Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

With over 15 years of distinguished experience in leading marketing and communications for some of the most prestigious brands. Sandhya is a passionate and dynamic leader known for her strategic vision and execution. Throughout her illustrious career, Sandhya has excelled in various roles beyond the hospitality industry, bringing a wealth of diverse experience to her new position. Notably, she has held challenging and impactful roles at Apeejay Surendra Park Hotels as AM – Public Relations, The Lalit Suri Hospitality group as Marketing & Communications & PR Manager, ISKCON and Akshayapatra as the Regional Head of Communications, as well as serving as Senior Consultant, PR at PRHUB Integrated Marketing Pvt. Ltd and worked with Radisson Blu Outer Ring Road and Sarovar Portico Outer Ring Road, Marathalli as Associate Director, Marketing & Communications. In her last assignment as Corporate Head – Marketing and Communications at Inventree Hotels & Resorts, Sandhya demonstrated her ability to drive marketing strategies that delivered exceptional results. Sandhya’s expertise spans a broad spectrum of skills essential for her new role, including strong communication abilities, media planning, budget management, corporate communication, brand building, website management and people management. Her outstanding rapport with print, electronic, and online media will continue to be an asset to strengthen brand presence and market reach. “My aim is to create a difference in everything I do. Having something new and experimenting something new has an incredible intrinsic value. Marketing is to know and understand the customer well along with the brand’s vision and that can be achieved with the stories you tell”. At MRG Group as Deputy General Manager – Marketing & Communications

Carlos Díez de la Lastra’s work has significantly contributed to the professionalization of the tourism sector, the promotion of specialized education, and the development of talent. Consultancy firm Sergestur based its selection of the “150+” on criteria such as professional trajectory, achievements, sector influence, and innovation capacity. In 2024, under his leadership, Les Roches forged strategic partnerships with Silversea and Jetex, achieved Swiss accreditation recognizing it as a University of Applied Sciences, and launched the Spark X Foundation to advance research and improvement in the hospitality industry. Les Roches expanded its global footprint with the opening of the Les Roches Abu Dhabi Academy in September 2024, reinforcing its mission to provide world-class hospitality education and innovation on a global scale. For the sixth consecutive year, Sergestur has published its list of the 150 most influential professionals in the Spanish tourism sector. Once again, Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches, is highlighted among these notable leaders. Les Roches is one of the world’s top five institutions specializing in hospitality management education, founded in Switzerland in 1954. Since 1995, it has had a campus in Marbella, located in the heart of the Costa del Sol, where hundreds of students from nearly 100 nationalities enroll each semester. The institution is dedicated to providing a transformative education designed to shape the future leaders of the tourism industry. Les Roches boasts a network of more than 16,000 alumni, 33% of whom have gone on to start their own businesses. Born in Madrid in 1970, Carlos Díez de la Lastra has nearly three decades of experience in higher education. His professional journey includes roles as Chief Operating Officer and Sales Director of Universidad …

According to UN Tourism, global tourism reached 1.4 billion international arrivals in 2024, achieving 99% of pre-pandemic levels. This represents an increase of 11% over 2023, or 140 million more international tourist arrivals, fuelled by strong post-pandemic demand, robust performance from large source markets, and the ongoing recovery of destinations in Asia and the Pacific.   

New research by SHR reveals that hotels allowing Online Travel Agents (OTAs) to undercut their rates pay nearly 50% more for PPC leads. An analysis of 27 million CPC impressions shows that hotels pay an average of 47% more per click compared to offering the lowest rate on their own website. 

In 2024, 715 deals, including mergers, acquisitions, private equity, and venture financing, were announced globally in the travel and tourism sector, marking a 4.3% decline from 747 in 2023, according to GlobalData. The UK, India, and Japan saw growth in activity by 10.8%, 36%, and 45.7%, respectively. 

A Rs 150 crore tourism development project, approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has been launched in Manali to enhance tourism infrastructure and create new facilities. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, announced the initiative, aimed at boosting the region’s appeal as a key tourist destination. 

India Assist, a leader in tech-enabled travel assistance, has partnered with the Uttar Pradesh Government to upscale the travel experience for millions of visitors during Mahakumbh 2025 and beyond. This ongoing collaboration sees India Assist actively operating Tourist Information Centres within the Mahakumbh area in Prayagraj, along with additional TICs located at the city’s railway station and airport. As Mahakumbh 2025 unfolds, drawing over 40 crore pilgrims and tourists from across India and abroad, India Assist’s dedicated TICs are proving to be pivotal in enhancing the travel experience. These centers are offering real-time assistance to visitors, providing guidance on navigation, local attractions, and crucial emergency support, such as medical aid and theft resolution. The initiative continues to showcase how technology and human-driven support come together to ensure travelers can confidently navigate the Mahakumbh, one of the largest human gatherings in the world. Mr. Harish Khatri, Founder of India Assist, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “India is a country of diverse experiences and cultural treasures, and Mahakumbh stands as an incredible amalgamation of spiritual and cultural unity. Through this ongoing partnership, we are privileged to help millions of visitors celebrate this extraordinary event with ease and confidence. By blending innovative technology with on-ground human support, we ensure that every visitor feels guided and cared for throughout their journey.” As the event continues, the TICs are not only offering immediate travel assistance but are also introducing visitors to the benefits of tech-enabled services, encouraging the use of digital tools for ongoing travel support. By seamlessly combining cutting-edge technology with local expertise, India Assist is enhancing the Mahakumbh experience and setting new standards for tourism across Uttar Pradesh. Beyond Mahakumbh, India …

In a significant move to bolster safety protocols and security measures, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & HICC has appointed Govind Dhanu Naik as the Director of Security. With over 14 years of dedicated experience in the hospitality industry, Govind specializes in managing security teams and implementing comprehensive security strategies for large properties. His expertise lies in addressing potential security risks and enforcing proactive measures to ensure the safety of employees and guests alike, particularly in high-traffic environments. Govind has a proven track record in leading cross-functional teams and collaborating with senior management to analyze market trends and detect suspicious behaviours. With an impressive career journey from the automobile sector to security management, Govind brings a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic leadership to ensure safety and excellence at one of Asia’s largest MICE destinations. His extensive experience includes managing security operations in upscale properties, enabling him to effectively oversee all aspects of safety and security. He has successfully navigated the complexities of maintaining security during large-scale events and has implemented key initiatives to enhance safety standards across various hotel operations. Mr. Rubin Cherian, General Manager of Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and Hyderabad International Convention Centre, shares, “Govind Dhanu Naik’s wealth of experience and his commitment to excellence in safety and security are essential as we continue to enhance the guest experience at our venue. His leadership will undoubtedly strengthen our security operations and uphold our commitment to providing a safe environment for our guests and staff.” Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Govind remarked, “I am thrilled to join Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & HICC and lead the safety and security team. My focus will be on implementing …

Resorts World Cruises is pleased to announce that it will be expanding its footprint to India with the debut and homeport deployment of the Resorts World One cruise ship in Mumbai from 5 March until 1 June 2025. Resorts World One will depart from the soon to be completed Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at the Ballard Pier Extension (BPX) berth of the Mumbai Port with three weekly roundtrip cruise itineraries. These include the 2 Night Weekend High Seas Cruise departing on Fridays; the 3 Night Lakshadweep Cruise to Agatti Island departing on Sundays; and the 2 Night Goa Cruise departing on Wednesdays. “In support of the recently announced “Cruise Bharat Mission” by the Indian Government and the new world-class Mumbai International Cruise Terminal, we are excited to further boost India’s cruise tourism sector and bring the Resorts World One cruise ship to homeport in Mumbai,” said Michael Goh, President of Resorts World Cruises. “Mumbai is the main gateway to cruising in India and Indians will have the convenience of departing from their ‘doorsteps’, without the need to fly to another country”, he added.

DreamSetGo, India’s sports experiences and travel platform, achieved remarkable milestones in 2024, facilitating travel for 15,000+ Indian sports fans across 30+ global sporting events. With a 2x year-on-year growth in bookings, the brand highlighted India’s growing appetite for personalised and premium sports travel experiences, covering 50+ cities across India. Monish Shah, Co-founder & CEO, DreamSetGo, said, “Year 2024 has been a breakthrough year for sports tourism and DreamSetGo in India. From the Paris Olympics to IND vs. PAK thrillers, we’ve seen Indian fans embrace unique, luxury sports travel experiences like never before. As we look ahead, 2025 promises even greater opportunities with marquee events like the Champions Trophy, IPL, and FIFA World Cup 2026. We remain committed to redefining sports tourism by offering fans exclusive, immersive experiences that go beyond just the game.” Top Sporting Events Facilitated by DreamSetGo in 2024: Marquee events like the Paris Olympics, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Wimbledon, Formula 1, and the Premier League were the most popular among Indian fans. Iconic matchups, such as IND vs. PAK, saw the highest demand, while Olympic events like athletics, tennis, and badminton also attracted significant attention.