A sky full of stars lights up Florence: from September 22 to 24, the cradle of the Renaissance hosts the first edition of Eccellenze 2025, an event celebrating international luxury hospitality.
The invitation-only event, dedicated to the world of luxury travel and high-end hospitality, will turn the city into a stage for three days, combining networking, authentic experiences, and opportunities for Italian and international leaders to exchange ideas.
Guests will be welcomed by Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection, a new Florentine gem inaugurated in spring 2025, in collaboration with Arno Travel and Fondazione Destination Florence.
The property, which blends history, art, and contemporary style, will become the setting for meetings and celebrations, starting with the highlight of the evening on September 23: “A Sky Full of Stars”, an exclusive gala with a cocktail reception in the Sala Dorati and a gala dinner in the Theater.
The gala evening will host prominent figures in the industry, including Albert Herrera, Executive Vice President, Internova Travel Group; Carolina Perez, Founder of DUCO; Vincenzo Falcone, General Manager, Bvlgari Hotel Roma, Valentina De Santis, Owner & CEO of Passalacqua, Lake Como, and Antonio Sersale, Owner of Le Sirenuse in Positano.
Alongside them, the most important General Managers in Florence will gather to celebrate the future of luxury hospitality together, with the aim of strengthening the city’s international positioning.
A shared project
Eccellenze 2025 is the result of a collaboration between Arno Travel, a historic Florentine luxury tourism company, the Fondazione Destination Florence, a strategic partner for the international promotion of the city, and Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection. The goal is to create an annual event that strengthens the positioning of Florence as the global capital of luxury hospitality.
“It is an honor for us to contribute to an event that brings such a high-profile dialogue between the world’s leading figures in luxury travel to Florence,” emphasizes Urbano Brini, Chief of Luxury Travel at Arno Travel.“Participating in the launch of Eccellenze means believing in the future of our sector, with a format capable of combining professional discussion, new perspectives, creativity, expertise, and international vision.”
“The Fondazione Destination Florence is co-hosting the first edition of Eccellenze because we believe Florence is the ideal place to welcome the stars of international luxury travel. Eccellenze is a valuable opportunity for discussion, for exchanging opinions, experiences, and points of view, and for generating new fruitful connections for the city. This project was conceived together with Arno, a Florentine company, and immediately received the endorsement and support of the Auberge Group. It is an event that strengthens Florence’s international positioning as the capital of luxury hospitality, and we will work to ensure that it is the first of many editions, given our daily commitment to creating, intercepting, facilitating, and nurturing fruitful dialogue between public and private stakeholders aimed at triggering virtuous cycles, promoting our excellence, and creating new development opportunities for the territory,” emphasizes Laura Masi of the Destination Florence Foundation.
An experience combining business and the local area
In addition to networking and gala events, Eccellenze 2025 will offer experiences designed to allow guests to discover the authenticity and refinement of the local area. From a Tuscan lunch by Arno Travel to relaxing experiences at Collegio alla Querce, Auberge, and Eccellenze Small Talks sessions—meetings reserved for professionals to discuss innovation, sustainability, and new trends in luxury travel—the program will be a combination of discovery, discussion, and inspiration.
“We are proud to host the first edition of Eccellenze at Collegio alla Querce, Auberge: a celebration of the art of Italian hospitality and the international community that brings it to life. Florence, with its timeless beauty and energy, is the ideal setting to bring together the stars of our industry and inspire new collaborations for the future of luxury travel,” says Lorenzo Maraviglia, General Manager of Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection.
Eccellenze 2025 marks the beginning of an annual event destined to consolidate the city’s role in the global luxury travel calendar. Florence thus confirms its status as the natural stage for celebrating international hospitality and Italian excellence.
For more information:
For Collegio alla Querce, Auberge, contact Allumeuse:
Francesca De Sario, Head of Hospitality
f.desario@allumeuse.it | +39 3662529173
For Arno Travel, contact:
Francesca Masullo, Marketing & Communication Manager
