Category Archives: States

With the addition of this hotel, IHCL will have 22 hotels in Tamil Nadu including 6 under development.  Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, announced the signing of an IHCL SeleQtions hotel, in ECR Chennai. The hotel is part of a large eco-friendly development spread over 30 acres. Commenting on the signing, Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President, Real Estate & Development, IHCL said, “We are thrilled to introduce our first SeleQtions hotel in Chennai where IHCL has a multi-brand presence of 14 hotels including iconic luxury hotels and residences, leisure resorts and business hotels spread across central business districts and emerging micro markets. Strategically located on ECR, its eco-friendly design and MICE facilities, will cater to the growing travel demand in the area. We are delighted to partner with GT Bharathi Urban developers for this project.” Located on the picturesque ECR, the 120-key hotel is part of 32-acre green township, close to the city’s attractions. The hotel will feature a variety of dining options, including an all-day diner, a specialty restaurant, a bar and a lounge. Guests can unwind at the state-of-the-art gym, swimming pool, and spa. Bharat Doshi and Arun Bharathi Managing Directors, GT Bharathi Urban developers, said, “We are excited to partner with IHCL, India’s leading hospitality company. This hotel is set to become an ideal destination for both MICE and leisure travellers, drawing visitors from nearby major cities.”  

Tamil Nadu Travel Expo 2024 concluded successfully in Madurai after two days of business meetings between 130 exhibitors and around 300 buyers from across the country. The 3-day event also saw the launch of a new portal ‘travel2tamilnadu.com,’ which showcases lesser-known gems.

Under its Tourism Policy 2022-2032, UP government will provide 50 per cent reimbursement of certification fees established for tour operators for obtaining GSTC certification to promote sustainable tourism. Tour operators can benefit from this initiative and will have up to ₹5 lakh reimbursed. 

P.A. Mohamed Riyas, Tourism & PWD Minister, Kerala, said, “The tourism department will organise a ‘tribal cultural festival’ this year to promote tourism in Wayanad by highlighting the cultural and ethnic heritage of the place, adding that Wayanad had a special place on the tourism map owing to its immense possibilities for adventure tourism and balmy weather.”

Three-day Tamil Nadu Travel Expo (TTE) is scheduled to kick off at the IDA Scudder Auditorium in Madurai from today. The event aims to boost the state’s tourism profile and attract a larger number of visitors both from within India and neighbouring countries to the state.

With ₹812 crore budget being sanctioned in the Union Budget for tourism budget in Odisha, Pravati Parida, Dy. CM & Tourism Minister, Odisha has said that they want to develop Odisha as a hub for sustainable tourism. “We are planning eco-friendly stays and eco-tourism projects in Bhitarkanika, Deomali, Similipal, and Konark,” she revealed.

With a strategic intent to capitalise on the strong and growing demand from Kolkata, Thomas Cook (India) with its own store in the city. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India), said, “Kolkata is an important source market for us. The top traveller segments include multi-generational families, couples, millennials and GenZ, as well as GenS (seniors).”

The Iran Tourism Board announced the successful conclusion of its dynamic three-city roadshow in India, aimed at promoting the rich cultural heritage and diverse travel experiences of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The roadshow began in Mumbai on 10th September, continued in Hyderabad on 12th September, and concluded on 13th September in New Delhi. The roadshow featured distinguished dignitaries from Iran, including Aliasghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi, Deputy of Tourism, Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Ministry; Moslem Shojaee, Director General, International Tourism Promotion; H.E. Mofidifar, Acting Consul General, Islamic Republic of Iran; and H.E. Rahul Narwekar, Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Mumbai. Strengthening Tourism Ties Between India and Iran The primary aim of this roadshow was to foster stronger tourism ties between India and Iran. By engaging directly with Indian travel agents and tourism professionals, the Iran Tourism Board sought to build robust business relationships and promote Iran as a premier travel destination. The initiative featured 11 Iranian hoteliers and travel agents who explored business opportunities and presented a variety of tourism packages to their Indian counterparts. Collaborations with key organisations such as MTOA, TAAI, TAFI, and IATO were also part of the strategy to enhance Iran’s visibility among their members. Aliasghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi remarked, “We are thrilled to present the beauty and historical richness of Iran to the Indian market. This roadshow has provided a unique platform to share Iran’s cultural tapestry, including our historic landmarks and renowned hospitality. We look forward to deepening our partnerships with Indian travel agents and encouraging more Indian travellers to explore the wonders of Iran.” H.E. Mofidifar, Acting Consul General, Islamic Republic of Iran to Mumbai, delivered an inspiring keynote address. He passionately spoke about …

~Set across Chandigarh, Nagpur & Kochi, the initiative will educate over 600 travel partners on new destination offerings~ Aiming to attract 100,000 inbound travellers from India by end of the year, South African Tourism has returned with its 2024 edition of ‘Learn South Africa’ initiative. Entering the tier-2 and tier-3 outbound tourism markets of India, the flagship travel trade training workshop will enlighten the tourism board’s travel partners with renewed strategy and equip them with tools to market the Rainbow Nation effectively. In the recent years, there has been a strong uptick in the number of arrivals from India to South Africa. Capitalising on this momentum and in efforts to target emerging markets from the country, South African Tourism’s 3-city destination workshop is set to commence in Chandigarh on 27th September followed by Nagpur on 8th November and Kochi on 13th December. The workshop not only enables the tourism board to share its learnings with the travel trade fraternity but also support its partners in overcoming any obstacles they experience while promoting the destination. Cognizant of India’s outbound tourism potential and its role in achieving South Africa’s long term tourism goals, India is amongst the top 3 focus markets for South African Tourism. With a strong foothold across key metro cities and observing a trend of rising discretionary spendings from tier-2 and tier-3 cities of India, it is vital for the tourism board to continually target newer markets to uphold the increased inclination towards international travel. Programs such as ‘Learn SA’ are instrumental in projecting the Rainbow Nation as a premier leisure and MICE destination. Commenting on ‘Learn South Africa’ 2024 edition, Gcobani Mancotywa, Regional General Manager, Asia, Australasia, Middle …

The Hotel Association of India has launched its Odisha Chapter intending to enhance the state’s tourism. The team of HAI met with Pravati Parida, Deputy Chief Minister, Odisha and discussed the growth of the tourism sector in the state, and asked to give due recognition to the tourism and hospitality sector for its immense potential to generate jobs and promote inclusive growth.