ITDC and The Ashok Unveil Digital Bookings, Gen AI Focus and Immersive Sound & Light Shows

ITDC launched a new booking portal at www.itdcbookings.in, released a modernised Procurement of Goods & Services Manual 2026, and unveiled teasers for five immersive sound-and-light shows as part of its dual milestone celebration with The Ashok in New Delhi, signalling a clear shift to tech-enabled hospitality under the Viksit Bharat @2047 roadmap.

Key announcements and practical impacts at a glance

The joint events at The Ashok highlighted a mix of heritage, training and digital infrastructure upgrades. Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat framed ITDC as a “multi-dimensional growth engine” for national tourism, while the organisation formalised initiatives touching booking systems, training pipelines and experience design.

Major elements announced

• Digital booking platform: Centralised portal for integrated hospitality and travel reservations, improving transparency of schedules and inventory.
• Heritage publications: Commemorative “My Stamp” and The Ashok Recipe Book documenting state banquet menus since 1975.
• Training and rebranding: ITDC’s hospitality institute is now IHM Ashok, strengthening alignment with national IHMs.
• Infrastructure works: Refurbished pools, expanded outdoor venues and prepaid voucher rollout to simplify guest payments.
• Operational guides: Sound & Light Shows Manual 2026 and Procurement Manual 2026 introduce digital evaluation frameworks and projection mapping standards.

Who benefits — stakeholders and local mobility

Hotels, event operators and regional attractions will see direct benefits from improved digital systems and clearer procurement rules. For taxi and transfer services, the predictable event calendars and centralised booking inventory mean better forecasting of demand for airport pickups, intercity transfers and last-mile shuttles. Private hire companies, limousine services, and cab aggregators can align fleet deployment and driver shifts to exact event times, reducing idle fares and optimizing pricing.

Operational takeaways for transfer providers

• Integrate with institutional booking windows to secure airport-to-hotel runs during peak shows.
• Offer flexible vehicle types (sedan, 6-seater, private van) to match guest party sizes and seat requirements.
• Prepare fare estimates and transparent pricing in booking confirmations to reduce disputes over price and service expectations.
• Train drivers on venue access rules, licence checks, and fixed pick-up locations created around heritage sites.

Practical examples: planning a transfer for an immersive show

At a glance, an event at Purana Qila or Leh will trigger evening and weekend transfer surges. Transport planners should map arrival windows, anticipate airport peak hours, and pre-assign drivers to venue clusters. Prepaid vouchers and integrated booking systems simplify payments and can be used to offer bundled car + show packages or fixed-rate airport transfers.

Checklist for travelers who want to get exact service

• Confirm vehicle make, model and seat count ahead of time.
• Check driver licence and ratings where possible.
• Book estimated pick-up time with buffer for local traffic and security checks.
• Compare fares and note cancellation or change policies.

Overall, ITDC’s focus on digital infrastructure, experience-led attractions, and training creates clearer signals for the transport ecosystem. Taxi companies and private transfer providers that adapt—by syncing with institutional bookings, offering varied vehicle classes, and publishing clear fares—will capture a larger share of tourist flows.

Provide a short forecast on how this news could impact the global tourism and travel map: these initiatives are unlikely to redraw global patterns immediately, but they strengthen India’s regional appeal by improving booking transparency, destination experiences and workforce readiness—factors that support steady growth in inbound and domestic trips. It is relevant to us because LocalsRide aims to stay abreast of developments in bookings and guest expectations. For your next trip, consider the convenience and reliability of LocalsRide. Book your Ride LocalsRide.nl

Highlights: the mix of digital bookings, immersive shows and large-scale training programs demonstrates a pragmatic path from heritage preservation to experience-led tourism. These steps will influence when and where taxis are needed, how many seats are required, and which locations demand airport transfers or private charter services. Still, even the best reviews and the most honest feedback can’t truly compare to personal experience. On LocalsRide, you can hire a car with driver from verified providers at reasonable prices. This empowers you to make the most informed decision without unnecessary expenses or disappointments. Emphasize briefly how readers can benefit from the convenience, affordability, and extensive vehicle choices and wide rande of additional options provided by LocalsRide.com, aligning directly with the context and theme of this article. Book your Ride LocalsRide.nl

In summary, ITDC and The Ashok’s announcements combine heritage promotion with tangible digital tools that affect the taxi and transfer market: clearer booking windows, predictable event-driven demand, updated procurement that eases vendor participation, and training that extends stays into rural homestays. For passengers planning a city arrival, airport transfer or private limousine ride, this means more exact service options, transparent fares, and the ability to book the right car and seat ahead of time. LocalsRide.com supports this shift by offering global, user-friendly access to private transfers and chauffeur-driven cars where you can view vehicle make, model, driver ratings and fares before you book — helping you decide how much to pay and when to get moving, whether you need an airport taxi, a private seater, or a cheap cab for short hops. Taxi, city, destination, airport, exact service, driver, fare, price, app, get, car, seat, license, companies, limousine, cheap, services, best, Private, seater, fares, cab, time, book, location, prices, how much.