Deepak Narula, Managing Director, GRNconnect, has said that besides the online B2B portal www.GRNconnect.com, where the company offers hotels, apartments, transfers, sightseeing and packages, they also now offer a White Label solution that includes flights. He adds that they have received a good response for it. In fact, the company also has a host of products lined up for an early-September release.

Under the newly-launched ‘Transparent Taxation’ platform announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 13, it has been proposed that hotel bill payments that exceed Rs20,000 will be liable to tax disclosure. The move is part of a tax overhaul by the government to widen the scope and reduce the threshold of various transactions for tax disclosure purposes.

In an exclusive interaction with TravTalk, PP Khanna, President, ADTOI, said that during their meeting with the Tourism Minister, he suggested that MOT bring out a comprehensive study on domestic tourism so that trade members are aware about hotels, transporters, communication and infrastructure in a particular state, to help avoid chaos and confusion.

Airline & travel management company InterGlobe Air Transport (IGAT) has launched its new user-friendly brand website to refurbish its digital presence and address the need of the hour.  The new website has been revamped to address the need of the current business landscape and is in-line with the company’s mission to provide its customers with the resources and tools to understand the experience and gain knowledge about the company’s three decades in the business. The website is designed to deliver a smooth experience by enabling efficient navigation between passenger services, cargo services, car rental and other pages. InterGlobe Air Transport has worked with Multia – the design division of Multiversity Group to completely revamp its website – www.interglobeairtransport.com.

A new report by McKinsey & Company states that in addition to table-stakes safety initiatives, brands must differentiate themselves and re-engage their travellers with visible, communications-based cues, such as notifications about health status of destination city and personalised notes on importance of testing and other safety measures.

Korea Tourism Organization will be conducting a webinar on Thursday, August 13 at 3pm for the Indian travel trade. The session will focus on Korea as a perfect destination for luxury experiences. Jong Sool Kwon, Director – Korea Tourism Organization, New Delhi office, says, “South Korea has been one of the few nations which have successfully flattened the COVID-19 curve without any lockdown. Once travel opens up, there will be a demand for travel to places which not only entertain but provide safe and superior facilities and services. With this webinar, the aim is for travel agents to know the extraordinary experiences Korea has to offer and recommend South Korea as a first choice to travellers.” The tourism board invites members of the trade to sign up for this by contacting Jaspreet Kaur on 9650196532 or jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

Focusing on inbound traffic from the USA, Alan Merschen, Partner (International Insights) at MMGY Global and Chairperson, Travel Consul, speaking at the 5th TravTalk Digital Conclave, shared, “Over 90% of American tourists will be open to explore new destinations. It is really a time to keep communicating and not ‘wait and see’. The Indian travel trade needs to think quality, not quantity. There might be fewer trips but longer trips. Don’t think about the number of visitors but the revenue you are earning.”

Sharing an update on the UK market at the 5th TravTalk Digital Conclave, Amanda Hills, Founder and CEO, Hills Balfour, said, “The UK has a long-standing relationship with India; it is the third-biggest source market after Bangladesh and the USA. And there has never been a bigger opportunity for India to tap into the UK market. It’s India’s moment to shine. Travellers will be looking to travel for a longer time to reduce the risk of travelling, and what India offers really matches what UK is looking for.”

As an expert on the Italian market, Massimo Tocchetti, President, AIGO, speaking at the 5th TravTalk Digital Conclave, said, “As the fourth-largest European market for India, Italians are preferring back-to-nature activities and luxury products. With the right communication, the right marketing and the right presence in the market, you can win the battle. This is the time for India to reinvent not just as a destination but also reinvent its relationships.”

According to JLL’s report titled ‘Hotel Momentum India’ for Q2 2020, Gujarat had the highest number of branded hotel openings in Q2 2020 at 111. It also had 129 branded hotel signings in the same period.