Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, expressed his appreciation for the outstanding culinary experience at the IATO Convention at Taj Lakefront, Bhopal. “The feedback we’ve received from attendees is that they have had the best food they’ve ever tasted,” Mehra said. Mehra also said that the variety and quality of the meals, from breakfast and lunch to dinner and snacks, received praise from attendees. “My hats off to the chef and his team for making this happen,” he added, highlighting the overwhelming positive response from all corners of the event.

Philip Dickinson has announced that, after four years, he has left his role of Vice President of International Markets, MICE Sports & E-Sports for Qatar Tourism, to pursue new opportunities. Dickinson said: “When I joined Qatar Tourism in 2020, the world was a very different place. The pandemic had put global travel on hold, so it was a particularly challenging starting point from which to build on the country’s ambitious tourism growth targets. However, since then, the country has flourished, not least thanks to the hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022tm, which brought an influx of new visitors to experience Qatar’s excellent hospitality and attractions. “I’m very proud of the work my team and I have achieved at Qatar Tourism over the past four years, putting Qatar on the tourism map and delivering remarkable tourism growth from 2.1M international visitors in pre-pandemic 2019 to 4.05M in 2023. Also continuing that momentum in 2024 with 2.6M international visitors in H1 a 28% increase on the same period in 2023. I would also like to personally thank all the travel trade partners in India and from around the world for their great support with this tremendous growth. “I wish the whole team at Qatar Tourism all the best and very much look forward to working with my friends and trade partners again soon in my next role”.

Hotel investments in the first half, January to June of 2024, reached USD 93 million, with forecasted volumes of USD 413 million for the full year, a 22% increase from 2023, according to JLL’s Hotel Investment Trends – India H1 2024. Of the transaction volume, approximately 72% were related to operational hotels, 23% involved under construction hotels, and the remaining involved land leases. During the first six months of 2024, six hotel transactions were concluded, ranging from operational assets in Tier I and leisure markets to land leases in airport district for greenfield development. JLL anticipates that the remainder of 2024 will continue to benefit from the favorable trends observed in its first half. The second half of 2024 has already started positively, with two transactions facilitated by JLL in key hospitality markets, totaling USD 70 million. Tier I markets remain robust, accounting for 78% of the projected transaction volumes, while Tier II and III markets make up the remaining 22%. Listed hotel companies led the hotel transactions in the first half of 2024, with the upscale segment claiming the highest share of the total transaction volume (44%), followed by mid-scale (31%), luxury (23%), and economy (3%) segments. In the first half of 2024, a total of 19,442 keys were signed, with 83% of them located in Tier II and III cities. Management contracts accounted for the majority of signings (89%), followed by franchises (8%), and lease and revenue share agreements (3%). The number of greenfield projects in the first half of 2024 (around 13,700 keys) surpassed the count for the entire year of 2023 (~13,600 keys), demonstrating the enduring confidence of hotel developers in the sector’s long-term growth. Tier I …

Embark on a journey beyond tradition as the Tamilnadu Travel Expo invites the trade to delve deeper into the tapestry of this state. This annual event, held on Sept 20-22 in Madurai, goes beyond themes, showcasing the state’s hospitality, wellness retreats and wedding destinations. To register, write to info@tamilnadutravelexpo.com or call 8939997767

As part of their shared commitment to highlight Oman as a preferred tourist destination, Oman Air and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism have joined forces for a special stopover promotion for passengers transiting through Muscat. Available until 30 November 2024, the offer provides a free one-night hotel stay for premium class passengers when booking a stopover in Muscat, while those traveling in Economy Class can enjoy two nights for the price of one. In addition, guests have access to exclusive discounts on tours, car hire, and other services, making it the perfect opportunity to explore Oman’s charming capital and beyond.

New Zealand’s tourism industry is facing a storm with the government’s recent decisions on increasing visa fees and the International Visitor Levy (IVL). Higher prices for tourist visas kick in from October 1, going from $131 to $211. Meanwhile its International Visitor Conservation & Tourism Levy (IVL) will also go up from $22 to 62 from October 1.

Accepting this recognition from DDP, Jay Bhatia, Managing Director, Tulsidas Khimji Holidays, and a ‘Pioneer in Industry Advocacy’, said, “This is my second one from DDP and after ten years this appreciation is yet again a humbling experience. It brings back responsibility and the hard work that has been put in over the last few years. Bringing in innovation is a challenge, and we work towards it every day.”

Tourism Office of Spain in India invites the travel trade to attend an exciting webinar on Ibiza, it’s biodiversity and it’s culture as it celebrates 25 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The top scorer of the Ibiza quiz will win a self-drive trip in Ibiza, sponsored by Ibiza Tourism Board. For more information, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call 9650196532.

Winner of ‘Outstanding Leadership in Luxury Hospitality’ award and GM, Sofitel Mumbai BKC, Manish Dayya, says, “This year has been thrilling for us with numerous accolades, including the Green Key Certification. For Accor, sustainability is at the very core of our business – sustainable transformation is a commitment we take very seriously.”

Ebix Inc. announced that it has successfully completed its Chapter 11 restructuring process and has emerged as a financially and operationally stronger company that is well-positioned for the future. The 12,000+ employee Company is now debt-free worldwide. Ebix Founder, Robin Raina, will continue to serve as CEO and Chairman.