Category Archives: Agents

Mahesh Iyer, MD & CEO, Thomas Cook India, said, “Thomas Cook expects to outperform the country’s overall travel industry growth (including both inbound and outbound travel segments), which is estimated to grow in the range of 12–15 per cent in financial year 2026 (FY26).” For the summer season (April–June quarter), bookings are expected to be better than they were two weeks ago, he added.

Commenting on the current travel situation in India, Rikant Pittie, Chief Executive Officer, EaseMyTrip, said, “Due to recent geopolitical tensions, the platform saw a 22% rise in cancellations for Turkiye and 30% for Azerbaijan.” Travellers had switched to Georgia, Serbia, Greece, Thailand, and Vietnam, he added.

Marriott International announced the signing agreement with Grey Group to introduce the JW Marriott brand to Ludhiana — often referred to as India’s “Manchester” for its vibrant textile and manufacturing industries and dynamic entrepreneurial spirit. Designed to embody the brand’s signature emphasis on mindfulness, exceptional service, and sophisticated design, JW Marriott Ludhiana will be part of a mixed-use development featuring retail and residential spaces. The hotel is expected to open in January 2029. On the signing occasion, Ranju Alex, Regional Vice President – South Asia, Marriott International commented, “The signing of JW Marriott Ludhiana marks a bold step in redefining the luxury hospitality landscape of the city. Ludhiana’s market is at the pinnacle of transformation, and the arrival of JW Marriott — with its exceptional brand promise, world-class design, and commitment to excellence — will not only fill a long-standing gap in the city’s luxury segment but will also set a new benchmark for its evolving hospitality scene”. She added, “We are confident that this hotel will become the preferred destination for discerning travelers and a catalyst for Ludhiana’s growing stature as a business and social hub. This signing is a strong testament to Marriott International’s strategic focus, tapping into the potential of high-growth markets across India.” “It gives us immense pride to collaborate with Marriott International to introduce the globally renowned JW Marriott brand to our city,” said Inder Raj Singh, Owner, Grey Group. “This project is more than just a development for us – it is a significant step to reshape Ludhiana’s urban and hospitality landscape while reinforcing our ambitions across residential and commercial real estate. JW Marriott Ludhiana will stand as a landmark of luxury and excellence, and we …

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa and one of the fastest-growing airline brands in the world, is pleased to announce the launch of a new thrice-weekly passenger service to Hyderabad, India, starting from June 16, 2025. This new route exemplifies Ethiopian Airlines’ commitment to expanding its global network and enhancing connectivity between Africa and Asia, providing passengers with convenient travel options. The new flight will commence operations with three mid-day departures from Addis Ababa to Hyderabad and morning arrivals on the return leg as per the details below: ET 682 Addis Ababa (ADD) to Hyderabad (HYD) – Mon, Wed, Sat ET 683 Hyderabad (HYD) to Addis Ababa (ADD) – Tue, Thu, Sat Regarding the launch of the new service Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, remarked, “We are delighted to commence a new passenger service to Hyderabad. Since our first flight to Mumbai, India, in 1971, we have expanded our footprint throughout the country, offering convenient passenger and cargo transportation services. This new service will not only enhance travel options for our esteemed passengers but also strengthen trade and tourism ties between the two countries and beyond. Additionally, it is also a testament to Ethiopian’s commitment to enhancing its position as the continent’s top carrier with wide connectivity and world-class service”.

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has expressed its solidarity for the Indian Armed Forces in fighting against the terrorism and the countries those who are supporting terrorism. Ravi Gosain, its President, says, “We as responsible citizens of our country stand with our commitment for the national integrity, peace, and responsible tourism. During recent conflict between India and Pakistan, the two countries Turkey and Azerbaijan openly supported Pakistan who promotes terrorism. Turkey provided military assistance to Pakistan against India. We urge the Government of India to take firm diplomatic steps, including issuing travel advisories against nations that continue to support or aid Pakistan either directly or indirectly.” He added that travel is not just an economic activity but reflects the values and ethics of a nation. “As responsible stakeholders in the tourism sector, we believe that India must send a strong message to the global community that any form of support to terrorism, masked as financial aid or humanitarian assistance is unacceptable. IATO stands united with the nation and supports decisions that uphold India’s sovereignty and honor. We urge our members to give careful thought to the destinations they promote and align their efforts with the broader national sentiment and demonstrate solidarity with our armed forces and the values they protect,” Gosain says.

Highlighting policy measures by the Civil Aviation Ministry supporting future success, Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, adds, “While we can truly celebrate these achievements, we must not take for granted the continued success of India’s aviation future. There is more work to be done. In particular, I would highlight three areas: costs, airspace and sustainability.”

Underscoring the importance of choosing partners wisely and advocated for an industry-wide roundtable involving all major travel associations to redefine bilateral travel strategies, Sunil Kumar, President, TAAI, said, “Tourism is more than revenue; it builds visibility, partnerships, and diplomacy. Ensure that India’s tourism strategy aligns with national sentiment and global positioning.”

Emphasising the importance of timely and structured stakeholder engagements, particularly in light of national and regional developments, Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, says, “The meeting not only addressed current concerns, but also about building long-term resilience. We are moving from mere policy reviews to dynamic recalibrations that are responsive to ground realities. Goa’s strength lies in its people—every Goan is a stakeholder, an influencer, and a tourism ambassador.”

In light of India’s firm response to terrorism and the recent terror attack targeting Indian tourists in Kashmir, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, through its Tourism Committee, stands in firm solidarity with the Government of India and the Indian Armed Forces in their calibrated and resolute response. Dr. Subhash Goyal, Chairman, Tourism Committee, Indian Chamber of Commerce, says, “We salute our Armed Forces, and various other agencies within the Government, working under the strong leadership of our PM  Narendra Modi, on the success of Operation Sindoor.  We also salute the citizens of the border areas for showing bravery and cooperation. With  great pride we proved to the world that we are a strong, undivided country and will not tolerate any kind of terrorism on our soil. We all are together in our fight against terrorism of all kinds.” He adds that the Indian Chamber of Commerce joins the tourism associations and industry bodies in demanding a boycott of countries like Turkiye and Azerbaijan, following their stand against India’s response to terrorism. “Tourism is a force for good and a driver of peace, global harmony and international understanding. The safety and integrity of our citizens has to be prioritised above all else. There is so much beauty in the world, we appeal to Indians traveling overseas to choose destinations that are safe, promote peace and are aligned with India’s commitment against terrorism and separatist activities,” Dr Goyal says.  

Sharing his views about incorporating AI, Hari Ganapathy, Co-Founder, Pickyourtrail, says, “It is easy to get carried away with everyone doing something in AI. It’s important to flesh out the problems, form hypothesis, test it well and then go all in. Cutting the noise is most important with regards to AI at the moment.”  company recently went live across all destinations with its AI agent.