The ninth edition of the annual Travel M!CE and Corporate Show organised by DDP will be held in January 20-21, 2024 at Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre. The two-day show will offer exhibitors and attendees a chance to network with experts, forge business connections and be a part of the niche fraternity. For more information, contact ritul.malhotra@ddppl.com or 9810191852.    

Oman Air has been awarded the 2024 Five-Star Major Airline rating by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) for the fourth consecutive year. The APEX Five Star and Four Star Airline Awards, formerly APEX Official Airline Ratings™, were created based on neutral, third-party passenger feedback and insights gathered through APEX’s partnership with TripIt from Concur, the world’s highest-rated travel-organising app. Nearly one million flights were rated by passengers across more than 600 airlines from around the world using a five-star scale, and are independently certified by a professional external auditing company. The award is the latest in a string of accolades Oman Air has received from APEX, including the 2022 Passenger Choice Award® for Best Seat Comfort in the Middle East, as well as the Five-Star Major Airline rankings for 2023, 2022 and 2021. The airline was also recently named ‘Best Airline Staff in the Middle East’ at the Skytrax 2023 World Airline Awards, a testament to its unwavering commitment to setting new benchmarks for guest experience, year on year.

VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions appointed Jose Manuel Aisa Mancho as its Chief Financial Officer effective 01 November 2023. He reports to Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and is based in Dubai, the organisation’s global headquarters. Jose joins VFS Global from Cellnex Telecom. He has over two decades of experience across the suite of finance sub-functions, including mergers & acquisitions, financial planning, investor relations, management control, treasury, and tax. He has previously worked in organisations that include Abertis Infrastructures, CriteriaCaixa and Cellnex. He was also a Non-Executive Officer in infrastructure companies such as Hispasat, Sanef or TBI Limited. Jose will be responsible for the overall Finance function at VFS Global, and will also be responsible for Legal, Data Privacy and Corporate Risk functions. Jose will leverage his rich experience in strengthening VFS Global’s finance function and developing strategies to support further growth and development of the company. As a member of the company’s Executive Board, he will also play a pivotal role in the overall strategic decision-making at VFS Global.

Etihad Airways has experienced substantial growth over the years. Starting with 1,761 employees in 2004, the workforce has since expanded to over 9,250 as of September 2023. The loyalty programme, Etihad Guest, has seen significant development, growing from 65,000 members in 2006 to an impressive figure of over 9 million in 2023. The aircraft fleet has undergone substantial expansion, increasing from just two in its early stages to an impressive total of 79. Etihad’s global presence has flourished, serving more than 70 destinations, a significant leap from the 4 destinations served in 2003. In terms of operations, the airline now offers 1,350 weekly departures, a substantial increase from the 128 departures provided in 2004. The longest flight in the network connects Abu Dhabi to Sydney, spanning a distance of 12,060km. Commenting on Etihad Airways 20th anniversary, His Excellency Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Chairman of Etihad Airways, said: “Two decades ago, the visionary leaders of the UAE, along with Etihad’s founder, embarked on a journey with a profound vision for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. This vision required a key player, an international airline that would serve as a bridge for trade, investment, and tourism. It was to foster international relationships and place Abu Dhabi firmly on the global map. The birth of Etihad Airways marked the realisation of that wise vision. “Etihad Airways represents much more than an airline, it embodies a symbol of our nation’s shared aspirations, unity, and limitless ambitions. Over the course of two decades, Etihad has played a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Its steadfast growth has been a driving force behind the …

Oman Air has announced the return of its highly anticipated Global Sale, offering travelers up to 20% off fares in Business and Economy Class. With a range of must-visit destinations across the airline’s network, including Europe, the Far East and Indian Subcontinent, it’s an extraordinary opportunity to explore the world at unbeatable prices. The campaign, which is running until 15 November 2023, is part of Oman Air’s commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences that combine maximum convenience, unmatched comfort, and world-class service. Whether it’s a relaxing beach escape, a cultural adventure, or a business trip, now is the perfect time to book a flight and turn travel dreams into reality. The promotion is valid for travel until 31 March 2024 and includes one-way and return flights. The domestic sector, interline sector, codeshare partners, Jeddah and London are not included. Other terms and conditions apply. Bookings can be made through Oman Air’s website (omanair.com), mobile app, the call centre, any Oman Air sales office, and Oman Air appointed travel agents.

BLS International Services, a trusted global tech-enabled services partner for governments and citizens, announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the quarter and six-month period ended September 30, 2023. Amongst several others, the company processes visa applications for Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Thailand, Hungary, Morocco, India, Vietnam, Malaysia and Slovakia. Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director, BLS International Services, said, “We have continued our growth momentum into the second quarter of this fiscal. The Company’s performance has been in line with the expectations. Despite revenue growth of 14.3% year-on-year in the quarter, our EBITDA and PAT witnessed robust growth of 52.7% and 60.8% year-on-year, respectively. Favourable business mix resulted in the expansion of EBITDA margins, which sustained above the 20% mark this quarter. As key markets are opening up, we expect an increase in the number of visa applications. During the quarter, we signed up with the Government of Slovakia to offer outsourced visa services. Slovakia is becoming a hot spot for tourists, and we expect good volumes from the region. In addition, we rolled out Visa outsourcing centers for Hungary and Italy in various countries. On the Digital Services front, we tied up with Kotak Mahindra Bank to offer banking correspondence services, in line with our strategy to grow this line of business. Overall, we aim to continue focusing on spreading our reach far and wide with prudent emphasis on organic as well as inorganic growth while striving to maintain our internal rate of return threshold”. The company continues to witness strong operating results. For the quarter ended September 30, 2023, company’s consolidated revenue rose 14.3% YoY to Rs. 407.7 Cr, while operating EBITDA witnessed a growth of 52.7% to …

In tune with Workation Goa initiative, we’re coming up with SeaHubs: Co-Working Spaces on Beaches for Digital Nomads to Work while enjoying the Sun, Sand & Sea in addition to Homestays equipped with Connectivity for the Digital Nomads who want to Work while enjoying the beauty of our Hinterlands.

Besides showcasing varied tourism products and transformative experiences for travellers to India under the theme ‘Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023’, MOT also promoted sustainable tourism at the just-concluded WTM in London. It highlighted its ‘Travel for LiFE’ program based on Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), as a global mass movement led by India urging people to act for the protection of the environment.

Business Events Australia’s signature incentive showcase, Dreamtime, kicked off in Adelaide, which saw around 10 Indian  business events planners in attendance. This is the first Dreamtime to be held since 2019. Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director, Tourism Australia, said, “Over the next two days 80 international buyers will meet with almost 90 Australian industry sellers at the Adelaide Convention Centre and events across the city, and we hope the relationships formed will drive real business outcomes for the industry right around Australia.”

In order to help inbound tourists plan their itinerary better and entice them to visit Maharashtra, the Tourism Department of Government of Maharashtra has planned to release set dates of all festivals starting with the Mumbai International Festival during January 20-28, 2024. Radhika Rastogi, Principal Secy, Tourism & Culture Affairs, Maharashtra, said, “This was one of our biggest takeaways from our discussions with tour operators who sell India.”