China’s hotel industry is experiencing a major boom, with the construction pipeline reaching a new all-time high at the end of 2023. This report by Lodging Econometrics highlights growth and expansion. 3,788 projects are currently in the pipeline, representing a 6% increase in projects and a 2% increase in rooms year-over-year. Construction is underway for 2,644 projects, while 420 projects are expected to break ground in the next year. Notably, the early planning stage saw a surge, with a 30% increase in projects and a 16% increase in rooms. Upscale and upper midscale segments together claim over 50% of…
Author: Nishtha Ganesh
Fairmont Jaipur has announced the promotion of Sukhpreet Singh Bath to the position of Director of Operations. Sukhpreet has demonstrated leadership and a commitment to guest satisfaction during his tenure at the hotel. His new role will involve developing operational strategies, driving guest satisfaction, and working closely with the corporate team and owners. Rajiv Kapoor, General Manager at Fairmont Jaipur, has expressed his confidence in Sukhpreet’s ability to maintain the hotel’s standards and quality of service. Sukhpreet’s expertise in handling hospitality affairs plays a vital role in the hotel’s unparalleled guest experience. Before this promotion, Sukhpreet served as the…
The Dahanu Festival 2.0 is set to take place at the Sea View Park at Dahanu Beach on Feb 23, 24 and 25 with free entry for all visitors. The festival aims to promote Dahanu as an off-beat yet easily accessible beach holiday destination and to showcase local art, culture, and entrepreneurship. The event will feature diverse attractions, including workshops on pottery and painting, art displays and exhibitions, water and aero sports, a sand art display, a helicopter air show, and horse beach racing. Additionally, off-site activities such as star gazing, farm visits, night camping, and explorations of fisherman’s…
Hainan Airlines has taken flight entertainment to new heights with augmented reality (AR) experiences, offering passengers a unique immersive experience aboard Hainan Airlines flight HU7874 on Feb 7. Special AR glasses awaited passengers at their seats, allowing them to enjoy 3D films with a 360-inch borderless screen, 1080P resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate, similar to having a private cinema at 30,000 feet. Started on Feb 8, more than 20 Hainan Airlines flights incorporated Rokid AR Entertainment Kits, pre-loaded with several 3D offline movies, enhancing in-flight entertainment. This initiative aims to bring joy to travellers, enhancing their journey with…
The UK economy contracted by 0.3% in the three months leading up to December 2023, slipping into a recession in the second half of the year. This was a more significant decline than the 0.1% decline between July and September and went against the expectations of economists surveyed by Reuters, who had anticipated a smaller 0.1% GDP decline for the October-to-December period. The Office for National Statistics reported a 0.1% decline in economic output for December, contrary to analysts’ expectations of a 0.2% decrease. The Bank of England remains optimistic about 2024, foreseeing a rebound in growth, but any…
Indian airlines are cancelling 30 flights per day until March 30, following a directive from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to the Mumbai airport aimed at alleviating runway congestion. Government officials note that this accounts for approximately 3% of the daily flights handled by the Mumbai airport, which manages 1000 movements a day. Even with these cancellations, the airport is expected to operate at full capacity. Akasa Air has announced the cancellation of 90 Mumbai flights until the end of the next month. SpiceJet has confirmed compliance with the government’s directive without specifying the number of canceled flights.…
India’s hospitality and tourism sector aims to create a 50 million direct and indirect jobs in the next 5-7 years, according to the Hotels’ Association of India (HAI). However, they urge government support to unlock this potential fully. Puneet Chhatwal, President of HAI emphasised the need for industry and infrastructure status at the state level. This, he believes, would boost investments beyond just accommodation, fostering income and employment generation across the spectrum. He noted the industry’s crucial role in development, contributing 8% to GDP and 10% to employment. Backing Chhatwal’s claims, K B Kachru, VP, HAI highlighted a 271%…
Pushpam Group is set to unveil 14 luxury studio suites at Balibaug, their Alibaug project. These Bali-inspired havens, each boasting 488 square feet and a private veranda with tropical views, offer the perfect blend of luxury and Balinese charm. Fully furnished and part of a meticulously crafted 2.2-acre resort, they provide access to a clubhouse, restaurants, a party lawn, and a swimming pool. Beyond a vacation retreat, Balibaug presents an investment opportunity. Partnering with hotel services, the project offers a rental program that guarantees owners 28 nights of personal use annually and assured monthly income without maintenance hassles. The…
The highly anticipated Multi-City Travel Agent’s Cricket Tournament Season 4 culminated in a thrilling Grand Finale at Ahmedabad’s Club O7 on January 20th, 2024. This year saw an incredible 40+ teams take to the field, representing travel enthusiasts from Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Ahmedabad. This affair showcased sportsmanship, camaraderie, and a shared passion for cricket within the travel industry. The tournament pioneered its format in cities like Rajkot and Vadodara, garnering widespread appreciation for uniting the travel fraternity through sportsmanship. The city-wide matches provided a platform for friendly competition and valuable networking. The champions from each city then battled…
Facing growing congestion and flight delays, the Indian government has directed Mumbai airport to streamline its operations by reducing scheduled flights and restricting business jet movements during peak hours. This move, impacting around 40 flights and private jet operations, aims to improve on-time departures and enhance passenger experience. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) instructed the airport to decrease aircraft movements from 46 to 44 per hour during rush hour, from 44 to 42 per hour during non-peak hours. IndiGo, the busiest carrier, will reduce 18 flights.Air India group, including Vistara, will cut 17 flights.While this may inconvenience some…
