Ramesh Arora, Managing Director at The Montcalm Luxury Hotels, will be speaking at the Indo-UK Leadership Summit, scheduled for 27-28 September at Montcalm Hotel Group, London and House of Commons (British Parliament). He will be speaking on the topic Wellbeing, Karma & Happiness. With experience spanning diverse cultures, from Asia, Middle East, Africa, to Europe and the UK, Ramesh has managed hotels from conception to completion and is adept at every aspect of hotel operation, development, management, marketing, and finance most notably with the strategic direction of two upscale brands in the London Market -The Montcalm London and Park Grand London Hotels. With 24 properties between them. It is the largest privately-owned hotel group in London.

Pawan Jain, MD, Belair has shared that airlines are charging ₹300 as Refund Application Fee (RAF) to travel agents, which is illegal. “If this RAF is not written in the fare basis of the airline, then it’s not applicable. But airlines are pressurizing the agents to pay this amount, which used to be there in the times of paper tickets.”

UNWTO has announced that the theme for World Tourism Day 2022 is ‘Rethinking Tourism’. The International Day of Observance will this year focus on re-imagining the sector’s growth, both in terms of size and relevance. The Republic of Indonesia will host the official day (27 September), though all UNWTO Member States, as well as non-members and stakeholders from across the private sector, are being invited to host their own celebrations as well as to promote the day and its central theme. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “The potential of tourism is enormous, and we have a shared responsibility to make sure it is fully realized. On World Tourism Day 2022, UNWTO calls on everyone, from tourism workers to tourists themselves, as well as small businesses, large corporations, and governments to reflect and rethink what we do and how we do it.” World Tourism Day has been held on 27 September each year since 1980. The date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the Organization in 1970, paving the way for the establishment of UNWTO five years later.

According to recent data, Indian arrivals to Oman in July crossed arrivals of the entire year 2021. The total number of Indian arrivals to Oman was 106,040, while it is 167,678 from January to July 2022. The highest arrivals this year have been in May (32,570) and in July (36,087).

According to IATA Economics’ Chart, The jet fuel price rose by more than 70% during the first 6 months of 2022, marking one of  the steepest increases since at least 2002 (see chart), and causing unprecedent pressure in terms of cost management for the airline industry. Faced with this major cost increase, it is encouraging to note that the global supply of oil recovered in July, and this upward trend is expected by IEA (International Energy Agency)to last till at least the end of the year. The Brent crude oil price already fell by USD 30 per barrel from its peak in June to USD 96 per barrel on 18 August. As suggested by the downward-sloping futures curve, the market expects the oil price to continue trending down till at least next year

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Grand Hyatt Gurgaon in Delhi NCR today. The 442-room luxury hotel is the first Grand Hyatt property in Gurgaon, and is a dynamic luxury destination that will provide business and leisure travelers with an inspiring place to meet, work, celebrate and stay. With awe-inspiring architecture, smart, sophisticated design, and exceptional service and amenities to match, Grand Hyatt hotels deliver a luxury travel experience beyond all expectations. Each Grand Hyatt property offers superior service within a multicultural backdrop of dramatic architecture, inventive restaurants, luxury spas and sophisticated meeting spaces. With the opening of Grand Hyatt Mumbai in 2004, followed by Grand Hyatt Goa in 2011 and Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty in 2018, the addition of Grand Hyatt Gurgaon marks the first in the city and the fourth Grand Hyatt-branded hotel in the country. Grand Hyatt Gurgaon is conveniently located in the commercial hub of the National Capital Region, amid high-end residential and commercial spaces. The hotel is part of a 29-acre complex and, the bold and vibrant design and architecture have been created by Foster+Partners, London – the globally renowned architectural, engineering, and integrated design firm. The site includes a unique high street shopping center and an office tower making Grand Hyatt Gurgaon an ideal location for visitors to the city. “Located within a world-class city as well as a key destination for travelers, Grand Hyatt Gurgaon serves as a key milestone within Hyatt’s strategy to expand its luxury offerings in India, “ said Sunjae Sharma, Managing Director – India & Southwest Asia, Hyatt Hotels Corporation said. “We are truly excited to announce the opening of this striking new destination hotel in the …

Vistara has announced non-stop flights between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi, UAE, starting 1 October 2022. The airline will operate daily flights between the two cities using its A320neo aircraft. Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “We are delighted to expand our presence in the UAE, with a second Emirate, and offer the choice of flying India’s best airline on one of the busiest international routes from India. We are confident that greater connectivity between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi will complement the growing trade and tourism between the two countries. We are certain that customers from India and the UAE will appreciate experiencing our award-winning product and services on the route.”

Deepak Ohri, CEO, Lebua Hotels & Resorts, speaking at IHM, highlighted the need for the growth of qualitative aspects in the tourism sector. He spoke about the change in asset management in the future which will provide scope for young entrepreneurs to be a part of the growth of this industry.

The union government plans to develop 75 sites along the banks of River Ganga and its tributaries as eco-tourism hubs. This initiative is aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and will boost the National Mission for Clean Ganga. Launched by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the move aims to promote sustainable tourism. Under this initiative, the government will promote activities like village tours, river walks, jungle safaris, and biodiversity watches. The government will also help homestays, and health and wellness centres at the chosen sites.

KB Kachru, Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) and Vice President, HAI, spoke at the 2nd International Conference on Hospitality and Tourism – Revival Strategies, and said that the industry needs to appreciate and boost the domestic tourism that has revived the sector after the pandemic. He also spoke about the need to be in touch with the market trends like staycation as it emerged with the onset of work from home.