Summit Hotels & Resorts, Eastern India’s largest hospitality chain, announced its formal entry into the luxury hotel market with the launch of its flagship brand, The Summit, in Siliguri. Scheduled to open in May 2027, this landmark property signals a bold strategic expansion for the brand, long known for its mountain-based portfolio, into the high-end urban hospitality space. Located in the heart of Siliguri, the critical gateway to Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Bhutan, Rhe Summit is conceived as Eastern India’s first true urban luxury resort. The 100-room property, with each room featuring a private balcony, will offer an elevated combination of city convenience and resort indulgence. Designed by Vivek Singh Rathore, Partner at Salient and a Forbes India “Bold Club” honoree, the resort will integrate contemporary global design standards with Eastern India’s cultural and natural heritage, making it both an architectural landmark and the brand’s corporate headquarters. Setting a new benchmark for tier-II hospitality, The Summit will position Siliguri as a premier destination for luxury weddings, large-scale corporate events, and high-end leisure travel. The property will feature the largest banquet facilities in Eastern India, capable of hosting up to 2,000 guests and managing 10 simultaneous events. A complete wedding ecosystem, with multiple indoor and outdoor venues, accommodation for large parties, and dedicated planning services will meet the growing demand in the region’s lucrative ₹1 crore-plus wedding market, which draws families from Bihar and Bengal. In the MICE segment, state-of-the-art conference technology will cater to the increasing corporate presence in Siliguri, offering premium meeting and event solutions previously unavailable in the city. The lifestyle offering at The Summit will further differentiate it from existing hospitality options in the region. Guests will enjoy …

Over 600 delegates from India’s travel trade community joined the 68th Annual Convention of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), supported by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). The convention took place from 17–19 September in Abu Dhabi and was themed “Business with Goodness,” bringing together leading travel agents, tour operators, airlines, and hospitality partners. The successful convention further deepened tourism ties between India and the UAE, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for culture, leisure, and business travel.

The 55ᵗʰ FHRAI Annual Convention has kicked off in Bengaluru with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, projecting India as a $30 trillion economy by 2047. Highlighting hospitality’s rising demand, he noted industry status for 50 iconic destinations and said 18 states had extended this recognition. He stressed investments today will power tourism and hospitality growth tomorrow.

Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo, has said that they fly to 94 destinations in India, which provides the trade an opportunity not only to support the airline’s growth but also to run their own business and build on it. “The IndiGo team is engaging with the travel trade from the beginning. We also have all the digital connections with them through a dedicated portal,” he shared.

The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has signed an MoU with Amadeus and officially launched the TAAI Marketplace in Abu Dhabi at its 68th Convention. Speaking on the same, Sandeep Dwivedi, Managing Director – Travel Sellers, India and subcontinent, Amadeus, said, “We aim to make this marketplace the Amazon for the travel trade industry.”

Kazin DMC has acquired ‘I Travel Uzbekistan’, marking its second major takeover and expanding its presence to 5 destinations — Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus, and now Uzbekistan. With this move, the company reinforces its status as one of the fastest-growing and most influential DMC networks in Central Asia and the CIS. Rohit Shorey, Founder & CEO, Kazin DMC, said the acquisition represents “a statement of strength,” adding that the partnership with I Travel Uzbekistan and Ashutova will enhance scale, quality, and innovation while building the region’s most trusted DMC network for global partners.

The Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian outbound travel market by renewing its exclusive partnership with Blink Brand Solutions for the second consecutive year. This strategic collaboration aims to sustain momentum through enhanced marketing, trade outreach, and public relations in India. Taiwan welcomed 38,158 Indian visitors in 2024, marking 20.81% growth, and recorded a further 22.01% rise in the first half of 2025 with 22,687 arrivals. Paul Shih, Director, Singapore Office, TTA, said, “We will continue to roll out some pioneering market-focussed initiatives that closely engage with our travel industry partners in India and lead Taiwan’s efforts in India to create great vibes and visibility about our destination’s unique locations, unrivalled value and extraordinary holiday experiences.”

At its roadshow in New Delhi, Michael Dominic, Managing Director, CGH Earth Experience Hotels, revealed the group’s ambitious expansion beyond South India. Upcoming projects include a wellness retreat in Uttarakhand and tea-estate-based properties in Kalimpong and Kurseong, scheduled to open by early 2026. Additional developments are planned in Bandhavgarh, Spiti Valley, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Goa, and Sakleshpur. By the end of 2025, the brand will add four new units, with three more slated for early 2026. The group’s Saha brand is driving growth by converting heritage villas into unique experiential stays, reinforcing its positioning in sustainable, community-driven hospitality.

Noida International Airport (NIA) will be inaugurated on 30 October, revealed KR Naidu, Civil Aviation Minister, GoI. Passenger operations are expected to begin within 45 days of the launch. In its first phase, the airport will connect around 10 cities, largely metros. International operations will start later. He said, “Major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata will be among the first to be linked. Apart from passenger operations, there is also significant potential for cargo flights.”

Hoi, India’s pioneering travel-tech platform revolutionising airport experiences, has announced a strategic partnership with EaseMyTrip, one of the leading online travel-tech platforms, to launch India’s first-of-its-kind Smart Kiosk Rewards Program. This innovative initiative transforms routine airport dining into a value-driven travel experience, addressing the dual challenges of airport wait times and travel cost optimisation. The program leverages Hoi’s cutting-edge contactless food-ordering kiosks across Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, and Goa’s Manohar International Airport, enabling passengers to bypass traditional queues while earning instant travel rewards. Every kiosk order generates an immediate ₹500 EaseMyTrip coupon delivered directly to the passenger’s WhatsApp, while a monthly draw awards one fortunate traveller a ₹5,000 EaseMyTrip voucher creating anticipation and engagement throughout the journey. Running for a period of three months, the program has already transformed the travel experience for over 5,000 passengers, demonstrating significant traction and passenger adoption across Hoi’s airport network. The initiative represents a paradigm shift in airport monetisation, moving beyond traditional transactional relationships to create an integrated ecosystem where dining, technology, and future travel planning converge seamlessly. Commenting on this partnership, Dhruv Godara, Deputy CEO of Hoi said, “This collaboration with EaseMyTrip represents our vision of airports as dynamic ecosystems rather than mere transit points. By integrating real-time rewards with our contactless dining solutions, we’re fundamentally reimagining how passengers interact with airport services. Every meal becomes an investment in their next journey, creating a continuous cycle of value that extends far beyond the current trip. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to transform airports into intelligent, rewarding environments that anticipate and enhance every aspect of the passenger experience.” On this collaboration, Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip …