VFS Global has launched online appointment booking service for COVID-19 sample collection, in association with certified medical laboratories, in Mumbai, Delhi and Kochi, in response to the evolving travel guidelines and consumer convenience. Similar offerings will be extended to customers in Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Pune in the coming weeks. This service is offered in association with a network of certified medical laboratories approved by the Government of India and having all due accreditations for swab collection for COVID-19. Customers in Delhi, Kochi and Mumbai can book appointments on VFS Global’s website (https://www.vfsglobal.com/en/individuals/indiacovidtest.html) and provide samples at designated associate medical laboratories from 10 August 2020. ‘At Your Doorstep’ services are also offered in Mumbai, Delhi and Kochi, that enables sample collection from the safety and comfort of a customer’s home. Samples are collected by trained medical professionals from associate medical laboratories and the reports directly sent with full confidentiality to the registered email address of the customer. Who can avail this service? The COVID-19 RT-PCR Sample Collection service is open for all and is not limited to travellers. The service can be availed by those who may or may not be exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms (strictly as per local regulations of various states), and only with a doctor’s prescription in Delhi and Kochi. A dedicated help desk is also provided for VFS Global customers next to select VFS Global Centres to assist with this service. Speaking about the service, Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO – South Asia, Middle East & North Africa, and Americas, said, “We believe a convenient and reliable pre-departure COVID-19 sample collection/testing solution can become a catalyst in the recovery process of international travel …

TAAI President Jyoti Mayal was given an exclusive opportunity and invited on 13th August 2020 to have a Joint Meeting with Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel and Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri. Suggestions were taken on: – Creating Demand & Supply for the growth of domestic tourism in India. – Opening of routes as per demand & study in Udaan scheme for destinations in North-East India, Khajuraho, Orchha, Dehradun & more. – Better use of International Airports. – Helicopter charters. – Opening up of skies for Domestic as well as international routes. Discussion on airline refunds was made along with other points including challenges of the trade due to pandemic and changes required to enhance the business of travel and tourism by agents. Both the ministers along with Director General Tourism Meenakshi Sharma and ADG – Rupinder Brar and Dy. Secretary, Civil Aviation Usha Padhee were present in the meeting, who assured full support and encouragement to the trade.

Under the air bubble scheme of the India and UK governments, Virgin Atlantic has announced to restart passenger flight to India from London Heathrow starting 2nd September from Delhi and 17th September from Mumbai. The airline plans to operate 3 flights a week from Delhi and four flights a week from Mumbai on 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Virgin Atlantic have put in place additional measures at the airport and onboard to ensure the health and safety of its people and customers. On the development, Alex McEwan, Commercial Manager India, Virgin Atlantic commented, “This year marks 20 years of flying between UK and India and we’re delighted to resume our passenger services to this beautiful country. We know many of our customers will be excited to reunite with friends and family and we are looking forward to welcoming them on board, taking to the skies safely in true Virgin Atlantic style. The health and wellbeing of our customers and crew remain our number one priority and our teams have been working tirelessly to implement new measures and evolve our experience so customers can feel confident to book and fly with us. This includes social distancing at the airport and onboard wherever possible, meticulous cleaning of the aircraft and individual Health Packs for all customers, containing medical-grade face masks, hand sanitizer and surface wipes.” The airline will be offering a simplified hot food service in all cabins, redesigned to limit interaction, enclosed and controlled from preparation in a COVID-safe, monitored environment to the moment it is served. Economy and Premium Economy customers will now enjoy a “Fly safe, eat well” meal box, which incorporates a choice of two hot meals, cheese and biscuits and …

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened first Holiday Inn of new Gurugram in Sector 90 of the city. Combining business and comfort, the new hotel is equipped with 263 rooms & suites. The hotel will be the first Holiday Inn in New Gurugram & its prime location offers easy accessibility to Manesar, Southern Periphery Road, Dwarka Express Highway & the city centre. The hotel is located approximatively 45 minutes from Indira Gandhi International Airport, 30 mins from Gurugram’s railway station & 30 mins from Huda City Centre Metro station. Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90 favours proximity to the industrial hub Manesar and extends towards Binola, Bhiwadi, Bawal & Pataudi. The hotel is an ideal weekend getaway destination for Delhi NCR residents and offers a convenient stopover for tourists covering the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. “Holiday Inn Gurugram is the perfect place to create memories,” said Nitinn Sharma, General Manager of Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90. “We are excited to welcome our guests and bring them closer to experiencing the world-class facilities. Business and leisure travellers alike can expect their work and comfort needs to be met with all the essentials available at their fingertips.” Guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep, with each contemporary guestroom offering a refreshing overnight recharge, complete with all the essentials guests need available right in their rooms. Guests can feel right at home in their rooms with multiple charging points, tea and coffee facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi at a standard speed designed to provide a home away from home. Viva- All Day Dining, also featuring a Bar & Lounge, serves Asian, Indian and Western cuisine during all three meal periods with both …

The #TogetherThailand digital campaign by TAT India has entered into the second week where ‘Food experiences in Thailand’ will be the key theme. The contest for Pan India travel agents and OTAs will focus on local food, street food, cooking class, food tours (tuk-tuk and bus tour), and Indian food in Thailand.

Subhash Goyal, Hony. General Secretary, FAITH has suggested that India Tourism Mart (ITM) will be held by the end of November 2020. “This will help in promoting India to the tour operators all over the world.  Last two years, we had 250 buyers, this year in the virtual mart we hope to interact with more than 500 leading travel agents and tour operators from all over the world,” he said. Goyal also thanked the  Tourism Minister for agreeing to organise a joint meeting of the Indian travel agents and tour operators with the Minister of Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri to sort out the pending issues of the tourism industry with Civil Aviation. FAITH also suggested for better coordination an Inter-Ministerial Task Force be formed chaired by the Tourism Minister consisting of mainly with Tourism, Civil Aviation, Commerce, Home, External Affairs & Railways along with the members of the tourism industry. An Inter-State Task Force should also be formed which should include all State Tourism Secretaries.  

Mehernosh Colombowalla, Director – Beyond Borders Travel Management Company says that he has sailed through the past few months by inspiring his clients to keep their travel dreams alive during this long hiatus. While he spoke at the 5th TravTalk Digital Conclave, he said, “As professionals in the tourism space we understand that regaining consumer confidence in travel is key to regenerating the industry. Clients do not have direct access to airlines & hospitality & thus shortly after lockdown, we invested our time in connecting with our clients, updated them with all the positive developments & factual information given to us by aviation, hospitality & tourism sectors. In the bargain, gained trust & became their validation point for various travel-related information. We spoke to them about new & less frequented destinations and sent them short videos on interesting & unique experiences around the globe – to keep their travel interest alive. Sent them information on the various safety procedures & new norms in travel. All this helped in generating business opportunities for us.” Talking about the future, he says, travel agents will need to become more ambitious in how they design experiences. As a new paradigm of luxury travel that is life-enriching & value-based is emerging.

Hotel management company VATS Hospitality and Care is planning to launch new hotels in Agra, Mathura, Patna, Bettiah, Motihari and Ranchi. Sharing information, company’s co-founder & CEO Siddarth Sharma said that they have tied up with three hotels in Vrindavan, Kota and Raxaul Bihar in just a short span of time.

Get insights on profitability, marketing approach and inspiring the confidence to travel at TravTalk’s 5th Digital Conclave today at 3 pm. Panellists include international speakers and real heroes who lead by example. Two power-packed sessions will exclusively focus on money and profitability. To register for the sessions, email to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call +919650196532.

Himmat Anand, Founder, Tree of Life Resorts & Hotels, has revealed that they managed to do an occupancy of 68% at their Jaipur property in July, and that too at an ARR of Rs.10,700. “At Tree of Life Resort & Spa Jaipur, we did better occupancy than last July. Presently, in August we have 58% booked occupancy,” he said.