Travel Guides & Articles
Wyndham Hotels Ignites India Tourism Boom with Bold Cygnett Alliance, Set to Unleash Over Sixty New Hotels Across South Asia and Transform Hospitality Landscape

Friday, July 11, 2025
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is fueling an unstoppable wave of growth across South Asia. The hospitality giant has announced a powerful new alliance with India-based Cygnett Hotels & Resorts, aiming to transform the hotel landscape in India and its neighboring countries.
The plan is breathtaking in scope. Wyndham and Cygnett are poised to roll out over 60 new hotels across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal within the next decade. The move not only pushes Wyndham deeper into one of the world’s hottest travel markets but also introduces two new brands—La Quinta® by Wyndham and Registry Collection Hotels®—to South Asian shores.
It’s a bold bet. And it signals Wyndham’s confidence that South Asia’s tourism engine is only revving up.
India’s Travel Appetite Hits Overdrive
India’s hospitality market is on fire. Domestic travel spending rocketed to USD 186 billion last year. Meanwhile, leisure travel spending is projected to soar another 12% annually in the years ahead.
This surge is no accident. Infrastructure investments are reshaping the nation’s roads, airports, and railways. Middle-class dreams are expanding, with travelers eager to explore new destinations and indulge in premium experiences. The appetite for travel feels insatiable.
Moreover, the region’s vibrant culture and diverse landscapes keep pulling in global travelers hungry for authentic, unforgettable experiences.
Cygnett Partnership Supercharges Wyndham’s Footprint
Wyndham’s partnership with Cygnett is a calculated leap into this red-hot market. Cygnett, an ambitious Indian hospitality group, has already built a growing portfolio across South Asia. Now, with Wyndham’s global strength behind it, the two companies are set to unlock enormous growth potential.
Wyndham is choosing its brands wisely for this expansion. La Quinta® by Wyndham brings modern comfort and consistent quality, perfect for business and leisure travelers seeking value and reliability. Meanwhile, Registry Collection Hotels® caters to luxury seekers, offering upscale stays and exclusive experiences.
By tapping into both segments, Wyndham and Cygnett aim to capture every slice of demand—from cost-conscious domestic travelers to global tourists craving luxury.
South Asia Becomes Ground Zero for Hospitality Growth
The Wyndham–Cygnett move is more than a business transaction. It’s part of a massive shift in global travel patterns. South Asia is rapidly becoming the epicenter of new hotel development as global players race to capture emerging markets.
India’s hotel scene is buzzing with new investments. Rising disposable incomes, affordable airfare, and strong government support for tourism have created fertile ground for brands ready to grow fast. Yet the opportunities stretch far beyond India’s borders.
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal are experiencing growing interest from international visitors and business travelers alike. Each country offers unique tourism attractions—from Nepal’s Himalayan adventures to Sri Lanka’s golden beaches and Bangladesh’s burgeoning cultural tourism.
Wyndham’s Strategy: Scale, Choice, and Local Flavor
Wyndham’s game plan hinges on three critical pillars: scale, brand diversity, and local expertise.
First, scale matters. Wyndham operates one of the world’s largest hotel portfolios, giving it unmatched leverage in distribution, loyalty programs, and marketing. The alliance with Cygnett will accelerate Wyndham’s expansion by plugging into local networks and fast-tracking property development.
Second, brand diversity is key. Wyndham isn’t betting on a single concept. Instead, it’s pushing a spectrum of offerings. La Quinta caters to midscale travelers seeking dependable service. Registry Collection, on the other hand, targets high-end guests craving bespoke experiences. This dual-pronged strategy is perfectly tuned to South Asia’s increasingly segmented market.
Finally, local expertise makes or breaks success. Cygnett’s knowledge of local regulations, real estate dynamics, and consumer tastes will be invaluable. This partnership bridges Wyndham’s global power with Cygnett’s on-the-ground insights.
The Competitive Heat Is Rising
However, Wyndham isn’t alone in eyeing South Asia’s travel gold rush. Rivals are equally aggressive.
Marriott, Hilton, Accor, and IHG have all unveiled ambitious growth plans in India and surrounding countries. New hotel openings are popping up in major metros, pilgrimage cities, hill stations, and even Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns hungry for quality accommodation.
Moreover, domestic brands like Taj, Oberoi, and Lemon Tree are flexing their muscles, determined to defend home turf with rapid expansion and tailored experiences.
The hospitality battle is on. And the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Tourism’s Ripple Effect
Wyndham’s 60+ planned hotels won’t just reshape its own business. They’re set to ripple through entire economies.
More hotels mean job creation—from construction workers and hospitality staff to tour guides and local artisans. New properties attract local suppliers, generate tax revenues, and spark supporting infrastructure like roads, airports, and restaurants.
Moreover, rising hotel inventory empowers travelers with more choices and competitive rates, making travel more accessible for millions. For small businesses dependent on tourism—from souvenir shops to adventure operators—the hospitality boom spells survival and growth.
Meanwhile, communities stand to benefit from tourism’s power to preserve cultural heritage and fund local development. When managed sustainably, the rewards can be enormous.
Challenges Loom on the Horizon
Despite the optimism, challenges remain.
Land costs in prime Indian cities are skyrocketing, squeezing hotel developers’ margins. Regulatory hurdles, from licensing to environmental approvals, can drag out projects for years. Skilled labor shortages threaten operational quality, especially in remote regions.
Additionally, geopolitical tensions, currency fluctuations, and shifting consumer trends keep hospitality leaders on edge. Moreover, travelers today are more demanding than ever, expecting sustainability, digital convenience, and personalized experiences.
Wyndham and Cygnett will need agility and foresight to navigate this evolving landscape.
A New Chapter Begins
Wyndham’s bold move into India and South Asia feels like the opening chapter of a transformative era. The region’s tourism potential is enormous, driven by demographics, economic momentum, and a burning desire for travel.
Over the next decade, travelers will watch as new La Quinta and Registry Collection properties rise across vibrant cities, beach resorts, and cultural hubs. Each new hotel will be a milestone in a journey reshaping South Asia’s hospitality scene forever.
The race is on. The sky’s the limit. And Wyndham is determined to soar.
Travel Guides & Articles
Discover London Differently: Lufthansa And Sreeleela Redefine Travel | Consumer connect News

Lufthansa German Airlines has launched the latest chapter of its signature campaign, Lufthansa Insider, bringing a fresh perspective for 2025. The new edition—Insider Guide 2.0—features acclaimed Indian actress Sreeleela alongside UK creator Anastasia, presenting London not just as a destination, but as an unfolding journey of culture, lifestyle, and discovery.
With this campaign, Lufthansa once again positions itself as more than an airline. It emerges as a premium travel-lifestyle brand, one that understands the evolving desires of Indian travellers who now seek experiences that go beyond itineraries.
The airline’s philosophy of “inspiring journeys” shines through in every frame—whether it is savouring flavours in a bustling market, soaking in art along the Thames, or experiencing the thrill of London’s iconic landmarks.
Exploring London with a new lens
The campaign takes viewers along an itinerary that blends the city’s timeless icons with hidden gems. On the Southbank, Sreeleela visits the Young Vic theatre and the Hayward Gallery—spaces that represent London’s artistic heartbeat. Walking through this district, she discovers street performances, riverside cafés, and a cultural rhythm that reflects the city’s diversity.
A stop at the OXO Tower brings panoramic views of London’s skyline, where modern dining meets creative spirit, setting the perfect backdrop for conversations on culture and connection.
Food lovers will find resonance in the next chapter of the journey. A visit to Tayyab’s, one of London’s most iconic dining institutions, immerses Sreeleela in the aromas of sizzling kebabs and rich Punjabi flavours. With its vibrant atmosphere and cult following, it reflects the city’s multicultural heartbeat and culinary authenticity.
From there, Borough Market offers a different flavour of discovery—artisanal cheeses, freshly baked bread, and global tastes that capture London’s diverse character. Its cobbled alleys and Victorian architecture transport visitors to a different era, while the lively buzz of cafés and boutiques adds a modern touch.
These stops underline Lufthansa’s message: that travel is as much about tasting the world as it is about seeing it.
Fashion, lifestyle, and iconic landmarks
The campaign further explores London’s identity through its fashion and lifestyle. At Portobello Market, Sreeleela dives into a treasure trove of vintage fashion, quirky antiques, and vibrant street life—a true reflection of London’s eclectic style.
In contrast, Sloane Square offers a taste of luxury, with its chic boutiques and designer storefronts that epitomise sophistication. Together, these stops highlight the city’s dual identity: edgy and classic, youthful and refined.
Art takes centre stage once more at the Saatchi Gallery, where contemporary works push boundaries and spark curiosity. Dinner at Azzura adds a culinary flourish to the evening, with a fine-dining experience that blends elegance with innovation.
Even a stop at The Oval Stadium, one of the world’s most iconic cricketing venues, finds a place in the itinerary—symbolising how sport, like travel, unites people across geographies and cultures.
Lufthansa: A brand thatinspires journeys
What makes Insider Guide 2.0 compelling is the chemistry between Sreeleela and Anastasia. While Anastasia provides local insider knowledge, Sreeleela brings the warmth, charm, and relatability that connect with Indian travellers. Together, they create a narrative that feels authentic and aspirational—a hallmark of Lufthansa’s brand positioning.
Sng Ju Stephanie, Head of Marketing, South Asia, Southeast Asia & Pacific, Lufthansa Group, remarked, “We’re thrilled to present Lufthansa Insider 2.0, an experience-led campaign that embodies our ethos of inspiring journeys. With Sreeleela at the forefront, this initiative showcases Lufthansa as a travel and lifestyle brand that goes beyond flying—celebrating culture, sparking curiosity, and creating lasting memories. Through innovative storytelling and authentic influencer engagement, we invite travellers to rediscover the joy of flying with Lufthansa.”
The campaign reflects Lufthansa’s deep commitment to connecting cultures and elevating travel experiences. By focusing on authenticity, meaningful connections, and premium service, the airline continues to distinguish itself as the preferred choice for discerning Indian travellers.
More than a destination
For today’s traveller, a flight is no longer just a way to get from one place to another. It marks the beginning of a journey of discovery, where every destination presents opportunities for culture, taste, and connection.
With Insider Guide 2.0, Lufthansa captures this beautifully—inviting travellers to see London not through a checklist of sights, but through its people, stories, and hidden moments.
By blending luxury with relatability, tradition with modernity, and authenticity with aspiration, Lufthansa proves that it is not just flying passengers across the globe—it is helping them experience the world in all its richness.
With this campaign, the airline sets a new benchmark for what cross-cultural, influencer-driven travel storytelling can achieve.
With Lufthansa, the journey is never just about reaching a destination. It is about living it, feeling it, and carrying a piece of it with you long after the trip ends.
Amin Lakhani, President, Client Solutions, WPP Media South Asia, remarked, “For the latest edition of our Insider 2.0 series, our teams at Mindshare (a WPP Media brand) India and UK came together with one clear goal – delivering an extraordinary campaign for Lufthansa. From mapping the consumer journey to capturing cultural nuances, every step was designed to reflect Lufthansa’s premium travel experience. This collaboration has brought travel, culture, and creator storytelling into perfect harmony, raising the bar for what a cross-border collaboration can achieve for the brand.
(This article is from the Brand Desk. User discretion is advised.)
Travel Guides & Articles
11 upcoming concerts in India worth travelling for

Where: Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru, Bengaluru; Nesco Center, Mumbai; Gymkhana Club, Delhi
When: 28, 30 November and 2 December, 2025
Seven-time Grammy winner Jacob Collier returns to India with his Djesse Vol. 4 World Tour. Expect an evening of jazz, rhythm, and blues as he performs fan favorites like Every Time We Say Goodbye, All I Need, and Human Heart. This will be his third India tour, one you won’t want to miss.
Steven Wilson
Paul Bergen / Getty Images
Where: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru
When: 2, 5, 7 and 9 November, 2025
The Porcupine Tree frontman and progressive rock visionary is bringing his Overview Tour to India this November. Known for his atmospheric soundscapes and intricate compositions, Wilson’s solo work has redefined modern prog rock. Fans can look forward to immersive live renditions of tracks like Ancestral, The Watchmaker, and Drive Home.
K-Town Festival
Han Myung-Gu / Getty Images
Where: Inorbit Mall, Malad, Mumbai
When: 1 November, 2025
If you’ve been dreaming of a full-blown Korean wave experience, this one’s for you. The K-Town Festival is bringing everything K-culture under one roof: from sizzling street eats to chart-topping sounds. Taemin is making his grand India debut, so get ready to groove to hits like Move and Criminal. The stage will also see Super Junior-D&E and Bang Yedam turn up the energy, alongside plenty of K-pop performances that promise to keep the vibe high all day long.
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Travel Guides & Articles
Zanskar: India’s deep, silent gorge where you can hear your own pulse
Zanskar: The untamed pulse of Ladakh
High in the Indian Himalaya, Ladakh is renowned for its stark beauty — the cobalt skies, the high mountain passes, the centuries-old monasteries that cling to its cliffs. Yet hidden within its rugged folds lies an even greater marvel: the Zanskar canyon. This is Ladakh stripped to its rawest essence, a gorge so deep and silent that it seems to hold the memory of time itself. Through it runs the Zanskar river, one of the most challenging and extraordinary white-water journeys in the world.
A geological cathedral
Unlike the celebrated high passes and monasteries of Ladakh, the Zanskar canyon remains little spoken of, even among seasoned travellers. Here, the landscape feels almost unearthly: cliffs burn red under the sun, streaked with copper and purple seams, while turquoise waters slice through their base. Waterfalls erupt directly from rock walls, plunging into the river below. The effect is that of a natural cathedral, vast and humbling, where time is measured not by hours but by bends in the river and the slow carving of stone.
A river alive
The Zanskar is no ordinary river. Glacier-fed and wild, it is alive with shifting moods. At times, it compresses into narrow corridors, releasing ferocious Class IV and V rapids that demand grit and precision. At others, it opens to skies so immense they seem to swallow the traveller whole. Many describe it as a living force — breathing, roaring, and singing beneath the sun. To enter its waters is not to conquer but to belong, if only briefly, to something larger than oneself.
More than rapids
An expedition down the Zanskar is as much a cultural journey as it is an adventure. Along its banks, monasteries dating back hundreds of years bear witness to the enduring spirituality of the region. Villages appear as pockets of resilience, their inhabitants living in tune with the seasons, still untouched by the curated experiences of mass tourism. The echoes of prayer wheels mix with the rumble of river and wind, while children wave from cliffside paths, their smiles carrying both curiosity and quiet blessings.
Evenings on the riverbank reveal another dimension of the journey. Camps at 14,000 feet offer the simple luxuries of warm meals, fresh fruit, and star-lit skies. It is in these pauses that the magnitude of the place truly settles: the bustle of the current, the stillness of the body, the reminder that the river demands respect rather than conquest.
A global classic under threat
For the global rafting community, Zanskar holds legendary status. Often called the “Grand Canyon of Asia,” it ranks among the world’s great river expeditions. Yet unlike the American Canyon, Zanskar remains without protection. Development creeps ever closer, with new roads and infrastructure threatening to alter the fragile balance of this landscape. The construction may bring accessibility, but it also risks eroding the ecological and cultural integrity that make the river unique.
Adventure travel pioneer Vaibhav Kala, who has guided expeditions here since the earliest days of river running in India, is unequivocal in his appeal for urgent action:
“As the roads connect remote Zanskar, governance is served. Now, we must preserve one of the grandest natural spectacles in the country, for our future generations; and preserve it with legislated protection, fierce in its ambit, with only responsible tourism allowed within the confines of what must be declared a National Sanctuary.”
A call for preservation
The Zanskar river expedition is not simply an adrenaline pursuit; it is an immersion into an elemental world of stone, water, and silence. It transforms the way travellers measure life, replacing the rhythm of clocks with the cadence of rapids, camps, and constellations.
But this transformation is possible only if the river is protected. Without decisive measures, one of India’s greatest natural treasures could be compromised beyond repair. The task before us is clear: to secure Zanskar’s future as both a global adventure classic and a national natural heritage monument.
In safeguarding the Zanskar, India would not only protect a spectacular river system but also uphold a legacy — a reminder that some places are too rare, too powerful, and too precious to be left unguarded.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author/authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET Edge Insights, its management, or its members
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