Bulbul Dhawan

India Reporter for Skift, Bulbul Dhawan has seven years of experience across leading Indian news publications. With a widespread portfolio, she covered several beats before she found comfort in the travel and hospitality sectors when she joined BW Hotelier as the Editorial Lead. An avid singer and reader, she has about as many books in her TBR pile as she has songs on her list that she wishes to record covers of – none of which is going to be completed in this lifetime.

Airlines

Akasa Air to Start Sharjah Flights in Early 2026: More Plans to Expand International Map

Akasa Air's late entry into the bustling Indian market has posed challenges in terms of capacity constraints, but with aircraft deliveries speeding up, it has its next expansion moves ready to go.

Bulbul Dhawan | 7 months ago

Online Travel

Indian Fintech Paytm Pushes Deeper Into Travel With New AI-Backed App

Paytm’s latest move highlights how tech players in India are blurring the lines between industries to drive profitability with the help of AI. But it remains to be seen whether Paytm’s strong user base will give it an edge over online travel agencies.

Bulbul Dhawan | 7 months ago

Hotels

Chalet Hotels On Testing Its Own Brand Muscle With Athiva

Despite the launch of its own premium brand Athiva, Chalet Hotels is sticking to its core model as a hotel developer and owner. But that does not mean an asset-light model is not possible in the future.

Bulbul Dhawan | 7 months ago

A man on stage gesturing with his hands as he speaks.

Airlines

IndiGo Takes a Hit, IHCL Shines: What Their Earnings Say About India’s Travel Market

IndiGo and IHCL turned in very different results, but their strategies tell the same story: India’s travel sector is betting on scale, partnerships, and global reach.

Bulbul Dhawan | 7 months ago

TBO Co-Founders Ankush Nijhawan and Gaurav Bhatnagar with Skift CEO Rafat Ali at the Skift India Summit 2024.

Online Travel

Global Markets Lift TBO Tek’s Growth, More Airlines Look at India

TBO Tek's results for the past two quarters show how global diversification can be a lifeline for travel companies. Now, as Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific fuel growth, TBO’s rebound at home suggests the worst may be over.

Bulbul Dhawan | 7 months ago

Tourism

Chinese and Indian Travelers Are Exploring More Destinations But They Need Easier Payments and Safety

Just marketing attractions to Indian and Chinese travelers is no longer enough. Destinations need to make travel simpler and safer for them.

Bulbul Dhawan | 7 months ago

Representational image: Dog in a travel bag.

Tourism

India Catches on to Another Trend: Travelers Now Move With Pets in Tow

Indian travelers do not want to leave behind their pets while on vacations. And they are making sure accommodation units know that.

Bulbul Dhawan | 7 months ago

Sunday Hotel & Resort at Kiyari Kham near Jim Corbett National Park.

Hotels

Oyo-Parent Prism Finds Its Next Growth Trail in India’s National Parks

Oyo is thoroughly moving beyond its traditional economy hospitality segment positioning by diversifying its premium brand into niche tourism segments.

Bulbul Dhawan | 7 months ago

ITC debuted in Kerala with the opening of Fortune Airport Road Kochi in September 2025.

Hotels

ITC Hotels Unveils New Premium Brand ‘Epiq Collection’ as It Shifts to Asset-Light Model

ITC’s so-called “asset-right” strategy is actually a pivot to asset-light growth. By relying more on management and franchise deals, the company is looking to expand faster, reduce capital exposure, and align with the economics driving India’s hotel boom.

Bulbul Dhawan | 7 months ago

Courtyard by Marriott Shillong in Meghalaya.

Hotels

Northeast India’s Hotel Market Awakens After Years on the Sidelines

Even after the doubling of hotel supply by 2030, Northeast India will still remain underserved, as this will be less than 3% of India’s total branded hotel supply.

Bulbul Dhawan | 7 months ago