“Hemant Mediratta, CEO, One Rep Global, a prominent firm specializing in luxury hospitality and tourism representation, highlights the increasing trend of sports and entertainment-focused outbound tourism. “As India’s outbound tourism continues to flourish, more travellers are seeking immersive experiences beyond traditional sightseeing. There’s a noticeable surge in demand for travel experiences centered around sports and entertainment with 33% Indians travellers are keen to travel to attend music festivals and 23% of them consider sporting events like Olympics and Formula1 while choosing travel destination . We observed this trend last year as well during Mini football World Cup 2023 organised in Ras Al Khaimah. There was a significant increase in the travellers to the destination specifically for the event.” He also elaborates on the expanding scope of this trend, pointing to the growing interest in international sporting events beyond Cricket, “Events such as the Olympics and UEFA European Championships are attracting travellers to destinations like Paris and Berlin and music enthusiasts are traveling overseas to attend concerts by global icons like Coldplay, Taylor Swift, and festivals like Tomorrowland in Belgium. Travellers are amalgamating their usual itinerary with travel for sports and entertainment. For instance, visitors to Paris during the Olympics can shop at the iconic locales like Galeries Lafayette Hausmann Paris, enriching their experience beyond the sport. Similarly, fans visiting Amsterdam for a Taylor Swift concert or Tomorrowland, can enhance their stay at luxurious accommodations such as De L’Europe, Amsterdam and Botanic Sanctuary, respectively.”

Euro Khmer Voyages – Mr. Kunthea Eng (Cambodia) and Go Smart Tourism – Mr. Jeetendra Wagh (India), with the support of the Ministry of Tourism (Cambodia) and the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA), recently organized a FAM Trip for Indian travel agents. This milestone event coincided with the inaugural flight to Cambodia, offering a unique opportunity for participants to explore the country’s rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and dynamic tourism offerings. The trip aimed to deepen the understanding and appreciation of Cambodia among Indian travel professionals, fostering stronger connections between the two countries’ tourism industries. The participating agents visited key tourist attractions, experienced authentic Cambodian hospitality, and engaged with local tourism stakeholders. This Fam Trip not only provided valuable insights into Cambodia’s tourism potential but also strengthened the collaboration between Indian travel agents and Cambodian tourism partners, paving the way for increased travel and cultural exchange.

First Group Focuses on Yilan, Followed by Taichung and Kaohsiung Inspections in the Second Half of the Year To actively cultivate the international tourist market, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication’s Tourism Administration, Taiwan, in addition to focusing on the main markets of Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, is now also targeting the significant consumer markets of Indonesia and India as important new expansion points. Following the establishment of the “Taiwan Tourism Information Center in Mumbai”, India’s largest economic city, on February 7, 2024, the Administration invited ten travel agencies specializing in incentive travel to Taiwan from June 20 to 25. This marks the first post-pandemic group, aiming to “prioritize the short-term development of the MICE market and target the mass market in the long term” through a phased marketing strategy. To seize the opportunity for Indian businesses to visit Taiwan, the Administration also organized a “Taiwan-India Tourism B2B Networking Session” on the 24th, attracting about 15 businesses from travel agencies, hotels, and the tourism and leisure industry. The atmosphere at the event was very lively, facilitating face-to-face interactions and business connections between Taiwanese and Indian tourism professionals. The Administration highlighted that India is the world’s most populous country, with approximately 40,000 Indian tourists visiting Taiwan annually before the pandemic. With its rapidly growing economic strength and diverse culture, the “new wealthy class” and “business traveller segment” are highly promising and valuable markets. This year’s visitor numbers are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels. Through this inspection and exchange meeting, Indian businesses gained a deeper understanding of Taiwan, laying the foundation for strengthened cooperation between Taiwanese and Indian tourism industries. It is also …

Oman’s fastest-growing low-cost carrier, SalamAir is delighted to declare the launch of its newest route, connecting Muscat to the vibrant capital city of India, New Delhi. Starting from 2nd July, SalamAir will operate twice-weekly flights to Delhi, with services on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This milestone signifies a new chapter in Salam Air’s commitment to providing exceptional service, unparalleled comfort, and seamless connectivity to passengers traveling between Oman and India and beyond. The introduction of flights to Delhi represents a significant step forward for SalamAir as they continue to expand their network to meet the growing demand for affordable and convenient travel options. This new route will strengthen connections between Oman and India, benefiting the expat community, leisure travelers, and business professionals alike. To further improve the travel experience, SalamAir offers competitive fares and excellent service, making it a popular choice among travelers who want to explore new destinations, thereby enhancing the accessibility and enjoyment of travel between India and Oman and beyond.

Strategic expansion strategy, including world-class hotels in Thailand, Japan and the Maldives, propel company to the top of Brand Finance’s “Thailand 50” report Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is thrilled to announce that it has been recognised as the strongest brand in Brand Finance’s prestigious “Thailand 50” report for 2024. This marks the second consecutive year that “Centara Hotels & Resorts” has topped this distinguished list, after its flagship five-star concept, Centara Grand, was named as Thailand’s best brand last year, reaffirming the group’s position at the pinnacle of customer satisfaction and service excellence. Brand Finance’s Thailand 50 report evaluates brands based on a range of criteria, including brand equity, trust, and financial performance. Centara’s achievement (as a corporate brand, rather than its popular Centara upscale hotel concept), reflects the significant strides this proud Thai company has taken towards becoming a top 100 global hotel operator by 2027. The success of Centara Hotels & Resorts in the last 12 months was demonstrated by the realisation of several major projects including the launch of Centara Grand Hotel Osaka, a spectacular 33-storey urban icon which marked the group’s debut in Japan. This important opening reflects how Centara is continuing to introduce its industry-leading brands to key global destinations. Whilst in Thailand, the launch of Centara Ayutthaya underscored the company’s commitment to bringing world-class hospitality to all parts of the kingdom, and the recent opening of COSI Vientiane Nam Phu, Laos, marked the international debut of COSI, the innovative and affordable lifestyle brand. Now, Centara will continue to strengthen its domestic and international portfolio with a series of key openings and upgrades in 2024 and beyond. In Thailand, Centara Life …

In a major initiative to train current and emerging hospitality industry leaders, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts has recently introduced its Comprehensive Cygnett Leadership Development Program (CLDP). This initiative marks a significant milestone in the hospitality company’s commitment to nurturing talent, driving innovation and ensuring sustained growth within the organization. At the heart of CLDP lies an intense and comprehensive training module of nine months, divided into three phases. The hotel industry today faces a shortage of skilled leaders who can adapt to rapid market changes, enhance guest satisfaction, and manage diverse teams. This gap hampers operational efficiency, management innovation, and the ability to maintain competitive service standards. Mr. Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & Chairman of Cygnett Hotels & Resorts said, “We recognize the importance of nurturing and empowering future leaders at Cygnett Hotels & Resorts. Today’s competitive market requires a pipeline of visionary leaders who can help build and secure an edge over the rest. CLDP provides insight into real-life examples so hospitality leaders understand how the right mindset, attitude, and communication directly impacts team performance.” The program has been designed holistically to provide a structured framework that includes people skills, leadership skills, digitalization, a strategic approach to key hotel departments, HR management, accounting for non-accountants, finance, marketing, auditing, and cultural transformation. The training program encompasses reference material, daily operational tasks, virtual sessions, assignments, and one-to-one interaction with industry experts. The program is in line with international standards and offers an internationally recognised certification too. Mr. Sachin Gaur, Associate Director of Learning & Development and Quality Assurance at Cygnett Hotels & Resorts said, “The leadership development program offers an exceptional opportunity for our team members to develop advanced leadership skills, rethink …

                                                     Flights Now on Sale Through All ITA Airways Channels Rome, July 1, 2024 – ITA Airways, the Italian reference airline, announces the new nonstop flight between Rome Fiumicino and Bangkok, starting operations on November 16 with five weekly frequencies. The new route is the first ITA Airways’ connection between Italy and Thailand, and represents one of the highlights of the upcoming 2024/2025 Winter season, alongside the Rome Fiumicino – Dubai flight inaugurating on 27th October, 2024. The Rome – Bangkok flight, available for purchase starting today on all Company’s channels, will be operated with an Airbus A330neo according to the following schedule: • Rome Fiumicino – Bangkok, operating from November 16 with departures on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 3:15 pm (local time), arriving in Bangkok at 7:40 am (local time). • Bangkok – Rome Fiumicino, operating from November 17 with departures on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 12:15 pm (local time), arriving in Rome at 7:00 pm (local time). Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer of ITA Airways and CEO of Volare said, “Our new Rome – Bangkok connection represents an important step forward in ITA Airways’ development strategy as it adds another intercontinental destination and opens for our passengers the doors to Thailand, a strategic market in terms of leisure tourism and business segment.”  “Bangkok has always been one of the world’s top tourism capitals and an important hub, that allows to reach the most famous paradisiacal destinations in the world thanks to connecting flights with numerous Thai islands. …

CSN Developers Pvt Ltd is thrilled to announce signing with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts for an upper midscale hotel project in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India. CSN Developers Pvt Ltd, a renowned developer in Jamshedpur, is pleased to announce its partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to open a world-class Wyndham Garden Hotel at Adityapur in Jamshedpur. The signing of this franchise agreement emphasizes upon CSN Developers Pvt Ltd.’s commitment and dedication to elevate the hospitality experience in India’s first industrial city and major manufacturing hub. CSN Developers Pvt Ltd, Director – Mr. Dhirendra Prasad is an icon in the field of real estate in the city exclusively supported by the prestigious customers for its quality and design. This affiliation with the internationally recognized Wyndham brand further reiterates our endeavor to enhance world class standards in the city.”. Wyndham Garden Jamshedpur, Adityapur will have about 55 rooms. Other facilities would include All Day Dining & Bar Lounge, Meeting Rooms, Business Centre, Fitness Centre, Swimming Pool. The hotel is currently in the advanced stage of construction and is expected to open by February 2025. Jamshedpur is the largest city in Jharkhand and the first planned industrial city of India. Beyond its industrial business significance, the city is also well known for its royal palaces, ancient temples and forests attracting tourism travelers alike. Our hotel is strategically located in the micro-market of Adityapur industrial area that has varied and powerful industrial base. Expressing his excitement, Mr. Dhirendra Prasad, at CSN Developers Pvt Ltd, stated, “We are pleased to join hands with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, World’s largest hotel franchising company to bring the ‘Wyndham Grand’ brand to Jamshedpur.” Mr. Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham …

Ahsan Shervani, Vice President, Star Hotels, shared insights into the company’s growth, expansion plans, and strategic focus on the domestic travel market. Shervani Hotels, the brand operated by Star Hotels., currently boasts four properties, with ambitious plans for further expansion. Shervani, an integral part of Star Hotels, oversees the operations of Shervani Hotels. The brand, which currently includes four distinct properties, aims to cater to both business and leisure travellers. With a strong presence in Uttarakhand and recent expansions into other regions, Shervani Hotels is poised for significant growth in the Indian hospitality sector. “Currently, we have four hotels under our portfolio,” Shervani explained during an exclusive interview at their Hotel in New Delhi. “This is a boutique 30-room business hotel, primarily catering to business travellers, with facilities like a conference room, a boardroom, and a banquet hall.” Shervani Hotels’ flagship property, Shervani Hilltop in Nainital, features 48 rooms, an in-house restaurant, and a unique specialty cafe called the Nursery Cafe. “The Nursery Cafe is a greenhouse setup where we serve food and beverages as well as sell plants,” Shervani added. “It’s a big part of our charm, offering little souvenirs that our guests can take home.” The two newest additions to the Shervani portfolio are in Jim Corbett National Park and Mukteshwar. “Our Jim Corbett property has 48 rooms and a large banquet hall accommodating up to 300 people. In Mukteshwar, we have Te Aroha by Shervani, Mukteshwar, a boutique 18-room property with additional cottages for larger groups.” Focusing on the travel trade, Shervani emphasized the importance of both offline and online partnerships. “We participate in various trade shows and have strong relationships with travel agents. About 40-45% of …

The first BRICS Tourism Forum, which brought together over 600 leading experts, business and government representatives from the BRICS countries, has solemnly concluded in Moscow. As part of the business program, 12 commercial agreements were signed among representatives of the tourism business sector. The creation of the BRICS Tourism Cities Club was also announced. On June 21, the BRICS Tourism Forum ended in Moscow – it was the first meeting of the working group to develop practical actions, with participation from all 9 member countries. The initiative to create this platform was first put forward by South Africa in 2018, and finally created under the Russian presidency in BRICS this year. The ideas expressed during the discussions will, in the future, form the basis of the concept of developing co-operation in the fields of innovation, sustainability, digitalisation and co-operation at a city level. Representatives of the participating countries’ tourism businesses held b2b negotiations that led to the signing of the first 12 commercial agreements. Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development of Russia, expressed confidence in the success of tourism development as a significant economic sector for the BRICS countries. He added that in Russia this year more than 90 million tourist trips were expected in the country, which was 30% higher than the pre-Covid figures. “The geography of trips is expanding – foreign tourists are travelling to Russia more often. The growth of foreign tourists’ movements in the first 4 months of 2024, compared to the same period last year, amounted to 50%”. Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of the Economic Development of Russia has launched a program to promote the tourist product of Russia under a …