Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

IndiGo, India’s preferred airline, announces new direct flights connecting the culturally vibrant city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu to Abu Dhabi, from June 13, 2025. Madurai will be the 16th Indian city with direct connectivity to Abu Dhabi and comes days after the airline announced direct flights from Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam to the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The tri-weekly flights between Madurai and Abu Dhabi further strengthens IndiGo’s international connectivity and making global travel more seamless and affordable for Indian travellers.   By connecting tier-2 cities like Madurai to key global hubs, IndiGo is unlocking new across sectors. This direct flight will facilitate the seamless export of agricultural products, textiles, and other key commodities from the region to the UAE and beyond, boosting local businesses and fostering economic growth. The direct flight between the cities eliminates the need for connections, reducing travel time for business travelers, students, and families, and providing more convenient travel experience. This strategic addition reinforces IndiGo’s position as the preferred carrier, operating over 280 weekly flights to five destinations in the UAE from 20 Indian cities.    Madurai, one of India’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, is a cultural and historical gem in Tamil Nadu. Known as the “Athens of the East,” it is home to the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple, a marvel of Dravidian architecture that draws millions of pilgrims and tourists annually. Beyond its spiritual significance, Madurai is a thriving hub for textiles, education, and healthcare, with a growing footprint in technology and manufacturing. Its strategic location and economic diversity make it a key regional centre in southern India. With a rich legacy dating back over 2,500 years, Madurai blends tradition and progress, …

In a strategic move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a key review meeting focused on promoting India’s tourism sector. Emphasising tourism as a tool for socio-economic growth, he advocated continuous policy upgrades to make India a more reliable and traveler-friendly destination.

Christoph Schnellmann, CEO, Noida International Airport, said, “Noida International Airport is being designed and developed with a clear focus on minimising congestion and wait times for all travellers and particularly the time-sensitive business travellers. The potential for a high-speed rail link between Delhi and Varanasi with a station at Noida International Airport is being explored, which could significantly enhance connectivity and further reduce transit times in the future.” 

Dev Karvat, Founder & CEO- Asego, shared expert insights on the rise of big-ticket travel, from global sporting events to iconic concerts and cultural festivals. As travel becomes increasingly experience-driven, Asego is pioneering a new approach by curating exclusive global assistance and travel insurance for travellers attending large-scale, high-investment events globally. This capability stems from Asego’s core philosophy: Customised protection for all travellers, no matter where they are, ensuring complete peace of mind, irrespective of the destination or event. With the support of a strong partner network, Asego offers a one-stop solution to address every contingency related to event-based trips— from event cancellations and trip interruptions to medical emergencies and luggage delays.

Accor, a global hospitality group, and InterGlobe, India’s foremost travel conglomerate, are pleased to announce that Gaurav Bhushan will be Chairman of their proposed joint hospitality enterprise in India.   This new entity will bring together the development, operations, and management platforms of Accor and InterGlobe in India, and represents a bold step towards creating a market-leading player in one of the world’s most dynamic hospitality markets. The new entity will serve as the exclusive growth engine for Accor’s brands across the country.   As Co-CEO of Ennismore, CEO of Lifestyle & Leisure Brands and member of the Executive Committee at Accor, Gaurav Bhushan brings more than 30 years of strategic leadership and global experience in the hospitality industry. An Accor veteran, he previously served as Global Chief Development Officer at Accor, overseeing the expansion of the Group’s portfolio from 12 to over 45 brands, and spearheading more than 500 hotel signings annually.   “India’s hospitality sector is entering a transformative phase, and this new platform is perfectly positioned to capture its full potential,” said Gaurav Bhushan. “It will be an honour for me to chair this ambitious venture and work alongside exceptional partners and teams at both Accor and InterGlobe to deliver meaningful growth and innovation for the Indian traveler.”

In a significant step towards enhancing the visa application experience for Indian travellers, VFS Global, the world’s leading technology services specialist in secure mobility solutions, and the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) joined hands to successfully host a Visa Insights Workshop titled Consultant-to-Officer Dialogues in Hyderabad, Telangana, on 17 May 2025. The interactive session was attended by 40 travel agents from the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh chapters of TAAI and staff from the VFS Global Visa Application Centre. The workshop facilitated dialogue between travel consultants and VFS Global, promoting transparency and mutual understanding in the visa facilitation process. The event featured discussions on the end-to-end process of visa applications handled by VFS Global, focusing on operational best practices, process timelines, document requirements, and traveller preparedness. The workshop provided a platform for travel agents to share challenges they face while assisting clients with visa applications, allowing VFS Global to address concerns, clarify procedures, and explore opportunities for continuous improvement, leaving all participants with a sense of optimism for the future. Sunil Kumar, President, Travel Agents Association of India, said, “This joint knowledge-sharing workshop by TAAI and VFS Global, is among the firsts of its kind. This is a commendable initiative that strengthens the bridge between visa consultants from travel companies and VFS Global frontline employees. Such collaborative efforts not only enhance operational efficiency but also empower our industry professionals with deeper insights needed to deliver exceptional service to travellers, especially in an evolving travel environment. TAAI is truly delighted to have partnered with VFS Global in launching the Pilot Programme in Hyderabad, which was attended by 40 experienced visa consultants who had a dialogue with over 25 VFS Global frontline …

Amadeus has acquired travel intelligence specialist ForwardKeys to enhance its data and analytics capabilities. The acquisition offers strong portfolio and customer synergy, supporting Amadeus’ growth in travel insights. With the deal recently finalised, Amadeus is prioritising communication with key stakeholders, including customers and partners. Further details on the integration and strategic direction will be shared in due course.

Auxilia Networks has been appointed as India representatives for ETOA – European Tourism Association, Europe’s premier tourism association for the promotion of European destinations and experiences. With over 1,100 members from global brands to independent small businesses, serving 63 origin markets, ETOA is a powerful platform with a strong voice to enable a sustainable business environment for the development and growth of both European tourism and tourism entities in other markets around the world who do business in Europe.

In a strategic partnership, ClickMyCruise join hands with Explora Journeys, the luxury cruise line division of MSC Cruises. Nalini Gupta, Managing Director, ClickMyCruise, said, “This partnership is a significant step in our mission to provide curated, world-class travel experiences for Indian luxury cruise enthusiasts.”

Thomas Cook India has expanded its network in Bengaluru with the introduction of foreign exchange services at its new outlet in Sahakara Nagar. This strategic move aligns with the company’s focus on enhancing its footprint across high-growth source markets. With this addition, the company now operates nine forex outlets in Bengaluru and twelve across Karnataka.