The swiftly emerging hospitality company, Espire Hospitality Group has signed an agreement with Ranjana Overseas Private Limited to introduce Country Inn Tarika Goa, Varca Beach, located just 200 meters away from the Varca Beach. This resort featuring 48 keys will be launched in September this year. Espire Hospitality Group currently has three resorts under its Country Inn Hotels & Resorts brand and this signing will strengthen the important mid-segment portfolio of the company. Located in the most scenic part of this popular leisure destination, South Goa, the resort is at a walking distance from Varca Beach and in close proximity to other beaches such as Colva Beach and Marjoda Beach. Country Inn Tarika Goa, Varca Beach will feature well-designed cottages for a leisurely stay, a poolside bar, a multi-cuisine all-day dining restaurant, fitness centre and a ballroom. Commenting on this important signing, Akhil Arora, Chief Operating Officer, Espire Hospitality Group said “We are thrilled to take the first step towards our expansion plan of having 20 resorts in our portfolio by 2023. Goa has latterly started attracting travellers throughout the year and is an extremely important market for us. We are already planning to add more resorts in Goa, in the near future.” He further added: Our Country Inn Hotels & Resorts brand has always been successful, for the consistent warm hospitality and for creating inspirational family experiences. We will continue to expand this brand exponentially, making it a leading mid-market resort brand in the country. Mr. Girish Batra, Director, Ranjana Overseas Private Limited, added: “We have decided to work with the Espire Hospitality Group as we recognize them as a trusted partner for creating a success story. Our resort’s …

Vietjet has officially launched four more services linking top destinations of India and Vietnam including Mumbai – Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi routes and New Delhi/Mumbai – Phu Quoc services. The new routes’ launch ceremony was held in Mumbai during the visit of Ho Chi Minh City’s leaders to Mumbai as India and Vietnam mark their 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations. The ceremony witnessed the presence of Phan Thi Thang, Vice Chairwoman of People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, representatives of Consulate General of Vietnam in Mumbai along with Vietjet’s leaders. On the side-lines of the event, the Vietjet spokesperson also said the carrier is planning more routes from India to Vietnam by launching services from cities such as Hyderabad, Ahmedabad etc. The Mumbai – Phu Quoc route will operate four weekly flights on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, starting September 9, 2022. The services between New Delhi and Phu Quoc will also commence on September 9, 2022 with three weekly flights on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi – Mumbai routes started operation in early June, 2022. The two countries’ two first direct services connecting New Delhi with Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi resumed operation earlier this year in April with the frequency of three to four flights per week for each route. Passengers can book these routes’ air tickets now with fares starting as low as US$18 for one way. (*) Nguyen Thanh Son, Vietjet’s Vice President said: “Vietjet’s Vietnam-India’s flight network expansion will boost and strengthen travel connectivity and trade ties between the two countries. We have been the first carrier operating direct services between Vietnam’s capital city Hanoi and its largest city of …

With the signing up of an almost century-old heritage Luxury resort, Leisure Hotels Group (LHG), an experiential luxury resort chain with a bouquet of 29 properties spanning North India, has announced its entry into ‘Queen of Hills’ Mussoorie, a nature lover’s delight with stunning views of the Himalayan mountain ranges, shining views of Doon Valley and magnificent views of Shivalik Mountain. The signing up also means that the group will now have 20 operational properties effectively consolidating the experiential resort chain’s position as the largest & most well preferred hospitality company in Uttarakhand. Vibhas Prasad, Director, Leisure Hotels Group said “Mussoorie as a city never loses its charm. It offers the right blend of experiences for all kind of visitors. This new property in Mussoorie is under our management contract. It is currently under restoration and is expected to open by early next year.” Once restored, the project will have 25 exquisite rooms, three restaurants, a bar and an open-air “Cafe on the Deck” with panoramic views of spectacular landscapes with valley vistas and snow-capped mountains. A conservatory is also being conceptualized as a part of an exquisite dining experience. An independent outdoor venue amidst nature is being planned for Yoga & Meditation enthusiasts with our in-house experts. The almost century-old heritage resort will offer a magnificent blend of old-world charm and modern amenities, and promises to provide guests with unforgettable experiences. Be it an official meeting, social gathering, or a wedding, the Resort will offer the perfect venue for  once in a lifetime experience. “Once a private residence of a well-known business family, this heritage resort will serve to a discerning clientele looking to relive the life of a …

Experience Hub, the trade and promotion arm of Yas Island Abu Dhabi and a subsidiary of Miral and Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT) partnered to host 45 Indian leisure and MICE travel agents on a four-day familiarization trip to Abu Dhabi. The group was invited to be part of the glitz and glamour of the IIFA Awards along with discovering and participating in all of Abu Dhabi’s and Yas Island’s attractions. Yas Island,  one of the world’s fastest growing leisure and leading entertainment destinations hosted one of the grandest celebration of the Indian Cinema; the 22nd International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2022. The event took place at the Etihad Arena, the Middle East’s largest state-of-art indoor entertainment venue and was organized in collaboration with the Department  of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences. The trip saw the agents experiencing rides at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World™  Abu Dhabi to trying their hand at golf at Yas Links Abu Dhabi, venturing to Yas Mall for some shopping, appreciating the amazing artworks at the Louvre Museum, marvelling at historical landmark Qasr Al Hosn, the presidential palace Qasr Al Watan, and then visiting the largest mosque in the country, none other than the architectural masterpiece Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to learn about the Emirate’s culture. They had the opportunity to experience the best of hospitality as Yas Island has more than 2,000 rooms and suites across 10 hotels including the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island. Located on the Waterfront, Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island features a 545-room and around 2000 sqm …

Tourism Office of Spain – Mumbai has announced two winners to its Spain Specialist Program ‘Know Barcelona’ quiz held alongside its webinar on the city on June 15. The winners are Shreyanka Churiwalla from Nimbus Tours & Travels and Nitish Gupta from Zenith Holidays. They take away a five-day trip to Barcelona and the surrounds in October 2022. This includes the international airfare ex-India.

Global Panorama Showcase is all set to begin its 2022 edition in Mid-September, and will be covering a total of 10 cities till March 2023. The cities are: Nagpur, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Indore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bhubaneswar, Vizag and Kochi. It will be a two-day event for each city.

The Travel Agents’ Federation of India (TAFI) signed an MoU with IDFC First Bank to facilitate digital payments. Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI, who was present at the signing ceremony, said that the members can avail of this opportunity to get digital payment platforms for their agencies such as POS machines and payments links, among others. The rates negotiated between TAFI and IDFC First Bank will be a winning proposition for both the parties, Prakash said.

G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DoNER and Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, flagged off the first Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train operating on the Ramayana Circuit. Speaking on the occasion, Reddy said that MOT, in association with IRCTC and Ministry of Railways has also proposed Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains for Krishna Circuit, Buddhist Circuit and many other circuits.

Sejoe Jose, Chairman- IATO Southern Region, shares that now the world is focusing a lot on Ayurveda and Yoga. “If the benefits of Ayurveda are showcased as a dedicated promotional campaign, I am sure wellness tourism will flourish in India. Ayush visa shouldn’t be for a limited period, but must be offered through e-visa format, so that the tourists can avoid any hassle.”

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, has said, “With yoga day being celebrated worldwide, India will come to the mind of everyone and publicity will be in favour of India as a destination for the same. The message will be loud and clear for India.”