TravTalk

A DDP PUBLICATION

Pages: 60 (Excluding cover)

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Vol. XXIV No. 18; September 2 nd fortnight issue 2012

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Tourism set for a bright future The Ministry of Tourism is endorsing employment creation and economic development in the tourism sector while gaining recognition from key policy making institutions in India.

V IVEK S ETHI

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he global endorsement to the employment creation and economic development potential is also reflected in the recognition the sector has received from key policy making institutions in India. RH Khwaja, Secretary - Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in an exclusive conversation with delved into the various elements that go in policy making, while

painting a bright picture of the tourism sector moving into near future. Here are the selected excerpts:-

us a roadmap. Subodh Kant Sahai, our Union Minister for Tourism has always been stressing to double our

tions, bringing all states on board, facilitate development of mega circuits, improving facilities for tourists, rationalisation of taxes and promoting seamless travel.

The PM’s National Skill Development Council and the Planning Commission among many other key institutions have recognised the potential of tourism 12th Five Year Plan target The significance of creating a target is that it gives

arrivals during the 12th Five Year Plan period. We are certainly trying our best in terms of devising policy interven-

RH Khwaja Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, GoI

However, the realisation of the target is dependent on many external and internal factors. We have no control over external factors like the events in Greece, Euro Zone or other such economies. But, whatever happens to them, impacts us,

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ccording to Antunes, PATA is in a ‘transition’ mode and is actively looking at enlarging its boundaries to more regions in the world.

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“After the existence of PATA for over 60 years, we are now in a transition peri-

The Chairman also had fruitful interactions with the Ambassadors of South

The model of creating dedicated Student Chapters within the existing chapters has been successful in Beijing and is extremely proactive American countries in Bangkok recently and is keen to expand PATA’s network to these countries soon.

Talking about the importance of the India Chapter, he reveals, “The India Chapter is an important

Contd. on page 5

Tax sops to boost tourism Contd. on page 6

World Tourism Day Contd. on page 12

See full story on page 4

catches up with Eng Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, Chairman, PATA in New Delhi on his first visit to India after taking over as the Chairman for the next two years. od. PATA has members from Turkey to the US and is now aiming to create new markets and networks to explore new opportunities.”

PATA recently also reopened its Hong Kong Chapter.

Forest officials blamed

Contd. on page 5

PATA for Next Gen leaders M EGHA PAUL

TRAVTALK

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SEPTEMBER 2ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

Eng Joao Manuel Costa Antunes Chairman Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)

entity in PATA. The reason for my visit here is to celebrate the longetivity of the chapter Contd. on page 9

BULLETIN

6 ADTOI Convention in Paradise th

The Annual Convention of ADTOI on October 12-13 will become a platform for showcasing that tourism can bring a positive change to the state of J&K. M E G H A PAU L

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fter organising five successful conventions in Delhi, the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) is now for the first time stepping outside the state to claim the paradise. The association’s sixth Annual Convention will be hosted in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir on October 12-13. The two-day convention themed ‘Domestic Tourism - Impetus to National Growth’ will be held at Sher-i-Kashmir Convention Centre.

While announcing the convention dates in Delhi, Subhash Verma, President, ADTOI said the decision to hold the convention outside Delhi has been taken consid-

(L-R) Khanna, Verma, Sawhney at the pre-convention meet

ering numerous requests from various State Tourism Boards. “Since the last two years, the association has been approached by various states. Last year, we were invited by Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Tourism & Culture, Government of Jammu & Kashmir. He said,

“We want to fully support the J&K Government’s efforts to revive tourism in the state by holding our conference here.”

Talking about boosting the tourism affairs in Jammu & Kashmir, Verma pointed out, “Due to insurgency, the state had earlier received a major setback in terms of tourism. However, this year the region has witnessed an unprecedented number of arrivals. J&K solely depends on Domestic Tourism and thus, the Convention will leave no stone unturned in promoting and reviving the destination.”

According to Rajat Sawhney, General Secretary, ADTOI, the aim of the convention is not to just promote the destination but also showcase the various cultural aspects of J&K in terms of cuisines, art and handicrafts. “The association visited the state twice to Contd. on page 6

STATISTICS takes you back in time and highlights the industry’s milestones.

We hope our new initiative makes you reminisce the past.

VIEWPOINT

Tourism a Boon!

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e should all feel very proud to be a part of an industry that is set for phenomenal growth, while doing so much for the global environment and people in every country, who are in need of work and sustenance. Each one of us, is becoming responsible citizen and spreading the word far and wide. We don’t just make travellers tick off destinations and things-to-do on their travel calendars anymore, we help them discover, have adventures, build relationships and learn about people, their diversities and the world… responsible and sustainable tourism is all about brotherhood and caring!

In India, our government is pushing for both responsible and sustainable tourism with the Hunar se Rozgar Tak scheme (from acquirement of skill to employment). Under this scheme, hundreds are being trained and given scholarships from villages and small towns in India to work in hotels and resorts in their states to benefit the livelihood and income of their families.

We are proud to see the government also pushing sustainable tourism. Hotels are being asked to buy their daily culinary needs from farms, dairies and poultries in the region, thereby sustaining the lives of many farmers in the surrounding areas, besides giving trainings and employment to their youth. Rural tourism is being promoted, albeit a little slowly but results are beginning to show. Families are being taught about different cultures in the world and how to make tourists feel comfortable for homestays with families. The feedback from tourists who have had this experience is very encouraging.

As an industry we need to follow some of the codes of conduct very diligently, like adopting practices that conserve the environment, including the use of renewable resources in a sustainable manner and conservation of non-renewable resources. It is important while designing our itineraries to always consider community attitudes, values and concerns, including local customs and beliefs.

If we, as an industry, can make people believe that they can grow as individuals through their travel experiences, and with their trips make a positive contribution towards conserving global diversity and livelihood – we will have achieved something that many generations to follow will remember us for and we can be proud of being the harbingers of this conservation global movement.

Vikramajit Chairman SanJeet Publisher Rupali Narasimhan Editorial Director Deepa Sethi Editor

Editorial Ratan Kr Paul Vivek Sethi Megha Paul Devika Jeet Anita Jain Dency Mathew News-Editor Peden Doma Bhutia Desk-Editor Archana Sharma Sub-Editor Raina Mandal

Advertising Gunjan Sabikhi General Manager Karishma Khanna Sr. Manager Marketing Geetika Pathak Manager Advertising Amit Sarkar Asst. Manager Marketing Advertising (Mumbai) Suchita Saran Branch Manager Harshal Ashar Deputy General Manager

Domestic grows As per the India Tourism Statistics 2011 at a glance, 2009 had 18.8% of growth in the number of Domestic Tourist Visits while 2003 saw the highest growth of 30.1% in the number of Foreign Tourist Visits.

PRIVATE LEASE FOR ROYALTY

Novel Concept of Tourism Pockets Jeet

A novel concept of development of large size tourism pockets under private lease for royalty is under active consideration by the ministry of tourism. To complement tourist promotion to India these pockets would provide every facility ranging from transportation to accommodation to night life, lack of which deters travellers to India.

These pockets of size of about one thousand square mile will lie in hill areas, beaches, wild life sanctuaries, historical circuits and the island chains of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep. To facilitate their speedy development these pockets will be placed under an area development authority the creation of which, it is learnt, will be one of the highlights of the proposed national tourism policy.

The minister for tourism and civil aviation, Mr. Madhavrao Scindia, is likely to give broad hints of the new tourism policy in his address at the Goa travel congress. The policy document itself may take a month or more to be finalised.

He has been having discussions with representatives of the

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industry who according to some sources have been placing greater emphasis on their sectorial demands than on the larger issues. The minister however has asked senior aides to prepare the groundwork for a national policy. It is in preparing this framework that the ministry has given serious thought to the creation of pockets.

Year

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011(P)

These pockets could be far apart in different parts of the country. Since their development would concern, according to the present rules a multiplicity of authorities, the ministry is considering the creation of a single area development authority which will be an autonomous body with adequate powers for a single window clearance of projects.

No. of Domestic Tourist Visits to States/UTs (in million) 159.88 168.20 190.67 220.11 236.47 269.60 309.04 366.27 392.01 462.32 526.56 563.03 668.80 747.70 850.86

Percentage over the previous year 14.1 5.2 13.4 15.4 7.4 14.0 14.6 18.5 7.0 17.9 13.9 6.9 18.8 11.8 13.8

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he number of Domestic Tourist Visits to all states/UTs in India during the period of 1997 to 2011 has seen a tremendous increase year-on-year. The major leap

see that a double digit growth in domestic tourist visits took place in 11 years out of the 15 years period. In the year 2011, the growth in number of domestic tourist

quiet a dwindling number when compared by year to year. The year of 2003 saw a percentage growth of 30.1% (the highest growth in the given period) over -5.1 in

falling in negatives; 2001 (-7.8), 2002 (-5.1) and 2009 (-0.1). In the year 2011, the growth in number of foreign tourist visits were at a percentage of 8.8% compared to

was witnessed in the year of 2009 with a growth of 18.8% compared to the previous year 2008, wherein it was a mere 6.9% growth from 2007. It is quite surprising to

visits were at a percentage of 13.8% compared to 2010’s 11.8%. The number of Foreign Tourist Visits to all states/UTs in India during the period of 1997 to 2011 saw

2002. While 2004 and 2010 witnessed the same percentage in growth (24.6%) over their respective previous year, three different year saw the numbers and percentage

2010’s 24.6% while in 2009 the growth went negative with a percentage of -0.1%.

In both the cases, the

(Mumbai) Rishika Karra Sales Coordinator Advertisement Designers Vikas Mandotia Nitin Kumar Design: Nityanand Misra Sudhir Mudgal Photographer Simran Kaur-Delhi Bharat Dangiya-Mumbai Production: Anil Kharbanda Circulation: Ashok Rana

TRAVTALK is a publication of DDP Publications Private Limited. All information in TRAVTALK is derived from sources, which we consider reliable and a sincere effort is made to report accurate information. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. The publisher regret that he cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in this publication, however caused. Similarly, opinions/views expressed by third parties in abstract and/or in interviews are not necessarily shared by TRAVTALK. However, we wish to advice our readers that one or more recognised authorities may hold different views than those reported. Material used in this publication is intended for information purpose only. Readers are advised to seek specific

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Contd. on page 8

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NEWS Joining hands for tourism

Trade blames forest officials

Contd. from page 1

In the opinion poll conducted by on ‘Who should be held responsible for the present Tiger Tourism crisis’, the industry has blamed forest officials.

as we are also a part of the same tourism world.

We have a great extent of control over the internal situation. But, like the Tourism Ministry, I do not have control over some of the issues that impact tourism like law and order problems. For instance, due to recent law and order situation in some parts of the country, other governments had issued advisories. There are so many aviation issues like Kingfisher curtailing its services. Often, the trains are not up to the mark in terms of cleanliness. Similarly, many our destinations are also not well-managed in case of cleanliness and hygiene.

We certainly take up these issues with the concerned ministries. In fact, to address the issues of cleanliness and hygiene, we had recently launched the nationwide Clean India Campaign. In such campaigns, we do require support of all the stakeholders.

Inter-Ministerial Co-ordination Committee We have Inter-Ministerial Co-ordination Committee, which is chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.

The said Committee has already met twice in January and August 2012 and some key decisions have been taken. It’s an important platform, where all secretaries in different ministries are involved and sit together to understand various issues and find out solutions to move forward.

Growing importance of Tourism Overall, there is a change in perception of tourism with G-20 passing a resolution and acknowledging the role of tourism in economic development and employment generation globally. The PM’s National Skill Development Council and the Planning Commission among many other key institutions have recognised the potential of tourism. In the coming years, there will be much greater focus on tourism and all states in India will come on board.

Many of them are already proactive.

Expanding Visa-onArrival Scheme On the Visa-on-Arrival aspect, the scheme is presently valid for 11 countries. It’s a very powerful tool to encourage more numbers of people to visit us. We are interested in extending it to many other countries.

Initially, it may get extended to 10 additional countries. After which, it can be later extended to another 10 countries based on the bilateral arrangements and other factors provided by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

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SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

Guides & Jeep drivers

13%

Forest Officials

Tourists

16%

43%

We received an overwhelming response with people voicing their opinion on Wildlife Tourism. A majority of the respondents blamed the forest officials for the present crises. Some were unhappy with the government policies and suggested the privatisation of parks. Suggesting possible solutions, one respondent highlighted that, “partnership and participation rather than polarisation and exclusion is the way forward.” The options provided for this included tourists, hotel/lodge owners, travel agents, forest officials and guides & jeep drivers.

Hotel/Lodge owners Travel Agents

11%

17%

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STATES

Tax sops to boost tourism The CM of Maharashtra has recently announced to reduce the timeframe for renewal of restaurant permits, to build an international cruise terminal and two international airports while reviewing the luxury and ATF taxes.

A N I TA J A I N

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fter getting strong concerns from the state’s tourism, aviation and hospitality sectors, the Maharashtra government is now mulling to reduce, review and revise few taxes and policies to boost growth

Prithviraj Chavan Chief Minister Maharashtra

in these sectors. The government is mulling to reduce sales tax on aviation fuel to bring it at par with other airports like New Delhi, thus helping the airlines to reduce cost and pass on the benefits to passengers, making air travel more affordable.

It is also reviewing to reduce the luxury tax on hotels and reduce the renewal period for restaurant permits with once in five years for renewal of restaurant permits. The government is also positive to soon introduce an international cruise terminal in Mumbai to encourage cruise tourism in the state.

Talking about the new initiatives to boost tourism in the state, Prithviraj Chavan, Chief Minister, Maharashtra said, “Many countries have built their economy on tourism and we consider this sector as a crucial tool for the

And the Tourism Minister adds...

Chaggal Bhujbal, State Tourism Minister, Maharashtra announced Sindhudurg as a tourism district. He said, “There won’t be an increase in water and electricity charges for next ten years for tourism-related activities which would increase tourism in this district. We are also planning to have ‘Sea-World’ in Sindhudurg district.

Government of Maharashtra will work as a catalyst to attract substantial amount of private investment for tourism sector.”

According to Bhujbal, there is a strong need for the right promotion and marketing strategy to proeconomic development of Maharashtra. To boost the growth in this sector, we have considered and taken decisions on few issues.

We are actively considering to reduce luxury and ATF tax. We are happy to announce a 50 per cent rebate on registration fee for tourism buses and stamp duty on tourism projects (on land given on lease basis by MTDC to a private operator) and levying industrial rates for use of water in tourism projects.

Chaggal Bhujbal Tourism Minister Maharashtra

mote Maharashtra on international level. He adds, “Additionally, all ministries in the state and central government should work closely to make sure the decisions are taken faster and quicker on tourism projects.”

We will cut the number of license required to start restaurants with ‘one window’ clearance. We have also decided to increase license renovation period from existing one year to five years. Maharashtra currently has four international airports (with Nagpur airport going through up-gradation) and two more will be opened shortly. We are also building Buddhist circuit in the state along with the opening of new tiger sanctuaries. We are in touch with the Ministry of Shipping for the development of Cruise Terminal in Mumbai.”

He informed that Ajit Singh, Civil Aviation Minister, India has “convinced” the State Government about the need to bring down tax on ATF.

500 to attend ADTOI meet Contd. from page 3

prepare for this convention.”

Sawhney added,

“The kind of access we had to all the VIP officials in minimal time reflects the state’s avid interest to upgrade itself on the tourism map of India.”

The association is expecting around 500 people to attend the convention.

PP Khanna, Vice President & Convention Chairman, ADTOI revealed,

“We expect around 350 people from across the country to participate in the convention.

There will be almost 100 to 150 people from J&K itself, representing the various associations in the state.”

ADTOI is working out attractive deals with airlines such as IndiGo and GoAir

for delegates. There will also be a pre-convention tour divided in two groups around Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Srinagar starting from October 10. There will be two business sessions on Domestic Tourism, which will have eminent panellists from government and the industry. The sessions titled ‘Opportunities and Challenges in J&K’ will revolve around the bottlenecks in promoting sustainable tourism and ‘Shaping Domestic Insights’ will focus on policies of the state to promote inter-state tourism.

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

TRAVTALK

FICCI scores a hat-trick with 3 event rd

Building on the success of the Great India Travel Bazaar (GITB) and Great Domestic Tourism Bazaar (GDTB), FICCI is all set to launch a platform to stimulate investments in Tourism in January 16-17, 2013.

VIVEK SETHI

‘T

he Conclave on Investments in Tourism Infrastructure’ will bridge the gap between strategic investors and various investment opportunities in different states. The first edition is scheduled to be held during January 16-17, 2013.

The two day event will bring buyers (hotels, amusement park holders and other stakeholders keen to invest) and seller (states) on a common platform.

At the much awaited second edition of the ‘The Great Domestic Tourism Bazaar 2012’, Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Tourism while inaugurating the event, in New Delhi on August 24, 2012 had urged Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson, FICCI Tourism Committee to lead, in the direction of creating a platform, to facilitate investment in tourism infrastructure.

Suri had consented to the Minister’s proposal and had mentioned FICCI’s forthcoming initiatives to stimulate investments in the tourism infrastructure and also facilitating film tourism to attract more tourists. As per Rahul Chakravarty, Additional Director, FICCI, in the first edition of the ‘Tourism Investors Meet’,

Air Arabia doubles daily to Delhi Air Arabia has decided to expand its service to the Indian capital, New Delhi, from the carrier’s primary hub in Sharjah, UAE. Air Arabia currently offers seven weekly flights to Delhi. Starting September 1, 2012, the carrier will offer flights 14 times per week, departing Sharjah International Airport daily at 0745hrs and 2320hrs.

Return flights depart Delhi International Airport daily at 1305hrs and 0440hrs.

there will be at least five states, showcasing various investment opportunities to strategic investors during the event. FICCI will introduce an innovative platform - ‘Shoot

at Sight’ – where states with scenic beauty and willingness to support film tourism will be able to meet renowned producers of films, documentaries and television serials.

It is scheduled to be held during March 2013, just prior to the sixth edition of the renowned Great India Travel Bazaar in April 2013, Chakravarty added.

Jyotsna Suri

Rahul Chakravarty

Chairperson FICCI Tourism Committee

Additional Director FICCI

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ASSOCIATIONS

Removing speed breakers The fourth national convention of Indian Tourist Transporters Association (ITTA) was recently concluded in Delhi. reports the highlights of the event.

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naugurating the two-day convention themed Enhancing Capabilities: Meeting National Tourism Target, Subodh Kant Sahai, Minister for Tourism, stressed on the importance of road transporters in the country. Sahai pointed out, “This segment provides the last mile connectivity. I want this segment to double its business so that we can achieve our national target

The sector is desperately short of the availability of infrastructure like quality roads, wayside amenities, anti-investment environment in tourist vehicles due to the multiple taxation and inter-state taxes.”

the move will jeopardise survival of various operators.

The proposed rule is highly partisan in nature and says that any claim in excess of ` 10 lakh owing to accident will be borne by the transporter and the vehicle will remain impounded for as long as the money is not paid to the claimant.”

Citing the example of the United States, RH Khwaja, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India said, “The world’s largest

(L- R); Bobby K.S. Sawhney, Treasurer, ITTA, Krishan Dutt Yadav, Honorary Secretary, ITTA, Khwaja, Sahai, Singh, Girish Shankar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Rajesh Loomba, Chairman, Convention Committee, ITTA

along with providing employment.” Talking about the development of an apt business model for the purpose, he added, “For realisation of the full potential, the Tourism Ministry has envisaged a target of 12 per cent growth rate in foreign tourist arrivals as well as domestic tourist visits during the 12 th Five-Year Plan period.

However, when these FTAs do come in, we need to be prepared with good accommodation and transportation.”

Highlighting issues faced by the road transportation industry, Sarab Jit Singh, President, ITTA said, “Tourist transport segment is the most important vertical within this multi-sectoral industry.

According to Singh, there is a dire need to keep rates competitive by rationalising the taxes, which makes India 25-30 per cent costlier than other destinations. Service tax and interstate taxes on tourist vehicles are points of major concern. There is a scope to cater to the anticipated demand-supply gap through ‘Hunar Se Rozgar Tak’ and other schemes under the ‘Capacity Building for the Service Providers’.

There is an immediate need to take up manpower training programmes across the country.

Urging the MOT to take up the issue of insurance with the Department of Insurance, the ITTA President lamented, “There is a proposal to limit the third party insurance cover to ` 10 lakh that we see as a potential dampener to the efforts in building a robust tourism economy in the country. If implemented,

economy has taken so many initiatives to boost tourism to negate the ill-effects of the recession in the country. It is high time that India took some effective measure to combat economic adversities back home.

There have been path breaking developments which have boosted the road transportation industry here.

For example; the Golden Triangle route has been promoting seamless travel for three years now. However, the general pace of growth in the road transportation sector has been slow.” The MOT’s programme HSRT scheme has no ceiling on it. The MOT will work with the industry as well. The new insurance issue would be taken up soon as well, Khwaja revealed during the event.

From 5.50 mn to 19.49 mn Contd. from page 4

numbers have risen the highest in the year of 2011 with 850.86 million Domestic Tourist Visits and 19.49 million Foreign Tourist Visits.

Looking at the strong growth in the domestic numbers, it is evident that domestic segment holds enormous growth.

EXHIBITIONS PATA Next Gen Contd. from page 1

as it was created as early as in 1974. It has grown to be one of the largest and most dynamic chapters in the region with 236 members, including the Ministry of Tourism, State Tourism Boards, service providers, airlines, hotels, tour operators and travel agents.”

The Chairman, who is also the Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), visited Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Tourism, and RH Khwaja, Secretary, Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India to explore opportunities for closer cooperation in line with ‘PATA Next Gen’ principles.

Regarding the suggestions the autonomous PATA India chapter can implement, the chairman opines, “The creation of new sub-chapters within India would be a good initiative. In US, we have created separate chapters as it is a huge country. Currently, there is just one single PATA India chapter. The US model could be applied to India in due course of time to make its functioning more effective.”

Antunes also stresses on the importance of the future professionals and leaders in the tourism industry. “We want the students to be engaged so that they, in turn, can create their own leaders.

These leaders can then undertake projects on tourism. Thus, creating dedicated student chapters within the existing chapters to engage students and faculties of tourism and hospitality institutes and universities should be undertaken. This model has been successful in Beijing where the student chapters are extremely proactive,” he reveals. The India Chapter is a role model for other chapters because it has senior members of the industry at the leadership level as well as members.

They must come forward to prepare the next generation professionals for the industry, he adds. To engage the youth, the PATA 2012 Manila Youth Forum will offer tourism and hospitality students a unique opportunity to meet and hear from the industry leaders as well.

Going forward, another major issue that PATA wants to tackle is crisis management. “We have the responsibility to create a comprehensive crisis management system by integrating the existing systems at different levels. Crisis management is a big concern today for destinations. PATA wants to create a platform so that we can respond to such situations as quickly as possible,” he points out.

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

TRAVTALK

9

Tech innovations take centrestage@EIBTM Hosted Buyers have a strong interest in award winning products of the EIBTM Technology Watch, the longest running award recognition scheme for innovation.

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his year's expert judging panel will be looking to award an innovative company for their pioneering technology solutions, which will make a significant impact on the industry.

The contestants will get a chance to win their place in the

Technology Village at the 25th edition of EIBTM and exposure to over 15,200 meetings industry professionals and the global meetings industry media. The winner will also receive a diary of pre-scheduled appointments that have been co-ordinated with Hosted Buyers who have indicated a genuine interest in

their products. Submissions will be judged on innovation and uniqueness, impact to the meetings industry as well as completeness of the product of service. The 2012 panel of industry experts is scheduled to be chaired by Corbin Ball of Corbin Ball Associates. The judging panel will also comprise

Michelle Bruno, President, Bruno Group Signature Events; Paul Hussey, Business Development Director, BSI Meetings and Events; Ruud W. Janssen, Marketing Entrepreneur, TNOC; Martin Sirk, CEO, ICCA; Bruce MacMillan, Former CEO & President, MPI and new

Graeme Barnett Exhibition Director, EIBTM

addition, Deborah Sexton, President and CEO, PCMA.

10 TRAVTALK

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

HOTELS

Decade-long growth story Recognition for Montcalm 13 years after setting its first property in India, the US The luxury 5-star hotel in the heart of the City of London, chain Marriott International is seeing a double-digit The Montcalm London City at The Brewery, was awarded growth YoY in its business generated from India. the City Heritage Award on the July 9, 2012.

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s part of a broader move to tap the country’s growing middle class, the chain is going to introduce its Fairfield brand in India next year.

“The group has formed a joint venture with Samhi Hotels to build the Fairfield by Marriott brand in India,” says Rajeev Menon, Area Vice President - India, Malaysia, Maldives and Pakistan at Marriott International during the MCube 2012 event at the Goa Marriott Resort & Spa. This is the group’s only joint venture as otherwise it is purely a management company. The key challenges are in getting the sites, starting the development on the

Rajeev Menon Area Vice President - India, Malaysia, Maldives and Pakistan at Marriott International

property and executing the hotels in time, he adds. The group will also unveil the Ritz Carlton brand in India next year.

The fastest growing brand is Courtyard by Marriott. “As this is our fourstar brand, it can get into the Tier-II and Tier-III markets easily. As of now, there are seven Courtyards,” Menon confirms. The country’s largest two-wheeler makerThe Hero Group has also

signed an agreement with Marriott to manage the former’s first hotel in India. The partnership with Marriott is to bring its boutique hotel brand, Edition, into the country. Planned over four acres in Gurgaon, this hotel will bear the signature style of Ian Schrager, the American hotel industry icon of ‘Studio 54’ fame.

Past, Present & Future

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he City Heritage Award is presented annually to the finest refurbishment project in the City of London and recognises the outstanding contributions to the restoration of important listed properties.

Previous winners include St Paul’s Cathedral, Monument, Tem ple Bar, Finsbury Circus and St Bartholomew’s Hospital West Wing.

“The winners showed aplomb in abundance, retaining distinctive features and with such imaginative and wit from its past.”

The group’s only joint venture is with Samhi as otherwise it is purely a management company The key challenges are in getting the sites, starting the development on the property and executing the hotels in time The group will also unveil the Ritz Carlton brand in India next year

The plaque was unveiled

by The Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman David Wootton in the ceremony organised at the entrance of The Montcalm London City at The Brewery. The award was presented to the hotel for the outstanding refurbishment project and returning life into what was one of the City of London’s largest manufacturing business enterprises of its time, the Whitbread & Co brewery. Said Wootton,

Ramesh Arora Managing Director / Vice President Marketing The Montcalm London City

Once the site of the Whitbread & Co, Britain’s first purpose-built mass produc-

tion brewery, the original building dates back from as early at 1750 when Samuel Whitbread moved his brewing operations to Chiswell Street on the ‘eastern rim of Georgian London’. The last beer brewed there was in 1976, when the site was turned into Whitbread PLC’s Head Office and the City of London’s leading Conference & Banquetting Centre, The Brewery.

Celebrating its first anniversary, this exceptional Grade II listed building was stunningly transformed into a luxurious contemporary 5-star hotel whilst preserving its heritage values. SGP Contractors, owned by Subir Patel not only preserved the Heritage values at the Montcalm hotel but also created a luxury design hotel along with Ramesh Arora who is known for his passion for luxury, by carrying out major renovations in record time of 9 months.

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WORLD TOURISM DAY

We pledge for Sustainable Tourism GUEST COLUMN

Coping up with challenges T he world today is going through a plethora of challenges on the environment front and is coping up on a regular basis. The most common headlines that we read in the newspapers seem to focus on food and energy shortage – all brought on us by our neglect of the world’s natural resources. The Tourism Industry has a pivotal role to play in this scenario, as stakeholders from various organisations use the facilities of different channels of the tourism industry.

I would recommend the following sustainable development practices for the tourism industry, both globally and for India particularly. It is necessary that hotels and other industries do their utmost to try and reduce their resource intensity, by relooking at current practices that they use and if necessary, consider changing these processes to achieve the above objectives.

If the sustainable development practices are embedded in the service design of the hotel industry, it will soon be seen and felt by a large number of stakeholders, who have a tendency to emulate the good practices seen and felt at hotels.

This has been observed over the last couple of decades at ITC Hotels.

Tourists must be brought into the ambit of sustainable development, by offering examples and opportunities to visitors through which they can make an effort to reduce wastage of food, water and energy. India has 700 million domestic tourists

travelling to diverse destinations across the country. It is of paramount importance that Hotels, Travel Agents, Tour Operators along with their confirmed bookings, also send them the DOs and DONT’s of each location.

This is to ensure that tourists begin to respect the flora and fauna and culture of the place that they visit and do not sully the pristine natural beauty of the place by shouting, littering and disturbing animals in their own habitat.

On the occasion of World Tourism Day - September 27, collates opinions on Sustainable Tourism practices recommended for India.

At UNWTO we call on all destinations to commit to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, a roadmap for tourism development endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, which aims to maximise tourism’s positive contribution and mitigate its possible negative impacts.

The Code includes nine articles outlining the ‘rules of the game’ for central and local governments, local communities, tourism professionals and tourists themselves. Among these articles, the Code calls on governments to develop tourism policies that safeguard the natural environment, respect cultural heritage and respect social and cultural traditions.

Taleb Rifai Secretary-General UNWTO

The Code further calls on destinations to engage local communities in tourism development and to guarantee the rights of workers in the tourism sector.

By adhering to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, India will ensure its tourism sector develops in a way that makes optimal use of environmental resources, respects the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities and provides viable, long-term socio-economic benefits for all: the three pillars at the heart of Sustainable Tourism.

– Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO

Through this simple step we can educate tourists in a short span of time and instill in them an appreciation for nature, leading to better maintenance of our heritage sites, mountains, beaches and forests.

There is a Chinese saying that a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a first step. With the use of sophisticated IT technology, it is easy to disseminate information to all corners of the globe. Thereby, leading to the moulding of tourist behaviour, inculcating sensitivity and better appreciation of nature and its resources.

Source:UNWTO

Every company should set internal goals to achieve sustainable development which include initiatives that give back to the community and to the environment. Tourism is one of the biggest sources for generating jobs, growth of remote areas, preservation of local skills and enterprise development at the micro level. Hence, sustainable practices have to be promoted to bring inclusive growth. I would like all the stakeholders to come together and have a cohesive approach towards the development of tourism. We all have a responsibility towards the society. Le Passage to India Foundation’s Shaping Lives initiative is specifically dedicated to promoting Responsible and Sustainable Tourism.

Arjun Sharma CEO, Le Passage to India

– Arjun Sharma, CEO, Le Passage to India

Tourism is an ideal platform providing both intent and incentive to preserve our precious but dwindling natural resources. Sustainable Tourism requires collaboration with hoteliers, suppliers, government authorities and customers. As captains of the Tourism Industry we can indeed play an impactful role, if we were to see ourselves, as guardians of the environment, our cultural heritage and the community.

Madhavan Menon

– Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India)

Managing Director Thomas Cook (India)

Niranjan Khatri General Manager Welcomenviron Initiatives, ITC Welcomgroup

I would suggest that we offer more of sustainable products in India, especially since they fit very well within the framework of our country’s cultural and environmental concerns.

We as a company, offer a product line by the name of ‘Ananea’. These are trips with intense experiences in harmony with nature, with foreign culture and with oneself. This set of experiences is aimed at people who deliberately want to stay and enjoy a fascinating insight into unfamiliar ways of life and lasting experience in magnificent scenery.

Dipak Deva CEO, Destination Management India & South Asia

– Dipak Deva, CEO, Destination Management - India & South Asia

HOTELS

Clarks Inn for corporates Clarks Inn Hotel is capturing the corporate segment and creating avenues to market Alwar as a leisure destination.

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nown as Matsya Nagri, Alwar is a little city that is aspiring to emerge big.

“The quite and calm nature of this small city attracted many retired couples to set up their homes as it is very safe for elderly couples,” says Manish Bhatia, Managing Director, Clarks Inn Hotel Alwar. “It is almost emerging as a re-settlement city for aged people, even though it is a hub for the corporate segment due to the existence of various industrial plants and offices in and around the city.

Also, the city’s close proximity to industrial townships has ensured that it goes through a change,” he adds.

The property happens to be the fourth hotel of the Clarks Group. “The hotel was started in 2008 and we chose Clarks Inn considering the market demand and the kind of hospitality we wanted to bring to the city,” Bhatia remarks.

Primarily, the Alwar market is driven by corporate business.

“We get an average occupancy of 65-70 per cent commanding an ARR of ` 2,300 per night, which is fair enough in comparison to Jaipur in proximity,” elaborates Bhatia.

Alwar is noticing a growth of leisure business but it is still considered negligible. “We get leisure booking of fourfive per cent of the total occupancy annually, but we expect it to grow to 20 per cent in future,” he affirms.

The hotel property is also going through renovation to add seven more rooms. It has three categories of rooms viz.

Deluxe (19 keys), Club (19 keys) and Suite (2 keys).

Apart from hospitality, the Managing Director’s interest has always been towards promoting the city in a holistic manner that benefits the travel trade.

“There is so much to explore about this city which remains hidden. Alwar’s name is missing on the travel map and that irks me. The

township that has emerged into a city culture holds a lot of promise and is a hidden gem of Rajasthan,” he says.

The hotel has also taken initiative to let people know about the various facets of

Manish Bhatia Managing Director Clarks Inn Hotel Alwar

the city that are tourist attractions. The hotel wants people to take notice of this destination as a weekend leisure getaway option from Delhi, Jaipur and even Agra.

“We undertake weekend promotions to capture the travellers from Delhi, Jaipur and industrial belt of Rewari and Bhiwadi,” Bhatia informs.

TAFI, KwaZulu-Natal and SATSA meet in New Delhi

The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), in collaboration with the Tourism KwaZulu-Natal and Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA), conducted a press conference on August 27, 2012 in New Delhi to look into the various possible ways for promoting tourism into South Africa, while taking stock of ongoing preparations of the rescheduled Annual Convention now to be held in Durban in February 2013.

The press conference was attended by the Minister of Tourism, KwaZulu province, South Africa and other dignitaries of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal province, SATSA, TAFI and TAFI NI Chapter.

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SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

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Marina Bay Sands (Singapore)

Tourism investment opportunities in Asia Background  China and India have been growing steadily, gradually attracting investment in the booming travel and tourism industry over the years. Beyond the two countries, other emerging markets are fuelling the Asian growth engine, greatly driven by rising domestic demand and the increase in intra-Asia travel.  Another factor contributing to the increased domestic and regional travel is the burgeoning middle class and higher disposable incomes in Asia. According to the Abacus International Report, travel by the middle class will grow as Asia expects to add at least an additional 2.5 billion people to its middle class by 20301.  As travel and tourism in Asia expands, it is thus paramount that infrastructure develops ahead of it through strategic planning and targetted investments. Industry experts have also predicted that tourism numbers will continue to skyrocket in the region, and there is a great shortage of business grade, four-to-five star hotels here, where opportunities are abundant.

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Hotel Room Supply, Capital Investment and Manpower Requirement by 2021, by HVS and The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

Plethora of opportunities for investment in Asia  To cater to the increase in demand, as well as the changing needs of the rising affluent Asian traveller, billion-dollar investments have been made for the development of tourism infrastructure and concepts in Asia.  According to STR Global, which tracks the supply and demand data for the hotel industry, there are about 410,000 hotel rooms in the pipeline for Asia-Pacific. Of these, China will account for 56 per cent. In fact, hoteliers are increasing their presence in the country due to rising affluence and growing demand in the second and third tier cities. One such example is Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, who is planning for 100 more hotels under several of its hotel brands.  Singapore has also attracted its share of tourism investments. New hotels have contributed to an increase in the number of hotels from 268 to 304 by the end of last year, while a host of new shopping, leisure, business and entertainment options have also come on-stream. More interestingly, investments in mixed-used developments such as the two Integrated Resorts by Las Vegas Sands and Genting Group point to an increasing focus on developing integrated experiences for customers.  Similarly, in Shanghai, the Shanghai Disney Resort, expected to be completed in 2015, will incorporate a theme park, hotels, dining, entertainment, retail and recreational facilities.  The LEGOLAND theme park in Malaysia will also include a LEGOLAND hotel in 2014 to create an integrated destination resort experience for families.  It is clear that investors from within and outside Asia are gradually expanding their footprint in the world's largest and most populous continent. Having a keen sense of the opportunities in Asia is crucial for businesses leaders who are looking to expand their reach and maintain their competitive edge.

About TravelRave TravelRave, Asia's mega travel and tourism festival, showcases world-class business events for tourism leaders and professionals from across the travel eco-system to maximise business opportunities and acquire in-depth knowledge from industry insights, best practices and innovations. Leveraging the buzz and dynamism of the Asian travel and tourism industry, TravelRave sets the stage for collaboration and enables the industry to better harness the vast growth potential present in the region.

About the Singapore Tourism Board The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is a leading economic development agency in tourism, one of Singapore’s key service sectors. Known for partnership, innovation and excellence, the Board champions tourism and builds it into a key economic driver for Singapore. STB aims to differentiate and market Singapore as a must-visit destination offering enriching experiences through the ‘YourSingapore’ brand.

For more information, please visit www.stb.gov.sg and www.yoursingapore.com.

Call to action For more information, visit www.travelrave.sg or follow us @TravelRaveSG on Twitter

Bright spots in Southeast Asia  Government spending into areas like infrastructure development is helping to boost growth.

Representatives of the governments of Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam have convened to discuss measures to facilitate cooperation for economic and tourism development along the Trans-Asia Highway (East-West Economic Corridor), which is part of the Mekong Delta.

With the implementation of this 1,450km economic corridor spanning 19 cities of the four countries, it is set to spur more travel and tourism developments in the near future.

Global investors have also been quick to identify windows of opportunity in the SEA region:  Vietnam: Investors are also looking to rising economies such as Vietnam. The country has plans underway to promote its maritime tourism through the hosting of an international tourism fair, leveraging more than 3,000km of coast and seaside resorts. Hanoi is also set to increase development efforts on amusement centres to cater to foreign travellers.  Korean company Keangnam Vina Limited Company has recently opened the 72-storey Hanoi Landmark building in May 2012, the highest observatory in Vietnam that not only offers a bird’s eye view of the city, but also comprises serviced apartments, commercial and office spaces.  Thailand: In June 2012, The Holiday Inn Express marked the brand's first foray into Southeast Asia with the opening of The Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Siam. The fast-growing hotel chain also announced plans to open 12 new properties in the region in the next two years.

Investments in Phuket’s hotel property sector are set to exceed US$ 315 million this year.  Myanmar is increasingly attractive to investors. With many economic sanctions being lifted, more investors are beginning to make their first trips to the previously closed country.

Hoteliers in particular, are eyeing a slice of Myanmar's hospitality sector, and experts said they expect demand for hotel rooms to grow at levels that the country has never seen before.  In Singapore, the hotel sector is similarly riding the wave of growth. Orchard Parade Holdings Ltd. (OPH) had earlier revealed plans to expand its hotel management business in Southeast Asia to tap the region’s tourism growth. According to a report by real estate consultancy CBRE, the supply of hotel rooms in Singapore is expected to increase by 20 per cent by 2016. CBRE said the ramping up of room supply is underpinned by a healthy outlook for the hospitality sector.  Many investors are also continuing to acquire assets in Asia, recording US$ 3.9billion across Asia in September 2011, an increase of 50 per cent over September 2010, with the largest proportion in coming from China, Singapore and Japan. Said Mr. Patrick Imbardelli, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, “Our development focus is in Asia and we have, since 2009, opened and rebranded hotels, resorts and serviced suites in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. This year three more properties are opening for us in China and Singapore. As Asia business and intra-Asia travel experience fur- Patrick Imbardelli President and Chief ther growth, we see huge development opportunity not just in hotels Executive Officer, Pan but the extended stay segment for both of our brands.”

Pacific Hotels Group

Network for growth and collaboration at TravelRave 2012  Connect with other business leaders looking to establish presence in the region, and explore opportunities to tap into huge potential for growth in emerging markets around the region.  Leveraging the continued and robust growth of the leisure and business travel industry in Asia, TravelRave, Asia's most influential travel and tourism festival, provides a prime platform for business leaders and professionals in the travel and tourism industry to convene, network, share knowledge and insights, discover new business opportunities and celebrate Asian tourism at its best.  Asia Pacific Tourism Destination Investment Conference (TDI Asia), one of the events under TravelRave, which was first introduced as the half-day Asia Pacific Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference last year, has evolved into a three-day event this year. The event will focus on Hotel Investments and Tourism Infrastructure Development across Asia and include an array of networking opportunities, business meetings, exhibition and thought-provoking conferences.  Leaders from across the tourism industry such as Matthew Mrozinski, Managing Director, Head of Real Estate & Lodging, Global Investment Banking Asia Pacific, Citigroup Global Markets Asia, Bernold Schroeder, CEO, Jin Jiang Hotel Management, Robert Naso, Managing Director, Clear Bridge Asia Capital Pvt Ltd and India Real Estate Partners Pvt Ltd and Annabella S Wisniewski, President and CEO, Raintree Management Partners, will gather to discuss regional investment opportunities and strategies in hospitality, tourism destination planning and infrastructure development across Asia.  “We are very excited about showcasing some of the region’s most talked Jens Cornelissen about development projects and help match investors to suitable projects Conference Director TDI Asia across Asia,” says Jens Cornelissen, Conference Director for TDI Asia.

Sources: http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=2899 / http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1204790/1/.html / http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-22/orchard-parade-seeks-to-expand-hotel-business-insoutheast-asia.html / http://hotels.cbre.com/NR/rdonlyres/E39131CE-728E-4C9D-AE98 A516A274DD09/946874/AsiaHotelsMarketView_Q3_2012.pdf

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Welcoming Pawar and farewell to Peter de Man

Emirates can earn $106mn for India The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) undertook a study on the economic impact of Emirates’ operations on India. The study shows how the airline can benefit with the new routes. investment and growth in the Indian market with the deployment of the latest generation aircraft.”

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A cocktail evening was organised on August 28, 2012 at the Pullman Hotel, Gurgaon to bid farewell to Pieter de Man, General Manager of Air France – KLM, South Asia and welcome his successor Yeshwant Pawar to this new position.

The evening was attended by top trade contacts as well as other partners and dignitaries from the embassy.

Training students jointly

Abacus International recently announced a new partnership with Kuoni Academy to become the strategic education partner for Abacus training. The agreement signed in Mumbai will enable Kuoni Academy to train its students and travel agents on the Abacus platform at Kuoni Academy centres across India.

xpansion of an efficient civil aviation sector is important for India as it becomes increasingly linked to global commerce and tourism. Emirates has contributed $596 million to the Indian Economy and $274 million in the Air Transport sector in India.

“India is a central pillar in Emirate’s global network, last year Emirates carried over 4.7 million passengers on its flights to Indian cities.

The airline has shown 24 years of consecutive profitability in India. NCAER’s report quantifies the $596 million injected into the Indian economy as a result of this traffic; substantiating Emirates’

(L-R) Löfberg; Pronab Sen, Principal Advisor, Planning Commission & Dr Shekhar Shah, Director General, NCAER at the release of NCAER Report

contribution towards economic growth, foreign investment and trade in India,” says Will Löfberg, Senior Manager, Public and Environmental Affairs, Emirates Airlines.

Emirates directly employ 1,045 employees in India. On the tourism front, the Airline has brought in 5,29,928 foreign tourists into the country in the financial year of 2010-11, (approx. 27.71 per cent), as a

result of which, $1153 million has been contributed to the economy as Foreign Exchange Earning.

The study also suggests that Emirates expansion to four additional points in India, namely, Amritsar, Pune, Mangalore and Tiruchirapally, which would benefit the Indian economy by $106 million. Adding to this, Löfberg says, “Emirates is committed to further

With a load factor of 84 per cent, in the financial year 2010-11, 65 per cent of the expenditure has been spent on relatively small airports whereas only 35 per cent of Emirates’ direct contribution went to three big airports – Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai (in terms of passenger share).

This indicates Emirates’ role in developing economic activities at non-hub points.

Emirates & India Emirates directly employ 1,045 employees in India.

On the tourism front, the Airline brought in 5,29,928 foreign tourists into the country in the financial year of 2010-11 $1153 million was contributed to the economy as FEE

AVIATION

Cathay banks on travel agents Cathay Pacific is increasing its frequency to Hong Kong from Chennai and introducing flights from Hyderabad. The airline’s strategy will include targetting agents in offline cities. traffic rights and further expansion will now depend on being granted additional traffic rights,” says Raicar.

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athay Pacific Airways’ passenger loads have been healthy with an average of 80 per cent. Their performance has been stable in spite of the increasing market fluctuations.

Confident about the Indian market, Rakesh Raicar, Regional Sales & Marketing Manager – South Asia, Cathay Pacific Airways, says, “India serves as one of the fastest growing economies and is one of the few countries, which is on the growth path despite the global economic downturn.

There is a significant industrial and economic development in and around most of the metros due to which the travel from this region is still healthy. So all in all, we have a great deal of confidence in the long-term future of the Indian market and we look towards playing our full part in growing the aviation business here.”

This year, the airline has increased frequencies between Chennai and Hong Kong from four flights a week to daily, with effect from September 1, 2012. Sister airline – Dragonair – has revealed its new four-timeweekly service to Kolkata that will launch on November 2, 2012. It recently decided to start four-time-weekly services from Hyderabad to Hong

Rakesh Raicar Regional Sales & Marketing Manager – South Asia, Cathay Pacific Airways

India continues to be a market with high potential and travel agents are our biggest distribution channel in India Kong with effect December 2012.

from

“India continues to be a market with high potential and the Cathay Pacific group intends to continue to expand in this market. With the current expansion, we expect to maintain 80 per cent load factor. We have utilised all our

Focussing on their biggest distribution channel, he says, “Travel Agents are our biggest distribution channel in India. To promote our new destinations, change in timings and the increase in frequencies, we conduct regular sales blitz and workshops for travel agents, corporate presentations and agency contests.”

The Airline works very closely with travel agents as they form an integral part of the distribution. Regular sales workshops are conducted for the agents where the airline sales team provides regular updates on the products and services. “Our workshops have also targetted agents in offline cities such as Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Mangalore and Coimbatore, to name a few. We also conducted various sales blitzes to promote our new destinations, change in timings and increase in frequencies. The most recent Sales Blitz was done in Chennai, Bengaluru and Delhi earlier this year to promote our North America connections and in Mumbai to promote our connections to Australia,” explains Raicar.

Book easy with Pathfinders’ DPS Thailand-based Pathfinders Travel, a DMC and consolidator with presence in India, has launched a new tool to make tour packaging simpler, easier, time saving and cost saving for its 1300 network agents based in India. Through ‘DPS’ – Dynamic Packaging System tool on its portal www.pathfinders.travel, network agents can book different travel products at one go to build a package and gain unique pricing points offered by local DMCs from other markets. Currently, offering Thailand on DPS, the company will rope in products from Singapore, Malaysia and Australia markets. Through the expansion and consolidation, Pathfinders aims to

strengthen the small and mid sized travel companies in India.

Ashley Monterio, MD, Pathfinders Travel said, “I’m really upset with the big fish in the Indian travel industry who bully the suppliers (local DMCs) and pull them to corners and squeeze the best prices. This way, the former not only earn more but also shrink the bottomlines of the DMC operators. The big fish then deal with small operators and earn more in volumes through small and mid-sized agencies. Pathfinders, on the other hand, is working with small and mid-sized agencies with a mutual respect concept and have roped in local DMCs from overseas markets who list down their best possible

DPS dedicated to travel agents Agents can register for free on www.pathfinders.travel to get access to DPS. Once the registration is confirmed

by Pathfinders, agents can search, customise and book tour packages online. The payment can be done online through debit/credit cards.

Ashley Monterio Managing Director Pathfinders Travel

rates and at the end, a win-win situation is built for both the parties. Through Pathfinders’ DPS, travel agents can book products which are priced as low as 3040 per cent by the local DMCs (international). They also make healthy profit on margins in the market like India which is price driven.” He also mentioned about his blog www.bestofthailand.org consisting of detailed information on Thailand. Pathfinders served 15000 passengers from India to Thailand and is confident to send 30,000 Indian passengers this year with the launch of DPS.

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Ethiopian’s Dreamliner lands in Mumbai Ethiopian Airlines is the first airline in the world outside Japan to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The airline is flying its Dreamliner to different African destinations before it flies to other destinations and Mumbai featured on its list of International destina-

tions. The Dreamliner touched Mumbai’s runway on August 25, 2012.

Ethiopian Dreamliner interior is configured with 24 Cloud Nine business class seats and 245 economy class seats. The Dreamliner is a technically advanced aircraft that provides unmatched services onboard that include less noise, big windows and

unique lighting that is adaptable to the environment. Once Ethiopian takes delivery of its 2nd Dreamliner, the aircraft will operate on an assigned scheduled route, which will be announced soon.

Ethiopian is the fastest growing airline in Africa.

“The fact that we are the first airline outside Japan to receive this ultra-modern aircraft is an affirmation of our continuing pioneering role in African aviation. It is also a testimony of our commitment to give our passengers the best possible travel experience, with the best industry products and services,” said Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines.

SriLankan: Hitting a century in India With 87 flights a week, SriLankan Airlines targets to operate 100 flights a week from India by the end of this fiscal year.

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eing the biggest inbound tourist source market for Sri Lanka, India is a prominent market for SriLankan Airlines.

Few years ago, the airline operated 100 flights a week from India but due to recession, it reduced the frequency to 55 flights. This year, the airline has successfully increased the numbers to 87 flights resuming operations to few cities and increasing frequencies to the other. It is currently flying to Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Cochin,

Value for Money Fares Mihin Lanka, the LCC by Sri Lankan Airlines operates from nine key destinations with four flights a week to Bodh Gaya and Varanasi; six flights a week from Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, Chennai and New Delhi and daily flight from Tiruchirapally and Cochin

Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirapally and is contemplating to add more flights on Chennai and New Delhi along with connecting new destinations like Madurai and Hyderabad/Visakhapatnam.

Kapila Chandrasena Director and CEO SriLankan

With increasing demand and improving market conditions, the airline now aims to get back to 100 flights a week on Indian route before March 2013. Next year, the airline aims to focus more on the TierII cities of India for expansion.

Divulging further details, Kapila Chandrasena, Director and CEO, SriLankan Airlines said,

“India is a very crucial market for us and there is a need to serve more destinations and extend our route network in this market.We are slowly getting back to our 100 flights a week operations from India by adding frequencies and destinations in India.

I suppose, the prime mode of engagement in this market for us are the tour operators which help us get loads of over 80 per cent on all Indian routes and thus we still maintain an agency commission of five per cent.”

When asked about the discounts and offers for the T20 Cricket Match, he said, “We are looking at improving yields network wise and maintain our high service levels instead of getting into price war. However, we are working closely with select tour operators offering attractive packages to Sri Lanka especially for T20.”

Thailand Visa in 24 hrs Cox & Kings Global Services has announced that henceforth applicants that submit their documents for a Thailand visa at the Mumbai centre will receive the visa in 24 hours instead of three working days. Having been appointed by the Royal Thai ConsulateGeneral in Mumbai, CKGS will provide faster Thai visa application services across five cities in Western India – Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Panaji and Indore.

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BA dons new look for Indian travellers With plans to offer the best products to the Indian market, British Airways (BA) has introduced a new in-flight menu and new aircraft with improved seats and an enhanced entertainment system that is to follow this winter. The airline is spending £5 billion for the same.

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ritish Airways recently decided to invest a £5 billion, over the next five years focussing on new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground.

Christopher Fordyce Regional Commercial Manager - South Asia, British Airways

Introducing a refreshed menu, specially created and launched for our Indian passengers is one of our continuous endeavours to improve their inflight experience “This is a part of our ongoing efforts to offer valuebased services to our passengers and create a relationship with them to win their loyalty,” says Christopher Fordyce, Regional Commercial Manager - South Asia, British Airways,.

The airline has introduced its new, specially designed in-flight menu for the varied preferences and tastes of its Indian passengers across all cabins from Delhi and Mumbai. “India is a key market for British Airways and we are committed to serve the best-inclass product on-board our flights from India.

Introducing a refreshed menu, specially created and launched for our Indian passengers is one of our continuous endeavours to improve their in-flight experience,” adds Fordyce.

Highlighting the importance of the Indian market, he says, “India is a very strong

and growing market for the airline. The products brought into the country are one of the best and the brand will fly its new aircraft on the India route this winter. The new aircrafts

will include new and improved passenger cabins and entertainment system.”

Though the airline might relook at capacity and rethink flight routes with the

increasing aeronautical costs in India but they are trying to win passenger loyalty with their on-board services.

MICE and group movements are another important

segment for the airline and they offer agents special benefits on such movements, which include a dedicated fare and flexibility on name and dates changes.

Only for Indians The brand will fly its new aircraft on the India route this winter.

The new aircraft will include new and improved passenger cabins and entertainment system The airline has introduced its new, specially designed in-flight menu for the varied preferences and tastes of its Indian passengers.

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FAMILY ALBUM

IATO: Once upon a time in Mumbai The 28th annual IATO Convention held in Mumbai recorded a high number of registrations and was attended by the who's who of the travel, hospitality and government agencies. The power-packed business sessions gave out the best strategies to follow during tough times while the evening functions showcased the real essence of Maharashtra through themed cocktail and dinner parties.

Contd. on page 42

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FAMILY ALBUM

Macau, Guangdong and Hong Kong together

Mumbai

Chennai

The first multi-destination roadshow in India organised jointly by Macau, Guangdong and Hong Kong was truly the first of its kind. The event that took place in three metros – Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi became the platform where stalwarts of the industry gathered to learn more about the destinations.

Contd. on page 34

NTO

Wanted Direct flights to Macau The current bilateral agreement on connectivity is outdated and should be revised to improve connectivity and arrivals from India.

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rom 5,000 arrivals in 2000, Macau registered 180,000 arrivals from India in 2011. Direct flights from India are the key to increase India’s outbound to Macau.

Realising this issue, Macau Tourism is talking to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Tourism in India to establish direct air connectivity between both the regions, says Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, Director, Macau Tourism and Chairman, Pacific Air Transport Association (PATA) during the first multi-destination roadshow in India organised jointly by Macau, Guangdong and Hong Kong, covering Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi.

According to Antunes, the current bilateral agreement is outdated and in order to improve air connectivity, this needs to be revised. “Air Macau does not have carriers flying to India as it is a regional carrier. Hence, we are talking to Indian carriers,” he informed.

With a slew of openings in the five-star hotel category, Macau is obviously wooing the high-end Indian travellers. However, this does not mean that it is not working towards luring the budget consumers from the country.

Joao Manuel Costa Antunes

Mei Qi Jei

Director, Macau Tourism and Chairman, Pacific Air Transport Association (PATA)

Deputy Chairman, Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province

Air Macau doesn’t have carriers flying to India as it is a regional carrier

“Generally, the trend in Macau is to stay in the fivestar category hotels.

However, next month, we are going to launch a special website for lower budget hotels for the price-sensitive market,” he added.

Encouraging the Indian groups visiting Hong Kong and Macau to extend their visits to the Guangdong province on the South China Sea, Guangdong Province Tourist Authority (GPTA) also announced 144-hour

Indian visitors always club Macau and Hong Kong

Convenient Group Visa for Indian visitors. Giving out this information, Mei Qi Jei, Deputy Chairman, Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province confirmed, “Indian visitors always club Macau and Hong Kong. This new facility will help Indian visitors to Hong Kong and Macau to explore the leisure facilities in the Guangdong Province as well.” This service can be availed by groups of two to less than 40 people for six days.

India in top 3 for Venetian Macau Venetian Macau, the largest integrated resort of its kind in Asia, is looking at the Indian market with glee, as Macau registers significant growth in Indian arrivals. “India is among the top five source markets for Venetian Macau and annually, it’s the fourth largest market. Venetian attracts 84 per cent market share of all Indian guests staying in Macau. From the seasonality perspective, it’s among our top three markets in the months of April, May, June, October and November. It even pips Taiwan during these months,” said Brendon Elliott, Vice President of Sales and Resort Marketing, Venetian Macau.

“Among the top three reasons for our success in the Indian market, I believe that the government support is most important. MGTO’s decision to make Macau a

visa free destination has made it an attractive destination. Secondly, being the host of IFFA Awards in 2009,

Brendon Elliott Vice President, Sales and Resort Marketing, Venetian Macau

has made Venetian Macau a household name in the Indian market. Thirdly, we have started a strong relationship and need to keep nurturing it. We had invested over US$ 2 million in India over previous three years in trade marketing and education. Going forward, we will continue to drive such initiative for our travel

partner,” he added. There has been an increase in supply of accommodation options in Macau.

“We have the largest Holiday Inn with 1,200 rooms, the luxury Conrad Hotel with 600 rooms and next month, there will be a new Sheraton Hotel in Sands Cotai. Hence, we have apt options for the first time travellers coming from Bangkok and Hong Kong, while more informed travellers will choose from other luxurious options,” said Elliott.

“Cathay Pacific is looking at India as a great opportunity and we work very closely with them. I welcome the possibility of an Indian carrier to fly directly into Macau, which will create new opportunities to make the destination more accessible and a stand alone destination,” he added.

26 TRAVTALK

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

ANALYSIS

MICE keeps business going in Goa Tourist help centres should be opened up at various points and a separate wing of Tourist Police should be raised to patrol areas majorly thronged by tourists, feel Goa hoteliers.

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ver the last year, Goa has embarked on a 360degree targeted campaign, proactively pitching the state as a holiday destination to European countries, Scandinavia, Russia, CIS countries and the east, including Japan. Domestic visitors have helped the tourism industry prosper in a big way. In 2011, a total of 22.25 lakh domestic tourists visited Goa as against 22.01 lakh domestic tourists who turned up in 2010. This

Shridhar Nair

Rajeev Sharma

General Manager The Leela Goa

General Manager Kenilworth Resort & Spa, Goa

The opening up of the economy has resulted in a spurt of MICE and corporate activity in Goa, and this has led to hotels getting busier in the so-called offseason months year, till March, the sun-lit state has received 5.02 lakh domestic tourists and 1.76 lakh foreign tourists already. is

demand driver for hotels in Goa, but MICE is the segment which keeps business going in the state. During March to May, which are the shoulder months, the hotels host ample conferences and conventions. Franco Rienzo, General Manager, The Zuri White Sands, Goa Resort & Casino, feels the line of distinction between a leisure and business property has diminished in Goa because of the major developments in the MICE segment over the last 10 years. It has, thus,

Tourism, undoubtedly, the most important

Rationality in pricing is the need of the moment as we are now competing with destinations in the Far East like Thailand and Malaysia become challenging for a resort in Goa today to cater simultaneously to the leisure and the business traveller.

According to Sumant Jaidka, Chief Operating Officer, Lemon Tree Hotels,

conferences/training programmes/incentives are usually planned in summer.

Lately, there has been a fall in corporate and leisure movement due to increase in air fares and on account of the economic instability in Europe. Conference bookers are quite cost conscious and look for value-formoney options.

Talking about the evolution in the hospitality sector in Goa, Shridhar Nair, General Manager, The Leela Goa, says, “With regards to the positioning of hotels, an interesting transition in the hospitality sector has been witnessed. Till around 10 years back, the tourism industry, especially the five star hotel segment, was thriving on European and Russian tourists who would visit Goa between October and March. Now, the trend has changed with the significant growth in the spending habits of the Indian tourists who are flocking to Goa in the summer and monsoon months between April and September. Apart from this, the opening up of the economy has also resulted in a spurt of MICE and corporate activity in Goa, and this has led to hotels getting busier in the so-called off-season months.”

Be it new rules and regulations on the beach, reports of the ceiling falling off or rape cases, Goa, as a destination, is going through a lot of churning. Major issues still revolve around providing basic facilities to tourists such as toilets on beaches, overall cleanliness of beaches, crowd management in tourist areas, etc.

On whether these incidences have marred the reputation of the state in some manner, Rajeev Sharma, General Manager, Kenilworth Resort & Spa, Goa, informs, “To a certain

Franco Rienzo

Sumant Jaidka

GM, The Zuri White Sands Goa Resort & Casino

Chief Operating Officer Lemon Tree Hotels

The line of distinction between a leisure and business property has reduced in Goa because of developments in the MICE

extent, yes. But the current steps being taken by the present administration for ensuring security and safety of the tourists by initiating prompt action, increasing patrolling of the troubled areas, identifying the troublemakers and putting across in strongest terms to the politicians supporting such miscreants, that in case they indulge in any unlawful activity, action shall be taken against them, has reduced such incidents considerably. To make it more effective, tourist help centres should be opened up at various points and a separate wing of Tourist Police should be raised to patrol areas majorly thronged by tourists.”

Jaidka opines, “In order to correct this negative pub-

Conferences / training prog. / incentives are planned in summer. Lately, there has been a fall in corporate movement due to increase in airfares licity, the state government should run a focussed marketing blitz highlighting the steps they have taken to improve Goa’s safety and security by installing CCTVs and increased patrolling.

They should drive an image of fun and relaxation and showcase the customer experience of tourists in Goa.” Jaidka believes that the hospitality sector should take certain steps in order to keep the flag of Goan hospitality high and help the image of Goa to evolve further, which includes marketing where hotels should invest in building Goa as a destination. They should run marketing programmes to highlight the international experience one gets in Goa. “Improving hygiene standards, especially, along the beaches and in

shacks, is vital to the growth of hospitality in the state.

Audit hotels and ensure they match their star category – the tourist should get what he pays for and nothing less. It is essential to meet expectations and give visitors a reason to come back again,” he explains.

Introducing hotel schools so that Goa can build talent and nurture it and launching new destinations/beaches in the area would give visitors another reason to spend leisure time in Goa, Jaidka feels. Lemon Tree in Goa also makes an effort to keep the Candolim beach clean along with the local authorities.

Goa needs to develop more innovative points of interest to not only retain existing markets but also create new ones, Rienzo argues.

“Value-driven experiences are the need of the moment to counter the threat from competitively priced alternate markets like the Far East.

Other initiatives would include better-regulated pricing controls and policies to provide fair transport options (taxis), more effective garbage management practices, better law and order, etc.

Preservation of heritage sites is also high on the list. If Goa’s hotels and administration comes together to work on this, it will not be a difficult task to achieve,” he believes.

On whether hospitality in Goa still continues to be a dearer proposition for an average Indian traveller, Sharma claims, “Rationality in pricing is the need of the moment as we are now competing with destinations in the Far East like Thailand and Malaysia. If we continue on the current path, we will be in danger of outpricing ourselves. Goan hospitality is certainly not a dearer option. It is priced at the same level as any other city in India or even less.”

28 TRAVTALK

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

SUCCESS STORY

LEADERS TALK

‘Indians love experiential travel’ From an intern tour guide to setting own operations in strategic countries, Kulwant Singh, Managing Director, Lama Tours, is an ideal case study for young tour operators. Lama Tours is looking at servicing over 1,75,000 Indian guests from India in 2012 and expanding its network to tap the B2B market from Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Pune by 2013.

VIVEK SETHI

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he journey of Lama Group started in late nineties when Kulwant Singh completed his schooling and volunteered to intern in a travel company for 2-3 months as a tour guide.

Driven by the passion of travel, he laid the foundation of his company in 1997 and gradually built the Lama Group.

“The idea to start the state-of-the-art destination management company was conceptualised in my mind when I started as an intern in a tour company after completing my schooling. I started the Lama Group in 1997.

In the first phase of our operations till 2000, we served the local trade partners in

tour operations. In 2000, we started focussing on the GCC markets. Post the tragic incident of 9/11, we then set our eyes on the Indian market and started our Indian operations,” said Singh.

“We started our sales and marketing office in India.

In 2011, we serviced over 1,50,000 Indian guests, which we expect will grow to 1,75,000 in 2012.

During the early days, I personally used to go for door-to-door meetings with our B2B Indian trade partners. Today, we have over 60 professionals working for us in our offices in Delhi,

Mumbai, Jaipur and Chennai.

In fact, now we intend to open three new offices in Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Pune in 2013,” he added.

The Lama Group launched the innovative marketing concept of the first ‘Lama flight to Dubai’ because the founder of the Lama Group had endeavoured to build the group on a strong foundation of modern management principles. In his said pursuit, he earned his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration through a distance learning mode in 1999. He continued his pursuit and completed his Masters in Business Administration post marriage from a renowned London based university in 2005.

“The Lama group today has several prominent brands

that include Lama Tours, Lama Holidays, Lama DubaiFloating Restaurant, Lama Tours and Cruises India, Seven Sands Hotel Apartment, Salaam Namaste Indian Restaurant, and Lama Kiosks. The group has set up its own operations in Russia, China and Abu Dhabi among many other strategic destinations. Our recent unique fam trip for North India agents to Dubai from August 11-13, 2012, in collaboration with our strategic partners like IndiGo and Hyatt Hotels, also marked our fifteenth anniversary,” said Singh.

“Today, the Indian market has an appetite for experiential tourism. It also has a great regard for value-formoney options. Hence, we thought to encourage our

Kulwant Singh Managing Director, Lama Tours

trade partners for attracting Indian tourists to travel to Dubai during this period to witness first-hand experience into the cultural aspects. Also, our trade partners will appreciate that the holy month of Ramadan is a month of festivities and best time to showcase Dubai as a year-round destination to Indian tourists backed by massive incentives on accommodation, air fares and shopping to name a few.

Building on, we will conduct six such flights for our B2B partners in 2012, who can make use of these remunerative options to woo Indian travellers by offering value for money through competitive air fares, world-class hotel accommodation and professional ground services. Gradually, there will be 15 such flights in the next year,” Singh added.

The Lama Group is also keen to further invest in its Indian subsidiary that made a lot of news for starting niche dune bashing itineraries. As part of its ongoing efforts to bring tourists into India and also serve the domestic segment in India, the Lama Group is keen to build luxury tented accommodation.

“Our investments into the Indian market reflect our commitment. Based on the success our Indian subsidiary had managed, we are looking at the possibility of developing luxury tented accommodation in India for our guests. It will enhance our guests’ satisfaction levels and give a new edge to the desert experience with our Lama Group,” said Singh.

It's celebration time again To celebrate a successful year and encouraging support from the travel trade partners, Mumbai-based Ark Holidays hosted the Ark Annual Party (AAP) in the city for over 100 travel agents. Michael Goh, Vice President - Sales, Star Cruises was also present at the event.

HOTELS

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

TRAVTALK

29

Leisure Hotels eyes pilgrimage tourism To boost its portfolio, the Uttarakhand-based group is looking to diversify into pilgrimage, weekend traffic, wildlife and MICE segment, says Vibhas Prasad, Director, Leisure Hotels.

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ttarakhand-based Leisure Hotels has braced up its operations in India. The group, which is extremely well-spread in Uttarakhand, is now looking to tap various segments to boost its portfolio.

A major player in Uttarakhand’s hospitality sector, its portfolio of resorts and luxury camps incorporates beautiful properties in the state’s tourist and scenic destinations offering leisure, adventure and spiritual experiences. This year, the hotel is targetting four major segments in a big way. It plans to cash in on pilgrimage tourism.

Vibhas Prasad Director Leisure Hotels

Going forward, we plan to tie up with travel agents to promote the pilgrimage segment Speaking about the company's focus on the North Indian pilgrimage market, Vibhas Prasad, Director, Leisure Hotels said, “We are constantly focussing on the northern market. The group is catering to the needs of tourists by way of luxury accommodations in the region.”

The Chardham segment is an unorganised segment and Leisure Hotels is one of the very few organised players in the field. “Going forward, we plan to tie up with a large number of travel agents to promote this segment,” he added.

Despite the recent challenges that the segment faces, the hotel chain is extremely bullish on wildlife tourism and the weekend traffic segment from Delhi. Stressing on

the need for improved infrastructure, Prasad pointed out, “We are hoping that the infrastructure will be improved now. This will make our current properties more accessible from Delhi for the weekend getaways as they

form a huge chunk of our revenue generator.”

With available facilities to support big conferences, Leisure Hotels will target MICE. The Riverview Retreat, Corbett National Park has huge convention

facilities. Exploring new opportunities in the sector, the hotel chain will unveil two new products in the next financial year. The first property would open in Rishikesh and the second one would open in Kanha.

Talking about the performance last year, the director informed, “The year 2011 or this current financial year has been good for our business as we unveiled four new properties. We opened Ganga Lahari, which has 16 rooms at Haridwar

last September. The group also launched The Forest at Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, their business hotel The Manor at Bareilly and Aranya Safari Resort in Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand.”

30 TRAVTALK

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

FAMILY ALBUM

Air Arabia celebrating double daily service Air Arabia has decided to expand its service to the Indian capital, New Delhi, from the carrier’s primary hub in Sharjah, UAE. Starting September 1, 2012, the carrier will offer 14 flights a week on this route. The airline celebrated this big announcement with the travel fraternity in New Delhi.

OTA

B2B Key to rule OTA space In a highly competitive market, the dedicated online players have realised the significance of B2B partners to attain the leadership position.

VIVEK SETHI

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n a largely fragmented market, the leading online players require a big opportunity in expanding their B2B network, to extend their pan India presence and win a commendable market share. brings you highlights about the strategic position B2B trade partners have acquired among the key OTA players.

B2B integral to generate substantial incremental business As per Neelu Singh, COO, ezeego1.com, B2B

sons. So it is a win-win proposition for them,” said Singh.

“We have based our strategy in two folds. One is to engage with associations such as ETAA that share our common belief in providing the end consumer with the best of deals at competitive prices. Secondly, our franchisee model of business helps us identify successful entrepreneurs in particular cities with the passion to launch new travel business.

We provide both in-house as well as onsite training as we believe that they represent us

We focus on areas for acquisition that complement the business. Over the next four years, we intend to grow revenues from hotels and packages and reach nearly 50 per cent of our overall revenues,” Magow said.

B2B leads to pan India reach As per Sanjay Bhasin, CEO, travelChaCha.com, amid the adverse effect of difficult economic cycle, B2B partners are helping online players generate incremental income and extend their reach across the country. “Our B2B partners help us extend our reach across

Rajesh Magow

Sanjay Bhasin

Neelu Singh

Co-Founder, COO & CFO MakeMyTrip.com

CEO travelChaCha.com

COO ezeego1.com

It’s important to extend necessary support to bring the B2B partners on the online platform

trade partners are integral to online business, as the market in India is by and large fragmented. “The support of network agents is critical in any business plan. Even the biggest travel agencies or tour operators do not have more than 8-9 per cent market share in India. B2B networking does not only generate incremental business but also plays a substantial role in the industry. Hence, we have entered into a special relationship with ETAA (Enterprising Travel Agents Association), which is a body of retail travel agents in India. All our offerings are commissionable to our B2B partners and they are well informed about the deals that are being launched.

Secondly, these offers are tailor-made according to sea-

We look forward to partner with new B2B agents and franchisees that will support and facilitate our business expansion in their territory and it is important that they provide the customer with the right product and advice,” she added.

Bringing B2B partners online As per Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder, COO & CFO, MakeMyTrip.com, it’s important to extend necessary support to bring the B2B partners on the online platform. “We have a strong B2B network and are interested in strengthening our relationship with the partners. We also offer them the necessary support to optimise the benefits of this partnership. For example, when we first launched online Hotel booking, we helped smaller hotel partners with their automated inventories online.

Similar is the case with properties on MyGuestHouse.com.

B2B networking does not only generate incremental business but also plays a substantial role in the industry the country and defy many challenges and win in a competitive world. In fact, we look forward to partner with new B2B agents and franchisees that will support and facilitate our business expansion. Hence, we are now scouting for small and medium B2B agents in North East, Kerala, Chennai, Bengaluru and Madhya Pradesh,” said Bhasin.

“To create mutually beneficial opportunities, we regularly refresh our offerings and innovate our product portfolio.

Recently, we had introduced exclusive packages to promote sports, water adventure and cruises to name a few.

Moreover, we keep loading various incentives and promotional offers for our trade partners to earn incremental remuneration on regular basis,” he added.

32 TRAVTALK

ANALYSIS

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

Do you know the best marketing practices?

As technology takes over and internet and smart phone mobiles become a way of life, the travel and tourism world is now prepared to keep itself updated with new marketing techniques.

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ith the demand for more travel information and location-based applications, large tourism groups, including hotels, state tourism bodies, tour operators and suppliers have strengthened their position by showcasing their best marketing practises.

Assessing the social activities of its target groups, setting the right objectives, planning the relationship they want to establish with their target market and finally deciding upon the tools that best fit their objectives and strategy-- these are a few measures that the companies are adopting in the competitive world.

Says Sajid Mahmood, VP Marketing, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, “There are two penetrative strategies that have helped Sarovar Hotels remain ahead of competition. Firstly, while everybody talks about ‘value for money’, Sarovar Hotels has actually delivered on this front. The focus is not on being inexpensive as it is often misunderstood but in

fets etc. Whatever is promised to them is delivered.

Secondly, Sarovar Hotels have spread themselves to every nook and corner of the country. Wherever you go, you will most probably find a Sarovar hotel.” The group is often the first one in developing areas. “We provide quality accommodation in places where entrepreneurs travel to establish new businesses,” he adds.

Regarding the new initiative where hotels are tying with credit organisations and airline companies, Mahmood feels, “Sarovar has tie-ups with many credit card companies and airlines. The idea is to be present at every touch point of our guests.

These organisations enjoy a tremendous reach and thus help us widen our base to reach our prospective clients. These tie-ups may not give us direct business but they keep reminding the guests about us.”

Talking about new trends of marketing in the hotel space, he claims, “The biggest trend is the use of cyber space as a platform of conducting business and

Synergising with our partners such as trade and tourism bodies, airlines, cruises, etc, to come out with compelling offers and promotions for customers is the key to steer ahead of competition Manoj Nair, AVP Marketing, Thomas Cook (India) making the guest feel that they are getting their value’s worth. Our guests are happy paying the amount that they pay, when, in our hotels, they do not notice shortcuts like inferior quality toiletries and truncated breakfast buf-

keeping in touch. The internet and the social networks on the internet and mobile smart phones are the new playgrounds.”

Another interesting trend is the lowering of the age bracket among first-class

hotel users. The average age of guests using our hotels is around 30 years now. Once upon a time, it used to be around 45 years. Even schools and colleges that take their students on excursions opt for more than basic accommodation.

According to Christie Hicks, Senior Vice President,

Betting big on the Sheraton brand in India, Hicks highlights, “We expect our biggest growth to come from the Sheraton brand. It is our largest brand globally and it is a completely revitalised and re-energised brand. We expect this to be our lead growth engine in terms of the brand which will grow faster than the others.”

ease of doing business with Starwood,” Hicks adds.

One of the most proactive states when it comes to promoting tourism is Kerala.

Claims Rani George, Director, Kerala Tourism, “Kerala Tourism has always adopted comprehensive, timespecific, highly-visible and well-thought out marketing

Rani George

Christie Hicks

Sajid Mahmood

Director Kerala Tourism

Senior Vice President, Global Sales Starwood Hotels & Resorts

VP-Marketing Sarovar Hotels & Resorts

With high penetration of mobiles, cellphones are revolutionising the marketing arena of tourism Global Sales, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the group in India expects rising rates and occupancies to further drive up revenues this year in India.

Regarding the company’s sales strategies in light of the global growth and business travel recovery, Hicks points out, “The hotel industry in India is going through a resilient phase. As a global brand, we believe that as we grow our footprint in India and the Indian customer becomes familiar with our brands, it will generate demand for our brands globally.”

We believe that as we grow our footprints in India, it will generate demand for our brands globally In 2011, the US hotel operator opened its first built-managed Sheraton Hotel in India.

Catering to the MICE segment, the hotel chain recently launched StarwoodMeetings.com.

Developed to make MICE bookings more user-friendly, StarwoodMeetings.com allows access to more than 1,000 properties worldwide. Meeting planners can view full property details, integrated maps with points of interest, photos etc.

“StarwoodMeetings.com has been designed to increase the

The focus is on making the guest feel that they are getting their value’s worth strategies. Its media vehicles include a mix of print and television, out-of-home and new media with extensive participation in national and international travel marts, tourism fairs and road shows, etc. We have been always exploring new markets and tapped them through various promotional strategies.”

Kerala has gone ahead with novel initiatives like mobile technology as well.

“With the high penetration rate of mobiles in the world and a fast evolution, the

mobile phones are revolutionising the marketing arena of tourism sector. The tourist moves a lot and needs information everywhere at any time. And that would be the reason that mobile marketing is quite well-accepted and integrated by tourists,” she points out. Reiterating its pre-eminence as a tech-savvy tourism board in the country, Kerala Tourism recently introduced the path-breaking mobile-based services like the mobile website, WAP guide, applications for Android and IOS to further enhance the travel experience of visitors to the God’s Own Country.

Pan-India promotions with specific emphasis on tier II and tier III cities is also of utmost importance, Manoj Nair, AVP Marketing, Thomas Cook (India) feels, “Fostering a culture of innovation and risk taking and segmentation of a target audience into homogeneous categories and creating product for these segments is indispensable.

Senior citizen tours, language tours, indulgence holidays etc are products which are created based on market demands.

We also ensure that we have a broad spectrum of products right from budget to premium holidays for each destination and this has ensured that when a person walks in or calls Thomas Cook, he has the option of various tours which are ready or tailor-made to their requirement,” he says.

“Synergising with our partners such as trade and tourism bodies, airlines, cruises, etc to come out with compelling offers and promotions for customers is the key to steer ahead of competition.

This ensures continuous presence and ensures we are in the consideration set of customers,” he concludes.

34 TRAVTALK

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

FAMILY ALBUM

Together for a big cause

New Delhi

Contd. from page 22

36 TRAVTALK

AVIATION

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

Turnaround for Aviation Looking at the aviation market for the next 20 years, Boeing has forecasted India to have the highest passenger traffic growth in the world.

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oeing projects India’s commercial aviation fleet will grow more than 4.5 times in size over the next 20 years. Over the next 20 years, airlines in India will need 1,450 new airplanes. “India is projected to have the highest passenger traffic growth in the world. Over 60 million passengers will fly within India this year.

Over the next twenty years, the forecast passenger growth is expected to be driven by an underlying economy with long-term growth projections of twice the world average and supported by the continued economic prosperity amongst a growing segment of the large Indian population, higher discretionary incomes, business progress and easier access to airports,” says Dinesh Keskar, Senior Vice President - Sales, Asia

Dinesh Keskar Senior Vice President - Sales, Asia Pacific and India, Boeing Commercial Airplanes

Pacific and India, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“Three Boeing 787 Dreamliners are ready for Air India to take delivery. These aircraft will join Air India’s fleet with a very attractive interior and a number of technological features that will significantly enhance the passenger flying experience,” he informs.

Keskar also adds that airlines in India are improv-

ing their financial performance due to increased yields and improved capacity management. Although slowing gross domestic product growth, fuel prices and a weak rupee could affect profitability and growth. In the first quarter of the present financial year, Jet Airways saw a profit of ` 24.7 crore, JetLite with ` 11.7 crore and SpiceJet to a ` 56.2 crore on the revenue increase compared to last year.

Then

September 1991

Boeing - 777 on Horizon

Boeing Commercial Airplane group announced plans to build a state-of-the-art facility to fabricate and assemble the composite empennage for their new 777 wide-bodied twinjet.

Now

September 2012

Air India’s first Dreamliner

“When you look at the market, despite some of the challenges, India will continue to have one of the strongest, most vibrant aviation markets in the world,” he concludes.

Big Demand The biggest demand for airlines in India is for singleaisle airplanes such as the 737 and the new 737 MAX. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will also be joining the fleet of Air India and Jet Airways

The factory-fresh 256-seater Boeing 787 Dreamliner touched down at Delhi’s IGI Airport, Terminal-3 on September 8, 2012. This is the first of the 27 B-787 Dreamliners ordered by Air India. Dreamliner- the next generation flying machine is the ultimate in terms of passenger comfort- offering an unparalleled feeling of spaciousness inside the aircraft with roomier cabins and higher head clearance. This stateof-the-art aircraft is configured to accommodate 256 seats, 18 full flat Business Class seats, with flatbed recline and 238 Economy Class seats.

38 TRAVTALK

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

ANALYSIS

You’ve got email...

Email marketing has changed the way, the travel industry markets its products to the consumers. finds out reasons that makes it a preferred medium of communication for the industry.

PEDEN DOMA BHUTIA

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mail marketing does not just help one to update customers about various product offerings, launches or special offers but also helps in campaigns run via traditional media like print, TV or radio.

As Madhav Pai, COO, Leisure Travel (Outbound), Thomas Cook (India), rightly puts it, “Email marketing has been very impactful for the travel industry. It helps us connect directly to our existing and probable customers.

It is one of the crucial aspects of travel marketing as it reaches out to a large number of people at the same time.

Nowadays, most people have email configuration on their cell phones. Additionally, it is available in their mailbox; therefore people have easy accessibility to our offers from anywhere, unlike a print

or TV ad flash. This helps in continuous visibility at value pricing, quick launch of special promotions and distribution to the target audience.”

Gaurav Chiripal, CEO, Quadlabs, also agrees that email marketing ensures higher product visibility for today’s travel industry. Being one of the fastest delivery systems, emails also promise a quicker turnaround of campaigns.

Chiripal adds, “We don’t just sell our products through this exercise, we also build relationships. The constant contact with our customers, gives us the opportunity to be seen and recalled by them, particularly when they are trying to make a buying decision.

It also becomes easier to trace the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns through the clicks or responses we get while following this practice.

We are able to customise our messages every time we market our product or we launch something new and target specific users or geographies.”

However, the spam box is a major deterrent for all.

Tarun Lakhanpal, Deputy General Manager - Revenue Management and Distribution, The Lemon Tree Hotel, reiterates, “In Lemon Tree hotels we don’t use the word discount in our mails as this makes them land in the spam box. As a company, we are inclined towards digital marketing, because, here the return on investment is measurable. Email marketing helps us engage with our customers but your message has to be relevant to the consumer. It has to continuously follow the consumer. There is a lot of clutter in the digital world but you need to start with where your matrix is.

Email marketing has to be

Madhav Pai

Gaurav Chiripal

Tarun Lakhanpal

COO Leisure Travel (Outbound) Thomas Cook (India)

CEO Quadlabs

Deputy General Manager - Revenue Management and Distribution, The Lemon Tree Hotel

It helps us connect directly to our existing and probable customers targetted and driven by superior analytics.”

Talking about how companies take pains to ensure that the mail doesn’t land in the spam box, Chiripal adds, “The subject and content is made appropriate so that the message is righteously conveyed, is creative and attractive to read.

In order to avoid spam repercussions, we give them an option of opt in, opt out

It helps us to customise our messages every time we market our product of subscription. There are a few times when the mails are deleted by the customer without even being read.

Sometimes they are deemed as spam and hence filtered or rejected, remaining undelivered. In order to avoid this we make sure that email marketing is not overdone.”

Pai too exercises a word of caution, “Sending too many emails over a short span of

We opt for digital marketing, because, here the return on investment is measurable time is not effective. It should be sustained with uniform intervals as overloading customers with one brand information could cause negativity towards the brand, especially if it is a product or a service they do not require at that point of time.”

Never mind the disadvantages; email marketing sure seems to be catching up as a favoured medium for the industry.

NTO

TravelRave in Singapore TravelRave scheduled to be conducted in Singapore from October 15-19, 2012 is where the industry professionals will meet, connect and share their insights.

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ver the years, the Asian market has seen a boom in the travel and tourism industry. Some factors that can be attributed to the increased domestic and regional travel in Asia are the burgeoning middle class and higher disposable incomes in Asia.

According to STR Global, which tracks the supply and demand data for the hotel industry, there are about 410,000 hotel rooms in the pipeline for Asia-Pacific.

Of these, China will account for 56 per cent.

Many investors are continuing to acquire assets in Asia, recording US$3.9 billion across Asia in September 2011, an increase of 50 per cent over September 2010.

“Our development focus is in Asia and we have, since 2009, opened and rebranded hotels, resorts and serviced suites in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. This year, three more properties are opening for us in China and Singapore,” says Patrick Imbardelli, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

Patrick Imbardelli

Jens Cornelissen

President and Chief Executive Officer, Pan Pacific Hotels Group

Conference Director TDI Asia

This year, three more properties are opening for us in China and Singapore

We are very excited about showcasing the region’s most talked about projects

Asia Pacific Tourism Destination Investment Conference (TDI Asia) is one of the events under TravelRave.

The event will focus on Hotel Investments and Tourism Infrastructure Development across Asia and include an array of networking opportunities, business meetings, exhibition and thought-provoking conferences. “We are very excited about showcasing some

of the region’s most talked about development projects and help match investors to suitable projects across Asia,” says Jens Cornelissen, Conference Director for TDI Asia. TravelRave showcases world-class business events for tourism leaders and professionals The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is a leading economic development agency in tourism.

China: Something for everyone S

teeped in its rich culture and heritage, China has something to offer to every traveller. A visit to the country will reveal the many enchanting facets of this ancient land. Behind the Great Wall lies a heavenly surprise for each Indian traveller wanting to unwind.

Only in China can you still see signs of the Stone Age, find a giant Buddha statue overlooking a confluence of three rivers and walk through a palace of 8,600 rooms. From, beaches, moun-

tains, recreation, eating out joints, nightlife, shopping and education, not to forget, avenues for business, you name it and they have it.

Here, one can shop for everything from antiques to

and the artistic Sichuan and Hunan. Indian food is also available.

designer dresses One can stumble upon some very exquisite embroidery, carvings in porcelain, pottery, copper and bronze statues here, not to mention stones like

jade and pearls. The country is a foodie’s paradise as eight different schools of Chinese cuisine await your arrival – from delicate Jiangsu and Zhejiang; rustic Shandong and Anhui; refined Guangdong and Fujian,

If you have a golfing holiday in mind, then too you can head for China. The country boasts of hundreds of signature courses spread across most cities, including the most famous Mission Hills.

Virtually all the courses in China are within driving distance of hotels and resorts.

The country is also a perfect destination for meetings, conferences, exhibitions or events. Each commercial hub unfurls its unique red carpet along with world class infrastructure: hotels replete with 21st century amenities; special exhibition venues that beckon global traffic in high numbers; 360-degree service day and night; interpreters; transportation systems with clockwork punctuality; emergency healthcare; recreation facilities; the culinary flavours of China, Europe and India; shopping; sightseeing; nightlife; and whatever else you might need at a moment's notice.

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FAMILY ALBUM

IATO back in Mumbai after decades Contd. from page 20

Contd. on page 52

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NTO

Presenting Gstaad through Bollywood lens After showcasing what it has to offer to Indians through Hindi Movies, Gstaad now is planning to work with Indian tour operators to promote the region.

ANITA JAIN FROM GSTAAD

G

one are the days when Indian travellers visited Switzerland only for snow.

Through Bollywood movies, Gstaad, a small region in South of Switzerland, is positioning itself as a year-round

destination among Indian travellers. Movies like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Bachna Ae Haseeno shot in Gstaad showcase that the region has much more than just snow. The Gstaad Sannenland Tourism Board is now taking steps to get active

in the travel trade and working closely with Switzerland tourism in the country. It is working closely with local service providers like hoteliers, travel companies and product operators to tap the growing Indian market.

Kerstin Sonnekalb, Manager- Public Relations, Gstaad Sannenland Tourism Board said, “Switzerland is one of the most visited countries by Indians in Europe and the credit basically goes to the Bollywood industry and the hard-work of Switzerland

Tourism in India. Indians visit the popular route of Interlaken and Zurich but miss out on the ‘must-see’ region – Gstaad which is accessible from every part of Switzerland and neighbouring countries. It is a perfect destination for high-end travellers, adventure enthusiasts, nature lovers, families, honeymooners and incentive groups.

Kerstin Sonnekalb, Manager- Public Relations Gstaad Sannenland Tourism Board

We are getting in touch with leading tour operators in India to promote the region among our target audience and increase the average length of stay by Indians in Switzerland.”

Reunion Island Tourism enters India With a marketing budget of close to USD 150,000 focussed on B2B market, the Reunion Island Tourism Board has entered the Indian market. Located in the Indian Ocean, about 200 km on the Southwest of Mauritius, Reunion Island is targetting

Pascal Viroleau CEO, Reunion Island Tourism

the high-end travellers. It has appointed Mumbai-based Iris Reps as its representation in India.

According to Pascal Viroleau, CEO, Reunion Island Tourism; once the direct connection starts from Mumbai to Saint-Denis (capital of Reunion Island) via Air Austral from October this year, the Indian arrival figures will double. However, the frequency of the flights is still under wraps. Viroleau said, “India and China are two significant tourism markets for Reunion Island. Though the arrival figures from India are too small, the direct connections from India, zstarting October, will increase the destination value as well as the arrival figures.

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DESTINATION

A world of wonders A rich history, meandering waterfalls, wilderness at its best and some of the most famous temples in the country...

That’s Odisha for the discerning traveller.

B

hubaneswar, the capital town boasts of some of the finest temples and shrines that are counted among the top tourist attractions in Odisha. An exemplary instance of the blend of age-old customs and traditions and contemporary aspirations are Lingaraja Temple, Rajarani Temple, Parasuramesvera Temple, Yogini Temple, Mukteswar, Siddheswar and Kedargauri Temples.

Famous for the Sun Temple, Konark is a small hamlet that plays host to a large number of visitors who are spellbound by both the size of the temple as well as the detailing of the sculptures in the temple.

One of the most frequented tourist destinations of Odisha, Puri is known to be the abode of Lord Jagannath. Its beaches and splendid temples form the most important tourist attractions of the state. Puri is also among one of the four important Hindu Dhams in India. The leading attraction of Puri is the Jagannath Temple, one of the most popular, as well as the biggest temples of Odisha. Dedicated to Lord Jagannath, this temple was established in the 12th century.

Just South of Puri, the sea mixes with the 1,100 sq km inland Chilika Lake to create the largest brackish water lake in Asia. This brackish water lake attracts around 150 species of migratory birds every year during winter and hence is a bird-watcher’s paradise. The Irawady Dolphins can be seen playfully cavorting in the channels approaching the sea mouth near Satapada.

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FAMILY ALBUM

debut in Mumbai After the exciting response from the industry for Networking parties in New Delhi, it was time for the Mumbai travel industry to cling glasses. Travtalk held its first edition of Travtalk Networking cocktail party at Marine Plaza, Mumbai. Despite it being the 'wettest day of Mumbai in September' since 2005, members from the travel trade, airlines, tourism boards and GDS marked their attendance at the party.

FAMILY ALBUM

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

Rain God showers cheers & smiles

TRAVTALK

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50 TRAVTALK

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DESTINATION

T

RA

JA GU

Gujarat is an ideal holiday destination with a riot of colors, a touch of romance, its magnificent heritage, scenic beauty, breathtaking sites and a mystique that entwines this land of legends.

This holiday destination is sure to be enriching and enjoyable.

Discovering the

rich essence of Gujarat

R

ich in every sense, Gujarat has much to offer the discerning tourist. Beautiful beaches line the coastline, dinosaur fossil fields and ancient cave art contrast with stunning white Jain temples. The mouth-watering food will satisfy any foodie, while the wildlife of the Rann of Kutch and Gir and the last bastion of the Asiatic lion will more than gratify nature lovers.

All in all, a holiday in Gujarat can be as wild or culturally rich as you wish it to be.

Gujarat has always been known for its splendid and evocative festivals. An estimated two thousand festivals are celebrated every year in Gujarat and more than two hundred of these are unforgettable occasions that attract tens of thousands of people. Fairs in Gujarat reflect customs and traditions, ethics and values, faith and beliefs of the people of Gujarat.

Renowned for its rich culture, Gujarat is well termed as the ‘Land of Festivals and Fairs’. With almost 3,500 of them being celebrated in different parts of the state every year the festivals and fairs of Gujarat revolve around an occasion - be it the turn of a season, the time for harvesting a golden field, or a religious event from India’s extensive and rich mythological traditions.

Regarded as a holy land, numerous temples and religious places are situated in Gujarat. The innumerable Shrines in Gujarat spread the message of peace, non violence, love and enlightenment. Apart from festivals, fairs and pilgrimages, Gujarat is also blessed with mesmerising unmatched natural beauty. The state also offers an intoxicating mixture of scenery and wildlife. A land with a long and deep historical past, Gujarat is well known all over the world as the habitat of the Asiatic lion.

With this in mind, Cox & Kings has launched 12 holiday packages that cover the prominent locales, wildlife and pilgrimage of Gujarat. The packages embrace Gujarat’s art and cultural festivals such as Navratri, Jain Yatra and Tarnetar Fair thus bringing out the diversity of Gujarat that makes it a destination worth exploring.

• The Tarnetar Fair is held from September 19-21, 2012 at Rajkot.

Tarnetar, a three day and two night package costs ` 10,225.

• During the Navratri Festival held from October 16-24, 2012 a package for two nights and three days to Ahmedabad costs ` 11,770.

• Jain Jatra tours that spread over Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Bhuj, Junagadh and Palanpur, cost ` 24,499 for nine days and eight nights.

• Gujarat Pilgrimage tour for four nights and five days cost ` 14,499 and include a visit to Rajkot, Dwarka, Porbandar and Somnath.

• Enjoy the scenic beauty at Saputara for three nights and four days which costs ` 15,699.

Gujarat’s wildlife and beaches are a whole new experience.

• A visit to Sasan, Gir and Diu for five days and four nights costs ` 14,299.

• Following Gandhi’s footsteps can be a holiday like no other. A package highlighting this for three nights and four days visit-

ing Porbandar, Rajkot and Bhavnagar costs ` 10, 949.

• A heritage tour of Porbandar, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Ahmedabad for five days and four night’s is worth ` 16,249.

• Saurashtra Darshan that includes Jamnagar, Dwarka, Somnath, Rajkot and Ahmedabad for eight days and seven nights costs ` 22,549.

• The divine trail of Gujarat which includes beaches highlighting Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Diu costs ` 18,799 for seven days and six nights.

• Enjoy the amazing architecture of Gujarat by visiting Ahmedabad, Gondal, Rajkot and Bhuj for four nights and five days with a package priced at ` 20,149.

• Gandhi’s town of Ahmedabad is a must visit and offers a four day and three night package at ` 13,699.

All the packages are priced per person on twin sharing basis and include accommodation, breakfast, transfers and sightseeing.

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FAMILY ALBUM

Mumbai sees ‘magic’ in IATO meet Contd. from page 42

ANALYSIS

How to retain employees...

In a bid to counter the high attrition rate in the industry, the experts from the travel trade offer a few solutions. catches up with the latest trends.

D E N C Y M AT H E W

T

he travel and hospitality industry is plagued with a high attrition rate. While some blame the erratic nature of the job, many feel that the vulnerability of the industry to factors such as price rise, competition and inept nature to adjust to changes add to the employee’s distress. Therefore corporates today have improved and reworked their HR policies. Marriott Hotels has consistently won several awards in the ‘best place to work’ category over the years.

A feat not easy to have achieved, Gurmeet Singh, Area Director of Human Resourses - India Maldives Marriott International says “We ensure that there are ample growth opportunities for our people within the organisation. Also we strive to create an environment which is full of fun. It is rather a matter of great pride for us that our people look forward to coming to work every single day because we believe that our people are upholders of our brand- its custodians, people who will sustain Marriott

Alpana Banerjee

Gurmeet Singh

Chief Human Resources OfficerEmerging Markets & Specialists Division, Kuoni Group

Area Director of Human Resourses - India Maldives - Marriott International

To help employees unwind from their schedule, there is a recreation area with table tennis sets, basketball rings, chessboards, etc.

Says Alpana Banerjee, Chief Human Resources

We consciously and proactively organise regular group offsite tours and each of these have specific objectives Raj Tanwar Head, Human Resources Thomas Cook as an institution with great vitality and perpetuity.”

Investing in building good recreational zones is also of vital importance in offices.

Stress at workplace can often be minimised through the presence of such places. A healthy and encouraging camaraderie between fellow employees is also essential.

Officer-Emerging Markets & Specialists Division, Kuoni Group, “To help employees unwind from their fast-paced schedule, there is a recreation area with table tennis sets, basketball rings, chessboards and other entertaining games. In addition, there are large free-standing flat screen television sets at various corners in the head

We ensure that there are ample growth opportunities for our people within the organisation.

Also we strive to create a fun environment offices for employees to access breaking news or the latest the T20 match score.”

Raj Tanwar, Head, Human Resources, Thomas Cook adds, “We consciously organise regular group offsite tours and each of these have specific objectives. Usually they are combined with business and employee development needs. Constant follow up and feedback by leaders of the respective sections with their staff has yielded positive business impact.” The golden rule of employee satisfaction is to keep a stress free zone in office where grievances of the employees can be easily addressed. And what the employee really wants is not motivation from the organisation, but the abolishment of the act of demotivating them.

IAAI ‘partners’ ETAA via MoU On August 30, 2012, IAAI entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with ETAA ( Enterprising Travel Agents Association ) in Mumbai in the joint meeting of ETAA and IAAI members. The objective of the MoU is to work as partners in the Indian Travel and Tourism Trade. IAAI was represented by its President, Biji Eapen and ETAA was represented by its President Karl Dantas.

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FAMILY ALBUM

PATA: Taking a lead SEPTEMBER 17

St Petersburgh MOT Roadshow

18

Moscow

MOT Roadshow

18-21

Paris

Top Resa

19-22

Moscow

Luxury Leisure

20-23

Tokyo

Jata Congress & World Travel Fair

21-23

New Delhi

India International Travel Mart

25-28

Philippines

PATA Travel Mart

26-27

Germany

Business Travel Show

26-28

Kazakhstan

Astana Leisure

27-29

Poland

TT Warsaw Tour & Travel

27-30

Kerala

Kerala Travel Mart

OCTOBER 1

Auckland

PATA India Roadshow

2-4

Thailand

IT&CMA and CTW

3

Melbourne

PATA India Roadshow

5

Sydney

PATA India Roadshow

5-7

Nagpur

Holiday Expo

9

Istanbul

MOT Roadshow

11

Ankara

MOT Roadshow

14

Muscat

MOT Roadshow

17-19 Singapore

ITB Asia

19

MOT Roadshow

Singapore

18-19 France

MAP Pro Le Monde A Paris

19-21 Canada

The International Tourism & Travel Show

20-29 Noida

India Travel Mart

22

Kuala Lumpur

MOT Roadshow

22

Rome

MOT Roadshow

22-23 Mumbai

TAAI’s India Travel Trade Expo (ITTE)

23

MOT Roadshow

Torino

23

Bangkok

MOT Roadshow

24

Milan

MOT Roadshow

27-30 China

China International Travel Mart

28-31 Guwahati

Annual Convention of ATOAI

29

Sao Paulo

MOT Roadshow

30

Alegre

MOT Roadshow

NOVEMBER 3-6

Argentina

FIT America

5-8

London

World Travel Market (WTM)

12-15

Portugal

International Golf Travel Market (IGTM)

12-15

Morocco

PURE Life Experiences

14

Switzerland

MOT Roadshow

15-18

Shanghai

China International Travel Mart

23-25

Pune

India International Travel Mart

27-29

Spain

The Global Meeting and Events Exhibition (EIBTM)

30 -2 Dec Hyderabad

India International Travel Mart

For more information, contact us at: talk@ddppl.com

An exclusive meet to greet the PATA Chairman Joao Manuel Costa Antunes and discuss the policies of PATA in the New Age World was hosted at Le Meridien, New Delhi. The evening was graced by various important tourism officials to brainstorm on the way forward.

CLIPBOARD

SEPTEMBER 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

TRAVTALK

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60 TRAVTALK

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MOVEMENTS

PATA India Chapter New Delhi

InterContinental Hotels Group New Delhi

Accor Singapore

Runeep Sangha is appointed as the new Executive Director of PATA India Chapter. He comes with a strong experience of 35 years. In his present profile, he will be responsible for augmenting various tourism initiatives and strengthen the networking platform. In his last assignment, Sangha was with American Express, New Delhi, where he pioneered the set-up of a franchise network of travel agents across the Indian subcontinent and managed key airline and industry relationships.

Douglas Martell assumes the role of Vice President -

Jens Uwe Parkitny has been appointed by Accor as the Vice

Operations, South West Asia for InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). In this new role, he will spearhead IHG’s operations across India, Bangladesh and Nepal, currently totalling 13 hotels across 10 cities. Martell will be based in Delhi, India. Martell joined IHG in 2001 and has since held various operational roles across Australia, Japan and Greater China. Most recently, he held the role of Vice President, Food & Beverage and Operations, for the company’s Greater China region, based in Shanghai.

President, Digital Marketing and Distribution for the Asia-Pacific region. In this new role, Parkitny will be responsible for Accor’s digital distribution and marketing strategy across all direct online channels and loyalty programmes throughout Asia-Pacific. He comes with over 15 years of experience in the online travel distribution field. He most recently spent 3.5 years as Managing Director of Expedia Affiliate Network AsiaPacific, based in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi New Delhi

The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa New Delhi

Oakwood Premier Prestige Bangalore Bengaluru

Vella Ramasawmy is appointed as the new General Manager of the upcoming Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi. He is a pioneer in the hotel industry and is going to spearhead the hotel team and will be responsible for leading the first Kempinski Hotel in India. Ramasawmy comes with three decades of experience in managing hotel operations for business and resort properties and armed with valuable knowledge from his world-wide assignments with prestigious international hotel chains. He also serves as the President of the Ambience Group.

Sanzeev Bhatia has been appointed as the General Manager of

Raj Kakarla has been appointed as the new General Manager

The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa. He comes with more than 28 years of experience in the hospitality industry. In his present profile, he is responsible for overall operations, profitability, growth and creation of unique guest experiences for the hotel along with the constant development of entire team of the hotel. Bhatia joined The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa in 2005 as Operations Head-Front Office and was later promoted to Operations Head, Rooms and Assistant General Manager in 2008 and 2010 respectively.

for Oakwood Premier Prestige Bangalore. He comes with an experience of close to 22 years with highly rated hotel and resort properties in India, Nepal, New Zealand and Australia. In this present profile, he will be responsible for all the operations of the hotel. An IHM graduate, Kakarla took up his new role in the garden city following twelve years of senior management positions with Stamford hotels in Australia and Heritage hotels in New Zealand.

Ashok Country Resort New Delhi

Hyatt Regency Mumbai Mumbai

Courtyard Mumbai International Airport Mumbai

OP Mendiratta has taken over as the Group General Manager

Sulabh Suri has been appointed as the Director of Human

Phongthorn Hinracha is the newly appointed Executive Sous

Operations and Development at Ashok Country Resort, New Delhi. In his new role, he will oversee the operations and expansion programme of the company. Mendiratta brings more than 30 years of experience to the hotel property and is a well known personality in the hospitality/ travel trade. Prior to this, he was the Group General Manager of Parkland Group. He is a qualified professional and believes in delivering personalised service to guests.

Resource for Hyatt Regency Mumbai. He will be leading the hotel towards fulfilling the vision of establishing it as the preferred employer in Mumbai. He will also be responsible in maintaining a conducive work environment for all the employees.

Suri started his career with Hyatt Hotels Corporation in 2007 with Hyatt Regency Delhi. During his tenure, he made numerous contributions in the field of administration, marketing, operations, personnel training and development.

Chef at Red Zen, Cour tyard Mumbai International Airport. He is a master in Chinese, Mediterranean and Thai cuisine and has over 15 years experience in the hospitality industry.

Having worked across hotels in Malaysia and Thailand, Hinracha will bring his Asian culinary expertise to the Pan-Asian restaurant, Red Zen at Courtyard Marriott Mumbai. Prior to this, he worked with Parisa Resorts in Phuket, Thailand as the Executive Sous Chef.

Kadambini Mittal, Director, Commercial South West Asia, Intercontinental Hotel Group, has spent 19 years in the hospitality industry and enjoys her work thoroughly. She has worked with groups such as Leela, Marriott and Four Seasons.

Mittal completed her MBA from Symbiosis University in Pune and enjoys travelling. “I enjoy going for short weekend holidays around Delhi. They help me relax and rejuvenate me. My favourite long-haul holiday destination undoubtedly is Hawaii. It’s just perfect.” Mittal is passionate about yoga and feels that it helps her unwind at the end of a busy day.

Talking People is a special dedicated corner, created as a sounding board for who’s who of the Indian and International travel industry. With Talking People, it is our endeavour to bring you face-to-face with people.

Contributed by: Megha Paul, Vivek Sethi and Devika Jeet

Kadambini Mittal

Eng Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, Chairman, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), says, “I do not have any tourism background. For 25 years, I have been working in the tourism industry. I am a civil engineer by profession. I have worked for more than 10 years in the infrastructure development. Thus, while working in Macau, I was invited to work in tourism. At that point, I realised how infrastructure development is hugely related to tourism. Whatever I know of tourism I have learnt at PATA,” he says. Talking about the interesting incidents that Antunes experienced, Eng Joao Manuel Costa Antunes he reminisces, “I once met an Indian couple who had come Chairman for honeymoon to Macau. The wife suddenly fell ill and was Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) bed-ridden in Macau. We made sure that she receives the best treatment and care at our hospital. They are now back here in India but they sent us flowers as a token of appreciation. I will always remember them.”

Director Commercial South West Asia Intercontinental Hotel Group

Brendon Elliott, Vice President of Sales and Resort Marketing, Venetian Macau says, “I was born in Australia and also had stayed in Sweden, England and Macau.

For last 21 years, I had been travelling to different destinations as per my professional demands, along with my family. I have three daughters aged 2, 7 and 9. I am a great fan of destination India and was lucky to spend a weekend off in Goa in August, which is my second visit to that state. I also love to travel to Scandinavian countries.”

Brendon Elliott President Sales and Resort Marketing Venetian Macau

Postal Reg. No.: DL(ND)-11/6044/2012-13-14; WPP No.: U(C)-178/2012-14 for posting on 1st-2nd and 15th-16th of the same month at New Delhi P.S.O., RNI No.: 53492/91 Date of Publication:14-09-2012

HIGHLIGHT

Indian Aviation on the rise Giorgio De Roni, CEO, GoAir gets into an animated discussion with about the challenges faced and the potential of Indian Aviation.

A N I TA J A I N

C

urrently operating 7.6 flights per day per aircraft, the carrier operates 720 direct flights a week through 13 A320 aircraft. With the addition of one more aircraft (A320) by January 2013, the airline expects to increase another 54 flights a week and 700 additional flights per week through the extension of network. The airline also aims to carry 5.5 million passengers in this fiscal year. Moving further, the airline will take the delivery of four more A320 aircrafts in 2013-14 and two more in 2014-2015 and starting 20162020, it will take the delivery of 72 A320neo aircraft. The airline expects to save 15 per cent on fuel and lesser impact on the environment (less emission) through the neo aircraft.

After which we transfer the saved cost to passengers through appealing fares.

How is travel trade playing a major role in tapping the right target audience?

We get marginal business from our direct channel

out efforts on retail shopping.

And we target corporate or SME traffic only through the support of travel agents/DMCs or retail partners as they represent more than 80 per cent of our revenue source.

You come from a market where over 90% air-tickets are booked online.

Are you going to replicate that model and focus on direct bookings in India?

India is a very different market. The LCCs in Europe get more than 90 per cent of their bookings from direct sales (web)/call centres.

However, this model can not be replicated in India and it would be a great mistake from my side if I try to do so.

Definitely, going via travel agents puts additional cost in our revenue but at the end of the day, the results are pretty positive.

The challenges GoAir is facing?

Actually, there is no chance to be a really ‘Low Cost Carrier’ in India because the operating cost structure is extremely high and this

Flying International GoAir has already applied to the government for the waiver of the international operations norm. The Government of India has stipulated that domestic carriers can fly overseas only if they have at least 20 aircraft and five years of operations. The airline currently operates a fleet of 13 aircraft (A320) which can fly non-stop to short haul destinations like South East Asian countries, West Asia, Sri Lanka and Gulf countries. This will not only offer additional seats on Indian routes but increase tourist inflow, foreign exchange and generate employment. and thus we rely mostly on our travel trade partners. For instance, our recently launched Mumbai-Lucknow route is focussed on SME travellers and through travel agents; we are getting load factors of 65-70 per cent which is satisfactory during low season. We are carrying

translates into higher fares as compared to the markets like Europe or USA. We (local carriers in India) pay more than 25 per cent in taxation on fuel with many bottlenecks in terms of infrastructure.

Unfortunately, we have to transfer the additional cost to the passenger, which impacts

Giorgio De Roni CEO GoAir

the volume. In fact, the Indian Aviation industry has recorded a significant decrease in demand in July 2012 further after the decrease in June 2012. One of the reasons we want to enter the international arena is to further increase our aircraft productivity. Talking about aircraft productivity, I suppose we have the highest aircraft utilisation per day with roughly 13 hours per day per aircraft. And this contributes to keep our cost structure efficient.

What according to you makes India a potential and profitable market in the long run?

To start with, Indian carriers served close to 40 million domestic passengers in 2008 which increased to 60 million in 2011. With a population of 1.2 billion, there is a huge segment to tap with the increasing domestic air travel demand every year. Infact, the aircraft manufacturing companies are also very positive about India as a market.

As compared to another emerging market (China), India has only 350 aircraft wherein, the air travel market has tripled as compared to China with 1,200 aircraft

where the air-travel demand has just doubled.

There is a gap of demand, supply and space to induct more aircraft to meet the rising demand. Also, the purchasing power of middle-class population is growing in India leading to the increased demand in air-travel. Additionally, in India we are talking about five to six per cent GDP while in Europe it’s somewhere close to minus two per cent. Thus, I’m confident that we will be able to grow in the future.

How does GoAir differentiate itself from Low Cost Carriers and operate as a Budget Carrier?

It’s difficult to operate on low cost structure due to high input cost. Our target is to deliver value for money and to serve better to a price sensitive market. We are the only ‘LCC’ in India offering Business Class. In fact, the added value in our Business Class (ease in boarding/deboarding procedures, middle seat empty for passenger comfort, dedicated cars, hot meals, extra baggage allowance, etc) is significantly appreciated by our customers. With just a difference of ` 2,500 in Economy and Business Class, the price is much lesser than the traditional carrier with similar value propositions.

Also, in my view, I don’t see a huge gap between traditional and low cost carriers.

Low cost carriers are not offering Business Class, loyalty programmes, entering GDS, etc. So, there is now, a very thin line between the two models. At the end, we all are striving to deliver value for money, on-time performance, comfortable experience, etc.