ROME (ITALPRESS) – On the occasion of the meeting of ASTOI Confindustria Viaggi and ASTOI Fund for the Protection of Tourists, which took place in Rome, at the Sala Pininfarina Confindustria, Pier Ezhaya – Director General of Alpitour World Tour Operations – was re-elected as the second President of the Association for the 2025-2028 mandate.
Ezhaya has served as President for two terms, namely from 2020 to 2022, and from 2022 to 2025, as well as Deputy Vice President from 2014 to 2018.
The majority of members, during consultations conducted by the Appointments Commission, have expressed the hope that the President will agree to seek re-election, having once again represented the Association in this challenging three-year period.
“I accept this third assignment with great responsibility and pride to represent the most important companies in Organized Tourism – comments Ezhaya -. I thank the members for having expressed, with great confidence, the expectations of my third mandate; this precious testimony of trust will spur me, even more, to carry out my role with self-sacrifice and respect for all the realities involved. In contrast to the first mandate, which fell on the most difficult period in the sector, the second mandate occurred in the period of the relaunch of the sector and has allowed us to operate with more calm and confidence, able to accompany the evolution of the association itself. Frequently seen in the media, constant dialogue with the Ministry of Tourism and the Government, training programs created with Accenture, participation in the G7 Tourism in Florence, the definitive launch of the ASTOI Observatory platform and the maturation and entry into force of the ADV Review, a very important tool for monitoring the legality of the sector, are just some of the results completed in this three-year period”. “I am grateful to Director General Flavia Franceschini, the entire ASTOI Team who helped me in this mandate and the Board of Directors who have never lacked trust and support in this brilliant three-year period for the companies concerned – continued Ezhaya -. This third mandate will see us face new and important challenges such as the approval and ratification of the new Package Directive and the continuation of training plans that are the only way to accompany member companies in the difficult times of transformation and evolution that await us in the near future. I am sure that, relying on the new energy of the Board, we will not failed to achieve the goals we had set to ensure that ASTOI remains the most important Organized Tourism association”.
In accordance with the provisions of the Statute, the President of ASTOI appointed a Deputy Vice-President, entrusting this task to Andrea Mele (Viaggi del Mappamondo) while the Assembly elected Antonietta Ricciardi (British Academy), as Vice-President-elect.
The following were elected to the ASTOI Board of Directors: Mario Aprea (Ota Viaggi), Lino Cangemi (MasterGroup World), Davide Catania (Alidays), Michele Mosca (Guiness Travel), Roberto Pagliara (Nicolaus), Marco Peci (Quality Group) Stefano Pompili (Veratour), Gianluca Rubino (Ex 12) Fabio Savelloni (Idee per Viaggiare), Ludovico Scortichini (Go World), Stefano Maria Simei (Futura Vacanze), Luigi Stefanelli (Costa Crociere).
Alessandro Seghi (Alpitour World), Andrea Angeli (Quality Group), Giuseppe Tanzarella (Nicolaus) were elected as members of the ASTOI Audit Board; for the Board of Arbitrators, Francesco Caputo (Inter-StudioViaggi), Mario Di Nicolantonio (Dimensione Turismo), Armanda Vendemini (Boscolo).
The ASTOI Fund Auditor Board has been elected, in the form of Fabio Piciucchi, Alessandro Seghi (Alpitour World) and Giuseppe Tanzarella (Nicolaus).
President Ezhaya will work as a team and with the support of the two Vice Presidents, the Board of Directors and Director General Flavia Franceschini; it will also be supported by 5 executive delegations: i) Airline Relations, ii) Training, iii) Events, iv) ASTOI Observatory Platform) ADV Overview Platform. The 3 Education, Italian and Tailor Made Commissions as well as the 4 working groups: Tax, Legal, Personnel Administration and Catalog Delivery will also be reconfirmed.
Also elected to the Board of Directors of the ASTOI Fund for Tourist Protection: Mario Aprea (Ota Viaggi), Frederic Naar (Naar), Roberto Pagliara (Nicolaus), Marco Peci (Quality Group), Fabio Savelloni (Idee per Viaggiare) and Stefano Pompili (Veratour).
The ASTOI Fund Vice President will be appointed at the next meeting of the Board of Directors, the body responsible for his appointment.
The Assembly also hosted the intervention, through a video message, of the Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, who greeted the members of ASTOI, highlighting the importance of constant dialogue with the Organized Tourism sector and expressing appreciation for the commitment and contribution offered by ASTOI in key sector issues and for the results obtained thanks to constant comparisons with the Association.
The Minister recalled the work carried out together in revising the Package Directive – an area in which ASTOI has made numerous contributions to the Ministry containing proposals for amendments to the text – and recalled that this commitment is ongoing, always in full cooperation with trade associations, to arrive at the final text that will then be incorporated into the Tourism Code. He also recalled the latest circular from the Ministry of Education and Honor on educational travel, developed jointly with the Ministry of Tourism and trade associations, which explains the basic procedures and application criteria for schools and operators in the Education segment. Santanchè also referred to the joint circular on sea charters, created with the technical support of ASTOI, which now precisely defines the role of Tour Operators in including cruise ships in tour packages, addressing the previous regulatory uncertainty. Finally, the Minister reiterated the importance of collaboration with ASTOI to face future challenges related to this sector, emphasizing the desire to continue together to continue the path that has been started.
The ASTOI and FONDO ASTOI assembly was also an occasion to celebrate the end of the training project “The Future of Travel”, created by ASTOI in collaboration with Accenture Italy. Launched last June with an inaugural event at the Travel Innovation Hub in Milan, the program represents an important strategic investment from the Association, which considers training an indispensable pillar to accompany Organized Tourism companies in the transformation of the sector.
Following an opening event held at Accenture’s headquarters last June, seven training modules were delivered from July to November 2025, with the aim of equipping professionals from relevant companies with advanced skills in market evolution, new technologies (with a special focus on AI), omnichannel, pricing strategy, content personalization and customer engagement. The trip, welcomed with great enthusiasm by Members, concluded today with a special closing event at Hotel QC Terme Rome.
– ASTOI Confindustria Viaggi press office photo –
(ITALPRES).
