Effective August 1 , 2016, an airline will have to pay up to Rs 10,000 to a flyer in the case of cancelling/delaying a flight beyond two hours, while the compensation for not allowing a passenger to board the flight stands at up to Rs 20,000, according to DGCA. Previously, the compensation under both circumstances amounted to Rs 4000. Passengers who have not been informed by the airlines shall be provided compensation of Rs 5,000 or booked one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, whichever is less for flights having a block time of up to and including 1 hour. Similarly, for flights having block time of more than 1 hour and up to and including 2 hours, compensation of Rs 7,500 or booked one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, whichever is less for flights will be provided. For cancellation/ delay of a flight having a block time of more than 2 hours, Rs 10,000 or booked one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, whichever is less for flights, will be compensated. Additionally, the airline shall provide facilities at the airport in the event they have already reported for their original flight and whilst they are waiting for the alternate flight. In case of denied boarding, airline will have to pay an amount equal to 200 per cent of booked one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, subject to maximum of Rs 20,000, in case airline arranges alternate flight that is scheduled to depart within 24 hours of the booked scheduled departure, and 400 per cent of booked one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, subject to maximum of INR 20,000,in case airline arranges alternate flight that is scheduled …

The Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Tourism First together organised Bosnia and Herzegovina tourism promotion session in Delhi at the Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy for the first time. Dr. Sabit Subasic, Ambassador, Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina was in Mumbai with a similar event and he is likely to visit Kolkata next. He said, “We want more tourists from Delhi and this region of India to visit Bosnia. We get tourists from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bengaluru and Kolkata. I hope to receive around 15,000 tourists from India.”

Lords Hotels & Resorts is aiming at adding 15 properties to its portfolio to take the total count to at least 40 properties by the year 2020. “We are slated to announce the launch of our second property in Nepal and are also looking at setting feet in Kenya and some other countries  in the African continent,” says P.R. Bansal, Chairman, Lords Hotels & Resorts. The hotel chain is also planning on strategic growth in the Tier ll and Tier lll cities and towns. “The scope for growth for hotels in the affordable sector especially in the Tier ll and Tier lll regions is larger. It is our target to add four hundred new rooms by 2020,” says Rishi Puri, Vice President, Lords Hotels and Resorts. “We recently added a couple of properties to our portfolio in the south including a lavish resort in Thissur. The east has a good potential for growth especially in the mid-market segment and with our strength in this area, we are positive that we would be able to quickly take a lead in the region,” says  Bansal. “We are focusing on expansion across all the categories. Of our three new launches, our properties in Jammu and Agra belong to the Lords Inn brand, while our property in Kerala belongs to the Lords Resorts brand. In the forthcoming phase we will also be looking to hard promote our five branded F&B outlets and one spa. As India claims its rightful place on the global tourism map, Lords is poised to tap this great opportunity to its optimum potential,” concludes Puri.

The annual National Tourism Awards of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, will be held at the Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on July 30, 2016. Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Sumitra Mahajan will be the Chief Guest and she will be giving away the awards for the year 2014-15. The National Tourism Awards are held annually to honour various segments of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. These awards are presented to State Governments/Union Territories, hotels, heritage hotels, travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators, niche tourism facilities, individuals and other private organisations in recognition of their performance in their respective fields and also to encourage healthy competition with an aim to promote tourism.

After a 40-year break from operating product in the region, Contiki has launched an Indian itinerary titled ‘The Eternal India’ that will take intrepid young explorers on a journey through India: from Delhi to Agra to Jaipur to Goa. ‘The Eternal India’ trip is on sale now, with trips running from December 2016. The Eternal India trip will take place over 12 days, following Contiki’s more relaxed ‘In-Depth Explorer’ pace. Travellers get the chance to visit Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai and finally the beach paradise of Goa. It will include excursions to heritage sites, a safari and special stay at Ranthambore National Park and a trip to the world famous Taj Mahal. Some of the optional activities include a cooking demonstration and local family supper in Jaipur, a Bollywood tour in Mumbai, a tour of Mumbai at dawn and a Yoga class on the beach. Director of Sales & Marketing for Contiki Asia, Sam Morrah, says the new trip is not only a fantastic way to showcase India to young travellers from around the world, but will also help increase brand awareness in the India market where bookings to other destinations such as Europe have increased by 30 per cent this year. “It’s unlikely we’ll see many Indian travellers looking to travel on a Contiki trip in their own country. However young Indians will see just how many travellers from around the world choose Contiki to show them the best travel experiences and this will no doubt result in more young Indian travellers seeking to travel with us to other destinations,” he adds.

Ginger Hotels has announced the launch of its second hotel in Noida; Ginger Hotel Noida, East. Strategically located in the heart of Noida, Ginger Hotel Noida, East; provides convenient access to Noida Expo Centre, Electronic City, Corenthum Business Park, Pragati Maidan, Buddh International Racing Circuit and Delhi Expo Mart. The hotel is also in close proximity to Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Akshardham Temple and the Old Fort. The hotel’s location allows access to a multitude of other services like medical, entertainment and banking within the radius of a kilometer. With 96 rooms, this hotel offers free high-speed wireless Internet, multi-cuisine restaurant with 24/7 coffee shop, well-equipped fitness center, reliable security features and state of the art meeting facilities, for today’s value conscious traveller.  “This is an extremely proud moment for us as we launch our second hotel in Noida – a city that is continuously evolving as a business district and IT hotspot. Ginger is the largest chain of branded budget hotels in India with a resilient promise of safety, cleanliness, wonderful sleep experience, refreshing shower experience, a sumptuous breakfast and seamless internet connectivity. We assure travelers of a delightful experience with us,” said Rahul Pandit, MD & CEO, Ginger Hotels.

Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka has appointed Dr. N. Manjula, IAS, as its new Director. Dr. Manjula, a 2002-Batch IAS officer had earlier held the posts of Director, Municipal Administration; District Collector, Chikkaballapur; CEO, Zilla Panchayath, Mysuru.

Global Panorama Showcase (GPS) kicked off in Ahmedabad with B2B sessions and partner presentations. It is the first time that GPS is being held in the city. The three-day event, being held from July 14-16, witnessed 50 exhibitors offering a diverse range of products, 500+ attendees. July 14 was a day dedicated to a total of six partner presentations throughout the day which witnessed a gathering of more than 140 tour operators and travel agents. This was revealed by Harmandeep Singh Anand, Managing Director, Jagsons Travels (organisers of GPS).

Akanksha Garg Dewan, Director, Waxpol Hotel and Resorts, was awarded the Gold Maya at the East India Travel Awards 2016 for the Face of the Future. Dewan has been a pioneer in promoting sustainable tourism and resorts with negligible carbon footprints in Sundarbans and West Bengal. She has also been instrumental in putting Dooars that opened in 2008. She has not only created a niche in the region, but has even taken the brand to Madhya Pradesh.

Suresh Periwal, Managing Director, Clubside Tours and Travels, has won the prestigious Gallery of Legends award at the East India Travel Awards 2016 in Kolkata. With over 40 years of experience in the travel trade, he has been instrumental in putting the eastern region on the tourism map of the country. He is the founder President of the Eastern Himalayan Travel and Tour Operators association and was the Chapter Chairman of IATO for North Bengal and Sikkim Chapter last year.