Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Addressing the Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart (RDTM) 2024 in Jaipur, Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister, Rajasthan, said, “Our Tourism Unit Policy will be out soon. We are planning to organise roadshows overseas to promote Rajasthan and for that, we need your participation and involvement. A lot more is in the pipeline for the future.”

DreamFolks has announced the launch of its newest service – highway dining for travellers. This service will be available at over 600 outlets along key highways across the country.  This new offering marks DreamFolks’ expansion beyond airports and railway stations to provide enhanced convenience for highway travellers. DreamFolks members can now enjoy specially designed meals at popular restaurants on more than 60 key highway routes emanating from major cities,      including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata. The service offers travellers a seamless, hassle-free dining experience while on the road. Commenting on the launch, Liberatha Kallat, Founder and CMD of DreamFolks, said,“At DreamFolks, we are committed to delivering premium experiences to travellers. With this launch, we’re excited to extend our services to highway travellers, providing them with access to quality dining options throughout their journeys. As we continue to identify opportunities to enhance the travel experience across multiple touchpoints, expanding our offerings to highways is a natural progression. This new service reflects our vision of creating seamless and elevated travel experiences at every mode of the journey.” The DreamFolks highway dining service offers travellers an exclusive range of thoughtfully crafted meals, combining gourmet flavours with unparalleled convenience. Designed to elevate the dining experience for discerning road travellers, this service ensures that every meal reflects our commitment to quality and sophistication. As highway networks continue to grow and road travel gains popularity, DreamFolks is proud to extend its premium hospitality to ensure travellers enjoy exceptional dining at every stop along their journey. With this latest offering, DreamFolks reinforces its commitment to delivering a seamless travel experience and expanding its footprint in India’s growing travel ecosystem. From airports and railway stations to …

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, in partnership with Ritz Carlton Al-Bustan Palace, Mark Tours, and Oman Air, invites the Indian travel trade to an exclusive webinar on Oman’s destinations and product offerings. Gain valuable insights and updates for your clients on 18th September at 3 PM IST. Don’t miss the opportunity to win exciting prizes! For more information, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call 9650196532. 

Resigning from his post as MD of Global Panorama Showcase (GPS), Harmandeep Singh Anand, MD, Jagsons Travels, said, “Due to pre-occupation and other commitments, I resign as MD of GPS. Rishiraj Singh Anand takes over as the show’s MD. Sharing updates for GPS, Rishiraj says, “We have the roadmap for GPS till 2026 ready with 14-city shows. We will have 8 cities every year with 4 key cities of Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Kochi, as constant. We also have our EDWIN planned, including Spain in November, Turkiye in December, Bali in March, etc and Ladakh and South Africa will continue year-on-year.” 

VFS Global was honoured with the ‘Process Excellence in Visa Outsourcing’ award at the India Travel Awards. Ragini Abichandani, General Manager, Operations & SPOC, IRCC South Asia, and Kersi Dastoor, GM, Operations, received the award. VFS Global operates over 3,400 centers in 153 countries, processing 292 million applications since 2001.   

Padraic Gilligan, Chief Marketing Officer, Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), recently unveiled the results of SITE’s Incentive Travel and Motivational Events Global Survey. One of the major takeaways from the survey is the dominance of the finance and insurance sectors in using incentive travel programmes. According to Gilligan, “Finance and insurance have consistently been the largest users of incentive travel, and this year is no different.” These two sectors accounted for 35% of all responses, underscoring their ongoing reliance on incentive travel to drive performance and engagement. 

Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, has announced the official opening of Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives as   1st November 2024, per schedule. This stunning underwater world-themed paradise represents a major milestone in the company’s expansion plans, marking Centara’s third property to open in the Maldives and fourth resort in the group’s portfolio under the renowned family-focused Mirage brand. Situated within The Atollia by Centara Hotels & Resorts, a multi-island wonderland which grants guests unprecedented access to two Centara properties , the resort offers boundless family fun, engaging activities and unique bonding moments amidst its captivating theme. From its expansive outdoor water complex, including a lazy river, swimming pool, kids’ pool, and water playground, to the exciting kids’ club, innovative child-focused Candy Spa, and the acclaimed signature Spa Cenvaree, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives is designed to deliver an unforgettable experience for guests of all ages. The stunning aerial shot of Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives The opening of Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives is part of the company’s “Future Growth” strategy announced earlier this year. With construction now complete, the final flourishes and finishing touches are being applied so that guests can soon be welcomed in Centara’s inimitable warm and gracious style. This stunning resort underscores the company’s commitment to expanding its family-focused hospitality offerings and delivering world-class experiences in key travel destinations. Don’t miss the opportunity to be among the first to experience Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives. Centara is offering guests special introductory pricing, complimentary stays and meals for up to two children aged 15 and under, and free roundtrip speedboat transfers between Male airport and the resort. CentaraThe1 members will also enjoy an additional 15% discount. This exclusive ‘Me …

Hospitality veteran and current Managing Director of Shervani Hotels, Mr. S.M. Shervani has announced his decision to step down from the managing committee of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India . HRANI is the biggest association in Northern India, representing hotels, restaurants, and associates across nine states. It aims to foster a growth-oriented environment for the sector to tap into emerging opportunities and drive growth. The announcement comes after his outstanding 35-year tenure with the association, which was established by the legendary hotelier, late MS Oberoi. Mr. Shervani, who has also served as the President of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India , expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the association, reflecting on his long and fulfilling career. Mr. S.M. Shervani added, “It has been a pleasure to serve this esteemed association for so many years. I was fortunate to become its president and subsequently the president of FHRAI. Also, being a founder member of the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality  has been a remarkable milestone in my career.” He also underlined the significance of a retirement age for association members to encourage the involvement of younger generations. Mr. Shervani added, “Associations should have a retirement age to allow the young to take charge, ensuring smooth transitions and curtailing the unfortunate politics that can sometimes arise.” In his emotional farewell message, he extended his warm wishes to HRANI and FHRAI for the road ahead. He also remembered his colleagues including the late Mr. Rajinder Kumar, the late Mr. Lamba, the late Mr. Sushil Gupta  as well as Mr. B.K. Gupta, Mr. Arun Khanna, Mr. Lalit Narula, and Mr. Suresh …

People are increasingly seeking out lesser-known destinations and more meaningful travel experiences. In response, Viacation is positioning itself at the forefront of these trends. Jatinder Paul Singh, Co-Founder & Global CEO, Viacation, said, “We’re expanding our offerings to include eco-conscious and wellness-focused travel packages, and using AI to offer personalised itineraries.” 

BS Prashanth, President, Mysuru Travel Association, appeals to the state government for support for local travel agents. He points out that online platforms can be misleading and lack personalized service, whereas local agents provide expertise and direct interaction. To level the playing field, he requests the creation of a common online platform for agents, an extra tax on online platforms, and a reduction in GST and interstate taxes for local agents. These measures would help them offer competitive prices and effectively promote Mysuru tourism.