Citing that the Formula 4 racing demonstration has brought significant publicity to J&K in the international market. Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, said that to fully capitalize on J&K’s potential the Ministry of External Affairs should focus on the countries which have issued advisories against traveling to J&K.

ITA Airways enhances its offer of nonstop flights between Tokyo Haneda and Rome Fiumicino to meet the high customers’ demand. Starting from this month, the Company is operating 2 additional frequencies to fly between the two Capitals bringing to 7 the total of weekly frequencies between Japan and Italy. The increase in the offer to the Japanese capital is a further confirmation of the excellent results in terms of load factor recorded in 2023 on the route between Tokyo Haneda and Rome Fiumicino, inaugurated at the end of 2022. Thanks to the new frequencies, ITA Airways’ travelers will have access to a daily flight to and from Japan, which represents a strategic market for both Business and Leisure traffic. The schedule for the Tokyo Haneda – Rome Fiumicino route, during the upcoming Summer season, includes daily departure from Tokyo at 12:25 am (local time) and arrival in Rome Fiumicino at 8.10 pm (local time). Return from Rome Fiumicino is scheduled at 2:55 pm (local time) with landing in Tokyo at 10.25 am (local time) on the following day. ITA Airways’ expansion into long- and medium-haul continues in the current year. North America, Africa and the Middle East are the markets where ITA Airways will inaugurate direct flights from its Rome Fiumicino hub. In detail, a new direct flight from Rome Fiumicino to Chicago will be launched in April as well as direct connections to Toronto and Riyadh in May. In June, it will be the turn of nonstop flights to Accra and Kuwait City, in July of the one to Dakar and in August to Jeddah. In total, in the Summer 2024, ITA Airways will operate 57 destinations, including 16 …

LUMEN Bangkok Udomsuk Station, illuminates the hospitality scene with its opening on March 15, 2024. Positioned conveniently at the doorstep of Udomsuk BTS station, LUMEN promises guests an unforgettable stay amidst Bangkok’s vibrant energy. Location: Tucked within the lively neighbourhood, LUMEN offers unmatched accessibility to a myriad of attractions. From renowned street food vendors to shopping malls, supermarkets, bars, and restaurants, guests are immersed in Bangkok’s full vibrancy. With effortless access to major roadways and less than a 30-minute drive to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, LUMEN ensures seamless connectivity for travellers. LUMEN features 102 meticulously designed rooms, including: • Lumen Deluxe (23 sqm.) – 31 rooms • Lumen City View (23 sqm.) – 61 rooms • Firefly 2 Bedroom Deluxe (53 sqm.) – 2 rooms • Firefly 3 Bedroom Deluxe (76 sqm.) – 2 rooms Facilities: The hotel offers a comprehensive range of amenities tailored to meet the diverse needs of guests. From the convenience of a 24-hour reception and complimentary WiFi access to practicalities like luggage storage and an on-call doctor, LUMEN ensures a seamless and worry-free stay. Guests can savour culinary delights at Luminous, the hotel’s all-day dining venue and 24-hour bar or choose the convenience of in-room dining with room service. For leisure and entertainment, the hotel boasts Elysium, a vibrant game room, and Illuminare space, a dedicated co-working area. Additionally, guests can unwind at the rooftop infinity pool, enjoy panoramic views from the Lunar loft, or stay active at the GymFit facility. With these exceptional facilities, LUMEN promises an unforgettable experience for every guest. LUMEN Bangkok Udomsuk Station epitomizes a harmonious blend of comfort, convenience, and contemporary elegance, making it the preferred choice for both business and …

With a strong focus on attracting the emerging Indian outbound market, Asia’s most active hotel group ‘Cross Hotels & Resorts’ is all set to commence its India Sales Mission 2024 by organizing roadshows from 11 to 15 March in different cities across India. A senior delegation of seven people would be participating in the roadshow and would indulge in B2B meetings with Indian travel agents, while showcasing the various hotels under the Cross Hotels & Resorts portfolio. Kickstarting from Delhi on 11 March, the event will involve one-on-one meetings followed by a networking dinner. B2B meetings will continue on 12 March as well, before the delegation moves to Mumbai on 13 March and Ahmedabad on 14 March and will finally conclude the meetings in Kolkata on 15 March. Conducted across four cities in five days, the roadshows aim to attract record-breaking footfalls from India to the varied properties of Cross Hotels & Resorts this year. India is currently one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets, outpacing Asia, and many countries around the world. As the country is the most dynamic market in the Asia Pacific region with lakhs of people making overseas trips every year, it has become a key source market for Indonesia, Thailand, and the Southeast Asian region. It is among the top focus markets for Cross Hotels & Resorts and holds immense potential this year and in the years to come. Currently operating 24 properties across Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam with a further 2,000 rooms under development, Cross Hotels & Resorts has an established and growing portfolio of well-placed and well-defined brands with hotels and resorts ratings ranging from 3.5 to 5 stars. About Cross Hotels & …

RARE India, which completes 20 years of operations this year, noted as the largest community of boutique owner run hotels and experiences, with a singular focus on promoting community inclusive, planet sensitive travel in the Indian subcontinent, will host BRIDGES 2024 from 4th to 6th April at The Roseate, New Delhi. The event is promoted as a change makers’ collective and is a powerful showcase of individual hoteliers, small indigenous hospitality groups, destinations and experiences from the subcontinent that are an example of tourism as a ‘force for good.’ BRIDGES aims to intensify the inevitable switch towards responsible tourism, to rethink itineraries, build destination stories and promote community-focused and planet-sensitive tourism. RARE India’s Founder Shoba Rudra said, “Through BRIDGES we aim to be that singular experiential event that can inspire global collaborators to understand Responsible Tourism from the perspective of the sub-continent through a curated list of storytellers, owner-run hotels, and experiences.” Close to 45 owner-run, small hotels from the RARE Community as well as 6 hotels as Friends of RARE will represent this ideology at the event and share their incredible stories with delegates – stories woven around the destination, its people, heritage, and culture. The event will also feature a series of Catalyst Talks, workshops and conversation circles by RARE partners like Belinda Wright, Gopinath Parayil and Antara Phookan. In a bid to reach out to a global audience of change makers, some of the conversations can be accessed online as well. The second edition of the RARE Conscious Travel Awards will also be held on 5th April as part of BRIDGES. These awards celebrate the RARE hotels and experiences and felicitate small, boutique and owner run hotels who have put all their efforts to establish a destination on …

Reiterating its commitment to uphold gender equality, Air India group announced a slew of activities celebrating International Women’s Day. A total of 15 all-women crew flights were operated in the domestic and international sectors today. Over 15% of the cockpit crew of Air India are women – making it an airline with one of the largest number of women pilots. Women employees constitute as much as 51% of Air India’s workforce. In the last two years since the homecoming of Air India to the Tata group, there has been a sharp rise in the number of women employees in every sphere of the airline’s activities. At Air India Express, over 13% of pilots are women and close to 50% of the workforce comprises women employees. Air India group organised week-long programmes to inspire women employees across the network through webinars and live sessions with experts in various fields and role models for wider awareness and inspiration. As a special gesture to customers, Air India Express offered free seat selection and priority boarding services to all women passengers on women’s day through its mobile app and website. Air India Loyalty Programme Flying Returns is offering its women members a fast-track limited-time opportunity to skip the queue and upgrade to Silver Edge Club, which will offer them exclusive benefits like 15% more reward points, complimentary upgrades, and priority check-in services. This year’s Women’s Day theme ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’ reiterates the importance of achieving gender equality and well-being of women in all aspects of life, which resonates with the Tata group and Air India’s ethos of offering equal opportunities to all employees acknowledging that diversity and inclusion results in driving innovation …

Air India, India’s leading global airline, unveiled a signature track defining its sonic identity, ‘India Takes Flight’, reflecting the sound of a bold, vibrant, and confident India. Air India’s new sonic identity is a jugalbandi (musical collaboration) featuring recent Grammy awardee and acclaimed musician Shankar Mahadevan, renowned percussionist and composer Taufiq Qureshi, celebrated lyricist and writer Prasoon Joshi, and London’s revered Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The track embodies Raga Yaman, a timeless Indian classical raga known to effortlessly captivate the hearts and minds of audiences. Air India also onboarded Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with a vision to create a global symphony that resonated across cultures as a warm invitation to India, while acting as a homeward melody welcoming Indians from around the world. “We wanted to create a melody that embodied the Indian spirit. We also wanted to capture a universality that brings people together. This musical odyssey accomplishes it expertly, and as the country’s flag-bearer, we are proud to carry this to the world,” Sunil Suresh, Head, Marketing, Air India, said. Air India will progressively roll out adaptations of the sonic brand identity across the guest’s journeys, starting from digital touchpoints and marketing campaigns to airport lounges and inflight boarding music. Last week, Air India launched its Safety Video where it teamed up with Bharatbala, Prasoon Joshi, and Shankar Mahadevan to create a cinematographic audio-visual for in-flight safety. The music in the safety video is a part of a signature brand sonic. Additionally, Air India has started the rollout of its new global brand identity across guest touchpoints, launched a new consumer-facing website and mobile app, unveiled a new collection of uniforms for cabin and cockpit crew designed by Indian celebrity …

To discover all that Summer in Abu Dhabi has to offer, join an exclusive webinar today, 8 March at 3 pm (IST). This webinar promises an insider’s look into the exciting offerings of the season. For more information, please contact: +91 9650196532, jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, announces the signing of a partnership agreement with MakeMyTrip, one of the leading online travel companies in India, during the prestigious ITB Berlin event. As the host country for ITB Berlin this year, Oman is spearheading efforts to foster tourism partnerships and enhance visitor experiences. With an unwavering commitment to promoting Oman as a premier travel destination, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has been actively engaged in various campaigns targeting the Indian market. Building upon previous successful initiatives, Oman has witnessed a significant influx of travellers from India, surpassing the milestone of half a million visitors in 2023. Commenting over the collaboration, Mr. Haitham Al Ghassani, General Director of Tourism Promotion, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, stated, “We are delighted to embark on this journey with MakeMyTrip, together, we are confident in our ability to showcase Oman’s diverse attractions and provide Indian travellers with unforgettable experiences that will leave a lasting impression.” He added, “This partnership signifies a milestone in our efforts to strengthen ties with the Indian market and showcase the rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and unparalleled hospitality that Oman has to offer.” The partnership encompasses a comprehensive array of activities aimed at raising awareness, driving engagement, and facilitating seamless travel experiences for Indian tourists exploring Oman. From targeted marketing campaigns to curated travel packages, both parties are committed to providing unparalleled value and unforgettable experiences for travellers. Oman’s allure as a leisure destination is unparalleled, boasting accessibility, unparalleled hospitality, and exquisite cuisine that caters to diverse preferences. Whether it’s exploring ancient ruins, embarking on thrilling desert adventures, or indulging in a tranquil beach getaway, …

To discover all that Summer in Abu Dhabi has to offer, join an exclusive webinar on Friday, March 8th, 2024, from 3 pm onwards (IST). This webinar promises an insider’s look into the exciting offerings of the season. For more information, please contact: +91 9650196532, jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.