As part of BESydney’s business events financial support, a new program the Ignite Sydney Business Event Fund has been launched in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam for corporate meetings, incentives and conferences held in Greater Sydney in 2023.  Applications officially open 6 October. The BESydney funding will offset costs for events with 200-400 delegates, whereby the client will receive support to the value of AU$40 per person and for events with a group size over 401 delegates, it will be deferred to a customised funding offer. Applications will be assessed on a first-come first-served basis. “BESydney’s Ignite Sydney Business Event Fund is an exciting initiative, to stimulate a return to hosting incredible corporate events and incentives in our harbour city,” said BESydney CEO, Lyn Lewis-Smith. “We want to support our important meeting planners and encourage the return of our Asian incentive and corporate market to Sydney to experience the vibrancy and energy of the city, as well as our new products, attractions and venues,” she said. Information on the Ignite Sydney Business Event Fund program can be found at besydney.com.au/incentives/ignite-sydney-2022/ and applications open 6 October.  Financial support is limited, so events which qualify, need to act quickly in order to be successful.  Applications close on 18 November 2022 (or earlier if funds have been allocated). Sydney has seen the opening of a number of new and exciting event venues and attractions over the last two years including: the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga Zoo where you can wake up with a koala; the $57M renovation of the Australian Museum where you can host events in the shadow of a dinosaur; the multi-million dollar restoration of Watersedge at Campbell’s Stores …

DCT Abu Dhabi will be conducting #InAbuDhabi webinar today at 3pm for the travel trade. Participants would learn about upcoming events, experiences, attractions, hotels, among other offerings. Register with jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call +91 9650196532.

As per the latest ICRA report, international passenger traffic continues to rise since the resumption of the scheduled international operations with effect from March 27, 2022. In September 2022, international passenger traffic for Indian carriers stood at 25.12 lakh, surpassing pre-Covid levels of 18.8 lakh by 34%.

With New Zealand borders reopened since August, Tourism New Zealand extends an invitation to curious travellers to visit and quench their curious minds. Its new global campaign titled ‘If You Seek’ is a call to visitors who wish to seek more through extraordinary travel experiences. The campaign is set to launch in India through key trade partners like Thomas Cook, MakeMyTrip and Kulin Kumar Holidays. Its objective is to convert pent-up demand for New Zealand through these partnerships to boost recovery.

India is a significant aviation market for the Asia Pacific and the rest of the world and is likely to experience strong demand for air travel, IATA said as the nation’s domestic air passenger traffic edged closer to pre-COVID levels. The Indian aviation industry, which was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, is now on the road to recovery, and airlines are ramping up employees and opening new routes to meet the growing demand for travel. IATA’s Regional VP for Asia Pacific, Philip Goh, said the Indian market is a “very important market and is already contributing massively to some parts of the world. “I can see many airline companies are starting, resuming or expanding network to India. India definitely is a key market for the region and the rest of the world,” he said.

At the 72nd Annual General Meeting of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) held on 24th September 2022, Pradeep Shetty – Director, Maharaja Hotels was elected the President. Maharaja Hotels operates hotels and restaurants, among other F&B facilities in Mumbai. Prior to taking over as the President, Shetty served as its Sr. Vice President and has been an active member of the Association for over a decade. He has also served as the Jt. Hon Secretary of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India – the country’s apex Hospitality Association. The youngest President of the Association, Shetty is also considered one of the foremost legal minds on hospitality. He has spearheaded several legal campaigns at the behest of the hospitality industry and played a critical role in bringing together hoteliers and restaurateurs protesting the unethical business practices of OTAs and FSAs, cable TV / TRAI matters, service charges, and MRP issues faced by the members. “The pandemic dealt a big blow to the hospitality and tourism industry and although things are getting progressively better, there are several concerns that are yet to be addressed. The association’s endeavour is to do its best towards alleviating as many pain-points of its members and we will work closely with the State and Centre in policy advocacy for the growth of tourism and hospitality in the region. I thank the Executive Committee for their trust and for electing me as President of the Association,” says Shetty. The new office will have Nirav Gandhi and Chetan Mehta as the Sr. Vice President and Vice President of the Association. Jimmy Shaw will act as the Hon. Secretary, Dilip Kothari as the …

Accor continues to expand its luxury footprint in India with the signing of Fairmont Udaipur, located in the historical city of Udaipur, in the state of Rajasthan, which is set to open in 2024. The agreement was signed in partnership with Keystone Resorts, a real estate development company set on increasing their footprint in hospitality. At the signing event, Mark Willis, Chief Executive Officer India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey for Accor, said, “With the aim to provide unforgettable experiences, Fairmont’s distinctive collection of unrivalled hotels reflects our belief in giving world-class service to guests who appreciate unique locations. As we are witnessing a rising demand for luxury experiences in India, and as the leading hospitality group in the country, we aim to stay ahead of the curve. The new Fairmont Udaipur Palace will continue to showcase our commitment to offering a place for occasions and unmatched guest experiences at the most beautiful locations around the country. We couldn’t think of a better city than Udaipur for Fairmont –a city steeped in culture and has a rich heritage that offers the perfect setting for the hotel.” With a unique location along a hillside, with an exclusive access to the forest reserve, the property is spread over 16 acres of land, offering guests an unparalleled view of the city. Featuring 340 guest rooms with over 100,000 sq.ft  of banqueting and events space, a variety of outdoor venues, recreational spaces, dining facilities and Fairmont’s signature Spa, offering luxurious one-of-a-kind holistic wellness experiences. Aniruddh Kumar, VP Development, Accor India & South Asia, commented, “We are delighted to expand our presence in Udaipur by adding another property within the Fairmont brand. We will continue the legacy …

Spree Hospitality announced the signing of a new hotel in the city of lakes, Udaipur. It is located 1.3 km from Udaipur bus stand and 1.1 km from Pichola lake. This hotel comprises 30 rooms with spacious and luxurious amenities, an all-day dining restaurant, lounge and banquet hall. Commenting on the signing, Sagar Khurana, Vice President of Spree Hospitality said, “We are delighted to partner with Mr. Bilochi. This is our second property in Rajasthan. Udaipur is known for an important tourist destination and this encouraged us to sign the hotel in the city.” With the signing of this hotel, Spree Hospitality started to increase its portfolio in Rajasthan.

Speaking on the occasion of Paryatan Parv recently, Rajiv Jalota, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust, said, “Earlier we used to be fascinated by international vessels making calls on Indian coasts, especially Mumbai. But of late, river and domestic cruising on the coastal waters and the inland waterways is growing by leaps and bounds. Three years prior to the pandemic, the growth of cruise tourism in India was at 39% annually. Today, there is a high-level taskforce in place under various ministries that has been taking some pathbreaking decisions towards developing cruise tourism in India.”

Asia Pacific is at the centre of growth in the travel industry and Sabre is seeing very rapid acceleration in the recovery, says Brett Thorstad, VP (Travel Solutions), Agency Sales, Asia Pacific, Sabre. He says, “India is the third-largest travel market in the world just behind the USA and China. We are seeing rapid growth in the India market with high single-digit GDP growth every year. This is also translating into the travel market as the demography of the Indian population is changing. India is a very important market for Sabre and that is why we are planning to make some significant investments in India in the next several years and take advantage of the travel recovery here.”