Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

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.

In anticipation of border reopening, Tourism Malaysia India Offices (Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai) are engaging with TAAI, TAFI as well as tour operators and other travel agents to come up with key initiatives, strategies and activities to once again woo Indian tourists to Malaysia, as well as update partners on Malaysia’s products.

In order to protect potential long-term housing from being monopolised by tourist-oriented rentals, the city of Barcelona in Spain has proposed a new rule that will allow locals to rent rooms in their homes only for stays of 30 days or more. The city has already taken several measures to limit tourist accommodations made available through platforms like Airbnb.

The VisitBritain Cricket Carnival that is currently running on the ‘Dream11’ mobile app until March 28, 2021, will inspire trade partners in India to form their ‘Dream Teams’ and participate in the tournament. Vishal Bhatia, Country Manager – India for VisitBritain, says, “It will also feature weekly cricket-themed contests and trivia on Britain as a holiday destination with prizes to be won every week! We believe sports tourism will continue to play a huge role in driving tourism to Britain.”

In order to showcase Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has launched ‘Journeys in Arabia’, an exclusive online event curated especially for travel trade partners around the globe. It’s India ‘Journeys in Arabia’ webinar recently brought together local travel trade partners, for an opportunity to hear from thought leaders in the industry, along with a welcome address by Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO, STA. The virtual engagement series, taking place across six markets around the world including India, is a first-of-its-kind initiative for STA to inform partners about the diverse products and experiences that Arabia offers

Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog, speaking at the ITM 2021 inauguration assured that the government intervention for tourism is necessary and would come at the right time. “Tourism cannot grow in isolation, but will grow with many other sectors, and the infrastructure-focused budget is going to be a catalyst of that growth. Government is fully aware of the challenges of the sector,” he said.