Rome 2024 met with hoteliers in the city at the CONI headquarters ©Rome 2024

Rome 2024 has made an “important step” in its accommodation plans should they be successful with their effort to secure the hosting rights for the Olympic and Paralympic Games following a meeting with hoteliers in the city, they have claimed. 

A delegation from Rome 2024, including director general Diana Bianchedi, met with a group of hoteliers along with representatives from tourism information centre FederAlberghi and Unindustria at the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) headquarters.

Bianchedi has insisted the Italian capital can deal with the levels of accommodation needed for the Games, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) requesting over 40,000 rooms be made available for the Olympics, 8,300 of which would then be used for the Paralympics.

The two-time Olympic fencing champion also reiterated calls for unity after the meeting amid mounting concerns that fierce opposition from newly-elected Rome Mayor Virgina Raggi may spell the end of their bid.

“The race for the Olympics is one we all need to win together,” she said.

Onorio Rebecchini, a Councillor for FederAlberghi's Executive Council, was also enthusiastic about Rome’s bid as he described hosting the world’s biggest sporting event as an “opportunity we must not let slip by”.

“We want to strengthen Rome's traditional vocation toward hospitality, making the most of this chance to modernise and enhance our accommodations,” he said. 

“That's why we are already standing beside you during this initial phase.”

Rome 2024 director general Diana Bianchedi is confident the city can deal with the amount of accommodation needed for an Olympic and Paralympic Games ©Getty Images
Rome 2024 director general Diana Bianchedi is confident the city can deal with the amount of accommodation needed for an Olympic and Paralympic Games ©Getty Images

A number of topics were on the agenda at the meeting, including the advantages the Olympics would provide for the tourism and accommodation sector, with the next gathering of Rome 2024 officials and hoteliers planned for September 3.

It is set to involve a “technical discussion” , the outcome of which will be “used for the third phase of the Rome 2024 bid, due to come to a close on February 3 with the delivery of the final section of the IOC Questionnaire”, according to the Bid Committee.

Rome 2024 has also signed a partnership agreement with the Sapienza University of Rome and the Sapienza Innovazione Consortium, which calls for research programmes to be established to study technology in a range of sectors.

This features cultural heritage, green economy, smart cities, mobility, logistics, food, safety and security.

“The partnership is yet another demonstration of the central role of innovation in Rome 2024, through continuous dialogue with the innovation ecosystem,” Rome 2024 said in a statement.

Budapest, Los Angeles and Paris are also bidding for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics.

The IOC is due to elect a host city at its Session in Lima in September 2017.