Milan turns the overtourism narrative on its head
A new study from The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group and Doxa challenges the idea that overtourism erodes urban life. By combining insights from over 130 digital sources with a survey of 500+ residents, researchers found that Milan’s busiest tourist neighborhoods often report higher quality of life. In areas like Navigli and the Historic Center, where visitor numbers are high, residents still enjoy strong cultural offerings, robust services, and renewed urban spaces. Meanwhile, some lower-tourism districts face challenges such as congestion, insecurity, or lack of green areas, underscoring that livability depends on multiple factors beyond tourism flows.
The research shows that 75% of Milanese rate city services positively, 74% value cultural offerings, and 63% believe tourism makes the city more dynamic. Still, concerns remain: 77% link tourism to rising prices and 59% feel quality of life has dipped in the past three years, largely due to costs and insecurity. Only a minority (32%) see tourism as a threat to cultural identity. As Mirko Lalli, CEO of The Data Appeal Company, put it, “The relationship between tourism and quality of life is not automatic and varies from district to district.” The findings suggest that, for Milan at least, overtourism is not a blanket problem but a complex, district-specific dynamic that can even enhance residents’ daily lives.
The full white paper is available here: https://datappeal.io/free-white-paper-overtourism-milan/
RateGain’s AI voice agent answers the call for hotels
RateGain has launched UNO VIVA, the first CRS-integrated AI voice agent for hotels, now expanding to Europe after its Asia debut earlier this year. Designed to solve a major pain point – 40% of voice reservations go unanswered – UNO VIVA ensures 100% call coverage, turning missed opportunities into revenue. Built on RateGain’s AI-powered hotel commerce platform, the system handles bookings, modifications, cancellations, and upsells across 30+ languages, including German, French, and Spanish. Hotels can deploy it independently or integrate it with existing CRS/PMS systems, enabling round-the-clock, consistent guest support while reducing staff workload and operational costs.
The platform uses adaptive speech recognition to detect booking intent, emotional tone, and guest preferences, making it a revenue driver. Guests benefit from on-brand interactions, while hoteliers gain call analytics that reveal booking patterns, missed opportunities, and performance gaps. With quick integration and measurable ROI from day one, RateGain positions UNO VIVA as a scalable solution for hotels looking to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.
Travel giants back EU code to tackle fake reviews
Tripadvisor, Expedia Group, Booking.com, and Eu Travel Tech have officially endorsed the EU’s new Code of Conduct for Online Ratings and Reviews for Tourism Accommodation, following its recent approval by the European Commission. The initiative, created in collaboration with industry stakeholders, aims to improve transparency and strengthen consumer trust in online review systems. Emmanuel Mounier, secretary general of Eu Travel Tech, said the code “will promote the trustworthiness of review systems, for the benefit of all stakeholders.”
The endorsement comes as platforms face mounting challenges in combating fraudulent reviews. Tripadvisor alone removed 2.7 million fake reviews in 2024. Brad Young, Tripadvisor’s general counsel, said the code would support the fight against “fake reviews and review brokers operating across the internet.” Booking.com’s SVP Maria Rocha Barros added that authentic reviews “build trust, empower consumers and bring transparency to the travel ecosystem,” noting that many of the practices now formalized in the code were already part of the company’s approach.
Asia Digital Engineering lands landmark Air France deal
Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) arm of Capital A, has signed a long-term agreement with Air France to provide heavy maintenance and modification services for its Airbus A330-200 fleet. The first aircraft will enter ADE’s hangars in October 2025, with additional inductions planned in the years ahead. The partnership was formalized in Kuala Lumpur with senior leaders from ADE, Air France Industries, and Malaysian government officials in attendance, marking what ADE CEO Mahesh Kumar described as a “historic milestone” for both the company and Malaysia’s growing aerospace industry.
The deal underscores Malaysia’s ambition to position itself as a regional MRO hub amid rising air travel demand in Asia Pacific, which is forecast to reach 801 million visitors by 2027. Air France Industries EVP Géry Mortreux said ADE’s EASA-certified facilities and skilled workforce made it a “world-class partner” capable of ensuring efficient, high-quality maintenance. Since its launch in 2020, ADE has completed more than 180 base maintenance checks and recently secured certifications from both the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). With approvals in 10 countries and a strong track record, ADE’s tie-up with Air France cements its role as a competitive player on the global MRO stage.
GIATA acquires SMARTSEER to power ‘Audience of One’ travel experiences
Berlin-based GIATA Group has acquired SMARTSEER, an AI-driven personalisation platform built on models of more than 2 billion traveller journeys and already processing 50 million decisions monthly across ten markets. The move combines GIATA’s verified hotel data and content, used by over 20,000 clients in 80+ countries, with SMARTSEER’s personalisation engine to deliver hyper-relevant offers and recommendations at scale. By uniting rich hotel data with behavioral signals, the partnership promises to shift travel from a one-size-fits-all approach to truly individualised, context-aware experiences. SMARTSEER, founded in 2023 by industry veterans Andy Owen Jones, Melanie Sickenberger, and Stefan Henss, will continue to operate independently within the GIATA Group, with Jones and Sickenberger joining the leadership team.
