Ernst & Young LLP (EY India), in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), in its latest report “Reimagining Inbound Tourism in India: Trends, Technology & Transformational Opportunities – Towards Incredible India 4.0,” has proposed a revised Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure for hotel accommodations, recommending a reduction in the higher...

Skyscanner recently released its Smarter Summer travel 2026 report, which reflects that despite a backdrop of uncertainty, summer travel is still on for many, with 77% of Indians confident about travelling in the next 3 months. Nearly 9 in 10 Indians are planning or have already booked their Summer 2026 holiday. With only about 38% yet to book their summer holidays, but are actively looking...

From a single property in Shillong in 1991 to becoming one of Northeast India’s largest homegrown hotel chains, Polo Hotels & Resorts is reshaping the region’s hospitality landscape. The brand has unveiled a refreshed brand architecture, marking the beginning of its next growth phase with a sharper focus on experiential, destination-led hospitality. At a recent media meet up in Delhi, Founder...

Noor Mahal Delhi NCR – Autograph Collection Hotel announced the appointment of Teena Nichani as its Director of Operations. This strategic leadership addition comes as the hotel strengthens its position as a flagship property under Marriott International’s prestigious Autograph Collection portfolio. A seasoned hospitality professional with over 26 years of experience, Nichani brings...

Yatra Online Limited (Yatra) announced a major upgrade to its AI-powered travel assistant, DIYA, making it AI assistant capable of planning and booking dynamic multi-city travel itineraries across destinations, cities, and countries in a single conversation. This upgrade marks an advancement in AI-led travel technology. “DIYA leverages the semantic intelligence of Large Language Models to...

Spalba has appointed Erica Seo as Business Head – APAC, as the company expands its experiential vertical, Spalba Live, across the Asia-Pacific region. Seo will drive APAC business and strategy with a focus on revenue growth, regional partnerships, and multi-market event mandates, as demand rises for large-format, experience-led corporate and brand events...

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) announced the signing of Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino, marking the brand’s second Holiday Inn Express in Japan. The hotel will be developed in partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development Co., Ltd. (MCUD), Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. (Totate) and The Sankei Building Co., Ltd. (Sankei). The upcoming hotel is ideally positioned to meet the growing...

Southwest Airlines has joined IATA’s Schedule Data Exchange Program (SDEP), bringing the number of contributing airlines to 190. The SDEP was launched in late 2023 to build a uniquely airline-owned schedule and minimum connecting time exceptions database. Schedule data underpins many aspects of an airline’s business, including network planning, slot coordination, and interline agreements...

Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) and MakeMyTrip announced a partnership to make duty-free shopping more convenient and rewarding for international travellers. As a part of this collaboration, a duty-free pre-booking service for both departure and arrival has been introduced. Travellers can browse through more than 10 categories, across over...

Vertex Group’s recent survey revealed while 45% of customers report satisfaction with recent experiences, a majority, 55%, say their expectations remain unmet during peak times. The survey, conducted among 10,000 travellers in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, offers a close look at how leading urban centres are shaping the evolving relationship between customers and...