Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, the city’s leading luxury destination,  is delighted to announce the appointments of Jyotika Sahani as Director of Business Development and Fuzail Nevrekar as Director of Catering. These strategic promotions reinforce the hotel’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and personalized guest experiences. With nearly two decades of experience in luxury hospitality, Jyotika Sahani brings a wealth of expertise to her new role. Transitioning from her previous position as Director of Catering Sales, she is known for her strategic foresight and strong client relationships. In her new role, Jyotika will lead the hotel’s business development initiatives, driving revenue growth and forging brand partnerships that further position Four Seasons Mumbai as the benchmark for luxury in the city.   Fuzail Nevrekar’s journey with Four Seasons began in February 2014 as a Guest Services Agent. Over the past 11 years, he has steadily grown within the organisation, transitioning into roles as a Wedding Specialist and a leader in Catering Sales. His deep understanding of client needs, coupled with his creative approach to event curation, has made him a respected figure in the luxury wedding and catering space. Together, Jyotika and Fuzail led the Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai team to win the prestigious Best Catering Team – Asia Pacific at the Pinnacle Awards 2024, presented by Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. In addition to this honour, the team successfully exceeded all assigned budgets in 2024, a testament to their dynamic leadership and dedication. “We are delighted to have Jyotika and Fuzail step into these pivotal roles,” said Nitesh Gandhi, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai. “Their leadership, passion, and commitment to excellence will continue to drive our success in delivering unparalleled experiences …

BLS International, a trusted global tech-enabled services partner for governments and citizens and a global leader in visa processing and consular services, has announced the launch of an AI-powered VoiceBot to provide round-the-clock assistance in Canada—becoming the first company in the industry to introduce such a solution. The VoiceBot will enable human-like interaction and play a key role in addressing customer queries, thereby reducing wait times for live agents and streamlining overall operations. From answering basic visa-related FAQs to guiding users through documentation and consular services, the AI system significantly reduces dependency on human agents, eliminates long queues, and enhances the end-user experience. This innovation brings an unprecedented level of speed, accuracy, and accessibility—transforming the way visa support is delivered. In its initial phase, the AI-powered VoiceBot will operate exclusively in English. In Phase 2, support for over 22 additional languages will be introduced, enabling a seamless and inclusive multilingual experience across global missions. Mr. Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director at BLS International, said, “Technology and innovation have always been integral to BLS International’s operational philosophy. We are proud to introduce the industry’s first AI-powered information solution, marking a significant step forward in enhancing the application experience for our customers in Canada. The rollout of AI-powered VoiceBots reinforces our commitment to delivering accessible, efficient, and customer-centric visa, consular, attestation, and related services. By offering instant access to accurate information, we aim to elevate the service experience and build the next generation of citizen-facing technologies.” This initiative is part of BLS International’s multi-phased digital transformation strategy focused on intelligent automation and customer-first innovation. In Phase 3, the company will launch AI-powered Chatbots alongside an AI-powered email response system to provide personalized, context-aware replies …

flynas, the leading low-cost airline in the world and the best LCC in the Middle East, announced launching five new destinations, including Milan, Italy; Geneva, Switzerland; Krakow, Poland’s second-largest city; Rize, Turkey; and Casablanca; Morocco, in addition to a new route between Jeddah and El Alamein on Egypt’s North Coast, expanding its summer destinations network in 2025 to more than 20 cities around the world and providing more innovative travel options for its guests. As of June 21, flynas will launch four new weekly direct flights between Jeddah and El Alamein, increasing its flight frequency to the Egyptian resort, which is already linked with the Kingdom through direct flights from Riyadh. On Monday, June 23, flynas will begin operating direct flights between Riyadh and Rize, its latest summer destination in Turkey. The coastal city on Turkey’s eastern Black Sea coast will also be connected by three weekly direct flights from Jeddah as of June 27. Starting June 24, three weekly direct flights will operate between Riyadh and Geneva, Switzerland. As of June 26, flynas will connect Riyadh to Milan with three weekly flights. The following day, three weekly direct flights will operate between Riyadh and Krakow, Poland, making flynas the first Saudi national carrier flying to Poland. With these new additions in summer 2025, flynas summer destinations network will include up to 20 cities spread across Africa, Europe, and Asia, including the existing destinations of El Alamein, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, Sarajevo, Salzburg, Tirana, Vienna, Prague, Antalya, Bodrum, Istanbul, Trabzon, Batumi, Baku, Tbilisi, and Salalah. Passengers traveling with flynas can book their flights through all flynas booking channels: www.flynas.com, the flynas app, the call centre (920001234), or travel agents. flynas operates …

İstanbul’s Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, one of the most exquisite structures of humanity’s heritage with its 1.486-year history, has been lately the focus of an extensive restoration project preserving its grandeur for future generations. As part of the ongoing project, the world-famous structure’s majestic dome is now undergoing the most comprehensive reinforcement and restoration process, focusing on resilience. Safeguarding the Crown of Hagia Sophia Hagia Sophia, a symbol of İstanbul’s enduring heritage, is one of the latest conservation projects of Türkiye, which has been conducting numerous archaeological excavation and restoration projects to ensure the sustainability of its cultural heritage. The enormous architectural marvel has been comprehensively restored and reinforced for around three years. Some of the work has already been completed as part of this effort, while the remaining phases are carried out carefully. Now, works will focus on Hagia Sophia’s dome to make it more earthquake-resistant while preserving its original form. All interventions to the central dome will be carried out from the exterior to prevent damage to its mosaic-covered interior surface. The lead coverings on the dome’s exterior will be dismantled and either repaired or replaced with new ones. During this process, the dome’s surface will be temporarily enclosed with a steel structure and high-quality protective tarp to avoid damage from seasonal weather conditions or harm to the mosaics on the interior. The meticulous work at Hagia Sophia’s dome will also include the conservation of the mosaics on the dome’s interior surface. To enable the work on the mosaics, a steel platform system supported by four columns and standing 43.5 metres tall will be installed inside. This setup will ensure that worship can continue without interruption while restoration …

The much awaited and biggest event in Arunachal Pradesh is here. Adventure Mechukha – the 3rd National Adventure Racing Championship 2025 took place between April 17-20, 2025 in the beautiful valley of Mechukha in the northeastern state. The event was organised by NthAdventure along with Arunachal Pradesh Tourism. Positioned as ‘India’s First Border Adventure Race’ – the sporting event is a part of the prestigious Adventure Racing World Series – Asia Series. Held annually, the National Adventure Racing Championship is also a qualifier for ARWS Asia Championship. This year’s Asia Championship is scheduled to take place in Malaysia in October 2025. The biggest advantage of being part of ARWS is that each race receives global visibility and provides access to participating teams to travel to different countries. The 3rd National Adventure Racing Championship 2025 witnessed participation from 12 states of India and 3 countries representing Malaysia, Nepal and South Africa. This race serves as a mega get-together of adventure seekers across the country to test the true team spirit. Mr. Pasang Dorjee Sona, Minister for Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh said, “Arunachal Pradesh is well positioned to emerge as a leading adventure tourism destination in the world. We want to showcase the potential in adventure tourism vested in our state through events like National Adventure Racing Championship. We plan to organize this event in a much bigger way next year.” The Department of Tourism and NthAdventure left no stone unturned to make sure teams have a wonderful experience while they travel to this remote border village of Arunachal Pradesh. The event also showcased natural beauty of the remote regions in Arunachal Pradesh and potential in promoting border tourism. The journey …

Atmosphere Core, a dynamic hospitality company, is pleased to announce the promotion of Ashwin Handa to Chief Operating Officer, South Asia. This strategic elevation comes at a pivotal moment, as the company accelerates its growth trajectory across South Asia and beyond while reinforcing its internal culture and brand identity. This significant promotion is the first of a lineup of strategic elevation of existing and new leadership. Salil Panigrahi, Managing Director Atmosphere Core said, “It is a proud moment that reflects our culture of recognising, trusting, and empowering deserving individuals within the organisation. Ashwin is a collaborative leader who holds our teams, values, and ambitions together. His ability to capture both the big picture and the smallest detail and have it executed seamlessly results in a high level of operational efficiency and strong business performance”. Reflecting on his appointment, Ashwin Handa said, “It is an honour and privilege to be recognised and step into this role at a time of expansion and evolution for Atmosphere Core. I look forward to continuing this journey with our talented teams as we strengthen our brand presence, enter new markets, and build on our commitment to exceptional, heartfelt hospitality”. With more than 3 decades of experience in hospitality in India, Maldives and Nepal, Ashwin brings deep operational expertise, commercial acumen, and people-focused leadership. In this expanded senior executive role, he will oversee operations across all properties in the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan, and is tasked with fine-tuning excellence and embedding the group’s ethos, Joy of Giving, at every guest and team touchpoint.

Hoi, India’s innovative travel-tech platform revolutionising airport experiences, has announced a strategic partnership with Delhi Duty Free, India’s largest duty-free retailer. This collaboration introduces an exclusive offering where Delhi Duty Free customers will receive complimentary e-SIM data of up to 10GB, valid in over 90 countries worldwide. The complimentary e-SIM offering will be available to all Delhi Duty Free customers during the three-month campaign period. The redemption process has been designed to be seamless, requiring minimal steps to activate the data package before international departure. The initiative aims to address a key pain point for international travellers—staying connected abroad—while enhancing the overall airport shopping experience. Effective immediately, customers making any purchase at Delhi Duty Free outlets will be eligible to receive this complimentary data package, providing them with essential connectivity during their international journeys. Commenting on the partnership, Dhruv Godara, Deputy CEO, Hoi said, “Connectivity has become an essential part of modern travel, yet international data roaming remains prohibitively expensive for many. Through this partnership, we’re removing that barrier while introducing travellers to Hoi’s comprehensive passenger experience ecosystem. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to make every aspect of air travel more connected, convenient, and stress-free.” This partnership represents the latest development in Hoi’s growing ecosystem of airport-related services and collaborations. Hoi has already transformed the travel experience across major Indian airports including Delhi, Hyderabad, and New Goa (GOX) through its comprehensive suite of services. The platform leverages sophisticated integration with airport infrastructure systems to deliver real-time flight information with unprecedented accuracy, transforming traditional airport processes into seamless digital experiences.

JLL India, one of the largest real estate consultancy firm, today announced a partnership with the Indian School of Hospitality to develop the next generation of talent in real estate operations and HR. This strategic collaboration addresses India’s dynamic real estate market’s growing need for skilled professionals. The partnership with ISH introduces a specialized one-year Postgraduate Programme in Hospitality Management, tailored to meet the evolving demands of real estate-linked services. This innovative program combines six months of advanced academic learning at ISH with a five-month applied immersion across JLL India’s operational network. Ajit Kumar, Managing Director, Work Dynamics Accounts, West Asia, India, JLL, emphasizes the significance of this partnership said, “At JLL, we are committed to investing in future-ready talent. By funding 50% of the program fee for each participant, we are ensuring that selected candidates are well-equipped for long-term careers within our real estate advisory ecosystem. This investment aligns perfectly with our growth and talent strategy in India. This collaboration exemplifies JLL’s commitment to shaping the future of real estate through education and industry partnerships. By aligning academic excellence with practical industry experience, we are creating a talent pool which is future ready and ready to handle the dynamic and ever evolving FM sector.” The ISH-JLL Postgraduate Programme is designed to create a pipeline of professionals who are not only operationally sound but also adaptable to the complexity of modern real estate environments. Kunal Vasudeva, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Indian School of Hospitality said, “This is what industry-academia collaboration should look like, where education aligns with employment, and industry takes the lead in shaping future talent. In every strong economy, real progress begins when institutions and companies come together …

GRT Hotels & Resorts, India’s leading boutique hospitality group, celebrated World Heritage Day with a heritage-themed quiz, bringing together history enthusiasts, guests, and team members from across 17 properties in five South Indian states. We had 650 participants taking part in the hybrid event. Hosted by Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali, Dewan to the Prince of Arcot, whose deep knowledge of Indian heritage and culture enriched the occasion. Designed to spotlight India’s diverse and storied legacy, the quiz featured questions on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, iconic monuments, ancient dynasties, regional art forms, and cultural traditions. Participants competed in a fun, hybrid format—both on-ground and online—for attractive prizes, including stay and dining vouchers at GRT Hotels & Resorts. Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Vikram Cotah, CEO of GRT Hotels & Resorts, said “World Heritage Day is a celebration of the past that shapes our present. Through this quiz, we aimed to spark curiosity, encourage learning, and honour India’s magnificent heritage. We are grateful to Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali for lending his insight and grace to this event.” The event also served as a cultural platform, fostering community engagement and offering guests a taste of GRT’s signature hospitality with specially curated local delicacies reflecting India’s timeless heritage.

Work underway in Maheshwar, Mandu, Dhar, and Orchha to make historic sites accessible for all Every monument has a story, every ruin whispers history, and every ancient wall echoes the soul of a civilization. This World Heritage Day, Madhya Pradesh is not just celebrating its rich cultural legacy, but also ensuring that its heritage is experienced by everyone — regardless of ability. In a remarkable initiative to make tourism more inclusive, the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board is executing the ‘Accessibility Infrastructure and Development’ project across four prominent heritage sites — Maheshwar, Mandu, Dhar, and Orchha. The move is aimed at making these culturally significant destinations accessible to persons with disabilities through thoughtfully designed infrastructure like ramps, Braille signage, accessible washrooms, and wheelchair-friendly pathways. “Under the guidance of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and the leadership of Minister of State for Tourism, Culture and Religious Trusts & Endowments Shri Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi, we are working to have more of Madhya Pradesh’s iconic locations added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Our goal is to make these destinations not only more visited, but more inclusive. This is a step towards enabling every individual, regardless of physical ability, to experience the timeless beauty of our heritage,” Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts & Endowments Department, and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board. Heritage for All: What the Project Entails Designed with a people-first approach, the project will enhance facilities for those with locomotor disabilities, visual and auditory impairments, intellectual and multiple disabilities. Modern features like audio guides, tactile paths, and signboards in Braille will offer a more immersive experience to visitors. Major Site-Wise Interventions: Maheshwar: Improvements at …