Tourland India bagged the ‘Best Luxury Holiday Planners’ award at the India Travel Awards 2025. Sandeep Srivastava, Founder & CEO, said, “This award is a testament to our passion for curating unforgettable luxury escapes. With a strong focus on MICE and wedding groups, especially from North India, we remain committed to excellence while showcasing our capability to manage large-scale conferences and celebrations.”

TAAI organised a joint chapter meeting of Northern and South – Tamil Nadu at Delhi’s Gandhi Smriti, encouraging travel professionals to explore heritage venues for industry gatherings. The association has begun hosting meetings at culturally significant locations, including the PM’s Museum, to help members experience sites they can promote in itineraries. Leaders noted rising interest from South Indian members and growing participation nationwide.  

Addressing TAAI members, Vijay Goel, Vice Chairman, Gandhi Smriti & Former Union Minister, highlighted Delhi’s tourism potential and heritage conservation. He outlined efforts to restore historic mansions, including UNESCO-awarded Dharampura Haveli, and shared details of upcoming redevelopment plans for Chandni Chowk, backed by ₹100 crore in government support. He encouraged the travel trade to promote heritage sites and support improvement initiatives.

TravTalk hosted another edition of Think Tank at the Le Meridien New Delhi on ‘Succession Plans for Family-Run Travel Agencies’, bringing together prominent industry leaders to discuss leadership transition and continuity. The roundtable featured Rajan Dua, Managing Director, Udaan India; Guldeep Singh Sahni, Managing Director, Weldon Tours & Travels and Founding President, OTOAI; Dr Subhash Goyal, Chairman, STIC Travel & Air Charter Group; Naveen Kundu, Founder, Tourism Futures.AI; and Gaurav Luthra, Industry Expert, ex-Yatra, ex-FCM India. The speakers shared candid insights on grooming next-generation leaders, strengthening governance, moving towards professional management, and future-proofing legacy travel businesses. The discussion emphasised that succession is a strategic, long-term process essential for stability, scale, and resilience in India’s evolving travel ecosystem.

Grand Metropolitan Hotels, one of the world’s leading hotel management companies based in Zurich, confirmed the strategic acquisition of London-based Signature Hotels. The takeover gives Grand Metropolitan Hotels a significant footprint in the UK market. The commercial term of the deal remains undisclosed. Signature Hotels currently operates boutique and upper-midscale properties across London, with two additional properties set to open during the next twelve months. The group’s portfolio is characterised by a focus on individuality, local character, and human-centred hospitality- balancing sustainable performance with culture, wellbeing, and social responsibility. Through this takeover, Grand Metropolitan Hotels expands its reach within London’s upscale hotel segment while extending into one of the world’s fastest-growing hospitality markets, India, where Signature has two properties under development. The partnership further aligns two family-led groups united by shared values, long-term vision, and a commitment to meaningful, people-focused hospitality. “Signature Hotels offers a powerful combination of local credibility and international ambition,” said Martin R Smura, Founder and Chairman, Grand Metropolitan Hotels. “London remains one of the most competitive hospitality markets in the world, and Signature’s operational strength there, coupled with its ties to India, provides GMH with an immediate and meaningful platform for growth.” Ramesh Arora, current CEO, Signature Hotels group, will be retained as Supervisory Board Member for the Grand Metropolitan Hotels. With over four decades of international experience across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, Arora has been recognized with numerous accolades including Hotelier of the Year by PATA and the Lifetime Contribution to Hotels and Tourism award by Stardust. “This partnership brings together two family businesses with aligned values and a shared belief in hospitality as a force for good,” said Ramesh Arora. “By joining GMH, …

Aeroprime Group won the ‘Leading Passenger GSA of the Year’ award at the India Travel Awards 2025. Receiving the trophy, Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director & CEO, said, “This award reflects our relentless focus on service excellence, innovation, and global partnerships. With platforms like Glid and data-led solutions, we are setting new benchmarks in aviation and travel.”

IATO has proposed an ‘Incredible India Endorsement’ programme to engage leading Indian brands and industry icons as tourism ambassadors. The association also emphasised joint promotion and support for the tour operators approved by the Ministry of Tourism-approved, including financial aid for brochures, digital marketing, and co-promotions with hospitality chains, airlines, and wellness brands.

The Union Ministry of Tourism and its allied bodies are actively implementing the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM) 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, governance, and efficiency. With 6,429 monitored targets, cleanliness drives at 413 tourism sites, and large-scale digitisation efforts, the initiative aims to streamline operations and enhance India’s tourism infrastructure to give a more organised and welcoming experiencefor domestic and international tourists.

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Ahmad Johanif bin Mohamad Ali, Director, Tourism Malaysia, New Delhi Office, shared that Malaysia aims for 1.5 million Indian tourists in 2025, with nearly 900,000 arrivals recorded by July 2025. For 2026, the Malaysian government has set an ambitious goal of welcoming 2 million Indian visitors. Indians show keen interest in Malaysia’s golf tourism.