IndiGo Celebrates 18th Anniversary with New Growth Initiatives

IndiGo Celebrates 18th Anniversary with New Growth Initiatives

By Author

Published on August 11, 2024

IndiGo, India's largest airline and one of the biggest globally, recently marked its 18th anniversary with a series of announcements signaling the next phase of its growth. The celebration, held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, was attended by key figures from the travel industry, partners, investors, and the airline’s leadership.

Over the past 18 years, IndiGo has transformed air travel in India by connecting 88 domestic destinations with over 400 routes, making air travel accessible to millions, including first-time flyers. Internationally, the airline has expanded its reach to 33 cities across more than 100 routes.

As part of its growth strategy, IndiGo has placed a record order for 500 new aircraft, including the Airbus A321-XLRs expected to enter service in 2025 and the widebody A350-900s scheduled for delivery in 2027. This expansion plan aims to double the airline's scale by the end of the decade.

To enhance customer experience, IndiGo introduced several new initiatives. The airline launched 'IndiGoStretch,' a new business class service available on 12 metro-to-metro routes, starting with the Delhi-Mumbai sector. This service features premium seating and other amenities aimed at attracting business travelers.

IndiGo also unveiled its much-anticipated loyalty program, 'IndiGo BluChip.' This program is designed to reward frequent flyers with benefits based on their spending, including real-time tier upgrades and lifetime validity for active members. The full program is set to launch in September 2024, with early registration opening immediately.

Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, reflected on the airline’s journey, stating, "On our 18th anniversary, it’s time to reflect on the wonderful and incredible IndiGo journey of giving wings to the nation. I would like to deeply thank the 600 million customers since inception that choose to fly IndiGo and all my colleagues who work so relentlessly and professionally serving our customers. Together we are building the IndiGo growth story realizing India by IndiGo.

As India’s leading carrier, we are constantly looking at ways of improving our service offering for our millions of our customers. With India’s soaring economy and the evolving aspirations of the Indian society, it’s time for us to redefine air travel once again and provide our evolving customers more benefits as they travel the world on us.

I am pleased to announce a new era of our IndiGo journey with the launch of IndiGoStretch – a tailor- made business product; and IndiGo BluChip – our much-awaited loyalty program. In addition, we have also launched a completely refreshed website and app with several features to make our customers experience more hassle-free. We are excited with this new era of IndiGo’s journey as we will continue to deliver on our core promises of being on-time, offering affordable fares, and delivering a courteous and hassle-free travel experiences across our unparalleled network."

In addition to these offerings, IndiGo has revamped its website and mobile app to provide a more user-friendly experience, further enhancing its service for customers.

Image Credit: IndiGo Press Note


ITC Hotels Reports Strong Q3 Performance, Consolidated Revenue Up 21%

ITC Hotels Reports Strong Q3 Performance, Consolidated Revenue Up 21%

By Hariharan U

Published on January 22, 2026

ITC Hotels reported a strong growth performance for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, with consolidated revenue from operations reaching ₹1,231 crore, up 21% year-on-year. EBITDA stood at ₹467 crore, reflecting a 23% increase, while PAT rose sharply by 42% to ₹307 crore, according to a company release.

The growth was driven by higher occupancy and average daily rates (ADR) across key markets. Targeted digital campaigns and loyalty initiatives contributed to revenue scaling, while cost management measures covering procurement efficiencies and energy optimisation supported healthy margins. Room revenue grew 12%, propelled by robust performance in corporate, wedding, and MICE segments. Overall RevPAR expanded 13%, maintaining a 48% premium over the industry, highlighting ITC Hotels’ strong brand standing.

Food & Beverage revenue rose 8%, led by banqueting and corporate events, supported by innovative culinary offerings. EBITDA margin for the quarter stood at 39%, expanding 110 basis points on a comparable basis due to revenue growth, higher management fees, cost control, and operating leverage.

Active asset management remained central to ITC Hotels’ strategy, with planned renovations completed across key properties to enhance guest experience through modernised amenities, refreshed interiors, and contemporary design.

Internationally, ITC Ratnadipa and Sapphire Residences in Colombo, Sri Lanka, maintained market leadership in RevPAR and achieved EBITDA positivity for the nine months ended December 31, 2025. Apartment handovers have commenced, reflecting progress in the residential segment.

In India, ITC Hotels secured a land parcel at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi, for a premium 5‑star hotel on a 91‑year lease. The property, slated for completion by 2030, will feature contemporary banqueting and signature cuisine, enhancing Yashobhoomi as a global destination for conventions and exhibitions.

Aligned with its asset-right strategy, ITC Hotels expanded in Tier‑II and Tier‑III cities, opening new properties in Bodh Gaya, Rishikesh, Siliguri, Sirmaur, Dungarpur, and Jaipur during the quarter. In CY2025, the company signed 28 hotels with 2,790 keys, a 26% growth over CY2024, and crossed the milestone of 150 operational hotels with over 14,000 keys.

With these results, ITC Hotels reinforces its growth trajectory, driven by strategic expansion, operational excellence, and consistent focus on premium hospitality offerings across India and beyond


Hospitality Sector Expects Strong Policy Support in Budget 2026, Says Vishal Vithal Kamat

Hospitality Sector Expects Strong Policy Support in Budget 2026, Says Vishal Vithal Kamat

By Hariharan U

Published on January 21, 2026

As the Union Budget 2026 draws closer, voices from the hospitality industry are growing stronger, calling for focused policy measures and enhanced financial support to drive sustainable growth. Sharing his pre-budget views, Vishal Vithal Kamat, Executive Director at Kamat Hotels India Ltd, highlighted the need for greater attention to the hospitality sector and its wider economic impact.

Kamat emphasised that hospitality goes far beyond hotels, encompassing tour operators and a broad network of allied services that collectively play a vital role in boosting tourism and employment across the country. He noted that the sector has been seeking targeted benefits and supportive policies for several years to help streamline operations and improve ease of doing business.

“We have strong expectations from the Union Government to enhance budgetary allocations for the hospitality sector as a whole. Hospitality extends beyond hotels to include tour operators and a wide network of allied services that collectively drive tourism and employment. The industry has long been seeking targeted benefits and policy support to streamline operations, improve ease of doing business, and strengthen India’s tourism ecosystem. We are hopeful that the forthcoming budget will address these long-standing concerns in a meaningful way,” he said.

Industry leaders believe that well-structured budgetary support can strengthen India’s tourism ecosystem, encourage investments, and create more employment opportunities. With Budget 2026 on the horizon, the hospitality sector remains optimistic that its long-pending demands will finally find place in national policy planning.


Union Budget 2026: Foodlink CMD calls for tourism and GST reforms

Union Budget 2026: Foodlink CMD calls for tourism and GST reforms

By Hariharan U

Published on January 16, 2026

Sharing his expectations from the Union Budget 2026, Sanjay Manohar Vazirani, Chairman and Managing Director of Foodlink F&B Holdings (India) Limited, said the hospitality and foodservice sector today mirrors India’s evolving consumption story, shaped by rising disposable incomes, experiential spending, and renewed momentum in tourism and events.

Vazirani noted that sustained focus on infrastructure development, tourism promotion, and improved urban connectivity would create a strong multiplier effect for hospitality-led businesses. He said such measures would help India strengthen its positioning as a global destination for premium culinary and lifestyle experiences.

From an industry standpoint, he highlighted the importance of GST rationalisation, clearer compliance frameworks, and continued support for skill development. According to Vazirani, these steps would not only improve operating efficiencies but also reinforce employment generation across the hospitality and foodservice value chain.

He further added that measures aimed at easing access to credit, simplifying trade processes, and supporting Indian hospitality brands expanding globally would benefit the sector while contributing to a stronger, services-driven economy.

Vazirani emphasised that a growth-oriented Budget, one that balances fiscal discipline with consumption-led and tourism-driven growth, has the potential to significantly accelerate India’s hospitality and experiential economy in the years ahead.

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