As part of its continued expansion in North India, the Royal Orchid Hotels has signed a new 43-key Regenta Place in Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi. The move aligns with the group’s strategy to tap into high-potential, underserved destinations and cater to the increasing demand for premium hospitality experiences beyond metro cities. The resort is likely to open in September this year.

GRT Hotels & Resorts has launched GReaT Ceremonies, the newly transformed wedding and event spaces at Grand Chennai by GRT Hotels in T. Nagar. Formerly known as the iconic GRT Convention Centre, the venue has been elevated into a contemporary celebration destination that blends modern sophistication, timeless tradition, and signature GRT hospitality under one roof.

According to recent market research by Nightfood Holdings (NGTF), AI in hospitality will reach $1.46 billion by 2029, growing at a 57.8% CAGR. Simultaneously, the global hospitality robotics market is projected to surge from $24.38 billion in 2025 to over $107 billion by 2034, signalling rapid tech adoption and rising investments in the sector.

Balitrip Wisata has kicked off its India roadshow 2025 in Ahmedabad, attracting over 215 travel agencies from Gujarat. The four-city tour promotes Bali as a top outbound destination among Indian travellers. With the theme “Focus. Delivery. Value.”, the B2B DMC aims to strengthen service excellence and trade partnerships in India.

Aligning with India’s regional development goals, the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) is prioritising the Northeast for expansion. With 15 operational hotels totalling 1,348 rooms in the Northeast and 6 hotels with 634 rooms in the pipeline, the brand’s strategy focuses on strengthening its footprint in the East and Northeast, Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL, said.

KB Kachru, President, HAI, said, “With the evolving landscape of the Indian tourism sector, the hospitality sector is also adding more authentic experiences rather than services, increasing its engagement with the local communities, sourcing locally largely and supporting the businesses and economies of the region in which they are located.”

India has extended a free e-tourist visa to the Philippines’ nationals. This decision comes after the Philippines declared a 14-day visa-free entry to Indians. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, made the announcement following the bilateral talks with Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, on his official visit to India.

India has emerged as the world’s fifth-largest aviation market, handling 241 million passengers in 2024, according to IATA’s World Air Transport Statistics. The Mumbai–Delhi route ranked 7th among the world’s busiest airport pairs. Asia Pacific dominated the ranking, with only Jeddah–Riyadh, located outside the region, in the top 10.

Nepal saw a surge in tourism with over 70,000 tourist arrivals by air in the first seven months of this year. Sharing the details, Nepal Tourism Board said among the international tourists, Indians topped with 27,152 (38.7 per cent) visitors in July.

Sanjeev Mehra, President, Skål International India, revealed that in order to boost outbound travel and trade opportunities for its members, they are coming up with international B2B engagement programs in partnership with tourism boards of Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Oman. This is the power of being part of a trusted global network, he said.