News

Hyatt Regency Expands Globally with Debut in Romania

Hyatt Regency expands into Romania with the iconic Aro Palace Brașov, strengthening its luxury hotel portfolio across Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Hyatt Hotels Corporation has unveiled ambitious plans to expand the Hyatt Regency brand across the Balkan Peninsula, signaling a significant step in its regional growth strategy. Following successful entries into the markets of Croatia and Albania, Hyatt is now making its mark in Romania with plans for five new Hyatt Regency properties set to debut by 2027. This expansion further solidifies the brand’s footprint in Eastern Europe, reflecting its commitment to catering to both leisure and business travelers in dynamic and culturally rich destinations. Hyatt Regency Aro Palace Brașov, developed by Aro Palace S.A., will be the brand’s inaugural venture in Romania. Nestled in Brașov, a vibrant city renowned for its economic importance and proximity to notable tourist attractions, the property has a storied history as the pinnacle of luxury since its original opening in 1939. Following a comprehensive refurbishment, the iconic hotel is set to reopen in 2027, offering 250 elegantly designed guestrooms that blend historical charm with modern sophistication. The Hyatt Regency brand, known for its versatile portfolio that spans urban hubs and expansive resorts, emphasizes creating spaces that foster meaningful connections and memorable experiences. With its evolutionary vision and commitment to building community, the brand continues to resonate with both global travelers and local guests. In addition to the Aro Palace Brașov, the pipeline includes Hyatt Regency Zadar in Croatia (2025), Hyatt Regency Tirana in Albania (2026), Hyatt Regency Palase Resort & Spa in Albania (2027), and Hyatt Regency Novi Sad in Serbia (2027), further establishing Hyatt Regency’s presence in the Balkans.

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Marriott and SAMHI Hotels to Open Three New Properties

Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International, said, "Today’s signed agreement underscores our long-standing relationship with SAMHI Hotels, reinforcing our shared vision to drive substantial growth while bringing these transformative projects to life." Marriott International, Inc and SAMHI Hotels Limited announced a multi-deal agreement to develop three new properties comprising more than 568 rooms across India. The projects with SAMHI Hotels, one of India’s leading hotel ownership and asset management companies comprise the W Hyderabad Hitec City; Bengaluru Whitefield, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel; and The Westin Bengaluru Whitefield. Poised to become the premium address for well-heeled travellers and residents, these hotels are anticipated to open between 2026 and 2028, elevating the two companies’ joint efforts to expand their footprint in the country. “With 153 operating properties in India, we are focused on strengthening our presence in the country and are optimistic that this will position us well to meet the strong demand for both leisure and business travel, said Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International. “We are confident that the depth and breadth of our brand portfolio and the power of our global platform to drive results will maximize the potential of these projects. Today’s signed agreement underscores our long-standing relationship with SAMHI Hotels, reinforcing our shared vision to drive substantial growth while bringing these transformative projects to life.” “We are very excited about expanding our relationship with Marriott with the signing of these three hotels. The W Hyderabad Hitec City; Bengaluru Whitefield, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel; and The Westin Bengaluru Whitefield will significantly strengthen SAMHI’s partnership with Marriott. We are collaborating with Marriott to bring these exciting new products and iconic brands into prime locations in Hyderabad and Bengaluru – two cities which truly reflect the spirit of modern India,” said Ashish Jakhanwala, Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, SAMHI Hotels Ltd.

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IndiGo Expands Network with New Puducherry Flights from Bengaluru and Hyderabad

IndiGo is thrilled to introduce Puducherry as its newest addition to the 6E network, marking it as the 89th domestic and 125th overall destination. Starting December 20, 2024, IndiGo will commence daily direct flights from Bengaluru to Puducherry and from Puducherry to Hyderabad, enhancing the travel convenience and boosting connectivity to this charming union territory, renowned for its idyllic beaches. Mr. Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo, said, “We take pleasure in announcing Puducherry as IndiGo’s 89th domestic destination, with flights to/from Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The serene beaches, the French colonial architecture, and the peaceful cafes are bound to attract people to explore the pristine beauty of this coastal town. These flights will not only strengthen Puducherry’s position on the country’s aviation map but also enhance connectivity, with access to key domestic and international destinations in the 6E network. As India’s leading carrier, we remain committed to delivering on our promise of providing affordable, on-time, courteous, and hassle-free travel experiences across an unparalleled network.” Puducherry, the only Indian destination to make the list of top global trending must-visit places for 2025, includes the historical French colonies of Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam in Southern India. The capital city of the territory, Puducherry, located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal and approximately 135km from Chennai Airport, boasts a rich heritage from its time as the French headquarters in India. The city’s landscape is adorned with French-style architecture, vibrant cafés, and cultural sites including the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, Paradise Beach, Rock Beach, the Botanical Garden, and numerous colonial churches, drawing global tourists to its picturesque setting. The introduction of the Bengaluru route opens gateways to Karnataka’s landmarks like Cubbon Park, Nandi Hills, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, Bengaluru Palace, and Ulsoor Lake, and provides an opportunity to explore the region’s famed Bangalore silk, celebrated for its quality and produced in local silk farms that have thrived alongside the evolving textile industry.

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Vistara-AI to operate 5.6k weekly flights

NEW DELHI: Air India Group has completed the operational integration and legal merger between Air India and Vistara, creating a full-service carrier. The new full-service carrier will operate over 5,600 weekly flights and connect more than 90 domestic and international destinations with a fleet of 208 aircraft. The airline will now be flying over 120,000 passengers every day and offers an extended worldwide connectivity to over 800 destinations through more than 75 code share and interline partners, Air India said in a press statement on Tuesday. Preparation for the full-service merger commenced more than two years ago, and has seen the induction of more than 6,000 staff from Vistara into a new organisation structure, harmonisation of operating procedures across the four airlines, and alignment of over 140 IT systems. More than 4,000 vendor contracts have been consolidated, 270,000 customer bookings migrated and 4.5 million Club Vistara frequent flyer accounts inducted to Air India’s recently-redesigned frequent flyer program, Maharaja Club. Consequent to the merger of Vistara and Air India, Singapore Airlines, which held a 49% share in Vistara, becomes a 25.1% shareholder in the resultant Air India group. The merger of Air India and Vistara follows the merger of the Group’s low-cost airlines Air India Express and AIX Connect (formerly Air Asia India) on 1 October 2024. The unified Air India Group now operates over 8,300 weekly flights on 312 routes, connecting more than 100 domestic and international destinations with a fleet of 300 aircraft.

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Sri Lankan airlines promotes Ramayana Trail in unique ad

An advertisement made by Sri Lankan Airlines garnered a lot of appreciation on social media platforms for showing the "Ramayana Trail" which took the viewers on a journey to different iconic locations related to the Hindu epic Ramayana. In the five-minute advertisement, the grandmother is seen narrating the Hindu epic to her grandson through a children's book. In the video, the grandson questions about the island where Sita was taken by Ravan after getting kidnapped. Then, the grandmother tells him the story of the kingdom of Ravan which is today Sri Lanka. "All the places in the Ramayana are real. Today we know Lanka as Sri Lanka," the grandmother says and the video shows the visuals of Ravan's Cave close to Ella town where it is believed Sita was kept before being taken to the Ashoka Vatika, which was inside the palace of the demon king. In the video, the Seetha Amman Temple – also called Ashok Vatika Sita Temple – was shown. In today's time, it is maintained by the Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka. The video also mentioned the bridge built by Rama's army to reach Sri Lanka which is the Ram Setu bridge that connects Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to the Sri Lankan coast.

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Pankaj Tripathi becomes the face of MP State Tourism

Exciting development for travel and Bollywood enthusiasts—Pankaj Tripathi, the beloved Bollywood actor, has been named the new face of Madhya Pradesh Tourism. Known for championing the diverse beauty of India, Tripathi will now shine a spotlight on the unique allure of Madhya Pradesh—a place close to his heart both personally and professionally. Madhya Pradesh is often called the heart of India for its vibrant wildlife, pristine landscapes, ancient architecture, and historical landmarks. For Tripathi, this isn’t just another destination; it’s a place filled with cherished memories. Reflecting on this opportunity, Pankaj Tripathi expressed his gratitude: “I am deeply honoured to be chosen as the face of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism. Madhya Pradesh is not just a destination for me—it’s a place that holds countless memories and connections, both personally and professionally. Having spent so much time here filming projects like Stree, Stree 2, Lukka Chhupi, Oh My God 2 and Ludo, I’ve experienced firsthand the captivating landscapes, the warmth of the people, and the unmatched cultural richness that define Madhya Pradesh. He further adds, “As someone who genuinely believes in the power of travel to open minds and enrich lives, I couldn’t be more excited to help showcase the beauty of this state to the world. From the untouched natural wonders to majestic architectural sites and vibrant wildlife, Madhya Pradesh has something for every traveller. I’ve always preferred exploring India’s own treasures over travelling abroad, and Madhya Pradesh truly stands out as one of the most remarkable places to visit in the country. This role allows me to share that love with others and hopefully inspire people to discover the wonders of Madhya Pradesh.”

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