antalya beyond majestic mountains and cerulean...
TRANSCRIPT
ANTALYABeyond majestic mountains and cerulean sea
OCTOBER 2019, PAGES 36, Rs. 60 VOL. 2, ISSUE. 9
Plot No. 25- 27 and 28-29, Knowledge Park-II, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Email: [email protected] Ph: +91-120-2328011-20, Mob: +91 9717790583
THE BEST STANDALONE CONVENTION CENTRE IN INDIANational Tourism Awards, 2017-18 by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
We have hosted some of the largest conventions and expos in India such as India Handicraft and Gift Fair, Auto Expo - The Motor Show, Elecrama, Printpack, India ITME, CpHI, REI and UNCCD COP 14 that have
seen over 1,00,000 visitors and dignitaries in a day.
With 3 presidential helipads and multi-tier security, our venue has hosted The Honourable President of India, The Prime Minister of India as well as VIPs from across the globe.
M E T R O S T A T I O N 5 - M I N W A L K | I G I A I R P O R T 6 0 - M I N D R I V E | P A R K I N G 1 2 , 0 0 0 + C A R S
I N D I A ’ S L A R G E S T I N T E G R A T E D E X H I B I T I O N A N D C O N V E N T I O N C E N T R E
FEATURES OF INDIA EXPO CENTRE & MART
• More than 80,000 sqm. indoor exhibition area across 14 exhibition halls • Total Area 232,847 sqm. • Outdoor Exhibition Area 100,000 sqm. (5 Outdoor Areas) • Storage & Warehousing facilities 10,000 sqm. • Retractable Sound-Proof
Meeting/Conference Halls 29 • 37 MW power back-up • Conference & Exhibition facilities for upto 200,000 visitors
India Exposition Mart Limited
E X H I B I T I O N S A N D E X P O S C O N F E R E N C E S C U LT U R A L E V E N I N G S
www.indiaexpocentre.com
Editorial & Marketing Office: Versatile Media: 207, Satya Mansion, Commercial Complex, Ranjeet Nagar, New Delhi-110008Contact: 011 - 45530380/83 • [email protected] information in MiceInsiders is derived from sources we consider reliable. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. Opinions/views expressed by third parties in abstract or interviews are not necessarily shared by us. Material appearing in the magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part(s) without prior permission. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian Advertisement Code. The publisher will not be liable for any loss caused by any delay in publication, error or failure of advertisement to appear.Owned and published by: Varun Malhotra, Editor & Publisher, EB-63, Maya Enclave, Hari Nagar, New Delhi - 110064 and printed on his behalf at Acme Tradex India Pvt. Ltd. ( Unit : Printing press) B - 70, Sector - 80, Noida - 201305
Dear Readers,
It is never at all awkward to brag about the endeavours that lead you to the next ladder of success so here I am, puffing my chest with pride while announcing that TravelScapes, yet again, was hailed the best. Recognised as the “Best Travel Trade Publication” at the recent 35th Annual Convention of Indian Association of Tour Operators, TravelScapes, for the fourth time, proved to be a pioneer in both editorial and quality excellence. The Team TravelScapes gratefully acknowledges the support of IATO and aims to up the ante year on year while looking forward to emerging as the best, time and again.
Still flying high on cloud nine, we ground ourselves back on the ground with our October’s issue focussing on one of the greatest elements of corporate travelling- flying! Various airlines have been making changes to their frequent and business flyer programmes recently and most of these are adding some more visible benefits for their flyers. To promote a loyal customer base especially the corporate travellers, the airline brands are taking several initiatives, profits while surfacing out-of-the-box moves that we brought out in this section while speaking
to the top airline brands touching the Indian runways and glorious sky business.
Next, in the ‘Overseas’ section, I indulged in the speculation of sharing my inclination for the Far East. Once seen simply as the gateway to the Turkish Riviera, Antalya today is very much a destination in its own right. From fresh sea breeze to rugged mountains and vast scope of holistic travelling, Antalya is truly the pathway to what we call “exotic”. Moving on, we teleport ourselves from one coast on the West to another in East as we see through the marvels of the ‘Land of Gods and Temples’ Odisha.
Other than this, we bring to you the latest and on-going news from across the segments of the industry including the names that join the travel and tourism clan.
I thank you all again for your kind support. We value your feedback and suggestions so please do write to us at [email protected].
Happy Reading!
P u b l i s h e r ’ s N o t e
PUBLISHER & CEO Varun Malhotra
DIRECTOR Pranav Khullar
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gagneet Kaur
ASST. EDITOR Sayanti Halder
REPORTER Kritika Dua
REPORTER & MARKETING ANALYST Lokesh Tuli
BUSINESS HEADShilpi Sharma
AGM SALES & MARKETING (MUMBAI) Aarti Rajkhewa
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP MANAGERNitika Bisht
CONSULTANT Anindya Malhotra, Jitin Mann
DESIGNERShivnath
ACCOUNTS Saroj Thakur
ADMIN HEAD R Prem Lata
ASST. MANAGER ADMIN Deepa Kaur
EXECUTIVE-CIRCULATION Hari Puri, Raja Rari
Plot No. 25- 27 and 28-29, Knowledge Park-II, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Email: [email protected] Ph: +91-120-2328011-20, Mob: +91 9717790583
THE BEST STANDALONE CONVENTION CENTRE IN INDIANational Tourism Awards, 2017-18 by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
We have hosted some of the largest conventions and expos in India such as India Handicraft and Gift Fair, Auto Expo - The Motor Show, Elecrama, Printpack, India ITME, CpHI, REI and UNCCD COP 14 that have
seen over 1,00,000 visitors and dignitaries in a day.
With 3 presidential helipads and multi-tier security, our venue has hosted The Honourable President of India, The Prime Minister of India as well as VIPs from across the globe.
M E T R O S T A T I O N 5 - M I N W A L K | I G I A I R P O R T 6 0 - M I N D R I V E | P A R K I N G 1 2 , 0 0 0 + C A R S
I N D I A ’ S L A R G E S T I N T E G R A T E D E X H I B I T I O N A N D C O N V E N T I O N C E N T R E
FEATURES OF INDIA EXPO CENTRE & MART
• More than 80,000 sqm. indoor exhibition area across 14 exhibition halls • Total Area 232,847 sqm. • Outdoor Exhibition Area 100,000 sqm. (5 Outdoor Areas) • Storage & Warehousing facilities 10,000 sqm. • Retractable Sound-Proof
Meeting/Conference Halls 29 • 37 MW power back-up • Conference & Exhibition facilities for upto 200,000 visitors
India Exposition Mart Limited
E X H I B I T I O N S A N D E X P O S C O N F E R E N C E S C U LT U R A L E V E N I N G S
www.indiaexpocentre.com
4 OCTOBER 2019
OVERSEAS
HOTEL FEATURE
24 ANTALYA
26 DOORWAY TO SERENITYFORTUNE SELECT CEDAR TRAIL, MASHOBRA, SHIMLA
Nestled amidst the lush greenery and noiseless hinterlands of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, stands tall the Fortune Select Cedar Trail, Mashobra, Shimla in the heart of the hushed hamlet of Mashobra. Offering the truest definition of extravagance, thoughtful guest services and a clear view of the Himalaya from every possible corner, the hotel seems to spell a cast on its guests offering mesmerising memories to last lifelong by acting as an indulgence in itself. Fortune Select Cedar Trail, Mashobra, Shimla is the right place to wind up the laptop or cellphone adapter and unwind to a paradise of unending peace
While each airline, both domestic and international has tremendously grown over the passage of recent times, they are still fulfilling their Numero Uno purpose of making air travel more feasible. Speaking of feasibility, flyers who seek the practicality of frequent flying, the most, is the corporate segment of it. Today’s business travellers appreciate smooth transfers at a connecting airport, an efficient transit experience en-route to their business destination and priority services for frequent flyers. It is a known fact how mundane and tiring it can be to travel frequently. Therefore, some airline companies are starting to make changes in that direction to reduce what is known as ‘traveller friction’ — the burnout that snaps productivity and brand inclination. After a long day at work, one’s travelling experience should be smooth and enjoyable. That is exactly what the airline companies are aiming to achieve with their corporate engaging programs and facilities, today. To promote a loyal customer base especially for the corporate travellers, the airline brands are taking several initiatives while surfacing out-of-the-box moves that MICEInsiders exhibits
6 .............................................................................................................................Trade8 ........................................................................................................................ Inbound22 ...................................................................................................................Outbound28 ............................................................................................................... Hospitality 32 ..................................................................................................................... Aviation34 .........................................................................................................Appointments
IN CONVERSATION16 OFFERING THE TRUE ESSENCE OF COUNTRY’S AUTHENTICITYTREE TRUNK TRAVEL ENSURES A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN INBOUND
In a tête-à-tête with the dynamic and passionate directors of Tree Trunk Travel, Ravi Shankar Singh and Rahul Kumar Gaurh, we gather how their proficiency in the travel business has kept them fighting the odds and eventually made them take a revolutionary leap to stand out as one of the best inbound tour operators, today. Credited with making the Indian holiday, a well-thought-out adventure and an experience of a lifetime, Tree Trunk Travel is here to redefine the idea of conventional packages
REGULAR NEWS
CONTENTCENTRE STAGE
AIRLINES MIXING BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE FOR INDIAN CORPORATES
PROPELLING FOR A PROSPEROUS FLIGHT
Page No. 10
Antalya offers plenty of attractions and activities for travellers. If you want to soak up on some sightseeing sites, there’s a mesmerising line-up of spots ranging from forests, mountains and waterfalls to keep you engaged. The labyrinthine old town boasts of historic sites, museums, theatres and grand Greek and Roman ruins. It also has white-sand beaches and azure waters for a leisurely stroll . Home to a romantic old quarter brimmed with great cuisine, music and boutique hotels, the city is a Mediterranean must-see on your trip to Turkey
6 OCTOBER 2019
Visit Orlando launches new collection of travel trade tools
Frank Herzog joins VFS Global as Chief Financial Officer
India Expo Centre & Mart receives the ‘Best Standalone Convention Centre’ title
Air Canada and Destination Canada organises travel trade promotions
Visit Orlando, the official tourism association for one of the most visited destinations in the United States, launched new interactive sales tools and resources for travel advisors, including a re-designed Orlando Travel Academy. The Orlando Travel Academy (orlandotravelacademy.com), the destination’s training tool, will provide travel advisors with quick and easy access to sales planning resources, including itineraries, a new media gallery and an all-new educational course. This enhancement will educate travel advisors on how to sell the destination, keep clients updated on the latest news and help provide increased value for their customers’ vacation experiences. It is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese languages as well as a mobile-friendly version.“We realise how essential updated travel trade tools are in helping travel advisers
across the globe increase their sales,” said Visit Orlando President and CEO George Aguel. “Our team is committed to doing everything we can to support our key stakeholders as they continue selling vacation packages to the Theme Park Capital of the World®. Upon completion of the program, Orlando Travel Academy graduates receive the designation of ‘Certified Orlando Expert’, as well as earn four continuing education credits from The Travel Institute, an organisation that provides education programs, professional certifications and customised learning solutions for travel professionals, attractions, restaurants and more. Additionally, they can take advantage of over 50 ‘Orlando Travel Expert’ offers, ranging from 50 per cent off theme parks tickets and complimentary attraction tickets to discounts up to 35 per cent off hotel rates.
Frank Herzog has joined VFS Global as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective October 1, 2019. In this role, Frank will lead the overall finance function and will also be responsible for M&A, legal, internal audit and procurement functions of VFS Global. He is a member of the Executive Board of the company and contributes to the overall strategic direction of VFS Global. He reports to Zubin Karkaria, Chief Executive Officer of VFS Global.
Frank joins VFS Global with 25 years of broad experience in leadership roles in Finance, Banking, and general management. Most recently, Frank worked from 2012 to 2018 for the KION Group, a Germany based global leader in industrial trucks, related
services and supply chain solutions with EUR 8 billion in revenues. His last assignment was as CFO of Dematic, a KION Group company for supply chain automation with EUR 2 billion in revenues. Before his role at Dematic, Frank worked for the KION Group as its Head of Corporate Finance with responsibility for Investor Relations, Capital Markets, Treasury, Financing and M&A.
India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida received an award for ‘Best Standalone Convention Centre of India’ during the announcement of National Tourism Award by Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India. Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu was the Chief Guest of the National Tourism Awards 2017-18 held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on September 27, 2019.
Special guest Zurab Pololikashvii, Secretary-General, United National World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) along with Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism and Culture, Yogendra Tripathy, Secretary and Meenakshi Sharma, Director General, Ministry of Tourism were also present. The award was held on the World
Tourism Day amongst the presence of national and international fraternity of the tourism sector.
Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, IEML and Sudeep Sarcar, Chief Executive Officer, IEML received the award. India Exposition Center and Mart Ltd. (IEML) was set up in 2006 as a private-public partnership company. The initiative was taken jointly by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), Greater Noida Development Authority and stakeholders from the handicrafts and textiles sector.
With the announcement of the non-stop daily flights, Destination Canada recently collaborated with Air Canada for this joint promotion. Air Canada recently announced that it will resume its daily, non-stop Toronto-Delhi flights from October 1, (eastbound) and October 3, 2019 (westbound). Destination Canada recently extended its support to Air Canada by offering accommodation and ground arrangements in Canada for a lucky winner who books their passengers on Air Canada flights through Amadeus GDS. This promotion is effective until October 12, 2019.
Carl Vaz, CEO & Strategy Director, Destination Canada-
India GSA said, “As part of our Team Canada approach, Destination Canada is proud to partner with Air Canada to promote the re-introduction of the Delhi to Toronto daily service. We are confident that the vast number of retail travel agents and tour operators utilising the Amadeus GDS system will help us boost our passenger movement from India.”
Arun Pandeya, Country Head & General Manager – India sub-continent, Air Canada shared, “For Air Canada, India is a very important market going forward and as part of its plans. Air Canada’s Delhi-Toronto flight will start to fly you direct to Toronto non-stop starting October 3, 2019.”
News
TRADE
8 OCTOBER 2019
News
The 4th edition of Odisha Tourism Conclave concludes on a positive noteThe Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) organised fourth edition of Odisha Tourism Conclave that successfully concluded on September 18, 2019, under the theme ‘Tourism to be the driving force of state economy’. Tourism Minister Odisha Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi; Commissioner-cum-Secretary Tourism, Sports & Youth Services Vishal Dev; Rupinder Brar, Addl DG, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India; Director and Additional Secretary Tourism, Govt. of Odisha NC Mishra were present. J K Mohanty, Chairman, HRAO said, “At this time when there is an economic slowdown in the country, HRAO has taken initiative of holding the Tourism Conclave to boost the tourism sector which can help our economy. During the last three tourism conclaves we have submitted various recommendations and I am happy to announce that the state tourism
department and the government have taken up recommendations positively and many of them have been implemented such as revamping digital marketing strategies, optimisation of Odisha tourism website, promotion of eco-tourism, conducting domestic roadshows in different states, cleanliness campaign at Puri, change of Odisha Tourism logo, single window clearance for operation of tourism projects, special promotion campaigns at destinations connected by airlines to create awareness about tourist attractions in Odisha, development of tourists circuits other than Puri and Konark to give a boost to Odisha as a 21-night destination, allotment of land for hotel projects to attract investments to the state among others. The main aim of organising this conclave is to create awareness about the vast tourism potential of Odisha.
Although Odisha has a higher tourism potential in comparison with the neighbouring states, it has the lowest tourist traffic in Eastern India with the lowest number of star category hotels. As far as Odisha is concerned, we request the Union Minister for connectivity with Jeypore in Koraput District under the UDAN Scheme, to include Konark Temple and the Buddhist circuit under the Iconic
destination list, construction of the 480 km coastal highway ring road and ring road around the Chilika Lake is necessary, development of tourism in the nine circuits that is proposed by the travel trade of Odisha. Chilika is a gold mine for tourism and needs attention of the central government for providing water sports and other infrastructural facilities for the growth of eco-tourism in the area.”
Ministry of Tourism signs MoU for Gol Gumbad, Delhi with Resbird Technologies
Forest and tourism depts. can aid to biodiversity conservation
The 26th MoU under the ‘Adopt a Heritage, Apni Dharohar Apni Pehchan’ scheme of Ministry of Tourism has been exchanged for development of Tourism Amenities with the Gol Gumbad, Delhi with Government of Delhi and Resbird Technologies agreement, informed Yogendra Tripathi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism on the sidelines of Paryatan Parv 2019. It was also exchanged for the development of tourism amenities. The project aims to develop synergy amongst all stakeholders and involves the active participation of local communities/players to promote responsible tourism. He further said that the response to the project has been very encouraging as agencies that have come forward, including not only public and private industry/
individuals but also schools and law firms. Earlier, 42 Letters of Intent have been issued to 38 agencies for 106 sites and 25 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with 12 agencies for 23 sites and two technological interventions under the project across India. Tripathi said that the Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan scheme aims at involving public sector companies, private sector companies and corporate citizens/individuals to take up the responsibility for making our heritage and tourism more sustainable through development, operation and maintenance of world-class tourist infrastructure and amenities at ASI/ State heritage sites and other important tourist sites in India.
According to reports, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently said that if forest, tourism and culture departments work together, they can contribute tremendously towards conservation of biodiversity and wildlife.
Stressing that Indian tradition has always valued biodiversity and its conservation, he said, “We can protect the world only by protecting the organisms.” He said in the last two-and-a-half years of his government, the forest department planted six crore saplings in first year, 11 crore saplings in the second year and 22.59 saplings were planted recently. “If the departments of forest, tourism, culture and other departments
concerned work together, they can contribute tremendously towards conservation of biodiversity and wildlife,” Adityanath said during the launch of a mobile app on wildlife conservation awareness.
The Chief Minister said that whenever human beings have meddled with the laws of nature, they have also suffered its widespread consequences. “All the animals are dependent on each other and in the entire world, the most dangerous creature is a human being that harms everyone, but wild animals do not harm anybody,” he said.
INBOUND
OCTOBER 2019 9
News
Ministry of Tourism launches Audio Odigos for 12 Indian sites
Kerala Tourism eyes 10 to 12 per cent rise in footfalls, earnings in FY20
On, October 3, the second day of nationwide Paryatan Parv 2019 Yogendra Tripathi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism in the presence of DG, ASI Usha Sharma launched the Audio Guide facility Audio Odigos for 12 sites of India (including iconic sites). Speaking on the occasion Tripathi said, “This is the third edition of Paryatan Parv and we are getting overwhelming response from the public. We are expecting more than one lakh footfall during the weekend.” He also said that in line of PM’s vision they are not using single-use plastic in Paryatan Parv arrangements. The launch of Audio Guide: Audio Odigos will lead to smoother travelling. Audio guide Odigo offers Government of India verified content, with visuals and voice over support. With Audio Odigos, tourists can have a more
enriching experience and take back historical insights of the Indian culture and heritage. The Audio Odigos app contains an inbuilt map of the site for smooth navigation during the tour. Listeners will be offered various versions of history such as synopsis, detailed history and podcasts. The audio can be chosen in their preferred language and version of history. DG, Tourism Meenakshi Sharma revealed that the audio guide facility Audio Odigos can be used in 12 sites that include Amer Fort (Rajasthan), Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, Purana Quila, Humayun’s tomb (Delhi), Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal, (Uttar Pradesh), Somnath and Dholavira (Gujarat), Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu) and Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar).
Kerala Tourism is targeting 10 to 12 per cent growth in both arrivals and earnings in the year to March 2020 as the state has returned to normalcy after deluge had ravaged the Kerala last year, as per a senior official. Despite the severe floods, the state had recorded a six per cent increase in both footfalls and revenue in 2018. It can be noted that tourism was one of the worst affected business sectors of the state’s economy that was impacted by floods that ravaged Kerala in August-September
2018. “After the worst floods last year, tourism has recovered fully from January 2019. We saw 8.07 per cent growth in arrivals in the first quarter at 41,90,468 against 38,77,712 during the same period last year. Looking at the trends we expect 10-12 per cent growth in arrivals as well as in earnings this fiscal year,” said Suraj PK, Kerala Tourism Information Officer.
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Since the beginning of 2019, THAI Smile has started adding more privileges for corporate flyers by launching the ‘THAI Smile Corporate and Government’ Program. Corporate and government flyers are now entitled to special airfares, inflight food and beverages, seat selection, free baggage allowance of up to 50 kilograms, priority check-in, priority baggage claim, Smile Lounge/THAI Royal Orchid Lounge, change of the passenger’s name, flight and travel date, including priority boarding, at least four hours before flying. Bhatura further informs that the THAI Smile Corporate and Government program is aimed at catering to different needs of corporate and government travellers concerning their budget and limitations to facilitate both them and their organisations, efficiently.
“The program makes sure that corporate and government travellers will be well taken care of and receive the maximum benefit from THAI Smile. We hope that this program will help drive sales from corporate and government travellers, significantly. Corporate flyers are very important to us due to their strong growth tendency.”
Being THAI Airways’ subsidiary, the airline not only provides mutual services but also emphasise on the cooperation and integration between THAI and THAI Smile. Therefore, its policies are closely linked to those of THAI. “THAI Smile is positioned as part of THAI in every aspect including sales administration, fare and revenue management, price criteria as well as promotions so that we all go in the same direction. However, THAI Smile has no separated loyalty
or flyers programme that allows our passengers of equivalents privileges,” Bhatura marks.
Speaking of expansion plans, THAI Smile has continued to upsurge its routes and flights to India. Currently, the airline has direct flights to six cities in India including Gaya, Varanasi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai and Kolkata with about 32 flights in total per week in 2019. On October 29, 2019, THAI Smile will
add new flights to Ahmedabad that aims at accommodating Thai and Indian travellers who are looking for convenience from a full service airline and need to be part of the glorious adventure to explore one of the world’s cultural heritage cities.
Over time, the number of both inbound and outbound passengers of THAI Smile has climbed up, progressively. Overall, THAI Smile grew by at least 20 per cent particularly from Indian routes since 2018. Bhatura informs, “Our cabin factor keeps rising in all routes. In some periods of this year, the figure has risen to more than 85 per cent, which is because of the rapid expansion of Indian visitors to Thailand. In that, Indians are ranked sixth among nationalities visiting Thailand with over 1.6 million visitors in 2018.”
“Corporate flyers are very important to us due to their strong growth tendency”Gaurav Bhatura, Country Head and Director – India, Thai Smile Airways
OCTOBER 2019 11
Centre Stage
12 OCTOBER 2019
Centre Stage
The recently-introduced airline connecting a strong route between India (Delhi) and Poland (Warsaw), Poland’s flag carrier LOT Polish has risen to a high pedestal of both deliverance and reputation in India, instantaneously. One of the oldest airlines in the world, LOT Polish started commencing operations to India with its first flight taking off from Warsaw, last month. Further, aiming to create a statement in the Indian skies, in addition to augmenting its services, to mark a product differentiation versus other carriers, LOT Polish is targeting to heighten its connect with the high-yielding corporate segment of flyers.
Ray confirms that corporate and business travel is an important traffic segment for LOT Polish Airlines in India. “Our network and destinations in 2018 and 2019 have been enhanced with focus on business travellers. Our tailor-made corporate agreements
focus on providing value and savings for contracted corporate partners in India. Based on individual requirements, travel policy and mandate, LOT provides significant savings by way of corporate fares on defined origin and destinations, more flexibility, multiple point-of-sale agreements, quarterly performance reviews and a dedicated account management representative as single-point-of-contact,” he further explains.
The standard frequency for LOT Polish Airlines is generally thrice weekly for any new long-haul routes, whereas, the company has started operations with five weekly flights on the Indian route. Commenting on such an amendment, Ray states, “We have examined the India market very carefully and identified a significant potential for bi-directional traffic, that is air traffic from India to Poland, rest of Europe as well as
North America and vice versa. So, when Star Alliance member LOT Polish Airlines announced to enter the India market, it was obvious that schedule and frequency are keys to success between Delhi and Warsaw. Therefore, being Europe’s fastest growing airline currently, it was decided to commence with five weekly, non-stop frequencies from the beginning to emphasise our commitment to the India market.” India is one of the strategic markets for LOT Polish Airlines,
which is permanently evaluating opportunities to expand capacity.
Followed by the corporate and
business travel market, LOT Polish Airlines focuses on leisure and VFR travellers. “However, the airline sees a lot of corporate travellers board our fleet throughout the entire LOT network. This comes clearly from our hub strategy in Warsaw, with seamless and hassle-free onward connectivity across Europe (to primary and secondary business destinations) as well as trans-Atlantic sectors,” Ray opines. On every international flight, regardless of destination and duration, LOT offers three class of service including ‘LOT Business Class’, ‘LOT Premium Economy Class’ and ‘LOT Economy Class’. So, even on the feeder and de-feeder flights from/to Warsaw, Ray assures that guests will enjoy their dedicated cabins, respectively.
A Star Alliance member with an extensive network in both its home countries and beyond, Ethiopian Airlines (‘Ethiopian’) is the national airline of Ethiopia. During the past sixty years, it has been offering diversity in terms of services to all its perceptive flyers of varied demands that also include the business segment of clients. Receiving around 25 to 30 per cent of business travel, the airline has witnessed a robust growth, year-on-year. Having witnessed such a steady climb of demand, Tilahun is of the stern belief that one of its key strategic markets, India shall swell with an increasing number of corporates flying with Ethiopian, each year.
“We receive a fair share of corporate flyers since we have the
most convenient and immediate connection that is, considerably, one of the criteria for the business segment of flyers to choose an airline. Our ‘Cloud 9’ in-flight facilities attract corporate travel because of the fine amenities, relaxing cabin ambience and
recently-introduced WiFi connection on the A350 aircraft,” says Tilahun who also believes that the newly-introduced WiFi service on its A350 flights out of Mumbai would be gladly welcomed by Ethiopian’s esteemed customers thus, adding value to its much-acclaimed reputation.
Furthermore, considering the commencement of Ethiopian’s operations from Bengaluru, with daily flights between Bengaluru and Bole International Airport (Ethiopia) this October onwards, the airline’s aspiration seems to be high, as Tilahun points out and further informs, “Seeing that Bengaluru is an IT hub, we are expecting to tie up with several big corporates thereby, increasing our market share from
South India.” The airline is constantly updating
its programs together with its online sales discounts that even the corporate flyer can benefit from. Tilahun shares, “We have Corporate Agreements with several big companies and offer incentives along with soft benefits such as upgrade, complimentary additional baggage allowance, waivers, to name a few. We also give 24/7 assistance for our corporate clients to provide them with seamless service throughout their journey.” Ethiopian’s ‘Frequent Flyer Program’ also offers a wide variety of services based on a flyers accumulated miles. This again brings along a good chunk of repeated customers back to the airlines.
“Our tailor-made corporate agreements focus on providing value and savings”
“We receive a fair share of corporate flyers since we have the most convenient and immediate connection”
Amit Ray, Regional Director- India and DACH Markets, LOT Polish Airlines
Tadesse Tilahun, Regional Director- India, Ethiopian Airlines
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14 OCTOBER 2019
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Centre Stage
It is believed that before Vistara was born, choices for corporates when flying their employees were limited to ‘Business’ and ‘Economy’ classes and the choice of the ticket was based on the employee’s designation. Since Vistara became operational, its sales initiatives and the popularity of the award-winning experience enabled the company to provide these companies with travel policies, amended to include ‘Premium Economy’ catering to a significant number of employees.
Moreover, aiming to get a larger chunk of SMEs directly, Vistara is now eyeing at offering extended benefits and discounts for key corporations on its newly-introduced international sectors with aggressive discounts and enhanced benefits. “We have an aggressive corporate sales outreach program to sign up clients every
month. We offer enhanced benefits for ‘Club Vistara’ members (our frequent flyer program) with the introduction of direct international sectors. We offer tier status match to frequent flyer members of other airlines for a stipulated time, within which customers are required to complete a certain number of flights depending on the tier to retain it,” Kapoor informs. Apart from the existing, ‘Vistara Corporate Flyer’ program, Vistara offers upfront discounts across cabins and RBDs on retail prices, allow changes or cancellations to corporate clients up to an hour before departure with a nominal fee.
As a full-service carrier, a significant number of Vistara’s customers is corporates. “Our three-class cabin configuration also gives more flexibility to corporate customers to choose the cabin
that they prefer most or suits their companies’ travel policies. While the airline’s business class is preferred by senior corporate leaders, premium economy works very well for mid-level or mid-senior level of managers,” says Kapoor who further opines that corporate alliances help bring not only high-yield traffic with higher occupancy in the front cabins but also with frequent flyers enabling the airline to strengthen its loyalty program. As Kapoor informs,
Vistara’s corporate penetration ranges between 30 and 35 per cent, depending upon seasonality that includes contracted corporations. “However, the mix is slightly higher as we are a corporate-centric airline and many SMEs and HNI customers travel with us frequently.”
With the commencement of Vistara’s international operations last month, the airline’s effort is to broaden its customer base to include international clients, as well. “We are growing to become a mid-sized airline in the next one year with a modern fleet consisting of narrow and wide-body aircraft, offering our award-winning product and service to customers across the globe. The new aircraft will help us expand our network and diversify our product and service portfolio to eventually get more people to ‘fly the new feeling’,” reveals Kapoor.
“We have an aggressive corporate sales outreach program to sign up clients”Sanjiv Kapoor, Chief Commercial Officer, Vistara
16 OCTOBER 2019
TRADE
In Conversation
The experience of living life starts when you find the pleasure of taking the delight in those little things around you that create unforgettable flashes, lasting a lifetime. And travelling indeed is one of them. Incepted six years ago on a similar philosophy considering travel being the most influential colour in the canvas of life, Tree Trunk Travel was an idea born as the embodiment of the inspirational thoughts of friends-turned-business partners, Ravi Shankar Singh and Rahul Kumar Gaurh.
“The concept of Tree Trunk Travel has arisen from a very basic but deep philosophy of life. When you fill positive color in your life’s different trunks, you enjoy the life to fullest. The idea behind starting this venture was to provide excellent services to the inbound traveller coming to India to explore the beautiful products of the country. Also, the aim was to give authentic Indian experience to the traveller,” Singh starts on a positive note.
Further emphasising that the company operates its every trip with utmost thoughtfulness, care and attention to detail, Gaurh adds, “We specialise in rendering well-organised travel services to make travel an experience to be cherished forever. Catering to varied type of travel needs, we meet with the customised requirements of tourists visiting India from all across the world. Providing an extensive array of services dedicated to create custom, memorable travel
experiences to India, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives with an emphasis on personalised touch. Our packages are fulfilled with several local activities. Our services encompass all areas of inbound tourism whether it is leisure, corporate, individuals or group and care devotedly about travel-related services. Empowered with the support of our expert professionals, we have been able to plan and arrange varied trips in the best possible way for our valued clients. Also, being a responsible tour operator in India, we are well-aware of our environmental responsibilities. Contributing our bit to the environment, we strive hard to promote eco-tourism and follow the same in all our travel-related services.”
Already recognised for their praiseworthy and responsible contribution to the country’s travel and tourism segment, Gaurh and Singh’s positive approach and unique skill sets have acted as a testimony to the company growing
with leaps and bounds. While attributing their success till date to each other’s constant support, Singh highlights, “We still have a long way to go but now, we know our path. We both complement each other and when required, we point out each other’s mistake as well. It has not just given us the way towards following the positive approach but also enabled us to look forward to taking the company to newer heights.”
“As of now, we are targeting the B2C market in inbound segment through different online channels. But we are eyeing on the potential B2B market for inbound and also looking forward to exploring the options for MICE, domestic and outbound. All these segments would be started phase-by-phase and we have already started working towards the same,” Gaurh shares while revealing the immediate plans for future.
It’s not uncommon to hear the stories about the entrepreneurs who, in spite of all odds built a thriving start-up with little capital
and less experience. Everybody encounters failure at one point or another. What truly matters is how you react to and learn from that failure. Considering that failure is not the alternative to success but a temporary setback on a bigger, better course, both Gaurh and Singh believe that, no matter what the situation is, failure should never stop you from following your vision and accomplish the set targets. “Success and failure are two sides of a coin and we also faced a lot of difficulties during our initiation. We did not have much capital to start the business but with the courage and right skills, we started this venture. By the passing time, we faced some issues with working capital and other miscellaneous things but we fought with the odds and kept growing. Also, manpower is a major challenge in today’s scenario and we experienced issues with the same. We learned from our mistakes and gradually continued our journey towards the growth of the Tree Trunk. With just two people in office in 2014, we now have 11 people working with us,” Singh boasts.
Understanding how starting a new business journey is similar to accomplishing the unlikely feats while still leaping forward to be relevant and remarkably creative in the market, Gaurh shares his success mantra. “Always stay positive and think out-of-the-box to achieve your goal. Things are changing day by day and we need to adapt ourselves to the situation.”
Rahul Kumar GaurhRavi Shankar Singh
Offering the true essence of country’s authenticityTree Trunk Travel ensures a positive contribution to Indian inbound
By Gagneet Kaur
In a tête-à-tête with the dynamic and passionate directors of Tree Trunk Travel, Ravi Shankar Singh and Rahul Kumar Gaurh, we gather how their proficiency in the travel business has kept them
fighting the odds and eventually made them take a revolutionary leap to stand out as one of the best inbound tour operators, today. Credited with making the Indian holiday, a well-thought-out adventure
and an experience of a lifetime, Tree Trunk Travel is here to redefine the idea of conventional packages
Whether you want to enjoy some much-needed you-time in the comfort of the TRYP Rooms, stretch out in the spacious Premium Rooms, or cherish quality time with loved ones in the Family Rooms, TRYP by Wyndham Dubai will be an experience to cherish for a lifetime. Conveniently located in the central area of Barsha Heights, the hotel is the perfect choice for guests looking to discover the city of Dubai and everything it has to offer. Close to the hotel, guests will find a metro station and a free shuttle service to malls, beaches and other attractions is provided.
The 2nd floor of the hotel provides the perfect place for you to bring out you’re A-game! Have a refreshing dip in the Pool, visit Abz Gym to keep on top of your fitness routine or indulge in a selection of relaxing and invigorating treatments at Dreamworks Spa.
Indulge in culinary delights during your stay at TRYP with its fantastic F&B offerings! There are three trendy food and beverage outlets, including
“Local”, a rustic social eating house serving delicacies inspired by favourite comfort foods, “L!QD”, a lounge style bar ideal for late-night hangouts by the pool and BARBARY, a hip cocktail club.
One of the region’s first fully integrated co-working spaces within an international hotel Chain, NEST is an innovative concept that perfectly pairs office and hospitality to enhance the workplace experience. NEST offers eclectic meeting rooms, unlimited coffee, business center services and quality networking opportunities.
SPLENDID STAYS: RELAX & REJUVENATE:
FOR THE FOOD FANATICS: CO-WORK & NETWORK @ NEST:
OUTSTANDINGLY APPEALINGTRYP by Wyndham Dubai Located in the chic Barsha Heights district, TRYP by Wyndham Dubai, a perfect pit stop for all kind of escapades, offers outstanding vibes in the city. Contemporary in design with a sleek style and chic interiors, the hotel boasts 650 rooms that are created for a modern traveller
OCTOBER 2019 17
18 OCTOBER 2019
“Trust your instincts and be a professional in the long run”
It is not for the first time that an inheritor has superseded the benchmark that the creator or a pioneer of innovation or venture had set as a brand name. Yet what makes Aditya Bhagat, Executive Director, My Indian Holidays a class-apart example of such an occurrence is his
unfailing perseverance to grow big, every passing hour, along an inclination of adding modernism in every turn of his business’ ride in order to be the “specialist” in the swarm of
today’s travel sellersBy Sayanti Halder
The ancient quote of “Like father, like son” has taken a modern twist at present
as the sons are proving to swell the yardsticks of what their predecessors had set. Started by Sandeep Bhagat in the year 2000, ‘My Indian Holidays’ began its journey as a regular travel agency. Later, his heir and successor Aditya Bhagat fortified the brand name by soon realising the need of being a specialist in the world of travel agencies mushrooming faster than conceivable. “This initiative took us to sharpen our knives and we started to specialised in Kerala, from its ground handling to packages, and later ventured into Andaman and Ladakh,” Bhagat further adds. “We added a branch office in Leh, this year and have recently opened up a branch in Maharashtra (Thane) while adding sales offices in Gujarat, Lucknow and Indore. By the end of 2019, we plan to add more sales office in about 10 more cities,” Bhagat further informs.
Having conducted four roadshows with its B2B agents, in India already, the company through the futurist Bhagat’s lead now plans to organise 10 more by the end of 2019. “We have focused on very strong marketing this year and it is always good to stay connected with your B2B partners. We have also increased our reach to the partners with our dynamic website, which is only for our B2B
partners that help them to provide a quote to their customers, instantly. We wanted to reduce the reply time of the query and this is what we have worked on.”
Synergizing both the age-old customs of the father and the new-age innovations of the son, ‘My Indian Holidays’ today is a B2B travel Destination Management Company that specialises in specific travel products such as Kerala, Karnataka, Andaman and Leh. Recently and under the sharp supervision of Aditya Bhagat, the company has also added Gujarat as a product to its portfolio. “We, as a DMC, not only provide best of our services to our guests but also try to educate our clients about the destinations. Our only focus is
on domestic tourism and we wish for more people to travel to domestic destinations as insisted by our Prime Minister, himself, that every Indian must travel at least five domestic destinations every year,” he further elucidates.
A stern believer of “Trust your instincts and be a professional in the long run”, Bhagat today admits that the elevation to the summit of success wasn’t an easy climb.
“What I learned is to be prepared for whatever comes your
way, find what can build your energy, do not take yourself too seriously and most importantly learn from the falls and errors.” He further comments that failure for any entrepreneur is inevitable. The first thing one must imbibe is to learn from those failures. Failure could be a sign that what one is doing is not for made for him although it is a great opportunity to evaluate the situations, again. “If you are looking for a safe life without many ups and downs of having a hard time handling failures, then starting a company might not be a thing for you. Setting your expectations effectively and knowing what you are in for would help with the challenges,” he opines.
In Conversation
20 OCTOBER 2019
Special Feature
The brainchild of Agarwal, TravClan, a fast-growing B2B platform, has been built as one-stop solution for the travel agents to cater to their supply requirements. Working with the current network of 8000+ travel agents and 500+ suppliers across 20 countries globally, the company has been making strides in the B2B space. “We started TravClan simply basis our observations of the travel trade. We realised that the agents first need to find new suppliers to cater to their travellers’ demand and then develop a relationship to get good prices and services. Even after years of working together, we have seen several fraudulences,” shares Agarwal.
TravClan assists the travel agents primarily in educating about new destinations and products via TravClan offline and online events, discovering the verified suppliers
to associate with, helping the agents transact safely with the new suppliers and transfer the transferring the money super-fast, internationally, at the lowest price. “While we are doing pure B2B, our process ensures that our travel agent partners’ guests receive a good experience. We understand that a loyal traveller is the biggest asset for any travel agent, to ensure repeat and referral. To provide a good experience, we hold 50 per cent of trip payment with TravClan SAFE account till the trip is complete. In case of any issues during the trip, we mutually refund the differential amount to the travel agent. This ensures agents always get a good experience from the suppliers. 95 per cent plus trips have received four or five-star rating on our platform,” Agarwal adds.
As an aspiring entrepreneur, Agarwal knows that the path towards a successful entrepreneurial journey is filled with roadblocks but the ride is a risk worth taking. Celebrating his part of struggles, he recommends, “It is important to keep moving ahead embracing these challenges. What helps us at TravClan is that given our strong founding team and
team members who joined us in the initial phase, we can solve through successfully. We never started TravClan as a business – we started to help the industry with no financial benefit in our minds. As we grew, our partners gave us ideas on how to monetise. It is, therefore, important to listen to your customers and incorporate their inputs.”
As shared by Agarwal, the journey since the company’s inception in October 2018 has been thoroughly successful. Moving forth, the company has plans to unveil a lot of interesting things in the span of the next six months which eventually would help both the agents and the suppliers grow their business and garner profits. “Travel industry should follow our Android mobile app to stay updated!,” he asserts.
Bagging the titles of ‘Middle East’s Leading Travel ERP Technology Provider’ followed by ‘World’s Leading Travel ERP Technology Provider’ at the World Travel Award 2015, QuadLabs Technologies is now expanding both its presence and portfolio by enhancing its ties with the corporate segment of travelling. Speaking of the year-end target for the company, Chiripal informs of promoting the company’s Corporate Booking Tool among TMC’s and corporate named ‘Travog’. It is an advanced self-booking tool, which features expense management in the same platform. “It is the most robust, on-demand Business Travel Solution available on the cloud. This also provides total control to the corporates to manage their travel program. It provides full transparency and price control,” he further adds. Also, he shares that QuadLabs is
participating in events, conferences and seminars to promote this tool at a global level. “We had come up with a small model solution as well to promote it among SME.”
Today, QuadLabs is running into its 13th successful year of operation and has customers, across the globe. “We began our operations with one office in India and expanded our wings in Brazil and the UAE, as well.”
Chiripal continues saying, “I have always believed in my people. It is imperative to have a strong team for any business to succeed. I always generate viable opportunities for them to grow in the company.” Under his leadership and well supported by its resources, QuadLabs is now empowering solution for business travel, online retail sales, B2B resellers, tour operators along with the mobile application. The company is helping its clients to automate their operations to scale up along with providing them with the right access to the right content and right availability at the right price together with a comprehensive solution for the travel industry. “We have a full suite of applications from front-end booking system to mid-office processing system to back-end automation and connectivity to global suppliers. Our solutions cater
to a much wider spectrum of the industry,” he adds.
An entrepreneur by profession and a rally racer by passion, in addition to being the recipient of the ‘Star Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010’ award in 2010, Chiripal carries with him a vast experience of over 22 years in the field of travel and travel technology. As a successful entrepreneur, he has the considerable technical expertise and understands the nuances of the domain. Over these past years, he has designed best-in-class systems for medium and large size travel businesses such as e-bookers, Yatra and KUONI- SOTC. After working as CIO for six years, he moved out of his last company to form a next-gen technology company named ‘QuadLabs’ with a focus on intuitive, engaging products that help businesses to get along.
“WE ENABLE OUR TEAM TO THINK AND WORK LIKE ENTREPRENEURS”
QUADLABS TECHNOLOGIES TO EASE BUSINESS TRAVELLING WITH ‘Travog’Gaurav Chiripal, Founder and CEO, QuadLabs Technologies
Chirag Agarwal, Co-founder, TravClan
By Sayanti Halder
By Gagneet Kaur
India Expo Centre and Mart: Bringing the world to expos and conventions in India Hosting 5 out of the 8 award-winning events in India, IEML has emerged as the venue of choice
for International Exhibitions and Conventions
Crowned by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India with the coveted National
Tourism Award 2019 for ‘Best Standalone Convention Centre in India’, the India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida (IEML) is one of the world’s leading integrated exhibition and convention centres. Incorporated in the year 2001, it is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) as per the Indian Companies Act, 1956. India Exposition Mart Limited, has an equity-based shareholding and the company has been successfully declaring dividend from past several years.
Host to some of the world’s most prestigious events, the expo centre has more than 80,000 sq. mt. of indoor and 100,000 sq. mt. outdoor exhibition area and is equipped with fourteen air-conditioned halls, over 5 multi-cuisine restaurants, in-house forex facilities, banquet halls, and 3 presidential helipads with 4-tier security.
In the words of Rakesh Kumar (Chairman, IEML), “India Expo Centre and Mart is catering to 8 out of 10 the biggest events happening in the country as of today. We’ve
not only set up a well-managed exhibition and convention centre but also developed the ecosystem in Greater Noida to host our visitors in a hassle-free manner.”
He further added that the venue is equipped to welcome more than
2,00,000 visitors in a day and is at par with the most sought-after venues across the world. In addition to being the preferred venue for some of the biggest government bodies and organisations, IEML has also forayed into curating its own shows with India International Hospitality Expo (IHE) that has become a name to reckon with, in
the hospitality industry just in the second year of its inception.
Running with unparalleled support from the government and relevant administrative bodies, India Expo Centre and Mart is a fully-secure event venue with all
necessary safety measures and compliances in place.
The company strongly believes in clean energy initiatives and it is the only exhibition and convention centre in India to have a 3MW rooftop solar power in addition to 37 MW integrated electricity supply.
“IEML has played a crucial role
in developing the region and we’ve seen some of the most valued brands set up hotels and business units that complement the expo and convention experience. Being a 60-minute drive from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi and well-connected to major organisational HQs, our venue will also host the prestigious International Geological Congress scheduled in March 2020.”, said Sudeep Sarcar (Chief Executive Officer, IEML)
With client satisfaction at the core of company values, IEML also extends complete branding, marketing and administrative support by offering a one-stop solution to the exhibiting bodies.
The statistics of events hosted by IEML can be better understood by reference to the following figures:
India Expo Centre and MartGreater Noida, Delhi NCRIndia
For more information and a tour of the facility, please visit: http://indiaexpomart.com/ or write to [email protected]
OCTOBER 2019 21
22 OCTOBER 2019
News
Jordan’s tourism revenue increased by 8.6 pc hitting USD 3.2 billions
Galaxy Arena and GICC to launch in Macao for 2021
MMPRC gears up to market Maldives as a destination for MICE, cultural and sports tourism
Latest figures show that Jordan’s tourism saw an 8.6 per cent increase in revenue hitting around USD 3.2 billion from around the world within seven months of 2019 (January to July 2019). The total number of tourists to Jordan has increased by 9.8 per cent as compared to 2018 for the same period. This year, Jordan will further confirm its status as one of the most attractive holiday destinations by easing its Visa-on-Arrival process. The Queen Alia International Airport, Amman has recently introduced 12 new visa processing, purchasing
counters for non-Jordanian passengers for an entry visa.
Commenting on the increase of tourism revenue, Dr Abed Al Razzaq Issam Arabiyat, Managing Director, Jordan Tourism Board said, “We are very pleased to see a notable increase in the tourism revenue and it will definitely spill over in remaining months of 2019 and into 2020, as well. Aqaba has recently unveiled its first Underwater Military Museum with 19 decommissioned pieces of military hardware at the bed of Red Sea coast, which will help us
attract more visitors. The military machines are stationed along the coral reefs imitating a battle tactical formation, that have formed the most exciting underwater escapade, intriguing divers and snorkelers to discover more and more of the dive site, not expecting what to see next and leaving them with a unique experience. This museum will help put Aqaba on the diving World map. We look forward to welcoming even more tourists especially from India as it is an emerging market with a huge population and a growing
economy, especially in the IT sector, which caters for the potential in the Indian market for MICE tourism, faith tourism, weddings, and movie production.”
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has revealed its efforts to enter MICE, cultural and sports tourism. The Managing Director of MMPRC Thoyyib Mohamed said the corporation believes it is time to diversify Maldives tourism to more niche markets. “We have seen temporary efforts in marketing Maldives to several niche markets in the past without a significant result. Therefore I believe we need a good understanding of niche marketing and even better plans to achieve results. Now we are in the process of creating a marketing plan to reach several niche markets in a sustainable manner. They include MICE, cultural and sports tourism. We are working with a consultant to formulate these strategies for 2020.” He gave statistics on tourism growth this year and MMPRC’s marketing activities.
By the end of August 2019, MMPRC has marketed the products of Maldives tourism at 15 fairs in 12 markets and five roadshows in 13 markets. Furthermore, 12 joint promotion programs, two global campaigns and several foreign media
FAM trips have been conducted with great success. In addition to these activities, 11 Public Relations firms are constantly promoting Maldives to their respective markets.
Mohamed said that MMPRC attributes this growth to the efforts of tourism industry properties, political stability and the cooperative marketing efforts. One of the questions posed at the event was MMPRC’s role in marketing the affordable products of tourism. Mohamed responded by saying that it is one of the focus areas MMPRC has worked on since the inauguration of the new government. “It is in government’s best interest to promote the Local Island Tourism and that’s precisely what we have done. We have conducted fruitful marketing seminars for the local island tourism businesses. We have reduced the participation cost for the smaller businesses and even waived off some fees to encourage their participation.” He said while announcing the upcoming Tourism Marketeers Evening which gathered industry professionals for exchange of ideas for marketing activities for 2020.
OUTBOUND
Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG), Macau’s integrated resort, hospitality and entertainment group, officially introduced Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) and Galaxy Arena. Asia’s iconic and advanced MICE Destination located in Macao Galaxy International Convention Center with breathtaking design, advanced technology and flexible event space caters to multiple configurations and set-ups. Galaxy Arena is one of Asia’s largest venues located in Macao, with a 16,000-seat capacity. GICC is a10, 000metre square pillar-less space that can accommodate up to 7,000 delegates.
Galaxy International Convention Center, together with events venue Galaxy Arena, is set to establish Asia’s most iconic and advanced integrated MICE destination when it opens in Macao in the first half of 2021.
Dr. Lui Che Woo, GBM, MBE, JP, LLD, DSSc, DBA, Chairman of Galaxy Entertainment Group, said, “We are honored to introduce state of the art MICE and Arena facilities to attract new visitors and complement the Macau Government’s vision of diversifying the economy and developing Macau into a World Center of Tourism and Leisure.”
Dr Abed Al Razzaq Assam Arabiyat
Kicking off the debut edition of a three-city Azerbaijan Tourism roadshow in India including Delhi in September 9 , 2019, Mumbai and Bengaluru, Florian Sengstschmid, CEO, Azerbaijan Tourism Board mentioned that the destination is now diversifying its offerings by inviting Indian travellers for wedding and film tourism in the country. Having a strategic corporation with Wedding Sutra, Sengstschmid is now looking out for more online and digital strategies to pull in the cash-rich wedding segment from India. Speaking of film tourism, he informed that the tourism board is in the process of setting up a film commission to garner the Indian film fraternity’s support and visitation. “We are looking into providing film mechanism, cash-incentive taxes
and production support including premiers,” Sengstschmid adds. Talking about film tourism, he added that films can be shot at one-third the cost of Paris in Baku with similar settings.“Delivering around 15 million weddings a year, India is an
attractive market where we would like to stand out being a newly-introduced destination for weddings,” Sengstschmid said to which, Bahruz Asgarov, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Azerbaijan Tourism Board added, “In recent months, we have had two important weddings and Baku is being pitched for Indian weddings. Considering an easy visa and direct flights, we have noticed a growing interest in Azerbaijan from this market.” He further informed that Azerbaijan has already booked five Indian weddings for this year, which he expects to double post the roadshows.“We want to redefine MICE travel between India and Azerbaijan. We want more Indian companies to organise their MICE events in Azerbaijan,” Sengstschmid said.
Around 40,000 Indian tourists visited Azerbaijan, last year and the numbers till August 2019 have already crossed the 2018 figure, which is a 70 per cent increase till date, as informed by Sengstschmid. “Tourism is the cornerstone of Azerbaijan’s diversified economic growth and the recent investments in tourism and country promotion are a testimony to the fact that Azerbaijan is poised to become a premium MICE destination with a well-developed corporate infrastructure equipped to host large-scale business meetings and conferences,” Sengstschmid further adds. He said that direct flight connectivity will contribute to easy visa access and also, the scope for more experiences in Azerbaijan, not just for the corporate but also for families, kids and solo travellers.
Fiji is eyeing to enhance trade ties with India through Kava and agricultureMahendra Reddy, Minister of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment, Republic of Fiji in a recent round-table event said that they are planning to promote the national drink of Fiji, Kava in India with the support of a few Indian villages. Yogesh Punja, High Commissioner, Republic of Fiji said that earlier the island was short of harvesters but now, it has several harvesters from India. During the event, a video was played on Bula Happiness with Fiji Tourism’s brand ambassador, Ileana D’Cruz featuring the touristic and cultural attractions of Fiji and the ambassador spoke about the tradition in Fiji where before drinking Kava, Fijians clap three times and say Bula and after drinking the entire shell, Kava drinkers clap once more. Also known as yaqona in Fiji, Kava has a mild sedative effect or euphoric
for some. The drink is made from mixing the powdered root of the pepper plant with water and results in pleasant relaxation after finishing few shells. On the agricultural front, although Fiji is not currently equipped with certain advanced agricultural technologies, the archipelago is working on producing organic fertilisers for organic farming besides focusing on making their surroundings plastic-free as well as dependency-free agriculture in the coming times. Reddy also gave us an insight into his strategies to further promote agricultural trade between India and Fiji. Currently, Fiji imports pulses, Basmati, spices and of course cotton for fabric. In Fiji commercial farms are led by entrepreneurs and the island nation is looking at commercial agriculture being led by mechanisation. The Agriculture Minister also spoke about the need
of mechanisation, modernisation and market to drive our suppliers’ production. “We are encouraging the private sector in developed countries to come an establish a hub for hiring agricultural machinery and India can play a crucial role in this as it has well-established entrepreneurs in organic fertiliser production among other agri-related fields.
We want our farmers to focus on farming and not on transportation, marketing, developing fertilisers, investing in machinery and other secondary activities. Thus, if we can have someone who will provide these factors of production then the farmer can hire these and pay for it while concentrating on being an expert of his field.”
TRADE
News
OUTBOUNDAzerbaijan to broaden scope through wedding and film tourismBy Sayanti Halder
Florian Sengstschmid
Yogesh Punja and Mahendra Reddy
OCTOBER 2019 23
24 OCTOBER 2019
ANTALYABeyond majestic mountains and cerulean sea
Antalya offers plenty of attractions and activities for travellers. If you want to soak up on some sightseeing sites, there’s a mesmerising line-up of spots ranging from forests, mountains and
waterfalls to keep you engaged. The labyrinthine old town boasts of historic sites, museums, theatres and grand Greek and Roman ruins. It also has white-sand beaches and azure waters for a leisurely
stroll . Home to a romantic old quarter brimmed with great cuisine, music and boutique hotels, the city is a Mediterranean must-see on your trip to Turkey
By Team MI
Koprulu (Köprülü) Canyon National Park is among Turkey’s famed watersports areas for white water rafting. The national park is perfect for hiking, exploring the ancient ruins, savouring the dramatic Mediterranean scenery. Koprulu Canyon continues for 14 km along with the Kopru River, reaching a maximum height of 400 m. If you are exploring adventure-filled activities in and around Antalya, then look no further than Köprülü Canyon National Park, that is also easily accessible from Side, with the turquoise-hued water of the Köprülü River snaking through dramatic and craggy high cliffs, makes for a thrilling experience. One can balance out the historic ruin trip of the region with an adrenaline rush as it offers a plethora of half-day rafting tours. This National Park boasts of a rich flora including red pine, black pine, cedar, fir, oak varieties and wild olives and also hosts a cypress forest. Selge Antique City and Bozburun Mountain are located within the limits of Köprülü Canyon national park. Rejoice in nature photography, visiting archaeological sites, witnessing geological formations, rafting beneath the historic Roman bridges in Koprulu Canyon, hiking and camping.
Overseas
KÖPRÜLÜ CANYON NATIONAL PARK
TRADE
OCTOBER 2019 25
Overseas
Antalya Archaeological Museum is a must-visit museum for the history aficionados to have an insight into Turkish history. Located about two kilometres west of the old quarter and featuring one the richest collections in Turkey, the Archaeological Museum houses exquisite statues and artefacts that hail from the civilisations of Lycia, Perge, Rome, Byzantium and more. The superlative collection makes Turkey’s rich (and somewhat complex) history easy to comprehend. The large archaeological section displays work from the Bronze Age to Byzantine, with emphasis on ruins in the vicinity. It’s housed in 13 display halls (including a children’s section), and both art history as well as archaeology connoisseurs can admire it. The museum’s celebrated collection is its ‘Hall of Gods’ display, which features second-century statues and busts of Greek gods and goddesses that includes Zeus, Athena and Aphrodite.
ANTALYA ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
KARAIN CAVE (KARAIN MAGARASI)
KONYAALTI BEACH
The Karain Cave, situated at at Yağca Village that is about 27 kilometers northwest of Antalya, was once upon a time inhabited by prehistoric man and has yielded finds from both the Lower and Middle Paleolithic eras. Carved in Cratese period limestone, its altitude is 430m from the sea level and 150m from the travertine plain. Karain is a complex of caves and comprises several chambers. These chambers are separated by calcite walls and narrow and curve passageways. The excavated finds include bones and teeth belonging to Neolithic man. Few of the finds are on display in the compact yet comprehensive museum on-site. The wide, arching caverns and are quite popular with families seeking a break from the city-life and makes for an fascinating getaway.
Nearly seven kilometres in length and set against the Taurus Mountains, Konyaaltı Beach with the backdrop of black-and-brown Bey Mountains, is perfect to soak up some sun or enjoy a swim in the heart of the city. Its popular for its pristine water and sand and you can stock up on some snacks at the shops located a stone’s throw from the waterfront. Konyaaltı Beach is one of the two main beaches of Antalya, the other being Lara Beach. During summer, it is thronged by both local and foreign visitors and lazy beach experience is made seamless with the available facilities. On the western end of the beach, there’s a marine animal park and a water-slide park. There are sun loungers with umbrellas and the palm tree lined promenade behind Konyaaltı Beach has an array of snack shops, cafés and restaurants.
Hotel Feature
DOORWAY TO SERENITYFortune Select Cedar Trail, Mashobra, Shimla
Nestled amidst the lush greenery and noiseless hinterlands of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, stands tall the Fortune Select Cedar Trail, Mashobra, Shimla in the heart of the hushed hamlet of
Mashobra. Offering the truest definition of extravagance, thoughtful guest services and a clear view of the Himalaya from every possible corner, the hotel seems to spell a cast on its guests offering mesmerising memories to last lifelong by acting as an indulgence in itself. Fortune Select Cedar
Trail, Mashobra, Shimla is the right place to wind up the laptop or cellphone adapters and unwind to a paradise of an unending peace
By Sayanti Halder
LOCATIONAn unspoiled utopia in the Shimla district, Mashobra is still relatively untouched by commercialisation and overcrowded visitations. It is the harbour to stunning sanctuaries, apple orchards, streams gushing through valleys and adventure activities. Mashobra takes pride in being one of the most off-beat hill stations in India, ideal for family holidays, solo trips and honeymooners along with corporate off-sites. Situated in such a place, about 16 km from The Mall Road, the protuberant Fortune Select Cedar Trail, Mashobra, Shimla features spacious and lavish accommodations with a restaurant, complimentary private parking, a fitness centre and a bar to offer a holistic, one-stop-destination experience to its guests.
Victory Tunnel is 11 km from Fortune Select Cedar Trail, Mashobra, Shimla, while Circular Road is nine km from the property. The nearest airport is the Shimla Airport, around 33 km from the hotel while the Chandigarh Airport is 130 km away. All the popular tourist attractions of the Shimla hills are at a close driving distance from the hotel — Kufri (12 km), Jakhoo Temple (10 km), Tatapani (44 km), Lakkar Bazar (12 km) and the Ridge (13 km).
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Hotel Feature
LIVING SPACES FOR ALLApart from its luxurious decors and spacious rooms, the icing of this ITC cake is its panoramic view, which delights every eye that lays upon this hotel. All rooms at this property hold a balcony with a grandiose view of the Himalayas. One may escape from the humdrum of everyday life and wake up to the enchanting sounds of free-flowing winds and the essence of fresh dewdrops on the green grass that reminds of the freshness and simplicity of life. The hotel offers a varied range of accommodation alternatives with a total of 47 contemporary rooms and 16 one and two-bedroom suites with kitchenettes, in a crescendo of views, panoramas, balconies and terraces.
Next, the ‘Fortune Premium Room with Valley View’ in all-natural
surroundings of contemporary furnishings, carefully-selected art, classic designs and unrivalled views of the Himalayas offers a total of 38 of such kind. The singular ‘Cedar Suite – Valley View’ is designed to maximise the sense of spaciousness and tastefully adorned in colours and modern artefacts. The ‘Suite’ comes with a living room, dining room, plush bedroom with a large terrace, walk-in wardrobe and a four-fixture bathroom featuring a large soaking tub, shower area and a powder room, to top it all.
The rooms, filled with natural light, are spacious with large bay windows and private balconies. Other than the basic facilities of WiFi and minibar, the hotel considers certain intricate details such as electronic safe, daily newspaper delivery and round-the-clock dining as high priorities.
BUSINESS WITH PLEASUREWork in style while spending quality time in the Himachal as the hotel possesses state-of-the-art and spacious banquet halls, embellished with overelaborate chandeliers and vivid hues, that can house up to 300 guests and are ideal for corporate events and meets, as well as spectacular destination weddings that are sure to look right out of a fairy tale. Business travellers opting for Fortune Select Cedar Trail, Mashobra, Shimla for their next meeting of the year-end congregation can make your milestone celebrations, corporate gatherings or any event, extraordinary with the hotel’s undivided, tailor-made services and dedicated team to serve the needful.
Spanning two floors, the hotel’s meeting and event space are completely customisable based on the type of event. The striking landscapes and sophisticated setting of the hotel provide a natural backdrop to unforgettable events while the huge windows overlook the panoramic mountains and might make one pinch themselves, wondering if the ‘happily ever after’ is beginning amidst the clouds, making the event be as exclusive as the stay.
GASTRONOMIC GALOREOn would leave the hotel, a kilo or two heavier, while checking out attributable to the hotel’s unparalleled and delightful culinary experience. Their strong culinary lineage comes from the parent company ITC Hotels. Fortune Select Cedar Trail, Mashobra, Shimla is reputed to offer delectable and class-apart dining options in the vicinity. One may savour a favourite meal with the wide sight of the Himalayas at its two signature restaurants or avail the 24x7 in-room dining service. The USP of both the restaurants Zodiac and Neptune is the spectacular view they offer of the lush oak, cedar and pine tree forests. Both have a large private terrace for alfresco dining.
At Level 1, the all-day dining ‘Zodiac’, the signature multi-cuisine restaurant features sumptuous buffets and overlooks the majestic Himalayas. In the day, the restaurant is flood-lit with natural sunshine and by night, it becomes a buzzing fine-dining place. Alongside, ‘Neptune’ is located at the lobby level, where the bar is an ideal venue to relax and unwind with an excellent selection of spirits, signature cocktails, wines and beers sitting inside the pristine valleys.
Striking Facets:Gymnasium and Activity Zone
Airport/ Railway transfersTravel assistance
Doctor-on-callIn-house laundryValet parking
News
28 OCTOBER 2019
To expand its presence in Africa, Marriott International is planning to add 40 properties and over 8,000 rooms across the continent by the end of 2023. Besides, it has also announced the signing of agreements to open its first property in Cape Verde and also will be further expanding its presence in Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria. Marriott’s expected growth through 2023 is driven by its premium and select-service brands, led by Marriott Hotels with eight anticipated openings and six slated openings under Protea Hotels by Marriott. The company also expects to introduce its Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott and Element Hotels brands in the region soon. Marriott’s development pipeline for 2023 is expected to drive investment of over USD two billion, generating 12,000 new jobs in Africa.
Marriott International’s current portfolio in Africa encompasses close to 140 properties with more than 24,000 rooms across 14 brands and 20 countries and territories. “Africa is a land of opportunity with untapped
potential and remains core to our strategy,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “The economic growth of the region is witnessing, along with the substantial emphasis countries across the continent are placing on the travel and tourism sector, present us with immense opportunities for growth.” Kyriakidis added, “With compelling, well-established lifestyle brands and Marriott Bonvoy, our industry-leading travel program, we continue to offer different attributes that resonate with the region’s fast-growing middle class and cater to its evolving market place.”
TRADE HOSPITALITY
The Ritz-Carlton slated to debut in PuneThe Ritz-Carlton Hotel recently announced that the Ritz-Carlton, Pune. It is expected to open in October 2019. One of the country’s most anticipated hotel openings, The Ritz-Carlton, Pune will deliver personalized service, timeless design and immersive experiences. Owned by Panchshil Corporate Park Pvt. Ltd., the hotel’s unique location at the downtown precinct and adjacent to the prestigious Poona Club Golf Course will create a business and lifestyle destination for the city. The hotel will elevate luxury by connecting guests to the destination’s rich way of life through a contemporary take on local culture, history and cuisine. The Ritz-Carlton, Pune will offer an inspiring juxtaposition of classic grandeur and modern sophistication with its 198 guest rooms, including 35 elegant suites, with stunning views of the Golf Course, iconic art prints and Asprey amenities in the heart of the downtown business district. A distinctive proposition of the brand’s offering lies in its curated range of signature offerings and rituals such as its signature Afternoon Tea ritual that promises to redefine Pune’s social scene.
“We are very excited to launch the second Ritz-Carlton in India. The Ritz-Carlton, Pune underlines Marriott International’s commitment to India market and serving its growing affluent tribe. The hotel promises to offer a truly enriching experience with distinct experiences and the legendary service to create indelible memories”, said Neeraj Govil, Senior Vice President - South Asia at Marriott International.
Marriott to add 40 properties across Africa by 2023
Anantara opens luxury resort in Desaru Coast
Accor launches its new community-based and responsible brand ‘greet’
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is entering the Malaysian luxury hospitality sector with the debut of the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas property. It is scheduled to open on December 1, 2019. The new-build Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is located on the golden Malaysian shores of the new high-end resort development and offers a range of luxury accommodation nestled in lush tropical gardens. The resort has 123 keys comprising 90 deluxe guest rooms in low-rise buildings that overlook the gardens, lagoon and ocean; thirteen stand-alone luxury one and two-bedroom pool villas; and 20 expansive three and four-bedroom residences that offer guests utmost privacy with an infinity pool, full kitchen and chef and butler service.
Desaru Coast, Malaysia’s rising-star luxury resort destination, is located at the country’s south-eastern tip in Johor Bahru and spans over 16 square kilometres along a pristine 17-kilometre
beachfront facing the South China Sea. It is near Iskandar Malaysia and is easily accessible via a 45-minute drive from Malaysia’s Senai International Airport (JHB) and a two-hour drive from Singapore. Additionally, visitors from Singapore can travel to Desaru Coast by ferry, followed by a short drive. Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas’ first venture into Malaysia, is a joint venture between the Bangkok-based international hotel group and its Malaysian partner, Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels Sdn. Bhd. (TAR&H), a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad.
Accor Group presents a new alternative hospitality and sustainable tourism offering with ‘greet’. This brand of Accor combines environmental considerations with a socially responsible approach for travellers seeking authenticity. The latest addition to the group’s economy segment, greet is a community-based, responsible and non-standardised brand, that is in lines with current trends and seeks to serve travellers who are looking to add meaning to their purchases and are aware of their impact on the planet. Celebrating a philosophy of donating and giving a second chance, greet hotels invite their guests to share moments and experiences. It represents a return to meaningful essentials, enjoying being and having fun together while shaking off formalities.
News
OCTOBER 2019 29
W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island reveals new Executive Team
Sarovar Hotels announces launch of new hotel in Junagadh
The soon to be launched W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island has revealed its newly appointed Executive Team, bringing together some of the region’s top hospitality leaders to launch the highly anticipated lux rebel brand into the Emirate. Faiek El Saadani General Manager, Abu Dhabi - Yas Island will lead the dynamic team through the brand conversion, a first for the W brand globally. The other appointments of W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island include Nabiel El-Nakib, Executive Assistant Manager of F&B; Jeannette Smit, Director of Sales & Marketing; Maren Fernandes, Director of Human Resources; Niazy Mohamed Youseff , Director of Rooms; Majdy Khoury, Cluster Director of Finance; Ayman Alhalalat, Director of Engineering; Phoebe Hanson, Director of Culinary and Essa Al Ansari, the W Insider.
Saadani comes to W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island with a wealth of international hospitality expertise and knowledge, having previously worked across multiple Marriott brands including St. Regis and JW Marriott. Saadani will be instrumental in repositioning the iconic Abu Dhabi hotel and establishing the luxury brand in the market. “As we come closer to the opening of the W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island we welcome a diverse and passionate Executive Team that will help bring the W brand’s disruptive DNA to life and set the scene for a successful launch of the brand in the Emirate,” said W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island GM .
Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd. recently announced the opening of Bellevue Sarovar Portico, Junagadh, marking the group’s further foray into Gujarat. Currently, the brand operates in Ahmedabad, Gandhidham, Bhavnagar and Rajkot. Junagadh will be the fifth hotel in Gujarat.
Bellevue Sarovar Portico is an upscale contemporary hotel located in the heart of the city. With 81 elegantly built guest rooms and suites, the hotel welcomes traveller from Business, tourists and pilgrims etc. with warm personalized services. The hotel offers three banquets halls-Grand Crystal, Emerald and Opal for business meets or social gathering for up to 250 guests. For dining and entertainment, it offers Flavours9, a multi-cuisine restaurant and Girnar Sky Lounge, the city’s first and only rooftop restaurant with an amazing view of Junagadh. Other facilities are a well-equipped fitness centre, 24 hours In-room dining, free hi-speed Wi-Fi and Spa.
The city is situated at the foothills of Girnar Hills, an ancient and pilgrim destination. Tourist can excursion to Gir National Park and Sanctuary, Uperkot Fort, Mahabot Maqbara to Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden etc.
Sheraton Danang Grand Resort wins Stella Awards
Cygnett Hotels & Resorts opens Cygnett Style Mantra in Jodhpur
HOSPITALITY
Sheraton Grand Danang Resort has announced that it is the first recipient of the M&C Asia Stella Awards for Best Meetings Hotel in Vietnam. An expansive luxury retreat overlooking Non Nuoc Beach offering exceptional service, world-class facilities, and convenient access to unrivalled beaches, championship golf courses, UNESCO world heritage landmarks and more, Sheraton Grand Danang Resort is the ideal destination resort for conferences and special events. As one of 25 award winners selected by readers of M&C Asia, a leading meetings and events industry publication from Northstar Meetings Group, Sheraton Grand Danang Resort was recognised for delivering quality service, innovation and overall excellence to meeting and event professionals.
“These winners embody what the
MICE industry is all about: High levels of service, attention to detail, and top-quality offerings across the board,” says Irene Chua, Vice President and Group Publisher, Asia, for Northstar Travel Group. “These properties and service providers made a big impression on our readers and reflect what planners of business events value in their partners. Each of these winners deserves to be celebrated and emulated.”
Cygnett Hotels & Resorts has launched Cygnett Style Mantra in Jodhpur. This is the group’s sixth property to have opened this year. Jodhpur is also known as the “Gateway to Thar” and is famous for mighty Mehrangarh Fort, its blue houses, temples, sweets and snacks.
Strategically located at the city centre and a 20-minute drive from the Mehrangarh Fort, Cygnett Style Mantra is a newly built property which is just six km from the railway station
and eight km from the city airport. Speaking about the new property in Cygnett’s bouquet of offerings, Sarbendra Sarkar, Managing Director of the Cygnett Group, said, “Cygnett’s latest addition in Cygnett Style Mantra promises to offer stay experience that one would associate with a quality experience. In the second-largest city of Rajasthan, the hotel is perfectly suited for both leisure and business travellers, owing to its proximity to the city centre and business houses.”
Cygnett Style Mantra offers several stylish and elegant rooms, designed for a blissful stay in Jodhpur. The rooms are divided into club rooms, superior rooms and suite rooms. Also, the hotel guests can enjoy a multi-cuisine restaurant named Cygnett Pavilion with authentic recipes. The restaurant has gone for eclectically selected local dishes that would bring forth the authenticity of the cuisine of the state in more ways than one.
News
TRADE
30 OCTOBER 2019
Enigmatic ODISHALand of paradisiac marvels
Crystalline blue skies and serene beaches make for a laidback and relaxing idea of a vacation that too while one can explore the vast coastline along the Bay of Bengal. Odisha is a humble abode of temples, textiles, however, its embracing wilderness is spellbinding owing to migrating birds and turtles, estuarine crocodiles, Shanghai lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Indian pangolin among
other wild species shrouded in luxuriant green foliage
By Kritika Dua
Chilika Bird Sanctuary is hailed as a bird watchers paradise where you can spot a plethora of local birds frolicking around. It can easily be called a haven owing to the hundreds of thousands of migratory birds that can be spotted here. There are several resident and migratory birds including Flamingo, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Spot-billed Pelican, Bar-headed goose, Openbilled Stork, Spoonbill, Brahimny Duck, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveller, Ibis, Stilt, Heron, Egret, Avocet, Gull and Tern. The Bird Sanctuary has over 160 varieties of fish, as well. For a splendid view, the tourists can visit during sunrise and sunset. Many of Chilika Lake’s migratory birds including herons, cranes, grey-legged geese and pink flamingos spend the winter months within the bird sanctuary on Nalabana Island, coming from far-off countries such as Siberia and Iran. The best time to visit Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary is from November to February.
CHILIKA LAKE BIRD SANCTUARY
Homeward
TRADE
OCTOBER 2019 31
Homeward
An abode of the Giant Salt Water Crocodile, Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary is fringed with mangrove forest. With over 215 species of birds, including winter migratory birds from Europe and Central Asia and eight species of kingfishers along with several varieties of other animal species, is impressive in many ways. Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary is India’s second-largest mangrove region and most of the delta that forms this sanctuary is a crucial biodiversity hotspot. The only way to get around most of the sanctuary is via a boat ride and its highlight remains crocodiles and birds (particularly at the heronry site of Bagagahana) including eight species of the vibrant kingfishers. Gharials, short muggers and estuarine crocodiles are found chilling on the mudflats during day time, diving into the water for cover as your boat passes through the sanctuary. King cobras can also be found in this area and not only that it boasts to have this reptile’s highest concentration in the country besides some other potentially venomous viper species. One of the popular tourist spots inside the sanctuary is the Dangmal island forest. A four to five km long nature trail runs through the Bhitarkanika Forest Block. There is also a birding tower inside the forest. Water monitor lizards, wild boar, spotted deer are some of the other animals that can be seen here. The best time to visit Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary is from December to February.
BHITARKANIKA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
RAMCHANDI BEACH
The Tribal Museum or Museum of Tribal Arts and Artefacts provides a brief insight into the 62 tribes of Odisha and a virtual walkthrough of its tribes. Brimmed with interactive elements such as augmented reality glasses, traditional garbs and elaborate headdresses, in addition to the jewels such as bead ornaments, silver collars and coin necklaces are on display. One can also chance upon the ornate windpipes and some other musical instruments. An entire gallery is dedicated to weaponry, fishing, hunting and agricultural equipment, an extensive display of equipment that is a rare sight. To make the tribal life come alive for the travellers, there are replicas of traditional houses from the Gadaba, Kandha, Santal, Saora and other tribes behind the museum.
Counted among India’s finest beaches and about seven km drive from Konark, Ramchandi Beach offers an array of water sports to revel in including scuba diving and surfing. India Surf Festival, an annual three--day surfing festival, is organised on this beach since the past few years now. Surf Expressions Championship attracts surfing enthusiasts from nooks and corners of the country and world over flaunting their freestyle moves. It also has intriguing activities, workshops, competitions as well as music gigs. Ramchandi Beach is also one of the relatively uncrowded beaches in Odisha that can conveniently be visited from Konark besides Chandrabhaga Beach.
MUSEUM OF TRIBAL ARTS & ARTEFACTS
News
32 OCTOBER 2019
SriLankan Airlines was honoured with the ‘Best Marketing Innovation’ award from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). The Airline also managed to secure Four-Star rating in the major airlines category, for a third consecutive year.
SriLankan Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Vipula Gunatilleka said, “We are delighted to win this prestigious award, which we consider to be an accolade for our country at a time when our tourism industry is recovering from a disastrous situation. Credit goes to the hundreds of members of our staff who volunteered for this innovative marketing campaign that reached an audience of millions of people in a large number of countries.” SriLankan’s marketing effort was chosen the winner over entries by Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic that were also shortlisted nominees in this category. The awards ceremony coincided with the
APEX EXPO 2019, the annual industry convention at the Los Angeles Convention Centre from September 9 to 12. The airline’s Chief Commercial Officer Joshua Bustos received the award on behalf of SriLankan Airlines at a ceremony in Los Angeles on September 9.
TRADE AVIATIONSingapore Airlines leverages Sabre to propel NDC offering to travel agents
Air Arabia’s inaugural flight lands at Vienna International Airport
British Airways to open new cabin crew base in India
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is prepared to celebrate 15 years of service to its largest and busiest market, India. The airline’s milestone coincides with the third visit to the UAE of India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, highlighting the importance of the partnership between the two countries. Etihad launched daily flights between the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi and the Indian city of Mumbai in September 2004, within the airline’s first year of operation. Three months later, flights were also launched between Abu Dhabi and New Delhi.
E Sabre Corporation has announced collaboration with Singapore Airlines for the expansion of their NDC programme, KrisConnect. This venture, which will be effective from November 2019, will provide select Sabre connected agents in Singapore with the ability to access and book unique NDC content from Singapore Airlines. As the programme continues to roll-out across the region, all Sabre connected agents will have the ability to leverage KrisConnect.
“Sabre will be supporting Singapore
Airlines’ in their fast-tracked NDC journey. With our scalable platform, we can transform the way air products are retailed, fuel product differentiation and optimize time-to-market to generate incremental revenue for the carrier,” said Rakesh Narayanan, Vice President, South Asia and Pacific, Sabre Travel Solutions Airline Sales. “Together, with our long-term customer Singapore Airlines, Sabre is committed to making NDC become an everyday reality for travellers, carriers, agencies, corporations and more,” he added.
This new program KrisConnect, which will expand digital distribution capabilities and enrich the customer experience, further establishes collaboration between two industry leaders, which will be essential to the success of the programme.
British Airways is going to open a new cabin crew base in Hyderabad to offer tailored services for Indian passengers flying to London. All British Airways flights to and from India have at least two Indian crew members onboard who work along with the carrier’s London-based crew. Following the opening of the new cabin crew base in Hyderabad, customers, flying on the London-Hyderabad route, will benefit from the Telegu speaking crew members in addition to experiencing world-class British hospitality.Expressing his views on this project, Moran Birger, Head of Sales for Asia Pacific and Middle East, British Airways said, “India is a diverse country with different languages spoken across cities. Opening an additional base in Hyderabad means we can offer customers the language skills and familiar culture they value for a comfortable journey.” The new recruits will undergo British Airways’ extensive flight safety and service training programme at the airline’s headquarters in London. The new crew is expected to take their positions by 2020.
SriLankan Airlines receives APEX Global accolade for ‘Best Marketing Innovation’
Air Arabia offers direct flights between Sharjah and Vienna. The non-stop six-hour flight to Vienna, will operate four times a week, on Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and will be expanded to daily flight service as of mid-December. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia and Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport officially inaugurated the new route today at a press briefing in Vienna.
Commenting on the inaugural launch of the route, Al Ali said, “We are pleased to start our direct flights connecting Sharjah and Vienna. This new service will provide our customers in the UAE and Austria with a great opportunity to discover the beauty of both countries while enjoying Air Arabia value-for-money offers.”
News
OCTOBER 2019 33
Air India launches flights on Delhi-Toronto route
IndiGo inaugurates flights between India and Myanmar
AirAsia India to start daily flights on Delhi-Jaipur route from Oct
Air India launched thrice-weekly flights on the Delhi-Toronto route on September 27. The flights on the route will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “National carrier Air India is all set to launch its Delhi to Toronto non-stop flights with a convenient connection from Amritsar and other cities fulfilling a long-standing desire from the travel fraternity here and the Indian diaspora in Canada,” it said in a press statement. The flight AI 187 will take off from Delhi at 3 am (local time) and will arrive at Toronto at 8.45 am (local time) the same day. The return flight will take off from Toronto at 12.15 pm (local time) and reach Delhi airport the next day at 12.15 pm (local time).
As part of its international expansion plans, IndiGo commenced its operations to Myanmar. The airline inaugurated its first direct flight on Kolkata-Yangon route, making Myanmar the fifth Southeast Asian country in IndiGo’s network. William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo along with Kyaw Mayo, Yangon’s Union Minister of Transport and Saurabh Kumar, the Indian Ambassador, were present amongst senior officials of the Yangon Airport to receive and welcome the passengers of the first flight. Boulter said, “We are delighted to commence
our operations to Myanmar, with the first flight landing in Yangon today. Myanmar hosts a large Buddhism community and it is our privilege to enable direct connections between Buddhist circuits of the two nations. Yangon being the largest city in Myanmar, we believe that increased connectivity between India and Myanmar will enhance cultural exchange and social cohesion between the countries.” He further added, “IndiGo will continue to offer an on-time, courteous and hassle-free service and affordable flying experience always.”
AirAsia India announced that it will start a daily flight on Delhi-Jaipur route from October 20. The flight will depart daily from Delhi airport at 10.35 am and arrive in Jaipur airport at 11.45 am. The return flight will depart daily at 12.15 pm from Jaipur and arrive at 1.25 pm at Delhi airport. “While the sale for booking is scheduled to go live on September 26, 2019, the operation between the two destinations is set to take off on October 20, 2019,” the airline said. The airline commenced operations on June 12, 2014, and currently flies to 20 destinations across India with a fleet of 23 A320 aircraft.
AVIATION
GoAir adds two A320neo aircraftGoAir has added two new aircraft to its ever-growing fleet. One A320neo aircraft arrived from Germany’s major port city Hamburg and another A320neo aircraft from Toulouse in France, making it a rare twin delivery in the history of Indian aviation. GoAir has doubled its fleet in less than two years, earning itself the coveted title of India’s fastest growing airline that operates 325+ daily flights connecting 24 domestic and seven international destinations.
Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir said, “The induction of twin aircraft in the GoAir fleet is in sync with our strategy of aggressive growth and expansion of our network. Our plan is to add at least one aircraft on average every month – GoAir has flown 76 million passengers since inception and our aim is to achieve 100 million passengers in the next two years. Our daily flights have grown by 41 per cent to 325+ as compared to 230 daily flights same time last year. These two additional aircraft will offer greater flexibility to add new routes – Aizawl and Singapore – as well as cater to seasonal demand.
The airline plans to start operation to its 8th international destination and 25th domestic destination in India, subject to regulatory approvals. In August 2019, GoAir achieved the highest on-time-performance as 85.1 per cent amongst the scheduled
domestic airlines, 12th month in a row. During the same month, GoAir flew 13.91 lakh passengers with barely 0.85 per cent cancellations as against an industry average of 1.61 per cent for scheduled domestic airlines. Also, the airline had 0.4 complaint rate per 10,000 passengers in August 2019.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation data, during the April to August 2019 period, GoAir’s cancellations are the lowest in the industry – at 0.4 per cent against an industry average of 1.5 per cent, which is almost four times higher than that of GoAir. During the same period GoAir’s average OTP is 88.1 per cent against an industry average of 79.3 per cent. As a consequence of this reliability combined with smart fares, GoAir has achieved an average load factor of 90.8 per cent as compared to an industry average of 85.7 per cent.
News
34 OCTOBER 2019
ANNA-MARIE DOWLIN InterContinental Hotels appoints Anna-Marie Dowling as Area General Manager for its IHG Oman properties. Dowling who is also the GM at Intercontinental Muscat, is the first woman to take over this role. With over 27 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, she has worked in various properties in the UK and the Middle East. She has worked with the Westin Bahrain City Centre, Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre, Sofitel London Heathrow and the Royal Horseguards.
RICHARD SCHESTAK Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok has appointed Richard Schestak as Managing Director. With 28 years of experience in international hospitality industry, Schestak was General Manager at Fairmont Marina Resort and Fairmont Marina Residences Abu Dhabi. He brings to Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok international hospitality experience gained in Europe, North America, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific with an extensive background in hotel operations.
MARCO PEDNA Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah has promoted Marco Pedna, its Director of Operations to Hotel Manager. Pedna, who has been working with the hotel group since the last five years, will now oversee all aspects of the operations and strategic performance for the property. With over 14 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, he has worked at several resorts across the world including Conrad Algarve (Portugal) and The Augustine – Rocco Forte Collection (Prague, Czech Republic).Resorts, IHHR Hospitality.
HARLEEN MEHTA Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd. has appointed Harleen Mehta as Senior Vice President – Sales. Mehta will be responsible for planning and implementing the sales strategy for the group. She has worked with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts for 15 years, where her last role was as Vice President –Sales Operations, India. Mehta was overseeing sales and marketing operations for 30 full service and select service properties across its multiple brands in India.
AMIT SACHDEVA JW Marriott Jaipur Resort & Spa has appointed Amit Sachdeva as General Manager. With expertise in operations, strategic planning and fiscal leadership, Sachdeva’s people management abilities have made him proficient in heading multicultural team across bands. He was earlier associated with Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel & Lakeside Chalet Mumbai, Marriott Executive Apartments since 2017. He has also worked with brands such as Oberoi Hotels, The Imperial, AccorHotels.
ARJUN KAGGALLU Hyatt Centric Candolim Goa has appointed Arjun Kaggallu as General Manager. Kaggallu will be responsible to drive the hotel to new heights in North Goa region, keeping in consideration the Hyatt Centric brand experience. While his strength lies in planning and budget management as well as manpower planning and training, finding balance between strategic management and adaptability is his forte. Kaggallu was earlier Director of Operations and acting General Manager at Hyatt Regency Chennai.
ALAA HAMED Novotel Makkah Thakher City Hotel appoints Alaa Hamed as General Manager. Hamed brings opening experience with varied expertise in the fields of sales, rooms and operations management. He started his journey with Sofitel Sharm in Egypt in 1995. He became Director of S&M of Sheraton Gold Mohur Aden and then Director of Rooms Division of Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Towers. In 2018 he opened Millennium & Copthorne Al-Naseem Hotels.
CHRISTOPHER JOHNSONWharf Hotels has appointed Christopher Johnson as General Manager of Marco Polo Jinjiang. With a 20-year career in senior leadership roles, Johnson has built a successful name across rapidly changing markets in Asia with international hotel brands including Hyatt, Hilton, Four Seasons, InterContinental and Fairmont, developing solid business models and a transformational leadership ethos, through his extensive knowledge in hospitality.
APPOINTMENTS
Stay at one of our stylish London hotels close to Hyde Park. Brilliantly located, the bustle of Paddington is a short stroll away, while the green expanse of Hyde Park, perfect for families, is equally close. Enjoy a great stay with exciting inclusions, at one of London’s best locations.
Central Reservations Tel: +44 (0) 20 7479 2273 www.parkgrandlondon.com
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Rates per room per night. Terms & conditions apply. Subject to VAT
£149Single Room Deluxe Double/Twin Room
Park Grand Paddington Court LondonPark Grand London Paddington
Your WTM package includes:- Complimentary transfer by deluxe coach to and from ExCel (at agreed timing)- Complimentary Indian/English breakfast- Indian TV channels- Unlimited calls to India via handy mobile services
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