Cox & Kings 2.0: Old-World Service, New-Age Tech

In November last year, tour operator brand Cox & Kings returned to India, but this time under a new ownership: Singapore-based venture capital firm Wilson & Hughes. This also marked Wilson & Hughes' foray into the travel industry. 

The Indian Cox & Kings brand is distinct from the erstwhile Cox & Kings company in India, and it also operates separately from Cox & Kings UK, which did not enter administration.

However, that does not mean that Wilson & Hughes is not ready to take some pages from erstwhile Cox & Kings’ notebook. “A lot of people had love for Cox & Kings, the brand has a high recall value,” Karan Agarwal, director at Cox & Kings in India told Skift. “The primary reason it stands out is that there is a service component involved in travel and I think Cox & Kings was a pioneer in delivering on the promise that it sold.”

He told Skift that he would like to hold on to the recall value and preference that travelers had for Cox & Kings. “I would really like to build the brand with the basic ethos of focusing on the experience and the service parts of it.”

In fact, there are some elements where Wilson & Hughes is trying to replicate the legacy brand. “There are a few experiences and some customer segments that we will be holding on to because we feel that it was working well.” Agarwal said that the erstwhile brand was able to cater to the group travel audience very well and they would like to retain that. “Of course, now we are thinking of ways to enable it with technology,” he added. 

Strategy for Growth: Neither Agarwal nor his family business Wilson & Hughes have any prior experience in the travel industry, but he would be taking the expansion of the brand in steps. As part of the strategy to solidify Cox & Kings’ position in India after years of its absence in the country, he said that the first priority would be to sustain the service element. 

He also believes that there is not a lot of technology in the travel space. “There are legacy systems when it comes to travel. Now, with AI taking the forefront of technology, we are working on understanding what the customer really wants to bring experiences that would resonate with the travelers.”

Not stringent on a single approach for expansion, Agarwal said, “We will certainly place ourselves as a premium brand, and we are looking at outbound business for now. At present, we are catering to middle aged audiences, but we would like to bring the youth on board soon.”

48 Tourist Destinations Closed in Kashmir Valley

The Jammu & Kashmir government has closed 48 out of 87 tourist destinations across the Kashmir valley, according to media reports. The decision came after intelligence agencies warned of the possibility of more terrorist attacks. 

Famous destinations such as Gurez Valley, Dodapathri, Verinag, Bangus Valley, and Yusmarg have been closed for not having adequate security presence. Apart from that, in Srinagar, tourists will not be allowed to visit the Jama Masjid mosque. There is no timeline given for the closure. 

These safety measures follow last week’s terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam region of Kashmir. In the attack, 26 tourists were killed. 

After the attack, tourism bodies expressed concerns about the impact on the fragile but growing tourism industry in the region. Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) president Rajiv Mehra said that the incident will impact both domestic and international tourism in the region. Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality added that the attack is likely to impact the residents who depend on tourism such as houseboat owners, hoteliers, local guides, and artisans.

The closure of popular tourism destinations could further lead to potential tourists changing their plans. 

Following the escalation of tension on the border, Pakistan on Thursday officially closed its airspace to Indian carriers.

Air India to Operate Daily Flights to Tokyo Haneda

Full-service airline Air India on Tuesday said it will expand its non-stop service between Delhi and Tokyo Haneda. Starting June 15, the airline will operate daily flights on the route, up from four flights a week. 

The development comes soon after Air India shifted its operations from Tokyo’s Narita airport to Haneda on March 31. According to Air India chief commercial officer Nipun Aggarwal, the move is meant to cater to the rising demand for travel between India and Japan. 

In 2024, Japan recorded a 40% increase in Indian tourists compared to 2023. According to Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), increased air connectivity between the two countries led to the surge as Japan became more accessible to Indian travelers. 

Treebo Hotel Ventures Opens Medalio Property in Chandigarh

Treebo Hospitality Ventures has opened a Medalio-branded hotel near Chandigarh airport. The 25-key Medalio Boutique Chandigarh Zirakpur is the third property under Treebo’s premium mid-market brand. 

The opening is a part of Treebo’s strategy to expand its presence in the mid-market segment. Under this, it is specifically looking at the INR 3,000 to 6,000 ($35-70) price range. 

Earlier this month, Treebo also entered into an agreement with hospitality chain Accor and InterGlobe Enterprises to grow Ibis and Mercure hotel brands in India. Under the agreement, Treebo will help Accor open and manage more Ibis and Mercure hotels under a special agreement. Treebo is already planning to launch 10 new Mercure hotels with over 700 rooms in cities like Bangalore, Mysore, Calicut, Haridwar, and more.

Fly91 to Scale Up Operations During Summer

Regional Indian airline Fly91 is planning to scale up its operations in the summer schedule. Currently, it operates over 100 weekly flights, and is looking to increase this to 150 weekly flights. 

The airline completed its first year of operations in March. It recently inducted a third aircraft into its fleet and the fourth is expected to be delivered soon, the airline said in a statement. 

With this expanded fleet, the airline will grow its network to connect destinations such as Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, and Agatti with metro hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Goa. Over the next five years, Fly91 is planning to induct 30 ATR aircraft and connect to 50 cities.

Royal Orchid Hotels Signs Upscale Property in Mussoorie

Royal Orchid Hotels has signed a new upscale lifestyle property in Uttarakhand’s Mussoorie. The 70-room hotel will take the company’s portfolio in the state to six properties.

According to the company, the expansion is well-timed. “Our expansion into Uttarakhand couldn't have come at a better time, as the state is actively enhancing connectivity to remote areas and popular tourist spots,” said Royal Orchid Hotels CMD CK Baljee. He added that recent initiatives such as the Char Dham Road Project, new train services, and airport expansions, will boost pilgrimage and tourism in the state.