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.”

India’s branded hotel signings saw a sharp rise this year till October, with keys increasing from 34,850 to 43,665, a 25 per cent jump, as per HVS ANAROCK. Properties signed grew from 359 to 408, up 14 per cent. Tier III and IV cities remained the biggest contributors, accounting for 43.8 per cent of total keys, highlighting strong nationwide expansion.

Travellers all over the world increasingly demand verified sustainability, not marketing claims. CB Ramkumar, Vice Chair, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), said, “If a consumer sees GSTC certification, they know the hotel has been independently audited. Many are willing to pay more.” Certified hotels also report stronger repeat and referral business. Hotels applying GSTC criteria consistently notice lower operational expenditure. “Even a 1 per cent reduction in operational costs goes directly to the bottom line,” Ramkumar said.

The PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2025 is all set to take place from 1–3 December in Chiang Rai, Thailand, bringing together thought leaders and creative experts shaping Asia-Pacific destination branding. Held under the theme ‘Steeped in Tradition, Rooted in Wellness,’ the forum will explore wellness tourism, hyper-local experiences, cultural heritage, technology and destination reinvention. Designed to empower emerging destinations, the three-day event blends local immersion with practical sessions to help them grow into globally recognised tourism hubs.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) received the ‘Best State – Tourism Board’ award at the India Travel Awards 2025. Yuvraj Padole, Deputy Director – Events and Marketing, MPTB, said, “We are proud and honoured to receive this award. It motivates our team to enhance tourism, increase visitor footfall, and strengthen Madhya Pradesh’s offerings, taking us to new levels of excellence.”

According to Agoda’s latest report, 91% of Indian travellers would explore new destinations if visa barriers were eased, underscoring the role of accessibility in travel decisions. With 61% respondents eyeing destinations that currently require visas, simplified entry processes, better connectivity, and digital innovations could open up secondary cities and lesser-known regions, transforming India’s outbound travel patterns.

Narendra Singh Rathore, President, Tourist Guides Federation of India (TGFI), highlighted shortages of trained tourist guides in Maharashtra, Gujarat, South, and East India. “Centralised training post-2017 reduced local applications. We request the ministry to restart station-based, area-specific training programmes, as online courses are insufficient and fail to match local demand,” he said.