Citalia adds productto Tuscany programme

Growth targets

Citalia adds productto Tuscany programme

Report by STEVEJONES

ITALY specialist Citalia is targeting Tuscany again for growth with the introduction of private villas and luxury apartments.

The Villa San Lorenzo, La Cibetta and Villa Olivo have been added to the product mix along with new luxury apartments.

It will give the operator an additional 100 beds in Tuscany which continues to grow in popularity.

Citalia tours manager Ann Malone said: “We have always had a strong programme in Tuscany and this will give us a wider product mix.

“We have been overwhelmed by the success of the private villas with pools in our Spain programme so decided to extend it to Italy.”

The luxury apartments, of which Citalia is featuring three, are also a first for the operator.

Elsewhere in the programme, more four and five-star properties have been added to cater for demand for upmarket accommodation.

In Puglia, which was new to the programme this year, two five-star hotels have been added – Il Melograno and Masseria San Domenico.

Three properties havealso been introduced in the Basilicata region while Citaliahas continued its expansionn Sardinia with the additionof the four-star Capod’orso property.

Prices at the hotel lead in at £655 per person for seven nights’ half-board.

Malone said prices overall have risen by around 3%.

In Venice, three and four-night stays on a cruise ship are included, with trips to nearby islands.

“The ship itself will be moored in Venice but it will make trips to the islands,” said Malone.

“It will also help ease the capacity problems in Venice. Customers will be staying in the city but on a cruise ship rather than a hotel.”

Malone said the new product will help achieve its growth target of 10%, taking carryings to almost 50,000.