FAITH Conclave charts US$3-trillion tourism vision for India @ 2047
FAITH has launched Tourism Vision 2047, aiming to make tourism a $3-trillion contributor to India’s projected $30-trillion GDP, creating 20 crore jobs and placing India among the top five global markets. FAITH Chairman Puneet Chhatwal highlighted tourism’s vast employment potential, including the unorganised sector. Targets include boosting domestic visits from 2 to 20 billion, foreign arrivals to 100 million, and foreign exchange earnings from $30 billion to $400 billion.
Bird Travels announces exclusive partnership with AEGEAN
Bird Travels announces its exclusive partnership with AEGEAN, Greece’s flag carrier and the launch of direct flight operations from Delhi and Mumbai to Athens (Greece), commencing in the first quarter of 2026. The official flight schedule will be announced by the end of September, when ticket sales will be available. AEGEAN will shortly add two new Airbus A321neo XLR (Extra Long Range) aircraft with an even longer range of up to 10.5 hours.
IHG to open Holiday Inn Express & Suites Dhulabari in 2026
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Hotel Eastern Nepal to develop Holiday Inn Express & Suites Dhulabari, set to open in 2026. Located in South-Eastern Nepal’s Jhapa District near the Nepal-India border, the 99-key hotel will feature modern rooms, dining outlets, a rooftop restaurant, banquet hall, and fitness centre. This marks IHG’s second partnership with the group, following Holiday Inn Resort Kathmandu Budhanilkantha.
Espire Hospitality signs five new properties in Rishikesh, Udaipur and Goa
Espire Hospitality has signed five new hotels in Udaipur, Rishikesh, and North Goa, aiming to double its inventory by March 2026. The upcoming properties—Country Inn Premier Udaipur, three hotels in Rishikesh (including Ganga-view and youth-focused options), and Country Inn Calangute—will feature rooftop pools, banqueting spaces, gaming arcades, and prime tourist locations. These openings will be between November 2025 to January 2026.
#First Opinion
“India’s hospitality sector has witnessed sustained demand momentum over last three consecutive fiscal years, reflective of the country’s growing economic prominence and rising discretionary spends. The outlook for the sector remains buoyant as demand outpaces supply and India continues to be an under-served hospitality market especially in the mid-market segment. Our partnership with ANK, Pride and Brij Hospitality is a multi-pronged approach addressing India’s heterogenous market landscape and is in line with IHCL’s five-year road map ‘Accelerate 2030’ of unlocking India’s tourism potential.”
Puneet Chhatwal,
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL)
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