Category Archives: Agents

Cunard is a luxury British cruise line, renowned for creating unforgettable experiences around the world. Cunard has been a leading operator of passenger ships since 1840, and this year celebrates an incredible 185 years of operation. 2025 is a momentous year in Cunard’s history, which will be marked with several iconic land-based events and special Event Voyages. The Cunard experience is built on fine dining, hand-selected entertainment, and outstanding White Star service. From a partnership with a two-Michelin starred chef, to inspiring guest speakers, to world class theatre productions, every detail has been meticulously crafted to make the experience unforgettable. A pioneer in transatlantic journeys and round world voyages, destinations sailed to also include Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, the Far East and Australia. There are currently four Cunard ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and new ship, Queen Anne, which entered service in May 2024. This investment is part of the company’s ambitious plans for the future of Cunard globally, with the brand now boasting four ships in simultaneous service. Special low fares have been launched on 7 nights Europe sailings for Sep – Oct – Nov 2025. For brochures and booking, kindly contact M/s Griffon, agent of Cunard in India at 91 9820060421 or send email to sales@GriffonCruises.in

Skål International’s 2025 World President, Denise Scrafton made a powerful and symbolic visit to India, a first in many years, reaffirming India’s rising prominence in the global Skål movement. Her presence inspired renewed energy and deeper alignment across clubs, with a focus on future leadership, sustainability, youth engagement, and international cooperation. “India is fast becoming a vital force in global tourism and an emerging powerhouse within Skål. It’s time we lead today to shape a stronger tomorrow — together,” said Denise Scrafton, echoing her presidential theme and setting the tone for her impactful journey. NSN Mohan, Deputy Vice President of Skål International and Director of Region 10 (India), who accompanied her throughout the journey added, “Denise’s visit comes at a time when Skål India (Region 10) is evolving into a mission-driven force in global tourism. We are focused on collaboration, youth engagement, sustainability, and responsible tourism — values that align beautifully with her leadership vision.” Sanjeev Mehra, President of Skål International India, shared, “Her presence energized our movement and inspired our clubs. We are proud of the momentum we’re building — launching new clubs, driving inclusive leadership, broadcasting powerful and meaningful communications. India is on the path to becoming Skål’s top-performing nation. With 91 years of legacy, Skål International stands as the world’s largest and oldest organisation of tourism and hospitality professionals. Remarkably, three of its top ten clubs globally — Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata —are proudly from India.” Ms. Scrafton, who joined Skål in 2002, has held every major leadership role — from President of Skål International Melbourne and Skål International Australia to President of the Skål International Council and now World President. She pioneered the Membership Development Fund …

Cunard has reported a significant uplift in demand following the launch of its 2027 programme, with a 55% increase in nights booked during the first seven days compared to the equivalent period for the 2026 launch. Both the UK and North American markets contributed significantly to this success, with bookings up almost 50% in the UK and more than 100% in North America. There has also been a notable surge in demand for Cunard’s most exclusive luxury suites. Bookings for Queens Grill and Princess Grill suites rose by over 100% compared to the same launch period last year, reflecting growing global interest in Cunard’s distinctive Grills experience. Queen Mary 2’s Transatlantic Crossings continue to perform strongly. This iconic route remains one of Cunard’s most popular and continues to attract strong interest from guests around the world. Summer 2027 programme: Cunard’s latest programme of extraordinary voyages boasts 195 new itineraries across its iconic fleet, visiting 115 destinations in 32 countries between April 2027 and January 2028. The new itineraries include 93 UNESCO World Heritage sites. And with 18 overnight port calls and 33 late-evening departures, the programme offers even more opportunities to explore the world. The programme offers more variety and choice than ever before, with three of Cunard’s iconic Queens offering roundtrip voyages from the UK for the first time since 2018 – increasing the capacity of Southampton departures by 54% year on year. Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: “We’re delighted with the response to our 2027 launch. It’s wonderful to see so many guests choosing to sail with us, and the rise in bookings shows just how much people continue to value the Cunard experience. Demand for our Queens Grill and …

IHCL has announced the signing of a new hotel in Jaipur, Rajasthan. This greenfield project will be branded a Vivanta. Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development, IHCL said, “Fuelled by major infrastructure developments, Jaipur has rapidly evolved as key regional hub, significantly boosting demand from business and MICE segments apart from the long established leisure segment  This signing aligns with IHCL’s strategy to expand presence in such high-growth micro markets of metros an state capitals across India. We are delighted to collaborate with Dinesh Choudhary, Vivek Choudhary and Rajat Choudhary for this project.” The 160-key Vivanta Jaipur in Jagatpura is the closest hotel to the newly renovated Terminal 1 of Jaipur International Airport. The hotel features an all-day dining restaurant, a bar, a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, health club, specialty roof top restaurant and state-of-the-art conference facilities, catering to both leisure and business guests. Vivek Choudhary, Director, Wonder Build Developers Private Ltd, said, “We are proud to partner with IHCL to bring the Vivanta brand to Jaipur. This collaboration will contribute to the city’s growing hospitality landscape and offer a world-class experience to travelers. With IHCL’s expertise and the strong brand recognition of Vivanta, we are confident that the hotel will emerge as a preferred destination for travellers.” With the addition of this hotel, IHCL will have 31 hotels in Rajasthan including 8 under development.

Ventive Hospitality along with its Promoter Group Companies, announced the expansion of their strategic partnership with Marriott International, by signing management contracts for seven luxury, upper upscale and upscale hotels comprising of 1,548 rooms across India and Sri Lanka. This partnership marks multiple brand debuts in key locations including Sri Lanka, Varanasi, Mundra, Pune, and Navi Mumbai. Further, Ventive Hospitality also announced its plans to develop a hotel on its existing leasehold land in Mundra, India. Of the seven hotels, three hotels are being developed by Ventive Hospitality and its subsidiaries – the Ritz-Carlton Reserve (73 villas along with 80 branded residences for sale) at Pottuvil, near Yala East National Park in Sri Lanka; Varanasi Marriott Hotel (161 rooms) at Varanasi, India and Courtyard by Marriott (200 rooms) at Mundra, India. The remaining four hotels – the proposed JW Marriott Navi Mumbai (450 rooms), Moxy Navi Mumbai (200 rooms), Moxy Pune Wakad (264 rooms) and Moxy Pune Kharadi (200 rooms), are being developed by the Promoter Group companies on Right Of First Offer (ROFO) or alternative structure basis for the Ventive Hospitality and will be transferred to the Company under a suitable arrangement that maximizes value for all stakeholders equitably. This partnership, one of India’s largest in the luxury and upper-upscale hotel sector, leverages the strength of Ventive Hospitality’s project execution capabilities along with Marriott International’s renowned brands and hotel management expertise. Both companies are poised to unlock significant growth opportunities by capitalizing on a favorable demand-supply dynamics. This strategic partnership was formally announced by Atul Chordia, Chairman and Executive Director of Ventive Hospitality Ltd, and Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific (excluding China), Marriott International. Also present at the event were Ranju …

Asego has been appointed as the official travel protection partner for the 6th OTOAI Convention 2025 in Moscow. Offering comprehensive coverage to all delegates, the company ensures peace of mind for travel trade professionals. This collaboration underscores Asego’s commitment to supporting the industry with smart, reliable travel protection as stakeholders gather to shape the future of tourism.

Balitrip Wisata’s elite offering—Balitrip Maharaya Chambers- is now open for bookings. Crafted for soulful indulgence, it redefines luxury with sunset horseback rides, private chefs, elephant bathing, heli-hops to Nusa Penida, yacht escapes to Gili and exclusive pool parties—delivering not opulence alone, but emotion, elegance and experience in every detail.

Robin Lawther, Vice President, Expedia TAAP, said, “Our Summer Sale gives agents a strong edge during peak season with exclusive deals and easy bookings. We have seen strong engagement, especially for last-minute trips, with at least 25% off thousands of properties worldwide boosting agent-led sales.”

In a major boost to Andhra Pradesh’s adventure tourism sector, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) has received over 130 applications from companies eager to launch operations. In response, the government has issued detailed guidelines covering operator registration, safety standards, security protocols, environmental protection and local employment, aiming at regulating the sector and ensuring tourist safety.

Cross Hotels & Resorts in Thailand invites the Indian travel trade for an exclusive webinar today at 3 pm IST, focusing on its latest offerings. Get insights to help create enriched itineraries for your corporate clients, showcasing the best of what the brand has to offer. For more information, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.