Courtyard by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announced the opening of Courtyard by Marriott Goa Colva, marking the debut of the Courtyard by Marriott brand in the state. Strategically located in one of the most popular parts of Goa, known for its white sand beaches, susegad lifestyle and Indo-Portuguese architecture, this 91-room hotel is an embodiment of the all things Goan. “We are thrilled to introduce the exceptional hospitality and top-tier facilities of Courtyard by Marriott brand to one of the most idyllic locations in India,” said Ranju Alex, Area Vice President South Asia, Marriott International. “Goa, especially the Southern region, is a well-known paradise for vacationers with its white sand beaches, stunning sunsets, and relaxed ambience. The opening of Courtyard by Marriott Goa Colva, marks Marriott International’s 10th property in Goa, and further compliments our commitment to growth in the region, bringing a diversified portfolio for different types of travellers to this popular leisure destination.”

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), collaborated with the Ministry of Ayush and the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) to celebrate the International Day of Yoga. The event took place at Andaz – The Concept of Hyatt in Delhi. The focus was on showcasing yoga’s positive impact on the mind, body, and soul through practical sessions. The event featured guests like Ms. Avantika Tokas Midha, Dr. Rajarshi Bhattacharjee, and Ruchin Midha. The program commenced with a felicitation ceremony and speeches emphasising yoga’s manifold benefits. Inderjeet Sehrawat, Chief Guest Counsellor of Mahipalpur said, “Yoga plays a crucial role in maintaining good health and reducing mental stress. Disease is so bad in today’s culture that we have to go to the hospital to get rid of it. You know that you don’t pay attention to anything and then you don’t need any medicine to find time for one hour in the day. Daily practice enhances energy levels and overall well-being, preventing illness and promoting wellness. Dr. Rajarshi Bhattacharjee, Chief Medical Officer of Times News Network and Hindustan Power said, “I have practised medicine for the last 25 years and have consistently recommended yoga to my patients facing critical illnesses. Yoga, beyond mere exercise, encompasses a holistic journey involving the mind, body, and soul. It’s not just about fancy poses; it’s a way of life. Originating from India and reintroduced by Shri Modi ji, yoga promotes overall well-being when practised under proper guidance. I am truly grateful for its transformative power and encourage everyone to incorporate yoga into their daily lives for lasting health benefits.” Avantika Tokas Midha, Vice Chairperson of Council of Royal Roots said, “It’s …

IHCL further strengthens their footprint in Bhutan with the signing of an 83-key hotel in Thimphu. This hotel will be rebranded to an IHCL – SeleQtions. Speaking on the occasion, Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President, Real Estate & Development, IHCL said, “We are delighted to expand our presence in Bhutan. The country’s growing popularity as a short-haul international getaway, particularly amongst Indian travellers, presents a significant opportunity for us. Thimphu’s strategic location makes it a natural inclusion in the popular Paro – Thimphu – Phobjikha itinerary, allowing us to create a seamless circuit for those seeking to explore this Himalayan kingdom.”

The Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI is slated to host a conclave titled ‘Empowering Hospitality’ at The Grand Bhagwati in Ahmedabad on Friday, June 21, 2024. The conclave will have Nalinkumar Chaudhary, Director, Gujarat State Fire Prevention Services, Gandhinagar and Sukanya Pondugala, Assistant Director (Technical), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), GoI as the Chief Guests for the day. The event will feature speakers – Dr V. Pasupathy, Food Safety Expert & Founder of Parikshan FSS ; M Arunkumar, Managing Director of Envu India and Mr Hemant Khadse, CEO, East Corp Group who will share expertise in their respective domains and address critical hospitality matters including the opportunities and challenges in FSSAI compliance, pest management in the food industry and, fire and safety at hotel and restaurant establishments.

Royal Orchid Hotels (ROHL) announced the inauguration of its fourth hotel in the National Capital Region and the second in Gurugram – Regenta Inn, Gurugram – thereby asserting its presence in key gateways of the country, this time around, the national capital. Conveniently located near Medanta – The Medicity in Gurugram, this hotel makes it a convenient option for people from across the country traveling for medical tourism, assuring them of convenience and peace of mind as they attend to the health of their dear ones. Chander K. Baljee, Chairman and Managing Director, ROHL said, “We’re thrilled to announce the opening of our new hotel in Gurugram. With 106 hotels under our management, the opening of Regenta Inn, Gurugram is in sync with our strategy to cater to diverse travellers, cutting across segments of business and leisure. Our new hotel changes the perception of what a budget hotel should be – with extremely well appointed rooms and facilities that mimic a larger hotel. We cater to those traveling to the satellite city for medical tourism and to avail healthcare facilities.” The property boasts about 50 smart and spacious rooms. The hotel features “PINXX”, ROHL’s signature all day neighbourhood diner serving a familiar menu of Pan-Indian and International cuisines. Offering a spacious banquet hall and a conference room, the property’s meeting space of approximately 800 square meters will also be able to accommodate a both business and leisure events.

Sharing latest insights on domestic tourism, Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) said, “Domestic tourism has been powering our growth trajectory this summer. We have achieved both our top-line and passenger numbers of 12 months of 2023, within the first six months of 2024.Indians are displaying keen appetite to explore their own country and we are witnessing exponential demand for multiple domestic trips – Young India’s working professionals and DINKs are opting for multiple mini-cations, combining public holidays with weekends for short getaways, in addition to longer domestic vacations lasting 15 days.”

Speaking at the 17th Outlook & Update Meeting by PATA India Chapter in New Delhi, Manisha Saxena, DG, Tourism, has said that it is important to segment the offerings across India. “We cannot offer everything to everyone. We need to work with state governments to create more accommodation as this is a big bottleneck, especially for MICE,” she said.

Asego has entered into a strategic alliance with Ancileo, provider of end-to-end tech solutions for travel insurance. Dev Karvat, Founder & CEO, Asego, sats, “Through this collaboration, both companies aim to reshape the landscape of travel insurance, presenting an innovative value proposition, not just to travellers but also to global distributors, and insurers alike. This will enable us to leverage Ancileo’s advanced technology and international insurer network to offer Asego’s innovative travel insurance products and services on a global scale.”

Inviting the trade to be part of the exciting roadshow series, Markus Tan, Regional Director (India, ME, South Asia & Africa), International Group, Singapore Tourism Board, says, “We are bringing in 50 exhibitors from Singapore to meet the trade starting with Chennai on July 8, going on to Hyderabad on July 9, Kolkata on July 11 and finally Ahmedabad on July 12.”

Responding to the question about how the govt is helping the MICE community in India, Manisha Saxena, DG, MOT India, said, “We have done many events to promote MICE tourism in India through campaigns like ‘Meet in India’. We are working with the industry to make it easier for them to reach events and have more events in India so that India can be showcased as a MICE destination.”