Fabio Bigotti, Country Manager–India, ITA Airways, said the airline is moving ahead with its integration into the Lufthansa Group. “ITA Airways at present has 59% stake from our Ministry of Finance and 41% by the Lufthansa Group. We are having a strong partnership and we are going to join Star Alliance starting from the beginning of 2026, during the first part of 2026,” he confirmed.

Pinyot Pibulsonggram, Vice President – Commercial, Vietjet Thailand, highlighted India’s central role in the airline’s growth. “If you look at the traffic, 90% of the traffic originates from Ahmedabad or Mumbai… mainly from India. So, the OTA and the travel agents are critical to our success,” he said. He added that the airline works closely with major OTAs and travel agents through Bird Travel, its GSA in India.

According to the Global Hotel Alliance, travellers plan an average of six leisure trips in 2026, compared to four for business. While 47% expect personal travel to rise, only 12% foresee more work travel. Gen Z leads this surge, with 65% planning more fun-focused trips. Over 40% also expect to travel internationally, led by China, Thailand, and India.

ITA Airways has renewed its Hangar Lounge located in Terminal 1, Boarding Area A, at Rome Fiumicino Airport. The company is unveiling the new space today through “Travel with All Your Senses”, a multisensory event designed to engage lounge guests throughout the day. A space that celebrates style, where every detail matters: 135 sqm of additional surface area, 65 new seats—for a total of 205 seats—an expanded 50-sqm entrance area, and a redesigned welcome desk now positioned to the left of the main door to offer an even more spacious and functional welcome. A significant upgrade in the passenger experience that will make it possible to welcome even more comfortably the customers of the Lufthansa Group airlines as part of the process of integrating ITA Airways into the group. The highlight of the renewed Hangar Lounge is the Silent Room, an elegant 90-sqm area featuring 25 chaise longues. This all-new space has been designed to offer guests a moment of absolute relaxation before their flight. This completely new area offers a concrete response to the modern traveler’s need for well-being and a sense of peacefulness. Here, the journey begins even before boarding—through sound, scent, light—while the Silent Room becomes a cocoon-like oasis within a bustling airport environment. At the same time, the Exclusive Room, dedicated to Executive customers, has been upgraded with a curated wine and sparkling wine cellar, as well as an information screen displaying live flight departures. In keeping with the premium feel, the private restroom area now includes an experiential shower for enhanced comfort. The renovation also includes a complete redesign and expansion of the restrooms, now located near the entrance to make guest access even more …

Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing PDMF 2025 in Thailand’s Chiang Rai, Paul Pruangkarn, Director – Communications & Marketing, PATA, said, “Asia-Pacific tourism is witnessing a strong shift towards niche segments, such as family travel, community-based tourism, adventure, and luxury experiences.” He noted that travellers are moving away from mass tourism and seeking quieter, more meaningful and less crowded experiences. Destinations that invest in these segments, he said, will gain a competitive edge as travellers increasingly avoid the aftereffects of overtourism.

At the fourth high-level task force meeting in Delhi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Development for the Northeastern Region, sought a unified tourism roadmap for the Northeast focused on multimodal connectivity, sustainability, and festival promotion. He emphasised developing an annual calendar highlighting all major regional festivals to foster cultural awareness. The meeting advanced an action-driven strategy to unlock the region’s potential.

Speaking at the second edition of TravTalk ThinkTank, held at Le Meridien New Delhi, Guldeep Singh Sahni, Managing Director, Weldon Tours & Travels, reflected on how next-generation involvement in family travel businesses has shifted dramatically. He noted that earlier, many children avoided joining their parents’ agencies due to manual processes, visa stress and airline policy challenges. “Today, India has evolved. Children now see ease of business and want to join travel,” he said. Sharing his own experience, Sahni highlighted how his son — after 17 years in a large corporation — has brought data analysis and new technology into the company, accelerating its transformation. With passion replacing pressure, he added, transitions in mid-size firms have become smoother.

Impiana Private Villas Ubud Bali is inviting the Indian travel trade to an exclusive webinar on 5 December at 3 pm to showcase its newest offerings for the market. The webinar will highlight the property’s appeal for honeymooners, families, groups, and weddings, along with curated experiences rooted in Ubud’s nature and culture. The webinar will also unveil exclusive value-added packages and include an interactive Q&A. For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.  

Speaking at the TravTalk ThinkTank at Le Meridien, New Delhi on succession planning for family-run travel agencies, Subhash Goyal emphasised that expansion is not linked only to selling a company, going public or involving outside investors. “It is not necessary that only when you go public or you sell the company or you have outside investors, will you grow.” He argued that professionalism is the only sustainable path forward. “Without 100% professionalism, it will not work.” He added that companies must choose between remaining small or becoming bigger, urging Indian businesses to aspire to multinational status like that of Dabur and Haldiram’s.

Austria Tourism has been honoured with the Leading European Destination award at the India Travel Awards 2025. Christine Mukharji, Country Manager, Austrian National Tourist Office, said, “Austria is truly the flavour of the season. This award will enhance our visibility and attract even more Indian tourists, helping us showcase the beauty, offerings, and experiences Austria has to offer.”