Chatchaya Glaiprayong, Head of Global Sales, Cross Hotels & Resorts, revealed that the upcoming Away Bangkok Sukhumvit hotel with 75-room urban retreat offers guests a perfect escape from the everyday hustle with its blend of relaxation and activity. Conveniently located near Emsphere, Bangkok’s newest landmark, this cutting-edge shopping and lifestyle destination spans over 200,000 square meters and is redefining how visitors experience retail, dining, and entertainment. Just a short walk from Phrom Phong BTS Station, the retreat provides easy access to top attractions while allowing guests to unwind in a serene setting after exploring the city’s most dynamic areas.

Uttar Pradesh government is launching a special soft skills training initiative for people associated with the tourism industry in the state. To accelerate this initiative, the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) will conduct the training for a wide range of tourism stakeholders, including boatmen, vendors, tour guides, auto-rickshaw drivers, handicraft sellers, tour operators, and hosts of paying guest accommodations.

IHCL has signed a Vivanta hotel, a greenfield project, in Mysuru expected to have the inventory of 115-room. The expansion aligns with IHCL’s strategy to grow in key cultural and economic hubs, especially those experiencing increased connectivity and tourism. This will be IHCL’s 26th hotel in Karnataka

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are are set for an upgrade in intercity rail connectivity as the new Vande Bharat Express between Gorakhpur and Patna will commence operations on June 20.  The upcoming train service is not just a leap in travel efficiency but also an infrastructural boost for the northern part of the country. Running on the Gorakhpur–Bettiah–Narkatiaganj–Muzaffarpur–Patna corridor, the Vande Bharat is expected to connect major commercial and cultural centres.

Growth of India’s hospitality sector is expected to normalise at 6-8 per cent in the current financial year, said ICRA while downgrading the sectoral outlook to stable from positive. It also stated that Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) to India are expected to remain muted in the next few months in the aftermath of the terror attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

Guldeep Singh Sahni, Managing Director, Weldon Tours & Travels, believes the Philippines will attract seasoned travellers looking for fresh experiences. “It is a different kind of holiday – beautiful beaches, unique landscapes. It may be slightly more expensive than other Southeast Asian countries but for those exploring mid-haul destinations like Mauritius or Europe, it is still competitive.”

Balitrip Wisata has launched API integration with one of Indonesia’s most aggressive hotel aggregators, bringing dynamic and static rates, instant confirmations and real-time availability to its B2B portal. This tech upgrade solves a major DMC challenge of delayed pricing and confirmation by offering a faster, more reliable, and price-competitive booking experience. This marks a bold step in transforming Bali hotel bookings for Indian travel agents.  

IATO has taken a delegation of 22 members to Pahalgam & Srinagar, as part of its ‘Rubaroo with J&K’ initiative with an idea to revive tourism in the valley after the unfortunate terror attack some time back. In fact, LG, J&K has announced the reopening of many destinations in Pahalgam.

At Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2025, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) presented its Thailand Product Update to international buyers and media. Delivered by Nithee Seeprae, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, TAT, the session outlined the country’s tourism strategy, product developments, and a firm commitment to a sustainable, high-value future. “Thailand’s tourism direction for 2025 is clear—we are creating high-value experiences rooted in culture, wellness, and sustainability,” said Nithee. He further added, “This is not just about growth in numbers, but about enriching every journey and ensuring tourism benefits both visitors and local communities.” In line with the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025, the government has introduced new measures to enhance the visitor experience, including relaxed alcohol regulations and a streamlined online Arrival Card. A broader range of immersive tourism products is also being developed to encourage longer stays and deeper cultural engagement. The product update highlighted a strong focus on wellness tourism, particularly experiences inspired by Lanna’s heritage. Visitors are invited to engage all five senses through traditional treatments like Tok Sen massage, herbal aroma therapies, and locally sourced wellness cuisine that reflects regional identity. TAT’s wellness and medical tourism strategy also spotlights regional strengths. In Northern Thailand, yoga, folk dance, and Lanna-inspired spa treatments are offered at destinations like Fah Lanna Spa and ZiRa Spa. The Central region combines traditional and integrative therapies at The Soul in Saraburi and ChivaRak Wellness in Phetchaburi. Along the Gulf of Thailand, spas such as MASON and SPA Cenvaree blend tropical serenity with time-honoured Thai healing. Gastronomy remains a pillar of Thailand’s tourism identity. The Michelin Guide Thailand 2025 features over 400 listings, including 50 in Chiang Mai. …

Oyo is entering the food and beverage (F&B) market, aiming to increase hotel revenue by 5-10 per cent by introducing in-house kitchens and quick service restaurant (QSR) concepts across 1,500 of its company-services hotels by FY26. This initiative, called ‘Townhouse Cafe,’ will offer in-house dining options, pantry-style setups, and quick service carts.