Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, announced the signing of a resort in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. This greenfield project will be under the Gateway brand. Speaking on the occasion, Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President, Real Estate & Development, IHCL said, “Prayagraj, with its deep-rooted cultural and religious importance, has been a prominent destination for pilgrims and leisure tourists alike. This signing aligns with our strategy of penetrating emerging markets in Tier II and III cities. We are delighted to partner with Ecavo Hospitality Limited for this project.” True to its ethos, the 150-key Gateway Prayagraj seamlessly blends contemporary aesthetics with local architectural influences. Guests can choose from an array of culinary options like an all-day-diner, a bar, a specialty restaurant, and a lounge. It will feature a state-of-the-art gym, swimming pool and spa. Spanning over 5000 sq. ft. the resort’s banqueting space makes it the ideal choice for social and corporate events. Abhishek Gupta, Managing Director, ECAVO Hospitality, said “We are thrilled to partner with IHCL to introduce the Gateway brand to Prayagraj. This hotel will be a premier destination for domestic and international travellers, offering them an unparalleled experience.” Playing host to the renowned Kumbh Mela, Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad, attracts millions of pilgrims from around the world. Th city is also an emerging corporate hub due to the presence of the Allahabad High Court and several educational institutions.

With the opening of Golden Tulip, it becomes the second Golden Tulip hotel and the sixth hotel under Sarovar Hotels portfolio. Sarovar Hotels announced the grand opening of Golden Tulip Vagator, a stylish retreat located in the heart of North Goa. Known for its golden sands, dramatic red cliffs and thriving nightlife, Vagator is one of Goa’s most scenic and exciting destinations. This latest addition to Sarovar’s upscale Golden Tulip portfolio enhances the group’s growing presence in Goa, delivering a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure for both leisure and business travellers. Golden Tulip Vagator offers 30 elegantly designed rooms across two categories – Superior and Deluxe with modern amenities and captivating views of greenery or pool. The hotel provides guests with a rejuvenating escape, offering a wide range of facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and two dining options: Tulipe, an all-day dining restaurant with a capacity of accommodating 60 guests and Chill, a tropical bar and lounge with a capacity of 25 guests. The hotel’s proximity to Vagator Beach, Chapora Fort and other major attractions makes it the ideal choice for anyone looking to experience the beauty and culture of Goa. Ajay K. Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels and Director, Louvre Hotels India, commented, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of Golden Tulip Vagator in partnership with Prime Avia Consultants. Located in the heart of North Goa, Vagator is truly a hidden gem, and we believe our guests will be captivated by its stunning landscapes, exceptional service, and modern design. Our vision is to create an unforgettable experience that harmoniously blends Goa’s unique charm with world-class hospitality, establishing it as the go-to destination for travellers …

A 3-Day Extravaganza of Korean Culture, Business, and Entertainment in New Delhi, Featuring a Travel Mart at Yashobhoomi Dwarka on October 18 and Cultural Celebrations at DLF Avenue, Saket on 19-20 October. The Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) India operating under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST) of South Korea announced the Korea Travel Fiesta 2024, set to enchant Indian consumers on 19 & 20 October, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM at DLF Avenue, Saket, New Delhi. Since its inception in 2017, the Korea Festival, organised by KTO India, has become a cherished tradition, drawing an ever-growing number of visitors each year. Embodying the spirit of the K-Wave and delivering a vibrant platform for cultural exchange and festivity, the Korea Travel Fiesta 2024 promises to take Indian audiences on a captivating journey into the wonders of South Korea. Beyond the cultural festivities, the Korea Tourism Roadshow 2024 will offer significant networking opportunities to its business partners on 18th October in a B2B event at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, located in Dwarka Sector 25, New Delhi. KTO will host a Travel Mart from 3 PM to 7 PM featuring delegation from Korea, including K-Beauty brand Jenny House, the JUMP performance team, more than 10 destination management companies, along with airline partners, including Korean Air and Air India. This event provides a befitting platform for the Indian travel agents to engage with the participants from Korea and India to explore South Korea’s travel destination offerings and services, fostering business relationships and promoting tourism. Myong Kil Yun, Regional Director, India & SAARC Countries, Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO), expressed his excitement, stating “The Korea Travel Fiesta 2024 is more than just a …

The meeting of the first Directors of the Board of Indian Maritime Centre (IMC) was held in Mumbai on 14 October, 2024.  The Indian Maritime Centre was incorporated on 27 September, 2024, with its headquarters at Mumbai in the premises belonging to Maritime Training Institute of Shipping Corporation of India at Powai. The first Directors of the Board are as follows: Devki Nandan, President, Indian Private Ports and Terminals Association (IPPTA) Shankar Shinde, Immediate Past Chairman, Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations in India (FFFAI) Vikas Vij, President, ICC Shipping Association (ICCSA) Sankalp Shukla, Chairman, Foreign Owners representatives and Ship Managers Association (FOSMA) Arjun Ashok Chowgule, President, Shipyards Association of India (SAI) Maneesh Pradhan, Chairman, Maritime Association of Shipowners, Ship Managers and Agents (MASSA) Rahul Modi, President, Coastal Container Transporters Association (CCTA) In the meeting held on 14 October, 2024, the Board of Directors elected Devki Nandan as Chairman and Shankar Shinde as Vice Chairman of Board of Directors.  Capt. Sankalp Shukla will act as Secretary and Capt. Vikas Vij as Treasurer. R. Ravi Kumar, Secretary General of IPPTA, has been appointed as Acting CEO. It was also decided to accept the applications of the Association of Container Train Operators (ACTO) and Indian Register of Shipping IR Class IRS as members of IMC. The Maritime India Vision 2030 envisaged by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) identified the need to create an integrated Apex Maritime Body called the ‘India Maritime Centre’. A high-level task force was formed under the chairmanship of Addl. Secretary, MoPSW towards development of the same. IMC will play a defining role to have a unified approach to maritime policy across different subsectors   focussing on building an …

Anjushree Hotel, Ujain won the ‘Best Luxury Hotel-Madhya Pradesh’ award at the India Travel Awards 2024. “The award showcases Ujjain’s ability to deliver world-class hospitality services,” said Amitava Saha, the General Manager of five-star luxury property, after receiving the award.

Air passengers might have a reason to smile this Diwali season as average airfares on many domestic routes have dropped 20-25% compared to the year-ago period, according to an analysis by ixigo. The prices are for one-way average fare on a 30 days APD (advanced purchase date) basis.

DCT-Abu Dhabi will host the first-of-its-kind APAC Travel Marketplace in Al Ain on 15 and 16 October, connecting over 200 travel agents from the APAC region with 60 Abu Dhabi-based stakeholders. The B2B event is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen relationships with the APAC travel trade.

Hotels in India are witnessing unprecedented wedding bookings this season. Properties are nearly sold out for key dates, with rates increasing by up to 25%. Unique offerings and services are being launched to cater to the growing popularity of destination weddings in Udaipur, Goa, and beyond.

TripJack, India’s leading B2B travel-tech platform announced the appointment of Varun Mahajan as the new Head of Business for its Flights portfolio, effective May 2024. In his new role, Varun will work closely with founders Hussain Patel and Hasan Patel to drive TripJack’s vision forward and accelerate the company’s growth trajectory. Varun will lead TripJack’s largest division with a focus on building new lines of business, driving process transformation, and enhancing capability development. His leadership will be instrumental in shaping the future of TripJack’s flights portfolio as the company strengthens its position in the travel industry. Varun brings with him over 15 years of rich experience across diverse sectors. Most recently, he served as an Associate Partner at McKinsey India’s growth practice, where he spearheaded numerous sales and marketing transformations across industries for five years. His expertise lies in scaling businesses and implementing high-impact strategies to achieve significant growth. Prior to his tenure at McKinsey, Varun spent nearly a decade at Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) in various brand management, marketing, and sales roles. His deep-rooted experience in the consumer goods sector provides him with unique insights into building customer-focused strategies. Varun holds an MBA from the prestigious Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Delhi. With a strong understanding of the Indian commercial landscape and a proven track record in B2B and B2B2C environments, Varun is well-positioned to strengthen TripJack’s ‘customer-first’ philosophy. His leadership will be pivotal as the company continues to enhance its offerings and expand its flights business in the face of a growing competitive market.  

Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency recently organised the 6th edition of its annual B2B showcase Explore France at the JW Marriott in Goa from 7th to 11th October. A delegation of 23 key stakeholders representing the diversity of France’s touristic offering interacted with 50 members of the Indian travel trade fraternity over 2 days of pre-scheduled meetings and also interacted with trade media representatives. An approximate of 1100 meetings took place over these two days enabling the partners and agents to understand the evolution of travel trends and discuss potential business opportunities. This evolutive edition of the showcase commenced with a presentation for the delegation on the Indian travel landscape and the ever-evolving profile of the Indian traveller and trends prevalent in the country. The presentation included a showcase of the legacy of family run travel businesses in India and the importance of the family segment in Indian outbound travel by Neil Patil, COO, Veena World. There was an introduction also by NPCI Payments International Limited and Lyra on the importance and integration of UPI as a seamless mode of digital payments and its advancement in France. The opening dinner of the workshop took place in the presence of the Consul General of France in Mumbai Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet. In addition to the pre-scheduled meetings, this year, the delegation also had an opportunity to present their offerings to the assembled agents. An interactive visa session was also organised in association with the Consulate General of France in Mumbai and VFS Global to discuss visa procedures and address commonly asked queries by Sami Bouakaze – Consul and Deputy Head of Mission. The networking evenings provided many opportunities for the participants …