FCM, the flagship large corporate division of the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), has appointed Sunny Sodhi as the Managing Director of India. Sodhi has spent more than 26 years in the travel and hospitality industry. He is a seasoned professional with experience establishing businesses and delivering accelerated growth. Previously at OYO, Sodhi was the COO for Luxury and Upscale Business and the Head of Sales for India and Southeast Asia. Before OYO, he was the COO for Yatra for Business (Corporate Travel), a vertical he was instrumental in establishing from the ground up. He was also the Head of Industry Relations for Yatra.com. Sodhi has had successful stints at HRG and CWT India in business, sales, and client management roles. He also actively supports the start-up ecosystem in the country.

Amadeus has appointed Sandeep Dwivedi as Managing Director – Travel Sellers, India and subcontinent, where he will oversee Amadeus’ commercial activities for travel sellers across the region.    Sandeep takes over responsibilities for India and subcontinent from Ramona Bohwongprasert, SVP, Southeast Asia, Inside Sales & Startups, Travel Sellers, Asia Pacific, Amadeus, who will continue to look after Southeast Asia with an expanded role of Inside Sales & Startups across the entire Asia Pacific region. Bringing decades of travel industry knowledge to Amadeus, Sandeep has extensive experience in various senior leadership roles, most recently in a role for InterGlobe Technology Quotient where he played a pivotal role in driving growth across the Asia Pacific region.    Javier Laforgue, Executive Vice President, Travel Unit & Managing Director, Asia Pacific commented, “The travel industry in India is growing at rapid pace and Amadeus is at the forefront of this progress. We are excited to bring Sandeep onboard as he is a trusted leader that understands the vision of Amadeus in India and the subcontinent. We have been present in the region for over two decades and this appointment further underscores our commitment to serving the technology needs of the travel industry there.” 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced strengthened profitability projections for airlines in 2023, which will then largely stabilize in 2024. Airline industry net profits are expected to reach US$25.7 billion in 2024 (2.7% net profit margin). That will be a slight improvement over 2023 which is expected to show a US$23.3 billion net profit (2.6% net profit margin). 

María Valcarce, Managing Director, FITUR said, “India is a destination that offers a variety of options, and its cultural and heritage richness is immense, as is the beauty of its natural landscapes. It is a dream destination for every traveller and the presentation of the tourism proposals of the different regions of India at FITUR arouses much interest among both professionals and the public visiting the fair at the weekend.” 

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that 40 per cent revenue and 8 per cent of employment of the tourism sector comes from the MICE industry. “It shows that there is huge scope and we all need to focus on developing this sector. Gujarat has developed several MICE destinations over the years. Gujarat has hosted several national and international-level events, including the G20. This makes Gujarat the most suitable place for MICE. Now, we are focusing on developing conference tourism”, he said. 

Agoda has revealed the top travel locations of the year for Indian travellers. Domestically, New Delhi and NCR was the most booked and for Indians travelling abroad, Thailand’s capital Bangkok leapfrogged Dubai to claim the top spot. Additionally, Agoda rankings also revealed that in terms of foreign travel preferences, Indians tend to favour short-haul destinations around the region. Bangkok, Dubai, Bali, Singapore and Pattaya have emerged as the top five outbound destinations.   

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, in collaboration with the Marriott Group, recently hosted a highly successful promotional trip to Oman. The initiative aimed to highlight Oman’s potential as an ideal destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE). The country’s strategic positioning as an attractive MICE destination is underlined by its world-class facilities, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. Delegates can immerse themselves in Oman’s unique blend of tradition and modernity, providing an enriching and memorable experience. Oman’s excellent connectivity from India further enhances its appeal. With convenient flight options and seamless travel experiences, Oman positions itself as a hassle-free destination for MICE travellers. The collaboration with Marriott Group, featuring stays at renowned properties such as JW Marriott, Anantara and Jumeirah, showcases the commitment to providing top-notch hospitality, ensuring that every visitor’s stay is both comfortable and memorable. Mr. Arjun, Country Manager, India, highlighted the substantial increase in the number of travellers, attributing it to Oman’s unmatched appeal as a destination. The cultural affinity, coupled with Oman’s commitment to providing excellent hospitality, has contributed to the growing popularity among Indian tourists, he said. He further highlighted how Oman is an ideal destination to promote both small and big groups. “With a convention centre boasting of a capacity to accommodate over 5,000 participants, Oman emerges as a compelling choice for event planners and MICE partners,” Arjun said. ‘’We extend a warm invitation to MICE partners, urging all to include Oman on their bucket list of preferred destinations,’’ he added. He also emphasized on the unique opportunities Oman offers for hosting events, conferences, and exhibitions of varying scales. As Oman continues to position itself as a premier MICE …

The last edition of Global Panorama Showcase in 2023 has commenced in Guwahati. Harmandeep Singh, Managing Director, GPS, said that there is a need to sell ancillaries for travel agents in the Northeast to compete with OTAs and other service providers. 

Minister of State Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh (Retd) outlined MoCA’s initiatives for carbon neutrality in Indian airports, standardizing carbon accounting, advising operators on emissions mapping. Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru attained ACI’s Level 4+ Accreditation, becoming carbon neutral, while 66 airports operate on 100% green energy, as per his Rajya Sabha statement.  

Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI said, “We are now offering 100-plus online courses for free to our members– from how to be a better travel consultant, how to be an effective counter staff and many soft skills. It is rich in content, and we hope our members will take advantage of this”. TAFI has also tied up with another firm to provide 100+ skilling courses on various subjects.