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By Nishang Narayan
Published on May 10, 2024
The short-term rental (STR) sector is increasingly embracing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, with a recent survey by Hostaway showing a significant rise in AI usage among property managers and owners. This growth starkly contrasts with the slower AI adoption rates in the hotel industry, underscoring a pivotal technological shift within the hospitality sector.
According to the survey, which included responses from 500 property managers and owners, AI use has surged by 63% since November 2023. This rapid integration is primarily driven by the need for dynamic pricing, enhanced guest experiences, and improved marketing strategies, with 41% of managers using AI for pricing adjustments alone.
The adoption of AI tools such as ChatGPT has proven beneficial for many, offering substantial time savings equivalent to four additional workdays per year, especially for those managing more than 26 properties. However, 31% of respondents reported no significant cost reduction from AI implementation.
Despite the operational benefits, there are notable concerns among the community. Approximately 65% of participants expressed doubts about AI’s ability to maintain genuine human interactions, and 54% were skeptical about its effectiveness in handling complex guest issues.
Nevertheless, optimism about AI’s potential remains high, with 75% of property managers and owners viewing it as a competitive advantage in the travel and tourism industry. This sentiment is particularly strong among those recognizing the need for the hotel sector to catch up in AI integration to remain competitive.
The findings highlight a crucial trend: while the STR sector rapidly adopts new technologies to enhance efficiency and guest satisfaction, the traditional hotel industry must accelerate its AI integration to not fall behind in an increasingly digital hospitality landscape.
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on August 25, 2026
Zoomcar and Uber have joined hands to make road trip planning easier by bringing self-drive and chauffeur-driven travel options together on the Zoomcar app. Travelers searching for a self-drive car on Zoomcar can now also discover and book Uber Intercity rides if they prefer to travel with a driver. This allows users to compare both options in one place and choose what works best for their journey.
The partnership brings together two different ways to travel across select routes, with options available for both one-way and round trips. It is aimed at travelers who value flexibility, convenience and access over vehicle ownership. The integration is now live in Bengaluru, Delhi NCR and Mumbai, with plans to expand to more cities over time.
Deepankar Tiwari, Chief Executive Officer, Zoomcar Holdings, Inc., said: “Zoomcar is where India’s most intentional travelers come to plan how they move. Some of them want the freedom of a self-drive car. Others, on other days or other trips, want the comfort of being driven. Both needs are valid, and both deserve a world-class experience. By partnering with Uber, we’re making sure that when a Zoomcar user faces that choice, they don’t have to leave our platform to find the answer. That’s what serving the traveler fully looks like.”
Rishant Ghosh, Director of Consumer & Growth, Uber India & South Asia, said: "Uber Intercity has increasingly become the preferred choice for travel across cities, with demand growing across Tier-2 and metro markets alike. We're also seeing more Indians choose road trips for weekend getaways, family visits and holidays. Through this partnership with Zoomcar, we're making Uber Intercity accessible to even more travelers, giving them another convenient way to book reliable, comfortable outstation rides."
The partnership reflects a wider change in how Indian travelers are approaching mobility. Instead of owning a vehicle, more consumers are choosing flexible, on-demand options based on what each journey requires.
For one trip, travelers may prefer the freedom of driving themselves through Zoomcar. On another, they may want to sit back and let an Uber Intercity driver take care of the journey. By bringing these two options together, the partnership gives travelers more flexibility when planning road trips. The same traveler can choose to drive on one journey and be driven on the next, depending on the occasion and their travel needs.
With both options available through the Zoomcar app, the collaboration aims to make road travel more convenient while giving Indian travelers greater choice for weekend getaways, family visits and holidays.
By Hariharan U
Published on August 22, 2026
Indus Towers Limited, in collaboration with the Bharti Airtel Foundation, has strengthened digital learning infrastructure at GC CRPF Guwahati Montessori School in Assam with the installation of two K-YAN digital learning devices.
Located within the CRPF Campus at 9 Mile, Guwahati, the initiative aims to create a more engaging, interactive and future-ready learning environment for students. The intervention is expected to benefit 114 students by providing enhanced access to technology-enabled and experiential learning opportunities.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Ms. Neelam Dhyani, Head, Regional CRPF Family Welfare Association, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The programme also saw the participation of Shri Rajender Gurung, Circle CEO (NESA), Indus Towers Limited, representatives of Bharti Airtel Foundation, CRPF officials, school representatives, teachers and students.
Speaking on the initiative, Ms. Neelam Dhyani highlighted the role of technology in creating more dynamic and enriching learning environments. She said that access to quality education and modern learning tools can help children develop curiosity, improve understanding and engage more actively in the classroom.
Shri Rajender Gurung said that education remains an important enabler of social transformation and that technology can play a significant role in making learning more accessible, engaging and inclusive. He added that the K-YAN devices are expected to support teachers with innovative classroom tools while helping students develop digital skills and confidence for the future.
The initiative is designed to support educators in delivering curriculum content more effectively while encouraging digital literacy, experiential learning and classroom participation. It reflects the shared commitment of Indus Towers, Bharti Airtel Foundation and the CRPF community towards strengthening educational infrastructure and creating future-ready learning environments.
Mr. Sameer Shah, Head, Higher Education and Strategic Relations, Bharti Airtel Foundation, said the Foundation remains focused on enabling equitable access to quality education through innovative and scalable solutions. He noted that technology can make classroom learning more engaging and effective while helping students build competencies required for the future.
The K-YAN platform is an integrated digital classroom solution combining a computer, projector, audio system and interactive learning capabilities in a single portable unit. Its multimedia-based approach enables teachers to create more immersive classroom sessions while giving students greater opportunities to engage with digital content.
The programme concluded with the ceremonial handover of the K-YAN devices, addresses by dignitaries and discussions on the role of technology in improving teaching effectiveness and learning outcomes.
Through the initiative, Indus Towers and Bharti Airtel Foundation continue to support technology-enabled education and contribute towards building more inclusive and future-ready learning environments for students.
Published on August 19, 2026
Uber has announced the launch of Train Ticket Booking on the Uber app in partnership with ixigo, India’s leading AI-native travel platform. The new feature allows riders to book train tickets, check PNR status and manage their first and last-mile travel connections through a single app.
The launch marks another step in Uber’s growing focus on expanding its intercity travel offerings in India. By combining ixigo’s train booking technology with Uber’s mobility services, the partnership aims to make long-distance travel planning easier and more connected for passengers.
Train travel continues to be one of India’s most preferred modes of transportation, with Indian Railways carrying 741 crore passengers in FY2025–26. As online train ticket booking continues to grow, Uber and ixigo are bringing together train reservations and local mobility solutions to offer a smoother travel experience from the starting point to the final destination.
Commenting on the partnership, Arnab Kumar, Director, Business Development, Uber India and South Asia, said, "Train journeys are an integral part of how India travels. For millions of people, the journey starts well before they board the train and continues long after they arrive at their destination. With Train Ticket Booking on the Uber app, riders can now book their train tickets, check their PNR status, and seamlessly connect to and from the railway station, all within a single app. We’re pleased to partner with ixigo to bring together their expertise in train ticketing with Uber’s mobility platform, making the overall travel experience more seamless and convenient for riders.”
Sharing their views on the partnership, Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO and Rajnish Kumar, Group Co-CEO, ixigo, said, “As India's largest OTA in the train category, our focus has always been on making rail travel simpler, more reliable and stress-free. Beyond booking tickets, we've continued to invest in a seamless post-booking experience, better customer support and innovative features that give travellers greater peace of mind throughout their journey. By partnering with Uber, we're extending that experience beyond the train itself, enabling travellers to plan their journey seamlessly from their doorstep to their destination.”
Uber already has a strong presence at railway stations across India, offering dedicated pickup and drop-off zones at locations ranging from Ahmedabad in the West, Secunderabad in the South and Howrah in the East, with more railway stations expected to be added soon.
With the introduction of Train Ticket Booking, Uber is extending its railway station connectivity services to support travellers throughout their entire journey. The company’s multimodal mobility platform now includes Moto, Auto, Cars, Metro, Intercity Cars, Intercity Buses and Train Ticket Booking.
Through this expansion, Uber aims to become a single platform for different travel needs, helping riders move more conveniently across cities and across the country.
● Open the Uber app.● Select ‘Bus & Train’ from the home screen or Services section, then choose train tickets.● Enter the origin, destination and travel date.● Browse available trains and select the preferred option.● Complete the booking through the app.● Access ticket details and check PNR status directly within Uber.● Book an Uber ride to and from the railway station for a seamless travel experience.
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