Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

ITC Hotels signed a new agreement for a hotel in Lucknow under its Fortune Hotels portfolio. With this signing, ITC Hotels now has a presence of 7 properties in Uttar Pradesh, with six more hotels in the pipeline. Situated on the Lucknow-Kanpur Road, the upcoming hotel will provide seamless access to both cities. It is being developed to meet the growing demand for premium accommodations in the region, fuelled by business travel, pilgrimage tourism, MICE, and destination weddings in the city. Fortune Select Lucknow will feature 93 modern well-appointed rooms and a variety of culinary experiences including a multi-cuisine restaurant, a rooftop outlet with panoramic views of the city, and a chic bar. An offering of multiple banquet spaces, rejuvenating wellness facilities include a swimming pool, gym, and a restful spa, making it a compelling destination for a spectrum of travellers and city residents alike. Slated to open in 2026, the hotel promises to offer an elevated experience to its guests by way of thoughtfully designed stays, efficient service, and Fortune Hotels’ signature hospitality. In addition to the upcoming Fortune Select, Fortune Hotels currently operates Fortune Park BBD in Lucknow, located on Rana Pratap Marg. It also has an upcoming property in Ayodhya, along with operational hotels in Aligarh, Ghaziabad, and Noida.

Kerala will soon launch a four per cent interest loan scheme to support women entrepreneurs in tourism. Backed by 4 crore, the initiative is a joint effort of the Responsible Tourism Mission and KSWDC. With 18,000 women registered across 24 sectors, the project aims to set a national benchmark in women-led tourism.

TAT partnered with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment to promote Thailand through a film-led tourism strategy. Aligning with TAT’s efforts under the ‘Location Thailand’ project, this move aims to spotlight Thailand as a premier film tourism destination. The project leverages global entertainment to promote Thailand’s cinematic landscapes.

Christina Garcia Frasco, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Kingdom of Philippines said she is hopeful to see surge in Indian arrivals to the archipelago with easy visa regime announced and Air India’s five times weekly flight service, starting 1 October. She added, “We are in talks with industry stakeholders to promote the nation for Indian travellers.”

GRT Hotels eliminated plastic bottles across all 22 properties, saving 1.2 crore in just one year, stated Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT Hotels, at Travel MICE and Corporate Show. Urging the industry to treat sustainability as an investment, not a cost, Cotah asked hoteliers to stop waiting for regulation and start creating change.

As part of its continued expansion in North India, the Royal Orchid Hotels has signed a new 43-key Regenta Place in Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi. The move aligns with the group’s strategy to tap into high-potential, underserved destinations and cater to the increasing demand for premium hospitality experiences beyond metro cities. The resort is likely to open in September this year.

GRT Hotels & Resorts has launched GReaT Ceremonies, the newly transformed wedding and event spaces at Grand Chennai by GRT Hotels in T. Nagar. Formerly known as the iconic GRT Convention Centre, the venue has been elevated into a contemporary celebration destination that blends modern sophistication, timeless tradition, and signature GRT hospitality under one roof.

According to recent market research by Nightfood Holdings (NGTF), AI in hospitality will reach $1.46 billion by 2029, growing at a 57.8% CAGR. Simultaneously, the global hospitality robotics market is projected to surge from $24.38 billion in 2025 to over $107 billion by 2034, signalling rapid tech adoption and rising investments in the sector.

Balitrip Wisata has kicked off its India roadshow 2025 in Ahmedabad, attracting over 215 travel agencies from Gujarat. The four-city tour promotes Bali as a top outbound destination among Indian travellers. With the theme “Focus. Delivery. Value.”, the B2B DMC aims to strengthen service excellence and trade partnerships in India.

Aligning with India’s regional development goals, the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) is prioritising the Northeast for expansion. With 15 operational hotels totalling 1,348 rooms in the Northeast and 6 hotels with 634 rooms in the pipeline, the brand’s strategy focuses on strengthening its footprint in the East and Northeast, Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL, said.