12 Jul 2026

Regional festivals are increasingly influencing how Indian travellers plan their holidays, with many combining festive breaks with leisure, spiritual and international travel, according to travel services companies Thomas Cook (India) Ltd and SOTC Travel. The companies said demand is rising around major celebrations including Onam, Pongal, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Durga Puja, Mysore Dasara, Dussehra and Diwali, as travellers utilise extended holiday periods for domestic and overseas vacations. Popular domestic destinations continue to include cultural and religious centres such as Vrindavan, Mathura, Kolkata, Varanasi and Mysuru, while international demand remains strong for Southeast Asia, Europe, Japan, China, Egypt, South Africa and the UAE. The companies also reported growing preference for experience-led itineraries and multi-generational travel during festive periods.Read more

12 Jul 2026

Bengaluru-based deep-tech company Vimag Labs has secured its fifth patent in India for its proprietary Virtual Magnet Synchronous Motor (VMSM) platform, strengthening its intellectual property portfolio as it advances commercial deployment of software-defined electric motor technology. The newly granted patent covers the core architecture of a magnet-free synchronous motor that uses power electronics and proprietary control algorithms instead of rare-earth permanent magnets. The company said the technology is being piloted with two-wheeler and passenger vehicle manufacturers, with expansion planned into commercial vehicles, industrial applications, robotics and defence. Backed by Accel, Vimag Labs recently raised USD 5 million in a Series A funding round and has entered into a manufacturing agreement with Jendamark Pvt. Ltd. to support production as it scales operations in India and overseas.Read more

11 Jul 2026

ITC Hotels Ltd has signed a management agreement to develop Welcomhotel Mysuru, a 99-key hotel in Karnataka, expanding its footprint in South India's hospitality market. Announced in the past week, the project will be developed in partnership with M/s Sumeru Hospitality and is aimed at serving both business and leisure travellers visiting Mysuru. The hotel will feature guestrooms and suites, dining facilities, approximately 5,500 sq ft of banqueting space, a swimming pool and a fitness centre. ITC Hotels said the signing aligns with its strategy of strengthening the Welcomhotel brand across key business and tourism destinations. The company cited Mysuru's established tourism appeal, growing economic activity and connectivity with Bengaluru as key factors supporting the development of premium hospitality infrastructure in the city.Read more

11 Jul 2026

ITC Hotels Limited has signed a management agreement for Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels Salasar, a 145-key property planned on a six-acre site in Rajasthan's pilgrimage town of Salasar. The hotel will cater to religious travellers, destination weddings, social events and leisure visitors while reflecting the region's architectural heritage. The proposed development will feature guest rooms, banquet facilities, dining outlets and wellness amenities. The agreement expands ITC Hotels' presence in Rajasthan and supports its strategy of growing its branded hospitality portfolio in destinations with increasing tourism and pilgrimage demand.Read more

09 Jul 2026

Speciality Restaurants Limited has expanded its hospitality portfolio with the launch of Gong, a premium Pan Asian restaurant in Mumbai's Bandra. The new outlet marks the company's focus on modern, experience-driven dining concepts designed to appeal to evolving consumer preferences. Gong combines progressive Asian cuisine, contemporary interiors and premium hospitality while introducing a scalable restaurant format with higher average spending potential and operational efficiency. The launch also reflects the company's broader strategy of strengthening its presence across premium dining segments while building future-ready hospitality brands alongside its established restaurant portfolio.Read more

08 Jul 2026

Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) signed 20 hotel projects during the first quarter of FY27 as it continued expanding its portfolio under the company's 'Accelerate 2030' growth strategy. The Tata Group hospitality company also opened 11 hotels during the April-June quarter, taking its operational portfolio to more than 380 properties, while its development pipeline reached 263 hotels. Most of the new signings were across the Gateway, Ginger and Tree of Life brands, with projects spanning emerging destinations and established markets across India. The company said it remains on track to achieve a portfolio of 700 hotels by 2030, while also strengthening its international presence with two new Taj hotel openings in Germany and South Africa.Read more

07 Jul 2026

Dharampal Satyapal (DS) Group has partnered with Marriott International to develop a 200-room luxury hotel under the W Hotels brand near Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The project, with an estimated investment of INR 400 crore, is scheduled to open in the second half of 2027 and will mark the debut of the W Hotels brand in Delhi-NCR. Located close to Aerocity, the development is aimed at serving business and leisure travellers. The project forms part of DS Group's broader hospitality expansion strategy, under which it plans to double its room inventory by 2029 and invest around INR 1,000 crore across new hospitality developments.Read more

07 Jul 2026

SpiceJet has reduced its scheduled flights by 44% compared with April as fleet shortages and operational challenges continue to affect its network. The airline has temporarily suspended services on several routes after its operational fleet fell sharply following the return of wet-leased aircraft. While the carrier plans to induct additional aircraft in the coming months, the reduced schedule reflects ongoing efforts to align operations with available capacity and improve service reliability.Read more

07 Jul 2026

Air India Express has fully restored its flight operations to West Asia after regional airspace conditions stabilised. Services to destinations including the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Muscat have resumed according to schedule. The airline said the restoration follows the easing of operational disruptions caused by recent geopolitical tensions. With services returning to normal, Air India Express expects improved connectivity for passengers travelling between India and key West Asian markets.Read more

06 Jul 2026

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has entered into a strategic partnership with Italian hospitality group Starhotels to expand the reach of its Taj InnerCircle–NeuPass loyalty programme across Europe. The collaboration enables members of both loyalty programmes to access reciprocal benefits at participating properties within IHCL's global portfolio and Starhotels' network. The partnership covers multiple IHCL brands, including Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta and Gateway, alongside Starhotels Collezione and Starhotels Premium hotels. IHCL said the initiative comes amid rising travel demand between India and Europe and is intended to enhance customer engagement by extending loyalty benefits across a broader international hospitality network.Read more