TRENDS
Travel bookings for Maldives opened due to a technical glitch: EaseMyTrip co-founder
'The company is looking to acquire around 6-7 companies in FY25 in the non-air segment. Its hotel business grew 49 percent and trains, bus segment grew 66.6 percent in FY24,' says Prashant Pitti
TRENDS
For Paris with love: Olympic medalists in demand as brands make a beeline with higher spends
Two top executives at the Indian Olympic Association’s official marketing agency told Moneycontrol that the number of sponsors and endorsements have doubled for athletes since the Tokyo Olympics, as have digital rates
ENTERTAINMENT
Aavesham’s antics, Manjummel Boys’ magic help Malayalam movies clock highest ever box office collections
Along with India, overseas market is also booming for Malayalam cinema with Gulf and the US showing high traction, said a trade analyst
BUSINESS
Wonderla counts on Chennai park to be its biggest; will feature India's largest roller coaster
Wonderla and Imagicaa, India's biggest theme park players, are investing in expanding their portfolios and adding more thrills to drive footfalls.
BUSINESS
Zee may slow down buying content a bit, focus is on frugality, says CEO Punit Goenka
Along with its streaming business, Zee will not be spending big on content even for the movies business as the company's focus is on frugality.
BUSINESS
Zee expects recovery in FMCG ad spends, monsoon to drive momentum in FY25
The broadcaster's MD and CEO Punit Goenka said that ad spending is seeing an upward trend in April and May.
BUSINESS
Zee's largest amount of rationalization in OTT tech business, said MD Punit Goenka
In March, the company trimmed its Technology & Innovation Centre's (TIC) workforce by around 50 percent.
TRENDS
Polls slowing down travel but 2024 will have extended summer season, says Thomas Cook CEO
Foreign tourist arrivals in India are expected to see a full recovery in FY25. Thomas Cook India's MD and CEO Mahesh Iyer expects the numbers this year to slightly exceed the 2019 figures.
BUSINESS
PVR Inox's flop show in Q4 drives its focus on South films and cricket
Pushpa 2 will be potentially the biggest release of the year, said Ajay Bijli, the company's managing director.
BUSINESS
PVR Inox now also a food giant as popcorn, Pepsi sales rate outpace box-office biz
The exhibitor is giving many quick-service restaurant chains a run for their money, with close to Rs 2,000 crore F&B business. It is PVR Inox's second-biggest contributor to overall company revenues.
BUSINESS
PVR Inox lowers FY25 capex by 25%, plans to shut down 70 non-performing screens
In FY24, PVR Inox opened 130 screens and shut down 85 with net additions of 45 screens. The exhibitor will shut down around 70 screens with net additions of 50-60 in FY25
BUSINESS
PVR Inox to expand F&B pie, plans to open 5-6 food courts with Devyani International
The multiplex operator is looking to pivot from being only an exhibition company to being an F&B player as well, said PVR Inox's Managing Director Ajay Bijli.
BUSINESS
Indians check in to pool villas, work from hills this summer; flight hunt sizzles at record high in May
Elections disrupted some travel demand during the summer period, said hoteliers who are expecting bookings to surge in May and June especially in destinations with cooler climates.
ENTERTAINMENT
From RRR to Ghilli: Theatres bank on old films as new content dries up
As there are fewer new movies to play on the big screen, theatres are running old classics and 90s Bollywood hits to lure audiences to cinemas.
TRENDS
Sri Lanka manages visa on arrival after backlash, says reworking on transition with VFS Global
Despite visa free offer for Indian tourists, the new visa processing system permitting VFS Global to facilitate visas levies additional fees of $18.5 and $5 which is a concern for many travellers.
ENTERTAINMENT
Pickleball gets a league of its own in India with $10-mn investment in 3-5 years
The sport which has found traction globally is played by celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Selena Gomez, Emma Watson. Former tennis legends such as Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, John McEnroe, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick have also been spotted endorsing and playing the game
ENTERTAINMENT
PVR Inox MD Ajay Bijli counts on South film lineup but says polls hampering release flow
The PVR Inox MD Ajay Bijli said that the multiplex chain is increasing its luxury screen portfolio but is not being very aggressive as not all screens can be premium. He wants the properties to be both affordable and aspirational
ENTERTAINMENT
Theatres, facing a Covid-like scenario, shut screens due to fewer releases lined up
Situation is grim for cinema owners as content supply is limited leaving exhibitors with little content choice to play on the big screen. While some point out election impact, others say filmmakers are not confident especially after poor performance of big films like Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Fighter.
ENTERTAINMENT
Merch Mania: Kohli, Sharma drive demand for fan gear this IPL
Metros and tier I cities are driving 50 percent of the merchandise sales, tier 2 towns contribute 30 percent of the business, and other markets make up the rest.
BUSINESS
India’s heat stroke-inducing summer is boosting its GST treasure chest
Experts believe that the record-high GST collections for April can be connected to various demands arising from hotter summers as more Indians purchased air conditioners and executed that long-pending trip to cooler destinations.
TRENDS
Marriott sharpens focus on India, its 4th largest market, with 12 hotel openings in 2024
The hospitality chain is betting big on tier II and III markets where the metrics, like occupancy and room rates, are tracking strong. The company is also tapping into the growing market of spiritual tourism, with destinations like Ayodhya in focus.
BUSINESS
DishTV sharpens focus on strategic capex and new products for subscriber surge
As the company looks to gain incremental subscriber market share, it is counting on its regional DTH brand called Zing which was revamped with extended set-up box lifespans to four from 2 years.
BUSINESS
From Bhutan to Baku - Indian tourists look everywhere for their travel plans in summer 2024
As the world looks towards Asia for travel opportunities, India stands poised to capitalise on this momentum, leveraging its unique attractions and hospitality to welcome travellers from across the globe. Top outbound destinations this year include Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia, according to the search numbers on travel platforms.
TRENDS
ITC expands global presence via subsidiary Fortune Hotels, South Asian countries in focus
While Fortune Hotels has no target for international expansion, in India it plans to scale up by 50 percent in terms of hotel openings.
