiNCAMP at the first Catalan Camping Congress. In this episode of Conversazioni@Campingbusiness we discussed about the ongoing merger of the outdoor activities of ADAC, ANWB, and TCS. Over the past six months, efforts have focused on aligning processes and technology, and they are culminated with the integration of PiNCAMP and ANWB platforms in mid-May. This merger allows PiNCAMP to access 27 million members and reach approximately 10 million campers per year, significantly impacting markets in Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The consolidation is expected to simplify data management and expand market reach, especially benefiting countries like Croatia, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. Regarding the current camping season, Frers noted a promising start with a 50% increase in bookings compared to the previous year. Despite challenges posed by climate variations, he emphasized the importance of adapting to new realities, investing in sustainability, and remaining optimistic about the future. To know more about the current trends, don’t miss this interview!
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    5 mins
  • Episode 34: Podcast (EN) – Ramon van Reine - ACSI

    Episode 34: Podcast (EN) – Ramon van Reine - ACSI
    May 24 2024
    In a interview at first the Catalan Camping Congress, Ramon van Reine, CEO of ACSI, discussed the company's efforts in digitalization and sustainability within the camping sector. ACSI has developed digital tools such as the Camping Comfort app and a digital Camping Card to enhance campsite operations, improve sustainability, and save time at reception desks. The Camping Comfort app, introduced two years ago, allows clients to order services and access information digitally, reducing the need for printed materials. The digital Camping Card facilitates faster check-ins by providing campsites with detailed client information. In this episode of Conversazioni@Campingbusiness, Van Reine highlighted a market trend showing a resurgence of North European campers traveling to Southern Europe, which could lead to a significant increase in overnight stays. Early signs suggest that the current tourist season might be one of the best ever, especially in Spain. ACSI is actively promoting eco-friendly practices among campsites. They advocate for measures such as separate billing for electricity to encourage conservation and timed showers to reduce water usage. These initiatives have led to substantial energy savings for campsites. Additionally, ACSI supports waste management practices like pay-per-use garbage disposal to foster environmental awareness among campers. Enjoy the video!
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    8 mins
  • Episode 33: Podcast (EN) Josipa Bonifačić Cvelić – Campmaster

    Episode 33: Podcast (EN) Josipa Bonifačić Cvelić – Campmaster
    May 22 2024
    Guest at the first Congress of Catalan Campsites, organized by the Federaciò Catalana de Campings (FCC), Josipa Bonifačić Cvelić, Professor at the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of the "Master of Sustainable Outdoor Hospitality Management" (Campmaster), a postgraduate program launched in 2020 with the support of the European Union. While the students admitted to the 2023-2024 edition are about to complete their professional training experience with great satisfaction, applications for the new academic program are now open and will be accepted until next August 15. Students will attend classes at the University of Applied Sciences in Breda, the Netherlands, then move to the University of Rijeka in Croatia, where they will have the opportunity to tackle business challenges related to sustainability. Finally, at the University of Girona (Spain), they will deepen their academic and business management skills, then work as interns at a European open-air hospitality facility and develop a field research project culminating in a final thesis. In this episode of Conversazioni@Campingbusiness, we also talked with Josipa Bonifačić Cvelić about the aspirations and goals that students aim to achieve by participating in this master's program. Enjoy the video!
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    10 mins
  • Episode 32: Podcast Ana Beriain – Federación Española de Campings

    Episode 32: Podcast Ana Beriain – Federación Española de Campings
    May 21 2024
    The first Congress of Catalan Campsites brought together numerous Spanish and international personalities from the sector last month. Among Camping Business' meetings was one with Ana Beriain, president of the Spanish Federation of Campings (FEEC). In this episode of Conversazioni@Campingbusiness we asked her, after her fourth re-election as head of the Spanish association, what are her plans for the new mandate, what are the main challenges facing the sector, and what are her expectations for the 2024 season. “We need the Administration to know us better in order to, above all, achieve objectives such as unifying regulations in the different regions, which is very difficult in Spain,” Ana Beriain, among others, told us. “Right now, tourism competencies are held by the different autonomous governments, and it is difficult for us to reach a same or similar common ground in all regions”. Below is the complete interview. Enjoy!
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    6 mins
  • Episode 31: Conversazioni@CampingBusiness: Miquel Gotanegra - President of FCC

    Episode 31: Conversazioni@CampingBusiness: Miquel Gotanegra - President of FCC
    May 7 2024
    Between April 25th and 26th, 2024 the first Catalan Camping Congress was held in Vilanova i la Geltrù, near Barcelona. The event, which the Camping Business editorial team was present at, gave us the opportunity to meet several important figures in the sector, with whom we then had a chat for our Conversazioni@CampingBusiness series. The first appointment could only be with Miquel Gotanegra i Portell, President of the Federació Catalana de Càmpings. “This congress coincides with the 70th anniversary of the opening of the first campsite in Catalonia,” said Gotanegra as he opened the event. “It is a fact that makes us proud and shows that we are a consolidated sector. When the first campsites were born, everyone thought that it would be an ephemeral sector. In place of four tents, it was expected that one day a hotel would be built. Instead, our industry is here to stay”. In this episode of Conversazioni@CampingBusiness we explored the topic in depth, talking about the current situation, the reasons why the congress was organized and the challenges that campsites, not just Catalan ones, will have to face in the coming years. Gotanegra responded partly in Spanish and partly in English, but English subtitles are available for the entire interview. Enjoy the video!
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    11 mins
  • Episode 30: Podcast (EN) – Marcel Zysset - SwissCamps

    Episode 30: Podcast (EN) – Marcel Zysset - SwissCamps
    Mar 5 2024
    A 2023 that turned out to be a very good season, with a 12 percent increase over 2022, and over 5 million nights. Opposite, a very promising 2024, with Germans, Dutch, French and Italians set to return to Switzerland in a big way. We talked about this with Marcel Zysset, president of SwissCamps, the Swiss camping association, who gave us his view of the Swiss destination and the challenges and expectations that lie ahead in the short and medium term. A short interview from the Conversazioni @ Camping Business series to learn more about the Swiss country and its potential. In a European landscape where the Mediterranean countries are more likely to be talked about for camping, here is a picture painted by the president of the association that represents about 200 outdoor accommodations, half of those in Switzerland.
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    7 mins