Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 hotel brands, continues to propel its footprint in India with the opening of The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake. The hotel features 600 guestrooms with views of the Hiranandani skyline. “We are excited to bring the second Westin property to Mumbai. There is an increasing demand for wellness travel and The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake is set to expand the brand’s signature wellbeing offering to locals and global travellers,” said Neeraj Govil, Senior Vice President Operations, Asia Pacific excluding China. “The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake is set to be a part of Marriott International’s portfolio of 127 hotels in India and further compliments our commitment to growth in the region, bringing a diversified portfolio for different types of travellers.”   

The country’s largest airport operator Adani Group has reported a profit (before interest and taxes) of ₹22.96 crore for its airport businesses during the quarter ending on 31 December, compared to a ₹48.95 crore loss during the same period of the previous year, on the back of a recovery in air passenger traffic in the quarter. Adani Group operates seven airports, which includes airports at Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangalore, Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram. The upcoming airport at Navi Mumbai will also be operated by the conglomerate.

Sharing a broad strategy for the new airline, Ilker Ayci, the newly-appointed CEO and MD of Air India said, “Working closely with my colleagues at Air India and the leadership of the Tata Group, we will utilise the strong heritage of Air India to make it one of the best airlines in the world with a uniquely superior flying experience that reflects the Indian warmth and hospitality.” He takes over from 1 April, 2022.

M. Vinod, President, Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO) has expressed concern on Andaman & Nicobar shutting down the only civil airport of the islands for four days every week starting from March to May 2022. The reason being the re-carpeting work of the runway. He said, “The decision will prove to be catastrophic for the Andaman Islands’ economy, people’s welfare, lives and livelihoods.” He has written to the Home Minister, Defence Minister and Civil Aviation Minster, highlighting that tourism in Andamans runs exclusively on the airport.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has resumed cooked meals on all trains from February 14 after the service was stopped last year owing to Covid-19 restrictions. As of January, cooked food services was restored in 80% of trains. As of January, cooked food services was restored in 80% of trains. Ready-to-eat meals, however, will also continue to be served on demand. Due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent unprecedented lockdown, e-catering services were suspended on March 22, 2020.

G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DoNER, has inaugurated the two day ‘Reimagining Museums In India – A Global Summit’ at Hyderabad. In his address, he said, “The summit will promote cultural exchange and international cooperation.” He also announced that Government of India will open 10 tribal freedom fighter museums across India, one of which will be in Telangana and one more in Andhra Pradesh.

Reigniting its travel recovery efforts in India, South African Tourism launched its ‘More & More’ campaign today. Localized for Indian audiences, this campaign aims to highlight the variety and diversity of experiences that South Africa has to offer, ranging from 3000+ adventure activities to exciting culinary experiences and more, across its 9 provinces. The campaign – that will be live until 31st March 2022 – is slated to have multiple roll-out legs to it, starting with OOH advertising in Mumbai and Delhi. This will be complimented by digital activations across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, as well as on-ground physical consumer and corporate activations in Mumbai and Delhi. The campaign is crafted to speak to every type of traveller including millennials, families, solo explorers, active lifestyle seekers and couples. More & More builds on the emotion and spirit of adventure, which is a sentiment unique to every individual. For some, adventure may mean jumping off the highest commercial bungee in the world at Bloukrans Bridge or going shark-cage diving in KwaZulu-Natal, whereas for another it could be the thrill of scenic road trip across the stunning Garden Route or a night of stargazing in beautiful Knysna. To still some, it could be about discovering the origin of humans by exploring the Cradle of Mankind, interacting with indigenous tribes like the Zulus and learning about their culture or retracing Nelson Mandela’s life journey. Well-timed with the easing of international travel restrictions in India, the More & More campaign is expected to increase summer outbound traffic to South Africa and contribute to the recovery of the tourism sectors in both countries. South Africa, which remains open to Indian travellers, is also processing tourist visas …

As of 24 January, a ‘vaccination pass’ is now required for people aged 16 and over in almost all places where the Health Activity Pass was previously necessary. The ‘vaccination pass’ requires proof of double vaccination and A negative Covid-19 test (PCR or antigenic) will no longer be sufficient.  The “vaccination pass” does not apply to adolescents between 12 and 15 years of age. However, they are required to have a “health pass” to access the places mentioned above (bars and restaurants, leisure activities, large shopping centers, inter-regional transport). Vaccines accepted by France are those recognised by the European Medicines Agency: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria/Covishield and Johnson & Johnson. For more information, log on to: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coming-to-france-your-covid-19-questions-answered/

Qatar Tourism has announced new superyacht luxury cruises in partnership with Emerald Cruises, sailing from Doha launching in January 2023. Emerald Azzurra will offer a seven-night, eight-day itineraries from Doha, with stops at Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; Khasab, Oman; Fujairah, UAE; Zighy Bay, Oman; and Dubai and vice versa. Pre and post cruise tours are available where guests can opt for a three-day package to explore the sites and culture of Qatar. Highlights include the National Museum of Qatar, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, in the style of a desert rose; or a visit to Souq Waqif, to purchase local souvenirs and spices. Visitors can take a trip into the desert and visit the Inland Sea, before enjoying dune bashing and a camel ride. The news comes as construction continues on the new Grand Cruise Terminal located in central Doha, near the Museum of Islamic Art and Souq Waqif. The terminal will have the capacity to host two megaships and will offer various attractions, including an aquarium and art gallery. Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, Berthold Trenkel, said: “In line with the national strategy, Qatar National Vision 2030, we are expanding our tourism value proposition and are excited to welcome travellers from around the world to experience the best of Qatari hospitality both on sea and land. The new itineraries launching with Emerald Cruises are another step towards achieving this vision. “Qatar has an incredible range of hotels, restaurants, activities and cultural landmarks which can be enjoyed pre and post the cruise, allowing guests the freedom to explore Qatar at their leisure. We welcome travellers from around the world to experience our beautiful country and the best …

Union Minster of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday announced that 16 new airports will be built in five Central Indian states. He said that 16 new airports will come up in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa, Chhattisgarh’s Ambikapur, Bilaspur and Jagdalpur, while nine airports will be built in Uttar Pradesh, one in Rajasthan and two in Maharashtra. Scindia also highlighted the need of better integration between the central and state governments for the success of PM-Gati Shakti scheme.