Discover Varenna – Fam Trip at Villa Monastero

International buyers explore the Lecco side of Lake Como.

From 17 to 19 September 2026, Varenna and the Lecco side of Lake Como will host “Discover Varenna – Fam Trip at Villa Monastero”, an international tourism promotion initiative developed to introduce a selected group of buyers to the destination, its tourism assets and its potential for future product development.

The project is promoted with the support of 3P Italia, a company active in territorial development, tourism promotion and communication projects, and in collaboration with the Province of Lecco.

The initiative has been designed to support the international positioning of the area through a direct and structured familiarisation experience, allowing qualified travel professionals to discover the destination in person and establish relationships with the local tourism ecosystem.

A delegation of six international buyers, all part of the Connect2Italy community, will be hosted at Villa Monastero in Varenna, one of the most distinctive historic properties on Lake Como and an ideal starting point for exploring the wider Lecco side of the lake.

During the three-day programme, participants will have the opportunity to experience the destination firsthand, gain a deeper understanding of its cultural, landscape and hospitality offer and meet local stakeholders and tourism providers.

The initiative is intended not only to showcase the territory, but also to give buyers the practical knowledge and direct contacts required to evaluate Varenna and the surrounding area for future itineraries, tailor-made programmes, group travel, luxury experiences, destination weddings and other tourism products. For Mancini Worldwide, the project reflects a broader approach to destination development based on the creation of direct connections between Italian territories and qualified international operators.

The selection and engagement of buyers is carried out through Connect2Italy, Mancini Worldwide’s B2B tourism community, which connects international tour operators, travel advisors and travel professionals with Italian tourism providers. The network brings together buyers with DMCs, destinations, accommodation providers, experience operators, consortia and tourism service companies, supporting both destination discovery and the development of new commercial opportunities.

The buyer delegation includes professionals from several key European markets:

· José Miguel Nicolas – Adriano Grupo, Spain Specialised in tailor-made group travel and high-end cultural itineraries.

· Diana Jaramillo – Journey Travel, Spain Focused on tailor-made FIT travel, luxury tourism and experiential programmes in Italy.

· Anabela Almada – Meraki Travel Boutique, Spain Boutique travel agency specialising in tailor-made, luxury and exclusive travel experiences.

· Marion Pintaudi – Pintaudi Tourism, Germany Active in tourism representation and in the development of leisure and group travel products.

· Julija Rumjanceva – Maksa Celot, Latvia Tour operator specialising in leisure travel, guided tours and tailor-made programmes.

· Pamella Dunn – Pamella Dunn Events, United Kingdom Event designer and luxury destination wedding planner specialising in private events and high-end weddings.

For Mancini Worldwide, initiatives such as Discover Varenna are particularly important when working with lesser-known, emerging or unconventional destinations, where direct experience can play a key role in building international awareness.

Our approach is based on bringing selected and qualified buyers on site, allowing them to experience the destination firsthand, meet local providers and identify products that can be developed for their own markets.

The objective goes beyond visibility: it is about creating concrete product development opportunities and long-term commercial relationships by connecting buyers with accommodation providers, DMCs, experiences, institutions and other tourism stakeholders.

In this sense, Discover Varenna is a practical example of Mancini Worldwide’s approach to international tourism development: creating direct connections between destinations and the global travel trade, while helping territories strengthen their positioning and access new markets.