At OTOAI’s 6th Annual Convention in Moscow, Himanshu Patil, President, OTOAI, said, “The way technology is changing rapidly, travel industry must adapt to these changes. Otherwise, it would be tough to compete with the big giants. In today’s world of social media, technology will help the members to sell Russia in a better way.”

GPS launched its 8th edition in Ahmedabad, unveiling a new format ‘GPS EcoConnect’, targeting tier II, III, and IV cities. Alongside the regular GPS meet in 8 cities, the new initiative will bring 1-day B2B meet to 8 more untapped markets. This expansion aims to connect remote travel trade hubs where traditional outreach is often limited.

Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister, Government of Goa  chaired a meeting of tourism stakeholders, where hospitality sector urged to simplify trade licence process and ease excise permits for restaurants. The Minister said, “If policies need to be tweaked, we will tweak them. Whether it is connectivity or visa, we will do what is necessary to ensure that tourism continue to flourish.”

Cross Hotels & Resorts invites Indian MICE travel agents to its special webinar on 15 July at 3pm IST to explore dynamic MICE opportunities at brand’s properties across Thailand. Get insights on enriching itineraries for your corporate clients. Register and win exciting prizes. For further info, contact sandeep.raghav@crosshotelsandresorts.in or 9599076699.

Chatchaya Glaiprayong, Head of Global Sales, Cross Hotels & Resorts, revealed that the upcoming Away Bangkok Sukhumvit hotel with 75-room urban retreat offers guests a perfect escape from the everyday hustle with its blend of relaxation and activity. Conveniently located near Emsphere, Bangkok’s newest landmark, this cutting-edge shopping and lifestyle destination spans over 200,000 square meters and is redefining how visitors experience retail, dining, and entertainment. Just a short walk from Phrom Phong BTS Station, the retreat provides easy access to top attractions while allowing guests to unwind in a serene setting after exploring the city’s most dynamic areas.

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are are set for an upgrade in intercity rail connectivity as the new Vande Bharat Express between Gorakhpur and Patna will commence operations on June 20.  The upcoming train service is not just a leap in travel efficiency but also an infrastructural boost for the northern part of the country. Running on the Gorakhpur–Bettiah–Narkatiaganj–Muzaffarpur–Patna corridor, the Vande Bharat is expected to connect major commercial and cultural centres.

Balitrip Wisata has launched API integration with one of Indonesia’s most aggressive hotel aggregators, bringing dynamic and static rates, instant confirmations and real-time availability to its B2B portal. This tech upgrade solves a major DMC challenge of delayed pricing and confirmation by offering a faster, more reliable, and price-competitive booking experience. This marks a bold step in transforming Bali hotel bookings for Indian travel agents.  

IATO has taken a delegation of 22 members to Pahalgam & Srinagar, as part of its ‘Rubaroo with J&K’ initiative with an idea to revive tourism in the valley after the unfortunate terror attack some time back. In fact, LG, J&K has announced the reopening of many destinations in Pahalgam.

Oyo is entering the food and beverage (F&B) market, aiming to increase hotel revenue by 5-10 per cent by introducing in-house kitchens and quick service restaurant (QSR) concepts across 1,500 of its company-services hotels by FY26. This initiative, called ‘Townhouse Cafe,’ will offer in-house dining options, pantry-style setups, and quick service carts. 

Hilton has announced the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Jabalpur, marking the brand’s entry into Madhya Pradesh’s thriving commercial and cultural hub, Jabalpur. The launch marks a significant milestone as the city’s first internationally branded hotel, bringing Hilton’s globally recognised brand to the region. The 101-room new-build property has been developed in partnership with Ajay Satya Prakash Hospitality LLP.