PNN

New Delhi [India], September 12: Chitra Gurnani Daga, CEO of Thrillophilia, has been honoured as the ‘Face of the Future Travel’ at the India Travel Awards 2025, held on September 9 at Le Meridien, New Delhi.

The annual awards, organised by the DDP Group, are regarded as one of the most credible platforms celebrating excellence in Indian tourism and hospitality. This year’s edition recognised achievers across 57 categories, honouring businesses and leaders who have set new benchmarks for innovation, quality, and growth in the industry.

Among the prominent honours of the evening was the recognition of Chitra Gurnani Daga, CEO of Thrillophilia, as the ‘Face of the Future Travel’. The accolade highlighted her role in building immersive, tech-driven, and sustainable travel platforms and multi-day tours that are helping shape tourism’s next chapter.

The evening brought together some of the most influential voices from the sector. Union Minister of Tourism & Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, graced the occasion and congratulated the winners for their contributions to the tourism economy. He underlined that tourism is not only about travel but also about inclusivity, cultural exchange, and sustainability, noting that with the right partnerships, India can emerge as a global model for integrated growth.

Delivering the keynote address, Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & Director General, Ministry of Tourism, highlighted the crucial role of the sector in national development. He pointed out that India’s ambition of becoming a $3 trillion tourism economy by 2047 would depend on how the industry grows, not just in numbers, but in quality and excellence.

Also present at the ceremony were Ashwani Lohani, Director, Prime Minister’s Museum & Library, and Bidisha Mukherjee, IAS, Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, who stressed the importance of collaboration between government and private stakeholders to achieve sustainable, large-scale growth.

Winners across multiple categories were felicitated with the iconic golden trophy ‘Maya’, symbolising aspiration, achievement, and excellence. The pinnacle honour of the evening, the Gold Maya, was awarded to stalwarts whose contributions have redefined Indian tourism.

Speaking on her recognition, Chitra Gurnani Daga said, “This honour is not just personal; it reflects the vision that has guided Thrillophilia since its inception: to make India a global hub for multi-day tours and curated travel. Our journey has always been about empowering local operators, creating trust with travellers, and showcasing the incredible diversity of India to the world. I share this with my team, our partners, and the millions of travellers who continue to inspire us.”

Since its inception in 2011, Thrillophilia has grown into India’s leading platform for curated multi-day tours, offering authentic travel holidays across more than 75 countries. Under Chitra’s leadership, the company has championed sustainable tourism, tech-driven discovery, and inclusivity, making immersive travel and cultural exploration more accessible to both Indian and international audiences. Thrillophilia is also focused on empowering local operators through partnerships in over 200 Indian destinations, integrating technology into travel planning, and promoting sustainable practices – key themes that are now central to India’s national tourism agenda.

The India Travel Awards 2025 also saw the unveiling of a coffee table book that documented the industry’s resilience and its growing commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and innovative practices. Sanjeet, Mentor of the India Travel Awards, noted that the awards celebrate pioneers “who are reshaping tourism not just as an economic driver, but as a force that connects cultures, uplifts communities, and creates meaningful journeys.”

By spotlighting leaders such as Chitra Gurnani Daga, the event underscored how the future of tourism in India will be defined by innovation, collaboration, and a shared vision of inclusive growth. And for Thrillophilia, the award reinforces its commitment to not just growing as a company but also contributing to India’s vision of becoming a leading global tourism economy by 2047.

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Trip.Biz, the business travel management brand of Trip.com Group, has launched Trip.Biz ONE, an all-in-one solution that redefines how organisations manage business travel, at its annual Trip.Biz Transform 2025 conference in Singapore.

As an all-in-one solution that makes the entire business travel experience more seamless for corporates, Trip.Biz ONE is designed to help organisations overcome existing challenges such as booking leakages in the form of off-platform bookings and overspending, non-adherence to travel policies and inefficient reconciliation processes.

“Companies need to redefine expectations on how business travel can support revenue growth amidst ongoing trade policy uncertainty and economic risks, and this has shifted from cost management to one that is smarter, safer and more sustainable,” Tao Song, CEO, Trip.Biz. “With Trip.Biz ONE, we are bringing together three critical pillars – People C Service, Technology C Inventory and Sustainability – into a single, intelligent platform that empowers companies to deliver greater efficiency, stronger compliance and a better travel experience for every business traveller.”

Travel Management Made More Efficient for Companies with Trip.Biz ONE

With the launch of Trip.Biz ONE, Trip.Biz is able to directly address major pain points affecting business travel management, including cost control, policy enforcement, limited customer support and inefficient reconciliation. By integrating booking, policy compliance, workflow automation and AI-driven business intelligence features with real- time desktop-to-mobile synchronisation, Trip.Biz ONE is able to streamline the business travel management process to empower companies with a better travel return on investment (ROI) and peace-of-mind.

Key capabilities of Trip.Biz ONE include:

• Consolidated Bookings s Policy Management
o Single platform for multiple travel services including flights, hotels, airport transfers, ride-hailing, and car rentals with automated approval workflows
o Extensive booking selections through numerous inventory sources, including corporate negotiated rates
o Real-time policy compliance monitoring and enforcement

• Advanced Technology Integration
o AI-driven business intelligence via the Trip.Biz AI Chatbot, providing smart and flexible recommendations, real-time traveller support for enhanced traveller experiences
o Rapidly customisable configurations via in-house IT based on travel teams’ needs
o Comprehensive duty-of-care capabilities with dedicated traveller support

• Strategic Business Intelligence:
o Consolidated reporting insights and analytics
o Improved ROI through data-driven decision-making

Strengthening Marketing Leadership in Southeast Asia, with Global Expansion

Eugene Tan, General Manager, Southeast Asia, Trip.Biz

In addition to the launch of Trip.Biz ONE, Trip.Biz is strengthening its market leadership in Southeast Asia while extending global coverage through partnerships. The company’s latest inked cooperation agreements are with Saudia Airlines, Pan Pacific Hotels Group and Constellation Travels in the Philippines to enhance its inventory offerings and local market penetration.

The platform’s digital-first architecture supports both traditional business travel and emerging bleisure trends, providing comprehensive solutions that adapt to changing workforce expectations. This approach positions Trip.Biz as a transformative force in redefining industry standards.

By adding predictive insights and enhancing its ecosystem beyond booking selections through its partners and the strategic value of the Trip.com Group, Trip.Biz is well- positioned to be the strategic business travel partner that empowers companies to travel smarter, safer and more sustainably now and into the future.

India’s growing appetite for international travel is fuelling a new borrowing trend among young Indians. Ashish Singhal, Co-founder of CoinSwitch and Lemonn (for stocks and MFs), warned in a LinkedIn post that many are taking on substantial debt to fund short-term trips.

“One in four Indians took a loan to go on vacation last year,” Singhal said. Loans for popular destinations can be hefty: Rs 2 lakh for Bali, Rs 1.5 lakh for Thailand, and Rs 3 lakh for a “once-in-a-lifetime” Europe tour.

This trend is particularly visible in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. “71% of these borrowers are from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. These are the same cities where people used to save for months just to visit relatives in Mumbai. Now they’re borrowing lakhs to post sunset photos from Santorini,” he wrote.

Gen Z is leading the charge, with their participation rising sharply. “Gen Z is leading this madness. Their share jumped from 14% to 29% in just two years,” Singhal said.

The financial implications are striking. A two lakh loan at 18% interest comes with an EMI of Rs 5,079 for five years, adding up to roughly Rs 3.05 lakh for a seven-day trip. “That’s Rs 40,000 extra. For Instagram stories,” he noted.

Singhal contrasted this with previous generations, saying, “Your parents called buying train tickets ‘splurging’. You call borrowing two lakh rupees ‘living your best life’.” He also compared vacation loans to the earlier Buy Now, Pay Later schemes. “BNPL made us buy stuff we couldn’t afford. Now vacation loans make us travel to places we can’t afford.”

He advised a more disciplined approach to travel spending. By creating a travel fund and setting aside five thousand rupees a month, one could save enough for a Bali trip in six to eight months without paying interest.

Booking flights early can provide discounts equivalent to EMI costs, while using credit cards responsibly can earn miles or vouchers without creating debt.

Singhal’s post underlines a shift in spending behaviour among India’s youth, who increasingly prioritise experiences over traditional savings, sometimes at the risk of long-term financial stability.

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