Who we are

When VALSESIAin was established back in 1987, the concept of tourism in the Valsesia was anything but roses; things looked rather bleak and unclear. Many discouraged companies closed down. The industrial sector was considered as the only hope for development.

Back in those days, the idea that one day there would be a future in the tourism industry in the Valsesia was nonsense. Yet, we believed in it. In our opinion, the day we opened our doors was a huge turning point for tourism in the Valsesia.

First of all, without comparing ourselves to anyone else, and maybe against what is to be considered the ideology of the masses that “everyone only thinks about themselves”, we started to reason, and consequently, to behave in terms of a “system”, even when this concept was still not a part of our everyday language.

Today, the idea of tourism has changed profoundly. Public Institutions are now promoters of important investments, being made in our territory. This atmosphere of trust and hope has spread to a little of everyone. Private companies have begun to make massive investments (many of which are among our own members). The promotional investments being made have caused consequences to become new developments. In order to face these issues, our strategy has to change accordingly, or better yet, we need to adjust ourselves to this change.

VALSESIAin, as a supportive and promotional tool for Tour Operators, now needs to become their rescue tool; the representative of their new existence of development.

VALSESIAin, as an association a part of a business system, is in a long-term strategic planning phase. As such, this “plan” or vision will become the new reality. Once businesses have been reorganized, establishments modernized, and road systems bettered, all of these aspects will determine the fundamental differences between an area where businesses compete “one against another” and an area where businesses “compete together” in order to expand. We are convinced that this procedure is already determining today and the competition of tomorrow.

Stages of an exhilarating route

1987

The Consorzio Imprenditori Turistici of the Valsesia was established on 27 September with the spontaneous joining of different tour operators who were providing the accommodations and restaurant facilities for the Valsesia. They were the first to feel the need of "doing something" so as to improve their possibilities and to compete more actively within an already difficult local reality.

1988

The Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno was eradicated and the Azienda di Promozione Turistica was founded.

1989

The Consorzio Imprenditori Turistici of the Valsesia joined the "Valspro" project. Valspro was a limited company created to manage community funds, whose main purpose was the development of tourist, environmental, economic and cultural resources in the Valsesia.

1991

This was the year of the first turning point; the Assemblea dei Soci decided to move away from a typical association-like business and onto a more entrepreneurial business, always non-profit. In that year, the “Centro Prenotazione Alberghiera” (Hotel Booking Centre) was created. It was the first of its kind in Piedmont.

1992

The "G.Pastore" State Professional Institute for Hotel and Restaurant Services joined the Consorzio Imprenditori Turistici of the Valsesia, at that time, the only of its kind in Italy. Meanwhile, the "Formazione e aggiornamento professionale" (training and professional refresher course) was created thanks to the incomparable aid of Vercelli's Chamber of Commerce and the project "Stage in aziende" (company internships) was introduced and implemented, which gave many young people the opportunity to find a good job within the hotel/restaurant industry.

1993

The Consorzio Imprenditori Turistici of the Valsesia handled, with the cooperation of the Azienda di Promozione Turistica as leader, the “Valsesia 10 Itinerari per scoprire natura e leggende” and the “Valsesia card, la cultura dell'accoglienza” projects, both completely financed by the Piedmont Region, with an overall cost of about £. 540.000.000; the largest ever tourist promotional event to have taken place in the Valsesia.

1994

The year of the second turning point. Some of the better-known hotels around the Biella area joined the Consorzio Imprenditori Turistici of the Valsesia. It was with this occasion that the Consorzio Turismo Valbella was founded.

1996

The Azienda di Promozione Turistica was placed under commissionership. The Consorzio Turismo Valbella , in accord with the Emergency Commissioner and in full agreement with the officials, was among the main operativeness authors. The “Valsesia istruzioni per l'uso, tutti i colori della Valsesia” catalogue was printed and commercialized during this same period. This catalogue is still seen today as the best expression of operational support for the commercialization of Valsesian tourism.

1997

The Consorzio Turismo Valbella , in cooperation with the Associazione Commercianti from the Province of Vercelli , was given a more impressive and functional office. The “Buste paga centralizzato” (centralized pay-packets) service was put into action.

1998

The Azienda di Promozione Turistica was eradicated and the Consorzio Turismo Valbella was among the first private partners to join the Agenzia di Accoglienza e Promozione Turistica Locale , as the Founding Member.

2000

Approved by the Direzione Turismo della Regione Piemonte , the “Accoglienza Garantita” project was created and also became the new commercial logo.

2001

The Consorzio Turismo Valbella handled the reception for the “Raduno Interregionale degli Anziani” , the largest restaurant accommodations ever to be organized in the Valsesia: 2,011 Guests for 31 interested Businesses.

2002

Ties with the Piedmont Region become stronger, in particular with the Direzione Turismo and the Direzione Comunicazione Istituzionale della Giunta .

The Consorzio Turismo Valbella took care of the accommodations for the “Campionati Mondiali di Canoa e Kayak” (World Canoeing and Kayaking Championships), the largest organizational effort ever to have occurred in the Valsesia: 525 Guests for a total of 2,925 presence (only those Guests directly handled by the Consorzio).

2003

The Consorzio Turismo Valbella saw to the accommodations and restaurants reception for various major events, which took place in the area.

One such event, the 2003 “Concorso Internazionale Valsesia Musica” (International Valsesian Music Competition): 394 Guests, 1.598 present, for a total work turnover of € 50.819,20.

Asked by the Direzione Comunicazione Istituzionale della Giunta , the Consorzio Turismo Valbella ran the tasting services at the International Book Fair in Turin and the Milano Moda Donna.

Another such event was the Campionati Europei di Duathlon (European Duathlon Championships), where there were about 1,100 present and took place in complete low season.

2004

VALSESIAin Operatori Turistici, this year, has made a great effort to reorganize its business activities for the new future. The first concrete efforts have been:

Adoption of a Charter which will allow for more efficient and effective operations (decided upon by the Extraordinary Meeting held in early June),
Admission to the new regional organization of Federconsorzi, named “Piemonte Incoming”, of which we were able to place a representative on the Board of Directors.
Use of a new name and logo, which, at the same time, better identifies us on a regional level (today, there are 27 tourism consortiums in Piedmont), creates a sense of belonging to the Territory, and has become an image of the Member's pride. The rest is the history of today.