Access exclusive research, insights and surveys
Access exclusive research, insights, and surveys
Hotel generation platform STAAH has unveiled a snapshot of its network of over 19,000 properties, revealing that in 2023, Indians will still be susceptible to booking directly with hotels, despite the resurgence of online agencies.
Previously, Skift noted that the demand for direct booking generation is booming as hotels increasingly invest in it.
In its report, STAAH also noted that GoMMT, owner of Goibibo and MakeMyTrip, secured the top spot among booking channels for the sixth year in a row. Booking. com and Agoda maintained their second and third positions, maintaining their ratings from last year. Meanwhile, TravelGuru climbed two spots to fourth place, while Expedia dropped one spot to fifth.
India’s Travel & Tourism Market Dynamics: Shoaib Ali, National Sales Manager at STAAH, notes: “With their huge success in the Indian subcontinent and beyond, those online booking channels are well-positioned to capture their share of India’s burgeoning and touristic market. market. . “
STAAH SwiftBook and direct bookings: The STAAH SwiftBook booking engine ranked sixth, a slight decrease from last year. However, the annual profits of this chain continue to grow. Shoaib mentions, “Travelers have shown continued openness to booking directly with hotels in 2023, despite OTAs taking over the field. “
Impact of GDS and Business: As post-Covid business bookings rise and grow, the Global Distribution System (GDS) is returning to the top 10 most sensible channels. STAAH GDS and WebBeds enter the list in positions 8 and 10, reflecting the strong demand from the business segment. HRS, an online booking portal specializing in businessArray, is also in the top 10.
Airbnb holds firm: Airbnb, the short-term and long-term rental market, maintains its seventh position in the Indian market.
Following the incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 Max, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a directive for domestic airlines. The directive calls for an immediate inspection of the emergency exits of all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft. in your fleet.
This resolution is a precautionary measure to ensure the protection of passengers and flight operations. The DGAC directive requires “punctual emergency exit checks” for all fleet operators of Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft.
What happened? Alaska Air Flight 1282 erupted Friday and a cockpit hatch exploded. While en route to Ontario, California, the plane made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. According to flight data, the plane climbed to 16,000 feet (4,876 meters) before the incident occurred. The rupture of the fuselage caused the cabin to depressurize. The plane landed safely with its 174 passengers and six crew members. No passengers were seated by the cockpit panel.
Investigators are lately looking into the lack of signal that fell, as Skift reports.
Inspections must be finished by noon on January 7. This ensures no disruption to flight schedules occurs during the inspection process.
Although India does not have any B737-9 Max aircraft in its fleet, there are 43 B737 MAX aircraft in India’s airline fleet lately, 22 from Akasa Air, thirteen from SpiceJet B737 and 8 from Air India Express.
According to information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the new Boeing 737 Max nine involved in the incident was delivered to Alaska Airlines in late October and qualified in early November. It had only been in service for eight weeks. The Max is the latest edition of Boeing’s 737 and entered service in May 2017. The crash prompted the FAA to order the temporary grounding of all 737 Max nine and demand immediate inspections. Alaska and United are the only U. S. airlines operating the 737 Max nine, however, the mandate also affected foreign carriers that operated the aircraft for flights to the U. S. , adding India.
Low-cost carrier Indigo has announced the elimination of fuel fees on its domestic and foreign routes. The fuel charge, introduced in October 2023 due to rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, is now being phased out following a recent price reduction.
Because ATF pricing is dynamic, Indigo said it will continue to adjust its prices and parts in reaction to price changes or market conditions.
Meanwhile, Indigo also mentioned that it has commenced operations from the newly-inaugurated Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya. The first pair of flights operated between Delhi and Ayodhya on Saturday, followed by daily operations between the cities from January 10.
As the new year begins, virtual platform Agoda has showcased India’s top five emerging destinations through its ‘New Horizons List’. By analyzing search data year-over-year, the list shows destinations that experience a remarkable expansion in their interest. At the top of the ranking is Ahmedabad, followed by Kodaikanal, Mahabaleshwar, Ooty and Kochi.
India’s Emerging Destinations and Growing Searches
Hotel chain Leisure Hotels Group has announced the signing of a 37-key Baikunth Resort in Kasauli, a mountainous resort.
“This is a strategic step in our long-term purpose to expand the company’s landscape and gain a foothold in Himachal’s destinations. Since Kasauli is a popular tourist destination during all seasons, our goal is to become the first choice for travelers looking for a peaceful stay. close to nature,” said Vibhas Prasad, director of Leisure Hotels Group.
Additionally, the hotel group recently also signed a management agreement for a premium boutique hotel in Mcleodganj, contributing to the group’s growth in Himachal Pradesh.
Leisure Hotels has partnered with Belvedere Boutique Himalayan Retreat for this 34-key resort. Prasad said McLeodganj, as a tourist destination, presents immense hospitality opportunities.
The total number of tourists in Uttar Pradesh in the first few months of 2023 exceeded the full-year influx in 2022 by a few lakhs, reaching Rs 32 crore from Rs 31. 85 crore.
Uttar Pradesh is home to Varanasi and pilgrimage sites that welcome a constant flow of travelers.
According to the Indian government, religious tourism accounted for 13% of the country’s total tourism revenue in 2022, generating more than Rs 1345 billion ($17 billion) in revenue. Around 1,433 million domestic tourists visited pilgrimage sites in the country.
To enhance the religious tourism experience, the Indian government has approved 45 projects under the Prashad Scheme, allocating a budget of 1586.10 crore ($21 million) thus far. Launched in 2014-2015, this scheme aims to develop and identify pilgrimage sites across India.
Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.
Do you have any sensitive data for Skift? Get in Touch
Tags: agoda, airbnb, airlines, akasa air, american Airlines, Boeing 737, boeing 737 max, reservations, hotels, makemytrip, tourism
Photo credit: Indian travelers prefer to book directly with hotels, says hotel technology platform STAAH. Hashoo Foundation USA / Flickr
Already a subscriber? Login
The most important stories about destination management, marketing, and development from Skift’s editors and reporters.