Latest news with #RikantPittie
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Independence Day turns into 5-day vacay
'Scenic spots such as Dehradun, Kannur, Udaipur, Coimbatore, among others are also seeing strong momentum, with fares rising 10-15% YoY on average during the holiday weekend' The Independence Day long weekend is almost here and you might notice a trend among your colleagues: a sudden surge in pre-emptive sick leave requests, starting Wednesday. It's a sure sign that for many, this isn't just a small break, but the launchpad for a getaway! With Independence Day falling on a Friday, taking just two additional days off can give you a five-day vacation. Travel aggregators and hotel chains are already reporting a surge in bookings across popular destinations during this period. As travellers embrace the idea of mini-vacays, places like Goa, Puducherry, Udaipur, and Ooty are seeing a significant uptick in weekend travellers. 'TRAVEL DEMANDS APPEAR TO BE PEAKING TWO DAYS PRIOR TO INDEPENDENCE DAY' Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, shares, 'Independence Day has emerged as a key travel occasion over the years. This year too, the search and booking trends point to strong intent to travel over the Independence Day weekend. While the majority of bookings typically happen in the last 7-10 days, we are already seeing momentum, with Rakhi and Independence Day falling within a week of each other. Travel demand appears to be peaking two days earlier, on Wednesday, August 13, giving early travellers a five-day window.' According to EaseMyTrip, travel bookings have risen by 11–12% compared to last year. Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip, explains, 'We're seeing strong travel momentum around this Independence Day long weekend. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What Will Happen to Your Body If You Start Eating 3 Eggs Every Day? Undo The surge reflects a clear preference for short-haul getaways, especially among working professionals and young couples eager to make the most of the extended break.' 'SOME RESORTS HAVE 75% OCCUPANCY A MONTH IN ADVANCE' Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director & COO, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, highlights, 'The upcoming long weekend is shaping up to be a strong travel period, with many looking to make the most of the short break. We're seeing encouraging signs of early bookings across key leisure destinations. Some resorts have already secured over 75% occupancy a month in advance.' Short-haul getaways on the rise Indian travellers are planning their perfect escape for the long weekend. Agoda reveals that the top five destinations (based on its search data) are Goa, Udaipur, Lonavala, Ooty, and Coorg. Gaurav Malik, Country Director for the Indian Subcontinent and Indian Ocean Islands at Agoda, shares, 'It is encouraging to see Indian travellers planning ahead and using long weekends to explore the country's diverse offerings, seeking experiences that blend relaxation with discovery. ' Haven't booked yet? Here's a simple hack for a 5-day getaway Hari Ganapathy, co-founder of Pickyourtrail, offers a smart tip, 'With a little strategic planning, you can swap desk time for downtime and enjoy a five-day holiday – using just two leave days!' Here's the travel hack • Take Thursday (August 14), & Monday (August 18) off • Pair them with Independence day (Friday, August 15) and Janmashtami (Saturday, August 16) • You've got yourself a 5-day window to finally take that trip you've been putting off Quick international getaways • Thailand (Phuket + Phi Phi) • Sri Lanka (Galle + South Coast) • Dubai • Singapore Changing booking habits & travel preferences 'We've seen a 35% surge in hotel bookings compared to last year, with travellers spending more on better accommodations and curated experiences,' adds Pittie. He explains that the demand is strong across both metro and non-metro cities. 'There has been an uptick in young travellers aged 20–30, influenced by socialmedia, flexible work setups, and rising disposable incomes. While solo women still represent a small segment (1–2%), we expect this to grow with more women-centric travel offerings. Overall, sentiment is strong, with more Indians eager to make the most of long weekends,' he adds. Rajnish Kumar, Group Co-CEO, ixigo, says, "Travel to popular leisure destinations is up by 25–30% year-on-year. Goa, in particular, has seen a surge in demand for beach getaways, pushing airfares to Goa from Delhi and Mumbai up by over 100% week-on-week. Scenic spots such as Dehradun, Kannur, Udaipur, Coimbatore, among others are also seeing strong momentum, with fares rising 10-15% YoY on average during the holiday weekend. Among the most booked domestic destinations this season are Dehradun, Port Blair, Goa, and Coimbatore."
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Gen Z and Millennials drive monsoon holiday trend
As the monsoon sets in, travellers are gearing up to plan their rain-soaked getaways. A recent survey by leading travel planning platforms reveals a growing interest in monsoon travel among Gen Z and Millennials. So, where are holidaymakers heading this year to make the most of the season? Rainy retreats are in high demand - According to PeekABoo, Cleartrip's travel trends tracker, there has been a 46% surge in bookings to popular monsoon destinations such as Goa, Coorg, Ooty, and Meghalaya - 'Other top spots like Kerala, Mumbai, Udaipur, and Pondicherry continue to attract visitors,' says a Cleartrip spokesperson. 'Meanwhile, emerging favourites such as Visakhapatnam, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Thiruvananthapuram, Dwarka, and Dharamshala reflect India's diverse monsoon appeal' Young travellers lead the trend Among Gen Z and younger millennials under 30, most monsoon travellers are in their mid-20s and typically book for two—be it a romantic escape or a trip with a close friend. 'Group holidays with 3–6 people are also quite common, particularly to destinations like Bali, Vietnam, and Dubai, reflecting a clear preference for shared travel experiences within this age group,' says Hari Ganapathy, Co-founder of Pickyourtrail. Weekday wanderlust and work-life flexibility Experts attribute this shift in travel trends to the growing culture of flexible work lifestyles, which are now allowing more people to travel during the week. 'The flexible work lifestyle is driving a noticeable shift towards weekday departures, while most travellers opt for short two-night hotel stays,' adds the spokesperson. - Tier 1 cities contribute a remarkable 78% of total travellers, as per PeekABoo - The 24–30 age group is setting the pace with quick three-day escapes to relax and rejuvenate - For most Southeast Asian destinations – and increasingly for Dubai – the average trip spend for two people typically ranges between ₹1 lakh and ₹3 lakh , as per EaseMyTrip - Travellers from Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai dominate outbound bookings to Bali, Maldives, Vietnam, and Dubai this monsoon, highlights Pickyourtrail data Flight anxiety fuels rise in bus bookings According to data from a travel platform, there has been a 10–12% increase in intercity bus travel demand over the past month alone. 'One reason could be the fear of air travel due to turbulence and safety incidents, particularly during the monsoon season. Additionally, we have observed that road travel for shorter distances has become the preferred mode, especially for regional and religious travel during this time,' says Rikant Pittie, Co-founder and CEO of EaseMyTrip. Spending patterns reflect conscious international travel 'Young travellers today aren't overly frugal or lavish. Their spending reflects a thoughtful approach, with a focus on value,' says Hari Ganapathy, adding, 'For most Southeast Asian destinations — and increasingly Dubai — average trip spends for two people range from ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh.' He adds that places like Bali, Thailand, and Dubai strike a strong balance between cost and experience, offering diverse activities across budgets. This makes them particularly attractive to younger, value-conscious travellers.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
EaseMyTrip cofounder launches AI venture studio to nurture startups across multiple sectors including logistics, fintech
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills In a move that signals growing confidence in India's entrepreneurial ecosystem, Rikant Pittie , cofounder of travel booking platform EaseMyTrip , has announced the launch of an AI Venture Studio aimed at supporting the country's most promising technology initiative, unveiled through a social media post, represents a shift from traditional investment models toward collaborative emphasised that this venture goes beyond typical funding arrangements, positioning himself as a hands-on partner in building next-generation AI solutions "Over the past few months, I have been approached by numerous passionate entrepreneurs with innovative and powerful ideas, but struggling to find the right support," Pittie stated in his announcement. "That got me thinking, what if I did not just invest, but built alongside them?"The AI Venture Studio will focus on identifying and nurturing startups across multiple sectors, including healthcare, defence, mobility, entertainment, logistics, agriculture technology, financial technology, and approach deliberately moves away from conventional pitch deck presentations and lengthy application processes, instead prioritising what he describes as "passion, clarity, and vision."The venture studio model, which has gained traction globally, combines venture capital funding with operational support and shared resources. This approach allows entrepreneurs to access not only financial backing but also expertise, infrastructure, and strategic guidance from experienced industry has set an ambitious target of selecting 10 outstanding startups that demonstrate global ambition and address meaningful real-world initiative appears designed to bridge the gap between innovative ideas and successful execution, particularly for entrepreneurs who may lack access to traditional funding networks."This isn't about pitch decks and long applications," Pittie explained. "I am looking for 10 outstanding startups that are building with global ambition, and solving problems that truly matter."The announcement comes at a time when India's startup ecosystem is experiencing both opportunities and the country has produced numerous unicorn companies and continues to attract significant investment, many early-stage entrepreneurs still face hurdles in securing adequate support and which Pittie co-founded, has established itself as one of India's leading online travel platforms, going public in 2021 and demonstrating the potential for Indian startups to achieve significant experience provides Pittie with valuable insights into building successful technology companies in the Indian venture studio's focus on AI-driven solutions aligns with broader global trends toward artificial intelligence adoption across industries. India's large talent pool in technology and engineering, combined with its diverse market challenges, positions the country as a potentially significant player in the global AI entrepreneurs have been invited to share their stories directly with Pittie through social media platforms, reflecting the informal and accessible approach he aims to maintain. This direct engagement model contrasts with traditional venture capital processes, which can often be lengthy and bureaucratic."If you are building something meaningful, and you are ready to scale it from India to the world, please comment or message me your story," Pittie concluded in his announcement. "Let us reimagine the future by writing the next big Indian story."The initiative represents a growing trend among successful Indian entrepreneurs who are reinvesting their expertise and resources into nurturing the next generation of startups. As India continues to establish itself as a global technology hub, such collaborative efforts could play a crucial role in accelerating innovation and creating internationally competitive AI Venture Studio is expected to begin operations in the coming months, with Pittie actively reviewing submissions from interested entrepreneurs across the country.
India Gazette
09-07-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
EaseMyTrip Co-Founder launches AI venture studio to foster Indian Innovation
New Delhi [India], 9 July (ANI): In a move that signals growing confidence in India's entrepreneurial ecosystem, Rikant Pittie, co-founder of travel booking platform EaseMyTrip, has announced the launch of an AI Venture Studio aimed at supporting the country's most promising technology entrepreneurs. The initiative, unveiled through a social media post, represents a shift from traditional investment models toward collaborative partnership. Pittie emphasised that this venture goes beyond typical funding arrangements, positioning himself as a hands-on partner in building next-generation AI solutions. 'Over the past few months, I have been approached by numerous passionate entrepreneurs with innovative and powerful ideas, but struggling to find the right support,' Pittie stated in his announcement. 'That got me thinking, what if I did not just invest, but built alongside them?' The AI Venture Studio will focus on identifying and nurturing startups across multiple sectors, including healthcare, defence, mobility, entertainment, logistics, agriculture technology, financial technology, and education. Pittie's approach deliberately moves away from conventional pitch deck presentations and lengthy application processes, instead prioritising what he describes as 'passion, clarity, and vision.' The venture studio model, which has gained traction globally, combines venture capital funding with operational support and shared resources. This approach allows entrepreneurs to access not only financial backing but also expertise, infrastructure, and strategic guidance from experienced industry leaders. Pittie has set an ambitious target of selecting 10 outstanding startups that demonstrate global ambition and address meaningful real-world challenges. The initiative appears designed to bridge the gap between innovative ideas and successful execution, particularly for entrepreneurs who may lack access to traditional funding networks. 'This isn't about pitch decks and long applications,' Pittie explained. 'I am looking for 10 outstanding startups that are building with global ambition, and solving problems that truly matter.' The announcement comes at a time when India's startup ecosystem is experiencing both opportunities and challenges. While the country has produced numerous unicorn companies and continues to attract significant investment, many early-stage entrepreneurs still face hurdles in securing adequate support and mentorship. EaseMyTrip, which Pittie co-founded, has established itself as one of India's leading online travel platforms, going public in 2021 and demonstrating the potential for Indian startups to achieve significant scale. This experience provides Pittie with valuable insights into building successful technology companies in the Indian market. The venture studio's focus on AI-driven solutions aligns with broader global trends toward artificial intelligence adoption across industries. India's large talent pool in technology and engineering, combined with its diverse market challenges, positions the country as a potentially significant player in the global AI landscape. Interested entrepreneurs have been invited to share their stories directly with Pittie through social media platforms, reflecting the informal and accessible approach he aims to maintain. This direct engagement model contrasts with traditional venture capital processes, which can often be lengthy and bureaucratic. 'If you are building something meaningful, and you are ready to scale it from India to the world, please comment or message me your story,' Pittie concluded in his announcement. 'Let us reimagine the future by writing the next big Indian story.' The initiative represents a growing trend among successful Indian entrepreneurs who are reinvesting their expertise and resources into nurturing the next generation of startups. As India continues to establish itself as a global technology hub, such collaborative efforts could play a crucial role in accelerating innovation and creating internationally competitive companies. The AI Venture Studio is expected to begin operations in the coming months, with Pittie actively reviewing submissions from interested entrepreneurs across the country. (ANI)
Skift
01-07-2025
- Business
- Skift
India's Turkey Travel Slumps in May Amid Diplomatic Backlash
Turkey is witnessing a repeat of what Maldives saw last year. As the world is opening up to Indians, travelers are now making choices that they think align with national interest, even if it means missing out on picture-perfect social media clicks. Indian arrivals to Turkey dropped nearly 24% in May this year compared to the same month last year. Provisional data from Turkey's Ministry of Tourism and Culture shows that the number of Indian visitors fell from 41,544 in May 2024 to 31,659 this year. May accounted for the sharpest decline in Indian tourism to Turkey. Between January and April 2025, 83,306 Indians visited the country, this is slightly below the 84,522 recorded during the same period in 2024, a modest drop of 1.44%. A key factor was a geopolitical development involving an armed conflict with Pakistan. Following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people, most of them tourists, India carried out military strikes on terror bases in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Turkey and Azerbaijan publicly condemned the strikes. In response, several Indian travel firms, including PickYourTrail, Cox & Kings India, EaseMyTrip, and Go Homestays, suspended bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Vacation rental company Goa Villas also announced it would no longer host Turkish citizens at its properties. Decline in Travel Bookings Travel agency Brightsun Travel said it has noticed a significant decline in interest and bookings for Turkey among Indian travelers during May and June. 'Our data shows that bookings dropped to nearly 50% from 2024 to 2025,' Sandeep Arora, director at Brightsun Travel told Skift. 'While multiple factors could be at play, we believe recent geopolitical developments and growing sentiment on social media, including calls for boycotts may have influenced travel decisions," he added. Online travel company EaseMyTrip also witnessed a similar trend. 'As of May 2025, we've observed a sharp decline in travel interest to Turkey among Indian travelers. Bookings have dropped by more than 50%,' CEO Rikant Pittie said. He added that since the fallout in May, there has been no visible change among Indian travelers that signals a thawing of sentiment towards Turkey. 'On the contrary, Indian travelers have shown strong and consistent alignment with national sentiment, choosing to withhold leisure travel to destinations perceived as unsupportive during times of national adversity. Consequently, we've seen a redistribution of travel interest toward alternative destinations such as Greece, Egypt, Georgia, and Vietnam - countries perceived as neutral or friendly,' he told Skift. India's Growing Importance to Turkey In February, Firat Sunel, Ambassador of Turkey to India, said that India represented one of its most dynamic and fastest-growing source markets. Last year, over 330,000 Indians visited Turkey. The country's tourism board said that the Indian market emerged as a 'particularly strong growth driver' last year. It said that this trend was driven by enhanced air connectivity between the two nations, growing popularity of Turkey among Indian wedding planners and MICE event organizers, and introduction of Turkish experiences that cater to Indian preferences. Earlier this year, the country's tourism ministry and tourism promotion agency held a six-city 'India Destination Promotion Event 2025' to facilitate meetings between travel suppliers in Turkey and trade partners in India. Turkey's tourism board said that the timing of the event was aligned with the growing popularity of Turkey among Indian travelers. A Repeat of Maldives? After the India-Pakistan conflict, there was a sharp decline in interest among Indians for Turkey. The decline in tourism might not seem significant on its own. But to put into perspective, last year, Indian tourists in May increased by 47% as compared to 2023. For the January to May period, this increase was nearly 35% last year. The growth of Indian tourists to Turkey stabilized to 20.7% by the end of 2024. This means that the first five months were significant contributors for the India source market, a trend that was also true in 2023. According to online travel platform MakeMyTrip, in the week following the breakout of the conflict, it witnessed a 60% decline in bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey. Cancellations during the same period surged by 250%. In the days following this development, Indian airports also terminated agreements with Turkish and Chinese firms for their support for Pakistan. This mirrors a trend seen last year between Indian travelers and the Maldives. A diplomatic spat between the two nations led Indians to boycott the archipelagic nation, resulting in India slipping to the fifth position for tourist arrivals into Maldives in January 2024. A diplomatic spat led to a widespread boycott of the island nation by Indians, causing India to drop to the fifth spot for tourist arrivals in January 2024. At the start of 2024, India was the Maldives' third-largest source market, accounting for 7.6% of arrivals. In 2023, it had held the top spot, contributing over 11% of the 1.8 million total arrivals. By May 2024, India had fallen further to sixth place, prompting Maldives Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal to publicly invite Indians back. 'Our economy depends on tourism. Our people and the government will extend a warm welcome to Indian travelers,' he said. The boycott's effects lasted through the year. India ended 2024 as the Maldives' sixth-largest market, sending just over 130,000 tourists, a sharp decline from more than 209,000 in 2023.
