The Leela hotel chain in India has launched a collection of ultra-luxury villas called Arq by The Leela at their Leela Palace Udaipur. These villas are designed to cater to ultra high-net worth individuals and elite guests, providing them with privacy and exclusive spaces within the hotel premises, complete with their own swimming pools and private outdoor spaces. With a growing demand for luxury short-term vacation rentals in India, The Leela aims to capture more market share by leveraging its established presence in the luxury hospitality space.
A Skift Research report on short-term rentals in India predicts that the Indian short-term rental industry could become a $3 billion market by 2033. The trend towards luxury villas among Indian travelers is on the rise as they seek private and exclusive spaces. The launch of the Arq by The Leela villa collection aligns with this trend and comes after the parent company filed for a $599 million IPO to capitalize on the demand for high-end accommodations and pay off debt. The company also plans to expand its portfolio by adding eight hotels by 2028, venturing into segments like wildlife and heritage tourism.
Following the merger of Air India and Vistara, Air India will operate Vistara aircraft with special Air India flight codes starting with ‘2’ to facilitate booking on the Air India website post-merger. The in-flight experience, routes, and schedules will remain the same, and Vistara’s loyalty program members will be transferred to Air India’s Flying Returns program, rebranded as the Maharaja Club. Air India is also launching daily direct flights between Bengaluru and London Heathrow to enhance connectivity and replace the Bengaluru-London Gatwick route.
The Indian aviation sector will require over $170 billion in investment to support the expected traffic growth through 2030, primarily for new aircraft and airport development. With India’s underpenetrated aviation sector compared to China, significant investments are needed to expand capacity in Indian airlines and airports. The majority of this spending is anticipated to be financed through debt, with increasing revenues supporting higher borrowing to meet capacity expansion needs.
Skyscanner, a travel metasearch engine, is gearing up to launch a new in-app marketplace offering a range of additional services such as ground transportation, visa services, and travel-related information. By integrating these services into the app, Skyscanner aims to create a one-stop shop for travelers, with plans to expand its presence in India, one of its top revenue-generating markets. Radisson Hotel Group in India has introduced Braille menus and scannable audio QR codes across its properties in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Young Indians to enhance accessibility for visually impaired guests.
Data from online travel agency Cleartrip reveals that nearly 40% of Diwali travel bookings in India were made in the first 15 days of October, with an increase in bookings from Mumbai. International destinations like Denpasar and Kuala Lumpur have witnessed the largest increase in bookings compared to last year, along with other popular cities like Bangkok, Dubai, and Singapore. Additionally, air routes such as Bengaluru-Delhi, Mumbai-Delhi, Hyderabad-Delhi, and Bengaluru-Mumbai are among the top booked routes for the Diwali season, reflecting the travel trends during this festive period.
