Skift India Travel Podcast

In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia speaks with Rama Mahendru, India general manager of Intrepid Travel, about the company’s bold 2030 strategy to grow inbound tourism in India by 300%. Mahendru shares insights into why India is pivotal for Intrepid’s focus on immersive and sustainable travel, the infrastructure challenges impacting inbound tourism and...

In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, we explore how online travel agencies are catering to the evolving needs of affluent millennials and Gen Z in India’s travel market. Anuj Rathi, Cleartrip’s chief business and growth officer, shares insights into shifting travel preferences, from millennial wanderlust to Gen Z’s unique approach to booking. He also talks about the strategy on deliv...

This episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast sets the stage for an in-depth discussion on India's evolving corporate travel market. Avinash Chandani, partner from Deloitte India talks to Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia about the growth potential of the Indian corporate travel market. Key topics include growth drivers, industry trends like blended travel, the impact of technology and data, and the...

Minimalism, for Guatam Munjal, the founder of Minimalist Hotels, is more than a buzzword — it’s about offering a high-quality experience without excess, appealing to travelers who are increasingly eco-conscious. In the latest episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, catch Munjal in conversation with Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia as he talks about integrating hybrid spaces that cater to both work...

In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia is joined by Saniya Zanpure, research analyst at Skift, to explore India’s inbound tourism landscape. Last month, the Indian government announced initiatives aimed at boosting tourism, including offering 100,000 free visas. Despite surging outbound travel, inbound recovery has been slower, making these measures critic...

Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia talks to Mehul Sharma, CEO and founder of Signum Hotels and Resorts, about the demand-supply gap in India's hospitality market. Sharma goes on to talk about the growing demand for religious tourism in India and what makes religious destinations such a strong investment for his company. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twi...

In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan dive into the top travel stories from India this month. They explore Leela Hotels’ move toward an IPO, South Afbrica’s new visa reforms, and Oyo’s acquisition of Motel 6. The discussion also covers key trends in Indian aviation and how Indian millennials are driving a surge in travel s...

Two major names in Indian aviation — Air India and Vistara — are set to become one. On November 11, Vistara will officially merge into Air India. Join Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and Skift Research Analyst Ashab Rizvi as they dive into the merger, weighing whether it's a strategic win or a potential misstep for the Tata Group. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/...

Presented by Amadeus Skift Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia is joined by Prakash Sangam, the CEO of bus ticketing platform RedBus as they discuss the current state of India's road transport sector. They explore post-pandemic changes in road transport, driven by both technological innovations and changing consumer behavior. Find out why India’s vast network of roads, trains and buses serve as a lifeli...

Presented by Amadeus Despite a strong recovery in 2023, India’s inbound numbers are still not back to pre-pandemic levels. What’s holding it back? Is it infrastructure, global perception, or something else? Catch Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia in conversation with Dipak Deva, managing director of Travel Corporation India, the country’s largest inbound travel company, as they dive into the challenge...

Presented by Amadeus India's tourism industry is experiencing a major transformation, fueled by the growing middle class and increased disposable income. Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan recap this month's developments, discussing India's rising influence in global tourism. With the country's booming economy making headlines, what does this mean for global travel? Con...

Presented by Amadeus Catch Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia in conversation with Saniya Zanpure, Skift’s research analyst, as they dive into the Skift Travel Health Index (STHI) — a tool that tracks and measures the performance of various travel sectors. They explore why the travel industry in 2024 is mirroring 2023, with insights into the factors driving this stability. Plus, they look at India's ri...

Presented by Amadeus Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia sits down with Mahesh Iyer, Managing Director and CEO of Thomas Cook India, to explore how the company is strategically adapting to the evolving preferences of Indian travelers. The discussion delves into the shifting dynamics of India's travel landscape and how Thomas Cook is positioning itself to meet these new demands. Connect with Skift Linke...

Presented by Amadeus Booking.com’s country manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia, Santosh Kumar, talks to Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia about the evolution of the new Indian traveler and how travel companies like his are positioning themselves to cater to these diverse travel planning styles. Find more such insights in the latest episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, presented...

Presented by Amadeus Catch Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan unpack some of the biggest takeaways from the recent Union Budget announced in India as well as the earnings calls of IndiGo, MakeMyTrip, and the Indian Hotels Company Limited. Find out how the Budget fared compared to the expectations of the travel industry stakeholders in this latest episode of the SKift In...

Presented by Amadeus Two years ago, Gatwick had no flights to India, and today the airport connects around 24 weekly Air India flights to four cities — Kochi, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, and Goa. Next month, Air India will be connecting Bengaluru to London Gatwick. Catch Stephanie Wear, the vice president of Aviation Development, at London Gatwick Airport in conversation with Skift Asia Editor Peden Doma...

The vacation rentals market represents a relatively small segment of India's hospitality industry. However, despite its small size, the short-term rental market has significant potential. Catch Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia in conversation with Skift Research’s Varsha Arora as they discuss what’s driving the growth of this sector in India, in the latest episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, p...

Presented by Amadeus. The big fat Indian wedding just got bigger and fatter. Catch Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan discuss how Indians splurge twice as much on weddings as they do on 18 years of education. Hear them discuss the evolution of Indian high net-worth travelers, Ixigo’s multi app strategy and the travel industry’s expectations from the India budget. Get mo...

Presented by Amadeus In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan delve into the significant decline in India-China flight connectivity since December 2019, which saw 539 direct passenger flights reduced to none due to Covid-19 and subsequent border tensions. In sharp contrast is India’s connectivity with the Middle East which th...

Presented by Amadeus.  Long known as the party destination in India, Goa now feels the need to move beyond its image of beaches, nightlife and parties and is looking to present itself as an ideal destination for remote workers. This week at the Skift India Travel Podcast catch Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan discuss this image makeover of the coastal state and why th...

Which hotel group is coming up with the largest IPO in the history of India’s hospitality sector? Which large Indian carrier is now offering hotel booking options? Find out responses to all this and more as the Skift India Travel discusses the latest happenings in the Indian travel, tourism and hospitality sector in this episode, presented by Amadeus. Get more travel news at https://skift.com

If you thought the IPL season in India was big, just wait until you hear about the IPO season. Following TBO Tek’s debut on the Indian stock exchange last month, online travel company Ixigo listed on the Indian bourses this week. Join Skift’s Peden Doma Bhutia and Bulbul Dhawan as they discuss the market sentiment towards travel IPOs. Also, discover why Air India’s CEO stated that the airline’s in...

Tune into the Skift India Travel Podcast this week to discover the reasons behind Oyo’s Fitch rating upgrade, get the inside scoop on IndiGo’s new business class and long-haul flight plans, and learn more about India’s DigiYatra initiative. Join Skift Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan as they delve into these topics and more in the latest episode, presented by Amadeus....

Did you miss out on some of the biggest stories from India last week? Not to worry, we've got you covered. In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, join Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan as they delve into IndiGo’s exciting announcement of a new business class and explore the latest challenges and successes in the Indian hospitality sector. Stay tuned for all...

From TBO Tek's IPO launch and Akasa Air's international network to the future of Vistara's loyalty program post its merger with Air India, join Skift Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan as they discuss some of the biggest headlines from India. Stay updated on the latest in India's travel, aviation and hospitality sector in this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast....