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Surya joins hands with GLS University
MUMBAI: When it comes to fresh innings, GLS University has knocked it out of the park. The Ahmedabad-based institution has roped in Indian cricket superstar Suryakumar Yadav as its brand ambassador, bringing together the worlds of fearless sport and forward-thinking education.
Fondly known as Mr 360 for his audacious stroke play, Surya embodies resilience, adaptability and ambition, qualities GLS says mirror its own vision of preparing students to thrive in real-world challenges. His journey from street cricket to captaining India in T20I echoes the university’s rise in under a decade as one of Gujarat’s most dynamic centres of learning.
“I am thrilled to be associated with GLS University,” said Yadav. “What excites me most is how their legacy combines with new thinking, encouraging students to take risks, stay disciplined and think beyond the ordinary.”
Welcoming him to the fold, GLS president Sudhir Nanavati remarked, “SKY is more than a cricketer, he is a symbol of belief and perseverance turning dreams into milestones. That is exactly the aspiration we want every GLS student to embrace.”
GLS executive director Chandni Kapadia added, “Surya doesn’t just play cricket, he paints the sky with possibilities. His fearless 360 degree play reflects our multidisciplinary approach, inspiring students to go beyond limits.”
Founded in 2015, GLS University is backed by the legacy of the Gujarat Law Society, established in 1927. With industry-linked programmes, dual degree pathways and global collaborations, the institution is betting big on innovation and skill-based learning.
The partnership with Surya aims to spread a message of excellence and leadership, blending education and sport to inspire the leaders of tomorrow. And as this collaboration takes flight, one thing is clear, for GLS and SKY, the boundaries don’t exist.
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AI becomes key tool for Indian travellers, Agoda report finds
68 per cent plan to use AI for trips as 33 per cent already rely on it.
MUMBAI: Holiday planning is getting a software upgrade less “Where should we go?” and more “What does the algorithm say?” Indian travellers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to map their journeys, with new data from Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook Report suggesting that AI is fast becoming central to how trips are imagined, planned and booked.
While 33 per cent of respondents said they already use AI tools for travel planning, a far larger 68 per cent indicated they are likely to rely on it for their next trip pointing to a sharp acceleration in adoption in a market already comfortable with digital-first travel.
What travellers want from AI, however, goes well beyond basic search. The report shows 38 per cent are looking for recommendations on local attractions and activities, while 37 per cent expect personalised itineraries. Destination discovery remains a key use case at 29 per cent, with dining suggestions (23 per cent) and budget management (22 per cent) also emerging as practical applications.
The shift reflects a broader change in expectations AI is no longer a novelty but a planning companion expected to work across every stage of the journey, from inspiration to execution.
Trust levels appear to be keeping pace. Nearly 88 per cent of respondents said they either trust or feel neutral about AI-generated recommendations, including 53 per cent who expressed clear confidence. This builds on earlier trends, with Agoda’s 2025 survey showing nine in ten Indian travellers already using apps to book travel suggesting AI adoption is more evolution than disruption.
The company has been testing this appetite through initiatives such as its 2025 AI-powered Vacation Planner campaign, which generated customised itineraries and visuals based on user inputs, delivered with a layer of celebrity-led engagement.
For platforms like Agoda, which aggregates more than 6 million properties, over 130,000 flight routes and 300,000 travel activities, AI offers a way to navigate scale without overwhelming users turning abundance into relevance.
As AI continues to embed itself into everyday decision-making, India is emerging as a market where travel planning is not just going digital, but decisively intelligent.
