Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

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. 

Predicting growth patterns in India’s tourism story at the ongoing ITB India show, Vishal Suri, Managing Director, SOTC India, says, “From a sixth-largest global spender on tourism, India will be the fourth-largest, to be among the top five in the list in the next four to five years. The question is whether we can manage that kind of growth, and are the stakeholders ready for it. Almost two-thirds of our spends will be on domestic travel, which is a very large chunk.” 

K S Sachin, Director of Sales & Marketing at Gokulam Grand Hotel & Spa, Bengaluru, was honored with the Sales & Marketing Professional of the Year award at the India Travel Awards. With over 19 years of experience in sales, marketing, and revenue management, Sachin has played a key role in numerous pre-openings, market readiness analysis, and data-driven decision-making. 

Jatinder Paul Singh, Co-Founder & Global CEO, Viacation Tourism, won the ‘Emerging Leader Travel Startup’ Award at the India Travel Awards. Beeming with pride, he said, “The tourism industry is currently rebuilding in the post-COVID era, and has adapted to the new realities, embracing technology aligning with consumer needs, and creating innovative segments.”

Appealing to the states to collaborate for tourism acceleration, Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Regional Director (South), Ministry of Tourism, GoI, said that he believes the interstate travel circuits with bundled packages promoting multiple states or two states in one itinerary should be encouraged with a focus on lesser known destinations for the ease of travellers. It will help in equitable distribution of tourists and will benefit the region.

The 2nd edition of ITB India kick-started at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on Wednesday. The three-day event is expected to attract thousands of industry professionals from around the world and will feature a B2B trade show, a conference, and a variety of networking opportunities.