Category Archives: Agents

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.

Talking about the upcoming Air Transport Summit that will be held in Delhi in June, Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said, “Those gathering for the event will be impressed. India’s place in global aviation has changed dramatically over the last decade. With record aircraft orders, impressive growth, and world-class infrastructure developments, India is firmly established as the fourth largest market (domestic & international) for aviation in the world. And within this decade IATA’s own projections point to India rising to be the third largest.”

Cruise Professionals invites travel partners to an exclusive Princess Cruises webinar on 14 May at 3 pm. Celebrate 60 years of sailing and discover how to sell Princess Cruises more effectively and gain more. Learn about the new ships, latest offerings, gain expert insights and stand a chance to win exciting prizes during the Q&A! For more information, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call ‪+91 96501 96532. To register, click here.

IATO team led by Ravi Gosain, President met Pravati Parida, Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister of Odisha, to invite her for the 40th IATO Annual Convention scheduled to be held from 22nd to 25th August 2025 at Swosti Premium Spa & Resorts, Puri. Odisha. IATO delegation included Sanjay Razdan – Vice President, Rajiv Mehra – Immediate Past President, J.K. Mohanty – Chairman, IATO Eastern Region and Gagan Sarangi – Chairman, IATO Odisha Chapter and met the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister. Gosain informed that the Deputy Chief Minister gave her consent to join for the convention and assured her full support and also from the Directorate of Tourism, Govt. of Odisha and OTDC. She also mentioned that special arrangements with seamless entry will be made for the IATO delegates to visit Lord Jagannath Temple and beautification of Puri Beach during the convention. She also agreed to our request to host IATO Delegates at Odisha Tourism Development Corporation properties for the post- convention tours. After the meeting, IATO delegation met Mansi Nimbhal, Director (Tourism), Govt. of Odisha to invite for the convention and to seek her support, who assured her full support for the convention. With the support from Odisha Tourism, the 40th IATO Annual Convention is going to be held from 22nd to 25th August 2025 in Puri, Odisha. Odisha is the host state of the convention and besides the host state, we expect Ministry of Tourism and Government of India and 15-18 states presence in the convention. Swosti Premium Beach Resort, Puri will be the venue hotel and all the activities on all the three days i.e. registration for the convention, inaugural function, business sessions and evening programme will …

Madame Tussauds Singapore, operated by Merlin Entertainments, proudly unveils the world’s first wax figure of Indian cinema megastar Ram Charan, immortalised in a first-ever dual celebrity and pet figures —alongside his beloved pet Rhyme. The multi-talented actor came face-to-face with his figure for the first time at Madame Tussauds London, joined by his family and his father, legendary actor Mr. Chiranjeevi. The figure will then make its way to its permanent home at Madame Tussauds Singapore from 20th May 2025 onwards. Ram Charan shared, “When I saw the figure for the first time, I was absolutely stunned. The likeness is unbelievable—from the expression to the stance to the exact detail of Rhyme by my side. It’s like looking in a mirror, and I’m so thrilled that fans around the world will get to experience me up close.” The creation of Ram Charan’s wax figure was a feat of precision and artistry, with many months went into bringing both Ram Charan and Rhyme to life with astonishing detail. Every feature—from the subtle tilt of his head to the lifelike posture of Rhyme—was crafted with care to reflect the actor’s unique personality and calm confidence. Jim Kempton, Principal Sculptor at Merlin Magic Making, commented, “What made this project so special was the chance to capture not just a global film icon, but the deep connection he shares with his dog, Rhyme. We worked closely with Ram to ensure every detail—from his posture and smile to Rhyme’s alert gaze—was perfect. This figure is a celebration of both his star power and his warmth as a person.” Ram Charan is styled in a custom black velvet bandhgala, which he wore at the 2023 Oscars. …

Hahnair launches a new brand to encompass its new suite of retailing solutions based on NDC (New Distribution Capability). Under the umbrella Distriply by Hahnair, the company will introduce a range of products that will enable airlines and travel agencies to tap into new distribution channels, perfectly complementing the existing Hahnair GDS-based solutions.

Outlining his vision to expand the association’s global footprint by forging partnerships with international tourism boards and organisations, Ravi Gosain, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), said, “We want IATO to grow into a truly international organisation. Whenever anyone is looking to do business with India, they should consider our members as their first choice.”

In a decisive move reflecting the current geopolitical tensions, leading Indian travel agencies such as EaseMyTrip, Cox & Kings and ixigo have suspended all travel packages, all flight and hotel bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan in solidarity with India following the Pahalgam terror attack. Both countries expressed diplomatic support for Pakistan, as a result of which several Indian travel operators have paused bookings to these destinations, advising caution.

Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) launches its May Sale for travel partners to take advantage of exclusive offerings of at least 25% off at thousands of hotels in top global destinations. They can book until 26 May, for travel through 30 September 2025. This sale offers an opportunity to increase bookings, maximise sales and enhance client satisfaction by providing unbeatable savings on hotel stays worldwide.