Peden Bhutia

small towner, lost in the BIG city! Find me on @Skift, where as Asia Editor I write on Asia, Middle East and India.

[Skift @skift]

Marriott International on Saturday announced the debut of its Autograph Collection in India.

Rather than picking a five-star tower in Mumbai or a business hotel in Delhi for its entry, Marriott picked a palace in Karnal, a mid-sized city in Haryana about 130 kilometers north of Delhi. Noormahal, Delhi NCR Karnal, Autograph Collection may look unconventional on a map, but the choice is deliberate.

“Noormahal stood out because it brings a well-defined identity and a strong sense of place,’” the SVP for South Asia at Marriott International, told Skift.

https://t.co/rmjAp6dkc9

[Skift @skift]

Hyatt is eyeing plans to build a brand concept specifically for India, following on from its Atona concept in Japan.

“We believe India does have the opportunity, where maybe we can develop something that is uniquely Indian, and can also be globalized,” Stephen Ho, president of growth and operations for Asia Pacific at Hyatt, told Skift exclusively.

Hyatt entered India in 1983, and now has 55 hotels across the country. However, the company believes the country is under-visited and is assessing whether a local brand, built from India’s traditions and landscapes — rather than imported from outside — could attract both domestic travelers and international visitors.

https://t.co/CL91vWxiD5

[Skift @skift]

InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, on Tuesday appointed Willie Walsh as its new Chief Executive Officer, subject to regulatory approvals.

For a carrier that controls more than 60% of India's domestic air traffic, the choice of successor carries weight well beyond the boardroom. And in Walsh, the IndiGo board has reached for one of the most battle-tested names in global aviation.

https://t.co/oMIyZQGEz6

[Sujan Dutta @reportersujan]

You did a lot of good in a cruel world.
Always Upright, Deepayan Chatterjee Cut a Lion’s Figure https://t.co/asfi7qbgpZ

[𝚂𝚎𝚊𝚗 𝙾'𝙽𝚎𝚒𝚕𝚕 @sean_oneill]

Manfredi Lefebvre Redefined Luxury Travel in Europe. Here’s His Vision for AirAsia’s Superapp — Exclusive

@PedenD for @skift
https://t.co/yXrEu1wh8K

[𝚂𝚎𝚊𝚗 𝙾'𝙽𝚎𝚒𝚕𝚕 @sean_oneill]

Banyan Group CEO Eddy See on What’s Fueling Expansion Beyond Asia

by @PedenD for @skift

https://t.co/FbcYRncUnZ

[Skift @skift]

With the journey starting at airports, lounges are an unmissable experience for Indian travelers.

https://t.co/CsFnFIWhZI

[Skift @skift]

MakeMyTrip is betting on AI to drive traffic and improve the customer journey. But it will take at least a few more quarters to see results.

https://t.co/ONlPL7e9AV

[Anurag Verma @vanurag12]

Over the last 1 year, I & my team have worked very hard to bring Trip View to life. This is our version of Connected Trips which covers the entire spectrum of consumer journey. Great to see this picked up by Skift! @skift @PedenD

[Skift @skift]

Skift Power Rankings #28: Ritesh Agarwal

Ritesh Agarwal revolutionized the budget hotel industry in India. Oyo has transcended its status as a brand to become a shorthand for budget-friendly hotels.

https://t.co/VWmOl2mbjy

[Skift @skift]

With IndiGo's move into loyalty programs, Air India will need to sharpen its loyalty strategy to stay competitive, especially in a market where where cost and convenience drive consumer choice.

https://t.co/uM1b8eSA78

[Skift @skift]

What makes religious tourism a strong investment for hotels in India

https://t.co/iia4kg6VTg

[Dennis Schaal @denschaal]

China's Older Travelers Are Shaking Up the Travel Scene https://t.co/RhkvjohaET via @Skift @PedenD

[Rafat Ali, Media Operator & Dad @rafat]

Fabulous deep dive from @sean_oneill on what the new contours of business travel and travelers means for the hotel industry and the opportunities ahead https://t.co/WEuvVyncaL via @Skift

[Rafat Ali, Media Operator & Dad @rafat]

I remember when China started showing up in travel public companies' earnings calls when we first started @skift 12 years ago. Now it is India's turn. Good roundup by @PedenD of this earnings cycle, still early days for India's tourism might. https://t.co/tTHeE0L8i9

[Skift @skift]

Computer problems are nothing new for airlines and airports, but the scale of Friday's outage is without recent parallel.

https://t.co/lhxpzHKhB8

[Skift @skift]

No, this doesn’t mean that the Thai government wants you to stop shopping; they're just nudging travelers to splurge locally and boost the economy!

https://t.co/H4XGb5fCHx

[Skift @skift]

For Chinese women travelers, travel is now a powerful way to express their individuality. Sure, you might spot them shopping at Prada, but there's so much more to their adventures. https://t.co/H07RtSdGHT

[Dennis Schaal @denschaal]

When tourists are taken as suckers. South Korea Is Cracking Down on 'Dumping Tours' https://t.co/tzY1S4bPpB via @Skift @PedenD

[Skift @skift]

No one ever wants anything to go wrong while traveling, but if it does, while in Thailand, the government says it has you covered.

https://t.co/LqWd4okOEd