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.
TRENDS
Schengen visa delay, refusal, high wait time leave Indians simmering this summer
The wait time for Schengen visas is particularly high for Indian travellers intending to visit popular destinations such as France, Germany, Italy, and Spain and these countries often experience a high volume of visa applications, leading to longer processing times and appointment waitlists.
ENTERTAINMENT
PVR Inox to cut down on ads in non-luxury screens. Will the strategy pay off?
Audience going to catch a movie in a PVR Inox property will see less number of ads as the multiplex chain is reducing ad volume to drive footfalls which remains under pressure.
BUSINESS
Why popcorn is expensive? PVR Inox answers as it pulls out all stops to draw in more crowd
PVR Inox is running offers on food and beverages as well as movie tickets in a bid to increase footfalls at a time when admissions and occupancies are decreasing due to a weak content pipeline in theatres.
TRENDS
Fitness and social media apps drive AI adoption in India, high usage in cities like Bengaluru
AI currently is adopted by 9 in 10 internet users in India, the study said which also estimates a 6 percent year-on-year growth in India.
BUSINESS
No commercials, just films: PVR Inox adopts ad-free movies amid declining theatre footfalls
Cutting down the length of the ads slotted before a movie begins on the big screen from 35 minutes to 10 minutes, the company is looking to add extra shows.
TRENDS
What the stars foretell: Lok Sabha elections are boom time for astrologers
It is not just candidates contesting elections who are consulting astrologers, the curiosity to know the outcome of the 2024 elections is high among the general public as well, said astrologers.
TRENDS
New Schengen visa rules: Number of Indians holidaying in EU to rise, benefit friends-relatives segment more
Multi-year Schengen visas for up to 5 years may see a shift in preference of Indian tourists from ASEAN countries to Europe, say travel experts
BUSINESS
Theatres stare at another weak quarter, PVR Inox likely to report loss in Q4 due to dull content
PVR Inox's performance in the March quarter will remain muted due to decline in ticket prices because of discounts; big-budget movies not doing as per expectations including Fighter; and lower ad revenue as well as occupancy levels are other concerns.
BUSINESS
Over 60% of the Instagram followers of nearly 2 out of 3 Indian influencers are fake: Report
Only 2.48 million profiles out of the eight million audited in India exhibited credible and high-quality followers in an analysis by influencer marketing platform Klug Klug.
BUSINESS
Airlines expect Dubai flight disruptions to continue till Sunday, around 10,000 passengers from India affected
Indian carriers plan to deploy larger aircraft on the route while European carriers flying on Indian routes to avoid Dubai stopover.
TRENDS
Doob-ai: Dubai floods disrupt crypto and blockchain events, business loss for Indian players
It was either hours on the phone with an airline's customer care or long wait at the airport for many Indians who were travelling to Dubai to attend crypto as well as blockchain events in the city.
BUSINESS
Bitter pill: Zee tech subsidiary Sugarbox shuts shop; employees say haven’t been paid
The Sugarbox employees revealed that they had received no formal communication from the company about the closure of operations and allege that there had been miscommunication over their employment contracts
TRENDS
Why EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti wants to own an airline and make movies too
Pitti highlighted a demand-supply gap in the airline industry and expressed concern that an airline bankruptcy will worsen the condition of travellers, prompting him to support Go First with his bid.
BUSINESS
PVR Inox to open nearly half of new screens in South as it looks to improve its performance
The company is looking at spending on new screen launches in markets with strong returns like the South but is also shutting down its non-performing screens and is reducing its capital expenditure by 30-40 percent over the previous year in FY25.
TRENDS
Vistara pilot woes: Sharp rise in domestic airfares unlikely in coming months, say govt officials
As part of the ongoing summer schedule, which started on March 31, domestic airlines had planned to increase domestic flying capacity by 6 percent, or 1,368 weekly flights.
ENTERTAINMENT
Eid may not bring cheer to struggling cinemas, elections may create further dent
It has been a slow start for both multiplexes and single screens that have recorded subdued business in the January to March period. In addition, the impact of elections could further create a dent in the box office business.
ENTERTAINMENT
Cognizant eyes Indian sports leagues after debut sponsorship in US Major League Cricket
The IT company which has golf, car racing in its sports sponsorship portfolio has made its debut in cricket. It spends less than 20 percent of its marketing spends on sports sponsorship.
TRENDS
Influencernomics: How much do influencers in India make?
India has roughly 25-35 lakh content creators, of which about 1,50,000 are able to monetise their content. While more Indians are becoming influencers, it is still not a full-time job for many. Hence, Indian influencers put in fewer hours compared to their global counterparts.
