News

The future of luxury traveller - Why meaning, privacy, & transformation are more important than status

Luxury travel is not dramatically changing. It is quietly maturing. For a long time, luxury was visible. It was defined by scale, by precision, by experiences designed to impress. Arrival lounges, expansive suites, and perfectly choreographed service signalled success, both for the traveller and the destination. Travel was an outward expression of achievement. But today, what guests seek is not recognition, it is resonance. They are less concerned with where they go and more with how a place makes them feel. They do not necessarily want more, they want meaning.

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India’s Tourism Growth to Be Driven by Skills and MSMEs

Ram runs a small bamboo handicrafts shop on the outskirts of Shillong. His neatly woven baskets draw interest from foreign tourists who visit Meghalaya for its pristine landscapes and local craftsmanship. With the right language skills and access to digital payments, Ram can seamlessly serve a growing base of global visitors. His story captures the larger opportunity in India’s tourism sector — one where local enterprises and communities unlock growth by making every visitor experience smoother, safer, and more memorable. Momentum and Direction India’s tourism sector has regained strong momentum. The country welcomed over 9 million foreign visitors in 2023, while domestic trips crossed 1.5 billion, driven by rising incomes, better connectivity, and post-pandemic travel recovery. The Union Budget 2024–25 rightly identifies tourism as a driver of inclusive growth and employment, highlighting skill development and destination management as core priorities.

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Hilton Partners with Royal Orchid to Launch 125 Hampton Hotels in India

Hilton has signed one of its largest expansion agreements in India, partnering with Royal Orchid Hotels to develop 125 Hampton by Hilton properties across the country over the next decade, in a move that underscores growing global investor interest in India’s mid-market hospitality segment. Announced on April 8, the agreement will see the hotels developed primarily across western and southern India, including markets such as Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

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AI Set to Transform How Travel Experiences Are Planned

Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI, released a research paper earlier this month that deserves the attention of everyone in the travel industry. Not because it predicts mass job losses; it doesn’t. But because it names, with real usage data from millions of AI conversations, a quieter threat that most of our industry still isn’t talking about: deskilling. The paper introduces a metric called “observed exposure” that measures not just what AI could theoretically do to a job, but what it is actually doing right now. The headline finding sounds reassuring: unemployment in AI-exposed occupations has not risen meaningfully since ChatGPT launched in late 2022. But there is an early warning signal buried in the data that deserves far more attention: hiring of young workers aged 22 to 25 has slowed by roughly 14 per cent in exposed occupations. They are not being fired. They are simply not being hired.

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Thailand Confirms Nationwide Songkran Festival 2026 Celebrations

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has confirmed that the Songkran Festival 2026 will take place as planned across all regions of Thailand, welcoming visitors to celebrate the Thai New Year through a mix of traditional rituals and large-scale festivities. The announcement comes amid global travel uncertainties, with Thai authorities stating that preparations are underway to ensure smooth operations during the holiday period. Travellers are advised to plan their trips in advance, while TAT will continue to provide updates as required. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, “We are aware that global events have created uncertainty for travellers. We want to be clear: Songkran 2026 will take place as planned across every region of Thailand. The spirit of this festival and Thailand’s welcome remains unchanged.”

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VFS Global Opens New Visa Application Centre in Bhubaneswar

VFS Global has opened a new Visa Application Centre in Bhubaneswar, aimed at catering to the growing demand for visa services in Odisha and surrounding regions. The facility marks the company’s second Visa Application Centre in eastern India. The centre was jointly inaugurated by Mohan Charan Majhi and Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global, in the presence of dignitaries from the diplomatic community, including representatives from Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. The centre was jointly inaugurated by the Honourable Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi and Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global. The ceremony was also attended by dignitaries from the diplomatic fraternity and the Indian government, including dignitaries from Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.

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