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OTM Mumbai hailed as a top travel trade show in the world

MUMBAI, India, Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The curtains have closed on OTM 2024, Asia’s largest and most influential travel trade show organized by Fairfest, leaving a lasting impression on the global travel and tourism industry. The three-day event held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, showcased the pinnacle of innovation and collaboration in the travel sector.

Speaking at the valedictory function, the Chief Guest Ms. Diya Kumari, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister, Government of Rajasthan, said, “I am happy to have participated in the closing and prize distribution ceremony of OTM. It is indeed one of the best travel trade shows in the world.

Exhibitors and visitors showered accolades on the show as the best platform for travel trade to meet in this part of the world.

The grand inauguration, led by H.E. Harin Fernando, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism & Land, Sports & Youth Affairs, Sri Lanka; H.E. Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Deputy Minister of Marketing, Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy, Indonesia and Ms. Anmol Gagan Maan, Hon’ble Tourism Minister, Government of Punjab, set the tone for an event that exceeded all expectations. Dignitaries and diplomats from around the world, alongside over 40,000 industry professionals, explored the vast exhibition space featuring 1600+ exhibitors from 60 countries and 30 Indian States & Union Territories.

The scale of OTM 2024, having grown by 50 percent compared to its 2023 edition, emphasized its role as the pivotal hub for the travel industry. The event provided a platform for quality networking, connecting pre-qualified travel agents, tour operators, MICE & corporate buyers, wedding planners, and film, TV & OTT producers.

The show floor buzzed with energy from day one, witnessing robust interactions between B2B buyers and sellers. The geopolitical landscape has positioned India as a key player in the global economy and tourism market, making Indian tourists highly coveted by international and domestic destinations. This fierce competition for attention was palpable throughout OTM 2024.

Beyond the exhibition, OTM featured knowledge-sharing and networking events, including insightful panel discussions, workshops, and masterclasses in the OTM Forum. The inaugural session, titled ‘Is the World Ready for the Indian Traveller? – Tourism Boards’ Perspective,’ brought together esteemed speakers, including H.E. Harin Fernando, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism & Land, Sports & Youth Affairs, Sri Lanka, H.E. Ni Made Ayu Marthini of the Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy, Indonesia, and Philip Dickinson, Leading International Markets and MICE, Qatar Tourism. The session, moderated by Kamiya Jani, Founder of Curly Tales, provided invaluable insights into the evolving travel landscape.

The first day also saw an event by the Tourism India Alliance titled ‘Connect & Collaborate @ TIA – Let’s Talk Business!’ which provided a unique opportunity for exhibitors to connect with over 30 MICE professionals in one space. The day concluded with the networking dinner hosted by the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines; an opportunity to unwind and connect with fellow industry professionals in an informal setting.

Day 2 began with an insightful panel discussion on ‘Sustainable Tourism Practices: A Win-Win for Marketers and Communities’. Mohamed Bassam Adam, Deputy Managing Director, Visit Maldives/MMPRC; Carissa Nimah, Chief Marketing Officer, Department of Tourism, Bhutan; Björn Bender, CEO, Rail Europe; Rob Thompson, Head of Regions, Tourism, Fiji; Sanjib Sarangi, Chief Fundraising & Partnerships Officer, Indian Grameen Services, Member of the ICRT Foundation (Responsible Tourism) discussed green tourism at length. An exclusive event, ‘WeddingSutra Engage’ united over 30 top wedding planners from across India, providing a great opportunity to connect with influential decision-makers and key players in the wedding industry.

The Moroccan National Tourism Office in the august company of H.E. Mr. Mohamed Maliki, Ambassador of Morocco in India, Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco, showcased their diverse beauty and tourist attractions via a presentation followed by a networking lunch hosted by them.

In another engaging panel discussion, influential women from various travel organizations explored the topic ‘Recognizing Women’s Power in Travel & Tourism,’ featuring their exclusive insights and contributions. Cine Locales at OTM 2024 sparkled with a star-studded conversation among industry leaders from the film fraternity, who discussed ‘Bringing Global Destinations to Indian Cinema’.

PromPeru’s captivating destination presentation followed suit and highlighted the various tourism offerings of Peru, showcasing the country’s ancient history and natural beauty.

The Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA) also hosted a ‘MICE India Meet,’ facilitating interactions with various destinations, with a specific focus on tapping into the Indian MICE scene.

Noteworthy pavilions included the largest international representation from Saudi Arabia, along with strong participation from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Qatar, Bahrain, Morocco, the Maldives, and Azerbaijan. Among the Indian States, Uttarakhand took the lead in size, closely followed by Kerala, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and others. Travel Boutique Online, NEOM, and Tripjack represented substantial private-sector pavilions.

The OTM Forum facilitated dialogue on essential trends and strategies shaping the $50 billion Indian travel market. Industry experts shared their insights, fostering meaningful partnerships within the thriving travel sector.

Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman & CEO of Fairfest Media Ltd, expressed satisfaction with the event’s success, attributing it to strong support from all industry segments. Reflecting on the same, Agarwal stated, “In 2023, 98% of our exhibitors confirmed that OTM effectively connects them with their desired business audience. The event was voted not only as the leading travel trade show in India but also across all of Asia. OTM 2024 continues this legacy, with world-class facilities at the Jio World Convention Centre contributing significantly to its success.”

The extensive list of participating countries included:

  • Azerbaijan Tourism Board
  • Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority
  • Bangkok Metropolitan Authority
  • Bhutan Tourism
  • Cambodia Tourism
  • Cuba Tourist Board
  • Egyptian Tourism Authority
  • ENIT Italy
  • Greek National Tourism Organisation
  • Tourism Fiji
  • Israel Tourism Board
  • Korea Tourism Organization
  • Karelia Tourism (Russia)
  • Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority
  • Malaysia Tourism Board
  • Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation
  • Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Republic of Indonesia
  • Visit Morocco
  • Nepal
  • Tourism Promotions Board Philippines
  • Polish Tourism Organisation
  • PROMPERÚ
  • Qatar Tourism
  • Rwanda Tourism Board
  • Saudi Tourism Authority
  • Sri Lanka Tourism Board
  • Seychelles Tourism Board
  • Taiwan Tourism Administration
  • This is Athens-Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Tourism Authority of Thailand
  • Turkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency

    amongst others, in addition to exhibitors from 30+ Indian States & UTs.

As the gateway to India’s travel markets, Mumbai retained its significance throughout OTM 2024, serving as the top domestic and outbound travel source market.

About OTM:

OTM Mumbai is The Leading Travel Show in Asia. Each year, OTM brings together India and Asia’s travel community under one roof. Tourism Ministers, CEOs of travel brands, and businesses from over 80 countries and all Indian States attend OTM each year. Over 40,000 qualified professional visitors attended OTM 2024.

OTM 2025 is scheduled to be held from January 30 – February 1. OTM is organized by Fairfest Media Limited. (https://otm.co.in/)

About Fairfest:

With clients from over 100 countries, Fairfest is a leading media company providing world-class platforms for doing business in one of the fastest-growing markets in the world – India. Established in 1989, Fairfest organizes the industry-leading TTF and OTM international travel fairs for the rapidly expanding tourism industry, as well as Municipalika, a leading event on municipal management and sustainability. Fairfest also runs DailyBrief, one of India’s highest-rated news apps, and publishes Travel News Digest (TND), collating the world’s relevant news for the travel trade fraternity. (https://fairfest.in/)

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Reliance Digital Introduces High-Performance iQOO 15R to its Nationwide Store Network

MUMBAI, India, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Reliance Digital announces the offline retail availability of iQOO, the high-performance smartphone brand built for today’s youth and tech-forward consumers. Following strong traction in online channels, iQOO is now extending its presence into physical retail, allowing customers to experience and purchase its devices first-hand at Reliance Digital stores across India.

Known for pushing the boundaries of speed, and power, the iQOO 15R is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, delivering exceptional speed, responsiveness, and sustained performance throughout the day. It packs iQOO’s biggest battery yet in an ultra-slim 7.90mm design, making it India’s slimmest smartphone with a 7600 mAh battery.

The device features a 6.5K IceCore VC Cooling Chamber for stable performance and runs on OriginOS 6.0 based on Android 16 out of the box, supported by 4 years of software updates and 6 years of security updates. It is also equipped with a Sony LYT-700V OIS camera, a 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED EyeCare display, and IP68 & IP69 dust and water resistance, making it a dependable daily partner for professionals on the go.

The brand’s offline expansion marks an important step in deepening consumer engagement by offering hands-on access to its devices, enabling customers to explore iQOO’s powerful performance, advanced display technology, and flagship-grade camera capabilities in a real-world retail environment.

The availability of iQOO at Reliance Digital brings together two brands driven by innovation and consumer experience. While iQOO continues to build its reputation as a performance-led smartphone brand, Reliance Digital strengthens its portfolio by offering customers access to cutting-edge technology brands through its extensive nationwide retail network.

Through engaging in-store experiences, knowledgeable staff, and immersive product demonstrations, Reliance Digital aims to help consumers better understand iQOO’s performance-first DNA. This move further reinforces Reliance Digital’s commitment to staying ahead of evolving consumer preferences and serving as a preferred destination for discovering new-age technology.

With this expansion, Reliance Digital continues to play a key role in shaping India’s consumer electronics landscape by bringing future-ready brands closer to customers, while enabling smartphone brands like iQOO to build stronger connections with a growing, performance-driven audience.

The all new iQOO 15R is now available at Reliance Digital stores nationwide.

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Kotak Alts announces winner of the inaugural Katalyst Awards

Ms Himani Choudhary named Katalyst for the year – India’s Best Financial Content Creator; wins Rs. 25 Lakhs

MUMBAI, India, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kotak Katalyst Awards, a national initiative instituted to recognise excellence and responsibility in financial content creation has announced the winner of its first Katalyst edition. Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Limited (“Kotak Alts”) today announced Himani Choudhary as the winner. The winner was awarded a prize of INR 25 Lakhs, positioning Katalyst among the most meaningful recognitions for financial content creators in India.

Srini Sriniwasan, Managing Director, Kotak Alts, said, “The Kotak Alts Katalyst Awards were instituted to recognize content creators who are contributing meaningfully to financial literacy in India. As investor participation deepens, audiences are seeking clarity, context, and credibility. The response from creators was overwhelming and points to the new generation of financial educators.  As the inaugural winner Ms. Himani Chaudhary, exemplifies the standard of financial communication that Katalyst seeks to encourage.”

The first edition of the Kotak Alts Katalyst Awards received over six hundred entries from across 19 states and in 8 languages, reflecting the growing role of digital creators in shaping financial awareness. Conceived in response to increasing clutter and misinformation in the financial ecosystem, Katalyst is designed to recognize creators who place accuracy, transparency, and investor interest at the core of their work.

The winning content, ‘Personal Finance & Major Finance Updates’ by Himani Choudhary, was recognised for its clarity, originality, and credibility. The jury noted the content’s ability to explain complex financial concepts in a clear and measured manner, supported by strong research and a consistent focus on investor education over virality.

To ensure a robust and transparent evaluation process, the awards framework was designed and audited by EY. The top thirty entries were assessed by an academic jury.

The top 10 finalists were subsequently evaluated by a grand jury comprising Kunal Shah, Founder and CEO of CRED; Radhika Gupta, Managing Director and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund; and Alpesh Shah, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group, and chaired by Ananth Narayan, former Whole–Time Member of SEBI with extensive capital markets and regulatory experience.

The Katalyst Awards recognise financial content creators who priorities financial literacy, substance, and long–term investor interest. Through this initiative, Kotak Alts aims to encourage responsible financial communication and support the development of informed and confident investors across India.

About Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Ltd: Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Limited (‘Kotak Alts’), a part of Kotak Mahindra Group (‘Kotak’), focuses on Alternate Asset Management and Investment Advisory businesses. Kotak Alts was set up in early 2005 and has raised, managed, and advised over USD 22 billion across different asset classes, including Private Equity, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Special Situations, Private Credit, and Investment Advisory. The asset management business and investment advisory vertical are managed by independent specialist teams. For more information, visit https://www.kotakalternateasset.com/

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Paperpal for Life Sciences Establishes HIPAA Readiness, Strengthening Enterprise Adoption of AI in Regulated Medical and Scientific Writing Workflows

MUMBAI, India, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Paperpal for Life Sciences, an enterprise-grade Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform by Cactus Communications, purpose-built for Medical Affairs and Life Sciences organizations, announced the completion of an assessment evaluating its operational and technical safeguards to support Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements. This milestone reinforces Paperpal’s commitment to meeting the rigorous standards of security, data protection, and regulatory readiness required for regulated scientific workflows.

Growing AI use in medical affairs writing and publication workflows is intensifying scrutiny on data privacy, governance, and regulatory accountability. To support these evolving needs, Paperpal for Life Sciences has undertaken an assessment of its systems and processes to evaluate readiness to support HIPAA compliance, where applicable, and now proudly offers the option to execute a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for Protected Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII). This offering gives customers the confidence that PHI or PII, if received, is handled securely and responsibly, in line with regulatory expectations and enterprise risk management practices.

Paperpal for Life Sciences provides AI writing, literature search, source-grounded summarization with citation support, and critical publication checks, powering medical affairs content creation under stringent data privacy and governance controls. The platform accelerates research-to-publication timelines by upto 25%, supporting faster dissemination of clinical evidence and earlier commercialization of new drugs and therapies.

Nishchay Shah, Group CTO and EVP, Products and AI at Cactus Communications, said, “As AI becomes foundational to regulated scientific and medical workflows, compliance and trust are no longer optional. Paperpal for Life Sciences’ HIPAA readiness measures reflect our secure-by-design approach to AI, strong data governance framework, and alignment with real-world enterprise and regulatory requirements. This milestone enables organizations to adopt AI at scale with confidence that their data, processes, and compliance obligations are protected .”

Elvira Dsouza, President, Cactus Life Sciences, added, “Medical Affairs and Life Sciences teams operate in highly regulated environments where scientific rigor, data privacy, and compliance are non-negotiable. HIPAA readiness positions Paperpal for Life Sciences as a trusted AI partner, one that enables organizations to accelerate evidence generation and scientific communication without compromising regulatory integrity .”

With this announcement, Paperpal for Life Sciences reinforces its position as a purpose-built, enterprise-ready AI platform for medical affairs content generation that supports innovation while meeting the highest standards of privacy, ethics, and regulatory compliance.

Media Contact:

Nidhi Amin

nidhi.amin@cactusglobal.com 

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