Low-cost carrier IndiGo on Wednesday announced that it would be partnering with hospitality company Accor to provide extra benefits to members of the airline’s loyalty programs IndiGo BluChip and Accor loyalty members – ALL – Accor Live Limitless.
People who are part of either program will be able to earn and use their points not just for flights or hotel stays, but across both.
For example, someone flying with IndiGo might earn points that can be used at Accor hotels, and Accor members could use their points while booking flights with IndiGo. The goal is to make travel more rewarding and enjoyable by offering more ways to use loyalty points.
IndiGo and Accor also plan to work together on marketing and look for more ways to grow their partnership over time.
On IndiGo’s part, the move is to strengthen its recently launched loyalty program. “Since its launch in November 2024, over 2 million members have enrolled with BluChip. Now IndiGo moves to the next phase to strengthen its loyalty program by exploring and developing strategic partnerships,” said Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo.
According to Accor CEO Sebastien Bazin, the partnership represents the synergy between travel and hospitality.
Hospitality Alliance: Accor is also teaming up with hospitality chain Treebo and InterGlobe Enterprises to grow its popular Ibis and Mercure hotel brands across India.
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.
To support this growth, Accor and InterGlobe are also investing in Treebo and will become the biggest minority owners of the company.
This partnership is part of a bigger plan from Accor and InterGlobe to bring all their hotel operations in India under one new, unified platform. The two companies currently have a joint venture for the Ibis brand in India. As part of this agreement, the two companies will target a network of 300 hotels under Accor brands by 2030. This platform will be in charge of expanding all Accor brands in the country, including its luxury and lifestyle hotels.
The partnership with Treebo will focus on growing in the mid-range market using smart tech and strong distribution.
Treebo is already in a partnership with Radisson Hotel Group to develop properties for its India-specific brand Park Inn & Suites by Radisson. Treebo has also launched its own premium hotel brand Medalio.
Indian Outbound Travel to Schengen Nations Rises
Indian travelers to Schengen countries increased by close to 19% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, according to data by insurance company Policybazaar. Germany, France, and Switzerland were the top three Schengen countries visited by Indians.
The growth among female travelers also outpaced male travelers during the quarter. The company also noted a rise in solo travel among women, who also looked for more comprehensive coverage plans with add-ons such as trip cancellation, flight delay compensation, and emergency medical assistance.
A significant rejection rate of over 15% for Schengen visas among Indian travelers last year led to a financial loss of about EUR 12.1 million ($13.4 million) in non-refundable fees. This has led to 20% of travelers opting for a Visa Fee Refund rider in their travel insurance policies, seeking to mitigate the financial risk associated with visa rejections.
The company also noted that Gen X travelers make up 30% of insurance purchasers, opting for higher coverage plans with focus on medical emergencies, flight disruptions, and business travel coverage. Millennial travelers look for flexible and digital-first insurance policies that allow for quick claims processing, while Gen Z travelers seek budget-friendly policies, often choosing basic coverage with add-ons such as gadget protection.
IHG Launches Midscale Conversion Brand Garner in India
IHG Hotels & Resorts has launched its midscale conversion brand Garner in India. As part of the launch, it has signed two Garner hotels in the country – one each in Etawah in Uttar Pradesh and Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. Unless another property is signed for an earlier opening, the Garner hotel in India will open in Etawah next year, while Kathua property will open in 2027.
However, IHG will not be managing these properties. The management of both the properties will be handed to Rosastays, one of the preferred third-party management companies for Garner Hotels in India, IHG said in a statement.
The brand will be positioned as a high-quality affordable accommodation option, catering to guests who prioritize meaningful experiences over luxury.
“As we continue to deliver on our growth ambitions in India, further strengthening our mainstream offering is critical to our success. Garner is a significant addition to our portfolio in the country, offering high-quality, reliable stays at an affordable price. The brand has tremendous growth potential in India, particularly through the franchising model,” said Sudeep Jain, managing director, Southwest Asia at IHG.
Saudi Arabia Temporarily Suspends Visa for Indians
Saudi Arabia has announced a temporary suspension of certain visa categories for citizens of 14 countries, including India. The suspension is expected to remain in effect until mid-June this year, and will cover visas associated with business, family visit, and Umrah, which is meant for the Hajj pilgrimage.
The decision comes as the kingdom has noted unauthorized Hajj participation. Each year, Saudi Arabia allocates each country a quota for Hajj pilgrims for managing the influx of pilgrims. However, it has noticed instances of persons entering the kingdom on tourist or Umrah visas and staying longer than permitted to perform the Hajj without official approval, leading to logistical and security problems.
Last year, at least 1,200 pilgrims died during Hajj due to overcrowding and extreme heat.
ATPI Expands Operations to Cater to Growing Corporate Travel Demand
Travel and events solutions company ATPI has announced plans to expand into five Indian cities in response to the growing demand for corporate travel and event services. In a statement, ATPI said the move comes as India’s business travel sector is seeing an impressive rebound, with projected expenditure expected to have touched USD 38.2 billion in 2024.
ATPI has new offices in Ahmedabad, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, and Bangalore, and has strengthened its operations in Chennai.
India’s corporate travel market is valued at $10.6 billion, making up 20% of the country’s overall travel market. By 2030, this is projected to grow to $20 billion, driven by improved infrastructure and economic growth. Online travel companies such as MakeMyTrip have launched business travel-focused platforms, while Yatra has made corporate travel a key focus for its growth in India.
Arunachal Pradesh to Focus on Experiential Travel
The state of Arunachal Pradesh announced its new tourism policy to attract domestic and international travelers. The new policy aims to position the state as a key tourism destination while preserving its nature and culture. With this, the state expects to double its domestic tourist footfall and increase international tourist arrivals tenfold, according to Arunachal Pradesh’s minister of tourism Pasang Dorjee Sona.
Experiential tourism will be a key focus area for the state as the segment witnesses significant growth in India. The state’s offerings will include farm tourism, wine tourism, wellness and spiritual tourism, adventure tourism, film tourism, ecotourism, tribal tourism, MICE tourism and border tourism.
