The Republic Day long weekend beginning Saturday is driving a surge in travel with hotels and resorts witnessing an increase in bookings led by high demand, reflecting a decisive shift in traveller behaviour and the rise of micro-getaways, industry players said. The increasing preference for short, experience-led holidays is emerging as a strong trend shaping the country's leisure travel market.
With the rise of wellness tourism and experiential travel, specialised jobs are being created in spa management, event planning and local experience curation, besides social media management.
India's hospitality sector is rolling out the red carpet for investors. A flurry of upcoming IPOs, or initial public offerings, the entry of new players, and ambitious expansion plans by Indian and global hotel brands are ushering in what could be the industry's most formalised era yet. Leading the charge are real estate titans, who are turning their hotel arms into global hospitality chains.
TikTok credited Trump's intervention for providing "clarity and assurance" to its service providers, enabling the app's rapid return.
The deportation of 104 Indian nationals from the US, followed by another 119 set to arrive in Amritsar on Saturday night, has sparked controversy in India over the treatment of returnees. The US government's intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants has led to criticism of the use of handcuffs and shackles for deportees, even those who have committed no crimes beyond immigration violations. The issue has led to heated debates in the Indian Parliament, with opposition leaders demanding an inquiry into the deportation process. The Indian government is engaging with US officials to ensure the humane treatment of deportees, while also facing the challenge of reintegrating returnees into Indian society. The deportations highlight the ongoing tension between border control and human rights, and the complexities of US-India relations.
Hospitality players want the government to accord infrastructure status to hotels to make investments on new properties more attractive rather than categorising them as luxury or even 'sin goods' in the upcoming Union Budget considering the sector's potential to play a key role in India's growth. They also want the government to consider incentives in the form of tax breaks or subsidies for adopting sustainable and eco-friendly practices, while asserting that the upcoming budget must accelerate the tourism agenda saying it is an opportunity to make Indian hospitality the emerging engine for GDP growth and employment generation.
The domestic hospitality industry is looking to 'fly' in 2023 cashing in on India's G20 presidency, having received the 'oxygen' to run in 2022 after being crippled in the past two years by the pandemic. Domestic travel, especially the leisure segment, gave wind to the industry this year and is expected to continue into the next. Industry players believe that as international arrivals are also likely to pick up even further, the outlook for 2023 is buoyant.
The widely held belief, particularly among constituents of India's 300 million strong middle class that the country was on its way to becoming an economic superpower in the near future, was misplaced as the journey was "fraught with danger", cautions Upendra Kachru, a management expert. His book Extreme Turbulence was launched in the capital recently. Kachru, however, expresses confidence in India's potential as an economic powerhouse.
With demand drying up, hotels are surviving on quarantine centres and isolation facilities.
'On an average we have been getting four to five such proposals a month, but we aren't pursuing them as they don't tick the boxes.'
You meet all sorts of interesting people at Lakme Fashion Week. Like artist Prashast Kachru, who paints paan stains.
The criteria for allowing companies to avail of this provision will include profitability, networth, paid-up capital, and turnover.
The shocked family of the teenaged medical student, who was ragged and beaten to death allegedly by his seniors in a medical college in Himachal Pradesh, on Tuesday said the boy was subjected to immense violence and demanded action against the college where he was studying. Aman Satya Kachru, a first year student of Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Kangra, breathed his last on Sunday night in a hospital after being beaten up allegedly by four seniors.
The company would bring two-three hotels under Regent brand in India. Besides, it would add five hotels under Park Plaza, eight under Country Inn and the rest under Radisson.
The fifth largest private hospitality group in the world with a $38 billion-plus turnover, the Carlson group will open a bouquet of its hotel brands like Radisson, Regent International, Country Inn, Park Plaza and Park Inn in next three years.
Over 60-70% of the guests at five-star hotels are foreigners. However, hotels say, if dollar remains at this level, the mix could change.
A CBI official has clarified that the agency did not find any criminal offence again DLF regarding land rights.
Floyd died in Minneapolis on Monday after a white police officer pinned him to the ground. Video footage showed the officer kneeling on Floyd's neck as he gasped for breath. His death has triggered nationwide protests.
One of the slain terrorists has been identified as Shahbaz Safi Wani alias Rayees Kachru, who was active in the area since June, 2016.
Sleep, brain power and all the things that your gadget may be taking from you.
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