Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Tittu Koikkaran , the Director of Sales & Marketing at Crowne Plaza Kochi, has been recognized as the best commercial leader on the property across all IHG hotels in the IMEA region. The prestigious award was presented by Mr. Tarek Labib, Head of Director – IMEA, along with Mr. Simon Augustus, Director of Commercial – IMEA Luxury & Lifestyle, and Mr. Morris Ryan, Regional Sales Director – IMEA. This accolade signifies Koikkaran exceptional leadership and strategic acumen in driving sales and marketing efforts at the hotel. Dinesh Rai, the General Manager of Crowne Plaza Kochi, expressed his pride in the achievement, stating that it is a great honor for the entire team. Such recognition also highlights the commitment of Crowne Plaza Kochi to excellence in hospitality and customer service within the IMEA region.  

Oman Air has unveiled a significant enhancement to its distribution capabilities, ushering in a new era of convenience and choice. Partnering with Accelya, a global leader in software and technology solutions, the airline has introduced cutting-edge functionality that will enable its trade partners to seamlessly manage their customers’ travel needs. Part of the airline’s ambitious retail transformation programme, it leverages the latest IATA New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology, representing a substantial advancement from the previous booking tools available to travel agents. “NDC stands as a pivotal tool, empowering us with enhanced flexibility and control over our distribution channels. Oman Air’s NDC journey has yielded significant growth in recent years and our partnership with Accelya marks an important milestone in this journey” commented Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. “Not only does the new upgrade support us to streamline our customer experience and enable us to scale up and provide more robust services, it also represents a significant reduction in our distribution costs, paving the way for more efficient operations and revenue diversification.” Sam Gilliland, Chick Executive Officer at Accelya, added “We are delighted that Oman Air has chosen Accelya to take control of their retailing future and help them on the journey to Offer & Order transformation. More and more airlines, covering a range of scale and operating models, are choosing Accelya’s FI X Platform due to our track record of delivering fast, impactful results. Our partnership with Oman Air is an example of how Accelya is leading the market in modem wtail solutions and bringing the benefits of our technology to customers.” In addition to enhancing its distribution capabilities, Oman Air is bolstering its loyalty system, also …

Oman Air and SalamAir leadership met recently to mark the launch of the airlines latest codeshare partnership, which offers passengers an expanded range of travel options within the Sultanate of Oman and beyond. During the meeting, the airlines discussed their future prospects as national carriers and their common commitment to supporting the country’s tourism goals as part of Oman’s 2040 Vison. Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said, “We are excited about this expanded codeshare partnership between Oman Air and SalamAir and the strengthening of our collaboration. This latest development enables us to jointly offer even more choice and schedule options, which both benefits our customers and serves the broader tourism ambitions of the country.” “We are thrilled to further strengthen our partnership with Oman Air,” said Adrian Hamilton-Manns, Chief Executive Officer of SalamAir. “This extended codeshare agreement reflects our shared commitment to providing passengers with unparalleled travel options and superior service. Together, we eagerly antici[1]pate aligning ourselves with the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology’s sentiments and the overarching vision of Oman 2040, thus, reinforcing our commitment to driving excel[1]lence in the aviation sector and promoting Omati as a premier travel destination” During the first phase, effective 4 July 2024, passengers can book their travel on a selection of SalamAir’s routes connecting to Oman Air’s network, with more destinations to be added post successful implementation.

Recently, McKinsey report revealed that India’s growing GDP is expected to result in annual growth in travel spending of nine per cent between now and 2030. It has also become a significant emerging market that is witnessing fast-growing pools of first-time tourists attributed to a better aviation network and an increase in the availability of accommodation.

Bobby KS Sawhney, General Secretary,  ITTA revealed that  ITTA Convention 2024 will be held in December 2024 in Delhi. The convention aims at educating tourist transport operators to build a conducive environment for tourists. He advised industry members to work only with government recognised tourist transport operators for the safety of customers.

Suresh Gopi took charge as Minister of State for Tourism in New Delhi. He spoke about his vision for the development of the tourism sector in the country. He said that he will work for the enhancement of the status quo of the department, and take cognisance about the capacity of his chair, and will do a series of meetings to understand the expectations.

The Moscow City Tourism Committee is excited to announce the launch of a new training program aimed at boosting business travel from India. This initiative is a part of Moscow MICE Ambassadors online certification project to strengthen ties between Moscow and India and to promote the Russian capital as a premier host city for MICE events. Scheduled to unfold from June 3 to November 1, 2024, this online project promises to be a transformative experience for all participants. Representatives from India’s MICE industry can register for the program via the RUSSPASS portal. The Moscow MICE Ambassadors pilot course, initiated last year in partnership with the Indian MICE Agents Association (NIMA), saw 50 members receiving the inaugural certificates. Building on this success, the program is poised to bestow certification upon 200 professionals from India’s MICE industry this year. Commenting on the results, Mr. Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of The Moscow City Tourism said: “The Moscow MICE Ambassadors program is focused on India as it is our priority region. Our objective extends beyond simply boosting the influx of business travelers from India to Moscow; we aim to elevate the standard of services we provide and effectively exhibit our capabilities. To achieve this, we acquaint Indian MICE experts with the nuances of organizing corporate events in Moscow and offer support in customizing business agendas to suit the Indian market”. Mr. Kozlov added, “Our training modules are designed with a long-term perspective in mind. I am confident that all MICE specialists who will receive certificates this year and, in the years, to come, will be able to create business programs in Moscow that meet the needs of even the most demanding of clients” . This …

Café Akasa, the onboard meal service of Akasa Air has launched the second edition of its Yoga Day special meal to celebrate the spirit of good health. The meal features a healthy Veggie Salad with quinoa, avocado, sprouts, marinated peppers, and asparagus, accompanied by Tandoori Phalon ka Chaat and a choice of beverage. The offering is available throughout June 2024, across the Akasa Air network and can be conveniently prebooked on Akasa Air’s website or mobile app. International Yoga Day amplifies awareness about the importance of overall well-being and incorporating a balanced meal. In line with the principles of wellness and mindfulness that yoga embodies, the special meal by Café Akasa has high nutritional value with superfoods and has been carefully curated by culinary experts, to celebrate the spirit of good health on the occasion of International Yoga Day. This meal is an exclusive addition to Café Akasa’s healthy offerings and is a perfect choice for those who are looking for light meal options while travelling. Since the launch of operations in August 2022, Akasa Air has introduced specially curated monthly meal options that are inspired by regional specialities associated with celebrations during popular festivals and special occasions like Makar Sankranti, Valentine’s Day, Holi, Eid, Mother’s Day, International Yoga Day, Monsoon season, Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, Diwali and Christmas, among others. The airline also offers a pre-selection of cakes on its regular menu for flyers who want to celebrate the birthdays of their loved ones in the skies. As a part of Café Akasa’s refreshed menu, customers can expect an expansive choice of over 45+ meal options including healthy, fusion, festive and gourmet meals that cater to a wide array of diets and palettes.

Pitching for increased bilateral flying rights between Dubai and India, Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and CCO, Emirates Airline, said, “Indian aviation market’s pace of growth needs to be matched with capacity, and increased competition will provide more choices for consumers. Currently, India is a top-tier market, with more demand than the offered capacity.”

IndiGo will host the 81st IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit in Delhi, India, in June 2025. Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo, said, “IndiGo will be the host airline, and this is an important moment for us to showcase how India has changed and the developments in its aviation sector. We will closely collaborate with the government and policymakers to address all relevant issues and highlight India’s transition from a predominantly domestic market to a global aviation giant.”