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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on February 5, 2025
The Union Budget 2025 has set the stage for significant advancements in India's hospitality and tourism sectors. Industry leaders have expressed optimism about the budget’s strategic focus on tourism infrastructure, enhanced connectivity, and skill development initiatives that are expected to elevate India's global standing as a prime travel destination.
Mr. Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & MD of Cygnett Hotels and Resorts, welcomed the government’s emphasis on tourism, particularly the development of 50 key destinations under challenge mode. He highlighted how initiatives such as streamlined e-visas and visa-free access for select tourist groups will boost international footfall. He also appreciated the inclusion of new hotels in these destinations in the Infrastructure Harmonized List (HML), allowing hospitality investors to access infrastructure lending under more favorable terms.
“The move to include new hotels in the HML will provide easier access to larger funds through External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs), enabling greater expansion and modernization in the hospitality sector,” said Mr. Sarkar.
Additionally, he noted the positive impact of the government's modified UDAN scheme, which aims to strengthen connectivity to 120 new destinations, particularly focusing on the northeastern region’s helipad development. The enhanced connectivity will unlock untapped tourism potential, further promoting India’s cultural and historical sites.
Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. K Syama Raju, President of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), emphasized the budget’s role in developing top tourism destinations in partnership with state governments. He lauded the decision to grant Infrastructure Status to hotels in these areas, which will facilitate long-term, cost-effective financing and improve hospitality standards.
“The inclusion of hotels in the harmonious master list aligns with our long-standing request for Infrastructure Status, allowing access to lower-cost funding for hospitality expansion,” said Mr. Raju.
Another major highlight was the focus on medical and wellness tourism through the 'Heal-in-India' initiative. With India already being a global leader in affordable, high-quality medical treatments, this initiative is set to attract more international patients, strengthening the country’s healthcare tourism sector.
The government’s focus on religious tourism was also well received. Enhancing infrastructure at key pilgrimage sites is expected to create more organized and accessible travel experiences for both domestic and international visitors. Additionally, the visa fee waivers and simplified e-visa options will further support inbound tourism growth.
Innovation and entrepreneurship were also key focus areas in the budget, receiving praise from Mr. Sanandan Sudhir, Founder and CEO of On2Cook. He highlighted the government’s Rs 20,000 crore allocation to promote innovation and the introduction of a fund of funds for next-generation entrepreneurs as pivotal measures for fostering global capabilities in India.
“We appreciate the introduction of the National Framework for promoting innovation in tier 2 cities and the proposal for Centres of Excellence in AI for Education. These initiatives, coupled with the Bharat Trade Net platform to enhance international trade, will play a crucial role in positioning India as a global innovation hub,” said Mr. Sudhir.
However, he also urged the government to reconsider the current tax regime and introduce lower GST rates for sustainable, globally patented products. He further suggested subsidizing international certification costs to ease export market entry for startups.
Overall, the Union Budget 2025 has been met with enthusiasm from the hospitality and innovation sectors. With targeted infrastructure investments, enhanced connectivity, and policy support for tourism and entrepreneurship, industry leaders believe these measures will position India as a premier global destination for travelers, businesses, and investors alike.
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By Hariharan U
Published on July 2, 2026
Paisabazaar has announced the launch of PB Pass, a new complimentary airport lounge access benefit developed in partnership with Collinson International, a global leader in airport experiences and loyalty solutions.
The new program provides users access to over 1,800 airport lounges and travel experiences across more than 800 airports worldwide, powered by the LoungeKey network.
PB Pass has been designed to reward customer engagement on the Paisabazaar platform. Users who pay their credit card bills through the Paisabazaar app will get a chance to participate in a monthly “Spin the Wheel” contest, where selected winners receive a complimentary PB Pass.
In addition, the benefit is also extended to new credit card customers. Users who apply for a credit card via Paisabazaar and activate it, followed by their first bill payment through the app, will be eligible to receive a PB Pass as an assured reward.
Each PB Pass allows seamless access to airport lounges or travel experiences through a QR code-based system, eliminating the need for additional memberships or registrations. The network includes lounges such as Travel Club Lounge at Don Mueang International Airport in Thailand, Kyra Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, and Rose Lounge at Vietnam’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Speaking on the launch, Santosh Agarwal, CEO of Paisabazaar, said the initiative aims to deliver value beyond acquisition and enhance customer engagement across the lifecycle. He noted that airport lounge access remains one of the most valued credit card benefits, and PB Pass makes it more accessible and convenient.
Rom Remy, Managing Director for South and Southeast Asia at Collinson International, highlighted growing travel demand in India and the increasing importance of lounge access as a premium travel benefit. He added that the partnership with Paisabazaar will help enhance travel experiences through the LoungeKey global network.
While lounge access is typically restricted by card tiers, spending thresholds, and usage caps, PB Pass introduces an additional simplified access model through a QR-based system and broader network coverage, complementing existing credit card benefits
STAAH, a global hospi-tech solutions company, has strengthened the online distribution strategy of Bizzgrow Hotels by enabling its properties to connect with new business opportunities across both B2B and B2C segments.
The group's properties, Silvotel in Indore, Hotel Skylon and Hotel Epsilon in Ahmedabad, and The Hotel Bliss in Patna, have successfully integrated STAAH's Channel Manager, helping improve connectivity, increase visibility across booking platforms, expand market reach, and generate higher booking volumes.
The implementation has also helped the hotel group streamline operations while improving productivity and revenue across its portfolio.
Commenting on the partnership, Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD – Bizzgrow Hotels, said, “Before we integrated STAAH’s Channel Manager, we had not tapped into several potential business channels in these cities, which was affecting the revenue across these locations. Now, we’ve gained momentum in productivity for all our hotels and are exploring new opportunities in the market that we never had access to before.”
Designed for hotel groups managing multiple properties, STAAH's Channel Manager allows bookings from online travel agencies (OTAs) and hotel websites to be managed through a single platform. The solution provides real-time updates on room rates, availability, and guest information, helping hotels reduce overbookings while making dynamic pricing easier to manage.
By reducing manual processes, the platform also lowers the chances of human error and improves operational efficiency, allowing hotel teams to focus more on delivering better guest experiences while driving stronger business performance.
Speaking about the collaboration, Shoaib Ali, National Sales Head India, STAAH, said, “For many groups like Bizzgrow Hotels, broadening their customer base and creating new business opportunities in the B2C and B2B segments is one of the most challenging aspects of the business. At STAAH, we invest a lot of time and effort in training our team to offer the most professional onboarding and training services to our clients, handholding them through every aspect of the transition.”
With the successful integration of STAAH's Channel Manager, Bizzgrow Hotels is now better positioned to strengthen its digital presence, improve operational efficiency, and reach a wider customer base across multiple business segments.
Published on July 1, 2026
Paraguay produced one of the biggest upsets in FIFA World Cup 2026 history by defeating four-time champions Germany 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the Round of 32 clash ended 1-1 following 120 minutes of play.
The victory marks Paraguay's biggest-ever World Cup triumph. The South American side, which last reached the quarter-finals in 2010 and had not qualified for the tournament since, booked its place in the Round of 16 with a memorable performance.
Paraguay took the lead late in the first half through a header from Julio Enciso, before Kai Havertz equalised for Germany in the 52nd minute. The match remained level through extra time, forcing a penalty shootout. Jose Canale converted the first sudden-death penalty, while goalkeeper Orlando Gill made two crucial saves to seal Paraguay's historic victory.
In another Round of 32 fixture, Brazil edged past Japan with a 2-1 victory to progress to the next stage. Morocco also booked its place in the Round of 16 after defeating the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
While football fans continue to enjoy thrilling knockout action, the tournament is also influencing late-night food habits in India. With FIFA World Cup matches being played at 12.30 am, 3.30 am and 6.30 am IST, food delivery platforms and restaurant chains have witnessed a rise in overnight orders.
According to data shared by Swiggy Food Marketplace, nearly half of all late-night food orders placed between 11 pm and 3 am during June 11 to June 24 were made between 11 pm and midnight, making it the busiest hour for deliveries on match nights.
Football fans largely preferred comfort food, with pizzas, burgers, fries and beverages topping the order list. The most popular items included Pepper Barbecue Chicken Pizza Mania, Crispy Chicken Burger Peri Peri Meal, Crispy Veg Burger Peri Peri Meal and Garlic Breadsticks.
Among metro cities, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai recorded the highest number of late-night football-related orders, while Surat, Thiruvananthapuram and Patna emerged as the leading cities among India's growing markets.
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