Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

With the India v/s England third Test Match series starting from February 24, the last date to enter the VisitBritain Cricket Carnival tournament is today. Vishal Bhatia, Country Manager – India, VisitBritain, therefore urges the travel trade to sign up today and stand to win prizes every week. “Form your ‘Dream Teams’ on the ‘Dream11’ app and participate in the tournament now!”

Travel Spirit International (TSI) has launched a new travel portal, www.TravelSpell.com which is solely focussed on promoting domestic tourism, by providing the local Indian tourist with a wide array of carefully crafted experiential journeys across the Indian subcontinent. The platform is powered by TSI and has already partnered with esteemed brands like Taj Hotels, Oberoi Group, ITC, and Rare India.

Sharing his goals, if elected as the President of IATO, Lally Mathews, representing Team for Change said IATO should have representation from different regions & states in the decision making the process of the EC. “If elected, the priority would be to amend the constitution for inclusive participation of regional chapters. We need to empower regions and make them part of the decision-making process,” he said.

The TOFTigers Travel Knowledge Series has completed 4 of its 10 enthralling sessions on travel skills, new wildlife destinations and sustainable operations. Leading experts including wildlife biologist, Wildlife Conservation Trust, wildlife Safari promoters, wildlife travel company and hoteliers shared their expertise on tourism, sustainability, marketing and lodging best practice to help others. Watch their talks on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ1vx0BUd27PWLj5plXwaSw

TAAI has announced that it will conduct its Tourism Conclave this year at the Statue Of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat from March 9 to March 12, 2021. It is being organised in association with Gujarat Tourism. TAAI will announce more details about the event such as focus, speakers and theme soon. The venue had recently hosted the ADTOI annual convention.

IHG Hotels and Resorts has announced the debut of its extended-stay brand, Staybridge Suites® in India with the signing of Staybridge Suites Bengaluru Thanisandra. Signed as a management agreement in partnership with NR Greenwood Construction, the hotel is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2023. Staybridge Suites is IHG’s upscale extended-stay hotel brand which offers amenities such as a fully equipped kitchen in suites, a dedicated outdoor space, daily complimentary hot breakfast with signature items and an evening social event three nights a week.  

The Karnataka State Cabinet has approved the proposal to accord ‘Industry’ status to hotels and resorts classified or approved by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in Karnataka. The decision is expected to boost recovery of the hospitality sector through various benefits, including applicability of industrial tariff for electricity and property taxes.

Government of Andhra Pradesh has issued a Restart Package to support the tourism sector in the state. The approved package of Rs198.50 crore is a loan for hotels, M!CE, function halls, restaurants and service providers by extending interest subsidy at 50% of the interest on the loan for 12 months subject to a maximum of 4.50% of the loan amount for one year.

Expedia TAAP is organising a webinar for the travel trade on Friday, 26th Feb, 2021, which will start at 11:30 am. Travel agents will get to chance to learn about the benefits of using Expedia TAAP at this virtual event. To register, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call +91 9650196532.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, speaking at the Virtual ITM, said that India is emerging as a crucial destination as far as medical tourism is concerned. “To encourage it further, we have already started issuing medical visa and are planning to soon restart e-tourist visa as well as scheduled international flights,” he said.