In Italy, famous for its beauty and cultural heritage, tourism plays a key role in the national economy.
Consequently, franchising in this area represents a market full of potential. Let’s explore together the new opportunities in Italy for franchising in tourism.
Benefits and challenges of franchising in tourism
Franchising is a business model that is enjoying great success in many industries, including tourism and travel.
In fact, on the one hand, this formula allows franchisors to expand rapidly in the market and increase their brand awareness. On the other hand, franchisees instead have the opportunity to start a business with reduced risk by taking advantage of franchisor support, which often includes training, marketing strategies, operational assistance, and access to advanced technology.
Franchising in tourism is not, however, without challenges. First of all, as an industry characterized by seasonality, it requires careful financial management. Then, given the importance of customer experience to the success of these businesses, maintaining high standards of quality among all affiliates becomes crucial. Finally, it is necessary to continuously adapt the services offered to take into account changing consumer preferences and new technologies.
3 areas of franchising in tourism
Some sectors of tourism lend themselves better to franchising than others. Let’s find out together what they are and some examples of successful brands.
Accommodation facilities
Hotels, B&Bs and agritourisms can benefit from the franchise formula to expand their network. On the other hand, franchisees can have access to a centralized reservation system, established marketing strategies, and high quality standards.
An example of success in this area is Best Western, a hotel chain with more than 4,000 affiliated properties in more than 100 countries. Their network offers a wide range of hotel categories, from budget to luxury, ensuring solutions to suit different market needs.
Travel agencies
Despite the growth of online booking on platforms such as Booking, travel agents continue to play an important role, especially when it comes to arranging customized and luxury travel.
If you are interested in this type of activity, you could invest in Holidays Voucher, a young agency that offers special discounts of up to 20 percent to tourists during their vacation. The total investment to affiliate with the brand is €8,000, including a “Satisfied or Reimbursed” clause valid for one year. Initial monthly income can range from €3,000 up to €20,000 in the medium term, with potential for very attractive earnings after the third year. However, consider that the brand requires franchisees to have a 40/70 sq. m. location in cities of at least 50,000 population, while experience in the industry is not required.
Tour operators
Tour operators are companies that specialize in designing, organizing and selling tour packages. This activity allows travelers to have a stress-free experience, so it is perfectly in line with the needs of those who have little time for travel arrangements.
A notable example is Last Minute Tour, a franchise with 20 years of experience in travel nationwide. The brand offers comprehensive support to its franchisees, including assistance in location selection and provision of specialized software. An investment of 4,000 euros plus VAT is required to affiliate, with a monthly royalty of 0.8 percent on sales.
New franchise opportunities in tourism
In line with market trends, new franchise opportunities are emerging in the tourism industry. Let’s discover the most interesting ones together: from glamping to sustainable tour operators.
Glamping
The term “glamping,” a combination of “glamorous” and “camping,” refers to a form of camping that offers elegant accommodations and luxury amenities. This segment is growing rapidly in Italy because of consumers’ desire to be in touch with nature without sacrificing comfort. Currently, there is no glamping franchise, so it might be interesting to create a new network in this area.
Design hostels
Hostels are not what they used to be. In fact, modern facilities equipped for a young audience, such as those of the Generator Hostels franchise, which is already present in several Italian cities, such as Rome, Florence and Venice, are gaining ground.
Historic residences
Restoring and transforming historic residences into accommodations is another opportunity that has emerged in recent years, especially useful for attracting tourists interested in the cultural heritage of a certain place . In this sector, Relais & Châteaux, an association of luxury hotels and restaurants that now has about 500 establishments in 60 countries, is active.
Sustainable hotel facilities
Facilities that focus on green and sustainable practices are also seeing significant growth in Italy. It is precisely in this area that the EcoHotels franchise is active. In fact, it offers support for sustainable management and promotion of eco-friendly facilities, meeting the growing demand of travelers.
Travel agencies and specialized tour operators
Travel agencies and tour operators specializing in specific market niches can attract customers seeking personalized experiences by setting themselves apart from other competitors. For example, Love Story Store is an innovative franchise in which the roles of Event & Wedding Planner and Travel Agent are combined. To affiliate, you need to invest at least €10,600 + vat and have a central or semi-central location (well connected and with parking facilities). In return, the brand offers a number of benefits, including territorial exclusivity, technical and practical training, and complete furniture.
Sustainable tour operators
Sustainable tourism is on the rise, so more and more tour operators are gearing up to offer experiences in line with this new philosophy of life. Of interest in this area is EcoTours, a project co-funded by the European Union that aims to form a network of environmentally friendly tours.
