COVER STORY
TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
TRAVTALK
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TAAI: More than just an association Leaving the traditional format of an association, TAAI has evolved as a single voice of the industry and is working towards 20 million arrivals for 2020. During its 60th convention, TAAI is highlighting the key trends of global industry and preparing the travel trade to adopt the same. A N I TA J A I N
ensure that travel agencies always stay in business.”
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ince two days, TAAI delegates have not only learned about innovative strategies and ideas to induct in their business model but have also experienced the Turkish hospitality and culture. With attendees from India, Turkey, Europe and worldwide, it’s proven that TAAI as an association has gained its importance and value on international level. India is now recognised as a potential market for tourism with major NTOs marking their presence in India. With booming tourism industry (domestic, inbound and outbound), travel agents need to evolve their revenue models and meet the increasing needs of demanding travellers. In a bid to assist the Indian travel trade, TAAI as an association has evolved by involving agents and over two days, it has successfully drilled the message and provided guidelines to survive in the coming future. Delegates heard what the speakers are speaking; often getting advice and solving their queries post the session. Lets take a check on TAAI as an association taking an initiative with regards to
Larger than life TAAI as an association has evolved by involving agents TAAI has now started working closely with few states, organising educational tours for its member agents TAAI is working towards improving tourism not only on domestic level but inbound as well
Austin Varghese
Pazhani Murugesan
Manoj Sogani
Chairman - Kerala Chapter TAAI
Managing Committee Member TAAI
Managing Committee Member TAAI
Agents need to evolve in the business models by diversifying their revenue streams
the business sessions. The association has already started the ground work of what is being discussed and talked about at this convention. The Managing committee members and regional chapter heads gives an overview to on the same. According to Austin Varghese, Chairman - Kerala Chapter, TAAI, most of the traditional revenue sources of travel agency business are wiping off. He said, “Be it agency commission or passport/visa making; travel agents can no more rely on these services to sustain in business. Agents need to evolve in the business models by diversifying their revenue streams. To assist them to grow; associations
Agents should move ahead of ticketing and offer travel related services like travel insurance, currency exchange services, etc. need to work more closely in every part of the country. For instance, Kerala has evolved as an inbound and domestic tourist market but is now a potential destination for outbound as well, especially in religious tourism. All a travel agent has to do is to identify the potential, analyse their specialisation and target the right audience.” Thus, TAAI is working closely with various state and national tourism boards to provide destination training programme as well as educational trips for the agencies from its various chapters, giving them an opportunity to learn about new products and expand their business horizons, adds Varghese.
Domestic tourism in India is growing and there’s no need to depend only on inbound or outbound tourism To identify the right segment of travellers at the right time in the right way, it is important to focus on the business model, says Pazhani Murugesan, Managing Committee Member, TAAI. According to him, diversification should not be the focus, the focus should be on revenue model and not turnover model. Agents should move ahead of ticketing and offer travel related services like travel insurance, currency exchange services, travel packages, etc. To offer these services, trained man power is the key. To ensure skilled manpower in the industry, TAAI organises training programmes for every level of employee in the team – front line, managers and owners. It’s acting as an institute to
India, as a tourist market, is growing in every front – domestic, inbound and outbound. However, most agencies are focussing only on outbound wherein there is lot of potential in domestic and inbound market itself. According to Manoj Sogani, Managing Committee Member, TAAI, India is a ‘value for money’ destination offering best hospitality across the world, thus proving the ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ verse. He said, “Domestic tourism in India is growing with leaps and bounds and there’s no need to depend on inbound or outbound tourism. With the strong spur in middle class segment, Indians are now travelling round the year and not just during summer/Diwali vacations. Segments like religious tourism, medical tourism, heritage and cultural tourism, weddings and even MICE are showing immense potential to grow.” To educate its members on services and products offered by various states in India, TAAI has now started working closely with few states, organising educational tours for its member agents. This not only helps the participants to experience the product first hand but also gives an opportunity to meet the suppliers directly and network with them. TAAI is working towards improving tourism not only on domestic level but inbound as well. Through its international conventions annually in different countries, it gives an opportunity to its members to network with
the local suppliers of that country. Adding on networking and supplier relationship’s impact in business, Noshir Jehangir Irani, Chairman Pune Chapter, TAAI said, “India does have the potential as states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and even Tamil Nadu are emerging as new destinations apart from the traditional ones like Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala and Rajasthan. However, there is a need to work closely with travel suppliers as government agencies can’t assist travel companies with detailed information. India is booming but travellers are opting for international destinations, taking money to overseas market whereas India has much to offer. Associations, travel suppliers and government agencies should work towards improving domestic tourism as Indians are considered as one of the highest spending travellers in international markets.” Be its own E-distribution application (System One), management programme, trainings for front line staff, Travel Card during CommonWealth Games 2010, etc; TAAI as an association has acted as a catalyst for the growth of Indian tourism sector. During this year’s TAAI convention, the association has given yet another opportunity to explore a new destination and enhance our business horizons. Half of the delegates have already explored Turkey through prefam-tours to Antalya, Cappadocia, Kusadasi and Izmir and the remaining ones will explore it from tomorrow. So, happy journey and keep exploring!
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NTO
TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
New tourism products attract more travellers Why travellers return to a particular country; the answer is simple – to discover what’s ‘new’ there. Realising the importance of new and fresh tourist products and experiences, many key destinations are digging up the ground to unearth new attractions. TT B UREAU
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volve, innovate and create’. According to Catherine Oden, Director, Atout France, these are the three magic words that have significantly contributed to France’s popularity as a tourist destination. France invites guests to experience its 8 newly classified Palace Hotels, a prestigious classification bestowed upon a select 8 of its numerous 5-Star hotels. The ‘Palace’ experience can be enjoyed at le Meurice; Le Park Hyatt Vendôme; Le Bristol
and the Plaza Athenee in Paris; Le Hotel du Palais in Biarritz; Les Airelles and Le Cheval Blanc in Courchevel and le GrandHotel du Cap-Ferrat in SaintJean-Cap-Ferrat. According to Oden, several French cities, such as Paris, Nice, Pau, Biarritz, Annecy, Chamonix, Lyon, Deauville, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Lourdes and St Tropez have taken a proactive step geared at Indian guests, and identified Indian restaurants. Catering to vegetarians, has been the launch of the soon to be released book ‘Voila!Veggie in Paris’- a guide to vegetarian restaurants in Paris. 2012 will be the year when ‘France Celebrates India’. This
New Attractions Several French cities have identified Indian restaurants to cater to vegetarians The launch of self-drive and luxury lodges in Australia offer natural luxury experiences TAT is actively promoting two new attractions which are set to open shortly Malaysian Borneo is on the agenda of active promotion
Derek Galpin Managing Director CTC-India & China
slogan is Atout France's unique branding strategy adopted for all marketing and promotional campaigns for 2012. Awaiting Indian visitors are tempting offers ranging from accommodation upgrades to complimentary tasting, to free travel on French trains for children. Information on France will soon be just a click away with Atout France’s soon to be launched
Nishant Kashikar
Catherine Oden
Country Manager India Tourism Australia
Director Atout France
new website:www.rendezvousenfrance.com One out of three holiday travellers return to Australia, and Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager India, Tourism Australia, feels this is because there’s always something new for guests to see and experience. The launch of new products such as self-drive and luxury lodges in Australia,
offer diverse, natural luxury experiences. So does the promotion of surrounds & regions within the key gateway cities. This includes promoting travel to Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, Grand Pacific Drive from Sydney, visits to Yarra Valley, Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island from Melbourne. There have been visits to new cities/destinations
Turkey is promoting ski centres and UNESCO World Heritage Sites
within South Australia, such as Adelaide and Kangaroo Island. In Tasmania, this includes places like Freycinet, Launceston and Cradle Mountain. In Western Australia, this includes Perth, Broome and Margaret River. In the Northern Territory, there are Darwin and Ayers Rock. Contd. on page 22
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NTO
TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
CTC eyeing India as its focus market Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has been taking initiatives to boost Canada’s tourism profile. Actively involved in market development activities in 11 key identified markets worldwide, the NTO places India as its top priority market. catches up with Steve Allan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, CTC. TT B UREAU
Where does Canada stand in the global tourism market? Canada is a great travel destination brand and has been ranked number 1 for 2 consecutive years in 2008 and 2009 by ‘Future Brand’. Canada receives around 15 million tourists annually. And, of the CAD 75 billion generated in tourism receipts last year, about 25 billion came from the inbound segment. However, 20 years ago Canada ranked as the num-
ber 2 destination in global ranking in terms of visitor arrivals, whereas now it has slipped to 15th position. Also, one of the disturbing trends is that our share of tourism receipts has gone down in the last 10 years.
What are you doing to grow Canada’s tourism profile and increase visitor arrivals? We saw the need to refocus on our destination marketing strategy. Therefore we decided to close a few offices and reduce our presence in some markets, in order to direct our resources to potential future source markets like India. Two years ago, India was a new entry along with Brazil. Five years ago, we started
Steve Allan Chairman of the Board of Directors Canadian Tourism Commission
market development activities in China. Today we are very actively involved in market development activities in 11 key identified markets worldwide, namely Germany, France and the UK in Europe; India, China, Japan and Korea in Asia; US, Mexico and Brazil in the Americas and Australia.
What are your major tourism attractions?
Our diversity is a challenge as well as a huge asset. Canada is a country about three times as big as India. The destination has a very diverse product portfolio and there is a great opportunity for us to attract repeat visitors. We have been successful in informing the trade that Canada is a multi-product destination and offers a lot of new experiences to any segment of the repeat visitors. Also, we have launched 48 ‘Signature Experience’ like ‘bicycle hike’ or ‘walking experience on CN Tower.’ We would soon be announcing another 50 further increasing the number of tourism attractions in Canada that can be easily availed. These are great products that the travel trade can promote in their respective markets. Travel trade has been taken for familiarisation tours to give them a first hand
experience of the destination, showcase them our diverse range of tourism products as well as to publicise our ‘Signature Experience’ products.
How do you view the Indian market? India is one of our eleven focus markets and we see the potential to develop India as one of our key future tourism source market. CTC is a research based organisation. Prior to entering the Indian market, we did certain assessment, like the quantitative view of what the market is, the kind of investment that should go in the market or what percentage of the budget should be invested in a particular market. I think the growth in the next 3 to 4 years will tell us what kind of growth we should look forward to from this market. I would say a growth rate in the
region of 15 per cent would be good. And if Air Canada starts flying to India, we may even witness a greater growth.
How does travel trade feature in your destination marketing plans in India? We have been working very closely with the Indian trade. The ‘Showcase Canada – India 2012’, scheduled in March at Jaipur next year will be our third annual B2B workshop since we opened office in India 2 years ago. We have recently launched ‘Canada Specialist’ programme in India that seeks to equip the tour operators with the knowledge and expertise to sell the destination. Trade familiarisation tours have also been undertaken to give the Indian trade a first-hand experience of the destination. Contd. on page 19
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STATISTICS
TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
2012: Touching the milestone of 1 bn International tourist arrivals grew by over 4% in 2011 to 980 million, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. With growth expected to continue in 2012 at a somewhat slower rate, the international tourist arrivals are on track to reach the milestone of one billion mark later this year. Excerpts: TT B UREAU
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NWTO forecasts international tourism to continue growing in 2012 although at a slower rate. Arrivals are
in 2012, though somewhat weaker than last year. According to UNWTO, international tourist arrivals grew by 4.4% in 2011 to a total 980 million, up from
939 million in 2010, in a year characterised by a stalled global economic recovery, major political changes in the Middle East and North Africa as well as
natural disasters in Japan. By region, Europe (+6%) was the best performer while by subregion SouthAmerica (+10%) topped the ranking. Contrary to previous years, the growth was higher in advanced economies (+5.0%) than in emerging ones (+3.8%), due largely to the strong results in Europe and the setbacks in the Middle East and North Africa. “International tourism hit new records in 2011 despite the challenging conditions,” said Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO. “For a sector directly responsible for 5% of the world’s GDP, 6% of the total exports and employing one out of every 12 people in advanced and emerging economies
like this results are encouraging, coming as they do at a time in which we urgently need levers to stimulate growth and job creation,” he added.
Receipts confirm positive trend in arrivals
expected to increase by 3% to 4%, reaching the historic one billion mark by the end of the year. Emerging economies will regain the lead with stronger growth in Asia, the Pacific and Africa (4% to 6%), followed by America and Europe (2% to 4%). The Middle East (0% to +5%), according to the forecast, will start recovering part of its losses from 2011. These prospects are confirmed by the UNWTO Confidence Index. The 400 UNWTO Panel of Experts from around the globe expects the tourism sector to perform positively
Available data on the international tourism receipts and expenditure for 2011 closely follows the positive trend in the arrivals. Among the top ten tourist destinations, receipts were up significantly in the USA (+12%), Spain (+9%), Hong Kong (China) (+25%) and the UK (+7%). The good news is that India features among top spenders and thus, continues to be a critical source market. The top spenders were led by emerging source markets – China (+38%), Russia
(+21%), Brazil (+32%) and India (+32%) – followed by traditional markets, with the growth in expenditure of travellers from Germany (+4%) and the USA (+5%) above the levels of previous years.
Fact Box In 2011, the growth was higher in advanced economies (+5.0%) than in emerging ones (+3.8%) Tourism sector employs one out of every 12 people in advanced and emerging economies The top spenders, led by emerging source markets, are China (+38%), Russia (+21%), Brazil (+32%) and India (+32%)
Turkish Airlines and Air India sign ‘Free Sale Codeshare Agreement’ Switzerland and VFS Global have partnered to open branches of Swiss Visa Application Centres (VACs) in 10 cities across India, in addition to the existing VACs in New Delhi and Mumbai. Residents of Chandigarh, Kolkatan Jalandhar,
Cochin, Chennai, Pondicherry, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad will soon be able to avail the services of satellite Visa Application Centres in their cities while applying for visa to travel to Switzerland. The partnership will
be established as a pilot project and is limited to two years. It is proposed to open the VACs in 3 phases. During the first and second phase, which will be completed in March 2012, Visa Application Centre branches will be opened in
Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jalandhar, Cochin, Chennai, Pondicherry and Bengaluru. VACs in Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad will be operational in the third phase which will be concluded by mid-2012.
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TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
GUEST COLUMN
Innovate and Differentiate on Tour Content Last year, UK-based agency Thomas Cook carried 22 million passengers that paid almost US$ 14 billion for their holidays and flights. The group made a top-line operating profit of only US$ 570 million, only 4% or about US$ 26 per passenger.
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n the long term, the Indian tour operator business is heading in that direction too, i.e. a business of high volumes and thin margins. I believe that this is because tour operators haven’t realised the fundamental shift that’s taken place. That shift is in the nature of services tourists require of them. Access to information, bookings, tickets and reviews from the comfort of a consumer’s laptop or iPad have diminished the traditional role of the tour operator or travel agent. Airlines are well on their way to direct-to-consumer marketing and Indian hotels are moving in that direction, too. It’s only the last mile of travel, i.e. the guided tours, that are not under threat, yet. Consumers have taken control of ‘how to get there’, ‘where to stay’ and it’s a matter of time
before they start controlling ‘what to do and how to do it’. When this occurs, the tour operator business is going to come under intense margin pressure.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Innovation in the last mile of travel is crucial for tour operators and travel agents to retain their position in the tourism value chain. Tour operators need to change their focus from being an ‘organiser’ to being a ‘companion’ for their customers, even the small group and individual travellers. A successful tour operator is as much about his vendor relationships as he or she is about filtering and delivering content, at the correct time, format and language, to the customer. This will enable tour operators to deliver unique content, customised to visi-
Gautam Shewakramani founder and CEO AudioCompass
tors’ interest and at their own pace and time, in multiple languages. The underlying technology to enable innovation in the travel industry, such as bus tour systems, group tour systems, audio guides, electronically guided walking tours and mobile appli-
cation based tours have been around for a few years. Content that tells stories and brings tourism to life with audio, video and sound effects that will convert visits into experiences can be created by those with the right sensibilities and skills. Marrying the two requires expertise and that expertise has been developed by innovative start up companies in India (including the company I founded, AudioCompass). The combined product will allows visitors to receive an experiential tour that remains with them beyond their visit to a monument or city while retaining historical accuracy. Best of all, it solves a talent shortage by allowing tour operators to focus their hiring and training of staff to those who can answer questions and solve
problems, rather than delivering tour content. My own company AudioCompass is providing tour operators with a wireless group tour system to improve the quality of their interaction with groups. AudioCompass is currently exploring partnerships with leading tour operators, agents and hotels to provide self-guided audio tours and group tour systems to inbound tours / FIT visitors. Very few tour operators across the world and especially in India, have begun embracing this change. With increasing tourist arrivals and limited man-power in our sector, Indian tour operators must be at the forefront of embracing this innovation and change in order to remain profitable.
‘Ambica’, a synonym to luxury, in Chennai With a veteran at the helm, the Hotel with 90 rooms offers space from the bustle of the city. TT B UREAU
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otel Ambica Empire is the hospitality division of the Ambica Group. The Property is located at the city centre with close proximity to the nodes of transport and major business & shopping centers.
With 90 well-appointed rooms, five banquet halls seating 20 to 500 people, a multi-cuisine restaurant, a coffee shop and a fantastically live pub and the latest spa, it offers a range of facilities for the business/luxury travellers. Spa at Ambica Empire offers a complete range of services for body, mind and spirit. Treat yourself to a range of invigourating plant and essential oils, for mental and physical vigour and vitality
with our selected product range. The General Manager R. Kalathinathan, is a veteran in the Hospitality Industry with many years of experience in high profile jobs. The group is on a major expansion spree with 10 new properties coming up in different states.
‘Hospitality Leadership Award for the year 2011-12’ awarded to R.Kalathinathan, General Manager, Ambica Empire Hotel, Chennai at Golden Star Awards by Stars of the Industry Group
The hotel looks new with lots of activities happening all around and newer
facilities being added on. The promoters have studied and incorporated the best of the facilities and services
observed from their globetrotting. This hotel is truly at par with any luxury hotel in any part of the world.
In the 18th century, Samuel Johnson said, “The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” We need strong leadership from the management of leading tour operators to get closer to Johnson’s goal. Gautam Shewakramani is founder and CEO of AudioCompass, a leading cultural interpretation provider that serves over 7 million visitors in India via multi-lingual audio tours, wireless group tour systems, and GPSenabled bus tours of monuments and cities, including the Taj Mahal. He can be reached at gautam@audiocompass.in. Visit www.audiocompass.in and follow @AudioCompassIND for more.
Airbus develops software to support safer landings A new specialised consulting service offered by Airbus will help improve the safety of landing operations at airports around the world, leveraging the capabilities of its advanced Exact Landing Interference Simulation Environment (ELISE) software. In addition to raising safety levels during landing operations – particularly in flying conditions with low or no visibility – ELISE can enable increased runway capacity as well as the optimisation of airside land usage.
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TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
INTERVIEW
India Tourism needs Government support: WTTC World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) plans to hold a meeting with the Prime Minister and top members from tourism-related ministries to discuss challenges faced by the Indian tourism and hospitality industry. It also plans to hold a regional summit in India in the next 18 months. A N I TA J A I N
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ccording to World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Indian market is growing at around seven to eight per cent. It is the fastest growing market in the world alongside China and Brazil. However, the country is lagging behind due to minimum infrastructure and government policies. According to David Scowsill, President & CEO, WTTC, India needs lot more investment in the infrastructure bringing airports, roadways, railway networks and
hotels that will attract more tourists to the country. Informing about the private meeting to present a special report to the Prime Minister and heads of the Indian states in near future, he said, “We will present a ten year forecast of travel and tourism industry of India. The report will highlight the five key requirements – infrastructure, taxation, visa, investment and interest rates. The WTTC India Initiative will be working with the local travel trade associations like TAAI, TAFI and FHRAI and put all their research statistics together resulting in one voice.” The council is also planning to hold its first regional summit in India anytime in next 18 months for the
right level of investment in infrastructure.
whole South East Asian market and have requested the same to Subodh Kant Sahai, Union minister for tourism, Government of India. Advising about learning lessons from China, Scowsill said, “Beijing receives over 100 million travellers every year, 74 million going from one airport. In the next five years, it will receive over 200 million travellers. Thus, to cope with this growth, they have planned in advance to build another airport. They are always thinking ahead and investing in hotels, airport infrastructure, and in high speed rail links. India could learn a lot by looking at what China has done in the last 15 years in terms of public and private sector coordination, investing in public infrastructure to stay ahead of the growth curve.”
Global perspective
David Scowsill President & CEO WTTC
India needs lot more investment in the infrastructure bringing airports, roadways, railway networks and hotels to attract visitors
He informed that India is behind the growth curve while not having enough
hotel rooms. There are more hotel rooms in Orlando than in the entire India. There is lot of potential in the country and it will reach its potential provided the government gives it right support, getting taxation straight, sorting out visa issues and providing
According to WTTC forecast, travel and tourism industry contributes close to nine per cent in the global GDP through USD six trillion. The number is expected to reach 9.6 per cent by 2021, becoming an industry of USD nine trillion. Providing a global perspective for the Indian market, Scowsill informed that there is a need for efficiency in visa regulations for free movement of travelling; enhanced tax structure resulting in policies for growth and addressing the environmental and human resource needs for the future tourism. He said, “India is no doubt growing at an exponential rate but due to various challenges faced by the different segments of the industry, the growth barometer is stuck. For instance, according to our forecast for Indian aviation sector by 2020, over 90 million international passengers per annum will visit India. Till that period, Indian airports will be able to handle 450 million passengers (both domestic and international) per annum. The challenge here would be balancing the demand with capacity discipline.”
A major step forward According to the council, access to countries in US remains probably the biggest challenge affecting the industry. Thus, WTTC has offered its support to proposals laid out by Barack Obama, President, United States of Amercia; branding the move as ‘a major step forward’. He said, “President Obama should be congratulated for signing the executive order and announcing a suite of initiatives to significantly increase travel and tourism in the country. Figures from the USA travel industry and Bureau of Economic Analysis show that ‘long haul’ travellers spend on average USD 4000 on each visit. It is no surprise that the US Administration is taking much-needed steps to expand the visa waiver programme, reduce the time taken to wait for an interview and increase the capacity to process visas in China and Brazil by 40 per cent during this year.”
Food for Thought India could learn a lot by looking at what China has done in the last 15 years in terms of public and private sector coordination, investing in public infrastructure to stay ahead of the growth curve India is no doubt growing at an exponential rate but due to various challenges faced by the different segments of the industry, the growth barometer is stuck
Austria: Luring Indians The Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO) India, recently concluded a three-city India roadshow promoting Austria as a dream destination for Summer 2012. showcase Austria as a ‘dream destination’ for summer 2012.
T T B U R E AU
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he tourism board has set sight on another year of equally healthy growth in 2012. Talking to , Christine Mukharji, Director, ANTO India informed that Austria recorded a whopping 47 per cent increase in the Indian tourist arrivals with a total of 85,000 in 2011. The bed-nights by the Indian visitors totalled to a 1,65,000. Mukharji informed that the NTO is confident of continuing this momentum in 2012 as well and is targetting anywhere between 20 to 40 per cent increase in tourist arrivals this year. The Austrian official tourism agency recently concluded a three-city B2B (trade) roadshow in India promoting
Christine Mukharji Director ANTO India
Austria as a dream destination for the coming summer. The ANTO annual workshop (held in February 7-9, 2012) brought some 14 Austrian suppliers, including regional tourism boards, incoming agencies, attractions and other travel partners, to India to
The roadshow was held in 3 cities - Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi and attracted close to 400 travel agents and tour operators, who came to scout and shop for the Austrian tourism products. The Austrian suppliers especially highlighted the cultural diversity, their unique landscape, Austrian hotels and hospitality while showcasing Austria as a year-round snow destination to the Indian buyers.
Fact Austria recorded a whopping 47 per cent increase in the Indian tourist arrivals with a total of 85,000 in 2011
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TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
HOTELS
Banyan Tree Macau – Experience Life The hotel is offering a “Weekday Retreat” package appealing to guests wishing to experience Banyan Tree’s world-renowned philosophy of the resort as a sanctuary for the senses TT B UREAU
with their own swimming pools in private gardens. Banyan Tree will change the way you imagined high-rise living. In this instance, seeing is truly believing.
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ocated in the vibrant Cotai city, 15 minutes from Macau International Airport and a mere 10 minutes from Taipa Ferry Terminal and Macau Heliport, Banyan Tree Macau is a “sanctuary for the senses” for visitors to Asia’s premier entertainment and gaming destination. Banyan Tree Macau is also the first highrise urban resort in Macau to feature private indoor Relaxation Pools in all its expansive suites, and the only luxury hotel with fullsized resort villas amidst their own gardens complete with a private swimming
pool. Part of the Galaxy Macau, this exclusive resort comprises 246 suites, including the ultraexclusive Presidential Suite and 10 pool villas. Take in breathtaking views of Macau’s skyline in an atmosphere of peace and serenity that Banyan Tree is famed for. Banyan Tree Macau invites you to experience life as it was meant to be.
Banyan Tree Macau marks the internationally renowned luxury hospitality brand’s debut in the former Portuguese enclave with two signature fine dining outlets including European-style Belon and celebrated Thai restaurant Saffron. A major attraction is Macau’s first award-winning Banyan Tree Spa, a 3,400 sqm haven of pampering and experiences steeped in holistic Asian healing traditions alongside two tropical pools. As well as Suites with indoor Relaxation Pools, Banyan Tree Macau also features ten Pool Villas
The hotel is offering a “Weekday Retreat” package appealing to guests wishing to experience Banyan Tree’s world-renowned philosophy of the resort as a sanctuary for the senses. Special rates starting from MOP2,699* per night are on offer until April 26 for guests booking a Grand Cotai Suite and above with at least two consecutive weekday nights, from Sunday to Thursday. Daily breakfast for two is included in the promotion which offers a stylish diversion from the hustle and bustle of city life at the resort – the first of its kind in Macau to feature private indoor Relaxation Pools in all of its opulent suites. Also included is a MOP888 spending credit at hotel restaurants, the spa or gallery. Guests staying for three consecutive nights also
receive a 90-minute complimentary spa treatment (60minute massage and 30minute refreshment and relaxation session). This offer is open for bookings made from now through April 25 for stays until April 26, with the exception of April 2-8, which marks the Ching Ming Festival and Easter. Advance reservations of 48 hours prior to arrival are required and bookings are subject to availability.
Offering Breathtaking views of Macau’s skyline in an atmosphere of peace and serenity Ten Pool Villas with their own swimming pools in private gardens “Weekday package
Retreat”
Private indoor Relaxation Pools in all of its opulent suites
Sinclairs Hotels on Fast Growth Track Hotels Sinclairs reopened its 72-room and 7-suite hill resort Sinclairs Retreat Ooty, located at 2240m above sea level in the panoramic Nilgiri Hills. It has been extensively refurbished after undergoing a complete renovation and upgradation programme through all of 2011. The property, which is a 3-hour drive from the Coimbatore airport, has opened in time to leverage the peak summer season which typically sees a spike in tourist arrivals in the region. Sinclairs’ portfolio, ex-Ooty, which comprises properties in Siliguri, Darjeeling, Dooars and Port Blair, recorded strong year-onyear performance with a 10% increase in topline and 5% increase in profit from the previous year. The group recently acquired majority ownership of Savannah Sarovar Premiere- a 104 room upscale operational hotel in Whitefield, the IT hub of Bengaluru.
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HOTELS
TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
Kolkata gets new Pride Hotel
Focusing on medical tourism
Pride Group of Hotels, one of the fastest growing hospitality chains in the country is ready with its 12th hotel in Eastern India with launch of 153 room. Travel Boutique Online is a B2B Travel Portal and has over 14,000 travel agents TT B UREAU with the launch of our first property at Kolkata.” as its customers and has presence in ith an investment of The Property is W`100 crore, the propover 300 cities in India and Middle East. equipped with four confererty houses all-day dining, lounge bar, banquetting and conferencing facilities, health club & Spa and swimming pool. It offers a combination of deluxe, superior, premium rooms and suites that are aesthetically designed and furnished with state-of-the-art amenities to provide high level of comfort to every visitor. Conveniently located in the upcoming New Town area of Kolkata at Rajarhat – the industrial and IT hub – and at just 15 minutes drive from the airport, it is a perfect
destination for leisure and business travellers. Announcing the developments, S P Jain, Managing Director, Pride Hotels said, “We are buoyant on the industry’s growth of Kolkata, particularly the IT/ITes segment that has fuelled the demand of upscale midmarket hotels in this region. While the cultural capital has always been in the forefront of
attracting a large volume of leisure tourists, Kolkata is recording a steady growth of business travellers. However, there is still acute shortage of upscale mid-market hotel rooms in the city as there has been no major addition in the number of hotel rooms over the last decade. We are extremely privileged to bridge this gap
About Pride The Hotel is equipped with four conference halls and two Board rooms to take care of all the MICE facilities
ence halls and two Board rooms to take care of all the MICE facilities. A wellequipped business centre further adds to the facilities for business travellers. Other facilities include round-the-clock room service, valet parking, laundry service, currency exchange and travel counter. Pride Hotels are promoted by the Rs 3000 crore S P group of companies, which are engaged in the business of hospitality, construction, financial services for the hospitality industry. The Group is currently operating twelve hotels in cities of Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Nagpur, Kolkata and Chennai and Gurgaon under the Pride Hotel Brand and at Ranipet, Kochi, Salem, Jaipur and Alleppey under the ‘Pride Biznotel’ and ‘Pride Resorts’ brands.
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he portal offers a wide range of travel services to its partners, which further enables them to serve the end-customers more efficiently with the right pricing and inventory. The portal continues to grow from strength to strength with innovative travel products and is widening its travel agent network. “We are increasing our presence in North Africa in areas like Morocco, Egypt in the next three to six months,” says Ankush Nijhawan, Managing Director, Nijhawan Group. It is a vertical of the Nijhawan Group. “We have marked a strong presence in the South East Asian countries. Definitely, we will increase our footsteps in the Middle East and
Ankush Nijhawan Managing Director Nijhawan Group
North African regions,” he says. The group has around 600 people. The company is planning to come out with products like mobile applications. Medical tourism is one of the verticals that they are working strongly on. India and Middle East comprise its key markets. They are working on increasing distribution at a pan India level.
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HOTELS
TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
Marriott compliments TAAI on its glorious 60th anniversary
One billion tourists key to creating jobs
The 1bn international tourists Over the years, TAAI, as an Association, has gained recognition from expected to travel this year are a vital the local and overseas travel suppliers and government agencies. force for economic growth, said Taleb Adding more to its credentials, Marriott International congratulates Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO. the Association for the milestone attained since its inception. sustainable practices from T T B U R E AU T T B U R E AU
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arriott itself completes 85 years of redefining the hospitality industry through innovative brands and services. This year, the group is celebrating its success by expanding across the globe under different brands. Marriott has recently introduced the Marriott City Centre Shanghai, its 26th property in Shanghai this year along with opening its biggest property
in Middle East - JW Marriott Marquis Dubai (1608 rooms) by end of this year. At a height of 355 metres (1,164 feet), the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is the tallest dedicated hotel building in the world and is just 26 metres (85 feet) shorter than the Empire State Building in New York. In addition to the above, Marriott newest brands, The Autograph Collection and AC Hotels by Marriott have been very well received by travellers all across the globe. In India, the brand will open JW Marriott, New Delhi International Airport (510 rooms) and
Ramesh Daryanani Regional Director – Global Sales, India Marriott International
Marriott Whitefield Hotel in Bengaluru (250 rooms) this year. Cheering for TAAI, Ramesh Daryanani, Regional Director – Global Sales, India, Marriott International said, “TAAI is a very strong association in the Indian travel
industry and with distinctive managing committee team, I’m sure the association will go a long way. We, as one of the leading hospitality brands in India, are going to support the association as travel trade is one of the key distribution sales channels. Through our Hotel Excellence programme dedicated exclusively for the trade, we are working closely with agencies across India and educating them about our various properties and brands across the globe, their features, services and facilities. On our 85th anniversary, we have some great things planned for the brand in India and overseas. In India, we plan to open six properties this year and are targetting to manage a portfolio of 40 properties by 2013 and 100 by 2015.”
“B
y the end of 2012, one seventh of the world’s population will have crossed international borders as tourists in a single year,” said Rifai in his keynote speech at the official opening of ITB. This ‘extraordinary number’ will contribute to more jobs, higher income possibilities and countless opportunities for development, so critical at this time of economic uncertainty, he added.
“With growth comes responsibility,” continued Rifai. Tourism, if properly planned and managed, can be one of the most promising sectors for achieving a more sustainable future he said. “Imagine how business models would be transformed if one billion people demanded
hotels and tour operators. Imagine how many would benefit if one billion people bought local produce or hired a local guide. These are small actions, but given the size of our sector, their impact would be huge.” Referring to the emerging challenges for international tourism as it reaches one billion, Rifai spoke of the many people still facing barriers to travel. “Complicated, lengthy and overpriced entry formalities are making it extremely difficult for tourists, especially from emerging economies which are leading growth in terms of outbound markets, to travel,” he said adding that obstacles such as burdensome visa processes are not just a barrier to travellers, but to, “Growth, job creation and free trade.”
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TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
GUEST COLUMN
Cloud computing offers higher scalability Cloud helps enterprises to have a dynamically scalable abstracted computing infrastructure that is available on-demand and a pay-per-use basis. This model saves the IT teams from investing heavily on infrastructure and shields them from the intricacies involved in infrastructure setup. T T B U R E AU
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resently, apart from providing the on-demand IT infrastructure, cloud service providers such as Amazon typically provide interfaces for other related IT management services such as requesting, provisioning the offered infrastructure using the Infrastructure-asa-Service model. If we try to understand the applicability of Cloud computing to the travel industry, availability Searching or Shopping will probably be the best fit; it is by and large the biggest
resource eater in a legacy environment. On the onset it may seem to be a complex and upheaval task to decouple this area of functionality from the traditional CRS functionality, because it creates some sort of operational challenges like latency. However, these challenges can be handled through a cloud-based solution which offers higher scalability and the usage of modern architecture patterns. Apart from availability searching or shopping, mobile applications/services (which is going to see unprecedented growth in demand over the next decade) is another area where a cloud strategy can bring a competitive advantage for travel enter-
Somenath Nag Head - Vertical Marketing Blue Star Infotech Limited
prises. The key challenges that travel enterprises are facing today regarding mobile and social media channels are manifold: • With the advancements of smart phone platforms such as iPhone, iPad, Android, Symbian and Blackberry, travel enterprises need to invest in
supporting multiple platforms and handsets.
market with a lower risk and financial strain.
• Mobility being a new technology is difficult to predict in terms of short term as well as long term demand. Due to this, travel enterprises are facing a challenge in scoping the required infrastructure for supporting mobility channel.
Solution for the ‘long tail’
• Today there is no proven business model to directly measure the increase in revenue and profit against the costs incurred in mobility & social media investments. Cloud-based flexible and on-demand infrastructure enables a travel enterprise to offer mobility and social media channels without incurring any fixed cost. Using cloud a travel enterprise can start in a small way and grow into this evolving
As we know the travel industry comprises many small to mid-sized companies & agents, a large majority of which are very entrepreneurial and niche in terms of the products and services they offer. Companies of these ‘long tail’ have little or limited IT knowledge or support and rely on numerous third parties for IT. These companies always find it to be challenging to balance their IT spending between IT infrastructure and Sales & marketing. The huge IT infrastructure required for running any scalable IT operation is a major cost for these companies and becomes a barrier to their business growth. Even today many small time travel enterprises do not even have an IT system, because they cannot afford to set-up an IT operation in-house. Economics of
Cloud environment can change this basic premise and make it both affordable and beneficial for all parties, so that travel enterprises of any size can use this service and get a competitive advantage. At the other end of the horizon, start-ups are finding it easier to build and offer products like CRSs, Tour Operating Systems, Distribution Systems or basic inventory systems in a SaaS model, since this on-demand model is a strong value proposition and brings a competitive edge to their offerings. Having a cloud environment at more economic rates brings a tremendous advantage to such companies because it helps them to manage their cash flow better. From the above discussion we can conclude that travel enterprise can achieve higher profits by leveraging the power of cloud computing. (Somenath Nag heads vertical marketing function of Blue Star Infotech. Nag has special interest in strategic management, e-Marketing, Business Intelligence, Cloud Computing and Enterprise Mobility.)
Offering the finest in Mauritius Set in the North West coast of Mauritius, Angsana Balaclava is an oasis of relaxation and privacy designed ideally for couples and honeymooners. T T B U R E AU
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estled in the secluded area of Turtle Bay, Angsana Balaclava offers a hideaway ideal for travellers
looking for privacy and relaxation. The Property is the island’s premier boutique resort – the latest 5-star resort on the Mauritian landscape. Located 55-minutes drive from Plaisance International Airport and only 15 minutes drive from Port Louis, the capital city, Angsana Balaclava is the first 5-star boutique resort consisting of 52 suites and villa only, set on an intimate pristine beach, endowed with
various dining venues and an outstanding array of recreational and dining facilities. 52 suites and villa offer privacy and pampering
designed to be a home away from home. Bespoke in-room dinners create the perfect canvas for romance while the attentive staff are on-hand to meet the needs. Picture perfect gardens adorned with tropical plants and palms create a haven for relaxation. Balaclava is a popular coastal region as it benefits from the best weather in Mauritius. It enjoys hot temperatures throughout the whole year ideal for tourists wishing to soak in
the sunniest and warmest weather in Mauritius. Besides spa options, there are on-site beauty salons, gymnasium and recreation centre. For those who have to combine business with pleasure, the resort is equipped with meeting facilities perfect for small-to-medium corporate functions. Surrounding attractions include the nearby Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens and the Beau Plan Sugar Museum to learn about the history of Mauritius. At Port Louis, explore the bustling capital of Mauritius with its colourful local markets and fashionable shops. Grand Baie, a picturesque sea-side village overlooking the bay in the northern tip of the island.
Ideal Getaway Located 55-minutes drive from Plaisance International Airport and only 15 minutes drive from Port Louis, Angsana Balaclava is the first 5-star boutique resort consisting of 52 suites and villa
TECHNOLOGY
TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
TRAVTALK
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Thrilling experience in the desert car rally To promote tourism in Rajasthan and Gujarat, Quadlabs participated in the car rally, Desert Storm 2012. T T B U R E AU
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nce again Quadlabs stood victorious at the desert storm car rally and Gaurav Chiripal, CEO, Quadlabs took the lead in this triumph. The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara was driven by Chiripal himself. He fought through the deserts and came up with an amazing ability to manoeuvre the tough ride. He achieved second place overall in the Xtreme Category of Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2012.
CTC eyeing India as its focus market Contd. from page 4
What are you doing to help ease the Visa facilitation in India? Visa facilitation is an important area. We have already taken initiatives to help improve the Visa process in India. We have had a very successful plan in China. We are now trying to introduce the same model in India. We don’t really act as a Visa facilitator but one of the advantages of having an office in India is that there is now a conduit. Visa facilitation has certainly improved in the last one year. But it can be better and we hope to accomplish that.
What is your investment plan for the Indian market next year? We had CAD 2 million allocation for the Indian market in 2011 of which we have been able to spend 1.9 million. However, we don’t yet have the allocation for the Indian market for the next year but I would like to see even more budget allocated for India for 2012. Besides, the provincial partners also pool resources. We have a sophisticated model to determine where should we invest and how much.
“It was a real thrilling experience driving on these terrains and competing amongst the best drivers from India. We got stuck in sand while overtaking the cars in front and on the first day itself, we were pushed back to 11th position on the grid. I really loved driving on
state of Jammu and Kashmir sponsored by J & K Tourism. QuadLabs won the rally with a huge margin.
the beautiful sand dunes in Jaisalmer and the gigantic Rann of Kutch. I must say that every Indian should visit these places. It’s a once in a lifetime experience,” says Chiripal. Last year, Quadlabs participated in the Rally of Mughul Road held in the
Gaurav Chiripal CEO Quadlabs
The rally, Desert Storm is organised by northern motorsport and is sponsored by Maruti Suzuki. It started in Delhi and went all the way from Sardarshahar to Bikaner and then Jaisalmer and crossed the Great Rann of Kutch before ending at Ahmedabad.
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AGENTS
TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
London woos Indian tourists for 2012 Olympics As the city registers a 15 per cent year-on-year growth in the Indian investment projects, 31 per cent growth in Indian leisure travellers and 30 per cent growth in the number of students, London is all geared up to woo Indian tourists during the 2012 Olympics. explores further. M E G H A PAU L
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s London becomes the first city in the world to officially host the modern
India in London The city is witnessing a 15 per cent year-on-year growth in the Indian investment projects, 31 per cent growth in the Indian leisure travellers and 30 per cent growth in the number of students as well
Olympic Games for the third time, the city has big plans to attract more travellers during the event. And interestingly, India features on its top priority. Talking about the significance of the Indian market for London, Gordon Innes, CEO, London & Partners said, “India is a vital market for London, offering a long-term growth potential for inbound tourism. Growth in the numbers from India to London has been steady despite the recent slowdown. More than 2,30,000 Indians visited London this year. The city is witnessing a 15 per cent year-on-year growth in the Indian investment projects, 31 per cent
growth in the Indian leisure travellers and 30 per cent growth in the number of students as well.”
market but political uncertainties have impacted trade and export revenues. For London and Partners, the priority markets are India, China and the US.”
and students throughout 2012 and beyond.” In a run-up to the Olympics, London will organise The World Shakespeare Festival. It would open on Shakespeare’s birthday, April 23. “Thousands of artists and over 50 art organisations will come together to take part in
Thames. Innes remarked, “The BT River of Music would welcome the world to London with a once-in-alifetime weekend of free music at landmarks along the River Thames.” An entertainment hub, the city is also attracting
“Thus, London and Partners, with a 14 million pound grant from London Mayor and £3.5 million from the London business houses, is facilitating overseas investment through tourism and education,” he added.
Gordon Innes CEO London & Partners
As tourism contributes largely to London’s economy, the CEO highlighted, “Europe has been the biggest trade
The official promotional organisation for London, London & Partners is gearing up to promote tourism during 2012. Innes revealed, “Olympic Games is the marquee event of next year. Also the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will take place in London in 2012. Our mission is to ensure that we take full advantage of these two events for luring visitors, businesses
the festival, a collaboration of extraordinary scale and ambition. There are more than a million tickets for nearly 70 productions, plus events and exhibitions across UK, including London,” he informed. One of the major attractions to usher in the Olympics would be a free music festival from around the world on six stages along the River
Indian travellers for various cultural events. “The Maharashtrian Films Awards, the MIFTA ceremony, was organised in September this year at Wembley in London. Around 250 pax, including celebrities such as Mahesh Manjrekar travelled to London for the same. This has also boosted the tourism numbers from India,” Innes informed.
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TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
Exploring the ‘new’ in a travel destination Embassy, feels Turkey’s ability to offer new products is a great asset.
Contd. from page 2
Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Former Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), New Delhi Office, feels Thailand’s popularity as an international tourist destination stems from the fact that the Country keeps offering new experiences to its guests.
Just opened in Istanbul is Akvaryum, the world’s biggest thematic aquarium with fifteen thousand sea and land living beings. Visitors can follow the geographical route and travel
Paramjit Bawa Country Manager – India VisitBritain
TAT is actively promoting two new attractions. Set to open shortly, Asiatique the River Front, is a megacommercial development project with shops, hotels, theaters and restaurants on the bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. The other attraction is Madame Tussauds Bangkok. This branch of the famous wax museum in London has been a hit with tourists. Centrally located in Siam Discovery Center in downtown Bangkok, the museum has life-like figures of famous people from around the world, including Barack Obama, Brad Pitt and Amitabh Bachchan. Özgür Ayturk, Counsellor representing the Turkish Ministry of Tourism & Culture at the Turkish
Troy also a UNESCO World Heritage site, considered as one of the most famous archaeological sites of the world. Amirul Ariffin, Director Tourism Malaysia, feels Malaysia’s continued popularity with Indians will be strengthened by the fact
Amirul Ariffin
Özgür Ayturk
Director Tourism Malaysia
Counsellor, Turkish Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Turkish Embassy
from the Black sea to the Pacific on a path consisting of sixteen themes.
that the country has unveiled several new attractions and experiences.
Ski Centers near Istanbul are also being promoted. There is Kartalkaya, one of Turkey’s most prominent ski centres. Located close to Istanbul and Ankara, it is ideal for short holidays, self-drives and by organised tours. 280 km from Istanbul, Uludað, is the most popular ski centre and the largest winter sports centre in Turkey. 150 km from Istanbul, Kartepe Ski Centre is now on the itinerary of travel agencies.
Not many Indians are aware of the beautiful islands located off the East Coast of the Peninsular Malaysia. Very few are aware that Tioman Island is a duty free island just like Langkawi. These islands have world-class accommodation facilities and some of the best diving and snorkelling spots in the region. Malaysian Borneo is also now on the agenda of active promotion and Tourism Malaysia is keen to create an image for these destinations.
Also being promoted for tourism are the Nemrut Mountain – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – that is also known as the highest openair museum in the world. And the ancient city of
Located just two hours North of Kuala Lumpur or 15 minutes from the city of Ipoh, the Banjaran is a 5-star Retreat Sanctuary consisting of luxury villas offering
holistic wellness and spa experiences, unequalled hospitality and distinctive Asian grace. The thermal springs at The Banjaran are a natural and relatively rare phenomenon. Paramjit Bawa, Country Manager – India, VisitBritain, feels Britain has lot of new experiences to offer Indian visitors. It’s worth discovering Chelsea Physic Garden, one of London's secret gardens, which is also a centre for botanic education and a unique living museum. It also features Europe's oldest rock garden, the new Pharmaceutical Beds and a Victorian fernery. Guests can enjoy guided or audio tours. Also worth visiting is the Minack Theatre, Britain's most beautiful and original theatre. Constructed on a rocky granite outcrop jutting into the sea in Porthcurno Bay, Cornwall, the open-air theatre seems as if it's a natural part of the stone. The backdrop of the sea, stars and natural sounds and smells of the Cornish coast give an unforgettable experience while watching a play at the Minack. The theatre is just 10 minutes from Lands End – the most south-westerly tip of Britain’s mainland. Bawa feels it’s also worth trying out some quirky British events. There is Bog Snorkelling at Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales; Tar Barrels at Ottery St Mary, Devon; Hunting of the Earl of Rone, Combe Martin, Devon and Bognor Birdman, Bognor Regis, Sussex’.
Says Derek Galpin, Managing Director- India & China for Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), Renowned for its natural beauty, Canada, has a few more exciting experiences on offer. The Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver recently inaugurated the Cliffwalk, a glass bottomed path skirting the mountainside above the raging river. Another is the newly opened Edgewalk outside the dome of the CN Tower in Toronto. It received the Guinness World Record for the ‘Highest External Walk on a
Director, UNWTO have forged this alliance that, in an increasingly demanding and competitive economic context, will promote technological innovation in world tourism and help the Spanish market strengthen the country’s brand as a world leader in the application of innovation to the tourism sector. With this agreement, Microsoft becomes a strategic partner of UNWTO that will propose, coordi-
nate and spearhead technological innovation initiatives within the community of the Organisation’s Member States and Affiliate Members. It will also make new technologies available to the international tourism sector in order to enhance its competitiveness. Courtois pointed out that, “The tourism sector has undergone a drastic transformation over the past years and has been evolving towards Tourism 3.0, where users connect to travel websites and interact by sharing their experiences, thus directly influencing the perceptions and decisions of
other users and potential travellers. Because of this, it is more and more important for tourism sector enterprises to develop their online businesses by adopting the most advanced technology. In this regard, the adoption of cloud computing is key, as it provides access to a solid web platform that will make it possible to offer more productive, efficient and competitive services.” According to Favilla, “Cooperation with Microsoft is both timely, in light of the current economic context and necessary in view of the technological demands we are subject to.
Small it may be, but when it comes to tourist offerings, Macau is in the top–drawer. Anjum Sheikh, General Manager, Macau Government Tourist Office,
Anjum Sheikh
Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya
General Manager Macau Government Tourist Office
Former Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Building’ within months of the inauguration. Canada is also renowned for some of the best hotels in the world. The January scheduled grand opening of the Trump Tower in Toronto is eagerly awaited. “This will add 126 elegant suites and a 12,000 square feet Grand Ballroom in the undisputed Trump elegance. Closed for renovations for a few years, the Ritz-Carlton in Montreal will open its doors to welcome guests to its 130 rooms supplemented now with 50 con-
Innovation in the tourism sector The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Microsoft signed an agreement aimed at bringing the benefits of the most advanced technologies to the tourism sector and driving the industry’s evolution towards the computing paradigm of the future. Jean-Philippe Courtois, President, Microsoft International and Márcio Favilla, Executive
dos and condo-suites and Maison Boulud – the fine dine French restaurant of Executive Chef Daniel Boulud. CTC’s new India consumer website, www.Jannat.canada.travel is being launched soon with Tourism Ambassador Akshay Kumar inviting you to visit Canada - his Jannat.
Tourism has a proven track record when it comes to being at the leading edge of innovation and the dissemination of best practices and our sector closely reflects the positive potential of globalisation. Thanks to the cooperation with Microsoft we will be able to more rapidly implement training tools and disseminate their content, stimulate the adoption of practical and advanced technological solutions in our sector and continue to promote tourism as a vehicle of sustainable development, in line with the position held by the UN.”
feels that the recently launched attractions like the House of Dancing Water Show at City of Dreams, The Giant Panda Pavillion and Galaxy Macau are all quality attractions that conform perfectly to the interests of Indian visitors. Macau’s nfrastructure is being boosted with new hotels like Sheraton Macao Hotel; Holiday Inn and Conrad Hillton. There are also plans to build a new metro line and a new ferry terminal.
WDC Helsinki Top Picks Spring 2012 Helsinki’s World Design Capital year is well on its way. Under the running theme ‘embedding design in life’, hundreds of projects are centre on improving the quality of life through design. However, there are plenty of interesting events and exhibitions to go around! Here’s a few top picks for spring 2012: • Restaurant Day on May 19 •
The Chapel of Silence opens May 10 in the city centre
•
INDEX: Award Exhibition outdoor event May 10 - June 10
•
Helsinki Fashion Summit on May 24
•
Näytös 2012 on May 25
•
Visit Arabia Helsinki, a new type of travel destination
•
Fiskars Design Village
•
Culture Sauna from June 1
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NOSTALGIA
TAAI DAILY 2012 – DAY 3
Business with Fun at TAAI Convention 2010
Marketing Editorial Archana Sharma Gunjan Sabikhi Harshal Ashar Publisher Justin J. Thomas N Sanjiba Raina Mandal Karishma Khanna SanJeet Megha Paul Megha Puri Editorial Geetika Pathak Anita Jain Director Amit Sarkar Devika Jeet Rupali Prem Sagar Narasimhan Gaganpreet Kaur Manish Singh Editor Priyanshu Wankhade Deepa Sethi Rishika Karra Chairman Vikramajit
Design Nityanand Misra Sudhir Mudgal Advt. Design Vikas Mandotia Nitin Kumar Renuka Mahich
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