FCM Travel India has reported a more than 50 per cent growth in the last six months, demonstrating that events in person are back in focus. High demand is seen right across the industry, despite organisations facing changing attitudes to work-life boundaries and budgetary constraints. As per the Global Quarterly Trend Report by FCM Consultancy, in-person meetings are the number one reason for corporate travel. This has resulted in a significant uptick in in-person catchups and events despite the increase in costs. Prices of hotels in Asia have increased by an average of 26 per cent, with Bangalore being the…
Author: Prasenjit Chakraborty
According to a report in The Financial Express, INDIGO, is looking at more direct flights to Central Europe and the Far East, as the low-cost carrier, which has a domestic market share of 63.2%, embarks on an international expansion plan under CEO Pieter Elbers. The first phase of this expansion drive was kicked off earlier this week with two direct flights from Mumbai to Nairobi and Jakarta, respectively. Delhi was connected to Tbilisi in Georgia. Direct flights to Baku (Azerbaijan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Almaty (Kazakhstan) in Central Asia will happen later this month. For perspective, IndiGo competes with the Air…
Luxeglamp EcoResorts, that pioneered India’s first luxury glamping project, has taken another pioneering step by introducing the “Luxeglamp Celestial Glamp” an enchanting new celestial-themed glamping experience at Luxeglamp Kodaikanal. Set amidst the breathtaking beauty of nature in Kodaikanal, the specialty of the Celestial Glamp is that the entire Glamp is based on a Celestial-Theme inside and outside the dome. While inside the dome guests will experience ethereal blinking stars and the moon, outside the dome guests can gaze at the starry night through a specially imported telescope amidst a starry backdrop. Antony Thomas, CEO & Founder of Luxeglamp EcoResorts commented…
With its rich cultural and historical heritage, Türkiye has long been a top destination for travellers worldwide. To preserve and safeguard this invaluable heritage for generations, Türkiye is steadfast in its dedication to responsible and sustainable tourism practices. The country is determined to secure a prosperous and vibrant future for its cherished landmarks and traditions by nurturing a harmonious coexistence between tourism and heritage preservation. To promote and showcase Türkiye’s unique heritage, the official tourism website, GoTurkiye, has recently launched dedicated sections highlighting the country’s cultural and historical wonders. These sections offer visitors valuable insights into the significance of the…
flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, announced its new agreement with Smartwings, the Czech Republic-based airline, to wet lease four Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft between 17 October 2023 and 16 April 2024. The Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) agreement with Smartwings will see four-leased aircraft support flydubai’s fleet of 79 Boeing 737 aircraft, enabling the carrier to add more capacity for its passengers and cater to demand for travel during busy travel periods. Commenting on the agreement, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said, “We are pleased to confirm this new wet lease agreement with Smartwings, this marks our…
Visit Hungary, the international brand of the Hungarian National Tourism Authority, has partnered with BRANDit, a leading tourism marketing representation company, to reinforce its trade relations in India. This strategic partnership will allow Indian tourism professionals to better discover Hungary, Budapest and beyond. With India witnessing a momentous surge in outbound travel, the partnership aims to capitalise on this immense potential and position Hungary as a preferred destination. BRANDit will actively engage luxury travel agencies, MICE tour operators, and wedding planners in key cities through meetings, workshops, sales missions, online training sessions, and familiarisation trips. Hungary is a mesmerising travel…
We are working with the right people and partners to penetrate the Tier-II & III markets. Therefore, the cities with direct air connectivity to Singapore are on our radar, says Chin Sak Hin, Assistant Chief Executive & CFO, Sentosa Development Corporation, in an exclusive interview with Prasenjit Chakraborty. Q. What is the purpose of your visit and how do you want to promote Sentosa in India? I will say this is a dual-purpose visit. I just signed an MoU with Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC. This is to work together with them to promote Sentosa. Besides this, I’m here to…
According to a report in The Hindu Business Line, Gurugram-based online travel agency (OTA) Ixigo plans to venture into the hotel bookings segment later this year. Currently, the company operates by redirecting all customers to booking.com for hotel accommodations. Aloke Bajpai, CEO & co-founder of Ixigo, expressed his excitement about this strategic move, stating, “Entering the hotel segment is a natural progression for us as an OTA. While we have been partnering with booking.com for hotel accommodations, we believe it’s time to develop this segment on our own from a business economics perspective.” Presently, Ixigo holds a modest 1 per…
The 38th IATO Annual Convention to take place from 29th September – 2nd October 2023 in Chhattrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra and the theme of the convention is: Inbound Tourism and Emerging sustainable trends, informed Rajiv Mehra, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO). Mehra also informed that Rajnish Kaistha – Senior Vice President will be the Chairman of the Convention along with Sanjay Razdan – Hony. Secretary and Jitendra Kejriwal – Chairman, IATO Maharashtra Chapter as the Co-Chairmen. “Jaswant Singh, our member from Aurangabad will be the Convention Coordinator,” said Mehra. WelcomHotel by ITC Hotels Rama International will be the…
Akasa Air inducted its 20th aircraft, a Boeing 737-8-200 in its fleet, making it eligible to fly internationally. Regulations require airlines to have at least 20 aircraft in their fleet to become eligible for international operations. “Thrilled to welcome our 20th aircraft in Bengaluru today! This landmark addition to our fleet also makes us the first airline in Asia to receive the Boeing 737-8-200 aircraft,” Akasa Air tweeted. Akasa Air reached a fleet size of 20 aircraft within a year of commencing operations. Vinay Dube, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Akasa Air, said, “Today’s landmark addition to our fleet, heralds…
