Gyan Bhushan, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Tourism, said that about Rs 2600 crore is the total value of output of homestays in India. “One can imagine the kind of jobs that are created in homestays, which is one of our objectives to promote homestays.   

Brett Thorstad Vice President, Travel Solutions, Agency Sales, Asia Pacific, Sabre said, “We are seeing that travellers are looking for hyper-personalised buying experience. So, there is a need on the airline side on how they like to retail and the desire on the consumer side to purchase travel the way they like to.”  

Inspiring Vacations, the leading tour provider, is organizing a webinar on destination Spain for the travel trade today at 3pm IST. Log in and learn what sets them apart. To know more contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call +91 9650196532.

Amitabh Kant Former Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog said “We brought back Ayurveda to the centre stage as an alternative medicine form. We are seeing a big focus on wellness, and a demand for experiences that are personalised.” 

IATO conducted its 40th AGM and informed the members about a detailed note that has been sent to the ministry seeking special status for the Inbound tour operators, under which an incentive between 7 to 10% on the net foreign exchange earnings during a financial year might be given. 

Cross Hotels & Resorts is delighted to announce another important appointment in Thailand. Christopher Cribbs has been appointed the new Cluster General Manager of Itz Time Hua Hin Pool Villas by Cross Collection, an all-pool villa resort in a tranquil setting in Hua Hin, and Haven’t Met Bangkok Silom by Cross Collection, a contemporary city hotel located in central Bangkok. Cribbs, an American citizen, has 25 years of experience managing hospitality operations, including cruise ships, 5-star luxury resorts, and boutique hotels. He has a background in management and marketing, and analyses business processes to boost sales and satisfy customers. From 20-room boutique hotels to 1,000-room metropolitan hotels, he has played a key role in pre-opening operations for a variety of different properties. He graduated from the University of Miami in Florida with a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management and from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management in New York with a Master’s in Business Administration. With its prime location at the base of the BTS Skytrain Chong Nonsi steps and the appeal it will have across a wide spectrum of people who prefer to explore Bangkok, “Haven’t Met Bangkok Silom represents a potential to build this Cross Collection brand and property,” says Cribbs. And for Itz Time Hua Hin Pool Villas by Cross Collection, which are in a prime beachfront location and come in one, two, and three-bedroom options, this is a wonderful getaway with potential as a site for incentives and events. This is an exciting moment to be in Thailand because international travel has recently resumed there and domestic tourism is booming. He has demonstrated proficiency in marketing, branding, business operations, and strategy. More than 26 hotels are …

Shangri-La Al Husn, Muscat announces the newest addition to Oman’s diverse culinary scene, the opening of contemporary Indian restaurant Aangan by Rohit Ghai. A sophisticated dining destination with a fresh take on Indian cuisine, critically acclaimed Chef Rohit Ghai has curated an innovative menu inspired by his personal and professional culinary experiences from across the globe. Chef Ghai is renowned for earning upmarket London restaurant Jamavar a Michelin Star in under a year, the first ever Indian chef to achieve such an accolade in the UK. Rohit Ghai has become one of the culinary world’s most in-demand chefs after a hugely successful decade on the London restaurant scene. With his award-winning skills attracting international praise, Shangri-La Al Husn is delighted to welcome critically acclaimed Rohit Ghai and his esteemed team of chefs to the city of Muscat. Aangan meaning courtyard in English, is referred to as a warm and welcoming dining space where food is shared and enjoyed with family and friends. Complete with an alfresco terrace, Aangan majestically overlooks the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Oman. Taking inspiration from Oman’s heritage and India’s homeland, soaring ceilings and artistic archways create a magnificent sense of place. Guests enter the dining area through the grand double doors flanked with bold blue drapes, inviting diners to enter another world and enjoy the heartfelt hospitality Shangri-La is renowned for. The extensive menu designed to share; allows diners to mix and match dishes to tease and tantalise the palate. Chef Ghai has taken a contemporary approach to traditional Indian cuisine and has created dishes that burst with flavour. Dishes include an Aloo Tikki, one of the most well-known street food dishes in India …

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman hosted six Indian CEOs, two MBR Company officials, and one Oman Air-India representative on a FAM trip to Oman from 8 October to 11, 2022. They conducted onsite inspections in and around Muscat. They also stopped at the Chedi site, Birkat Al Mouz, Nizwa Souq, and Wadi Bani Khalid. The group then proceeded for hotel inspections, local cultural events, and culinary tours. Oman provides a selection of hotels and locations for various events. The group visited reputed hotels such as Jebel Akhdar, W Hotel, and Desert Rose Camp among others, which were elegant and appealing and were of the highest international standards. The CEOs were delighted to experience delicious Indian food in Oman. They found the food at various locations exceeded their expectations. The food given to vegetarians during the tour came for special mention, especially the breakfast buffet at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar. All hotels, without exception served a wide variety of food, especially the vegetarian spread. The CEOs were informed that Oman can be reached in about 2-3 hours via flights from many Indian cities. The CEOs were happy with the hospitable behaviour of the personnel at the mammoth Muscat International Airport. The tour guides and drivers who took the visitors to various destinations were courteous and informative. They had a thorough understanding of the geographical and cultural context of the respective destinations. The group received a variety of comments, beginning with one from Guldeep Sahni of Weldon Tours and Travels. He said, “Thanks to the Ministry of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman for putting together a terrific schedule. The country was truly a delight to visit”. “Truly a …

Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, provides tourists with a plethora of accommodation options and access to numerous activities and experiences. Through this webinar, we will showcase Zurich and it’s various touristic offerings. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland. For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Elan Experiences Pvt. Lt., travel start-up and India’s most promising entrant into B2B wholesale market place, is steadily growing and ramping up its presence across the country. After recently opening its head office in India’s financial capital Mumbai, the company now forays in South Indian market with its second office coming up in the City of Pearls, Hyderabad.  The Hyderabad presence, established through strategic alliance with Sun One Vacations, will help Elan better capture and cater to the burgeoning B2B market in Southern part of the country.     Commenting on the latest development, Ami Parekh, Director, Elan Experiences, said, “Hyderabad is our second office within a short span of three months after we opened Elan’s head office in Mumbai. It shows our commitment to travel partners and B2B market in India. The Hyderabad office will help us reach out to an even bigger market that we want to service. True to our USPs, we will remain focussed on creating best of the products range, unforgettable experiences and lucrative profitability for our travel partners.     “Elan Experiences gives access to best B2B rates on bookings made by travel partners. We bring to the table over 120 best of selected hotels across every possible products, hotel category, budget range or requirements with best available rate. One can book transfers, excursions, tickets, rooms, or anything of their requirement and be incentivised at the same time,” Parekh further added.