Oman Air has deployed the new Boeing 737 MAX on its recently launched Delhi-Muscat route. The new B737 MAX is equipped with 12 new Business Class seats with large 17-inch touch screen monitors and all the amenities needed for the busy road warrior such as individual power and USB points. The 150 seat Economy Class cabin will also undergo a significant refresh with new interiors, 10.2-inch Thales Gen V touch-screen monitors, high power USB outlets for each triple seats and individual USB outlets for every guest. H.E. Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Futaisi, Chairman, Oman Air, said, “The Boeing 737 MAX is at the forefront of aviation technology and amongst the most efficient planes in the sky today. Oman Air has put an order of 30 MAX aircraft and this is the first aircraft delivery of this order.”

Having witnessed a robust growth of 42 per cent in tourist arrivals and overnights from the Indian market in 2017, VisitFinland has reinstated their focus in the India market through the appointment of Sara Sodhi Juneja based in New Delhi to head VisitFinland activities in India. Dr. Jukka Holappa, Trade Commissioner for Business Finland India, shared, “Sara brings a wealth of her hospitality and tourism experience to this important strategic role and we are delighted to welcome her to head VisitFinland in India. Aligning with the growing potential of India market and our global expansion strategy, VisitFinland has decided to foray again into the Indian market”. Juneja shared, “My role will focus on developing our strategy devised for the Indian market and strengthening relationships with the travel trade to increase visitation and length of stay by Indians in Finland. In parallel, we will also work in close collaboration with the Indian media as communication is an integral part of our strategy. The key focus for 2018 is to encourage the Indian travel trade to increase their knowledge of Finland. For the same, we will organise roadshows and Fam trips throughout the year to give the Indian travel trade and media a first-hand experience of the destination.”  

Oman Air has withdrawn its IATA commission for travel agents applicable for all tickets issued in India, effective March 1, 2018. According to a statement released by the airline, the commission will be reduced from one per cent to zero per cent. All tickets prior to March 1 will be eligible for 1 per cent IATA commission. Earlier, Jet Airways and Etihad have also have withdrawn IATA commission for agents.

Pricol Travel, in association with Advantage Travel Partnership UK, will offer holiday agencies products, technology and services to help them better manage their business. The Advantage Asia consortium offers programmes that will provide an edge to holiday travel agencies, enabling them to offer the best blend of travel products and services to their customers. The agencies can subscribe for the membership on a monthly subscription plan. The services the programme offers includes operations management, marketing, overall business management, training and networking opportunities. The partnership programme is suitable for small to medium sized travel agencies, who aspire to grow their business in the outbound leisure segment. Advantage Asia will work with their member partners and share collective knowledge. Vikram Mohan, Chairman, Pricol Travel said, “Advantage Travel Partnership UK has empowered thousands of small and medium travel agents in Europe, providing them with the necessary updated product knowledge and current technology for them to be relevant at all times.” A Dharmaraj, COO, Advantage Asia Travel Partnership said, “The programme provides different services that support various aspects of an agency. We work closely with our member partners to provide them with tools to offer their customers the most inspirational, yet affordable range of travel products. We are looking forward to associate with over hundred agencies within the next three years.”

AccorHotels has launched its latest Novotel in partnership with the Alcon Victor Group and its fourth property in Goa called Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort that was earlier Dona Sylvia Resort. Situated in South Goa, the resort features 181 rooms, villas and suites on the Arabian Sea coastline. Varun Albuquerque, Director, Alcon Victor Group, paid tribute to the late Charles Correa who had originally conceptualised and designed the resort. He said “Dona Sylvia Resort has always resonated with old-world charm and new-world luxury, creating an authentic Goan ambience along with its perfect location on Cavelossim Beach. Today through the rebranding of the property, as a Novotel Resort, we look forward to offering an international standard product to our guests.” Also present on the occasion was Jean-Michel Cassé, Chief Operating Officer, India & South Asia, AccorHotels. He said, “The rebranding of Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort strengthens AccorHotels’ presence in the Indian market. With 17 Novotels in the country, we believe this brand is particularly well targeted for the modern Indian traveller and international guests. We are delighted to partner with the Alcon Victor Group and look forward to bringing our expertise in hospitality to this relationship.” Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort features two conference rooms with a capacity to serve about 200 guests. The resort also offers two seaside lawns by the Cavelossim Beach.

The Fern Hotels & Resorts has added another hotel to its portfolio with the launch of Avins Beacon Hotel in Udaipur. This is the seventh hotel which is managed by the company under the Beacon Hotels brand. The other Beacon properties are located in Ajmer, Amritsar, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Mumbai and Udaipur. Beacon Hotels, a brand owned by The Fern Hotels & Resorts, are positioned as ‘smart and efficient’ hotels in the economy segment, providing value-for-money accommodations and offering limited services. Suhail Kannampilly, COO, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, said, “This is the second property which the group is managing in Udaipur. We already have The Fern Residency, Udaipur. With the launch of Avins Beacon, we are looking to service a different segment of clientele in Udaipur which is growing at a very fast pace.” Avins Beacon Hotel has 22 rooms with 19 Deluxe Rooms and three larger Executive Rooms.

Nepcare Hospitality Management, Kolkata has partnered with The Haven Resort Hotel, Ipoh, Malaysia for pan India representation. According to Nirmalya Chaudhuri, CEO, Nepcare, “Ipoh is a city in northwestern Malaysia, known as a gateway to the Cameron Highlands hill station.  As a destination, Ipoh is getting popular in the Indian market.

More than 2,000 attendees, 1,000 airline and airport representatives, and 150 speakers will attend the Aviation Festival 2018 from February 27-28 at the Suntec Convention Centre, Singapore. The festival will take place over two days with over 150 presentations taking place, 24 round-table debates and loads of networking in overall 100 exhibition booths. The festival will be an experience and one designed to help the attendees get the most out of the two days. In 2004, the World Low Cost Airlines Congress Asia was launched in Singapore. The low cost airline model was starting to shake up the aviation industry and the event was a place where the industry could meet and form partnerships. With a modest 234 attendees in the first year, the event grew steadily over the past 13 years, reaching over 1,800 attendees in 2017, establishing itself as a must attend event for Asian low cost carriers and their partners. But these days it looks a little different. World Low Cost Airlines Congress is still a large part of the festival, drawing in low cost carriers from across Asia and the Middle East. But now there are seven more events under the festival banner that will cater to full-service airlines and airports as well.

Tirun Travel Marketing, the exclusive India representative of Royal Caribbean International, has announced cruise sailings to and from India in the pre-monsoon season, onboard its Mariner of the Seas. The cruise line will take guests across Asia including Singapore, Phuket, Muscat and Dubai as well as Goa, with six- and seven-night sailings ex Cochin. Ratna Chadha, CEO, Tirun Travel Marketing, said, “Cruise travel is becoming increasingly popular in the Indian subcontinent, especially as more and more vacationers from India are joining the flock of international cruise travellers. We are glad to share that all of our recent cruises have received an overwhelming response and we are certain that ‘Mariner of the Seas’ visit to India will further enhance the propensity of Indian holidaymakers to opt for RCI cruises.” The cruise line has segmented its 13-night sailing into two itineraries with a six-night Singapore to Cochin sailing from April 9-15 and a seven-night Cochin to Dubai sailing from April 15-22. The ‘Singapore to Cochin’ itinerary, that has an all-inclusive price of Rs 50,649 per person for the Promenade-view room, will take Indian vacationers across Phuket. Mariner of the Seas is also home to activities such as rock climbing, ice skating, arcade gaming and multi-level night clubs for travellers.  

Thomas Cook (India) has entered into a three-year strategic agreement with Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) — an organisation that manages Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and Singapore Zoo – making it the first Indian travel company to sign an MoU with WRS. The MoU was signed between Mahesh Iyer, Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Cook (India) and Mike Barclay, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mandai Park Holdings (the parent company of WRS) in Mumbai. Mahesh Iyer, Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Cook (India) said, “We are bullish on the larger trend towards experiential holidays. Singapore as a destination has been constantly reinventing itself with its new, unified brand identity ‘Passion made Possible’-that showcases the fundamentals of the nation – its cultural diversity, rich food heritage and the mindset of its people shaped by unique circumstances and promises to reshape the Singapore experience across the B2C and B2B space. Our partnership with Wildlife Reserves, Singapore also marks the start of a strong commitment to protect biodiversity in Singapore and Southeast Asia through partnerships with like-minded partners, organisations and institutions.”