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Better biz @TAFI 2013
“Change has a life of its own and only those who navigate The TAFI Convention-2013 will highlight and find the future can lead the game,” says Zakkir Ahmed, solutions to create better business models and will help President, TAFI speaking to . A few excerpts... the travel agents to learn about future trends... has been a record that Indian arrivals, to the destination where TAFI Convention is held, grow at an average rate of 10-15 per cent post convention. We also promote India to these destinations and strive to increase foreign arrival numbers to India. Thus, it not only benefits the host country but also members and the overall tourism industry of India.”
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alking about the convention theme ‘Navigating the Future’, Zakkir Ahmed, President, TAFI said, “Over the years, we have guided, supported and assisted our members to keep up with changing times, by evolving themselves from just an airticketing agent to a travel consultant. This year, we are taking it ahead.
Our members have evolved with times, discovered new revenue streams and channels. It’s time for us to educate them on how to maximise on these new revenue streams. During this convention, we are going to provide an overall perspective of global and Indian tourism industry to our members, address the
Zakkir Ahmed President, TAFI
challenges faced by the industry and our members and bring out a solution for way forward. We are going to talk about the future and adapt to the present.” Educating their members about specialisation in destination is one of the reasons the association hold its annual convention in different international locations every year. Ahmed said, “By holding the convention in a different country, we are not only exposing our members to a different nation which they can experience and promote it back in India but also meet the local suppliers and get the best deals. On the other hand, it
“Commission is not our focus… our focus is to increase the profitability on bottom-lines of our members,” says Ahmed. Along with underlining the key issues and challenges faced by the travel agents, the association also intends to work closely with airlines as there is a need to work together to create win-win situation for all players in the tourism sector. Apart from working on weekly payments, web parity, bank guarantee and insurance scheme issues, TAFI is focussing on increasing its membership base from 1400 to 2000 soon.
Destination Benefits It has been a record that Indian arrivals grow at an average rate of 10-15 per cent post convention, to the destination where TAFI Convention is held
As per Praveen Chugh, Vice President, TAFI, “Considering present challenges faced by the travel trade, we have aptly chosen the theme of our 2013 convention as ‘Navigating The Future’. In the current scenario, the traditional travel agent has begun to feel the heat on a daily basis.”
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ith the global economic slowdown and diminishing returns from conventional streams, traditional travel agents face a plethora of challenges that the sector needs to tackle on a priority basis. The convention has been scheduled to enable travel agents to learn about future trends and business opportunities, along with power networking.
“The TAFI Convention will give new insight on curPraveen Chugh Vice President, TAFI
Contd. on page 3
Renewing old ties With the TAFI Convention 2013 in South Africa, the potential of renewing the ties with tourism is much stronger, says Aditi Bhende, Chairperson, TAFI Convention 2013. T T B U R E AU
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inking the India-South Africa connect, Aditi Bhende, Convention Chairperson says, “Our connection with this very exciting destination goes back to the days of the beginning of the Mahatma in Durban. This city, in the province of KwaZuluNatal, has a sizeable Indian population that shares ties with India over the last few centuries,” she adds.
KwaZulu-Natal Tourism {KZN}, along with SATSA (The Tourism Services Association of South Africa), have played a vital role in ensuring the dream of bringing India and South Africa together for this glorious event. “Years of deliberation and proactive roles played by both, that is, KZN Tourism and TAFI will convert this dream into a reality. Our host country South Africa and airline partner –South African Contd. on page 3
Aditi Bhende Convention Chairperson, TAFI
COVER STORY Making better out of the best Contd. from page 1
rent industry issues and our vision beyond 2013. For this, we are proposing to organise Business Sessions from February 25-26 to highlight and find solutions to create better business models. There will also be discussions on bilateral exchanges between the two countries and educating the travel industry on future business & cultural opportunities. This will bring the two countries closer and rekindle the path started by Mahatma Gandhi,” he added. The tentative business session schedule will include topics like Beyond 2013, Winning the Battle for Relevance, Golden Horizon, and Power of Today among others, which will be presented to member-delegates by stalwarts from the industry. In the past, TAFI Conventions were successfully held in Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Thailand, Dubai and Macau. “It is interesting to note that there has been a tremendous increase in inbound as well as outbound traffic between India and these destinations just after the convention. This, in turn, has paved the way in improving bilateral trade and developing friendly relations with these countries. The convention will be inaugurated by the president and Tourism Minister of South Africa on February 24,” said Chugh. “The new team of TAFI Managing Committee is pledged to work in a transparent manner and is determined to make a difference in its day-to-day functioning,” he added.
New Pastures The tentative business session schedule will include topics like Beyond 2013, Winning the Battle for Relevance, Golden Horizon, and Power of Today among others, which will be presented to member-delegates by stalwarts from the industry
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‘India-South Africa have an old connect’ Contd. from page 1
ied cities from India & the pre & post tours. She feels,
Airways have played a key role to help this convention see light,” she adds. “Our other partners for hotel stay –Tsogo Sun Group, other international and domestic airline partnersEmirates and IndiGo , have also played an important role to create a wonderful offer for our delegates. The convention venue will be at the ‘ICC Durban Convention Centre,” she confirms. According to
A road dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi in Durban
Bhende, logistically, it is a challenge to execute, organise and plan this major event
due to the long-haul flights/connectivity/ multiple departures from var-
“South Africa & KwaZulu-Natal Province has a wide variety of tourism products to offer. Thus every Indian delegate attending the conference will want to explore more of this exciting land.”
The convention will also comprise a Business-toBusiness exhibition on February 25&26, 2013, which will bring buyers & sellers of our industry together to exchange ideas, build business through a mutually beneficial and professional relationship for the future. Moreover South Africa as a destination will surely benefit with this convention.
ANALYSIS
‘Navigating the future’ is right choice The TAFI Convention 2013 is expected to provide acute sense of purpose and impression that the travel industry scenario, now, is definitely changing for the better, and all one needs to focus is on opportunities. A N I TA J A I N
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he first travel trade convention of 2013 kicked off in Durban, South Africa. Its theme, according to its core members, is an unequivocal message of what it intends to push through in the coming years. ‘Navigating the future’ communicates an assertive message for taking control of several contrarian dynamics at work. Its prickly relationship with airlines, attritional lobbying with the government and a general
Changing dynamics Through this convention theme, TAFI intends to stress on the need to adapt with the changing dynamics of Indian travel industry. Talking about the theme, Zakkir Ahmed, President, TAFI said, “TAFI Conventions are eagerly awaited and this years is no exception. In fact, we are looking at the biggestever TAFI convention in member participation. Reputed speakers from India, South Africa and global industry have been invited to
Zakkir Ahmed
Praveen Chugh
President TAFI
Vice President TAFI
We are looking at the biggestever TAFI convention in member participation
rounding up of its several members in forums, to decide on their stance, all fit relevantly into the thematic scope. Its pro-active approach to seek out support, assistance and association with tourism bodies of BRICS nations will also be highlighted at the convention this year. Over the years, TAFI Conventions have built around thought-provoking premises, with themes like ‘Drive the change- Stay on the top’, ‘Breaking Barriers – Believe to Achieve; ‘Coopetition – Key to Success’, ‘Addressing Change – Rebrand, Reposition, Reinvent’, and TAFI Convention 2013 is no exception.
Factors such as rising incomes in emerging markets and other similar variables are expected to drive demand talk about expanding revenue and discuss issues which are pinching our revenues. The timing of the convention is also perfect as the travel agents will come back with innovative products from South Africa exactly when the bookings for summer season will start. So, we are expecting lot of benefits from this convention for every participant.” Elaborating on the theme, Ahmed said, “In future, human resource development assumes a key role for the success of travel companies. With specialised institutes providing professional training and capabilities, can our industry invest in tech-savvy whiz kids who supplement business? Further, bottom-line considerations are paramount. Coupled with dizzying borrowing rates and costs of
financing, not to mention the growing list of client defaulters, experts will suggest financial jurisprudence, managing credits and a look at robust structuring safety procedures. Monitoring BSP payment cycles and synergies between members will be critical with revenue being the key.” But to stay ahead in the business, agents need to understand the needs of future travellers, and get ready for challenges arising in the coming years. While
Pradip Lulla National General Secretary TAFI
There is a need to evolve our business models as per the changing dynamics of our industry
prophets of doom and critics have concluded that travel agents have knowingly insulated themselves to the idea of change, there are those within the industry who believe that the travel agent has enough street-smart and enterprise to accommodate change. And then, there are those who believe that while both the above schools of thought are relevant in their own right, the only way to find out which point is closer to the mark is to go out and meet these challenges, drive the change and at least try to stay on top. Pradip Lulla, National General Secretary, TAFI said, “There is a need to evolve our business models as per the changing dynamics of our industry. One cannot compare the Indian travel industry with global markets like Europe and US where credit card penetration is over 8090 per cent, and where the market accepts transaction fee. India is a different market where credit card pene-
Aditi Bhende Chairperson TAFI Convention Committee
The theme for TAFI 2013 has been specially chosen, considering the present challenges faced by the travel trade tration is very low, travellers are still hesitant to book holidays online and travel agents still add ‘service’ to travel products. With our primary source of revenue (air ticketing) dwindling with time, it’s time for us to look at alternative streams of revenue and increase profitability in bottom-lines.”
Plotting a course According to Praveen Chugh, Vice President, TAFI; global travel trends indicate that moderate growth is expected for the tourism industry despite the uncertain global economic outlook. He said, “Factors such as rising incomes in emerging markets, and disposable income in mature markets are expected to drive demand this year. We have entered a period of drastic change and the industry is reinventing itself to meet changing expectations, rapid technological advancements and a shifting world economic environment.” While change is a natural, inevitable process, the decisive question is whether that change is allowed to pass off unaffected or is it channelled in a direction that ends up serving a purpose. Consolidation will overwhelm the industry, automation will make it more sophisticated and new revenue opportunities will arise, even as the old ones run out. The government will begin to acknowledge the travel trade, albeit at its own pace and the passenger will, as always, want more for the same or lesser price. All of this Contd. on page 8
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NTO
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‘Private sector brought TAFI to South Africa’ In conversation with Hanneli Slabber, Country Head, South Africa Tourism, and the growth in tourism arrivals anticipated after the convention. D E V I KA J E E T
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couple of years ago, SATSA, which is the South African equivalent of TAFI, contacted TAFI and decided to work together and did mutual agreements. Initially when the agreements started, they wanted to know more about tourism promotion activities and see how they can work together. “Our counterparts in South Africa are the ones who have actually won the TAFI conference. They signed an MoU and the conference is a combination of all their efforts. The credit for winning the conference must go to them. SATSA in South Africa has
been the driving force behind organising TAFI this year,” says Hanneli Slabber, Country Head, South Africa Tourism.
Welcoming TAFI We are very excited about TAFI and have worked on a really good campaign to attract many attendees. Around 840 seats are all gone. We can accommodate more people on the ground, but on those specific dates, the airline seats are all sold out. People are taking lot of different routes for the conference. Kwa-Zulu Natal is also the home to the largest Indian population in South Africa. South Africa also has the second largest Indian population outside India.
Badge Honour
of
TAFI is a badge of honour for our private industry as they can
invite their private industry counterparts. They are all very excited about it. From an exposure point of view, there are not only agents who sell the destination but also those who do not have South Africa on their product list. This provides us the opportunity to show the destination to the
Hanneli Slabber Country Head South Africa Tourism
agents and show everything beautiful that we have to offer. There are a huge number of pre and post tours being organised. First, the fams are going to the provisional tourism authority and
finds out more about Durban
then after their capacity is full, they are moving on to other provinces. The delegates got an opportunity to choose from a lot of options.
Must try in Durban Durban has the best temperature, warm and clean waters with great waves and amazing food. It has a holiday feel about it all the time. For the convention, we plan to have North Indian, South Indian and South African food. When you are in Durban for street food, everyone must try the Bunny chow. Its freshly baked bread hollowed out and filled with curry. Durban makes the world’s greatest bunny chows. The temple of understanding, the Hare Krishna temple in the city, has the best vegetable curry. The temple is also absolutely stunning. The best fun experience in Durban is the Ushaka marine world. They have an aquarium and lot of shows with the fish, aquatic animals and water rides. There
ICC Convention Centre, Durban
is a lot of shopping in the city, the biggest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere is the Gateway Theatre of Shopping and it’s massive. The busiest shopping centre, in terms of foot fall per square meter, in the southern hemisphere is the Pavilion shopping centre. In South Africa, we eat a lot. We have lot of restaurants, food arcades, bars and coffee shops. The casinos stay open round-the-clock and for the best night life, head to Florida Road. It is one place in Durban
that has a majority of clubs and pubs all in the same street.
Growth prospects for 2013 2013 is going to be an interesting year for us. Last year, we had just under 90,000 tourism arrivals from India. Till September 2012, we crossed 80,000 and are very confident that we will break the record. In 2013, we are really looking at a 10 to 15 per cent increase in tourist arrivals. We have major air constraints. We only have Contd. on page19
MOT
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Go Beyond known destinations: MOT Once domestic tourists start going around the prominent tourist places, other lesser-known destinations will gradually develop into major tourist attractions through promotions and word of mouth. T T B U R E AU
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ndia is fortunate to have a substantial base of domestic tourists, who as per recent statistics, had already crossed the 850 million domestic vis-
K Chiranjeevi Minister of State for Tourism
These campaigns mark a paradigm shift in MOT’s strategy to promote India within the country and abroad its mark. In other words, it offers a great opportunity, which the Ministry of Tourism plans to tap through its new campaign ‘Go Beyond’.
Anand Kumar Joint Secretary Ministry of Tourism
“India has a great number of heritage sites, forts, beaches, backwaters, lakes, mountains, adventure, wildlife, culture, festivals, wellness, MICE, religion or shopping. Many of them are
extremely popular among domestic tourists. But, there is an urgent need to make our domestic tourists go beyond, or in other words around those popular destinations. We would like to see domestic tourists going around Kochi, Bhuj and Darjeeling areas around the various
prominent tourists sites in various states,” said Anand Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism on the sidelines of the recently held IATO members meet in New Delhi. “In fact, once the domestic tourists start going around the prominent tourists places, other lesser-known
destinations gradually develop into major tourist attractions through adequate promotions and word of mouth. This will help us develop many new sites for domestic tourists, which eventually will also start to attract international tourists,” he added. For the uninitiated, the Ministry of
Tourism had launched two new campaigns: an international campaign called ‘Find What You Seek’ and a domestic campaign called ‘Go Beyond’ at the recently-concluded ‘World Travel Market-2012’, which was held at London. As per K Chiranjeevi, Minister of State for Tourism with
Independent Charge, these campaigns mark a paradigm shift in MOT’s strategy to promote India within the country and abroad, where the ‘Go Beyond’ campaign focusses on promoting lesser-known destinations to domestic as well as international tourists.
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HOTELS
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Fairmont Jaipur taps travel agents’ pool The travel agent education and rewards programme from the group – Fairmont’s Famous Agents – is aimed at increasing the members’ earning power by staying up-to-date on all the latest news from all Fairmont properties… T T B U R E AU
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n addition to the strong online and reservation platform, the Canadian-based Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Atul Lall General Manager Fairmont Jaipur
aims at mobilising the strong presence of conventional travel agents and tour operators present in India. Atul Lall, General Manager, Fairmont Jaipur points out, “We work with tourism part-
ners, ensuring that they have knowledge about our products and destinations.
To drive this, we have an internal programme called the “Fairmont’s Famous Agents” which is the industry’s most exciting travel agent education and rewards programme. Our members increase their earning power by staying up-to-date on all the latest news from all our properties. They also earn personal rewards, and enjoy countless member-only benefits. Staying connected to key customers, and providing education along with our customary consultative approach helps us to reach out to our customers effectively.” The Res plus programme from
corporate bookers has also been warmly welcomed in India. The hotel is in the process of heightening both programmes’ awareness across Delhi and NCR as well as the other metros, he adds. Throwing light on the kind of response that the hotel in Jaipur is witnessing now, Lall informs, “We have received an extremely positive response since our launch on August 9, 2012, from the industry. As far as
‘Indian city’ in South Africa Contd. from page 4
is predictable. How travel agents respond to it collectively, has been pondered over for most of the present decade. How they will react will depend on whether this unprecedented surge of change makes them uncomfortable or enthusiastic. Lulla adds, “TAFI has always encouraged its members to enhance their revenue margins and adapt to the changing travel scenario. It’s time agents should look at deploying technology to their benefit, specialise in niche travel segments, cater to special group of travellers, and provide ‘value for money’ service. While talking about the future, there is a need to adapt to the present.” Adding to this, Aditi Bhende, Chairperson, TAFI Convention Committee said, “The theme for this year’s convention has been specially chosen, considering the present challenges faced by the travel trade. The general economy being slow and recession set in worldwide, the traditional travel agent is
facing the brunt daily. In this convention, through business sessions, we hope to highlight and come together to
finding options to restore them by engaging in deliberation. This is the concen-
The property is primarily focussed on leisure and MICE businesses. “We have the largest pillar-less conference centre in Jaipur (5,500-
Bhende added, “Through the business sessions at the convention, the focus will also be on bilateral exchanges between the two countries and educating travel industry on future business and cultural exchange opportunities which will bring the two countries closer and rekindle the path started by Mahatma Gandhi. It’s time to look at the challenges faced locally and internationally, and
The mood is clearly one of putting powers-that-be on the stage and to solicit more active participation across a mostly lukewarm membership. That the convention is being held abroad yet again, and will perhaps become a mainstay policy, puts TAFI in an elite club. The moot question lingers as to whether TAFI can create a big enough juggernaut that can unanimously effect changes on the airline and government front that make it a fair game for the embattled travel agent something TAFI has principally striven towards since inception.
related communication tools, perfect for large or small meetings. Leisure travel is also a key market, along with
art of desert falconry, hotair balloon rides and traditional folk music and storytelling sessions.
With 255 elegantly appointed rooms, Fairmont Jaipur has a host of unique experiences planned for their guests to learn the ancient
Run-up Meeting to the TAFI Convention 2013 held in Delhi
Like every year, the annual convention intends to showcase a new destination to its members. This way, the members get firsthand experience of the destination, get to meet local suppliers and can strike best possible deals and become destination specialists. Talking about this year’s destination – Durban, South Africa, Ahmed said, “Durban is supposed to be the largest ‘Indian’ city outside India, which in itself assures Indians that it’s a home away from home with a tint of African culture. However, it’s still not well-visited by Indians as they only visit the capital of South Africa, Cape Town and experiencing the ‘Garden Route’. Through this convention, we intend to showcase this exciting city with unique tourism products apt for Indian travellers. It offers not just pure wildlife but also beaches, culture, heritage, shopping, adventure, sports, etc for every segment of traveller.” trated effort that we all need to make.”
domestic travellers and incentive groups,” the GM reveals.
the market is concerned, we have had a good response from both wedding and MICE segments; weddings being the driving element in the months of August and September. Additionally, the Fairmont loyal customer’s online booking has fairly been strong.”
More than just wildlife
find solutions to adversities, and create better business models for the future.”
square-metre and 60,000square-foot) along with excellent and well-equipped meeting rooms, all of them housed in a dedicated convention centre block, offering state-of-the-art equipment, high speed internet, WiFi and a host of business-
Your wakeup call
Delegates at the press meet hosted by Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) in collaboration with the Tourism KwaZulu-Natal and Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) during the run up to the convention 2013 held in New Delhi in mid of 2012.
AGENTS
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Now get Dubai visa online@Atlas Tours Mumbai-based Atlas Tours & Travels which has emerged as one of the largest Haj and Umrah tour operators in the region will soon offer Dubai Visa services online. reports… T T B U R E AU
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he most special feature of Dubai Visa Online would be that the applicants will be able to send their requests. Further, our back-end system will process the same and update the Visa Copy on the Agents Login Id. The company is adopting technology and improving business scales for
Hussain Patel Executive Director Atlas Tours & Travels
Soon, our portal will be updated with online visa packages and hotel bookings specifically for adventure travel market trade partners. The company forayed into online space last year with the introduction of the B2B (Business to Business and B2E (Business to Enterprise) portals which facilitated the reach to travel agents and corporate houses based across India. According to Hussain Patel, Executive Director, Atlas Tours & Travels; the B2B portal provides services such as online accounting, online cancellation options, instant refund, 24X7 call centre service, extensive MIS reporting and also the most exceptional industry commissions on all products.
Taking about the benefits of venturing into the online space, Patel said, “Our online channel facilitates users with airline inventories at their own discretion and with complete transparency. It also maintains transparency in providing
service round the clock to ensure total satisfaction of our trade partners. Today being a fast track generation that demands variety and service at the spur of the moment, our userfriendly portal ensures lesser time consuming procedures for bookings. Soon,
our portal will be updated with online visa packages and hotel bookings specifically for adventure travel market.” Divulging further details on online Dubai Visa, Patel said, “We work to implement industry standard to professionalise
and promote global networking. After a success in the last financial year 2012-2013, also with the online domestic and international ticket booking, we now plan to serve Dubai Visa Online at the discretion of our travel agents.”
Special Features The most special feature of Dubai Visa Online would be that the applicants will be able to send their requests.\ Its back-end system will process the same and update the Visa Copy on the Agents Login Id
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NEWS
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New path to Australia & Singapore
SpiceJet to fly B-737 on Guangzhou-Delhi route
Apart from expanding its B2B client base in India, Pathfinders is now catering to Singapore, Australia, Russia and Middle East markets.. T T B U R E AU
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umbai-based Pathfinders is all set to expand its DMC (Destination Management Company) footprint with the commissioning of its own offices in Singapore and Australia this year. It will also continue to grow compa-
Talking about infusing technology in travel business, Ashley Monterio, Managing Director, Pathfinders said, “Our product development department
Strategies to grow business O Educate yourself on products and their updates as travellers want experts to handle their tour O Specialise in destinations O Target and advertise your product in the niche market, get on social platforms O Adopt higher standards of professionalism and offer quality with price. ny’s market share in Thailand as its business model is focussed on FIT and MICE segment. Apart from expanding the B2B client base in India, the company also started catering to Russia and Middle Eastern markets. To strengthen and expand global market reach and bring in more suppliers on the network for B2B clients, Pathfinders has utilised
they are ready to use our tech-savvy systems for themselves.”
technology to the fullest through its online booking tool – Dynamic Packaging System.
is no longer just a contracting department (which is the case with most wholesalers and DMCs). It actually listens to our clients and designs products to meet their needs. It puts these products on the Pathfinders Online system so that these can be easily booked and scaled up. This is because our entire reservation process is computerised
Ashley Monterio Managing Director Pathfinders
Mid and smallsized travel agencies offer convenience and expertise to their clients in executing their travel. and yet capable of a manual interface. We hand-hold our travel trade partners until
When asked if OTAs are taking up the business share from small and mid-sized agencies, Monterio said, “No. I think that online clients know what they want and will use the web to source the product as cheaply as possible. Mid and small-sized travel agencies offer convenience and expertise to their clients in executing their travel. I believe that mid and smallsized travel agencies should look at this as an opportunity to evolve and perhaps even use the tools provided by online OTAs and big tour operators to benchmark themselves and then raise the stakes in terms of service levels, knowledge, expertise and experiences. I saw a lovely line on a travel agent’s card recently: ‘Travel is the only expenditure that is an investment.’ This travel agent sure has found his niche.”
SpiceJet announced its entry into the People’s Republic of China with the launch of services between Guangzhou and New Delhi. The airline will connect the two cities by deploying a 189-seater Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft on this route. SpiceJet will fly on Guangzhou-Delhi route four days a week at convenient timings. Commercial flights on this route will commence from February 8, 2013. Booking of tickets for flights of these routes are open. “Guangzhou marks our debut in the Chinese sky. We are offering the air connectivity at very affordable fare to the passengers from India and China,” said SpiceJet Chief Executive Officer Neil Mills at the inaugural function held at Guangzhou.
Infrastructure, highest priority With all eyes set on Union Budget 2013, conducted a poll asking the industry which issue they feel should get priority. The options given in the poll question were Focus on Infrastructure Development and Connectivity, Industry Status for Tourism, Reduction in Taxes, GST and others. Much to our surprise, the industry voted in favour of Others Industry status infrastructure development and connectivity. for tourism A majority of the respondents want to see a focus on infrastructure development and connectivity; this being the popular demand with 44 per cent of the votes. Reduction in taxes was another demand that gained momentum. While our earlier poll results showed that infrastructure development was the most significant milestone for the industry in 2012 a lot still needs to be done and the industry is anticipating more. We hope that the Union budget this year addresses the demands of our industry.
5%
10%
44%
26%
Focus on infrastructure development and connectivity
Reduction in taxes
15% GST
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AGENTS
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Nepal boosts Pilgrimage Tourism Nepal Tourism Board recently conducted Nepal Sales Mission 2013 in two South Indian cities. The sales missions were held in Madurai on January 8, and in Trichy on January 9, 2013. The Nepalese delegation was led by Rohini Prasad Khanal, Senior Officer – Marketing and Promotion, Nepal Tourism Board. The Nepalese delegation was led by Rohini Prasad Khanal, Senior Officer – Marketing and Promotion, Nepal Tourism Board. Meanwhile, in an effort to attract pilgrimage tourists from South India, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) recently organised road shows in Madurai and Trichy. Khanal said that the objective of the roadshows was to facilitate mutual growth in the tourism sector. He pointed out that South Indians, especially those from Tamil Nadu, preferred to visit religious places and NTB is keen to promote Mount Kailash-Mansarovar. He added that Nepal had a variety of tourist spots to attract tourists across age groups and has established itself as the gateway to Mount Kailash-Manasarovar. In 2012, Nepal received 164,680 tourists from India by air which is 13.3% increment compared to last year.
Udaan India makes flying easier More embassies and consulates are resorting to online visa in the form of online visa application system, e-visa or booking online appointments. T T B U R E AU
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ccording to Rajan Dua, Managing Director, Udaan India, the company offers various special initiatives for travel agents, travel management companies and corporate.
the other at Nagpur for TAAI-Nagpur chapter.” Apart from this, the group also sends regular Visa updates via mail to travel agents, TMCs and corporates to keep them
“The company has been conducting Visa Seminars for travel agents, travel management companies and corporates. We conducted Visa seminars in Kuoni Business Travel in Mumbai and Delhi and BCD Travel in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Pune recently. We have conducted two major Visa seminars in association with TAAI. One was conducted at Bhopal for TAAI – Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Chapter and
Process easy by providing information on visas, which are submitted on different locations on one
you can access all the info 24x7 by logging on to our website.” Udaan has offices in Delhi, Gurgaon,
the other countries such as the US, UK, Chile and Singapore have the online application system. At cer-
Udaan India conducting TAAI Nagpur visa seminar
Rajan Dua Managing Director Udaan India
informed about the latest changes in Visas, he adds. Talking about how the company has made complex Travel Visa Process easy, Dua elaborates, “Udaan has made complex Travel Visa
portal. Ours is the only portal which provides panIndia visa requirements as per jurisdiction along with visa fees, submission and collection timings and processing time. It also has visa applications and other requisite forms, formats of covering letter/ Invitation Letter, photo specification, contact details of all Diplomatic Representation and Outsourced Visa Application Centres, etc. Be it any corner of India,
Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru to assist travellers pan-India. There has been a trend in getting online Visas, he feels. “A lot of embassies and consulates have resorted to online Visa whether it’s online visa application system, e-visa or booking online appointments. Like for Brazil, application is filled online and its application progress can be tracked online with the sticker number. Some of
tain Embassies/Consulates, biometrics has also been introduced. We book appointments on behalf of our clients. We also provide assistance in online filling of form thereby easing off the process for applicant. Embassies have opened their diplomatic representation across India and they follow jurisdiction which limits the traveller for submission of application in region within jurisdiction.”
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AVIATION
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TAFI embarks on promising talks The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) took it upon themselves to resolve the issues of mutual interest, revive and strengthen relations between the travel fraternity and the airlines. TAFI office bearers met airline representatives and discussed issues relevant to the travel agents.
Lufthansa
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he TAFI delegates who met individual airline representatives included Zakkir Ahmed, President; Praveen Chugh, Vice President; Pradip Lulla, National General Secretary; Rajat Bagaria, Western Region Chapter Chairperson; Gladwyn Pinto, Executive Secretary General; Urvashi Mohan, Committee Member; Teddy Thomas, Committee Member and Vijay Gupta, Chairperson, North India Chapter, TAFI
(L-R): Jayesh Tharani, Committee Member; Capt.Promod Kohli, Committee Member; Pradip Lulla, National General Secretary; Aditi Bhende, Committee Member & Convention Chairperson; Sanjay Arya, Joint Secretary; Basheer Ahmed, Joint Treasurer; Zakkir Ahmed, President; Praveen Chugh,Vice President; Urvashi.D.Mohan,Committee Member; Darshan Shah,Treasurer; Teddy Thomas,Committee Member, TAFI
Lufthansa requested that since weekly payment deferment schedule has been agreed in APJC, they hoped that agents were fine with this proposal and it was accepted by the association. The airline further requested not Axel Hilgers to proceed with the court case for Director, South Asia the claim of commission. On this Lufthansa TAFI representatives did not agree and replied that they will revert back on this subject later. Hilgers promised to work closely with TAFI especially on Conventions, Seminars, etc. to have a better understanding of industry issues.
Turkish Airlines
IndiGo
Jet Airways
The meeting was very cordial and both the sides agreed to work in harmony to resolve all matters related to the industry. Aykac promised to extend all help. He said that they were already working on credit card solutions Adnan Aykac for the acceptance of issue of tickGeneral Manager - Northern & ets under ‘Pass Through’. He also Eastern India, Turkish Airlines expressed his keenness to attend Conventions/deliberations of TAFI as and when required.
Discussions were held on the areas of common interest with a view to find some solution as to how we can rope in Credit Card Companies so that travel agents don’t start operating as financiers. Airline representatives said that they will sort out this issue along with TAFI. They also expressed a desire to enroll as TAFI members soon.
1. The Airline agreed to support the agents on deferment of weekly payments.
Sanjay Kumar Chief Commercial Officer IndiGo
2. Web promotions, parity of fares already closed. Jet is working on platform which will be soon introduced where agents can also have Sudheer Raghavan the option of issuing tickets Chief Commercial Officer on the same lowest promoJet Airways tional fares through their website and the payments will be settled through the BSP. 3. Jet agreed to clear all PLB settlements in this month.
Air France/ KLM
Virgin Atlantic
Industry related issues were discussed and promises were made to work together for any kind of issue not only concerning travel agents but also to airlines.
The meeting started on a cordial note with the promise to support the travel and aviation industry. Kapoor said that they will be happy to work with the travel fraternity and help each other to strengthen relationships and amicably resolve industry issues. He also informed the association that they will be starting flights from Mumbai from the month of October and are looking for support.
Yashwant Pawar
Sanjay Kapoor
General Manager, South Asia Air France/KLM
Head of Commercial – India Virgin Atlantic
Private jets to Bhutan Freeborn Chapman Airchartering recently announced a new strategic private jet partnership with Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines, the national airline of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Through the unique partnership with Drukair, Chapman Freeborn can now provide this service for private jet aircraft and obtain the necessary permits to operate charters to Bhutan. Global sales and marketing director Alex Berry says the partnership will provide private jet travellers with totally unique access to the Kingdom of Bhutan as a travel destination, setting Chapman Freeborn apart from all its
competitors. Shailendra Seth, Director of Chapman Freeborn India, added, “Drukair and Chapman Freeborn are both niche organisations and this synergy between the two will enhance opportunities to boost luxury travel to the Kingdom of Bhutan.” Welcoming the partnership Tshering Penjore, General Manager of Drukair, said: “Drukair has been providing reliable and safe transportation for the last 30 years and as the only airline that links Bhutan to the outside world, the challenge to fulfil diverse air transportation needs has become critical. The partnership with Chapman Freeborn will enable us to use the wide and global resources and portfolio of aircraft for private charters.”
4. Jetlite tickets can be issued on Jet Airways documents on codeshare to enable travel agents the 1 per cent commission. 5. Jet also assured that there will be no discrimination in PLB distribution in the market. 6. Group deposits retained by Jet and not refunding on time will be looked into and solution will be conveyed to agents before September 30, 2012. 7. Credit Card Acceptance: Meetings are being organised with various Banks to bring a win-win formula.
More Indians to fly to Zambia With four direct flights a week from January 30, 2013 from Addis Ababa to Ndola, Zambia, Ethiopian Airlines is looking at tapping the traffic from European, Middle Eastern and Asian markets to Zambia. Ndola, the third largest city in Zambia, is the industrial and commercial centre in the copper belt province of the country. Ndola will be Ethiopian 45 th African and the 72 nd international destination. It will also be its second destination in Zambia next to Lusaka.
T T B U R E AU
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ith the new service, passengers to and from Ndola will find convenient and hassle-free connection to destinations in Ethiopian’s wide route network such as Mumbai, Dubai, London, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Cairo and Peking. The airline has already started educating and communicating with the Indian travel trade about the new connections and is working with them for attractive travel packages for Indian travellers to this new unexplored destination. It is still a relevantly new destination for the Indian market and thus
Directions to Fly the airline is working closely with the travel trade for spreading awareness about Zambia which has the worldfamous Victoria Falls. Talking about the new connections and opportunities to be tapped, Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO,
Ethiopian Airlines said, “We are proud to add Ndola to Ethiopian’s wide route network. It is a continuation of our efforts to achieve the goal of connecting Africa to the world, by adding multiple points in Africa and serving the air connectivity needs of the continent.”
The airline has already started educating and communicating with the Indian travel trade about the new connections It is working with them for attractive travel packages for Indian travellers to this new unexplored destination
HOTELS
TAFI DAILY 2013 - DAY 1
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A fairytale wedding at Cidade de Goa The leading beach resort now positions itself as a romantic destination to tie the knot. reports how this property is wooing couples from across the country to say ‘I do’ in this romantic ambience... T T B U R E AU
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eing the only beach resort situated on the Vainguinim Beach in Goa, Cidade de Goa is increasingly becoming a hot favourite among leisure travellers. With 205 rooms, including 13 suites, the property currently
Neeta Sen General Manager, Cidade de Goa
The market share will be fair only if, either the airline connectivity gets better and/or if we tap newer markets caters to a mix of business, leisure, FIT, honeymooners, etc. However, the property is positive to close this financial year at an average room occupancy of 72 per cent and is expecting to maintain it in the next financial year. Talking about the new focus on weddings and MICE segment, Neeta Sen, General Manager, Cidade de Goa, said, “Wedding is certainly a growing segment with every resort in Goa (including us) hosting three to four weddings a month. Cidade de Goa is an ideal resort for hosting the 80100 room wedding. In essence, we are the only beach resort situated on the Vainguinim beach. The venue options ranging from the beach to lush lawns and indoor choice of halls ensure no repetition of venues for the many events associated with a wedding. We
have packaged menu options and services specifically for this particular segment. The best of vendors are listed with us that cater to all clients’ needs. This is a segment that cannot be ignored; hence a dedicated approach is adopted to meet the demand.” She also agreed that MICE overall is a very cru-
Travel trade: Key contributor The travel agents give us an approximate of 50% of bookings. These are our partners in business and form an integral part of our sales network. They are incentivised with targets and slabs that eventually spell into a win-win model for both of us. We hold trade parties and Thanksgiving parties for all our agents and appreciate them with a certification of achievement. Building long-lasting relationships with our agents is of utmost importance to us, informed Sen.
cial segment for a destination like Goa. Sen mentioned that market share is not affected by new properties which are being commissioned in the state. In fact, it gets affected by pricing strategies and infrastructure which is not rational. She said, “The market share will be fair only if, either the
airline connectivity gets better and/or if we tap newer markets. On the other hand, the competition also ensures that we, the hoteliers, personalise services and hold on to repeat clientele and work around creating a strong loyalty feature without compromising standards.”
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GUEST COLUMN
TRAVTALK TAFI DAILY 2013 - DAY 1
Travellers log in to social media Travel blogs, first-hand accounts or testimonials act as a trigger for travellers to explore, as it sells the ‘experience’ instead of just ‘selling’ packages.
T
he flowchart below, dated 1982, is still as relevant in this digital age, as it was at that time.
Need for Travel: This can be influenced by availability of time, personal interest or stress. However, in the digital age, the influencers are fast becoming digital in nature. With social media networks full of stories from ‘friends’ about their recent journeys, nightouts, weekend breaks and ‘check-ins’, the sheer availability of the information on wonderful places in the world acts as a trigger for travellers to explore. What travel agents need to realise is that instead of just ‘selling’
packages or tours on social media platforms, it is more important to sell the ‘experience’. Wrap the packages or tours in the words of satisfied clients in the form of firsthand accounts or blogs or
plays the biggest role. A search engine optimised travel website with detailed itineraries, information, sightseeing options and value addons will satisfy the prospective travellers as well as
of a traveller about the choice of destination and accommodation options. So, at this stage, not only the traveller will evaluate the decision about the destination/accommodation, but chances of tak-
of the most travel websites which are customised with the itinerary of packages/tours. The information needs to be precise. The actual travel will result in constant ‘updates’ about the travel on social platforms in the form of tweets, posts, blogs and reviews. You need to track what your clients/guests have to say after the journey. A real time monitoring of the online chatter is also essential for any immediate measures to nip any concerns in the bud before they escalate.
this feedback is adverse, take it as a free audit of your services rather than defending or justifying your products. Travel agencies which understand the power of digital revolution must surely agree that the virtual world is both a challenge as well as an opportunity. It all depends on how clearly you have defined your objectives, how precise is your strategy and how efficiently you execute it.
Nostalgia: Those who love to even testimonials to be the ‘trigger’ for the need to travel.
strengthen their resolve to travel. The role played by travel agencies is that of a ‘facilitator’ at this stage as the “trigger” has already happened.
Information collection: This
Travel Decision: Review
is where the real estate of your website
websites today play the biggest role when it comes to ‘reaffirming’ the decision
ing a particular travel agency’s services are also affirmed.
Travel Preparations & Actual travel: This is another reason why your website should have information about the destination/ accommodation options. ‘Travel Tips’ are now an integral part
explore, love to ‘share’ as well. Each of your clients/guests can be expected to share their experience in the form of videos, images, reviews, blogs, social mentions and other forms of expressions. The collective feedback, if positive, strengthens your position for the very first step as mentioned in this article earlier and thus finishes the loop. If
(The writer is Avijit Arya, Chief Moguls, Internet Moguls)
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AGENTS
TRAVTALK TAFI DAILY 2013 - DAY 1
Blue Star expanding via franchise route In a bid to provide quality travel services to growing Indian travellers, Mumbai-based Blue Star Air Travel Services launched its franchise business model few years back. It currently has 17 franchises across India. ness, but it is slowly expanding its focus on promoting unexplored destinations through their brochures for B2B market.
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ith the growing demand and boom in the domestic and international tourism, the company is now eagerly looking at further expanding its reach and intends to have 40 franchises by the end of 2014. For the same, it is encouraging travel companies in Tier-II and TierIII cities of India by educating them about the benefits of becoming a franchisee with Blue Star. Apart from expanding through franchise route, the company will introduce a B2B portal and sell addional products like travel cards (it is one among the few agents in India to hold the
Elaborating on the franchise model, Madhav Oza, Director, Blue Star Air Travel Services said,
Madhav Oza Director Blue Star Air Travel Services
stock of travel cards for forex from Amex), etc. Currently catering to over 800 travel agents across India, consolidation of air tickets remains the top priority as core busi-
“We are encouraging travel agents to become our franchisee by offering various benefits and assisting them with profitable revenue streams.
We will impart our professional training and knowledge with them and give a plethora of USPs on various products which will be the part of our bulk negotiation with any airline, vendor or supplier and, in turn, it will give them the best negotiated offers to sell to their customers. Due to our quality services and professional approach, we have been recognised as a preferred wholesaler by many of our travel partners in metros like Pune, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Baroda, Delhi and Kolkata in addition to our base city Mumbai and we are also looking forward to serve more cities in India.”
portal to cater to every small requirement of agents situated in any corner of the country. In view of the same, we have started heading in the direction of developing our own portal to render our services more effectively to a wider base for gaining the mutual benefit along with all our associates.”
Expecting to record a growth of 20-25 per cent during this fiscal, Oza said, “With the great support and faith from many of our travel partners with us and our transparent and accommodative business policies, we are able to see ourself in the league of top service providers to the travel trade fraternity and we look forward to add more travel trade partners to our list of associates. Currently, we have been catering to more than 800 travel agents on Pan India basis.”
What’s in store Apart from expanding through franchise route, the company will introduce a B2B portal and sell additional products like travel cards (it is one among the few agents in India to hold the stock of travel cards for forex from Amex), etc.
Adding further on future plans, Oza said, “We envisage a big market in near future through the platform of B2B
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai busiest airports The Bureau of Immigration (BOI) recently compiled the total count of Indian nationals’ departures to other countries. gives you the statistics which present the real picture of the Indian outbound…. A N I TA J A I N
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he number of Indian nationals’ departures from India during 1991 was 1.94 million, which rose to 13.99 million in 2011 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.95%. The number of Indian nationals’ departures from India during 2011registered a growth of 7.7% over 2010 as compared to 17.4% growth in 2010 over 2009.
The figures also prove that during 2002 & 2004 to 2011, top 3 airports for departures of Indian
No. of Indian Nationals departures from India
Year Airport
Fact File Delhi, Mumbai & Chennai airports accounted for 55.86% of the total departures in 2011 However, during 2002, the share of these 3 airports were 35.2%, 21.9% and 12.7% respectively and the total share of these airports was 69.84%
Percentage Change of Indians departing from Indian Airports Year
Port-Wise Departures of Indian travellers, 2002-2011
Percentage change over the previous year
2002
Mumbai Delhi
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
17,38,301 19,09,773 21,52,002 23,68,115 26,23,707 10,84,097 12,83,733 15,10,735 17,64,264 19,56,299
27,34,458 21,41,600
26,15,702 30,31,822 21,17,561 26,21,535
32,64,653 30,09,762
23.34 21.51
13,50,418
13,12,197 14,50,521
15,40,106
11.01
2010
2011 % share
Chennai
6,28,059 8,45,947
Kochi
2,59,970 4,27,412
497,966 5,91,236
7,73,310
9,15,278
9,68,375 10,22,233
10,98,333
7.85
Thiruvananthapuram
2,99,815 3,45,253
4,03,637 4,74,309
5,78,647
6,19,856
6,42,011
7,51,861
6,77,998
4.84
Hyderabad Calicut
1,87,451 2,96,150 2,27,707 3,33,638
3,83,500 4,61,616 3,82,720 4,54,606
4,94,797 5,26,290
4,82,897 7,35,151
5,43,719 7,91,021
7,40,350 9,04,130
7,77,540 9,70,961
5.56 6.94
Bengaluru
1,22,709 2,09,554
2,55,518 3,69,508
4,91,088
5,30,054
5,77,191
6,64,083
7,46,051
5.33
Kolkata
1,62,033 1,91,535
2,15,233 2,32,219
2,86,953
2,94,644
3,07,379
4,11,210
4,53,682
3.24
Ahmedabad
45,160
80,125
9,23,250 10,39,973 12,11,400
2009
95,714
1,70,458
2,25,479
2,62,734
2,96,778
2,75,981
1.97
3,49,829 4,88,054
6,70,283
8,38,164
9,28,182 10,93,478
11,78,935
8.41
49,40,244 62,12,809 71,84,501 83,39,614 97,83,232 1,08,67,999 1,10,66,072 1,29,88,001 1,39,94,002
100.0
2001
45,64,477
3.4
2002
49,40,244
8.2
Total
2003
53,50,896
8.3
Top 3
69.84%
65.02%
63.83%
62.09%
59.2%
57.3%
54.63%
54.69%
55.86%
Top 10
96.26%
95.34%
95.13%
94.15%
93.15%
92.29%
91.61%
91.58%
91.59%
2004
62,12,809
16.1
2005
71,84,501
15.6
2006
83,39,614
16.1
2007
97,83,232
17.3
2008
1,08,67,999
11.1
2009
1,10,66,072
1.8
2010
1,29,88,001
17.4
2011
1,39,94,002
7.7
1,84,942 2,89,689
1,10,131
Others
nationals from India were Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. During 2011, Mumbai airport registered the highest share (23.34%) followed by Delhi airport (21.51%) and Chennai airport (11.01%). These three airports accounted for
55.86% of the total departures in 2011. However, during 2002, the share of these 3 airports were 35.2%, 21.9% and 12.7% respectively and the total share of these airports was 69.84%. The share of top 3 airports in overall departures of Indian
nationals from India during 2002-2009 was gradually decreasing, while during 2010 and 2011, it had slightly increased. However, the share of top 10 ports in overall departures of Indian nation-
als from India during 2002-2011 had also gradually decreased from 96.26% in 2002 to 91.58% in 2011. This decline may be due to various reasons including introduction of international flights from other airports.
First hotel to have Lords & Ladies as staff TThe new Hotel Indigo London Kensington Earl’s Court is the world’s first hotel to grant Lord and Lady titles to its staff as part of their
employment package. Following a revival of the Victorian era in the recent TV phenomenon Downton Abbey, each member of staff has been
given a Lord of the Manor title or Lady of the Manor title with a dedicated land plot and historic coat of arms. Set in West London, Hotel Indigo London
Kensington Earl’s Court draws on its location among the Victorian terraces and this new initiative reverses the traditional societal roles from
the era, which would have seen lords and ladies being waited on upstairs rather than behind the reception desk, downstairs.
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B2B network an asset for Mountain Edge Considering business to business relationship extremely important for growth of travel business, Mountain Edge promoters believe that it should be backed by assured high standard of service. T T B U R E AU
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s per Prakash Kumar Raj, Managing Director, Mountain Edge Tours & Holidays, the most treasured assets for a company are its B2B network and consistency in quality of service delivery. “Mountain Edge, over the years, had served over 7,500 families and group. We have consistently worked on sustaining and raising the bar in terms of service standards. As a result, the word of mouth publicity, through our guest’s feedback, has made us a reputed brand and many
‘More flights required’ Contd. from page 6
daily direct flights from Mumbai. Emirates, Qatar and Kenya Airlines offer good connections. The route is good and a lot of non-direct flights are moving their schedule to provide better connectivity to South Africa. We need flights out of Delhi and South India. Our Visa process is also very easy. Our roadshow, this year, has been very important. It is one of the biggest roadshows in terms of participation from buyers and sellers. We have 65 products on the floor with over 100 South African participants. We said no to around 20 people as we had capacity issues on the domestic flights, but, next year, we plan to make it larger. The roadshow for 2014 will be on January 20. It is a massive undertaking for us. Top outbound period for longhaul from India is Diwali and not monsoon. The top visiting period for Indians to South Africa is the monsoon. April, May, June and July, which is a low season for us and our industry can offer the best rates at that time. We do a lot of incentive travel to South Africa also.
travel companies, around India and overseas, rely on us for fulfilling their business needs.” “Further, the B2B network is extremely important for growth of our business, backed by assured high standard of service delivery that can be trusted every time.
Here travel expos & events are the good platform to interact with tour operators, travel agents for representing product, promote our destination and also get knowledge about other destinations so that we can expand our services and business,” he added.
Mountain Edge Tours & Holidays, a company based at Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, offers a broad spectrum of services that include honeymoon packages, special interest tours, escorted tours for groups and senior citizens, weekend trips, hotel reserva-
tions, car rental services, airline reservations and charter services to name a few. “All our package tours and programmes are designed thoroughly with safety measures that bring real enriching holiday experience,” said Raj.
Prakash Kumar Raj Managing Director Mountain Edge Tours & Holidays
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AVIATION
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Virgin Atlantic takes fine art to the skies Virgin Atlantic collaborates with British artist, Ben Eine, to launch first ever commercial art gallery in the air. The gallery is on the flights connecting London and New York; a sector very popular with Indian travellers. T T B U R E AU
I Richard Branson President Virgin Atlantic Airways
We like to do things differently at Virgin Atlantic and are always finding new ways to surprise and entertain our customers
Stephen King General Manager Virgin Atlantic- India
The airline will be adding 24 domestic flights a day within the UK to its existing long haul network that will strengthen connectivity for its Indian passengers
n a world first, Virgin Atlantic has launched a commercial art gallery at 35,000ft, offering Upper Class passengers flying between London and New York the opportunity to view, and purchase, a series of one-of-a-kind paintings by renowned British artist, Ben Eine, all from the comfort of their seat.
“We have witnessed a strong demand among the transit passengers from India, with over 40 per cent growth to New York from Delhi. We have seen a near doubling of the number of Upper Class passengers travelling with us from Delhi to Newark last year,” says Stephen King, General Manager, Virgin Atlantic- India.
The Gallery in the Air, which takes place between February 1 and 28, 2013, is the latest cutting-edge initiative from Virgin Atlantic to further enhance passengers’ inflight shopping and entertainment experience, taking the display and sale of fine art into uncharted territory. Each piece is inspired by the adventurous and innovative spirit of Virgin Atlantic, its entrepreneurial owner Richard Branson, and the iconic transatlantic cities of London and New York. “We like to do things differently at Virgin Atlantic and are always finding new ways to surprise and entertain our customers. Our new gallery in the Air is the first ever commercial art gallery
in the sky and is a good example of this,” says Richard Branson, President, Virgin Atlantic Airways. The eye-catching canvases will be on display across the London Heathrow, JFK and Newark Clubhouses and, as passengers take their seats, they can take a virtual tour of the Gallery in the Air, look behind-the-scenes at the making of the Virgin Atlantic artworks by Eine in his studio and buy the unique pieces of art for themselves in exactly the same way as they would a duty-free shopping purchase. Further discussing plans for this year, King adds, "We have also launched a domestic flying programme within the UK from March 2013. The new schedule will connect
Delhi, Mumbai with Manchester and Scotland (Edinburgh and Aberdeen) via London, Heathrow. The airline will be adding 24 domestic flights a day within the UK to its existing long haul network that will strengthen connectivity for its Indian passengers from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Punjab. The new flights within the United Kingdom will strengthen the connectivity Virgin Atlantic offers from Delhi and Mumbai."
Art reaches new heights Virgin Atlantic has launched a commercial art gallery at 35,000ft for Upper Class passengers flying between London and New York
‘Always good response on all our routes’ In an exclusive interview with , Aditya Ghosh, President, IndiGo, discusses the burning issue of FDI in Indian aviation and highlights the importance of getting the basics right – on time; low fares; courteous and hassle-free travel – to beat the competition. itable. “There are no gimmicks, such as offering promotional fares every once in a while. The prices are always low and that’s the reason we are the fastest growing airline in India, with the highest load factors around. Hence, we get good response on all our routesalways,” adds Ghosh.
DEEPA SETHI & DEVIKA JEET
I
n these turbulent times for the aviation industry, IndiGo has shown a steady growth and has become a leading Indian carrier. Their growth pattern is like no other and sharing their secret, Aditya Ghosh, President, IndiGo, says, “It all started by building the business idea on a structural differentiator. In 2005, we placed our first order of 100 planes from Airbus. For us, this order gave us the structural advantage we wanted to build. Having said that, the real reason for our position of leadership in India has been the team’s commitment to getting the basics right –on time performance, providing consis-
Aditya Ghosh President, IndiGo
tently low fares, and a courteous and hassle-free travel experience.” Keeping their three core business propositions in mind, the airline works towards making all their routes prof-
Discussing their load factor, he adds, “Our average load factors are in the mid-80s despite consistently adding capacity every year. Load factors are nothing but a reflection of satisfied and delighted customers who come back and fly us and indeed, encourage others to try IndiGo. We are constantly trying to be that reliable and consistent airline that customers have come to love. We may not get it right 100 per cent of the time, but every day, all of us are putting in our best effort to get there. Our focus on creating the world beating benchmark(s) in the aviation fraternity, from flying experience on-board to maintaining the reliable product, single aircraft fleet including the order
of eco friendly A-320 Neo aircraft, and employee development through robust training programmes, are some of the factors that have given IndiGo an edge over the others.” The airline has already signed another deal, a record setting of $15.6 billion to purchase 180 more passenger jets from Airbus. Cumulatively, they have placed orders for 280 planes. “The airline will continue to tap the huge passenger traffic the Indian market has to offer in the years to come. To meet the growing travel demand, IndiGo’s fleet expansion remains intact.
By 2015, we would complete the delivery order of the 100 aircraft order placed in 2005. Thereafter, more airplanes are expected to be delivered between 2016 and 2025. Ordering more A320s was the natural choice to meet India’s growing flying
needs. As the air travel becomes more prevalent, IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travellers wherever they demand it,” highlights Ghosh. Discussing the burning issue of FDI in Indian aviation, he adds, “We are not looking for investors, neither foreign nor domestic. But I don't know whether foreign investments will itself be the solution to all the problems the Indian aviation is into. Foreign investment can bring in money, but how that money will be utilised is a different issue.” Discussing the future of the Indian aviation sector and comparing this race to a marathon and not a sprint, Ghosh says, “The Indian economy is resilient and it has a huge domestic growth story. In the airline business, we have many years of growth ahead of us. India is a under penetrated aviation market in the world. For a country of more than a billion people, we have less than 500 commercial planes. Less than one per cent of rail passen-
gers travel by air in India every year. There will be a few ups and downs. We have approximately one commercial aircraft per every three million Indians. The alternative modes of transport are either extremely time consuming or they are saturated. I definitely think India’s infrastructure would be able to catch up and accommodate the large fleet. Now just like with any other industry, more so with aviation, success comes with difficulty, but that is not unfamiliar with many other industries.”
Ghosh Speaks In the airline business, we have many years of growth ahead of us India is a highly under penetrated aviation market in the world For a country of more than a billion people, we have less than 500 commercial planes India’s infrastructure would be able to catch up and accommodate the large fleet
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FAMILY ALBUM
TRAVTALK TAFI DAILY 2013 - DAY 1
Refreshing old memories from Macau TravTalk cherishes the wonderful moments that the travel trade had at TAFI Convention 2011 in Macau. The Convention accomodated interesting business sessions. The women power at TAFI Convention was very much evident as they were the ones who had managed a successful show. Vasuki Sundaram, Chitra Bhatia, Rani Bachani and Aditi Bhende constitued the Convention Organising Team under the leadership of Ajay Prakash, who was the President of the Association.
Chairman Vikramajit Publisher SanJeet Editor Deepa Sethi
Editorial Archana Sharma Vivek Sethi Devika Jeet Anita Jain Megha Paul Peden Doma Bhutia Hritvick Sen Teena Baruah
Marketing Design Gunjan Sabikhi Nityanand Misra Harshal Ashar Sudhir Mudgal Vishal Zutshii Vikas Mandotia Shovan Kanungo Nitin Kumar Karishma Khanna Production Manager Geetika Pathak Anil Kharbanda Baljinder Pal Manish Singh Amit Sarkar Prem Sagar Priyanshu Wankhade Bharat Chawla Rishika Karra
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