Sarovar Hotels announces the opening of Royal Tulip Kathmandu – the first Royal Tulip in Nepal, and a landmark property set to become the country’s largest hotel and the most expansive MICE destination in the capital city. Developed by The Massif Hotel, this iconic project introduces the internationally acclaimed Royal Tulip brand to Kathmandu, blending 5-star luxury hospitality with the vibrancy of Nepalese culture. As part of Louvre Hotels Group’s premium brand portfolio, Royal Tulip is synonymous with refined elegance, upscale amenities, and global standards of service. Strategically located on Ring Road, just 3.5 km from Tribhuvan International Airport, Royal Tulip Kathmandu features an impressive 308 rooms and suites, making it the largest hotel in Nepal by room count. Designed to cater to both business and leisure travellers, the property offers modern accommodations, thoughtful amenities, and a seamless guest experience. Royal Tulip Kathmandu also marks a major milestone in the city’s MICE infrastructure, introducing Kathmandu’s largest convention centre, with over 30,000 sq. ft. of versatile event space. This includes two grand banquet halls of 11,000 sq. ft. each, along with additional meeting rooms and breakout areas – positioning it as the preferred venue for international conferences, destination weddings, exhibitions, and large-scale corporate gatherings. The hotel will initially operate with 104 keys and has also opened two exceptional F&B outlets. The beautiful all-day dining venue, Lalitpur Café, is a welcoming space where every meal feels like a special occasion. Filled with natural light and warm hospitality, it’s the perfect place to relax, connect, and enjoy great food. Similarly, The Alpine Lounge & Bar is a sophisticated space where guests can unwind with handcrafted cocktails, fine wines, and premium spirits, accompanied by live …

Akasa Air announced the launch of its dedicated SME corporate booking platform, empowering India’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with direct access to exclusive corporate fare benefits on both domestic and international flights.  SMEs can register on Akasa Air’s official platform. This initiative aims to enhance business travel for India’s growing SME ecosystem by offering cost-efficient, flexible, and seamless travel options. India-based SMEs can now register directly on the Akasa Air website and manage their bookings directly across the airline’s entire domestic and international network. They will be offered access to specially curated corporate fares, value add-ons along with Saver and Flexi fares, and benefits including: Discount on corporate fares using promo code CSME04PS Complimentary standard seat with snack and beverage on every flight Up to 50% discount on premium seating, early boarding, and priority check-in No cancellation or change fees up to one hour prior to departure (fare difference and admin fee applicable) International Travel Benefits: Enhanced flexibility, nil cancellation charges (up to 4 hours before departure), and 30 kg baggage allowance on key international routes. Commenting on the initiative, Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, said, “Over the past two and a half years, we’ve observed robust and consistent growth in our corporate portfolio, reflecting the increasing demand for business travel in India. This initiative marks a strategic advancement in our dedication to fostering inclusive economic growth. By enabling SMEs to optimise their travel expenditures and operate with the same agility as larger enterprises, we not only aim to streamline corporate travel but also bolster regional commerce by strengthening the backbone of India’s economy — its SMEs and emerging enterprises. This platform reinforces Akasa Air’s …

IndiGo has signed a codeshare agreement with Jetstar enabling its customers to connect seamlessly to Australia and New Zealand. The agreement, announced today, will allow IndiGo to place its code on Jetstar operated routes to these countries, providing a convenient option for IndiGo customers connecting via Singapore, Bangkok and Phuket.  This agreement simplifies travel for the customers of IndiGo by allowing the airline to place its code on Jetstar operated routes and enable convenient connections through Jetstar flights departing Asia for onward travel to cities including Sydney, the Gold Coast and Auckland.  These bookings can be made on IndiGo’s website from 21 July 2025 for travel from 01 September 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. Through this cooperation, IndiGo will be able to strengthen its connectivity into two key markets as the marketing carrier on Jetstar operated flights, enabling its customers to create a single booking for journeys from India to Australia and New Zealand across the combined network of both the airlines.This codeshare arrangement will allow IndiGo to provide seamless connections to its customers, besides enabling them to enjoy an integrated travel itinerary and through check-in of baggage among other benefits. Jetstar CEO, Stephanie Tully said, “The partnership between the two airlines will significantly boost inbound tourism from India. Australia and New Zealand’s unique attractions, world-class experiences and growing communities of Indian expats make both countries incredibly popular for travellers from the subcontinent. This new codeshare agreement will provide IndiGo customers with convenient access to our extensive network allowing them to take off more for less down under.” Abhijit Dasgupta, Senior Vice President – Network Planning & Revenue Management, IndiGo said, “We are pleased to expand the horizons and offer our customers convenient …

In a groundbreaking move for India’s sports and fan culture, DreamSetGo has launched Dream Icons – its signature IP that brings world’s greatest sporting legends face-to-face with Indian fans through bespoke, immersive experiences. As part of this initiative, DreamSetGo will host Usain Bolt on his first-ever multi-city tour to India this September.

Singapore Tourism Board will introduce its ‘Singapore DMC Trade Partner Fam Support Scheme’ on 1 August 2025. This pilot programme supports Singapore-based DMCs in hosting customised familiarisation trips for Indian agents. It aims to catalyse the development of new and distinctive Singapore itineraries by empowering Indian agents through their DMC partners.

WTTC’s Together in Travel initiative has spotlighted a powerful shift in Indian tourism—women-led travel businesses are leading a new era of innovation and inclusivity. WTTC calls this movement a ‘game-changer’ for tourism’s future, driving not only economic empowerment but also a more diverse and resilient sector ready to meet evolving traveller needs.

Rail Europe invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar today about Trenitalia trains for clients who want to explore Rome, Florence, Venice and other hidden gems of Italy. Participate in the quiz for a chance to win exciting goodies! For more information, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection, Dubai’s quintessential luxury hospitality landmark, recently hosted an exclusive evening to appreciate the esteemed Indian travel trade partners for their continued collaboration and promotion efforts. The elegant networking event was held at Tamasha, Worli in Mumbai on 11th July 2025. The event offered an engaging atmosphere marked by curated hospitality, meaningful networking, and forward-looking conversations. The immersive experience presented incomparable service provided by the Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection. The evening also provided the attending guests to discuss future opportunities with key members of the hotel collection’s senior leadership team, including Vishesh Amerkar, Complex Director of Sales – MICE, and Tulay Kilic, Complex Director of Marketing. Speaking about the event, Tulay Kilic, Complex Director of Marketing, Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection said, “India remains one of our strongest and most consistent source markets, and this event is our way of expressing gratitude to our valued partners for their continued support year after year. It has provided a great platform to strengthen existing relationships and explore new opportunities, as we remain committed to delivering exclusive, luxury experiences in the iconic travel destination of Dubai” The Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection features Al Habtoor Palace Dubai, part of the Legend Collection by Preferred Hotels & Resorts, V Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton, and Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City. Each property offers its own distinctive style of luxury and personalized hospitality, while providing seamless access to Dubai’s most sought-after attractions.

 From 9–13 June, New York City Tourism + Conventions successfully held its first-ever India Business Expo, bringing together 14 key Indian travel trade professionals for three impactful days of business development, destination discovery, and cultural exchange. Over 30 member businesses across all five boroughs took part in the mission, representing a mix of iconic attractions and new experiences. Leading hospitality players also participated, highlighting the city’s robust offering for Indian outbound travellers. The itinerary featured one-on-one meetings, a Broadway show, Five Borough Marketplace buyers meet, and visits to top cultural and lifestyle attractions—giving Indian buyers a deeper understanding of New York City’s tourism appeal. Highlights included a private screening of “Encounters in the Milky Way” at the American Museum of Natural History, an exclusive Broadway Night featuring Q&As with cast members from Aladdin and The Lion King, and a behind-the-scenes “Wild Encounter” at the Bronx Zoo with a sloth and armadillo—memorable moments that brought NYC’s vibrancy and storytelling to life. Reflecting on the success of the market’s inaugural Business Expo, Makiko Matsuda Healy, Senior Vice President, Tourism Market Development, said, “India continues to be one of New York City’s most promising and engaged visitor markets. The 2025 India Business Expo was a resounding success – not only did it strengthen relationships with our key trade partners, but it also gave us the opportunity to showcase the depth and diversity of experiences across the five boroughs. We’re excited about the continued growth from India and remain committed to fostering long-term collaboration with this market.” New York City is home to the world’s busiest airport system and remains the number one port of entry for U.S. international travelers. The city welcomed 64.5 …

The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group and Mandai Wildlife Group have launched a three-year strategic partnership aimed at enhancing Singapore’s appeal as a top travel destination, co-creating customer experiences through exclusive privileges, and spotlighting the interesting yet crucial work of wildlife conservation for the planet. The collaboration champions Singapore’s vision of being a City in Nature with the Mandai Wildlife Reserve as a unique window to the wild. As part of efforts to boost inbound travel from key international markets, SIA customers will gain access to curated wildlife experiences, exclusive co-branded retail collections, and benefits for visits to the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, home to Singapore’s iconic wildlife parks which actively contribute to regional conservation efforts. As part of the partnership, the SIA Group and Mandai Wildlife Group will also collaborate on wildlife conservation efforts, with SIA providing air travel sponsorships and other forms of logistical support.  This may include assistance in transferring animals between Singapore’s wildlife parks and other accredited zoos around the world, as well as the repatriation of wildlife to their native habitats. Vinod Kannan, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Singapore Airlines, said: “This partnership strengthens our ability to offer our customers enhanced benefits, while supporting wildlife initiatives in Singapore and around the world. Combining the Singapore Airlines Group’s global reach with Mandai’s world-class wildlife attractions helps to enhance Singapore’s appeal as a leading global tourist destination.” Belina Lee, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Transformation and Growth, Mandai Wildlife Group, added: “Two iconic Singapore brands have joined forces to create world class experiences for global travellers, that also champion conservation. Every visit supports conservation in our wildlife parks, across Singapore and the region. Together with Singapore Airlines, we are …