News

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts redesigns its guest loyalty programme, Leela DISCOVERY

The reimagination of Leela DISCOVERY programme, offered in partnership with Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has been officially launched to meet the needs of evolved travellers with more rewards, recognition and opportunities to experience hotels and resorts at home or away. Operated by GHA, the programme, which embraces new travel and lifestyle trends, encompasses more than 500 hotels across 35 brands in 85 countries, serves more than 11 million members and is the world's largest loyalty programme for independent hotel brands. An extensive member feedback study conducted by GHA and new consumer behaviour showed that travellers are asking to be rewarded instantly and fairly, not just for nights stayed but also for spend, in a clear and straightforward way. Today’s consumers like to feel part of the community and the chance to enjoy hotel experiences close to home. Leela DISCOVERY is modelled around three member-centric concepts: a new digital rewards currency, DISCOVERY Dollars; Recognition, with more tiers and multiple ways to progress and benefits from the first stay; and Live Local, inviting members into the hotels even without a stay, through offers and experiences, from pool access to spa days to dining and more. “Keeping our guests at the centre of everything we do, our guest loyalty programme Leela DISCOVERY has been redesigned to meet their expectations for instant recognition and rewards. The programme has introduced industry’s first digital rewards currency, DISCOVERY Dollars, enabling members to earn from their very first stay and redeem on future stay spends. We are looking forward to delivering enhanced and more memorable experiences to our patrons with the newly added benefits and features of this programme.”, said Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. Beyond rewards and benefits, Leela DISCOVERY leverages the emerging role of hotels and resorts as community and lifestyle hubs, tapping into consumer appetite for connection to people and places and encouraging them to spend locally, giving a much-needed boost to the hospitality sector and local economies. “Ultimately, the new GHA DISCOVERY programme will help the revival of popular international destinations while building local travel communities. We are taking a very forward-looking approach to loyalty, not only meeting the needs of today’s consumers but giving them a good reason to spend, supporting the organic rebound of travel and hospitality as a key part of the global economic revival in 2022.” said Chris Hartley, Chief Executive Officer, Global Hotel Alliance.

Read more

AirAsia India launches new in- flight dining brand, Gourmair

AirAsia India recently unveiled its new in-flight dining brand and menu, Gourmair, with a choice of 21 regional and international favourites. Guests can pre-book their Gourmair meals on airasia.co.in, the AirAsia India mobile apps or with preferred travel partners, up to 12 hours before their flight. The new menu offers a wide range of hot meals in distinct sections including MasterChef Specials, World's Finest, Regional Favourites, All-Day Breakfast, Healthy and Diabetic options, Seasonal Fruits; Lite Bites (Sandwiches and Rolls) and Delectable Desserts. Encouraging guests to travel with their tastebuds, Gourmair blends Indian regional favourites and popular international dishes with innovative fusion food, served oven hot, 36,000 feet in the sky. Each meal is prepared keeping intact the standards of hygiene and quality, in collaboration with the chefs of TajSATS, a joint venture between the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) & SATS Limited, catering to AirAsia India across its four hubs - Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. AirAsia India’s new Gourmair menu features signature exclusives like a marinated herb grilled fish fillet with French velouté sauce, served with creamy mashed potato and sautéed vegetables; or the All-Day Breakfast cheddar and chives omelette with potato rosti, braised baked beans and hara bhara kebab. The MasterChef Specials section is curated exclusively for AirAsia India by MasterChef Kirti Bhoutika. It features an innovative Vegan Moilee MasterCurry, a unique take on the famous Kerala-style moilee curry prepared with tofu, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini, served with raw mango and coconut rice. The MasterChef Specials also include an innovative fusion dessert - Shôndesh Tiramisu, with hints of espresso and dark chocolate, layered with mascarpone cheese. The menu also introduces a Mysore Pak Cheesecake, amalgamating modern desserts with classic Indian sweet recipes; and features a wide range of vegetarian, pescetarian, poultry, eggetarian, vegan, Jain, healthy and diabetic options. Speaking about the launch, Siddhartha Butalia, Chief Marketing Officer, AirAsia India, said, "Our new dining brand and in-flight menu Gourmair has been curated as a tour de force for the tastebuds. Catering to diverse culinary preferences and palates, Gourmair encourages diners to begin their travel experience in the sky and discover the diversity of cuisines from different cultures as they fly. Having convection ovens in all our flights enables us to offer hot, healthy and fresh food, making for a wholesome and memorable travel experience. Being guest-obsessed drives us to deliver differentiated experiences, inspire new possibilities in every aspect of aviation, and delight guests at every touchpoint in their journey."

Read more

Three-day Uttarakhand food festival to start in Mussoorie from today

The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council (UTDB), in association with The Times of India, is organising a three-day food festival at Mall Road in Mussoorie from today. Visitors will get to enjoy Pahari cuisine, Uttarakhandi folk dance, live bands and cultural programmes during the festival. Along with this, various types of competitions will also be organised during the food festival and the winners will be honoured with prizes. India's first Master Chef, Pankaj Bhadauria, will add flavour to the event. Meanwhile, well-known food storyteller Anubhav Sapra will engage the crowd and make people share old traditions related to food with a new perspective. Speaking on the upcoming festival, Satpal Maharaj, Tourism Minister, said, "The dishes and products here are embedded in the culture of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, which has always attracted people towards it. The state government is committed to promoting tourism, Pahari cuisines and products." Echoing a similar sentiment, Dilip Jawalkar, Secretary Tourism, said, "In view of Christmas and New Year, the number of tourists from the country and abroad has started increasing in Mussoorie. They all should visit the festival to enjoy the Pahari dishes in the food festival. Special preparations have been made for this by the tourism department."

Read more

Three ancient routes to Chardham rediscovered by the expert team

In a recent update, a team of experts who went looking for the lost trek routes to Chardham has returned after rediscovering at least three ancient routes. If these three threks discovered by the team are revived, this would boost tourism in Uttarakhand. The 25-member team, led by the leader Rakesh Pant, returned to Rishikesh recently after covering some 1158 km on foot! The three rediscovered treks are Rishikesh-Devprayag hiking trail, Gangotri to Kedarnath trek via Bhatwari-Belak pass-Budha Kedar-Panwali Kantha and Trijugi Narayan and Dharasu to Yamunotri via Falacha Top. Pant said, “The journey, though arduous and challenging, was highly rewarding and rich in experience. We had a rare opportunity to speak to nonagenarians who are living witnesses to the good old times when the lost routes were alive and in use by pilgrims." He also said that there is a huge possibility for the revival of these old trails. Apparently, numerous routes to Chardham temples got lost after the construction of the Tehri dam, informed Pant, who runs an NGO. He along with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has taken this decision. The exploration was a part of the Uttarakhand government’s efforts to revive the ancient trek routes to Chardham. For your information, the Chardham circuit comprises four ancient pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand including Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. VISUAL STORIES

Read more

Zamskhang Palace, the hidden gem of Nubra Valley, Ladakh

Exploring Ladakh is like going through a different world. You are never really prepared for the bevy of uncanny scenes, the outlandish sights, beautiful views, among other things. Here we are taking you to Nubra Valley, which is one of the more prominent tourist destinations. But here lies a hidden gem that you may not explore during your visit to Nubra. Tegar is a high-altitude village in Nubra Valley, and here lies a palace in ruins. The Zamskhang Palace, or what is leftover of it, is an obscure place of interest for anyone who would like to explore the history of the place. The first thing you are probably going to notice about this place is its stupas that surround it. To reach the Zamskhang Palace you have got to go on a hike from the village of Tegar. But sure enough, it gives you a feeling of being an explorer, in search of the uncharted locales of Ladakh. The palace is said to have been built in the 17th century, and was home to the Governor’s family at that time. An example of fine Tibetan palace architecture, it bears resemblance to the King’s Palace in Leh. There is not much left of the palace now, but there is a prayer room that is still in use. Here inside this room you will find beautiful statues, and thangkas. Thangkas are beautiful Tibetan Buddhist paintings, usually done on cotton or silk. These paintings depict Buddhist deity, or a mandala. The palace has a total of three floors, along with four balconies located on the second floor. A gem of a destination, it can give travellers an insight into the life and times of the ancient people of Ladakh. Moreover, it is one of those places that are not visited by too many tourists.

Read more

Wyndham Hotels signs Ramada Encore Hotel with Country Woods Hospitality in Ambala

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of its mid-market lifestyle brand Ramada Encore by Wyndham brand in Ambala in Haryana with a local hospitality developer, Country Woods Hospitality. The 46-room hotel will be operational in the next two years. As per an official release by Wyndham Hotels, the proposed hotel has a strategic location on the main GT Road which connects Amritsar with Delhi, Chandigarh, and Shimla. The hotel will have a modern facade and will feature 46 contemporary rooms and a host of amenities including a lobby lounge, an all-day dining restaurant, and bar, as well as meeting rooms, event space, and a business centre. “We are pleased to partner with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts under their lifestyle brand Ramada Encore by Wyndham and become part of its expanding hotel portfolio in North India. We are working closely with Wyndham to build the hotel to high international standards and look forward to welcoming guests to our hotel by 2023,” said Rajiv Goyal, Partner, Country Woods Hospitality. Saying the Encore brand is one of the most popular brands in the mid-market segment in the country, Nikhil Sharma, Regional Director - Eurasia, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said that they will work closely with the development partner Country Woods Hospitality to provide a “truly international hotel product” to the city of Ambala.

Read more