IHCL has announced the opening of Ginger Udaipur, Shastri Circle. The hotel embodies the brand’s signature Lean Luxe philosophy, providing guests with a contemporary and comfortable stay.  Speaking on the occasion, Deepika Rao, Executive Vice President– New Businesses, Hotel Openings & Corporate Communications, IHCL, said, “Udaipur, where IHCL has had its presence for over five decades, is now seeing substantial infrastructure growth and economic expansion. As the market continues to grow, IHCL is excited to introduce its diversified branded offerings to meet the rising demand and further enhance its footprint. We are delighted to debut the Ginger brand in the city.”   Strategically located at Shastri Circle, Ginger Udaipur offers easy access to the city’s main attractions. The 96-key hotel with thoughtfully designed rooms provides a seamless stay. The hotel offers Qmin – the signature all-day diner and bar, a rooftop pool, and a well-equipped fitness center. The spacious 3,000 sq. ft banquet hall is ideal for hosting weddings, conferences, and gatherings. With the addition of this hotel, IHCL will have 29 hotels in Rajasthan including 9 under development. 

The Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA) successfully hosted its inaugural roadshow in Mumbai on 20th August 2024 at the IMC, Churchgate. The event brought together 25 exhibitors from various sectors of the travel and tourism industry, with over 100 Travel Agents and Tour Operators participating and benefiting from this vibrant gathering. The exhibitor lineup showcased a diverse range of participants, including Domestic and International DMCs, Tourism Boards, Visa Experts, Hotels, Loan Advisors, Insurance Partners, and Airlines. The Mumbai Board Team, consisting of Mr. Jagat Mehta, National Director; Mr. Abhijit Khadilkar, National Director & Membership Head; Mrs. Dipti Pradhan Thakoor, National Director & Event Head; and Mr. Dharmesh Advani, National Director, spearheaded the event with strong support from ETAA Coordinators and the ETAA Mumbai Committee. The roadshow marked a significant first for the team, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from both exhibitors and travel agents. Sponsored presentations by M/s AVNI MICE and RupeeBoss Financial Services Pvt Ltd. added value to the event, while India Tourism made a notable appearance. Tourism Malaysia and Qatar Tourism offered complimentary hotel packages, and Oman Air and Indigo sponsored hampers for the lucky draw. Exciting lucky draws were held every 30 minutes, sponsored by various Exhibitors, with participants walking away with a variety of delightful prizes. The ETAA Business Partners Meet 2024 set a new benchmark for industry collaboration, energizing the travel community with fresh connections, exciting opportunities, and a shared vision for the future of travel.

To cater to shifting demand and in line with global consumer trends, Oman Air has announced its new Business Studio. The new cabin, which will replace the airline’s First Class product, will retain its spacious cabin layout, classic lie-flat seats, and Wi-Fi connectivity, but with more affordable fares and a redefined service approach that is tailored to theneeds of modern travellers. Featuring predominantly on its London and Bangkok services, the new higher-tier Business experience offers all the features of premium flying along with Oman Air’s award-winning service and hospitality, giving guests the room to work, connect and rest like never before, whether traveling for business or premium leisure. “Inspired by valuable guest feedback and to adapt and evolve in line with global market trends, we have strategically refined our premium offering to deliver greater value and appeal. The traditional First Class experience has seen diminished demand, and after careful analysis and  benchmarking against industry standards, we decided to retire the product. This decision allows us to focus on delivering an exceptional Business Class experience that better meets modern traveller expectations and is more closely aligned with the demographics targeted by the national tourism objectives, such as such as wellness, adventure and MICE. Moreover, we’re offering it all at a more competitive price point,” said Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. Oman Air’s new Business Studio offers the best Business Class available anywhere in the region with one of the world’s most generous pitches at 82”, privacy walls for every seat, 23-inch personal screen, free Wi-Fi connectivity, and à la carte dining to stay nourished on-the-go. Guests will be able to book Business Studio from 9 September 2024.

Resorts World Cruises is pleased to announce that the Genting Dream will use the historic port of Melaka as the gateway to Kuala Lumpur for its 2 Night Cruises departing from Singapore on Sundays, starting 10 November 2024. As ‘the cruise line that knows Asia best’, passengers will enjoy a new and enhanced experience with dual visits to the city of Melaka and the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. With port stay time extended from 10 to 12 hours, passengers on the Kuala Lumpur excursions will have ample time to explore Melaka before boarding the ship.

Euphoria Travel, Greece now appoints Bijal Thanavala as an independent Marketing Partner, in India to further strengthen their presence in-market. Till date Euphoria Travel had the privilege of being represented by Global Destinations, but now with great pride and enthusiasm, they introduce Euphoria Travel Greece with their Indian partner Biara Reps. Marialena Kouvertari & Nikos Karageorgos, Euphoria Travel Greece Team said, “Euphoria Travel Greece  is committed to deliver the finest travel experiences that exceeds’ customer expectations and our vision is to become the best Destination Management Company, offering authentic and exceptional Travel Experiences & Services, with a lasting impact. With this in mind, we have appointed Ms Bijal Thanavala as our Marketing Partner to share our vision in India and make Euphoria Travel one of the most preferred DMC’s when your clients think of travelling to Greece.” With their main office located in Athens, and affiliate offices in most of the Islands & the Mainland of Greece, having excellent cooperations with well-known hotels, restaurants, transportation companies & professional guides we arrange almost any kind of Tailor-made tours for honeymooners, small family groups and top-quality services for high-end guests who wish to enjoy a different experience. Bijal Thanavala the founder of her representative company Biara Reps , considers herself as a travel Marketing and Sales professional under whose umbrella with over 24 years of experience across varied tourism products of DMCs, Airlines, GDS and TA ,expressed her delight saying, “I am very excited to partner with Euphoria Travel, Greece  a DMC which does Luxury services with decency and quality putting in front the years of experience they have on the destination of Greece. Most importantly, they are here to understand and serve the …

IATA urges all governments to promptly share their regulatory changes with IATA to ensure this information reaches the entire airline industry. Willie Walsh, DG, IATA, says, “The reality is that without the proactive support of govts, if IATA is not aware of the changes before new regulations take effect, its virtually impossible for airlines to comply with country requirements. All we are asking is for govts to promptly communicate regulatory changes concerning passengers air cargo or airport charges to IATA. Let us do the rest.”

VFS Global, the world’s leading outsourcing and technology service specialist for governments and diplomatic mission worldwide was appointed to manage submission and collection for Algeria visa applications in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Commencing on September 1, 2024, VFS Global will begin accepting visa applications for Algeria across categories at its application centers located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kathmandu, and Colombo. This development is set to significantly simplify the process for applicants in India who, until now, only had the option to submit applications through the Algeria Embassy in Delhi. Applicants benefit from a variety of submission centres and the convenience of walk-in service to turn in their applications, cover the visa costs, and receive their visa within 6 business days. The visa types available encompass Business Visa, Tourist Visa, Work Visa, Temporary Work Visa, Family Visa, Cultural Visa, and accommodating a wide range of travel purposes. “It’s both a pleasure and a privilege to earn the confidence and acknowledgment from the Embassy of the People s Democratic Republic of Algeria, with this mandate. Algeria is a promising nation, and we are dedicated to delivering unparalleled customer service by implementing cutting-edge, seamless, secure, and dependable solutions,” stated Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer for South Asia at VFS Global.

Thomas Cook (India) has announced a new AI-powered platform to help customers plan customised holidays, check availability and book – in minutes. The platform has been deployed with sellers initially. Over the next few months, end customers will have direct access to the platform via the company websites and apps. Leveraging a combination of Deep Learning & AI algorithms, intelligent recommendations intuitively tailor travel itineraries by analysing unique customer preferences.

Sarovar Hotels, in partnership with Om Royale Group announced the launch of Golden Tulip Agra. The opening marks Sarovar Hotels’ growing leisure market portfolio and strong presence in Uttar Pradesh, marking it as its 14th hotel in the state. Currently, both the groups jointly operate a successful hotel, Royale Sarovar Portico in Agra, that debuted last year. Ajay Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels and Director, Louvre Hotels India, expressed his excitement at the launch of the hotel, stated, “We are thrilled to introduce our renowned brand, Golden Tulip, from our international portfolio in partnership with Om Royale Group. This marks our second hotel with the group testifying our trust as business partners and our shared values of delivering exceptional service and hospitality to the most visited heritage city in India. We are confident that our guests will be enchanted by the stunning views, exquisite dining options, and unparalleled comfort that Golden Tulip Agra provides.” Ridhav Arora, Director, Om Royale Group, added, “The launch of Golden Tulip Agra is a significant milestone for Om Royale Group. We have designed this hotel to reflect both the beauty of Agra and the highest standards of modern luxury. Our aim is to offer an extraordinary experience that merges elegance with convenience and we eagerly anticipate welcoming travellers from around the world to experience everything Golden Tulip Agra has to offer.”

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “As tourism is a state subject, we have asked all state governments to develop new tourist destinations. The Centre will provide all possible help in the holistic infrastructure development of these places. Whether it is connectivity for commutation or connectivity for communication, we will work on it.” The minister also expressed his desire to collaborate with tourist guides to enhance tourism efforts across the nation.