CG Hospitality Global, the hospitality arm of CG Corp Global and majority stakeholder in Concept Hospitality Private Limited (CHPL), proudly announced a landmark collaboration with Marriott International for the Global Launch of Series by Marriott™— A new midscale and upscale collection brand. This historic move is anchored by the affiliation of The Fern portfolio, one of India’s most respected eco-sensitive hotel chains. Founded in 1996 CHPL has grown into one of India’s most respected hotel management companies. This partnership marks a major milestone for India’s hospitality sector. The Fern, The Fern Residency, and The Fern Habitat will be integrated into Marriott’s global ecosystem. With over 120 operating hotels under various brands, in 90 cities and 40 additional properties in the pipeline at CHPL, the deal is expected to add up to 84 Fern branded hotels and approximately 6,000 rooms to Marriott’s India portfolio—making it one of the most significant multi-unit transactions in the country’s hospitality landscape. The agreement includes a strategic equity investment by Marriott in CHPL and an exclusive long-term co-branding relationship for The Fern brands in India. Fern hotels will now benefit from Marriott’s global distribution platforms, digital systems, and the Marriott Bonvoy™ loyalty program with 237 Million members, while retaining their independent spirit and regional identity. This collaboration reflects CG Hospitality’s long-standing belief in the strength of regionally rooted brands with global potential. CG Hospitality has nurtured Fern into a leading name in eco-sensitive, high-quality hospitality. The partnership now takes that vision global, amplifying the reach and capabilities of The Fern across global markets. Rahul Chaudhary, Managing Director & CEO, CG Corp Global & CG Hospitality Holdings, said: “This strategic collaboration represents more than just a portfolio …

Speaking about the changing traveller preferences, Dhruv Shringi, Co-Founder & CEO, Yatra Online, says, “We added close to 140mn domestic trips in a 20-year period and the next 140 mn trips will be added in less than 5 yrs. That is the kind of growth that we are seeing as a country right now when it comes to domestic travel. That’s one of the main pivots that we’ve had to look at in the last decade or so to move closer to where the customer behaviour is, and make sure that you as a company are in line with where the consumer trends are moving.”

Sharing her views about the new international cruise terminal opened in Mumbai, Nalini Gupta, Managing Director, ClickMyCruise & Lotus Destinations, says, “It is a major step forward for India’s cruise tourism. But key improvements are still needed like better ground transport access, smoother immigration processes, and more retail and leisure facilities. Strengthening digital systems and sustainability measures, along with robust international marketing, will be essential to fully realise its potential as a global cruise hub.”

ITC Hotels Limited (ITCHL) now brings its fast-growing Brand Welcomhotel to Telangana as it announced the signing of an agreement with M/s KAC Palm Exotica Hotels Private Limited to launch Welcomhotel Shankarpally in the Hyderabad market. ITCHL already operates two iconic hotels in Hyderabad; ITC Kakatiya with 188 keys and ITC Kohenur with 274 keys. Spread across 11 acres, ‘Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels Palm Exotica Shankarpally’ shall feature 155 guest rooms and villas with private gardens offering enriching guest experiences that will draw heavily from the region’s rich heritage.  Among other facilities, the hotel will also showcase an all-day dining, a speciality restaurant, bar, pool, lounge, spa & kids club. The hotel is envisioned as a landmark destination for celebrations, corporate functions and social gatherings. With a curated selection of versatile banquet venues and over 6000 sqm of outdoor space, it will cater to events of all scales, from intimate soirees to large conferences, grand galas and weddings. Anil Chadha, Managing Director, ITC Hotels Limited said, “This signing marks Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels foray into the state of Telangana. We embarked on the asset right strategy with the objective of reaching deeper in tier 2 and tier 3 markets offering travellers local and immersive experiences. Welcomhotel Shankarpally endeavours to establish itself as the city’s definitive destination for bleisure travel & events. Each space will offer refined aesthetics to suit a diverse array of occasions.” Krishna Sandeep Kilaru, Director, KAC Palm Exotica Hotels Private Limited said, “We are excited to have entered into agreement for Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels Palm Exotica Shankarpally with ITC Hotels Limited. It is a matter of pride for us to develop this hotel in Telangana. ITC Hotels’ …

VFS Global announces the launch of its flagship Visa Application Centre in Dubai’s Wafi City, marking the opening of the largest visa application facility in the world. The centre was inaugurated by His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism; His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai; and Mr. Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism said, “This milestone is more than an infrastructure achievement — it reflects the strategic direction Dubai is taking to enhance global mobility, unlock access to opportunity, and accelerate growth across our visitor and business economy. As we advance the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, strengthening seamless access to and from Dubai remains a priority. Visa facilitation is a key enabler of talent attraction, tourism development, and international partnerships — all essential levers of our strategy to position Dubai as the world’s most connected and future-ready city.” His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai said, “Today, we witnessed the inauguration of a new milestone in the journey of excellence pursued by the UAE in general and Dubai in particular, with the opening of the world’s largest Visa Application Centre, located in the heart of Dubai, a city that continuously redefines innovation. This achievement embodies a true reflection of the directives of our wise leadership towards strengthening the nation’s position as a global hub for smart services and establishing a unique model for delivering government services with high efficiency and quality. We believe that continuous …

Sharing details of MOT’s latest initiative, Arun Srivastava, Joint Director General, MOT, says, “MOT launches India’s first MICE digital catalogue carefully populating it with MICE facilities across 60 cities of India. This is very promising news as India witnessed 51% growth in hosting global conferences in 2024 over 2022 and India’s ICCA global rank improved to 28th in 2024 from 37th in 2022. Ministry is working on multiple fronts for developing a facilitating ecosystem for the MICE industry.”

IHCL announces the opening of Taj Alibaug Resort & Spa, Maharashtra, a coastal sanctuary nestled amidst swaying palms and lush landscapes. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & CEO, IHCL, said, “Located across the shore, Alibaug has long been a favoured leisure destination for Mumbaikars. The launch of Taj Alibaug Resort & Spa marks IHCL’s debut in this micro-market, further strengthening our presence in Mumbai’s leisure circuit and expanding our brandscape and footprint in Maharashtra.” The 156-key Taj Alibaug Resort & Spa, Maharashtra is a seaside haven that blends nature’s serenity with refined luxury. Its spacious rooms, suites, and villas are thoughtfully designed with soft hues and natural textures. Inspired by Alibaug’s coastal charm, the resort’s architecture fuses contemporary elegance with earthy elements, flowing seamlessly into courtyards and lush gardens. Dining is a celebration of flavours with three distinct venues Aparanta, the all-day dining restaurant; Konkan Café, outpost of the iconic coastal specialty restaurant showcasing the region’s culinary heritage; and 24 Alive, a bar serving handcrafted cocktails. Guests can indulge in immersive spa experiences at J Wellness Circle, offering holistic rejuvenation where age-old Indian healing traditions meet modern therapies that nourish both body and mind. The resort features multiple indoor and alfresco venues, ideal backdrops for social celebrations and grand gatherings. For those seeking recreation, the resort also offers a swimming pool, a fully equipped fitness centre and kids activity area. Ananth Gaddala, General Manager, Taj Alibaug Resort & Spa, Maharashtra said, “Taj Alibaug Resort & Spa is an ode to the coastal spirit of Alibaug. We look forward to creating unforgettable memories for our guests in this unique setting.”

Lamenting about one crisis situation after another, Ajeet Bajaj, President, ATOAI, suggests that planning for crisis situations and risk assessing businesses has become absolutely imperative today. “It’s very important that we ensure that as individuals we keep ourselves absolutely fit and have reserves for at least 9-12 months so that even if all hell breaks loose, we can still sleep easy.”

IndiGo has announced groundbreaking expansion into Europe with its first-ever non-stop flight from Mumbai to Amsterdam, set to launch on 02 July 2025. Upgrading its in-flight dining experience, IndiGo also announced that complimentary hot meals and beverages will be served to all customers on this route. The thrice weekly service, operated with IndiGo’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, marks the airline’s strategic foray into long-haul operations to meet the growing demand for air travel between India and Europe, facilitated by Indian operators. The flights are open for bookings across channels. The airline has made consecutive announcements of its debut long-haul routes from Mumbai, with Amsterdam and Manchester being added to its growing international network. Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, “I am thrilled to announce IndiGo’s long-haul debut to Amsterdam. We are stretching our wings further to enhance accessibility and convenience to customers traveling to Europe for leisure, business, and education, as well as unlocking IndiGo’s unparalleled domestic network, showcasing ‘India by IndiGo’ to foreign travellers. Celebrating India and its unique cuisine, we’re very proud to announce specially curated complimentary hot meals and beverages, by iconic home-grown Indian brands, will be served to all our customers on this route. This will a major milestone in our international growth journey as we move towards our vision to become a global aviation leader, propelling India’s ambition of transforming into a global aviation hub. The Netherlands and India share a strong and thriving bilateral relationship, and this new non-stop, thrice-weekly service between Mumbai and Amsterdam will only deepen the growing ties between the two nations. We are closely working with Schiphol Airport to provide customers with our quintessential seamless and hassle-free travel experience. …

In a significant step towards enhancing the visa application experience for Indian travellers, VFS Global, the world’s leading technology services specialist in secure mobility solutions, and the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) joined hands to successfully host a Visa Insights Workshop titled Consultant-to-Officer Dialogues in Hyderabad, Telangana, on 17 May 2025. The interactive session was attended by 40 travel agents from the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh chapters of TAAI and staff from the VFS Global Visa Application Centre. The workshop facilitated dialogue between travel consultants and VFS Global, promoting transparency and mutual understanding in the visa facilitation process. The event featured discussions on the end-to-end process of visa applications handled by VFS Global, focusing on operational best practices, process timelines, document requirements, and traveller preparedness. The workshop provided a platform for travel agents to share challenges they face while assisting clients with visa applications, allowing VFS Global to address concerns, clarify procedures, and explore opportunities for continuous improvement, leaving all participants with a sense of optimism for the future. Sunil Kumar, President, Travel Agents Association of India, said, “This joint knowledge-sharing workshop by TAAI and VFS Global, is among the firsts of its kind. This is a commendable initiative that strengthens the bridge between visa consultants from travel companies and VFS Global frontline employees. Such collaborative efforts not only enhance operational efficiency but also empower our industry professionals with deeper insights needed to deliver exceptional service to travellers, especially in an evolving travel environment. TAAI is truly delighted to have partnered with VFS Global in launching the Pilot Programme in Hyderabad, which was attended by 40 experienced visa consultants who had a dialogue with over 25 VFS Global frontline …