IHCL signs 125-key gateway hotel in Sambalpur
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has signed a greenfield Gateway hotel project in Sambalpur, Odisha. The 125-key hotel will feature all-day dining, a speciality restaurant, bar, gym, swimming pool and over 10,000 sq. ft. of banquet space. With Sambalpur emerging as a key industrial and business hub, the project will cater to corporate, conference, wedding and leisure demand. IHCL will have eight hotels in Odisha, including three under development.
Kerala to deploy Green Marshals at tourist destinations
Kerala Tourism will roll out its Green Marshal initiative from October 9 to improve safety, cleanliness and visitor support at key tourist destinations. The programme will focus on destination upkeep, waste management, environmental protection and assistance during emergencies, with particular emphasis on women and solo travellers. Around 180 people aged 20 to 40 will be recruited in the first phase and trained in tourist interaction, safety monitoring and destination management.
China Southern Airlines to resume Delhi–Guangzhou flights
China Southern Airlines will resume regular passenger services between New Delhi and Guangzhou from September 21, marking its return to the route after a six-year gap. Guangzhou, widely regarded as China’s “Southern Gateway”, is an important business and trading hub for Indian travellers and importers. The airline will operate more than 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes in South Asia, strengthening connectivity between India and China.
NH Collection Dubai Ibn Battuta opens after major transformation
NH Collection has launched NH Collection Dubai Ibn Battuta following the phased transformation of the former Oaks Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel Dubai. The 396-room property features refreshed accommodation, public spaces, dining, leisure and social experiences. Located beside Ibn Battuta Mall, the hotel targets leisure, family, business and MICE travellers. The opening expands NH Collection’s UAE portfolio, alongside NH Collection Dubai The Palm, with further properties planned in Ras Al Khaimah.
#FirstOpinion
“AI in travel and tourism, to me, is best understood through the 5Es — it Enables, Empowers, cannot replace Emotions, requires us to Engineer ourselves for change, and demands that we Engage with it actively. I do not see AI as a threat to the travel professional; I see it as a force multiplier. Technology can process data and predict behaviour, but it cannot replicate empathy, intuition or human connection. The future belongs to those who combine AI intelligence with human emotion and continuously adapt to this transformation.”
Naveen Kundu, Chairman, VOYAGE 1 GLOBAL DMC NETWORK LLC
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