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<ul><li>TCS and HCL Tech said that they have over a 100 <keyword id="17930214" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="genai" source="Orion">genAI</keyword> opportunities in the pipeline.</li><li>They also won a few projects, most of which are in the proof-of-concept or pilot stages.</li><li>Tech companies said they built large-scale genAI capabilities, and are ready to take on projects. </li></ul>Less than a year after ChatGPT was launched, Indian tech majors have started bagging generative AI projects. Even in times when demand is slow, discretionary spends are elusive, the new-age technology is bringing work as well as excitement into the IT outsourcing market. Although the size of the deals is small at the moment, genAI has ‘captured the imagination’ of clients, say top executives of Indian IT companies. TCS and HCL Tech said that most of their <keyword id="19151325" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="genai-projects" source="Orion">genAI projects</keyword> are proof-of-concept or pilot stages. “Deal sizes are small and are mostly under $1 million where clients are trying them out. But there is potential to convert a part of our Jaguar Land Rover with AI and ML capabilities,” said N Ganapathy Subramaniam, COO of TCS at the company’s Q2 earnings press conference. HCL Tech’s MD C Vijayakumar too shared that most of the genAI deals they are bagging are either half a million or sub-$1 million deals. But they are currently working on a hundred such opportunities. “We have been selected as a partner by this very large software major for their product testing and sustenance efforts. We are providing GenAI on a private language model to improve resolution rate and speed efficiency,” said Vijayakumar. Infosys CEO Salil Parekh also shared that they are working on some proprietary large language models (LLMs). “AI is a part of almost every deal we do. And, GenAI is getting there. As it expands and more and larger enterprises get into it, it will be very exciting,” he added. A catalog of AI opportunities A few months back, all tech majors announced big moves in the generative AI space. Wipro announced that it will spend as much as $1 billion over three years to build capabilities. TCS, HCL Tech partnered with software major NVIDIA to skill their employees. As of September end, TCS said that they have 100,000-strong GenAI-ready workforce. They said they also have as many as 250 Gen AI opportunities in the pipeline. “When we started generative AI, they were all about knowledge discovery. As clients understand more, the genAI is getting more complicated. We are now working for a co-pilot for a financial advisor on what advice to give clients, help underwriting policies,” explaining K Krithivasan, CEO of TCS. TCS said that it has identified opportunities across various verticals, identified use cases and cataloged them per vertical. With that it says that it’s planning to go and engage with clients and have conversations on the same. “With this, we can have conversations with our clients – be in CRM or payments space and wealth advisory and other use cases,” explained Ganapathy. HCL Tech too is working on use cases related to banking and financial sector. “We signed a generative AI deal with a to improve their risk and compliance efforts – which is a very big effort in financial services. There are a lot of transactions happening on this front, and we have discussed how we can help,” said Vijayakumar. The buzz for cost optimization and automation deals has gone up in the last few months. Clients are looking to ramp down their expenses and intend to use tech to help with their overall cost reduction efforts. As automation gains ground, AI and ML will find more use cases – and most tech companies are confident that a little of it can spill into the new and emerging area of GenAI as well.

Beyond just chats: Indian tech majors start bagging deals in GenAI space

Tata Sons chairman <keyword id="97017" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="n-chandrasekaran" source="Orion">N Chandrasekaran</keyword> is learnt to have discussed the engagement of outgoing <keyword id="6357150" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tcs" source="Orion">TCS</keyword> MD and CEO <keyword id="1422411" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rajesh-gopinathan" source="Orion">Rajesh Gopinathan</keyword> with the group beyond September 15 in an advisory role, according to sources from <keyword id="6355725" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tata-group" source="Orion">Tata Group</keyword>. Tata Sons and IT behemoth Tata Consultancy Services declined to comment on the development. Tata Group sources, who did not wish to be identified, told PTI that there have been preliminary discussions between the two as the group needs reliable and experienced hands with its diversification into various technology domains. "Chandrasekaran has discussed with <keyword id="221979" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="gopinathan" source="Orion">Gopinathan</keyword> his engagement with Tata Group in an advisory role after his notice period ends on September 15. There has been preliminary discussion," a source at one of Tata Group technology firms said. Gopinathan during his press conference said that he has no immediate plans to engage with Tata Group in advisory roles. "As far as advisory roles go, my respect for advisors is exponentially growing. So, I will see whether something comes out of that. But as of now no plans," he had said. Chandrasekaran, who has worked with Gopinathan for almost 25 years, appreciates the contributions the latter has made to the growth of TCS. During Gopinathan's tenure, TCS added over USD 10 billion in incremental revenues and over USD 70 billion increase in market capitalisation. He also helped TCS cross a trailblazing net profit mark of Rs 10,846 crore in the third quarter of the current fiscal year. Under his leadership, TCS' brand value increased by 212 per cent to USD 45.5 billion in the past two years. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/windfall-tax-on-diesel-export-hiked-to-1-per-litre/articleshow/98856296.cms">Windfall tax on diesel export hiked to ₹1 per litre</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/amazon-deepens-tech-gloom-as-503-firms-lay-off-1-5-lakh-employees-this-year/articleshow/98855180.cms">Amazon deepens tech gloom as 503 firms lay off 1.5 lakh employees this year</a>

Discussion at Tata Group on to engage Gopinathan beyond September 15

Deemed to be the most stable management in the Indian <keyword id="6354185" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="IT">IT</keyword> sector, Tata Consultancy Service with a sudden shuffle in its top management is showing traits of its <keyword id="6354321" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru">Bengaluru</keyword> based rivals <keyword id="10862" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Wipro">Wipro</keyword> and <keyword id="6354512" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Infosys">Infosys</keyword>. While the latter have been thundered with resignations and shuffles in last few months, TCS was a way better until its head of business process services <keyword id="2067405" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abid-Ali-Neemuchwala">Abid Ali Neemuchwala</keyword> moved to Wipro. 
 As per a news report by The Economic Times, Vish Iyer, who was the company's <keyword id="2540" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="President">president</keyword> " Asia Pacific, was replaced by Girish Ramachandran in Janauary. Iyer is now <keyword id="192276" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-head">global head</keyword> for legal and corporate affairs, TCS' investor relations page shows. 
 J Rajagopal, executive vice president and global head for consulting, stepped down from the role December, his profile on professional social networking site <keyword id="28120" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Linkedin">Linkedin</keyword> shows, confirmed the financial daily. The responsibility for consulting was moved to Krishnan Ramanujam who is also the <keyword id="2835786" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-head-for-enterprise-solutions">global head for enterprise solutions</keyword>. Rajagopal is now an <keyword id="2835785" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="advisor-at-TCS">advisor at TCS</keyword>. In March, TCS also appointed <keyword id="2763091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aarthi-Subramanian">Aarthi Subramanian</keyword>, its global <keyword id="212848" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="head-of-delivery">head of delivery</keyword> excellence, to its board. 
 
The news report by the financial daily reads, part of the reason for the moves is also a result of a problem that the Indian IT industry is just beginning to face. In the past, high-performing talent could always be given better roles as the industry was expanding into new service lines and geographies. But as the industry has grown and matured, new areas to expand into have grown scarce. 
 "With the <keyword id="5645" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="CEO">CEO</keyword> being quite a long way from retirement you have leaders of similar age moving on to CEO/COO roles as they will never gthe chance at TCS. Abid is one such person. They are also moving aside people to allow up-&amp;-comers space to lead and grow," Peter Bendor-Samuel, CEO at IT outsourcing consultancy, Everest told the ET. 
 
Analysts say that though growth at TCS has slowed over the past few quarters, the management changes are unlikely to be a reflection of that. 
 "I wouldn't ascribe the changes to the quarterly results. TCS has been one of the fastest growing companies in the Indian IT sector. I would say it is the normal process in the company," Thomas Reuner, <keyword id="24973" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="managing-director">managing director</keyword> of IT outsourcing research at consulting firm HfS Research told the ET. 
 That is something TCS' Chandra has also said in an interview in April with the ET. "All of our units are run by very strong leaders," Chandra said. "So to be very <keyword id="227" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Frank">frank</keyword>, if you can take away one message, it's that our execution is solid. We have never had an execution issue. So, we are not going to rejig the structure for execution."

TCS has many new faces. Know
them all

<ul><li>Indian IT stocks are in the green as markets open in India with <keyword id="99719" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Joe-Biden">Joe Biden</keyword> coming out ahead in the US Presidential Election. </li><li>A Biden victory may bode well for the likes of <keyword id="6357585" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="tata-consultancy-services">Tata Consultancy Services</keyword> (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, and Tech Mahindra with his promise to reverse Trump’s suspension of H-1B visas.</li><li>Overall, analysts expect trade tensions between the two countries to subside with more favourable policies likely in the coming the future.</li></ul>Indian IT stocks are on fire as the <keyword id="5901225" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="2020-US-Presidential-election">2020 US Presidential Election</keyword> comes to an end, and Joe Biden steers ahead as the President-elect. For them, the victory of democratic nominee Joe Biden over the incumbent Donald Trump could spell some good news along the horizon. With Biden at the helm of the US, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/trump-vs-biden-impact-of-us-elections-on-india-sensex-nifty-trade-stock-market/articleshow/79021347.cms">analysts expect</a> that trade tensions between the US and India will ease up more favourable policies coming into play. Moreover, one of his campaign promises specifically addresses the easing up of H-1B visa regulations. Indian IT stocks are gaining ground <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.98958pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Company </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.98958pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Change in share price </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.98958pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Wipro </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.98958pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1.81% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.98958pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Infosys </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.98958pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2.73% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.98958pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.98958pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2.03% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.98958pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">HCL Technologies </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.98958pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.98958pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1.22% </td></tr></tbody></table>Source: NSE as of 9:35 am Biden’s H-1B visa promise Moe Vela, former advisor to Biden during his vice presidency days with Barack Obama, believes that Trump’s ban on H-1B visas is just another example of racism and discrimination. “They’re knowledge workers, and they’re computer-based workers,” he told Business Insider in June. Given those parameters, a ban on H-1B visas may keep them from entering the US, but they can still keep their jobs and work just as well from other countries. Just last week, the US Department of Homeland Security issued a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/us-looks-to-replace-h-1b-visa-lottery-system-with-a-wage-based-selection-process-that-will-prioritise-higher-salaries/articleshow/78951033.cms">notice proposing to replace the current H-1B lottery allotment system</a> with a wage-based selection process that will prioritise higher salaries. While that may admittedly be good for employees looking to get hired a fair way, it also makes it more expensive for countries like India to send their workforce abroad for projects. This is why it's significant that one of Biden’s promises includes reforming the H-1B visa system. "High skilled temporary visas should not be used to disincentivize recruiting workers already in the U.S. for in-demand occupations,” says his <a href="https://joebiden.com/immigration/">agenda on immigration</a>. Biden’s plans include supporting the expansion of the number of high-skilled visas and eliminating the limits on employment-based visas by country, which create unacceptably long backlogs. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/hyperloop-pod-carries-two-humans-through-a-tube-at-over-160-kmph-for-the-first-time-ever/articleshow/79121765.cms">Hyperloop pod carries two humans through a tube at over 160 kmph for the first time ever</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/top-cyber-espionage-groups-that-have-india-in-their-crosshairs/slidelist/79120867.cms">Top cyber espionage groups that have India in their crosshairs</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/bigbasket-the-e-grocery-startup-which-tata-group-is-eyeing-admits-a-data-breach-of-over-20-million-users/articleshow/79122791.cms">BigBasket, the e-grocery startup which Tata Group is eyeing, admits a data breach of over 20 million users</a>

Indian IT stocks are surging with Joe Biden's win in the 2020 US Presidential Election

Thinking of making your next career move or want to join your dream company in 2020? Updating the resume, presenting your best projects will not be enough. As companies compete to hire the best talent, embrace digital transformation and globalise, following trends will reimagine the <keyword id="511161" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="campus-hiring">campus hiring</keyword> process in 2020. <ul><li>Campus Hiring to get Democratized: Many large corporates with substantial hiring numbers are expected to leverage technology to conduct a common national test for hiring. It will allow all eligible students to participate irrespective of the location and educational institute they come from. A common national test will allow companies to hire the best from a large number of candidates from multiple campuses. <keyword id="6357150" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tcs">TCS</keyword> pioneered this in India and many will follow suit. </li><li>Prepare yourself for such common national tests being run in your city. They provide a good opportunity to get yourself qualified for a job interview. Your institution gets notifications of such recruitment tests.</li></ul><ul><li>Multiple Interventions instead of Single Selection Test: We predict that the companies will move towards a selection process that is based on multiple interventions for hiring freshers instead of a single selection test. This approach will avoid the one-bad-day syndrome and offer students multiple opportunities to prove their capabilities. These multiple interventions could be in various forms such as a coding contest, a test, a hackathon etc. </li><li>Your collective performance across all such interventions will determine the final selection. You no longer have to get nervous about the big day while chasing your dream company. Selection basis multiple interventions presents an opportunity to keep improving your performance and showcase relevant skills to prospective employers. </li></ul><ul><li>Practical Experience over Theoretical Understanding: More and more companies will give higher weightage to hands-on experience over theoretical subject knowledge. 2020 will be largely about candidate’s ability to demonstrate practical knowledge and experience to increase chances of being selected. </li><li>Your ability to demonstrate your practical skills will be critical in addition to the domain knowledge. So, make sure you take it upon yourself to build your hands-on application skills, and there are various ways of doing that. You can take up courses that offer hands-on skilling, do an internship or work as a freelancer even while you are studying. </li></ul><ul><li>Digital Skills as a Horizontal: Every industry is getting disrupted. Digital technologies are playing a key role in this change. Employers will prefer candidates with foundational knowledge of digital technologies. In TCS, candidates with strong digital skills are placed at double the salary at the entry level itself.</li><li>It will be critical for you to have a basic understanding of digital technologies irrespective of your stream of education. Take advantage of the various online learning platforms to upskill yourself. </li></ul><ul><li>Soft Skills can make or break: A majority of candidates excel in their subject skills but lack soft skills like effective articulation skills, interpersonal skills, communication skills, etc. Past data indicates that nearly 50% of candidates who demonstrate superior performance in the initial qualifier test do not cross the interview stage, which can be attributed to a lack of soft skills Together, knowing and expressing will be important for future selections. </li><li>Develop your soft skills and put your best foot forward. Friends and team members are your best critics and advisors. They can give you important tips and advice to improvise presentations, communication skills, body language, etc. To increase your confidence, participate in social gigs, events or group discussions happening around you.</li></ul><ul><li>Social Footprints Matter: In the world of social platforms and millennials presence in them, employers will increasingly review candidates’ social media footprints for both positive and questionable actions. This will be an additional parameter for evaluation in the selection process. </li><li>You need to be responsible and ensure adequate care to build a positive image in social media. Use social media platforms judiciously considering the sensitivity. Your comments, photos and social media participation indicate your personality, opinions and personal preferences to prospective employers.</li></ul><ul><li>Additional Competencies vs Academic Qualification: Developing additional competencies beyond the core academic qualifications will give a clear edge in selection. This will also help candidates to pursue careers of their choice. Increasingly, companies will look for candidate’s prowess in more trending areas beyond the academic curriculum. </li><li>As a young jobseeker, you must start building your profile with competencies that are trending and of interest to employers, beyond academic curriculum. You are studying civil engineering but have mastered coding or started an online marketplace for vintage goods while studying? Brownie points to you. Pursuing your passion, following a hobby or learning skills beyond your academic curriculum can bring the job of your interest a step closer to you. </li></ul><ul><li>Foreign Language and Globalisation: Today, many businesses aspire to address the global market needs and hence operate across geographies. Corporates prefer candidates who clear the basic selection criteria and also demonstrate linguistic skills in a foreign language. </li><li>It is recommended that you develop interest in any one foreign language and attain a minimum level of proficiency before the interview process. Sign up for courses teaching foreign languages like German, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, and etc. to build your linguistic competency.</li></ul><ul><li>Credible Internship: Internships provide candidates with a good initial exposure to the corporate world. A strong recommendation in an internship provides a gateway for corporate hiring. Companies will increase the count of hires from the internship channel in the next few years. For companies, this reduces the risk of wrong selection. </li><li>You should find an internship opportunity in a credible company and put up a stronger profile in front of the employers. Utilise free time between semesters to gain credible internships. </li></ul><ul><li>Personalised Salaries: Conventionally, corporates have fixed salary bands for freshers. But this will change fast as companies are finding individual candidates with differentiated competencies and hence are willing to compensate them differently. Candidates possessing industry trending competencies and skills can command higher annual packages. </li></ul>Go ahead and personalize yourself and differentiate yourself to the employers. Prepare yourself with the above hiring trends in mind. Our wishes for you to get selected by your dream employer in the year 2020. This article is written by <keyword id="2335008" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Venguswamy-Ramaswamy">Venguswamy Ramaswamy</keyword>, who is the Global Head of <keyword id="2022461" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="TCS-iON">TCS iON</keyword>.

A top TCS exec explains what companies are looking for from campus hires this year

The <keyword id="6355302" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rupee" source="Orion">rupee</keyword> gained 18 paise to 81.93 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday tracking the broad weakness of the American currency in the overseas market. Forex traders said foreign fund inflows also supported the local unit. At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 81.99 against the dollar, then climbed to 81.93, registering a rise of 18 paise over its previous close. On Wednesday, the rupee closed at 82.11 against the US currency. "Overall USDINR has strong support around 81.75-80 levels, as the RBI is intervening to protect from steep appreciation. Adding to it, the ongoing geopolitical concerns and Fed's hiking process are likely to weigh on investor sentiment and the USDINR could bounce back to 82.50-82.80 levels," CR Forex Advisors MD-Amit Pabari said. Meanwhile, the <keyword id="75201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dollar-index" source="Orion">dollar index</keyword>, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, rose 0.06 per cent to 101.55. Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, declined 0.22 per cent to USD 87.14 per barrel. "Brent has risen to USD 87.25 per barrel as weak US CPI could mean that the Fed could sound less hawkish," IFA Global Research Academy said in a research note. In the domestic equity market, the 30-share BSE Sensex declined 43.95 points or 0.07 per cent to 60,348.82. The broader NSE Nifty declined 1.05 points or 0.01 per cent to 17,811.35. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers in the capital market on Wednesday as they purchased shares worth Rs 1,907.95 crore, according to exchange data. On the domestic macroeconomic front, retail inflation in March fell to a 15-month low of 5.66 per cent and came back to the Reserve Bank's comfort level of 6 per cent. India's industrial production growth rose marginally to 5.6 per cent in February from 5.5 per cent in January 2023, mainly due to good performance of the power, mining and manufacturing sectors, according to official data released on Wednesday. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tcs-q4-fy23-revenue-growth-slowest-in-11-quarters/articleshow/99439692.cms">TCS Q4 constant currency revenue growth hits a 11-quarter low</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/after-languishing-since-fy19-two-wheeler-growth-to-outpace-passenger-vehicles-in-fy24-25/articleshow/99438958.cms">After languishing since FY19, two-wheeler growth to outpace passenger vehicles in FY24-25</a>

Rupee rises 18 paise to 81.93 against US dollar in early trade

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Many luxury-hospitality businesses have started catering to the market of solo female travelers.</li><li>Women are seeing perks like waived single-supplement fees and specific amenities and trip offerings.</li></ul>Three times each year, <a href="https://www.sothebysrealty.com/eng/associate/180-a-3934-67285244/tracy-lynn-testin">Tracy Testin</a>, 59, steps back entirely from her hectic life as a luxury-real-estate agent in Malibu, California, and books a trip overseas.Two of the trips, she told Insider, usually involve hiking or something outdoorsy — like a coast-to-coast walk in the UK — while the other is a pampering adventure she books to make the most of better prices during the holiday season."Between American Thanksgiving and December 15 or so, that's a dead travel time, so it's the best time to take an expensive trip," Testin, who estimated that she spent about $8,000 a trip during this time, said.This year, she visited Egypt to pay homage to Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile."Testin might invite a friend to split a room on occasion, but most of the time, she travels alone — an approach she's taken for more than 35 years."I hate asking someone to travel with me — the whole, 'Where are we going? What are we doing?'" she said. "You're either in or you're out. I don't want to wait for someone."When she started traveling alone, she said, the trend was less common and locals were often surprised to see her without a companion. Today, several luxury-travel companies told Insider, she's one of many looking for adventure on their own.Simon Lynch, the global sales director at the UK luxury-tour operator <a href="https://www.scottdunn.com/us">Scott Dunn</a> — the average spend per booking is $36,000, the company reported — told Insider inquiries around solo trips had significantly increased in the past three years. Of those that booked solo trips, he added, 60% were women. A representative at <a href="https://upnorway.com/en">Up Norway</a>, which runs high-end trips throughout the Scandinavian country, similarly told Insider that its bookings from solo women travelers were up 40 to 50% compared with 2019. Keri Levitt, the founder of the bespoke-tour operator <a href="http://www.moroccobydesigntravel.com/">Morocco by Design</a>, said a full quarter of her bookings now came from women traveling on their own.The <a href="https://www.solofemaletravelers.club/">Solo Female Travelers Club</a>, a 190,000-member social network and tour operator, surveys 5,000 women annually on their habits and opinions. Its poll in 2021 found that 65% of respondents were interested in women-only group travel, a rise of two-thirds year over year. Seeing an opportunity to bolster revenues, many companies have started catering to this market.<div type="image" title="A Solo Female Travelers Club trip to Iceland" height="6192" width="8256" msid="96435334" hostid="261" sizebytes="2303550"></div>Some have started waiving single-supplement fees, a charge imposed on single travelers who take up rooms typically filled by couples — the cruise specialist <a href="https://www.avalonwaterways.com/solo-traveler?gclid=CjwKCAiAnZCdBhBmEiwA8nDQxadSUrKXc9W-hcMMqjXwUZCeY_f2Xrj4UnUwHvgyzIX8oo07sWRGWhoCOdwQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Avalon Waterways</a>, the museum-tour company <a href="https://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/tours/tripfinder/?&amp;special_interests=00002%3ASolo%20Traveler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smithsonian Journeys</a>, the wellness resort <a href="https://www.thebodyholiday.com/accommodation/rooms-garden-view/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Body Holiday</a>, and the private-jet operator <a href="https://www.tcsworldtravel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TCS</a> are among the luxury brands that have jumped on this trend.Others are offering amenities and trips tailored to solo women travelers, with success. The tour company Trafalgar introduced a women-only set of tours earlier this year, and a rep for the firm said 61% of those who booked the trip said they're traveling alone. This summer, the <a href="https://www.hotelsbarriere.com/en/saint-barth/le-carl-gustaf.html">Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf</a> in St. Barts started offering a $7,000 "<a href="https://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com/news-articles/hotel-barriere-le-carl-gustaf-announces-alonemoon-package-for-solo-travelers">Alonemoon Package</a>" — complete with a deluxe bungalow, private yoga and meditation classes, spa treatments, and a restaurant voucher.<div type="image" title="a hotel view in St. Barth's" height="1433" width="1911" msid="96435336" hostid="261" sizebytes="441242"></div>Similarly, Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives, a prime honeymoon spot, <a href="http://gili-lankanfushi.com/offer/gili-solo-experience-2022/">now runs a solo package</a> that allows one traveler to enjoy all the experiences a couple might — think sunset sailings and sleeping under the stars — starting at $1,800 per villa a night. A Gili Lankanfushi representative told Insider six women traveling alone had booked the package in the past 18 months.<div type="image" title="Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives" height="3640" width="4860" msid="96435338" hostid="261" sizebytes="2769934"></div><a href="http://www.mastertravel.org/">Michelle Master Orr</a>, a travel advisor who also often travels alone — most recently, she went on a luxury whale safari in Baja California, Mexico — said the uptick in solo women travelers had been driven largely by the constant regulatory changes around borders during the pandemic."Solo travelers are not burned with coordinating other people's schedules, so they are more flexible," she said.The emotional fallout from COVID-19 is another factor."I've met a lot of women who had pandemic divorces or relationship splits," <a href="https://www.sarahwilson.com/">Sarah Wilson</a>, a 48-year-old writer who's spent the past several years as a digital nomad, said. "And it's maybe been a year, and now they've sorted out the custody stuff. They're starting their lives again." Wilson added: "Women did a lot of the nurturing during various lockdowns, and so much of the feminine experience is tied down to caring for others."I think it's a wonderful, life-affirming experience to be a woman traveling solo and experience the nurturing care you can get from strangers. It reaffirms your faith in the world."Meg Jerrard, a cofounder of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SoloFemaleTravelersClub/">Solo Female Travelers Club</a>, recently started a consulting division of her company to help guide other businesses as they reevaluate their offerings and staff in light of growing demand from solo female travelers.<div type="image" title="woman takes selfie on a boat" height="4000" width="5333" msid="96435340" hostid="261" sizebytes="523744"></div>A recent survey conducted by Hospitality ON magazine found <a href="https://hospitality-on.com/en/tourism/status-women-tourism-sector">women ran just 12.4% of the world's top 350 travel companies</a>."The travel space is male-dominated — yes, there are women in the travel industry, but they often have roles like housekeeping," Jerrard said.While Jerrard works to change that, travelers like Testin have no plans to wait around."People ask me questions like, 'Where's your husband? Or, 'Why are you alone?'" she said. "I handle it with loving kindness and always said the same thing: 'I'd rather go on my own than not at all.'"

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