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Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its group company SOTC Travel on Monday announced the expansion of their China portfolio, promoting it as a key holiday destination for Indian travellers. This move is backed by a series of positive developments, including the strengthening of diplomatic relations between India and China, resumption of direct flight connectivity and a relaxed visa approval process -- all contributing to a renewed travel demand among Indians, Thomas Cook (India) stated. The growing interest is reflected by Thomas Cook India and SOTC's internal data, with departures selling out well in advance, even during a traditionally low-season (October-November). Capitalising on this strong consumer sentiment, the companies said they have expanded their China holidays portfolio. In addition to leisure travel, China's advanced infrastructure, expanding flight connectivity and return of trade events are also driving strong potential across both business travel and the MICE ...
Hospitality and travel services providers are witnessing robust demand this festive season in the run-up to the long Diwali weekend, registering strong bookings across urban and leisure destinations, with intercity bus services occupancy levels even touching 95-100 per cent. With the GST reform acting as a key driver for mid-scale hotels and mid-market domestic customers, making it easier for travellers to explore lesser-known destinations, Hotel Association of India (HAI) President K B Kachru said early trends show higher hotel occupancy, reflecting the excitement of travellers celebrating festivals with family, friends, and leisure getaways. "Booking patterns this season highlight travellers' preference for convenience, flexibility, and curated experiences. Many hotels are reporting growing interest in premium and experiential stays, signalling a shift toward immersive travel that blends leisure, culture, and wellness," he said. Kachru, who is also Chairman- South Asia, Radisson .
IPO-bound travel-tech unicorn OYO on Thursday announced its partnership with travel agent platform Yatra to strengthen its presence in the business travel segment particularly in key centres such as Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru. As part of this alliance, more than 500 company serviced hotels of OYO have already been on-boarded for the first time on Yatra's platform. It includes hotels under mid-premium and premium brands such as SUNDAY, Palette, Clubhouse, Townhouse, Townhouse Oak and Collection O for business travellers across India. OYO is planning to add 1,000 more company serviced hotels for booking on Yatra's platform by September this year, the company said in a statement. This will strengthen Yatra's inventory, especially in emerging metros where the demand for quality accommodation is surging due to increased business travel, it added. According to estimates, India's business travel spending reached USD 38.2 billion in 2024, reflecting robust growth and positioning the cou
SOTC Travel is targeting double-digit growth for the current financial year ending March, with a strong focus on expansion across regional India, the company's Managing Director & CEO Vishal Suri said. In an interview to PTI, he shared the company's vision for expansion and travel trends, including a strong rise in pilgrimage tourism with the onset of the Shravan season, particularly for the 12 Jyotirlingas. "We are targeting healthy double-digit growth for FY25-26. Regional India is a key focus area for us. We are not only widening our reach across the country but also deepening our presence in existing markets, based on the need and potential we see," Suri told PTI. He observed that the company's expansion strategy is both broad and focused, enabling it to tap into emerging travel demand across demographics and geographies. "We are committed to strengthening our omnichannel strategy with focused expansion across both digital and physical touchpoints. We're actively investing in .