Pickyourtrail has announced the launch of three new offline stores across Chennai, Kochi, and Vapi this month. This expansion marks another milestone in the brand’s omnichannel journey, seamlessly blending digital convenience with the trust of in-person consultations. With these additions, Pickyourtrail moves closer to its vision of opening 50+ stores across India in the next 12–18 months, making personalised international holidays more accessible to travellers nationwide.

A recent BCG report highlights India as one of the fastest-growing global travel markets, with domestic leisure travel expected to grow at 12% annually until 2040, and international travel at 10%. This surge is driven by Millennials and Gen Z, who are prioritising discovery, personalisation, and hybrid planning journeys that combine AI tools with human expertise. Reflecting this trend, Pickyourtrail has recorded a 23% rise in hybrid bookings, with such customers spending 12% more on trips, opting for longer stays, and showing stronger repeat and referral behaviour.

Anchored in its proprietary AI-driven platform, the brand’s omnichannel strategy has already reduced decision fatigue by 20% for travellers. Its growing network of offline stores is designed to complement this digital backbone, providing reassurance through physical touchpoints. The company’s stores have seen a 3–4% lift in conversions in the past six months, reinforcing the need for high-trust, human-led experiences in international travel planning.

“With every new store, we see not just more walk-ins and conversions, but also a stronger sense of confidence among customers,” said Hari Ganapathy, CEO & Co-founder of Pickyourtrail. “International holidays are big decisions for families, and our stores help bridge the gap between aspiration and action by offering personal assurance alongside digital convenience.”

He added, “India is at a turning point in the way it travels. Younger explorers want flexibility, not friction, and our omnichannel approach is designed around that insight. Whether customers start online and finish in-store, or vice versa, our goal is to provide the same level of care and clarity at every stage.”

As India’s travel landscape grows more aspirational and experience-driven, Pickyourtrail continues to double down on its mission of making world-class, customised holidays accessible to more Indians. Several new store launches are already planned for the coming quarter, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to shaping the future of travel through a perfect balance of technology and human touch.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the union government have signed a loan agreement worth USD 126.42 million to promote sustainable and climate-resilient tourism in Uttarakhand. The initiative, announced by the finance ministry, aims to transform Tehri Lake into a key hub while positioning the state as a diversified, all-weather tourism destination. Officials highlighted that this project aligns with Uttarakhand’s broader strategy of driving rural growth through sustainable tourism models.

The project focuses on Tehri Garhwal, one of Uttarakhand’s most climate-vulnerable regions. It is expected to benefit more than 87,000 residents and 2.7 million annual visitors by improving infrastructure, planning, and essential services. The plan emphasises better sanitation, waste management systems, and disaster preparedness to ensure safety and sustainability for both locals and travellers.

According to Juhi Mukherjee, joint secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, the ADB loan directly supports the government’s tourism policy for Uttarakhand. She stressed that Tehri Lake has been identified as a priority zone for development, providing the state with opportunities to diversify income streams while preserving ecological balance.

ADB’s India Resident Mission officer-in-charge, Kai Wei Yeo, said the project is a model for integrating rural development with tourism. He explained that adopting a multisector approach would generate jobs, build climate resilience, and support Uttarakhand’s long-term economic growth. This reflects ADB’s larger vision of combining infrastructure investment with community-focused outcomes.

Key interventions under the project include climate-resilient infrastructure, nature-based solutions to address landslide and flood risks, and enhanced institutional capacity. The initiative also focuses on inclusive tourism, with a strong role for women, youth, and the private sector. These interventions are designed to create a more equitable and participatory tourism ecosystem in the region.

Notable features of the programme include a livelihood matching grant for women- and youth-led tourism businesses, universal access design to ensure inclusivity for persons with disabilities, and disaster risk management initiatives in pilot villages. Together, these measures aim to position Uttarakhand as a global example of sustainable tourism development while empowering local communities.

Perth Airport in Western Australia has partnered with Amadeus to deliver an industry-leading biometric passenger system from check-in to boarding – powered by Amadeus’ open platform and seamless travel touchpoints.

The airport is significantly expanding its self-service capacity by introducing close to 100 new check-in kiosks and replacing nearly 40 traditional check-in counters with bag drop units from Amadeus.

All touchpoints are equipped with Amadeus’ biometrics capabilities, delivering a simple, smooth and contactless passenger experience from check-in to boarding.
Travellers, with selected airlines, will be able to check-in and opt for biometrics at self-service kiosks.

Then when dropping bag and boarding the aircraft, passports and boarding passes can remain in the passenger’s pocket. Instead, a brief face scan is all that’s needed to validate the passenger’s identity and retrieve their travel records.

“We know that passengers want their departure experience to be hassle free so by harnessing automation, these upgrades deliver a seamless experience for their journey.

“This provides both our airline partners and travellers with the flexibility they need to ensure a smooth and efficient journey for everyone.

“The passenger experience is paramount and with new automated technologies we can serve more passengers to a higher standard, supporting the growth of our airport,” said Scott Woodward, chief operating officer, Perth Airport.

This latest project builds on the long-term collaboration between Amadeus and Perth Airport, dating back to 2015 when Perth Airport originally installed Amadeus’ cloud-based passenger processing systems.

The two organisations began experimenting with biometrics in 2022 through a series of trials, which have culminated in today’s decision to apply the technology widely across the airport.

“Using platform technology and security measures like tokenisation, airports can create digital representations of a passenger’s data.

“Once that’s achieved, all it takes is a couple of seconds to perform a facial scan to validate the passenger at bag drop or boarding.

“This transformational technology is a game‑changer for the industry, helping airports and airlines to serve many more passengers within the same physical terminal space, while vastly simplifying the check‑in experience.

“Most airports can’t easily add physical capacity, but technology advances mean we can serve more passengers with existing infrastructure,” added Sarah Samuel, senior vice president, AirOps, APAC, Amadeus.