Category Archives: Agents

The Centre has extended the validity period of current airfare cap as well as the capacity utilisation of airlines till May 31. In one of the two separate orders, the Ministry of Civil Aviation extended the time period of airfare cap till May 31 from April 30. Till recently, the Centre had expanded the airfare cap by increasing the lower and upper limit. These fare bands came into force with effect from May 21, 2020.

SP Dutt, a retired official of Air India, passed away after battling with the coronavirus disease. Known as Speedy to friends, Dutt served as the Communication and PR head for Air India. He was on ventilator since April 24. Dutt had completed an MS in applied science from New York University and was also a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Cross Hotels & Resorts has signed a significant hotel management agreement with Kasetsinn Co to open Cross Pattaya Phratamnak. This will be the first property after their luxury brand renaming from X2 (Cross To) to Cross. The 78-key hotel is set to open in August 2021.

After a gap of two years, Spain Tourism has restarted its Spain Specialist Programme (SSP), its e-learning platform designed by Turespaña to familiarise tourism professionals with Spanish culture, the regions of Spain, and its tourist attractions. All the SSP courses are free of charge and the travel trade can take it at their own convenience. Its online campus is available at http://campus.spain.travel/en-in/.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have announced a ‘Destination Tracker’ in preparation for the restart of international travel. The UNWTO-IATA Destination Tracker is a new free online tool for governments to provide information on COVID-19 requirements for travel and the measures in place at the destination. The tool is available through the websites of both organizations.

The much-awaited virtual show MICE Engage 2021 organised by JTB India will take place today from 10am IST onwards. The event will see key travel service providers exhibiting at the show who will meet decision-makers from top corporate companies in India. For more information, contact Kritika Kunden at kritika_k.in@jtbap.com or Deepali Gupta at deepali_g.in@jtbap.com.

AVIAREPS, the India representative for Budget Rent A Car, will conduct it’s first-ever presentation for the Indian travel trade today at 11am IST. Khushbu Vora, its Account Manager, will highlight Budget’s offerings to the trade and stand a chance to win exciting prizes. To sign up, contact Jaspreet Kaur on 9650196532 or jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

Rajiv Mehra, President – Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has been nominated from IATO EC to step in as the Honorary Secretary of FAITH.  A veteran of the travel trade, since 1977, Rajiv has been associated with the IATO Executive Committee since 2011, initially as its Executive Committee Member, thereafter as its Vice President and recently as its President.

Sharing the idea behind exhibiting at JTB India’s upcoming virtual MICE show slated to be held on April 28, Saket Dhandhania, Director (Alliances), DreamSetGo, says, “Year 2020 was a difficult year for all of us. MICE Engage 2021 is offering us all the opportunities to demonstrate our capabilities and efforts in reviving the travel business. We have had a long-standing relationship with JTB India and through this event we are looking at networking with key corporates, decision-makers and also building on some of our existing business relationships.”

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri has hailed the ‘Corona Warriors’ of the civil aviation sector saying that “They have been diligently performing their duties despite great personal risks to ensure that we can continue to reach out to our people in their hour of need.” He called the civil aviation essential staff members ‘relentless and undaunted’.