Al Habib Emporio, a hotel and development company based out of Srinagar, has announced the opening of Ramada Encore by Wyndham Srinagar Rajbagh in Jammu & Kashmir under franchise with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts which is the world’s largest hotel franchising company with more than 9,200 hotels in 95+ countries. This Ramada Encore by Wyndham is located in Rajbagh, posh locality of Srinagar on Jhelum River, just 2.5 km away from Dal Lake and 12.5 Km from Srinagar Airport. The hotel is conveniently located close to key tourist attractions such as Shankaracharya Temple, Shalimar Bagh Mughal Garden, Tulip Garden, Jama Masjid, etc as well as to the key commercial centre of Kashmir. The hotel has 48 modern rooms and a host of amenities including a lobby lounge, an All-Day Dining, swimming pool, fitness centre, event space and a business centre. The city other than being the summer capital, is also known for its natural environment, various gardens, waterfronts and houseboats. “Opening Ramada Encore by Wyndham Srinagar Rajbagh represents a strategic milestone in strengthening our footprint in high-potential markets like India. Srinagar, with its growing tourism appeal and rich cultural heritage, offers an ideal setting to meet the rising demand for quality accommodations. This hotel, featuring a prime location and modern amenities, is perfectly positioned to cater to the evolving needs of business and leisure travellers while reinforcing Wyndham’s commitment to driving growth in key regions. Partnering with Al Habib Emporio, we are proud to bring trusted hospitality to this iconic destination,” said Dimitris Manikis, President, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts EMEA. “We are excited to unveil our hotel affiliated to the internationally recognised “Ramada Encore by Wyndham” brand. The tourists are …

Sofitel Mumbai BKC won the ‘Best Luxury Business Hotel – West India’ at ITA 2024. Manish Dayya, GM said, “Our industry is all about innovation, creativity, and curating memorable experiences. It is a pleasure to see everyone learn from each other’s experiences, whether it is to do with stay, F&B or even sustainability practices.”

IATA forecasts a global airline profit of $36.6 billion in 2025, despite ongoing challenges. This will be a hard-earned achievement as airlines navigate lower oil prices, high load factors, cost controls, decarbonisation efforts, and a return to normal growth levels following the pandemic. Association expects airlines to adapt and thrive.

PS Dhami, CM, Uttarakhand said that all possible efforts are being made in security, management and promotions by the Uttarakhand government to promote winter tourism and pilgrimage sites of the state. The preparations for the Char Dham Yatra 2025 have also started so that the pilgrims do not face any difficulty, he shared.

The global tourism sector is on the verge of full recovery, with 1.1 billion tourists travelling globally in the first nine months of 2024. This marks a 98 per cent rebound from pre-Covid levels. The World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism predicts a complete recovery by the end of 2024, despite ongoing challenges.

Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts, Goa-based leading boutique hospitality company, has unveiled its ambitious plans to expand its portfolio to 50 properties across India within the next five years. Known for delivering value-for-money vacation experiences, the group currently operates 16 boutique hotels and resorts and plans to add 5 to 6 properties annually. This growth strategy will encompass a mix of management contracts, lease agreements, and owned properties, catering to a wide spectrum of travellers while maintaining its hallmark of affordable luxury. The expansion strategy focuses on creating a balanced portfolio that appeals to both leisure and business travellers. For owned properties, Stone Wood is targeting serene, nature rich destinations such as Kabini, Coorg, Jawai, and Ranthambore, ideal for guests seeking tranquil escapes. Simultaneously, the group is establishing a presence in Tier 1 cities like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Amritsar, and Chandigarh through lease and revenue-sharing models to tap into urban demand. To cater to the diverse preferences of travellers, Stone Wood has also introduced a refreshed branding strategy with three distinct sub-categories: Stone Wood Hotels, Stone Wood Premier, and Stone Wood Comfort. This segmentation allows the group to tailor its offerings to various customer segments, ranging from premium travellers to those seeking mid-scale options. While Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts focuses on quality and comfort in leisure, business, pilgrimage, and wellness settings, Stone Wood Premier offers enhanced amenities such as spacious rooms, multiple F&B outlets, and upgraded facilities. Stone Wood Comfort, on the other hand, targets value-conscious travellers with affordable yet well-appointed accommodations. “Our vision is to redefine boutique hospitality by offering guests unique experiences that combine premium services with exceptional value,” said Shikhar Kumar, Managing Director, Stone Wood …

Operations to commence on 10 January, 2025 IndiGo, India’s preferred airline, announced the addition of IndiGoStretch on its Delhi-Bengaluru route, with operations commencing on 10 January, 2025. A tailor-made business product for India’s busiest and business routes, by March 2025, IndiGoStretch will be available on all 15 daily flights between Delhi and Bengaluru. IndiGoStretch is already operational on the Delhi-Mumbai route. By early January 2025, all 20 daily flights between Delhi and Mumbai will be on an IndiGoStretch aircraft. Promising a relaxed and comfortable journey, IndiGoStretch customers can enjoy complimentary benefits like priority check-in, anytime boarding, advance seat selection, and zero convenience fee. They will also get additional baggage allowance starting from 30 kg (two bags) in check-in and one bag of 12 kg in the cabin. Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, “In line with our announcement to serve 12 Indian routes with our business class product, IndiGoStretch, we have added Delhi-Bengaluru as our second route. This follows the successful launch and positive customer feedback of IndiGoStretch on flights between Delhi and Mumbai. This initiative is another step towards our endeavour to provide greater comfort and accessibility to our customers. Soon, we will announce IndiGoStretch on flights between Delhi and Chennai.” IndiGoStretch is available for bookings on IndiGo’s direct channels as well as aggregator websites with tickets starting at ₹ 21000. It offers two-seat wide bay, specially curated healthy meal options by the Chefs at Oberoi Flight Services, and premium seats designed by RECARO. With a spacious pitch of 38 inches and a width of 21.3 inches, the seats feature a six-way adjustable headrest with neck support, a five inch deep recline for relaxation, electronic device holder, 60-watt …

Patanjali G. Keswani, Chairperson, Lemon Tree Hotels, said, “We are all set to capitalise on rising demand in India, focusing on premium pricing. We plan to list our subsidiary, Fleur Hotels, within the next 24 months, and eyeing alliances with international hotel chains for co- branding or shared loyalty programmes in the next five years.”

Air India on Monday (9 December) confirmed that it has placed an order to purchase 100 more Airbus aircraft, comprising 10 widebody A350 and 90 narrowbody A320 family aircraft, including A321neo. These 100 new aircraft are in addition to the company’s orders of 470 aircraft that was placed with Airbus and Boeing last year.

Highlighting various developmental initiatives at the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav in Delhi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Communication, Govt. of India, said, “Northeast India is witnessing remarkable growth through improved connectivity, including advancements in airports, road infrastructure, and investment in infrastructure.”