Inaugural flight on 12th April 2025; New route will be served all year round Iceland, world’s largest vulcano island and known for its rugged nature with geysers, glaciers and waterfalls, becomes the latest addition to LOT Polish Airlines’ growing route network from 12th April 2025. Four times a week, the Polish airline, which is a member of Star Alliance for more than 20 years, will connect its global hub in Warsaw with Keflavik Airport on the outskirts of the Icelandic capital Reykjavik. The departure time is every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 21:35h with arrival in Reykjavik after a 4:20 hour flight at 23:55h local time. On Sundays, the flight departs Warsaw at 21:50h (arriving in Reykjavik at 0:10h). The new Iceland flights of LOT Polish Airlines in summer 2025: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Departure with LO 499 in Warsaw at 21:35h, arrival in Keflavik at 23:55h local time Departure with LO 500 in Keflavik at 0:45h, arrival in Warsaw at 6:45h local time Sunday Departure with LO 499 in Warsaw at 21:50h, arrival in Keflavik at 0:10h local time Departure with LO 500 in Keflavik at 1:00h, arrival in Warsaw at 7:00h local time Also in winter to Keflavik In the 2025/2026 winter season, LOT Polish Airlines will fly to Iceland three times a week: every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday with departure from Warsaw at 21:50h and arrival in Keflavik at 1:25h local time. On the flights to Iceland, LOT Polish Airlines will operate modern Boeing 737 aircraft with two service classes: LOT Business Class and LOT Economy Class. “Iceland is an up-and-coming destination with a good tourist infrastructure where visitors experience something truly unique. This small country in …

The 125-key hotel will be a standout addition to IHG’s portfolio and strengthen presence in key spiritual destinations in India.  IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement to develop a Holiday Inn Express hotel in the city of Ayodhya. Scheduled to open by mid-2028, the signing aligns with IHG’s strategic focus on expanding its presence in high-growth markets in India, including key spiritual destinations that are attracting large volume of travelers. With over 3,100 hotels worldwide, Holiday Inn Express is IHG’s largest and fastest-growing hotel brand. Renowned for its accessible, comfortable accommodations and streamlined services, the brand is a preferred choice for travelers seeking rest, recharge, and productivity. Once open, Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya will embody these core principles, catering to both spiritual, leisure and MICE travelers. Ayodhya rose to prominence as India’s most visited tourist place in 2024, with over 110 million visitors in first half of 2024. Strategically located in close proximity to the airport and just minutes from both the main temple complex and the Railway Station, Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya will be easily accessible, making it an ideal choice for travellers. The hotel will feature 125 well-appointed rooms, an all-day dining, a fitness centre, business center, parking space, laundry room and a spacious meeting room. Commenting on the signing, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts said, “We are thrilled to announce the signing of Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya. Ayodhya has become one of India’s most preferred tourist destinations in 2024. With Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya’s strategic location, the hotel will benefit predominantly from spiritual tourism year-round. The hotel is poised to offer …

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.”