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Indian circuses struggle to stay alive without children and wild animals
DestinationsIn the early morning heat and dust, daily practice at the Rambo Circus is in full swing. A trapeze creaks as two performers perfect their throws. A Colombian daredevil shouts to his colleagues scrambling atop a giant set of spinning wheels called the Ring of Death. Looking on with worry is circus manager John Matthew. [...]
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Online hotel bookings finally taking off in India
DestinationsAfter years of advertising the lowest possible fares for airlines and rail, Indian online travel sites like Makemytrip, Hotels.com, Goibibo and Yatra are talking hotels. It is a business which has remained largely untapped all these years, as Indian travelers preferred to book hotels over the phone. Makemytrip’s revenue from hotels and packages through its [...]
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The most preferred hotel brands in India
DestinationsHVS, the hotel consultancy and research firm, did a survey of hotel brands in India, asking hotel owners in the country about which hotel brands they prefer. The owners ranked the top 10 domestic and international brands, and not surprisingly on the domestic side, Taj and Oberoi topped the list. On international, Hyatt should be [...]
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Hilton to transplant Waldorf Astoria to Delhi or Mumbai
DestinationsThe iconic Waldorf Astoria is on its way to India. Hilton Worldwide, the world’s second largest group of hotels with Waldorf as its ultra luxe brand, is looking at Delhi and Mumbai as the possible destination for it. The group has spoken to two big developers and will zero in on the best possible location [...]
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Indian airlines begin to charge ancillary fees for first time
TransportIndian airlines, like their peers in the US and Europe, will now be able to charge for check-in baggage and seats of choice. Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh today allowed domestic airlines to charge fees for preferential seats and use of lounges, among other things, opening for them additional revenue streams. In its statement, the [...]
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India’s party capital Goa puts the breaks on beach boozing to cut down on litter
DestinationsDrinking has been banned on beaches in Goa, India, as authorities attempt to crack down on littering and nuisance. Those who fail to heed the new ruling, announced last week, could face arrest. Alcohol will continue to be sold in hotels and the licensed bar shacks, and can be consumed on the premises, but walking [...]
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So it happens: Etihad buys 24 percent stake in India’s Jet for $380 million
TransportIndia’s Jet Airways will sell a minority stake to fast-growing Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways for roughly $379 million after months of negotiations, giving a lift to India’s embattled aviation industry. The investment would be the first by an overseas operator in an existing Indian carrier since the country relaxed ownership rules in September to allow [...]
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Starwood spots growth opportunity in India’s underserved temple towns
DestinationsStarwood Hotels and Resorts is lining up properties at leading temple towns such as Haridwar, Varanasi and Tirupati, and is on the verge of finalizing some deals by the end of the year. “It is a highly under-supplied market for people willing to spend and upgrade. Hence, we see a huge growth opportunity for some [...]
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AirAsia’s India venture will only sell tickets through Expedia
TransportAirAsia’s India JV…will rely on Expedia to push sales. The airline plans to start domestic service from Chennai with three or four Airbus A320s from late this year. AirAsia runs a JV portal with Expedia and it is an exclusive online distribution channel for the airline. Last week, AirAsia-Expedia’s CEO Kathleen Tan was in Delhi [...]
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India looks to expand visa-on-arrival to 15 more countries
TransportThe Tourism Ministry is in talks with the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs to extend the visa-on-arrival facility at more airports like Bangalore and Hyderabad to visitors from about 15 countries. Currently, the visa-on-arrival scheme is available at four international airports – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. It covers citizens of over 11 [...]
