Category Archives: Agents

Riaz Munshi, President, OTOAI said, “Today’s travellers are increasingly mature and discerning; they prioritize meaningful experiences. We’ve observed a substantial 20-30% rise in luxury and experiential travel, underscoring a robust demand for high-quality, personalised travel experiences.”

During ‘Explore Maldives’ Roadshow organised by Manta Air in Bengaluru, Ahmed Maumoon, Deputy CEO, Manta Air, highlighted the initiative airline is taking to entice Indian traveller. He said, “Manta Air is promoting Bengaluru – Dhaalu route with exclusive fare between US$ 350-400 until September, which saves almost US$ 500-700 of an Indian traveller. Along with that, we are partnering with resorts in Maldives to provide a tailored package wherein customers receive 2-3 night stay with our resort partners in addition to air ticket at affordable rates. This strategy promotes the destination along with the airline. We are currently focusing on strengthening on our current route and will continue to monitor the Indian market. If the passenger load continues to be stable, we may start new route from Chennai and other cities in South India.”

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, along with Kempinski Hotel Muscat, Zahara Tours, and SalamAir, invites the Indian travel trade to attend a webinar on the destination and the product offerings. Get valuable insights and updates for your clients today at 3pm IST. Join the webinar and stand a chance to win exciting prizes! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is set to organise a multi-city B2B roadshow in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad this July. Titled ‘Singapore Tourism Board Roadshow 2024. Holidays Made in Singapore’, the event features 50 exhibitors representing hotels, attractions, airline, cruise lines and destination management companies. Notably, seven of these exhibitors are participating for the first time, including the city’s famed family-friendly attraction Museum of Ice Cream, and Disney Cruise Line, which has made Singapore its exclusive Southeast Asian homeport for five years starting next year. India is a major tourism source market for Singapore, with direct flights from 17 cities within a 4 to 6-hour range. Since the resumption of international travel in 2022, Indian tourists have been drawn to Singapore’s evolving range of offerings. In 2023, many new hotels, attractions, and lifestyle experiences have emerged, offering more activities and venues for India’s travel agents and planners to consider when crafting holiday itineraries, MICE programmes, and wedding celebrations. STB’s global campaign, “Made In Singapore”, showcases the city as a destination of unique and unexpected experiences. In line with this, the 2024 multi-city roadshow is themed “Holidays. Made In Singapore” to equip the Indian travel trade community to promote Singapore as a differentiated destination for various consumer segments. As part of the B2B roadshow, STB is also hosting two curated business matching platforms between Singapore wedding suppliers and Indian planners in Ahmedabad and Kolkata, important source markets for Indian wedding celebrations. Featuring eight venues, hotels, aviation and cruise partners, and DMCs, these networking events build on STB’s continuing efforts in India to spotlight Singapore’s unique selection of wedding venues and experiences, including a partnership with celebrated couturier Rahul Mishra, and the …

Sailing from Singapore in 2025, the one-of-a-kind Disney Adventure will offer families throughout the region the ultimate holiday at sea. The first Disney Cruise Line ship to homeport in Asia will be a destination itself, sailing on three- and four-night voyages designed with magical days at sea and filled with immersive storytelling and captivating entertainment like only Disney can do. “We’re bringing the magic of Disney Cruise Line to Asia for the first time ever, and we want to give our guests the cruise relaxation and Disney fun they can only experience aboard one of our ships,” said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Cruise Line. “When they set sail on the Disney Adventure, guests will find incredible, immersive areas that bring the worlds of Disney, Pixar and Marvel to life in ways like never before – and these uniquely Disney experiences will inspire families to reconnect, recharge and make unforgettable memories that they’ll cherish forever.”

Recognising the crucial role played by qualified tourist guides in adventure tourism in India, the Ministry of Tourism has stated that it will prioritise the enhancing of training and certification of these guides, through nationally accepted certification process. It encourages individuals to upgrade their skills through its Incredible India Tourist Guide (Adventure) certification programme conducted by the Indian Institute of Travel & Tourism Management (IITTM).

CLIA research indicates that younger generations are the future of cruise, with 88% of millennials and 85% of Generation X travellers who have cruised before plan to do so again. Kelly Craighead, President and CEO, says, “In addition, there is more interest than ever before among millennials (77%) and Generation X travellers (73%) wanting to take their first cruise.”

Monish Shah, Founder & CEO, DreamsetGo, says, “This year has been particularly humbling. We are experiencing high interest in the Paris Olympics 2024, signalling India’s rising passion for sports beyond cricket. Our mission was clear: to empower as many Indians as possible to cheer for our Indian squads. Nothing gives us more satisfaction as a company driven by our love for sports.”

Travelport and Emirates have announced that NDC content from Emirates and enhanced NDC servicing capabilities are now available in the Travelport+ platform. With this, Travelport’s agency customers will be able to compare dynamic NDC offers and ancillaries from Emirates and create a more streamlined, personalized experience for travellers. Travelport’s complete NDC solution for Emirates also provides agents the ability to service NDC bookings, which includes modifications and cancellations.

Clarks Safari announces the opening of its flagship property, Clarks Safari Haridwar, strategically located in the heart of the city. This luxury property features 22 well-appointed rooms, designed to cater to spiritual travelers, corporates, and families seeking a comfortable stay at competitive rates. Spread over more than 9000 sqmt Clarks Safari Haridwar offers a range of amenities and facilities, ensuring a comprehensive and enjoyable stay for all guests. The property boasts four banquet halls with a combined seating capacity of 500 pax, making it an ideal venue for conferences, product launches, and corporate events.