A renowned author of books and columns on travel, Colleen Gantzer passed away on Wednesday 6th November, at the age of 90. She co-authored the articles with her husband, Hugh. According to her family she had been ailing for some time. Both of them have been contributors to TravelBiz Monitor, and Hospitality Biz since inception. With her passing away, the writing world has lost one of its finest gems that articulated the various facets of a journey in each of her piece, marking an end of an era in travel writing. Known for her deeply insightful and meticulously crafted work,…
Author: Disha Ghosh
The aviation industry remains at a critical crossroads as it works to reduce its carbon footprint and meet global sustainability targets, all while navigating increasing regulatory pressure. Responsible for around 2% of global carbon emissions, according to the World Economic Forum, and with air travel demand projected to grow by 4.3% annually according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the industry must act swiftly. In a bold continuation of their longstanding collaboration, SITA and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) are driving forward SITA Eco Mission, an innovative, data-driven solution that will assist airlines on their journey to become…
SITA is partnering with Accelya to deliver new digital retailing solutions for passengers, removing the reliance on dated, legacy systems. This strategic partnership with Accelya, a global software provider to the airline industry, will allow airlines to migrate to modern airline retailing for passengers, including a contactless airport solution based on biometric recognition, which will also drive operational efficiency and reduce costs. Through this partnership, Accelya’s FLX ONE Delivery—part of their new FLX ONE platform, a comprehensive Offer, Order, Settle Deliver (OOSD) solution—will be integrated with SITA’s advanced Flex APIs. This will enable airlines to streamline their airport operations, reduce…
Vietjet and Emirates have signed an MOU to boost connectivity, providing expanded travel options between Vietnam, Dubai, and beyond. The agreement, signed at the Vietnam-UAE Business Forum with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh present, aims to strengthen tourism and trade links between the two nations, unlocking a range of economic and commercial opportunities. Through this partnership, Vietjet passengers gain access to Emirates’ global network via Dubai, while Emirates enhances connections across Vietjet’s domestic routes through Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. This collaboration highlights Vietjet’s commitment to expanding its network, offering more convenient and competitive travel options,…
The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Sangeet Natak Akademi on Wednesday announced the Mysuru Sangeetha Sugandha Festival 2024, to celebrate Karnataka’s rich musical and cultural heritage. The festival, set to take place from November 8 to 10 in Mysuru, will showcase Karnataka’s vibrant traditions, especially its profound connection to Carnatic music, it said. In a statement, the Tourism Ministry said that the Mysuru Sangeetha Sugandha festival aims to position Mysuru as a premier destination for music lovers across India and the world. Through this festival, Mysuru will be highlighted as a center…
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) has announced the Italian capital of Rome as the host city for the 2025 WTTC Global Summit. The 2025 Global Summit marks the first time the event will be held in the historic heart of Italy, the seat of ancient empires and cultural heritage. One of the world’s most popular destinations, the Global Summit in Italy will see business leaders and government delegations from around the world, converge in the city to discuss the latest challenges facing the sector, as well as the solutions of tomorrow. Scheduled for late 2025, the 25th Global…
TripFactory, a global travel platform with a strong presence in India, has raised USD 50 million in Series A funding from a prominent International Corporate Group headquartered in India. This investment values the company at half a billion dollars. Founded by Vinay Gupta and a team of seasoned entrepreneurs, including Amit Aggarwal, Varun Gupta, Deepak Khurana, Ankit Agarwal, Ankush Agarwal, Ali Asger Lightwala, and Ahmed Khan, TripFactory has rapidly expanded its global operations post COVID-19. With a presence in over 110 countries, the Singapore-based company partners with travel agents and industry stakeholders to offer customised vacation packages through its advanced…
Perth Airport has announced a partnership with Accor to develop the Pullman Perth Airport Hotel, set to open in 2027. This will be the first hotel located on the airport’s estate, featuring 240 rooms and suites along with a rooftop restaurant and bar. The new hotel will also offer a range of amenities, including a gym, lobby lounge café, sauna, meeting facilities, and co-working spaces. This development is part of a larger initiative to enhance airport infrastructure, which includes new terminals and upgraded ground transport options. The Pullman Perth Airport Hotel will be designed by DKO Architecture, aiming to reflect…
Moscow is set to welcome its first visa-free tourist groups from India by spring 2025, according to a report from the Economic Times. This initiative aims to enhance tourism ties between Russia and India. Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, announced that the forthcoming agreement is expected to significantly boost the number of Indian travelers visiting the Russian capital. This development follows remarks from Nikita Kondratyev, director of the Russian Economic Development Ministry’s Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation, who noted that both countries are preparing for visa-free group tourist exchanges. Visa-free travel allows individuals to enter a…
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has unveiled its Winter Schedule 2024. The new schedule boasts a notable increase in flight movements, offering passengers a selection of destinations with 964 daily flight movements. Running till March 29, 2025, Mumbaikars and transfer passengers can take advantage of these enhanced travel options and experience the convenience and joy of winter travel from Mumbai. Additionally, the Winter Schedule will increase services to international destinations including Toronto, Bangkok, London and Amman, Jordan. CSMIA is geared up to provide an extensive network of travel options for its passengers with 2,361 weekly domestic flights and 1,011…
