There are grand openings marked by ribbon-cutting ceremonies and doors swinging open. Then there is the digital-age equivalent: the click of a mouse, the flick of a switch that ushers in a new era.
In many ways, that is what happened last night in the Astor Room, one of the most elegant venues at New York’s historic Waldorf Astoria. Once upon a time, when US presidents came to Manhattan on political business, they would stay on the hotel’s upper floors. Last night, the storied landmark provided the setting for a new venture making its entrance on the American stage, with big ambitions and the enthusiasm of those eager to explore, discover and tell new stories.

At 6 p.m. yesterday — midnight in Italy — La Stampa USA officially went live. The English-language news platform, conceived by the SAE Group, aims to tell the story of Italy to Italian Americans and a broader US audience, building a bridge that is not merely digital but cultural, grounded in shared knowledge and common roots. La Stampa USA will bring readers stories and connections through audio, video and a strong social media presence, where American personalities have been building anticipation for the new outlet with a countdown to its launch. The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) will be a valued partner on this journey.

With Intesa Sanpaolo and Bonifiche Ferraresi as its main sponsors, the event drew more than 150 guests for an evening befitting the occasion. Representatives of the Italian community in New York mingled with business leaders, institutional figures, diplomats and VIPs. And when internationally renowned architect Daniel Libeskind takes the stage for a conversation with writer Antonio Monda about art, architecture and the ties between Italy and the United States, the VIP label hardly seems out of place.

Libeskind described Italy as “immortal” and “very mysterious,” a place that opens a window onto the world and serves as “a source of beauty.” Anyone who encounters Italy, he said, is touched and transformed by the experience, its richness and its culture.
Another highlight came from Gherardo Guarducci, a leading figure in the restaurant and hospitality business in New York and Palm Beach. He discussed the strength of Made in Italy and how Italian brands can best position themselves in a competitive market that remains receptive to distinctive products and identities.
“Made in Italy is a formidable product,” Guarducci said, arguing that the debate over tariffs should not be mistaken for an attack on Italian products. Made in Italy, he added, has become an integral part of global life.

It was a lively evening, hosted by Maurizio Molinari, editorial director of the SAE Group, and Valeria Robecco, La Stampa USA’s bureau chief. Two large screens displayed the new website as guests took turns onstage, offering brief reflections on the venture and the opportunities ahead.
Curiosity and confidence went hand in hand. There was curiosity about what lies ahead for a newspaper with more than a century and a half of history and a strong Atlanticist tradition, now looking to seize new opportunities in an America that remains dynamic and open to innovation, regardless of political turbulence or the events of the day.
Confidence, meanwhile, rests on the strength of the business community and the enduring bridge between the United States and Italy, built on shared cultural roots and commercial ties.

Alberto Leonardis, president of the SAE Group, said he was “happy” to see the project come to life. He has been a driving force behind the initiative, which he said would make the group stronger.
Following the signing of a partnership with SACE, Italy’s export credit agency, Leonardis explained that the purpose of La Stampa USA was to “connect the Italian community living in America with Italy.”
A decisive step toward the launch, he noted, was the acquisition of La Stampa a few months ago, with the aim of turning it into an increasingly national and international newspaper.
For Italian Americans, the new platform offers a home in which to reconnect with their heritage and keep their roots alive. But the potential audience extends well beyond the Italian diaspora. American tourists, cultural figures and journalists are also watching the project with interest.

“I love your country. I would like to know more about it and read more, but I don’t speak Italian,” one familiar face from Fox News told us in recent days, after a vacation that had taken in the Amalfi Coast and northern Italy.
La Stampa USA will meet that desire, too. The publication will be written entirely in English, opening a window onto Italy for readers who may feel a deep connection to the country but cannot read its language.

One of the evening’s surprises was the outpouring of messages from Italy’s political leadership. In a video address, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted the project’s potential to strengthen further “the transatlantic bond, which is a cornerstone of our security and prosperity.”
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri thanked Leonardis, La Stampa editor Antonio Di Rosa, deputy editor Luciano Tancredi, Molinari and, “of course, the entire team.” He recalled witnessing firsthand the interest and affection that so many Americans, not just those of Italian descent, feel for Italy and Rome.
“For this reason, the decision to launch a new journalistic platform designed for US readers and offering coverage of events in our country is of great interest,” Gualtieri said.

A new digital venture, then, but one built on a longstanding relationship: a bridge between two countries, their people, their businesses and their shared cultural imagination. With its official launch at the Waldorf Astoria, La Stampa USA is setting out to make that connection stronger — one story at a time.