Tag Archives: hospitality

Speaking about the company’s plans for the India market, Dillip Rajakarier, Chief Executive Officer, Minor Hotels, has revealed that they will launch a master brand soon. “Now that we have gone global, we want to put all our brands together under a master brand. Also, we will launch two new brands in India which we will announce soon,” he announced.

TAAI hosted the ‘Women of Wonder Awards 2025’ in Delhi to celebrate women across India who have significantly impacted the travel, hospitality, and aviation industry. Among the awardees were Pravati Parida, Dy CM, Odisha, Mugdha Sinha, DG, MOT, etc. Out of 75 awards, 20 were received by TAAI’s Region and Chapter heads.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, Govt of India has said that including hospitality infrastructure investment for tourism in the infrastructure master list would increase the payback period manifold. The old notification, which says that investment for 3-star hotels in areas with less than 1 million population, will automatically come in the list, he added.

Federico J. Gonzalez, Executive Vice Chairman, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “India has the potential to be the number one hospitality market globally for Radisson Hotel Group.” The economic growth in India is significant. But, besides the economic growth and the growth in population and infrastructure, the ambition and dynamism of Indians is one of a kind. The hotel chain should aim to have 500 hotels in the country by 2030, he added.

Expressing his views, Sanjeev Mehra, President, SKÅL International (India), said, “The Union Budget 2025 has introduced promising initiatives for the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. The focus on developing the top 50 tourist destinations and providing PLI-linked incentives to states will significantly enhance infrastructure, accessibility, and visitor experiences, strengthening India’s position as a global tourism hub.” He further said that the expansion of air connectivity through the modified UDAN scheme, including Patna airport’s expansion and new Greenfield airports, will promote regional tourism and improve accessibility to lesser-explored destinations. Additionally, the allocation of ₹25,000 crore for the Maritime Development Fund will boost cruise and coastal tourism. A key highlight is the emphasis on medical tourism through the “Heal in India” initiative, supported by a PPP model and easier visa norms. India’s high-quality yet affordable healthcare services will make it a stronger global destination for medical travellers. The introduction of MUDRA loans for homestays will further empower small hospitality entrepreneurs, encouraging sustainable and community-driven tourism, he added. This budget is inclusive, ticking the right boxes, though it lacks a major transformative push. However, addressing India’s low per capita income remains crucial for long-term growth. As President of Skål International India and a travel expert for 30 years, I strongly believe that India must now emerge as a global travel business hub like Singapore and Dubai. This budget is a step in the right direction, and we remain committed to making India a world-class travel destination, he concluded.

Expressing his happiness over the Budget 2025-2026, KB Kachru, President, HAI, said, “Budget is progressive, especially with its focus on tourism and job creation. The government’s commitment to developing 50 new destinations, improving infrastructure, and leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) is promising. This year’s budget very well highlights the importance of promoting Buddhist tourism with neighbouring countries and simplifying visa processes to enhance international travel. With India’s world-class hospitals, we have great potential in medical tourism, but there is a need to collaborate with the medical fraternity to attract international visitors. The introduction of Mudra loans for homestays will support startups and entrepreneurs in expanding homestay offerings, further boosting tourism. Overall, the initiatives taken by the government in this year’s budget are the steps in the right direction for the industry.”

Targeting wider expansion, Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT Hotels & Resorts, said, “Our strategy is to saturate the south. With resorts in Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Wayanad, Mamallapuram, and Puducherry seeing surging demand during peak holiday season, the company wants to ride the leisure boom with more properties in scenic locales, such as its upcoming ultra-luxury property in Pachalur.”

Outlining its expectations from the Budget 2025-26, FHRAI urges the government to introduce reforms that will address the critical challenges faced by the hospitality and tourism sector. It believes these reforms will increase investment, create employment, and support overall economic growth in the industry. FHRAI’s primary recommendation is to grant infrastructure status to hotel and convention center projects with costs starting from ₹10 crore.

Ahead of the Union budget, Rajesh Magow, Co-founder, MMT, said, “The travel & tourism sector is a vital pillar of India’s economy. Allowing GST credit for hotel construction & rationalising GST rates will help reduce the cost of accommodation while stimulating domestic tourism & positively impacting inbound tourism. He requested the FM to allocate resources for the global campaign under the Incredible India initiative.

After a detailed process, the much-awaited de-merger of ITC Hotels finally took place on 6 January. ITC would retain a 40 per cent stake in the hotel business, while the remaining 60% would be distributed to shareholders through rights entitlements. Shareholders will receive one ITC Hotels share for every 10 ITC shares held.