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