Jet Airways has announced that it has signed a new order for 75 additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, taking the total order to 150 aircraft. The Boeing 737 aircraft type is the backbone of Jet Airways’ fleet. The 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will serve the airline not only to replace its existing fleet but also to equip it with modern and environmentally progressive airplanes, thereby fueling the airline’s expansion strategy to support its network and growth aspirations. Vinay Dube, Chief Executive Officer, Jet Airways, said, “Our new order for the additional 75 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will allow us to deliver a differentiated and world-class customer experience to our guests. This additional order re-emphasises our trust and confidence in Boeing and also reaffirms our commitment to operate extremely modern, reliable and fuel efficient aircraft as part of our fleet. This order underscores Jet Airways’ commitment to the growth and sustainability of the Indian aviation market.” “We are honoured that Jet Airways has again placed its trust in Boeing with its order for 75 more Boeing 737 MAXs”, said Dinesh Keskar, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific & India Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “These additional Boeing 737 MAX airplanes will help Jet Airways continue to be an industry leader by combining a superior passenger experience with reliable and efficient operations.”

Indian e-tail major Flipkart announced its tie-up with MakeMyTrip for travel bookings. “Through the partnership, users can now make travel bookings through MakeMyTrip’s services using Flipkart’s mobile application,” an official from MakeMyTrip said. The partnership will be rolled out with domestic flight bookings in the next few weeks, followed by hotels, bus and holiday bookings. The companies, however, did not specify the exact time frame for the rollout. “The partnership will help us reach out to an even wider consumer base through MakeMyTrip’s multiple travel booking sites — MakeMyTrip, Goibibo and redBus — and open up the online travel market significantly,” said Deep Kalra, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, MakeMyTrip. The tie-up also helps in furthering Flipkart’s goal of being a “one-stop destination” for all digital transactions, added Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO, Flipkart. The companies did not disclose the financial details of the partnership. Founded in 2007, Bengaluru-based e-commerce platform Flipkart claims to have a customer base of over 100 million in the country.

VITS Luxury Hotels has rolled out three boutique properties in the island of Phuket in Thailand. VITS had recently signed a joint venture with Exhicon Group in Thailand. Located near Patong beach, the new launches are VITS Alfresco Hotel, VITS New Life Classic and VITS Luxur Boutique Hotel. Announcing the launches, Chandrakant Shetty, Director, VITS-Exhicon (Thailand) says, “We are delighted to extend the VITS luxury experience in Thailand with the launch of three properties located in the heart of Phuket. Each of the three hotels distinctive in its own right offer unparalleled hospitality experiences and contemporary amenities. Phuket with its serene beaches, historic museums and vibrant nightlife is ranked as favourite from travellers in India and around the world. With the launch of our properties in the region, we aim to tap the growing potential of tourist inflow. As part of our future expansion, we plan to take over 15 hotels primarily in Thailand and Malaysia within the next two years.” While the 33-key hotel VITS Alfresco is located an hour from the Phuket International Airport, the VITS New Life Classic is about a six-minute walk from Patong beach with 20 rooms. VITS Luxur Boutique Hotel, with 33 rooms, offers guests various activities in the surroundings, including golfing, cycling and fishing.  

Around 56 new airports will become functional in the next few years, Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu said at the two-day Global Logistics Summit recently held in New Delhi. The minister further said that by bringing all the stakeholders together, it will create the right platform to improve logistics and connectivity which are vital for increasing intra-state and international trade flows. Indian logistics industry is estimated at around US $ 215 billion in 2019-20, growing at over 10% annually. In the last decade or so, significant improvements in railways, roads, highways, inland waterways, aviation, ports and coastal shipping have taken place. To support awareness building and develop better understanding on these issues, the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, in partnership with FICCI and the World Bank Group, organised the Summit to discuss relevant issues among global experts, academics, government officials, private sector and industry representatives.

Travelport and Priceline.com have signed a long-term renewal agreement for Travelport to continue providing pricing, booking and ticketing technology and content to Priceline. The renewal comes approximately 20 years after the two companies signed their first agreement for Priceline to process reservations through Travelport’s GDS. Throughout the past two decades, Travelport and Priceline have worked together to make the process of buying and selling travel easier for customers seeking great travel deals. “Travelport has proven to be a valued partner over the last 20 years in helping Priceline customers find and book the best deals,” said Brigit Zimmerman, Senior Vice President of Flight, Hotel and Packages, Priceline.com. Jason Clarke, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Agency Commerce, Travelport, added, “We are committed to supporting Priceline with our industry-leading search and pricing capabilities, as well as offering Priceline new technologies that offer faster connections, greater content and more relevant choices.”

Air India has announced an assured flat incentive scheme for travel agents in BSP India, effective on sale starting April 5, 2018 till March 31, 2019. Under the scheme, every agent shall be entitled to 1 per cent normal commission and 1 per cent assured flat incentive on all 098 tickets sold by the agency. According to a statement by Air India, this incentive is not linked to achievement of any target and shall accrue on cut and pay basis without deal code. Therefore, there will be no time lag for receipt of incentive. The current year assured incentive is based on sales and not on flown revenue. This has been done to instantly reward the agency to promote Air India.

KJ Alphons, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism has said that the Ministry is targeting to increase India’s share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in world’s international tourist arrivals to 1 per cent by 2020 and to 2 per cent by 2025. The share of India’s FTAs in during 2016 was 0.71 per cent, while the share of India’s International Tourist Arrivals (which includes Foreign Tourist Arrivals and arrival of Non Resident Nationals) in world’s International Tourist Arrivals during 2016 was 1.18%. Ministry of Tourism has two flagship schemes – Swadesh Darshan – Integrated Development of Theme Based Tourist Circuits, and PRASHAD – Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive for creation of tourism infrastructure, generating pro-tourism culture in the people. MOT has launched Social Awareness Media Campaigns with the objective of sensitising stakeholders in the tourism industry as well as the general public about the importance of good conduct and behaviour towards tourists and reinforce the spirit of ‘Atithi devo Bhava’.

In a bid to enhance customer experience, Hyatt Amritsar has rebranded itself as Hyatt Regency Hotel. The property, which was established in 2013, offers a full range of services and amenities – remarkable restaurants and bars; technology-enabled ways to collaborate with associates; and space to work, engage and relax.  Featuring 248 adorned rooms (including 10 Regency Suites), Hotel Hyatt Regency is the idyllic holiday retreat to unwind at. The culinary professionals of Hyatt Regency Amritsar take visitors on a gastronomic expedition not just to the different nooks and crannies of the country but also to the different cities of the world with their numerous eclectic recipes. Hyatt Regency Amritsar is ideal for all sorts of events, both social and corporate. Keeping up with the brand’s identity, Hyatt Regency Amritsar has exclusive facilities for rejuvenation in the form of a spa, a fitness centre and a swimming pool. The beautifully appointed spa rooms offer the perfect ambience to unwind and destress. The facility equips a total of eight rooms that are divided into two Ayurvedic Therapy Rooms, four Western Therapy Rooms, one Couple Therapy Room and one Oriental Therapy Room.  

Cygnett Hotels & Resorts has recently launched Cygnett Lite Ramachandra at Visakhapatnam, adding 42 keys to its repertoire. The hotel is strategically located at a distance of just 30 minutes’ drive from Visakhapatnam International Airport. The hotel emphasises on approachable design, has spacious and modern rooms and offers an all-day dining service. With its latest addition, the chain will now have a total of 15 operating hotels under its wings. Moreover, nine new properties are scheduled to open by December 2018, including Vishakhapatnam. Another seven to eight hotels will be lined up for opening by this financial year. “Our vision is to reinvent the definition of leisure and business travel, transforming the hotel into a preferred choice for guests. We are committed to creating memorable guest experiences by combining the Cygnetture brand experience and the city’s local attractions. Cygnett hotels are further expanding its brand portfolio, across the growing Tier-I and II cities in India and we foresee a great potential in becoming the favourite hospitality brand for travellers in the city,” said Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & Managing Director, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts. “Reflecting the brand’s promise to provide what matters most to today’s independent travellers, the hotel offers the brand’s defining touches, including the Cygnett Comfort Bed, complimentary bottled water, free Wi-Fi and Cygnetture breakfast,” said Alok Verma, CEO, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts.

Leisure Hotels has entered Himachal Pradesh with the launch of 7 Pines – “An English Retreat” in Kasauli. With this launch, Leisure Hotels are now available at four sates in India including Uttar Pradesh and Goa. “7 Pines – “An English Retreat”, is located in the quaint hill town of Kasauli, home to one of the largest breweries in the world.  A quintessential English Retreat, The ‘7 Pines’ is built with a British colonial décor and is a perfect weekend getaway. Kasauli has a colonial ambience which is complemented by windy paths, quaint shops, lovely homes with charming exteriors and rows of neat little gardens and orchards. While making the announcement, Vibhas Prasad, Director, Leisure Hotels said, “With travel to Kasauli on the rise and attractive hospitality opportunities in high demand, we are happy to add our luxury retreat in the city. Arguably, this new branded bespoke retreat will be a prestigious address in town, situated right across the hills of Shimla.” The luxury retreat in the Kasauli hills offers a populous range of luxurious rooms with comfortable double beds and verandahs overlooking the Shimla Hills. The Dining at 7 Pines- Kasauli comprise traditional homely meals prepared by in-house chefs.