Mahabalipuram’s first exclusive beach resort, InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, opens with 105 rooms, as part of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®). Set near the UNESCO world heritage site of Mahabalipuram, InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort features world-class accommodation with ocean front suites and rooms, and three dining experiences including a specialty Chinese restaurant. The Resort offers rejuvenating spa journeys and family experiences with unrivalled IHG® hospitality standards. The opening was marked by IHG’s Shantha de Silva, Head of South West Asia and Bryan Gabriel, Director of Commercial, South West Asia, who joined Vijai Singh, General Manager of the Resort and Arindam Kunar, Area General Manager, South India, for an inaugural address. Media personalities from across the country arrived to join the occasion and unwind, experience the wide range of facilities at the Resort. Shantha de Silva, Head of South West Asia said, “Mahabalipuram forms part of South India’s glorious history and InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort encapsulates authentic aspects of the soul of Madras. With an encouraging response from local and global markets since the soft-opening in October 2015, we started out what promised to be a successful first year of operations. We take tremendous pride in the Resort, which is the latest addition to IHG’s revamped resort collection.” Vijai Singh, General Manager, InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, said, “We are thrilled to welcome guests from India and around the world to a truly special East Coast luxury resort experience. We promise to offer our guests personal connect and unparalled service. The Resort is the owning company’s second partnership with IHG® since the agreement with their sister hotel brand Crowne Plaza in Chennai in 2015.” The 105-room Resort offers a full range of …

JetPrivilege, the loyalty and rewards management programme and frequent flyer programme of Jet Airways, has entered into a reciprocal frequent flyer partnership with of Bangkok Airways’ loyalty scheme, FlyerBonus. JetPrivilege members can now earn and redeem JPMiles when travelling across the Bangkok Airways network including popular destinations like Samui, Krabi, Phuket and Luang Prabang via Bangkok. Similarly, members of Bangkok Airways’ FlyerBonus programme can also earn and redeem their miles across Jet Airways’ extensive network in India and key international destination in North America, Europe, Middle East and SAARC. Jet Airways operates three daily flights to Bangkok from its hubs in India – two from Mumbai and one from Delhi. Gaurang Shetty, Sr. Vice President, Commercial, Jet Airways, said, “This partnership with Bangkok Airways will offer exceptional value to our guests. The new codeshare destinations with Bangkok Airways are an important extension to the Jet Airways international network, enhancing our product offering and providing greater choice and convenience to our guests.” Prote Setsuwan, Vice President – Marketing, Bangkok Airways, said, “We are delighted to partner with JetPrivilege, the frequent flyer programme of Jet Airways. This will bring significant benefits to passengers of both airlines. As Bangkok Airways always continues to offer our FlyerBonus members more value and options, we hope and trust that this partnership will enhance their traveling experience with us.”

Thomas Cook India has launched ‘Thomas Cook Mini’, a strategic deployment of small technology assisted outlets to tap the growth potential emerging from India’s Tier III markets. Pathanamthitta, Kerala saw the company’s inauguration of the first of its Thomas Cook Mini outlets. Mahesh Iyer, COO – Foreign Exchange & Head Visas, Thomas Cook (India), said, “With our internal data-analytics clearly revealing the untapped yet high growth potential of Tier III markets, a low-cost, rapid penetration model was mission critical, and our Thomas Cook Mini fits the bill perfectly! Such small Tech assisted outlets give us the opportunity to set up shop, test the waters and expand- with the immediacy that was demanded and we are very excited with the initial response from our new Kerala Thomas Cook Mini at Pathanamthitta.” Thomas Cook India’s internal research having highlighted the powerful growth potential for retail transactions, including burgeoning remittance opportunities, the Company conceptualised a quick deployment strategy of small technology assisted outlets to rapidly penetrate India’s underserved Tier III markets; hence the launch of its innovative Thomas Cook Mini. The outlets have been designed optimising space and will be manned by a small team, equipped with technology via mobile devices/tablets for seamless online connectivity to central systems, thus facilitating quick customer transactions. While Thomas Cook has chosen its Foreign Exchange business to pioneer this initiative, its Thomas Cook Mini outlets will see expansion to include other Travel Related Services.

During January-December 2015, a total of 4,45,300 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa (eTV) as compared to 39,046 during the same period in 2014 registering a growth of 1040.4 per cent. In December 2015, a total of 1,03,617 tourist arrived in India on eTV, registering a growth of 635.8 per cent growth over December 2014. The high growth may be attributed to introduction of eTV for 113 countries as against the coverage of the earlier ETA enabled TVoA scheme for 43 countries. Among the countries availing eTV, UK continues to occupy the top slot followed by the U.S and Russia where the percentage shares of the top five source countries were UK (23.81%), USA (19.59%), Russian Federation (9.33%), Australia (5.44%) and Germany (4.86%) respectively. The percentage shares of the top five ports in tourist arrivals on eTV during December 2015 were New Delhi Airport (36.23%) followed by Mumbai Airport (21.90%), Goa Airport (16.54%), Bengaluru Airport (5.54%) and Kochi Airport (4.68%).

The Oberoi Group has announced that The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser, Egypt will sail between Aswan and Luxor, offering a four and six night itinerary. The Group already operates another luxury cruiser, The Oberoi Zahra, and will be increasing its presence on the Nile with The Oberoi Philae. P.R.S. Oberoi, Executive Chairman, The Oberoi Group, said, “We are pleased to present The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser which offers the highest standards of luxury and hospitality. The Oberoi Group has been consistently recognised as amongst the best in the world, and I am confident that The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser will continue this tradition and offer travellers an unparalleled experience on the Nile.”

In an attempt to tap the opportunities of water tourism in the state, Madhya Pradesh Tourism is organising ‘Jal Mahotsav’ in Hunumantiya, Khandwa district from February 12-21, 2016. “MP Tourism has taken this initiative to raise awareness through ‘Jal Mahotsav’, which is an enthralling mix of cultural performances and adventure activities taking place against the beautiful background of the Indira Sagar Dam,” said Tanvi Sundriyal, Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation. The mega event will be inaugurated by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, she added. The 10-day event will play host to a number of activities like local sightseeing, adventure sports, outdoor activities, air and land adventures along with a display of food and crafts bazaar at the venue. There are 120 tents to be made available to the tourists attending the festival and the state is expecting a huge turnout of domestic as well as international tourists. Dr. Mamta Pandey, Sr. Liason & Marketing Officer, MP Tourism, informed that more than 200 delegates from the industry and ministry attended the roadshow.

H.E. Erdal Sabri Ergen, Consul General of the Republic of Turkey, today said Turkey is in the process of changing its visa regime to make it easier for Indian travellers. Presently, Ordinary, Special and Service Indian passport holders are required to get a visa to enter Turkey. Indian travellers who have Ordinary, Special and Service passports with a valid Schengen or OECD member’s visa or residence permit may get their single entry e-Visas for Turkey valid for 30 days. Ergen said Turkey is also looking at increasing the flight frequency between the two countries. In view of the recent terror attacks in Istanbul, he said that tourism plays an important role in bringing peace in times of terrorism. Turkey boasts highest number of tourist visas issuance in Europe, at 95 per cent. He was speaking on the sidelines of IITT 2016 in Mumbai.

The third edition of India International Travel & Tourism (IITT) opened today with over 400 Exhibitors, 300 Hosted Buyers, and 200 Corporate Buyers and Wedding Planners from across the country. This was revealed by Mohit Mewani, Exhibitons Director, IITT. The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of Jyoti Kapur, President, ADTOI; Guldeep Singh Sahni, President, OTOAI; H.E. Erdal Sabri Ergen, Consul General of the Republic of Turkey; Philip Saunders, CCO, Kuwait Airways; Subhash Goyal, President, IATO; and Jay Bhatia, Hon. National Treasurer & Chairman – Tourism Council, TAAI. The three-day B2B travel and tourism trade exhibition and conference, is being held at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai from January 15-17. One of the highlights of the show is a business session by TAAI on how to promote tourism in times of terror. The show also saw Star Cruises promote its new brand Dream Cruises in a big way.

Bhaskar Bhat, MD of Titan Company Limited, has taken over as Chairman of Tata SIA Airlines Limited. He succeeds Prasad Menon, who retired from the airline on January 13, 2016. Bhat had joined the Board of the company with effect from January 14, 2016.

Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces has announced the opening of its luxury hotel Taj Santacruz, Mumbai. The hotel comprises 279 rooms and suites which are among the largest in the city and blend contemporary elegance with touches of traditional Indian style. The modular design of rooms and luxuriously appointed amenities make them perfect for both business and leisure. The cushioned window seats in spacious rooms give the traveller the flexibility for in-room meetings. Farhat Jamal, Senior Vice President – Operations (West-India) & Africa, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, said, “Taj Santacruz will set a benchmark for luxury in North Mumbai for business and leisure travellers alike. It is the new jewel in the Taj crown.” Located just off the Western Express Highway, the hotel is close to the city’s financial and entertainment centres. The newest addition in Taj’s home city is the fourth group hotel in the financial capital. Pankaj Sampat has been appointed as the General Manager of the new property.