K S Sachin, Director of Sales & Marketing at Gokulam Grand Hotel & Spa, Bengaluru, was honored with the Sales & Marketing Professional of the Year award at the India Travel Awards. With over 19 years of experience in sales, marketing, and revenue management, Sachin has played a key role in numerous pre-openings, market readiness analysis, and data-driven decision-making. 

The Travel Trade Association of Uttar Pradesh (TTAUP) successfully held its 08th Annual General Meeting (AGM) from 21st to 23rd August 2024 at The Fern Surya Resort in the picturesque town of Kasauli. The event brought together key stakeholders, members, and industry leaders from across the state to discuss and strategize the future of the travel trade in Uttar Pradesh. The AGM was inaugurated with a welcome address by the TTAUP President, who highlighted the association’s achievements over the past year and outlined the roadmap for the upcoming year. The event featured insightful presentations, panel discussions, and workshops on critical topics such as sustainable tourism, digital transformation, and the impact of government policies on the travel industry. Aviation officials from all major airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, Saudi Airlines, Flydubai, Akasa Air, Flynas and Salam Air, participated in the AGM, providing valuable insights into the current trends and future prospects of the aviation sector. Their presence underscored the importance of collaboration between the travel trade and aviation industries in driving growth and innovation. Members of the TTAUP Core Committee—Mohd Azam, Sandeep Srivastava, SMA Sheeraz, Vivek Pandey, Rajiv Arora, Arshad Zaidi, Pradeep Chaurasia, Aakash Khanna, Manoj Rawat, and Meraj Zaidi—dressed in formal attire with blue or black blazers, played an instrumental role in facilitating discussions and ensuring the smooth conduct of the event. The AGM also provided a platform for networking and collaboration, fostering stronger relationships among members and industry partners. The serene ambiance of The Fern Surya Resort provided the perfect backdrop for the AGM, offering attendees a blend of professional engagement and leisure. The event concluded with a gala dinner, where members celebrated the association’s milestones and discussed the …

Travelling by public transport in Switzerland is the best way to enjoy its unparallel panorama. And, the all-in-one ticket, Swiss Travel Pass, grants travellers unlimited access to Switzerland’s public transport network. During this webinar, you will get to learn about the Swiss Travel System and its various offerings. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland in 2025! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532. 

Himachal Pradesh to launch new flight routes connecting Chandigarh, Kullu, and Dharamshala. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh said, “Strengthening air connectivity is crucial to achieving our tourism goals, and reducing travel time and costs for tourists is essential.”

According to a recent report by KPMG, in the past two years, searches for religious destinations in tier II and III cities have increased by 97%. Specifically, searches for Ayodhya grew by 585%, Ujjain by 359%, and Badrinath by 343% from 2022 to 2023. 

During her address at the ATOAI Women’s collective webinar, Mugdha Sinha, Director General of Tourism, advocated for the integration of sustainable practices and the promotion of women-led development, such as employing female trekking guides. Sinha also stressed the importance of gendered data collection to inform policies, urging industry professionals to collaborate on enhancing the adventure tourism experience.  

Mamaka by Ovolo invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar to explore unique and exciting opportunities at the property. Attendees will get a chance to e-meet the hotel’s General Manager, its Director of Sales and its Assistant Sales Manager. For more info, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddpal.com or 9650196532.   

Madhavan Menon, Executive Chairman, Thomas Cook India entered the Gallery of Legends at the India Travel Awards. “We are committed to leveraging cutting-edge technology, such as AI, to enhance customer interactions and stay ahead of the curve in the industry,” he said at the event.

According to the latest report by KPMG, religious tourism is a substantial driver of employment and economic activity both globally and within India. By 2030, more than one hundred million people are expected to be gainfully employed through temporary and permanent jobs created by India’s spiritual tourism alone, which is anticipated to be worth around US$ 59 billion by 2028. 

The SITE India Chapter is proud to announce the successful conclusion of the SITE India Incentive Summit 2024, held on August 23, 2024, at The Pullman Aerocity, New Delhi. The event brought together top professionals from the incentive travel industry for an afternoon filled with insightful sessions, dynamic discussions, and invaluable networking opportunities. The summit’s agenda was designed to address the most current trends and challenges facing the incentive travel sector. Highlights of the day included: How to Use AI in Your Incentive Travel Business: Led by Nitin Sachdeva, President Elect of SITE Global, this session explored innovative ways AI can transform the incentive travel landscape, offering practical insights for businesses to stay ahead. Incentive Travel Trends Powered by SITE Foundation: Padraic Gilligan, CMO of SITE Global, provided a deep dive into the latest industry trends, supported by data-driven insights from the SITE Foundation, offering attendees a comprehensive outlook on the future of incentive travel. Fireside Chat with Corporate and Agency Buyers: Moderated by Kiran Bhandari, SITE Board Member, this session featured candid insights from industry leaders Neena Kaul (Corporate) and Atul Chabra, Director at Enthuse Answers (Agency), who shared their perspectives on the evolving needs of incentive travel. Making India a Strong Incentive Travel Destination: In a compelling session moderated by Nitin Sachdeva, Rajeev Kohli, Past President of SITE Global, and Naveen Rizvi, Vice President of SITE India, discussed strategies to bolster India’s position as a leading incentive travel destination. The summit concluded with a relaxed networking session over beer and wine, offering attendees an informal setting to unwind and celebrate the day’s achievements. Support and New Membership Interest The SITE India Chapter would like to extend a special …