IITB Day 1 2014

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9,000 meetings at IITB’s 1 edition st

Incredible India is all set to form a new platform for the inbound industry. In fact, the first edition of the Incredible India Travel Bazaar, which will be organised in collaboration with India Tourism Development Corporation, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and FICCI, is geared up to set new benchmarks from the very start. T T B U R E AU he Ministry of Tourism (MOT), India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and the Federation of Indian Chambers

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would be the intensive and sharp focus on inbound tourism and buyer-seller meets spread over two days. It shall result in significant transacting and capitalising on business opportunities between interna-

and 250 foreign buyers from 55 countries,” she added. Further, for the decisionmakers, who are seriously promoting Incredible India or are keen on the brand, a high-

We are giving VoA to all countries in the world, except 8 countries whose visa applications would be sent for prior reference to Delhi. This is a historic decision! We are also putting Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) in place. Presently, people living in a city far from the city where the embassy/consulate is based have to travel the length and breadth of their country to apply for a visa, almost making him a domestic tourist. ETA is the answer to this. Parvez Dewan, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism

The USP of India Travel Bazaar would be the intensive and sharp focus on inbound tourism and buyer-seller meet spread over two days Jyotsna Suri Vice-President, FICCI

of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), are co-organising the first India Travel Bazaar 2014 on April 8-9, 2014 at The Ashok, New Delhi. As per Jyotsna Suri, Vice-President, FICCI, “The USP of India Travel Bazaar

tional buyers and Indian sellers.” In the first edition itself, around 9,000 pre-scheduled B2B meetings are expected to materialise between foreign buyers and Indian sellers on April 8-9, 2014. “There will be 216 booths of Indian sellers

IITB Day One Schedule 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. 9:10 – 9:15 a.m. 9:10 - 9:12 a.m. 9:12 - 9:15 a.m. 9:15 – 9:30 a.m. 9:30 – 9:45 a.m. 10:00 – 1:00 p.m. 2:00 – 5:40 p.m. 5:40 – 6:30 p.m.

Registration Welcome Address by Jyotsna Suri Special Address by Girish Shankar Release of FICCI-Roots Knowledge Paper on ‘INDIA INBOUND’ Inaugural Address by Parvez Dewan,Secretary Tourism Inauguration of Exhibition Buyer – Seller prescheduled meetings Buyer – Seller prescheduled meetings Submission of completed Day 1 meeting forms

level committee has been set to shortlist relevant foreign tour operators. “A FTO committee has been formed led by the MOT and FICCI. The members of the committee include leading hotel chains and tour operators from India. The committee collectively screens each FTO’s name and discusses the potential of each such contender, prior to confirming their name in the final list of invitees,” concluded Suri.

USP of India Travel Bazaar Exclusive focus on Inbound Tourism Pre-scheduled B2B meetings between Indian sellers and foreign buyers 216 booths of Indian sellers 250 foreign buyers from 55 countries A foreign tour operator committee led by the Ministry of Tourism and FICCI, has been formed The members of the committee include leading hotel chains and tour operators from India

The VoA will provide a great impetus as IATO says the growth rate of tourist inflow will not be less than 25 per cent per year. The implementation of the VoA is in process, so we can't commit to any dates. Once it is decided, we will make a formal announcement, but we'll try to start the process this year itself. Girish Shankar Additional Secretary Ministry of Tourism

The new platform has retained the flavour of ‘The Great Indian Travel Bazaar’. The event presents a unique opportunity for FTOs interested in the growing Indian tourism market to create and expand their business portfolio here. Around 250 foreign buyers from 55 countries are coming to attend this two-day show. We have got good geographical footprint from Latin America and Russia as well. Dipak Deva Co-Chairman FICCI Tourism Committee


AGENTS

India’s flourishing tourism Talking about the growing importance of domestic tourism, Boby K. Mathew, Managing Director, Carmel India Tours, says they will be launching a domestic division within the second year of their operations. T T B U R E AU How is the inbound market faring lately? There has been a 10 to 15 per cent decrease in the inbound flow of tourists as compared to the last year. But we are optimistic that the 201415 season will see a spurt in inbound tourists.

What are the most popular circuits for Carmel India Tours? Personalised services and value-for-money offers are the key to success, and this is our USP. Being one of the pioneers in bringing Israeli tourists to India, our circuits include the famous Classical India with Nepal, Classical South India, Leh and Far North of India. Also important Jewish sites like Cochin, Chendamangalam (near Trissur), Pune, Alibagh, Rishikesh, Pushkar, Dharamshala and Manali are the major attractions in their itineraries. We also specialise in offering kosher meals to the religious Jewish groups anywhere in India as we have a kosher kitchen in Delhi.

What are your predictions for 2014-15 for the inbound market? For any country, tourism only improves when there is a stable government and the law and order is in place. Since we are going into Elections, I would be hoping

to have a government which should continue the full term of 5 years. Over the last couple of years, we underwent hurdles like the recession in the USA and other parts of Europe, which impacted the flow of tourists to India as well. I believe the Visa-on-Arrival facility being offered by the Indian government from October this year will give a great boost to tourism in India.

poor infrastructure. Wagamon and Bekal in Kerala have the potential to become popular in the coming years. Tadoba in Maharashtra and several lesser known destinations in NorthEastern states are also being promoted and should come up in the years to come.

How important are domestic tourists for your company?

‘There are several destinations which are not selling due to the lack of awareness or because of poor infrastructure’ Boby K. Mathew Managing Director Carmel India Tours

The overall handling at the airports has to improve manifold. The coming winter season will hopefully be much better than the previous years.

Do you see any particular Indian destination that is coming up and might soon be popular among tourists? Well, there are several destinations which are not selling due to the lack of awareness or because of the

Domestic tourists are as important as any other tourists. Earlier, an inbound operator would have never thought of tapping the domestic circuit, but the scenario has been changing consistently over the years. New trends show that every operator now wants to have a domestic department to cater to the ever-growing Indian market. Carmel India will also be launching a domestic division within the second year of its operations.

Expansion of Citrus Hotels & Resorts Citrus Hotels and Resorts, the hospitality division of the Mirah Group is on a major expansion drive. Presently owning 8 hotels, the group has added five new Hotels in Chennai, Bengaluru, Manali, Sriperumbudur and Amritsar under its fold. While Chennai, Manali and Sriperumbudur are running hotels, the other two are expected to open in next few months. Citrus Hotel East Coast Road Chennai, the first one to be added on management contract is located by the Thriruvanmiyur Kottivakkam beach. It is a 30-room property with some overlooking the sea. Citrus Manali Resorts stands between Beas River on one side, and tall mountains on

other, giving a magnificent view for any guest. It offers 112 rooms and is the biggest inventory of Manali. Citrus Cunningham Bangalore is the second property of the group in the city with 90 luxurious rooms, specialty restaurants, conference facilities, etc. Citrus Amritsar Hotel is located at

posh Ranjit Avenue area of the city. It has 40 rooms along with large banqueting facility. Citrus Lakeside Sriperumbudur is a 134 room hotel with 4-star facilities, situated right in the midst of business hub of the town. This is again the second hotel for Citrus in Sriperumbudur.



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TRAVTALK IITB DAILY 2014 DAY-1

STATES

Bright tourism prospects for Odisha In conversation with , JK Mohanty, Managing Director, Swosti Group of Hotels, Resorts and Travels, says Odisha has come up with one of the most advanced and tourism-friendly policies in the country.

In the last five years, the tourist arrival to the state is showing an upward trend. The prospects of Odisha tourism are very bright and with a little more initiative on publicity, maintaining hygiene standards on beaches near the temples and developing the accommodation sector, Odisha can become one of the most important tourist destinations of India.

advanced and tourism-friendly policy in the country. To develop Odisha as one of the most preferred tourist destinations and to place it prominently on the domestic as well as international tourism map, new incentives have been incorporated into this tourism policy. This would produce a huge inflow of investment in the tourism sector. We are confident that this policy would definitely attract investors to consider Odisha (Bhubaneswar, in particular) as an attractive investment destination.

The Odisha government has released a new Tourism Policy. How will it benefit the industry?

What is the status of the Swosti Group’s ecofriendly resort at Chilika Lake?

As Chairman of the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) and the Odisha Chapter of IATO, with our continuous efforts and follow-ups with the state government, we have been able to come up with the most

It was quite difficult to get a CRZ (Coastal Regulatory Zone) clearance from the Ministry of Environment, but the project is now being handled by one of the well-known architects from Thailand. The project will have huge land-

T T B U R E AU How has 2013 been for tourism in Odisha?

The new tourism policy of Odisha government would definitely attract investors to consider Odisha (Bhubaneswar, in particular) as an attractive investment destination J K Mohanty Managing Director Swosti Group of Hotels, Resorts and Travels

scaping area with residential villas, pool villas and cottages all overlooking the 1,100 sq km Chilika Lake. The project would also have a modern spa, a yoga centre and herbal garden. There will also be facil-

ities for water-sports and highend houseboats with facilities for conferencing and spa. Smaller boats are being imported to take tourists around the 26 islands situated in Chilika Lake. This would be

one of the most action-packed resorts of India. The process is also going on for a luxurious eco-forest lodge at Bhitarkanika, the largest mangrove forest in Eastern India (also known as a miniAmazon). We are also in the process of getting the CRZ approvals for our resorts in Puri and Satpada Lake which is the home for India’s largest collection of Irrawaddy Dolphins.

What are the new areas and ventures promoted by Swosti Travels as an inbound tour company? The Swosti Group has started Swosti Travels with the mission of spreading the advantages of Odisha tourism across the globe and to be able to bring in tourists with the motto ‘Once our Guest, forever our Friend’. Swosti Travels has recently

launched tour packages in absolutely new destinations in the state of Odisha, which include beach tours, tribal tours, heritage & cultural tours, adventure & wildlife tours, temples tours, Buddhist trails, textile & handicraft tours, etc. Known for its quality of service, most of the national and international tour operators have joined with Swosti Travels in promoting Odisha. Swosti Travels also specialises in MICE and hotel reservations.

New Packages Beach tours Tribal tours Heritage & cultural tours Adventure & wildlife tours Temples tours Buddhist trails Textile & handicraft tours



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NEWS

TRAVTALK IITB DAILY 2014 DAY-1

Paying attention to details Going the boutique way The specialised DMC believes FITs will be the way The objective of Flute hotels is to create a tailor-made forward for growth in inbound tourism in India. world for its guests, whatever be the occassion. T T B U R E AU stablished in 2008, Indian Routes is successfully catering to the FIT, groups and incentive tours in the inbound segment on a large scale. A business unit of Le Passage to India, the six year old company is working to create a customised programme in accordance with the traveller’s requirement. According to Kiran Joti, Executive Director, Indian Routes, the company’s success lies in its detailed approach. “As a focussed DMC, we are destination experts and concentrate on small details. This helps us in commanding our prices and is the backbone of our business,” she says.

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Going forward, the company feels that inbound leisure market, especially FIT will be the key driver for growth. Talking about the potential of FIT segment, she informs, “The Indian inbound market will continue to grow this year,

Kiran Joti Executive Director Indian Routes

As a focussed DMC, we are destination experts and concentrate on small details.

though the growth rate may relax a bit. The luxury segment is increasing rapidly and the trend of experiential travel and

exploring individual destinations will dominate, especially among the FIT segment. Offbeat destinations are generating greater interest. Discerning travellers are increasingly opting for niche and theme-based holidays like gastronomy tours, culture tours, self-drive holidays, etc.” The group is also betting big on the recent announcement of VoA for 180 countries. “When this will be implemented in October, this should boost FIT arrivals and thus, will be a welcome step,” she adds. The specialised DMC has grown in the last few years and this is reflected in its turnover. “Our March turnover for 2014 is the same as our annual turnover in the first year of operations in 2008-09,” Joti points out. The company is also taking eco-friendly measures along with inducting sustainable and responsible tourism by promoting rural India among the inbound clients.

T T B U R E AU esides heritage and cultural tourism, Jaipur is fast emerging as an attractive destination for hotels. The new premium boutique hotel, Flute is located in the heart of the city

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professional and delightful services.

Rajiv Sabikhi Owner Flute

in the high end ‘C-Scheme’. Offering a serene refuge of comfort and hospitality where Indian tradition and modern services blend, the hotel has now become one of the landmarks of the city with its highly

The endeavour at Flute is to present their patrons with the best of both worlds. A world where they can enjoy a rejuvenating stay, cocooned in the luxury of peace and worldclass services; but also a world where Jaipur as a tourist-destination can be accessed and explored with tremendous ease, Rajiv Sabikhi, Owner, Flute, says. “Our aesthetic design has been influenced by many traditions and cultures from around the world.

However, the hotel brings it all together in a thoroughly modern, tasteful and elegant fashion; making for a relaxing environment, ideally suited to a wide range of experiences.” The hotel is primarily targetting leisure, transit, corporate, FIT and MICE segments.

Fast Fact N The hotel has now become one of the city’s landmarks with its professional and delightful services



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HOTELS

Living like a royal at Ranbanka Palace Offering a great many luxury experiences, the Ranbanka Palace regales its guests with its many old-world charms and contemporary offerings. gets an insight into its USPs. says, “Recently, all rooms in the garden wing have been refurbished and the courtyard has a novel look with the new fountain and a new bar that has been added to the hotel”.

T T B U R E AU anbanka, the sanctuary for connoisseurs of heritage and fine living, takes you to the land of kings and royalty where customs and colourful

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Sandeep Arora General Manager Ranbanka Palace

traditions weave a wondrous magic. Ranbanka Palace is a heritage hotel in Jodhpur and is the only property in the Blue City to be acknowledged as a ‘Classic Heritage Hotel’

by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. This palace hotel regales with its many old world charms and contemporary offerings. It boasts of 70 fully revitalised heritage rooms ranging from

deluxe and club rooms, to extravagant suites across the lively Courtyard Wing, the exotic Legacy Wing and luxurious Jodhana Wing. Special in-room access to artisans of the royal family is also possible and these include tie-and-dye

artists, jutti makers, bangle craftsmen and earthenware potters. Speaking about the recent renovation of the hotel, Sandeep Arora, General Manager, Ranbanka Palace,

The hotel offers multiple dining venues serving Western, Oriental and Indian cuisines. In the courtyard, by the pool, the Chabutra offers two distinct open-air dining experiences. One is a lively hotspot under the Neem tree, while the other is a serene lounge tucked away under a romantic canopy of lights. Located between the bar and the restaurant is the BBQ by the Baradari, which is the latest addition at Ranbanka Palace. It flows around a traditional marble fountain and offers live service of a wide variety of kebabs, red meat and exotic delights. From traditional music recitals, Kaalbelia dancers and

For its Guests ed It boasts of 70 fully revitalis deluxe heritage rooms ranging from gant and club rooms, to extrava rtyard Cou y livel the ss acro es suit g and Win acy Leg tic exo the Wing, luxurious Jodhana Wing. The hotel offers all basic iness concierge services and bus multiple facilities, besides offering dining venues

Langa singers to exciting puppet shows, the central courtyard transforms the evenings with a myriad array of cultural performances. The boutiques at Ranbanka Palace retail many unique products that showcase the region and its workmanship. The hotel offers all basic concierge services and business facilities. Business meetings can be conducted in the conference room. The travel and tours desk is very helpful in arranging camel/horse/elephant/jeep safaris and can also assist with passes for major ongoing events and festivals.



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AGENTS

TRAVTALK IITB DAILY 2014 DAY-1

Great Expectations

New itineraries, new experiences

Spark Destinations has high expectations after a slow economy The leading DMC, active in the European and South American markets, has and Uttarakhand disaster last year. seen a surge in its inbound business in India in the last few years. The group recently participated in ITB Berlin Fair to introduce and promote new become a 365-day destinaT T B U R E AU destinations and directly interact with FTOs. tion, but Rajasthan and the ffering services such as car rentals, airline and rail ticketing, tours, visa assistance among others, they prefer promoting domestic tourism as they have a lot to showcase to the world. Says Vishal Joshi, Director, Spark

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Vishal Joshi Director Spark Destinations

Destinations, “Rajasthan, the Golden Triangle, and of course, the Himalayas are the all-time favourite destinations for tourists.” Goa has now

Himalayas continue to gain popularity. Joshi said, “Tourism fairs and exhibitions are responsible for changing trends in the travel trade. Hotels and airlines are now giving more importance to consolidators. Due to this, competition has risen and the margin has gone down. And approximately 70 per cent trade partners (non-consolidators) are struggling.” The main challenges of last year included the slow economy, expensive air fares, tourist transport and high hotel taxes. However, last year they catered to more guests than in 2012, be it domestic or international.

Quick Tip N Goa has now become a 365-day destination, but Rajasthan and the Himalayas continue to gain popularity.

thing special, which imparts an unforgettable memory. The choice of routes is important, but not more than its content. It is in this spirit that we approach all our itineraries with the intent to be different, outside the usual patterns, but inside the intensity of the destination without any additional cost.”

T T B U R E AU ne of the leading Indian DMCs established in 2010, SenKay Tours and Travels is highly specialised for India, Nepal and Bhutan inbound arrivals and is well-known for its ‘value-added features’ in all the itineraries.

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The objective of SenKay Tours and Travels is to make travellers experience the real spirit of India in a most comfortable and joyful manner with the highest level of priority to customer service. Talking about the USP of the company, Anil Kumar, Director-Marketing, Product Development Operation and Contracting, SenKay Tours and Travels, says, “One of the key points of the strength of SenKay Tours and Travels is to be distinctive. Our primary goal is to make the traveller’s experience a unique journey with some-

Anil Kumar Director-Marketing, Product Development Operation and Contracting, SenKay Tours and Travels

Understanding the present day travellers have helped us to analyse and work out our marketing strategy

The group recently participated in the ITB Berlin Fair to introduce and promote new destinations and directly interact with FTOs. Also, it has witnessed a huge growth in the inbound segment in the last few years. “We have achieved a decent growth, not only in our business volumes, but also in our credibility in the domestic and international market. The knowledge and understanding of the present-day travellers have helped us to analyse and work out our marketing strategy,” he adds. The group sees

addition of valid inventory in all the categories of hotels. Regarding the challenges in promoting India for inbound tourists, he laments, “We keep on hearing about the changes in the visa issuing procedures. However, in reality there is a lot that needs to be done. Also, the electronic media’s way of presenting and debating negative news about certain unfortunate happenings of the recent months, has put a serious dent on the credibility of India as a safe destination.”

Participation N The group recently participated in the ITB Berlin Fair to introduce and promote new destinations and directly interact with FTOs.


HOTELS

Targetting 15% growth

IITB DAILY 2014 DAY-1

TRAVTALK

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Jewels of Pushkar

Post the catastrophe that struck Uttarakhand last year, With three luxurious properties in the great desert of Leisure Hotels is bullish on certain markets this year, Rajasthan, Pushkar Palace, Jagat Palace and Royal focussing on 15 per cent top-line growth in 2014. Desert Camp will make you feel like royalty. T T B U R E AU family-run business, Leisure Hotels is in its 25th year of operations. This year, the Group plans to embark on

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and another 75-key new property in Rishikesh. They are also planning on expanding the management vertical. The average room rate, even though seasonal, is `4,000, and the occupancy is around 55 to 65 per cent in their resorts. The group is bullish on certain markets and hopes to achieve 30 per cent growth in the Corbett market and maintain a marginal growth of 10 per cent in Haridwar.

Vibhas Prasad Director Leisure Hotels

an aggressive marketing strategy, and has partnered with the Uttarakhand Tourism Board to conduct roadshows in Ahmedabad and Mumbai in April. With the Chardham Yatra season officially started, the group will also open a flagship property with the Taj Group,

“Since most of the properties are 200-300 km from Delhi, we receive a number of weekend travellers,” said Vibhas Prasad, Director, Leisure Hotels. The calamity that struck Uttarakhand last year, had caused many hoteliers to write

off tourism for that year. “We lost business in June, and July, August and September saw limited travellers. In October, however, we saw a revival just before Diwali. Even though our targets were not met, we managed to do some business due to corporate groups and FITs.” Among the main trends, the number of last-minute travellers has increased. With the slowdown in the economy, outbound MICE has decreased, though domestic MICE has still maintained a consistent growth rate, he added. Near 40 per cent of the revenue is attributed to the MICE sector, and the remaining is due to FIT/leisure and inbound tourism. Among the challenges faced by the group, infrastructure makes it to the top. “When there are many airstrips in the state, only one functional airport is present,” said Prasad.

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Pushkar Lake and promises breathtaking views.

ushkar is a famous holy town in Rajasthan. It is here amongst the temples and ghats, that the world-renowned Pushkar festival takes place every year. Popular amongst domestic and foreign travellers, Pushkar is a tourist town with lots to offer.

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Hotel Pushkar Palace, a popular choice for most tourists, is running under the leadership and ownership of Kr. Jagat Singh Rathore of Khanpur. It is a star category heritage hotel which offers a memorial stay with royal com-

Kr. Jagat Singh Rathore Owner Hotel Pushkar Palace

forts in traditional Rajastani style. With 45 well-appointed super-deluxe rooms and five suites, the palace overlooks the beautiful

Another palace hotel worth staying at is the 700year-old Jagat Palace. Restored to its past glory, the Jagat Palace is managed by the royal family of Khanpur. The hotel offers traditional hospitality with a perfect blend of all modern amenities. Set in 82,000 sq ft, the palace is adorned with hand paintings, frescoes, period furniture and fixtures, golden leaf inlay work and several other intricate architectural expressions of master craftsmen. No trip to Rajasthan is complete without a desert camp experience and what better to make a guest feel special than the Royal Desert Camp. With 351 well-appointed Swiss cottages, these luxury tents are equipped with the best quality products.


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AGENTS

TRAVTALK IITB DAILY 2014 DAY-1

Think as a Bride, do as a wedding planner The recently launched Lush Wedding is a 360 degree company that offers destination weddings, both inbound and outbound for the High Net-worth Individuals and Upper Middle Class groups. T T B U R E AU eddings form a major event in everyone’s life, and thus, even as the travel and tourism industry might change, economy might slow down or pick up, the wedding sector will still have many takers, said Ajay Tyagi, Creative Director, Lush Wedding. Founded six

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event management, but even airline ticketing, property booking, wedding planners, food, and much more. The firm caters to both inbound and outbound groups. For outbound, destinations such as Thailand, Bali, Singapore, Mauritius, Maldives, and other similar short-haul destinations are popular. In long-haul, Cape Town, Italy, and

Taking fellow businessmen and stakeholders to weddings might even turn out to be a good opportunity to build PR Ajay Tyagi Creative Director Lush Wedding

months ago, the company has already catered an Italian-Sikh wedding in India. Targetting the HNI and Upper Middle Class groups, the firm offers not just

even Philippines are coming up. Australia is also gaining popularity, but decrease in flight frequency is an obstruction. On the other hand, in India, the

famous destinations are Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Goa and Kerala. “Taking fellow businessmen and stakeholders to weddings might even turn out to be a good opportunity to build PR,” suggests Tyagi.

fashion curator who acts as a consultant, right from colour theme of the wedding to flowers, lights, etc. The second person looks into the logistics, be it transportation, airline ticketing, among others, and the third person handles the financial aspect.

Tyagi has three people in his core team, and seven in the non-core team, as depending on the projects they hire locally. In the core team, there is a

“We are now looking for experienced travel agents as partners. Since we handle luxury wedding destinations, we will have to closely work with key local travel agents,” Tyagi informs. For every project, depending on a case-to-case basis, it is imperative to find the right hospitality partner. “Since 60-70 per cent of the entire budget is spent on the destination, finding the right property is crucial. It is not just the splendour that must appeal to the clients, but the food has to be equally good. And since

meals will be served in the same place, it is important to design a versatile menu,” he added. In 2014, they aim to take on two wedding projects at least, garnering Rs 10-15 crore. “The Ministry of Tourism has focussed much on Indian Himalayas, Heritage Tourism, but never promoted India as a wedding destination,” feels Tyagi.



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HOTELS

TRAVTALK IITB DAILY 2014 DAY-1

2014 looks good for us

Happy guests: The best strategy

Vikas Kapoor, GM, Radisson Hotel Atul Khanna, Director, Radisson Jass Hotel Khajuraho, Radisson Jass Hotel Shimla, talks about the importance Shimla and Jass Hotel Mussoorie, talks about plans to increase their online of an online presence. presence and attending needs of the clientele through tailor-made packages. T T B U R E AU

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How do you look at 2014 for Radisson Shimla?

How has business been for you in 2013? What are your expectations for 2014?

The year 2014 is looking good for Radisson Shimla. We have started on a good note and we are confident that this positive trend will carry on till the end of the year.

Shimla is a major tourist destination, how competitive is the market there? Being a popular tourist destination, the competition among hotels is very high in Shimla. The advantage that Radisson Shimla has is that we belong to a well-known brand of hotels that is recognised and acknowledged all over the world.

What is your strategy for this year? Our strategy for this year is to make our presence felt in the online world. We also plan

Vikas Kapoor General Manager Radisson Hotel Shimla

to play the rates game in a careful manner.

How important do you think is a show like IITB for the travel trade? IITB is a great platform that brings together buyers and sellers from all over the globe. This interaction helps members of the travel trade meet the right people at the right place. As things stand, such events need to be held more frequently.

2013 has been a successful year for us in more ways than one. Besides surpassing our revenue targets and emerging as the best amongst our competitors, we have also succeeded in expanding our market base beyond GITs. We are now seeing an upward trend in other market segments with the domestic FIT market making a healthy contribution. We expect this trend to grow further in 2014, with Khajuraho fast becoming a popular destination for MICE travel.

Khajuraho, Mussoorie and Shimla are all major tourist attractions, how do you manage to stay on top of your game in these markets?

Atul Khanna Director, Radisson Jass Hotel Khajuraho, Radisson Jass Hotel Shimla and Jass Hotel Mussoorie

The key to staying on top is knowing the expectations of your guests and constantly delivering on those parameters. You need to keep identifying areas of improvement in your product and make relevant changes when required. It is for this reason that we are now upgrading and expanding our banqueting facilities and spa to make them the largest and the best in Khajuraho.

What are your concerns about these markets?

What are your marketing strategies for 2014?

Khajuraho is becoming increasingly popular in the North Indian tour circuit. However, civil infrastructure has not kept pace with this

Sometimes, simplicity is the best solution. At Radisson Khajuraho, we believe that a happy guest is the best marketing strategy. Word-of-mouth

Word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising and when you are constantly exceeding the guest’s expectations, they will not only return, but will also bring others growth in demand over the time. Thankfully, the local authorities have now taken cognisance of this fact and are providing the required support. Apart from better road and rail connectivity, in the coming years, Khajuraho will also have an international airport terminal to boost connectivity for foreign tourists.

is the best form of advertising and when you are constantly exceeding the guest’s expectations, they will not only return, but will also bring others. We are also keen on increasing our online presence. Besides, we are looking to match the needs of the domestic clientele through tailor-made holiday packages.



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HOTELS

MICE is the best driver Ayurvedic benefits The Crowne Plaza, Greater Noida is witnessing great The essence and soul of Somatheeram Ayurveda Group business due to a number of expos like the recently Resorts in Kerala lies in the ancient medical science of concluded Auto Expo and a slew of big conferences. Ayurveda and the art of Yoga. T T B U R E AU ccording to Greesh Bindra, GM, Crowne Plaza, Greater Noida, MICE is the biggest growth driver for the hotel. Apart from the Greater Noida Expo Centre that caters to huge MICE business, Crowne Plaza, Greater Noida hotel has a convention centre. It will open by the end of May and will drive more business to the hotel, he says.

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“Despite the fact that we opened the hotel in phases, we were pretty much sold out for the F1 race that happened in October 2014,” he pointed out. Betting big on the segment, Bindra opines, “With brilliant roads where you can literally escape the traffic jams of Delhi, this region is not considered far from South or Central Delhi. Also, the region will gain big time as it positions itself as the new MICE hub near Delhi. With Pragati

Maidan being shut for the next two years, this area is seeing a lot of MICE activities. So we need to push the destination rather than the individual hotel.

Greesh Bindra GM Crowne Plaza, Greater Noida

The edition of India’s flagship biennial automobile show, Auto Expo, held in February 2014 at Greater Noida, also got us great business. Since January, the hotel has organised almost nine big conferences and this is driving revenues.”

The tour operators’ community is also excited to see the prospects of the Greater Noida region. The B2B community is now introducing new itineraries to include the region. They are now altering itineraries and doing Jaipur-AgraGreater Noida and then Delhi packages, he reveals. Regarding the potential of Greater Noida as a region for developing the hospitality industry, the GM of the hotel feels it will do great business by 2015-16. “Post 2016, there is no looking back and hospitality sector will see a boom here. The hotel will try to gauge the market sentiments and move forward,” he adds. Crowne Plaza, Greater Noida opened its doors in October last year. With the inventory of 400 rooms, in the first phase the hotel opened with 150 rooms. The hotel is currently operational with 300 rooms.

T T B U R E AU he Group has its resorts located in superb locations, from the beach, to the backwaters, evergreen forests and bird sanctuaries in Kerala. The resorts are Somatheeram Ayurveda Resort (Chowara Beach , South of Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram), Soma Manaltheeram Ayurveda Beach Village (Chowara Beach, South of Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram), Soma

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Kerala Palace Lake Resort (Chempu, Kochi – Kumarakom Road), Soma Palmshore Beach Resort (Light House Beach, Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram), Soma Birds Lagoon (Thattekkadu Birds Sanctuary, Kochi) and Soma Houseboats (Alleppey). At Somatheeram, a team of 24 Ayurveda doctors, which includes 3 former Ayurveda directors of Govt. of Kerala and 160 well-qualified and highly

experienced therapists for the hospital. The winner of several Kerala Government, national and international awards in Ayurveda, it is the world’s first Ayurveda resort and the only one in India with Ayurveda SPA Europe Certification.




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