Category: Top Three Stories

Sinclairs Hotels announces launch of Sinclairs Gangtok

Sinclairs Gangtok is a scintillating brand new property located at the posh Zero Point, minutes away from the bustling MG Market, affording wonderful views of the Kanchenjunga range. Like all other hotels in the Sinclairs chain, the premium location will be a great advantage as compared to other hotels in the hill town. The hotel has 60 rooms and suites offering different types of accommodation. It is a stunning building comprising ground plus six floors of housing rooms and other facilities, while there are two basements for car park, services, etc. The built-up area of the hotel is around 45,000 ... Read more

Private Charters to play major role in future corporate travel segment

While international organizations seek alternatives to conventional ways of travel in a time of great uncertainty, one option is rapidly growing; private air charters. Once thought of as a niche, expensive, and a last-resort kind of commodity, charters are increasingly being sought out for the convenience and protection they provide over commercial flying during a pandemic. Charters are also more time-efficient and they can travel to a wider variety of airports, often getting closer to an eventual destination than if relying on the flights of a scheduled carrier’s route network – especially in an environment with multiple airline failures. Financially, ... Read more

Russia to issue E-Visas for 52 Countries by January’21

The Russian government plans to start issuing e-visas to nationals from 52 countries on January 1, 2021. The upcoming e-visa program is an extension of a pilot program that was introduced to Russia in 2017. Initially, the e-visa program limited travel to certain regions within Russia, including the Far Eastern Federal District, St. Petersburg, Leningrad, and Kaliningrad. The 2021 program will significantly expand the scope of travel permitted with Russian e-visas. Along with granting entry to Russia for foreign nationals, the e-visa program will allow domestic travel throughout Russia. E-visa holders must enter through specific ports of entry. The Russian ... Read more

The top 7 winter holiday destinations in Poland preferred by Indian Tourists

A family vacation of a lifetime is what Poland offers to you. Whether you prefer a trip full of history and culture, a chance to reconnect with nature, or a simply relaxed vacation, Poland will deliver it. The number of Indian tourists to Poland has been growing significantly over the years. Here’s a look into some of the most preferred attractions Poland has to offer for Indian travelers. Zakopane A popular tourist town all year long, Zakopane is a prime spot for spectacular selfies. Located at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, its streets and rooftops are especially picturesque when ... Read more

Thanks Giving day turns out to be a silent affair in USA

Americans marked a muted Thanksgiving Day holiday on Thursday, sometimes seeing family only by video after political leaders discouraged travel or large gatherings in the face of the surging coronavirus pandemic. Thanksgiving, typically celebrated with big family dinners, became the latest major event in American life to be altered or diminished by the coronavirus in 2020 as most U.S. states struggle with spiraling infections and deaths. “All of a sudden I feel kind of lonely, I have to admit,” said Janis Segal, 72, as she prepared to join family members in a Zoom call for Thanksgiving. Eight months after the ... Read more

Travelife Certified sustainability award for Kerala Voyages India Pvt Ltd

The Travelife Certified award was received by Kerala voyages India Pvt Ltd. The award is a recognition for the long-term efforts and frontrunner position of Kerala voyages India Pvt Ltd regarding sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. Kerala voyages India Pvt Ltd complies with more than 200 criteria, related to an operators’ office management, product range, international business partners, and customer information. The Travelife standard is covering the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including environment, biodiversity, human rights, and labor relations; and is formally Recognised as in full compliance with the UN supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. Mr. Naut Kusters, ... Read more

Disney Land Theme parks to lay off more workers

Walt Disney Co said it would lay off about 32,000 workers, primarily at its theme parks, an increase from the 28,000 it announced in September, as the company struggles with limited customers due to the coronavirus pandemic. The layoffs will be in the first half of 2021, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A spokesman for Disney confirmed that the latest figures include the 28,000 layoffs announced earlier. Earlier this month, Disney said it was furloughing additional workers from its theme park in Southern California due to uncertainty over when the state would allow ... Read more

Panda It’s Pandas Vs Pandemic at German Restaurants during Lock down

The owner of a Frankfurt restaurant is staging a protest against the coronavirus lockdown in Germany by filling his tables with a hundred stuffed toy pandas, in a play on the word “pandemic”. German officials are expected on Wednesday to agree to extend until Dec. 20 a “lockdown light” they imposed on Nov. 2 which means bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues must stay closed, while shops and schools can remain open. The pandas are seated at the restaurant’s tables and propped up at the bar, some with bottles of Corona beer. “We wanted to put some life back into our ... Read more

Research from UNWTO says International Travel will revive only by last quarter of 2021

Not so good news for the international tourism scenario. The recent survey research conducted by UNWTO points out that the revival of International Tourism will not be possible until the last quarter of 2021 and could even get stretched to 2022. Mr. Suman Billa, Director, Technical Cooperation and Silk Route, UNWTO while revealing the summary of the study said “One exercise we have done is that we have experts from all geographies in the world to look at what the forecast is like, now 80% of these experts think that international travel will only recover in the third quarter of ... Read more

First Drive-In Cinema in Kerala gets into action at Le Meridien Kochi

Sunset Cinema Club in association with MFAR Hotels & Resorts, owning company of Le Meridien, Kochi launches the first Drive-In Cinema in Kerala Sunset Cinema Club, India’s biggest outdoor cinema experience company, started in 2017, operational in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Chandigarh, and Bangalore, now comes to Kochi with a premium Drive-In Cinema Experience. City— KOCHI Sunset Cinema Club and Le, Meridien, announced their Opening Weekend and the official launch of SCC Drive-In at Le Meridien, Kochi on the 21st November. SCC Drive-In is to have regularly programmed film screenings, every weekend in the drive-in format. SCC Drive-In will run, ... Read more

UK Government’s move to bring down quarantine to 5 Days hailed by Trade

The UK government’s latest move that will slash the travel quarantine lockdown if passengers test negative on the fifth day will provide a much-needed economic boost and is a step towards reviving international travel, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). However, while many holidaymakers will embrace the reduced quarantine and will be able to afford the test, which will cost between £65 and £120, WTTC says it won’t be enough to resuscitate meaningful business travel. For that to take place and to significantly aid the Travel & Tourism sector, which has been battered by widespread and uncoordinated travel ... Read more

India’s first virtual holiday store launched by Thomas Cook

In an endeavor to empower customers with contactless and convenient holiday planning, coupled with the reassurance of its experts, Thomas Cook India, has introduced India’s first Virtual Holiday Store. The Company’s dedicated team of travel experts will be available over video chat 365 days, from 8 am to 12 pm, to guide customers with all their travel requirements, including domestic & international holidays, value-added services like travel insurance, end-to-end COVID-negative certification services, visa services, documentation and more. Given the uncertainty in the current environment and constant changes in travel and health protocols/ documentation, India’s travelers are in need of guidance ... Read more

Maharashtra makes Covid negative for visitors coming from Delhi, Gujarat, Rajastan and Goa

In an act of precaution, the Maharashtra state government has decided to make Covid-Negative Certificate (RT- PCR test) mandatory for visitors to Maharashtra from the states of Delhi- NCR, Rajasthan, Goa, and Gujarat since a spike has been observed in the covid 19 cases at these states. Maharashtra, once badly hit by Covid, is now on a path of recovery and these guidelines are meant to keep a check and to avoid a relapse. The rule will be applicable to passengers coming in both flights and trains, who will have to produce the negative test results before boarding from their ... Read more

FAITH submits recommendations to the Centre ahead of the Union Budget

One of the leading associations of the Indian Tourism & Hospitality Industry, FAITH (Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality) has submitted its recommendations for the tourism, travel, and hospitality industry of India ahead of the Union Budget FY 21 -22. The vision is Tourism – Made in India. India should be aiming of becoming one of the most preferred Tourism destinations both for domestic and international tourists offering best-in-class tourism experiences, infrastructure & services and enabling the tourism entrepreneurs of India to create value for all their stakeholders. Adhering to this vision, FAITH has proposed the following Budgetary ... Read more

Yatra Online regains NASDAQ compliance

Yatra Online Inc India’s leading corporate travel services provider and one of India’s leading online travel companies, announced today that it has received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. notifying the Company that it has regained compliance with the NASDAQ Capital Market’s minimum bid price continued listing requirement. The letter noted that for at least 10 consecutive business days, from November 9 through November 23, 2020, the closing bid price of the Company’s ordinary shares has been at $1.00 per share or greater. Accordingly, the Company has regained compliance with NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5550(a)(2) and NASDAQ considers the matter ... Read more