Brands
Bobcard ropes in Shreyanka Patil as brand ambassador
Mumbai: Bobcard Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda, onboards Shreyanka Patil, the rising star of Indian cricket, as its new Brand Ambassador. Shreyanka will now represent Bobcard Ltd in upcoming brand initiatives and campaigns, embodying the company’s commitment to “Reimagine Credit for Everyone in India” and redefining the credit card experience for customers.
As a dynamic athlete who has excelled in a sport that now enjoys equal representation from all genders, Shreyanka’s commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with Bobcard’s mission of reimagine credit solutions for all. Her determination and success resonate with Bobcard Ltd’s vision of enabling customers to achieve financial independence through innovative credit solutions.
On this collaboration, Bobcard Ltd MD & CEO Ravindra Rai said: “We are thrilled to welcome Shreyanka Patil to the BOBCARD family. Her remarkable journey from being a talented cricketer to becoming a youth icon mirrors our brand’s values of resilience and progress. Shreyanka’s story inspires millions of young Indians, and her passion for excellence makes her the perfect choice to represent our vision of ‘Re-imagining Credit’. We look forward to launching new products, campaigns and initiatives that reflect this spirit, under her leadership.”
Engaging in any sport fosters a sense of commitment and discipline, helping us clarify our vision and fuel our passion to achieve our goals. Bobcard Ltd is dedicated to developing innovative credit solutions that meet the evolving needs of today’s consumers. Through this partnership, the brand aims to motivate itself and inspire a new generation of credit users to rethink credit as a powerful tool for reimagining their life goals while fostering responsible financial habits and informed decision-making.
Sharing her excitement about this partnership, Patil stated: “I am honored to join hands with Bobcard Ltd, a brand that has been a game changer in the credit card industry. Just as cricket has allowed me to push my limits and achieve my dreams, Bobcard Ltd enables people to take charge of their financial futures. I look forward to being part of this journey and supporting the brand’s mission to empower individuals through innovative credit solutions.”
Brands
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.
