Aitken Spence's 'Trails of Bawa' Tour Offers Architectural Wonder

Aitken Spence's 'Trails of Bawa' Tour Offers Architectural Wonder

By Author

Published on February 4, 2024

In a celebration of architectural brilliance, Heritance Hotels and Resorts, the flagship brand of Aitken Spence Hotels, recently introduced the ‘Trails of Bawa’ Tour during the Galle Literary Festival. This curated journey, revealed in the session on ‘Preserving and re-narrating modern Sri Lankan cultural histories,’ brings to life the iconic spaces designed by Deshamanya Geoffrey Bawa, a pioneer in Modern Tropicalism.

The Trails of Bawa Tour spans four nights and five days, immersing guests in the architectural wonders crafted by Bawa. The tour explores five significant locations: Heritance Kandalama, Heritance Ayurveda, Heritance Ahungalla, Lunuganga Garden, and No. 11, Colombo—the Geoffrey Bawa residence. Each stop on this architectural odyssey pays homage to Bawa’s genius, showcasing modern tropicalism, ingenious use of open spaces, natural light, and local materials.

image

Expressing her thoughts on the Trails of Bawa Tour, Stasshani Jayawardena, Jt. Deputy Chairperson, and Jt. Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings, shared, “Deshamanya Geoffrey Bawa’s influence on architecture is immeasurable, and we are delighted to present the ‘Trails of Bawa’ as a tribute to his architectural brilliance. It’s more than just a tour; it’s a curated experience to witness the texture, breathe in the scents, and hear the whispers of nature that inspired one of the most celebrated architects of the 21st century.”

image

As the custodian of the largest portfolio of Bawa designed hotels in Sri Lanka, including Heritance Kandalama, Heritance Ahungalla, and Heritance Ayurveda, Heritance Hotels and Resorts aims to honor and perpetuate Bawa’s legacy through this transformative exploration of design, art, and nature.

The Trails of Bawa is now open for booking, promising an unforgettable and immersive encounter with the architectural treasures of Geoffrey Bawa.


Bird Travels Partners with AEGEAN to Launch Direct Flights from New Delhi & Mumbai to Athens in 2026

Bird Travels Partners with AEGEAN to Launch Direct Flights from New Delhi & Mumbai to Athens in 2026

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 13, 2025

Bird Travels has announced its exclusive collaboration with AEGEAN, Greece’s flag carrier, to operate direct flights from New Delhi and Mumbai to Athens beginning in the first quarter of 2026. The flight schedule and ticket sales will be officially unveiled by the end of September.

AEGEAN will introduce two new Airbus A321neo XLR (Extra Long Range) aircraft, boasting a range of up to 10.5 hours. These aircraft feature enhanced comfort with only 138 seats, including 24 Business Class Suites equipped with fully lie-flat beds, aisle access, and modern amenities such as 4K inflight entertainment screens, satellite Wi-Fi, USB charging, and spacious overhead bins designed for long-haul comfort.

The airline plans to operate five weekly flights to New Delhi starting March 2026, followed by three weekly flights to Mumbai from May 2026. Bird Travels will act as the General Sales Agent (GSA) for AEGEAN in India, managing sales, marketing, customer service, and distribution.

Roland Jaggi, Chief Commercial Officer of AEGEAN, said, “We are delighted to partner with Bird Travels as we prepare to launch direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Athens. This marks a significant milestone in AEGEAN’s international expansion and reinforces our commitment to strengthening ties between Greece and India. The addition of the new Airbus A321neo XLR aircraft allows us to enhance our service offering for long-haul routes, providing Indian travellers with a premium gateway to Europe and beyond.”

Gaurav Bhatia, Executive Director of Bird Group, commented, “Our partnership with AEGEAN heralds exciting times for Indian travellers. AEGEAN’s reputation for quality service and connectivity perfectly complements our expertise in the Indian aviation market. Together, we look forward to offering seamless and elevated travel experiences from New Delhi and Mumbai to Athens and further into Europe.”

About Bird Travels and AEGEAN

Bird Travels, the flagship airline management company of India’s Bird Group, has over five decades of experience across airline representation, travel distribution, ground handling, and hospitality services. As AEGEAN’s exclusive GSA in India, Bird Travels will promote and manage the airline’s services across sales, marketing, and customer support.

Founded in 1999, AEGEAN is Greece’s largest and fastest-growing regional airline, serving 152 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa with a fleet of 83 modern Airbus aircraft. A member of the STAR ALLIANCE, AEGEAN has been named Europe’s Best Regional Airline by Skytrax 14 times in the past 16 years, underscoring its commitment to service excellence.

For more information, visit www.birdtravels.com.


Exclusive Shopping & Stays for Your Long Break

Exclusive Shopping & Stays for Your Long Break

By Hariharan U

Published on August 13, 2025

August 15th brings more than a mid-week breather, it’s your cue to pause, reset, and indulge in travel that lingers long after you return. Whether it’s barefoot luxury by the sea, alpine stillness, or the charm of a storied European city, these curated escapes promise to make your long weekend unforgettable.

Asia's Laidback Luxury in Nature’s Embrace

image

The Legian Seminyak, Bali

An oceanfront icon where timeless design meets Balinese soul. From vivid sunsets to indulgent spa rituals, every moment here feels like it’s just for you.
Explore The Legian

image

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
Manta ray encounters, sunrise sandbank yoga, and villas designed for your pace. Even time slows to match your rhythm here.
 Discover Maamunagau

Europe - History, Heritage & Hidden Corners

image

De L’Europe Amsterdam
A landmark blending old-world charm with modern culture. Riverside calm, art, and the best of Amsterdam—right at your feet.
 Discover De L’Europe

image

Hotel Bellevue, Lošinj, Croatia
Modern Mediterranean luxury wrapped in pine-scented air and crystal Adriatic waters.
View Hotel Bellevue

image

Boutique Hotel Alhambra, Lošinj, Croatia
An adults-only escape where refined heritage meets Adriatic elegance.
Explore Alhambra

image

Kulm Hotel, St. Moritz
 An Alpine legend where understated glamour meets crisp mountain air and Swiss tradition even in summer, Explore Kulm Hotel

Exclusive Shopping – Parisian Elegance

image

Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann
More than a department store—private salons, designer previews, and curated fashion experiences tailored just for you.
Luxury Shopping Experience

Plan Your Bespoke Break
Make this Independence Day weekend count. Whether you dream of oceanfront tranquility, alpine retreats, or cultural immersion, we’ll curate a journey that feels entirely yours.


India Becomes 5th Largest Aviation Market with 241 Million Passengers in 2024, Surpassing Japan

India Becomes 5th Largest Aviation Market with 241 Million Passengers in 2024, Surpassing Japan

By Nishang Narayan

Published on August 11, 2025

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has ranked India as the fifth-largest aviation market in 2024, handling 241 million passengers, surpassing Japan’s 205 million. The data comes from IATA’s latest World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) report, which covers both international and domestic passenger movements.

India recorded an 11.1% increase from 211 million passengers in 2023, driven by strong domestic demand. The Mumbai–Delhi route emerged as the seventh busiest airport pair in the world, carrying 5.9 million passengers in 2024.

Globally, the United States retained the top spot with 876 million passengers (+5.2%), followed by China at 741 million (+18.7%), the United Kingdom at 261 million, and Spain also at 241 million.

IATA reported that Asia Pacific dominated the list of the world’s busiest airport pairs, led by Jeju–Seoul (CJU–GMP) with 13.2 million passengers. The only non-Asia Pacific route in the top 10 was Jeddah–Riyadh (JED–RUH).

image

Premium air travel also saw strong growth in 2024. International business and first-class travel rose 11.8%, slightly outpacing the 11.5% growth in economy travel. Asia Pacific recorded the highest growth in premium travel at 22.8%, with 21 million passengers, though economy class still expanded faster in the region. Europe remained the largest market for premium travel at 39.3 million passengers, while the Middle East had the highest premium share at 14.7% of all international travellers.

The report also highlighted aircraft utilisation trends. The Boeing 737 was the most widely used aircraft, operating 10 million flights with 2.4 trillion Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs), followed by the Airbus A320 with 7.9 million flights (1.7 trillion ASKs) and the Airbus A321 with 3.4 million flights (1.1 trillion ASKs).

IATA’s findings reflect India’s rapid ascent in global aviation, driven by expanding connectivity, a growing middle class, and increased fleet capacity.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!

Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.

By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Advertise With Us

We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.