Malaysia may renew the search for MH370, a decade after the flight disappeared
14.02.2024 - 04:31 / skift.com / Marriott Bonvoy / Ed Sheeran / Bulbul Dhawan
EaseMyTrip.com has entered the hospitality market with the announcement of a five-star hotel in Ayodhya. The online travel agency is investing up to INR 1 billion ($12 million) in the project through a joint venture with Jeewani Hospitality. Nishant Pitti, CEO and co-founder, EaseMyTrip, said that since January 22, more than 2.4 million visitors have gone to the pilgrimage city. This, he said, indicates a significant business opportunity.
Religious tourism in India is a significant contributor in terms of footfall as well as revenue. For years, the country has been a spiritual destination for tourists from all over the world. There has been a surge in hospitality investments in religious places, including Ayodhya. IHCL, Radisson, and ITC are rapidly establishing their presence in the city, which has just undergone major revamping efforts in the run up to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple last month.
Marriott International’s loyalty program Marriott Bonvoy has partnered with Ed Sheeran for his +-= ÷ x tour in India this year. As a loyalty partner, Marriott Bonvoy will give its members a chance to redeem their points for guided site tours a day before the concert, as well as Marriott Bonvoy Lounge passes. General Admission passes will also be available for members to redeem with points.
The collaboration has come through Marriott’s partnership with BookMyShow Live, which has brought Ed Sheeran’s concert to India. As of 2022-end, Marriott Bonvoy had more than 177 million members globally, and in 2023, the hospitality company’s loyalty program partnered with HDFC Bank to launch a co-branded credit card to offer users the Silver Elite Status with Marriott Bonvoy as an effort to ramp up users in India.
More than 1.6 million Indian tourists visited Thailand in 2023, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has shared. The country is looking at employing a tourism strategy that focuses on creating sustainable initiatives around experiences that visitors can gather. Thailand is especially gearing its efforts towards promoting experiential, eco-conscious, and culturally enriching exploration to the Indian travelers, who have been increasingly seeking such vacation destinations.
Thailand is seeking to increase its global footfall to 35 million tourists this year. As part of its plan outlined in the Strategic Direction 2024, the country had last year announced visa-free entry to Indians till May 2024.
Sterling Holiday Resorts has expanded its portfolio of jungle and wildlife destinations in the country with the opening of Sterling Rewild Sariska in Rajasthan. The resort, which is located near Sariska Tiger Reserve, marks the group’s fifth operational resort in the state. Sterling, which also has resorts in
Malaysia may renew the search for MH370, a decade after the flight disappeared
Valuedynamx, a Collinson Company, gives Emirates Skywards members more redemption options across hundreds of global retail brands
New routes to Antalya and Jaipur set for mid-June, ahead of wider expansion in Etihad’s global network.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Swaksha Krishnakumar , a 28-year-old Swiftie based in Bangalore, India. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her expenses.
Online travel agency Cleartrip has announced that its travel agent partners increased by 40% in 2023 as compared to 2022. The company’s business-to-business platform Agentbox 2.0 recorded four times higher volume of business in 2023 than the previous year, it added.
Marriott International's Bonvoy rewards program is tapping into the Taylor Swift frenzy, granting Bonvoy members the chance to experience Swift's Eras Tour through either a sweepstakes or the Marriott Bonvoy Moments platform, where members can trade in hotel-stay points for experiences, concerts and sporting events.
Between 1932 and 2021, Air India went from being the gold standard of aviation under the Tata Group to a nationalized airline in complete disarray.
The pan-India premium hotel occupancy is estimated to reach decade highs of 70-72% in the coming fiscal year (2025), according to credit rating agency ICRA. The agency has also estimated that the Indian hotel industry will report revenue growth of 7-9% in 2024-2025. For the financial year ending on March 31, 2024, ICRA is expecting the industry revenue to grow 14-16%.
Marriott International expects to open 14 hotels in South Asia this year, 12 of which will be in India, adding approximately 1,200 rooms to the hotel chain’s existing portfolio in the country.
Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in MENA and India, is thrilled to announce its newest collaboration with Malta Tourism, aimed at providing travelers with unparalleled access to the country. This partnership aims to offer a seamless journey from inspiration to exploration. By joining forces with Malta Tourism, Wego reinforces its dedication to delivering comprehensive travel solutions while showcasing the diverse and captivating destinations Malta has to offer.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jaclyn Sienna India, the founder of the luxury travel concierge Sienna Charles . The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Online travel agency MakeMyTrip has announced a collaboration with the Government of Goa that will promote the coastal state as a year-round travel destination with more than just iconic beaches. The state has launched measures that would highlight Goa’s inland destinations.