A groundbreaking national initiative by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and Sri Lankan Airlines Sri Lanka has marked a significant milestone in its journey to becoming a premier destination for international conferences with the launch of the Sri Lanka Conference Ambassador Programme (SLCAP). This first-of-its-kind initiative, presented by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) and Sri Lankan Airlines, bringing together trusted entities to promote Sri Lanka as a global hub for business events. The programme, launched earlier this month, was attended by the Chief Guest, Honorary Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and the Guest of Honour, Senthil Gopinath, CEO, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). The Sri Lanka Conference Ambassador Programme is designed to empower and engage local association leaders and professionals to act as ambassadors, advocating for Sri Lanka on the global stage. With 25 ambassadors already onboarded, SLCAP will identify and support influential leaders in their fields to attract international conferences to Sri Lanka. The programme aims to transform the country’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) landscape, driving economic growth, promoting sustainability and knowledge exchange. Speaking on launching SLCAP, Mikael Svensson, Chief Executive Officer, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, commented “As a destination expert committed to providing holistic and expertly curated travel experiences, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is proud to present this transformative initiative together with the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and Sri Lankan Airlines. Our deep-rooted local knowledge and personalised approach allow us to showcase Sri Lanka’s unique offerings to the world, elevating it as a premier destination for international conferences. With Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka adding capacity to host up …

SriLankan Airlines joined the festivities of oneworld’s 25th Anniversary and hosted the oneday. oneteam. oneworld25 Roadshow at Bandaranaike International Airport on 5 February 2025, as it made a stop in Sri Lanka on its journey around the world, covering the home country of each member airline. Since joining the prestigious oneworld alliance in 2014, SriLankan has been able to offer its passengers an expanded global reach, smoother connections and exclusive benefits across more than 1,000 destinations worldwide. The milestone roadshow aims to reconnect staff with the alliance’s vision by empowering them with knowledge to elevate their work and careers, as well as helping them to understand the alliance’s benefits for passengers and staff of member airlines. As oneworld continues to go places, both figuratively and literally, SriLankan Airlines is excited to be a part of the alliance’s next chapter and share in its goal of creating exceptional experiences for travellers.

The airline’s 2024 achievements showcase its commitment to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aviation goals Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, continues to lead the way in advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, showcasing a strong commitment to the nation’s aviation goals throughout 2024. Through innovation, network expansion, and strategic collaborations, Saudia reinforces its pivotal role in supporting the Kingdom’s broader objectives of enhancing global connectivity, fostering economic growth, and creating new opportunities, while positioning itself at the forefront of the aviation sector’s transformation. In line with Vision 2030’s aspirations to transport 330 million travellers, facilitate 150 million visits, and serve 30 million pilgrims annually, Saudia has made significant strides in advancing its growth and development strategy this year. Saudia’s Network Expansion In 2024, Saudia strengthened its position as a global aviation leader by expanding its international network. The airline launched new routes to key destinations, including Beijing, China; Medan, Indonesia; and Phuket, Thailand, in line with Saudia’s strategic vision to increase its global presence and enhance its competitive advantage in the international market. The new Dammam–Beijing route has set Dammam as the third Saudi city to offer direct flights to Beijing, driving a 16.2 per cent increase in passenger traffic compared to 2023 and enriching King Fahd International Airport’s international offerings. Furthermore, the direct connection to Medan strengthens Saudia’s role in supporting Vision 2030’s goals to facilitate seamless travel for pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques. Seasonal flights to Phuket have also commenced on 2 December 2024, positioning it as Saudia’s second destination in Thailand and further catering to the growing demand for leisure travel. Codeshare Agreements in 2024 Throughout 2024, Saudia has continued …

As a continuation of its globally recognised ‘Time for’ campaign, Malaysia Airlines unveiled ‘Time for Premium Leisure,’ a campaign that redefines Business Class travel by showcasing its unparalleled comfort, personalised service, and worldclass amenities. From spacious seating and bespoke in-flight experiences to exclusive access to award-winning lounges and gourmet dining, travellers can indulge in a seamless and luxurious journey. Running until 20 February 2025, this exclusive Business Class campaign offers special fares across its network. In addition, members of the airline’s award-winning Enrich programme can also enjoy an additional five per cent off fares, while non-members are encouraged to sign up for free to unlock this exclusive benefit. Whether it is a dream escape to the Maldives, a romantic getaway to Paris, or a coastal retreat in Da Nang, now is the perfect time to experience premium travel at exceptional value. Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer, Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group, said, “At Malaysia Airlines, we continuously elevate the premium travel experience, ensuring that every journey is defined by comfort, exclusivity, and our signature Malaysian Hospitality. This commitment is exemplified in the introduction of our next-generation A330neo, setting a new benchmark in business class travel. Designed for discerning travellers who seek more than just a seat, our Business Class offers spacious suites with privacy doors, direct aisle access, and our state-of-the-art elevation seat, designed for ultimate relaxation. Whether traveling for business or leisure, our goal is to ensure that every moment onboard is an indulgence in premium comfort.” As part of this journey, Business Class passengers can enjoy an elevated end-to-end travel experience from the moment they arrive at the airport, including personalised Meet and Greet assistance, access to the …

Ethiopian Airlines announced the launch of a new thrice-weekly passenger service to Hyderabad, India, starting from 16 June, 2025. This new route exemplifies Ethiopian Airlines’ commitment to expanding its global network and enhancing connectivity between Africa and Asia, providing passengers with convenient travel options. The new flight will commence operations with three mid-day departures from Addis Ababa to Hyderabad and morning arrivals on the return leg as per the details below: ET 682 Addis Ababa (ADD) to Hyderabad (HYD) – Mon, Wed, Sat ET 683 Hyderabad (HYD) to Addis Ababa (ADD) – Tue, Thu, Sat Regarding the launch of the new service Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO, Ethiopian Airlines, remarked, “We are delighted to commence a new passenger service to Hyderabad. Since our first flight to Mumbai, India, in 1971, we have expanded our footprint throughout the country, offering convenient passenger and cargo transportation services. This new service will not only enhance travel options for our esteemed passengers but also strengthen trade and tourism ties between the two countries and beyond. Additionally, it is also a testament to Ethiopian’s commitment to enhancing its position as the continent’s top carrier with wide connectivity and world-class service.” Currently, Ethiopian Airlines offers over fifty weekly dedicated passenger and cargo flights to five Indian cities; Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Chennai, With the opening of this new passenger route to Hyderabad, Ethiopian will solidify its presence in India and enhance flight alternatives for passengers travelling between and outside the region.

Leverages on Thomas Cook India’s leadership position and its diversity of segments across Leisure and MICE In a strategic initiative to boost travel to Georgia from the high-potential India market, Thomas Cook (India), India’s leading omnichannel travel services company, has signed an MOU with Georgia National Tourism Administration (GNTA). This powerful collaboration focuses on building awareness and inspiring demand towards driving increased visitations to Georgia. Thomas Cook India’s internal data reveals strong travel appetite from Indian consumers for fresh, new destinations and easy visa regimes. This partnership aims to showcase Georgia along three key axes: attractiveness, accessibility and affordability. To inspire Indian travellers and catalyse demand, Thomas Cook India’s partnership with GNTA will focus on key objectives, including – Creating strong awareness for Georgia in the India market Building inspirational content for the destination Promoting MICE to Georgia Joint marketing collaboration to promote Georgia in the India market Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India), said, “From the charming streets of Tbilisi, rich in history and culture, the majestic landscapes of the Caucasus mountains, the ancient cave cities of Uplistsikhe, and globally renowned wine culture with its neolithic grape wine cultivation dating back to almost 8000 years, Georgia offers a wealth of unforgettable experiences, and at great value for the discerning Indian traveller. We are delighted to collaborate with the Georgia National Tourism Administration to jointly promote Georgia as a go-to destination across our customer segments. To inspire demand, our strategic intent will focus on education and training, familiarisation trips and joint marketing collaborations to target India’s high-potential segments including millennials/young working professionals, families, couples, solo travellers, B-Leisure and corporate MICE groups. Our efforts will …

Egyptair is pushing India’s MICE traffic to Egypt by offering competitive fares. Amr Aly, Country Manager, India, Vietnam & Hongkong, Egyptair, said, “For Cairo, we have an offer till March end, 40 per cent discount on economic class, 30 per cent on business class. Due to high demand, we may extend it till July.”

As BIT Milan 2025 enters its last day, the Italian outbound travel market is proving to be a major force in global tourism. With a 12 per cent increase in revenue for the 2024-25 holiday season, Italy’s travellers are booking earlier than ever – 60 per cent securing trips at least 90 days in advance.

At the IATO Annual Day (Carnival), Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, emphasised the need to boost tourism circuits, noting that 50 circuits have been announced. “If even 10 circuits attract visitors, it will be a big win. Our goal is to urge the government to implement its plans and turn vision into reality,” he said.

Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) opened this year’s edition with record breaking number of attendees. In 3 days, AIME will host 640+ buyers, 4500+ attendees and 675 exhibitors. There will be over 200 new exhibitors with 2 new internatioal pavilions, Singapore and Thailand, joining 30 nations.