Category Archives: Agents

The vibrant travel community of Mumbai witnessed a memorable gathering as T Syndicate, a prominent travel agents’ association, hosted a special event at The Peninsula Grand Hotel, Andheri. The occasion was not just another industry meet—it reflected unity, patriotic fervor, and promising global opportunities for travel professionals. Founded by Siddharth Shah of Primark Travel House and Mr. Hemant Shah of Neel Travels, T Syndicate continues to create a platform fostering collaboration, information exchange, and growth among travel agents. The August meet was marked by an Independence Day theme, celebrating the spirit of freedom and enterprise. The event drew in an impressive turnout of over 70 travel agents, making it a full house and underscoring the association’s growing presence and relevance in the industry. A key highlight of the evening was an insightful presentation on Japan by event sponsors, Mr. Pranay Nath and Ms. Neha from I Love Japan DMC. The presentation offered enriching information about Japan’s tourism offerings, itinerary planning tips, and opportunities for Indian travel partners—further encouraging destination promotion post-pandemic. The session was especially appreciated for its depth, practical value, and renewed ties between Indian agents and the DMC community. The event concluded with networking over fine culinary offerings and a sense of shared patriotism and purpose, echoing the spirit of August. T Syndicate Core Committee: Siddharth Shah – Director Hemant Shah – Director Vijay Sanghavi – President Rushabh Parikh – Secretary Harish Doshi – Joint Secretary Janak Gala – Treasurer With such impactful gatherings, T Syndicate sets an example of how collective effort, forward-thinking, and industry partnerships can drive the travel trade forward. The association looks forward to many more such enriching engagements that empower agents and promote …

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.  

Rajiv Mehra, General Secretary, FAITH, emphasised that the upcoming FAITH Conclave will spotlight the need for unified policies, improved infrastructure and global marketing to boost India’s inbound tourism. Addressing issues like visa bottlenecks, taxation, and destination readiness, the event, which is slated to to held on 12 – 13 August in Delhi, will focus on collaboration, sustainability, digital transformation, and skilling to position tourism as a national economic driver.

TAAI’s 68th Convention & Exhibition is all set to take place from 17 to 19 September in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in collaboration with the Department of Culture & Tourism – Abu Dhabi. Celebrating its 74 years, the event will revolve around the theme, “Business with Goodness,” focusing on purposeful networking, thought leadership sessions, and meaningful industry engagement.

Manoj Samuel, CEO & Director, Riya Travel, noted that inbound tourism remains slow and infrastructure gaps persist. He highlighted Mumbai’s potential with its new airport and emphasised the need for improvement. “We are actively boosting trade engagement through roadshows and joint promotions, targeting not just tier I cities but tier II and III markets as well”, he said.

Avalon Waterways has carved an undisputed niche with their luxury river cruising, offering discerning travellers a refined yet relaxed way to explore Europe’s most iconic rivers. With its award-winning ships and immersive itineraries, Avalon has now become the cruise line of choice for small groups seeking to script unique memories in an apt setting. From milestone anniversaries to alumni reunions, ladies’ getaways, and club gatherings, Avalon transforms small group travel into unforgettable shared experiences. “We’re seeing an incredible rise in affinity groups choosing Avalon,” says Varesh Chopra, Managing Director – India, Middle East & South Asia. “Our intimate setting, seamless services with personalised experiences resonate deeply with travellers who want to connect, celebrate, and explore without the usual hassles.” Small groups are there to see more of each other while traveling in an unhurried manner rather than queuing up for each meal or excursion. One of the top reasons such groups love Avalon is the ease of the all-inclusive format and the personalised atmosphere on board. No coordinating hotel stays, sightseeing, transportation, or meals. Unlike large ocean liners, Avalon’s ships carry an average of 150 guests, creating a boutique luxury setting on the water. Groups numbering anything from 10 to 30 pax, enjoy the spacious suites, sun decks, and elegant spaces – all designed for making meaningful connections rather than meeting crowds. The truly all-inclusive format includes stay in award winning Panorama Suites, flexible gourmet dining options with local wines & beers even a really ‘Happy Hour’ each day, Services of a professional Cruise Director & expertly guided sightseeing with choices allowing both organizers and guests to focus entirely on creating memories. Travelers indulge in the local culture through evening …

The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH)  announces its most significant policy dialogue since the onset of the pandemic—the FAITH Conclave 2025—scheduled to be held on 12–13 August 2025 at The Taj Palace, New Delhi. Under the theme ‘Indian Tourism: Invincible Spirit’, this landmark event will bring together top leaders from both government and industry to collaboratively drive the shared goal of establishing India as a global tourism powerhouse by 2047. A Vision for 2047: $3 Trillion, 200 Million Tourism Jobs FAITH Conclave 2025 is a cornerstone in shaping the path to Tourism@2047—a bold, inclusive and achievable roadmap for India to become a top 5 global tourism economy. Discussions will focus on: Milestones for achieving India’s $3 trillion tourism vision Creating a pan-India tourism growth narrative Deepening Centre-State-Industry alignment Urgent steps to increase Inbound Tourism to India  Making tourism a concurrent subject in the Constitution Securing export industry status for tourism Reforming GST across the tourism value chain Spotlight on Tourism Reforms Key areas of discussion include: Developing a country-specific inbound strategy Boosting rural, wellness and spiritual tourism circuits Creating destination-specific marketing and infrastructure plans Confirmed Dignitaries & Thought Leaders: Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister for Tourism Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Hon’ble Minister for DONER ShriRohanKhaunte, Hon’ble Tourism Minister of Goa Senior functionaries from the Ministry of Tourism Industry leaders including: Mr Amitabh Kant (Former G20 Sherpa) Mr Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO of Indian Hotels Company Ltd. Mr Rajesh Magow (Group CEO, MakeMyTrip) Mr Pieter Elbers (CEO, IndiGo) Mr Dipak Deva (MD, TCI) Mr Anil Chadha (MD, ITC Hotels) Mr K B Kachru (Chairman Emeritus, Radisson Hotels) Ms Homa Mistry (CEO, Trail Blazer Tours) And many more… FAITH’s structure ensures that every member association—ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI, has equal representation and …

Sabre’s global travel agency survey finds that 75% of them say the number of content connections has grown over the past three years and 80%+ believe that unified access through a single platform would reduce technology costs. At the same time, AI is seen as a powerful remedy, with 91% of agencies believing it can enhance both productivity and the customer experience. Yet, 41% remain concerned about AI’s long-term implications for the workforce, reinforcing the need for smart, responsible implementation.

Speaking at a Heritage Tourism Conclave in New Delhi, Rajender Kumar, Secretary – Tourism, Civil Aviation, Devasthanam Management & Pilgrimage, Government of Gujarat, outlined the state’s proactive vision for inclusive heritage tourism, stating, “We are not only restoring monuments but also ensuring direct benefits to local communities through jobs, infrastructure, and cultural pride.”

India has strengthened its position on the global business travel map as it has been ranked among the world’s top 15 business travel markets, recording US$43 billion of spending in 2025. This places India at eighth position globally, just behind South Korea and ahead of Italy and Brazil. Along with South Korea and Turkey, India is identified as one of the fastest-growing markets in the 2025 forecast.