TravTalk by Ashish Chakraborty

Vol. XXIV No. 14; July 2 nd fortnight issue 2012

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Pages: 52 (Excluding cover)

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JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

Hunar Se Rozgar Tak Yojna

MOT asks states to participate MOT organised a one-day workshop in Delhi on July 4, inviting State Tourism Development Corporations and stakeholders to join hands and promote the Hunar Se Rozgar Tak (HSRT) scheme. T T B U R E AU

‘Tourism perception has changed’ See full story on page 3

Short-haul holiday destinations in demand See full story on page 6

SRT is an initiative taken to develop skills and to enhance employment among the semi-skilled, unskilled and working professionals in the travel and hospitality sector. The event was held at The Samrat Hotel on July 4, 2012. Addressing the gathering, Rajen Habib Khwaja, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, GoI said, “We have segregated the delegates into two working

IAAI goes to HC against 1% commission See full story on page 10 (L-R): Kothari, Vaghela, Sahai, Ramadorai, Panwar and Sharma at the one-day workshop organised to promote HSRT scheme

groups which are being chaired by Sanjay Kothari, Special Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Lalit K Panwar,

Vice Chairman & Managing Director, ITDC. It is a proud feeling that the states of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and

Punjab have done well under the said scheme.” “Moreover, after witnessing the technical sessions, I don’t see any

Rajen Habib Khwaja Secretary, Ministry of Tourism

insurmountable difficulties in all states coming forward to Contd. on page 42

and the winner is Kerala Gujarat Himachal Pradesh

Others

1.31%

3.94%

6.57% Jammu & Kashmir

7.894% Goa

Kerala

10.52%

44% Rajasthan

19.73%

has conducted a survey on ‘the most popular and tourist-friendly state in India’. It comes as no surprise that the poll has received an incredible response. With answers pouring in till the wee hours of the morning before the poll ended, all accolades go to the state of Kerala for stealing the show with a landslide victory. See Page 7 for detail

Thomas Cook India launches PH Direct

See full story on page 23

BULLETIN

‘Tourism perception has changed’ On the sidelines of a one-day workshop on July 4, 2012 to promote the Hunar Se Rozgar Tak scheme, Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Tourism spoke to on the changed perception of the tourism industry. T T B U R E AU

ith the global economy facing more uncertain economic developments, the sensitivity towards travel and tourism sector as the vehicle

Tourism is a vehicle for promoting faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth of employment creation, economic growth and development, is growing manifold.

Subodh Kant Sahai Union Minister for Tourism

As per Sahai, of late, there has been a paradigm shift in thinking and

approach in India and across the globe. “For years, tourism had been largely regarded as an elitist and glamorous segment,” said Sahai. According to him, “The Approach Paper to the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) has made a formidable change in the perception of tourism in the country by articulating tourism as a vehicle of serving the goal of the Plan, of promoting faster, sustainable and more inclusive economic growth.” Further, in the four pages of the Approach document which is devoted to the travel and tourism sector, recommends a pro-poor tourism focus. It is aimed at

increasing the net benefits to the poor and ensuring that the growth of tourism contributes to poverty reduction. “It’s in line with the Prime Minister's National Skill Development Council, identiContd. on page 5

Creating Jobs Based on the Tourism Satellite Account for the year 2002-03 prepared by GoI in MOT, the contribution (direct and indirect) of tourism in GDP and the total jobs in the country in 2007-08 is estimated to be 5.92 per cent and 9.24 per cent respectively.

STATISTICS VIEWPOINT

Tourism triggering growth

he recently organised SAARC tour operators meet held in the capital is indeed a laudable initiative. The tourism minister, in his introductory remark, emphasised the effectiveness of regional cooperation in today’s time. Tourism, he argued, is undoubtedly the most effective way of boosting the economy. In the Indian context, the G 20 meet in Mexico seems to have reinforced the benefits of revenue earned from tourism to the national exchequer. While urging the tourism departments of the various SAARC countries to synergise their initiatives for the collective good, Sahai also admitted that, in the past, governments in this region accorded higher priority to politics and economy than to tourism. The future, therefore, the Minister felt, was to now internationally promote SAARC as a single destination. He was also of the opinion that SAARC tourism initiative must aggressively encourage tourism within the region. All this and more was discussed and worked upon by the ASEAN Tourism Association (formed in 1971). ASEANTA is a non-profit association under the ASEAN umbrella that works towards encouraging, supporting and developing tourism into and within the ASEAN region. ASEANTA has achieved limited success in what they set out to achieve. The main reasons for their modest success were two fold: absence of a definitive and strong political will and lack of financial resources. Other reasons that contribute to this are competition among member countries, lack of a collaborative mindset and not enough of private sector involvement. These are the pitfalls SAARC must avoid. In this politically vociferous region, maintaining control is paramount. Coupled with this are changing priorities of governments to accommodate political exigencies. To achieve real progress, we should learn why ASEAN fumbled. As SAARC member countries evolve in the political, social and economic context, so will the nature of this tourism collaboration.

Vikramajit Chairman SanJeet Publisher Rupali Narasimhan Editorial Director Deepa Sethi Editor

Editorial Ratan Kr Paul Vivek Sethi Megha Paul Anita Jain Devika Jeet 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

Capacity building in tourism According to the FICCI-Yes Bank Report, the estimated increase in human resource requirement over the period 2008-2022 for hotels is 215.3 per cent and for restaurants, it is 34.1 per cent. Excerpts: T T B U R E AU

he 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) envisages a growth of 12 per cent per annum in inbound and domestic tourists, which is in line with the objective of doubling the inbound and domes-

tic sector. The current initiatives and the ones proposed are expected to generate 25 million additional direct and indirect jobs in the country. The growth in the tourism sector is largely determined by the experience that tourists take back home. More

importantly, one of the crucial factors in creating a memorable experience rests on the outcome of the tourist’s interaction with the human resource deployed at the bottom of the pyramid. The tour guides, trip facilitators, drivers and many other service providers interact and spend considerable amount of time with tourists.

As per the FICCI-YES Bank Report ‘Furthering Quality Capacity Building in Tourism’, touches a wide value chain. It is imperative that investments made and benefits garnered from the sector are spread out more widely and efficiently amongst the populace, thereby acting as a strong socioeconomic enabler. The research highlights the findings of IMACS-NSDC report on human resource and skill requirements of the tourism sector, which estimates that the travel trade will employ 0.16 million people in 2012 to approximately 0.22 million people in 2018. The estimated increase in human resource requirement over the period 2008-2022 for hotels is 215.3 per cent and for restaurants is 34.1 per cent.

Salient Features Tourism Sector is a major generator of employment, being a highly labour intensive activity Tourism and allied activities create a high proportion of employment and career opportunities for low skilled and semi-skilled workers, particularly for poor, female and young workers Women make up 70 per cent of the labour force in tourism sector and half of all tourism workers are 25 years or below Courtesy: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

(Mumbai) Rishika Karra Sales Coordinator Advertisement Designers Vikas Mandotia Nitin Kumar Design: Nityanand Misra Sudhir Mudgal Photographer Simran Kaur 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

advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use, and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances. Contents of this publication are copyright. No part of TRAVTALK or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publication in writing. The same rule applies when there is a copyright or the article is taken from another publication. An exemption is hereby granted for the extracts used for the purpose of fair review, provided two copies of the same publication are sent to us for our records. Publications reproducing material either in part or in whole, without permission could face legal action.

The publisher assumes no responsibility for returning any material solicited or unsolicited nor is he responsible for material lost or damaged. This publication is not meant to be an endorsement of any specific product or services offered. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw, amend or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian and International Advertisements Code. The publisher will not be liable for any damage or loss caused by delayed publication, error or failure of an advertisement to appear.

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MOT

Tourism for economic growth Contd. from page 3

fying tourism and hospitality industry, along with the health and information technology for mass basing the skill training being larger generators of employment,” he added. Noticeably, the tourism sector contributes significantly to the national economy as well as for the creation of jobs in the country. Based on the

ITTE in Mumbai from Sept 14-15 T T B U R E AU

AAI has announced the next edition of Indian Travel Trade Expo (ITTE) to be held at Trident Hotel, Mumbai on Sept 14-15, 2012. Alongside, TAAI will also hold action-packed business sessions.

Iqbal Mulla President, TAAI

According to Iqbal Mulla, President, TAAI, the business sessions will pertain to the issues on the changing scenario of the Indian travel industry, weak Rupee hindering the growth of tourism, heavy taxation affecting travel and hospitality and also the most recent issue of weekly payments. Mulla said, “The Expo will prove to be a perfect platform for industry leaders who are keen to showcase their products/destinations to the Indian travel trade.

We are expecting over 30 exhibitors this year (both domestic and international) with participation of over 1,000-1,500 industry leaders, active tourism promoters, travel agents and travel service providers.” Along with the Expo, the fourth edition of TAAI Travel Awards will be held on Sept 14, where over 20 award categories pertaining to the travel industry will be recognised.

Tourism Satellite Account for the year 2002-03 in the Government, the contribution (direct and indirect) of tourism in GDP and the total jobs in the country in 2007-08 is estimated to be 5.92 per cent and 9.24 per cent respectively. Domestic Tourism contributes to three-fourths of the tourism economy. “Globally, as per United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

(UNCTAD), the overall export income generated by inbound tourism, including passenger transport, exceeded US$ 1 trillion in 2010. Globally, as an export category, tourism ranks fourth after fuels, chemicals and automotive products. It’s also one of the main sources of foreign exchange income for many developing countries,” informed Sahai. “Moreover, the recent decla-

ration at the 4th T20 Meeting also emphasised that productivity and service quality of the tourism sector offers a unique opportunity for poverty reduction and entry point, especially for young workers, as presently, women make up 70 per cent of the labour force in tourism sector and half of all tourism workers are 25 years or below,” he added.

JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

TRAVTALK

Holiday at Mt Everest An adventure holiday specialist says that bookings for trips to Mount Everest have doubled during the first six months of 2012. The operator, World Expeditions, said it expects this trend to continue, as next year, marks the 60 th year, since the first recorded ascent of the mountain by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgar. It is thought that the recent surge in visitor numbers has been helped by the

establishment of a string of permanent campsites on the mountain. The company says travellers can now tackle Everest in a shorter time without compromising on safety. To celebrate the anniversary, a series of Everest treks have been planned for May 2013, finishing at the Buddhist Thyangboche Monastery which is 3,800m above sea level - on May 29, exactly 60 years after the first ascent.

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JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

ASSOCIATIONS

Short-haul holiday destinations in demand The depreciating Rupee and increasing airfares have created a challenge for outbound travel this year. But, the Indian traveller still enjoys a vacation abroad and looks for short-haul inexpensive holiday experiences. tious decisions and increasing their own cash reserves,” says Guldeep Singh Sahni, President, Outbound Tour Operators Association of India.

D E V I KA J E E T

he depreciating Rupee and rising airfares are major challenges being faced by the outbound industry today. Indians are now looking at alternatives to ensure that their dream holiday is within their budget. Travellers are migrating towards short-haul destinations and are reducing the duration of their holidays. Tour operators in the country are also working to strengthen their network in order to increase customer access points. “First of all, the fall of Rupee value against foreign currencies have made tours costlier. Next, taxes like fuel surcharge and service tax added fuel to the fire. The present economic slowdown and recession in India is impacting the spending across all classes of people. Most corporates who plan their MICE movements are taking cau-

Guldeep Singh Sahni

Rajiv Duggal

Ashwin Narayanan

President, Outbound Tour Operators Association of India

Managing Director Kuoni India

COO Travel Tours Group

The fall of Rupee value against foreign currencies have made tours costlier

Making dream destinations accessible to travellers through various offers would go a long way

Short-haul outbound is still a very good value proposition vis-a-vis travel within the country

Adding to this opinion, Rajiv Duggal, Managing Director, Kuoni India says, “Dearth of skilled manpower is another challenge which the travel industry needs to address to enhance performance and tap its potential.” Duggal addresses the growth opportunities during these challenging times and adds, “The future of the outbound tourism sector is on the rise in India. Indian travellers are increasingly demanding unique holiday experiences. They plan their holidays well in advance and do not compromise on anything less than the best. There has been an emergence of a new group of travellers that is opening new doors for the growth of out-

bound tourism in India. To enhance the evolution of the outbound tourism industry, it is imperative to understand the psyche of the dynamic, emotional and often moody Indian travellers. Identifying new holiday concepts, promoting unexplored destinations and planning strategies to deliver superior customer value can help in satisfying deep seated wants of travellers from a holiday. Promoting budget holidays and making dream destinations accessible to travellers through various promotions and offers would also go a long way in promoting the outbound tourism sector.” Travellers from Tier-II and Tier-III cities are also coming forward to travel internationally, creating a demand and opportunity for travel agents. Low budget packages, short-haul tour options and new destinations Contd. on page 41

NEWS

JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

TRAVTALK

Yatra eyes more hotel business

Rajasthan is No.2

On its way to emerge as a leading domestic hotel aggregator and seller, Yatra announced acquisition of a 100% stake in Travelguru from Travelocity Global on June 30, 2012.

Kerala notched top position with 44% votes while

VIVEK SETHI

s per a well-chalked out strategic plan, Yatra.com has been strengthening its B2B network and the hotel content. In fact, it has announced four acquisitions in this quest which includes TSI in October 2010, MagicRooms in June 2011,

Dhruv Shringi Co-Founder and CEO Yatra.com

Buzzintown in January 2012 and now a 100 per cent stake in Travelguru from Travelocity Global on June 30, 2012.

Pratik Mazumder Head of Marketing & Strategic Alliance Yatra.com

Reacting to a query on whether the hotel segment offers much-needed respite from shrinking margins in the air-content business, Pratik Mazumder, Head of Marketing & Strategic Alliance, Yatra.com said, “We see a great potential in the hotel bookings and holiday packages.

Expanding our business into other verticals beyond air is part of a well thought-out strategy to strengthen our position as the leading company in the Indian online travel space. Hotels and holidays will be the chief focus area for Yatra.com.”

“Travelguru greatly improves the value proposition of our B2B distribution channel and value to customers.With a comprehensive and large database and the reach, we aim to increase the sales of our pack-

ages. It also brings together the combined buying power of both the parties. We do have many different holiday packages for various age groups all under one roof. The wide range of holiday packages available

at Yatra.com includes honeymoon holiday destinations for couples, plethora of spiritual destinations and adventure holidaying for kids to places like Goa, Hong Kong, Europe etc,” he added.

Contd. from page 1

Rajasthan notched 19.73% votes. Third on the list was Goa with 10.52% votes. Jammu & Kashmir was the fourth state in the polling and Himachal Pradesh was fifth in line. The other states which appeared in the final results were:

The states in the ‘Other’ category are: Karnataka Madhya Pradesh Sikkim Assam Delhi

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JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

ASSOCIATIONS

FICCI-MOT Conclave

Tourism for employment generation MOT is working on a multi-dimensional approach to meet additional manpower requirement in the travel and tourism sector during the 12th Five Year Plan. reports on the development. T T B U R E AU

he travel and tourism sector today is recognised as the vehicle of employment, economic growth and development. Even international events like the G-20 Meet highlighted the importance of the travel and tourism sector. Sanjay Kothari, Special Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, built a strong case

Delegates at the technical session

for harnessing its potential at the recently held conclave on ‘Furthering Quality Capacity Building in Tourism’. The event was jointly organised by FICCI with the Ministry of Tourism on June 27, 2012. “After a lot of persuasion, even the G-20 world leaders, representing the strongest countries in the world, acknowledged that

while respecting the sovereign rights of states to control the entry and exit of foreign nationals, we’ll look towards facilitating tourism initiatives to support job creation and poverty alleviation,” said Kothari in his inaugural address. “The Ministry proposes to achieve the mammoth, additional manpower require-

Sanjay Kothari (3rd from left) launches FICCI-Yes Bank Report

ment in the travel and tourism sector during the 12th Five Year Plan period through expansion of institutional infrastructure and broad-basing of hospitality education, among other initiatives,” he added. Sidharth Birla, Vice President, FICCI, highlighted the objective of the conclave to focus on four key and ground level elements of the tourism industry. Namely tourist guides, taxi drivers, hotels and restaurants, tour operators and travel agents.

Building the momentum further, Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson, FICCI Tourism Committee and Chairperson & Managing Director, The LaLit Suri Hospitality Group, said, “The unorganised sector is a cause for concern as the level of training is uncertain, and the experience of the tourists is also affected by their services. Budget hotels, restaurants, wayside amenities, small tour operators and travel agents and drivers all come under this sector.”

Arbind Prasad, Director General, FICCI and Tushar Pandey, President & Country Head, Strategic Initiatives Government & Advisory (SIGA) Group, YES Bank highlighted that looking at the employment creation potential of tourism, it definitely deserves more attention.

MOT Initiatives Expansion of institutional infrastructure Broad-basing of hospitality education Skill upgrading Cer tification of service providers Skill development through shor t duration courses in niche and other products

JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

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10 TRAVTALK

ASSOCIATIONS

WAR BEGINS...

‘IAAI goes to HC against 1% commission The association has ﬁled a new Writ Petition with the High Court of Kerala on June 27 and has also ﬁled a case with the Competition Commission of India on June 26 in Delhi to seek immediate intervention. VIVEK SETHI

ATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) has opted to explore legal remedies to reverse the decision taken by Air India and Jet Airways to move to 1 per cent commis-

Statement Released The recent statement released by IAAI mentions that charging Service Fee or Transaction Fee for rendering intermediary services on behalf of the Principal Airline is illegal in India vide DGCA order dated March 5, 2010

sion from 3 per cent. They are banking on the DGCA order issued on March 5, 2010 in favour of IAAI, regarding quantum of commission, which directs the airlines to consult the agents, taking in account various commercial factors such as the market conditions and the cost of the Agents’ establishments. “Interestingly, the commission earned on the sale of a ticket by an Air India travel agent attracts 12.33 per cent service tax and hence the commission level of 1 per cent will ultimately lead to negative profit figure. IAAI has filed

a new Writ Petition with the High Court of Kerala on June 27, 2012 against AI & 9W against the reduction of

our country,” said Biji Eapen, National President, IAAI, in New Delhi on June 29, 2012. “Further,

IAAI has filed a new Writ Petition with the High Court of Kerala on June 27, 2012 against AI & 9W against reduction of commission from 3% to 1%, which, in our opinion, violates the law of our country commission from 3 per cent to 1 per cent, which, in our opinion, violates the law of

IAAI has also filed a case with Competition Commission of India on June

policies adopted by a few airlines operating in India,” he added.

Biji Eapen National President, IAAI

26, 2012 in Delhi seeking immediate intervention and remedial measures, foreseeing the long planned dubious cartelisation

Moreover, the recent statement released by IAAI mentions that charging Service Fee or Transaction Fee for rendering intermediary services on behalf of the Principal Airline is illegal in India vide DGCA order dated March 5, 2010. Aircraft Act 1934 and Aircraft Rules 1937 defines ‘commission’ as an integral part of ‘Fare’ which is a component of ‘Tariff ’, while IATA Resolution nowhere mentions about the Transaction Fee or Service Fee.

‘1% commission is as good as none’ After adjusting the overhead costs, manpower costs and compliance with the new service tax regime; the one per cent commission model is no better than the zero commission model, says Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson, TAAI. T T B U R E AU

t the recently held meeting of TAAI NR on June 27, 2012, Mayal was disappointed at the move by Air India and Jet Airways to further reduce commissions from 3 per cent to 1 per cent and was committed to lift the members’ morale in the forthcoming events. “Four years back, I could see the zero commission system as nothing but a mere writing on the wall. As of today, amid such hue and cry, Air India and Jet Airways

has decided to slash commission from 3 per cent to 1 per cent. It seems time has come to treat ticketing as an auxiliary function. Earlier, ticket-

We need to be united to ensure that no one can override our interests. Further, we need to educate our members about new markets and ideas ing use to be the core business and the rest was auxiliary revenue streams for travel agents,” said Mayal.

marred with extraordinary difficulties,” she added.

“The one per cent commission model after adjusting for the overhead costs, manpower costs and compliance with the new service

tax regime leave nothing and literally speaking is as good as zero commission. Travel agents have seen

On the way ahead to resurrect the falling morale of travel agents, Mayal is of the opinion that the world today is banking on the tourism industry and the BRICS nations are seen as important markets. Jyoti Mayal Chairperson, TAAI NR

many ups and downs, but the sequence of events in the present fiscal has been

“We need to be united to ensure that no one can override our interests. Further, we need to educate our members about new markets, ideas and intro-

duce them to avenues (new and old) that offer more money and growth. The regional chapters should now be given voting rights at the national level to revive the growth sentiment,” she concluded.

Lifting Up The Morale Mayal is of the opinion that the world today is banking on the tourism industry and BRICS nations are seen as important markets

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JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

Nobody is a winner in Indian skies John Slosar, CEO, Cathay Paciﬁc Airways discusses the airline’s ﬂeet management strategy to save cost, the taxation issues in India and the need for airport operators’ support to help the airline in building a healthy economy. A N I TA J A I N What is the formula for making an airline successful and profitable in today’s world? We focus on delivering the best to our customers; one that they will clearly see is different and better than what other airlines provide. A great deal of hard work, training and commitment goes into producing the kind of service we provide and it is, at all times a team effort. Most travellers tend to fly on a frequent basis hence we need to give them different reasons every time to fly with Cathay Pacific again and again.

How is Cathay Pacific catering to the Indian market? What are your future plans for this market? Aviation is a highly competitive and volatile business and we must always provide great reasons for customers to choose to fly with us. For passengers who value premium service, we are improving our offerings to them.

We are upgrading our seats, in-flight entertainment and our lounges on the ground. Our new Business Class has also been a huge success in the industry. We are going to roll out our up-gradation progressively around our network between now and early 2013. Our new Premium Economy has already made its appearance on our longhaul flights from March 2012. At the same time, we know that many passengers travelling in Economy Class are price-sensitive, hence we always try to come up with attractive fares in the market to convince them to choose Cathay Pacific. Our passenger load to India has been healthy and we are pleased with the way the market has been develop-

opportunity here and are committed to invest in aircraft to serve this market.

John Slosar Chief Executive Officer Cathay Pacific Airways

ing despite some of the challenges that every economy is facing at the moment. And with that, later this year, we will be enhancing our Chennai flights to a daily frequency and we plan to add flights between Hong Kong and Kolkata (which will be operated by Dragonair).

What are the challenges and opportunities for an airline operating in Indian skies? India’s potential is huge. With a total population of 1.2 billion and a middle class of over 200 million, who have a real desire to experience the wonder of travel, we see tremendous

But there are challenges. Firstly, the heavy taxation being imposed by the Indian government on aviation or more accurately, on travellers. I say this because all taxes ultimately are paid by the travellers and it seems that the government at times sees aviation only from a tax-raising perspective rather than a support and a facilitator for the Indian economy. On top of this is the cost of fuel, which globally is high but in India is further burdened with substantial, additional taxes. All these taxes and charges reduce the profitability and sustainability of airlines.

Growing Fleet The airline has a mix of very efficient modern aircraft, from A330s which are the best in the business for medium to long haul routes like India and Australia

Cathay Pacific specifically shares the concerns expressed by IATA about the significant increase in charges for Delhi airport, for example. What has been proposed would make Delhi the most expensive airport in the world to operate! Airports should be working with airlines to generate additional traffic, not make it more difficult for them to operate. Overall, we see significant potential in India. But like any business, we have to be able to operate profitably. We hope the airport operators will adopt a more reasoned approach and get this issue sorted.

What’s the strategy adopted by the airline to tackle with the increasing fuel cost and passenger traffic? A young, efficient fleet is critical to our success, specifically during times of very high fuel costs, which we have experienced in recent times. For example, in shaping our response to soaring fuel costs, we will be switching our modern, fuel-efficient Boeing 777300ERs onto routes currently serviced by the less fuel effi-

cient 747-400s, which will allow us to speed up the retirement of these less fuel efficient aircraft. I should add that although the aviation industry worldwide is facing enormous challenges, we do not have plans to cancel or defer aircraft orders. Cathay Pacific Group is still on track to take delivery of 17 new planes this year, having already taken delivery of seven so far in 2012. Together with our sister airline Dragonair, we currently have a fleet of 171 aircraft and have another 92 on order between now and 2019. It’s a substantial order book valued at HK$ 185 billion. The new aircraft will boost the size and quality of our fleet and replace some of our less fuel efficient B747 and A340 aircraft. We have an excellent mix of very efficient modern aircraft, from A330s which are the best in the business for medium to long haul routes like India and Australia. Adding to that are 777s, 330s, A321s and A320s for our regional routes.

SpiceJet connects Dubai with Delhi & Mumbai SpiceJet is fur ther expanding its wings in international sky and has launched its service in Dubai. The airline is connecting Dubai with daily services to Delhi and Mumbai. The first flight to Dubai took off on June 25, 2012 at 11:55 am from Delhi and at 08:30 pm from Mumbai. SpiceJet will fly its new generation Boeing 737-800 on these international sectors.

14 TRAVTALK

AVIATION

JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

Luxury on wheels ECOS India Mobility & Hospitality (ECO) has introduced ‘American Stretch Limousines’, which are 28 foot-long ultra luxury limou-

have added this Stretch Limousine Service to our existing car rental services due to the growing demand for luxury services.” Talking about the challenges in the industry, Rajesh Loomba, Managing Director, ECOS India Mobility & Hospitality (ECO) pointed out, “The challenges are related to bottlenecks in movement

Rajesh Loomba Managing Director, ECOS India Mobility & Hospitality (ECO)

sines, in the Indian car rental industry. The luxury limousine will be initially available for hire in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. The addition of American Stretch Limousines into ECO Fleet is part of the management’s resolve to provide a differentiated service in a mostly unorganised industry. Recently ECO became the first car rental company in the organised sector to provide BR6 level bulletproof vehicles on rent. Aditya Loomba, Director - Sales, ECOS India Mobility & Hospitality (ECO) said, “We

Aditya Loomba Director - Sales, ECOS India Mobility & Hospitality (ECO)

of vehicles due to misplaced passenger taxation policies of the various state governments. The need of the hour is to have a homogeneous inter-state movement policy, which makes tax collection efficient and the movement of vehicles on tourism and business, seamless.”

MICE for Chapman Freeborn The leading aircraft charter and aviation support company is looking at developing India’s business potential for corporate movements. per hour and a five to six passenger aircraft on a DelhiMumbai return journey will cost around ` 6 lakh. An air charter is a little steeper than a scheduled flight, but we guarantee incomparable quality services and convenient time slots,” says Shailendra Seth, Director, Chapman Freeborn, India.

D E V I KA J E E T

ith scheduled airlines going through a turbulent period, it is time to turn to a more reliable source of flying, air charters. Convenient, always on time and customisable to your desired route, air chartering is the way to go. “We can facilitate all kinds of air charters, from an emergency relief airlift to a corporate roadshow in a timely cost-effective manner. At present, our growth is 65 per cent cargo driven and 35 per cent passenger traffic, but we are working to make this a 50-50 relationship. There is a lot of business potential in India and we are concentrating on both corporate movement and MICE development,” says Alex Berry, Director, Global Executive Jet & Marketing, Chapman Freeborn. The company also looks at trucking, shipping and the

Alex Berry

Shailendra Seth

Director, Global Executive Jet & Marketing, Chapman Freeborn

Director Chapman Freeborn, India

There is a lot of business potential in India and we are concentrating on corporate movement newly launched courier service. The onboard courier services help in easy transportation of goods from one place to another. At present,

We respect local businesses and want to strengthen the local providers in whatever way we can they have 123 active visas and are always ready to go. “A small aircraft charter costs approximately ` 45,000

Chapman Freeborn’s USP includes help and assistance for ground services and they are certain to ensure that. “We have strong ties with a lot of large global travel agencies, but we also want to strengthen relations with smaller agents and not lose out on that business. India is a growing market and our business prospects from here are very promising. We have deep respect for local businesses and we want to strengthen the local providers, however we can, through our global expertise, help facilitate business in other parts of the world,” adds Berry.

HOTELS

Indian menu on Oz platter The Australian hotels are now offering Indian menu. And this is reﬂected in the cuisine that is being rustled up in the kitchens. The message now seems loud and clear – ‘Go The Indian Way’. A RCHANA S HARMA

FROM

s the Australian Tourism gives a loud cry for aggressive marketing, the hotels also change their priorities to woo Indians and make them feel at home when they are thousands of miles away from India. A quick glance into the scene also gives the same picture. According to Kate Marshall, Business Development Manager Leisure, Accor, their Hotel Group has figured out that Indians are now venturing into newer destinations. They are becoming more adventurous and therefore, the hotels need to come up to their

A USTRALIA process of training agents. We have moulded the itinerary keeping the Indian taste in mind. With our initiatives, we hope to double the numbers by next year.” She further adds, “We do not want Indians to miss the cultural part of India. We have gone aggressive with more advertising, more campaigns, joint promotions etc. To make sure that Indians relish their taste for Indian food, we have allowed them to bring their own chefs. However, last

Joe Currenti Sales Manager Kingfisher Bay Resort

home. We have got our regional office in Mumbai

The Indian staff in our hotels is well-equipped to give a homely feeling to the Indian travellers. We also have a rep office in India that helps us in promoting our properties Staris Latkas Director - Sales and Marketing, Hyatt Hotel Canberra

Kate Marshall Business Development Manager - Leisure Accor

expectations. “We have started serving Pohas and Idlis on the breakfast menu. I think

minute bookings are the biggest challenge from India.”

which is working aggressively to promote our properties.”

Yukiko Bigos, Key Account Director, Japan and Asia Markets, Wholesale and Leisure, Australasia says, ”Our property, Holiday Inn Darling Harbour is very popular among Indians. This is because its location is perfect and secondly, it has got an

Joe Currenti, Sales Manager, Kingfisher Bay Resort Fraser Island also believes that India is a potential market for them. “We can’t overlook the Indian market because it has a strong potential. Last month, we had 15 rooms booked from the Indian market which speaks volumes about it. We attend workshops in India to know the market. Although we have just started, results have started pouring in and we are getting enquiries from the market. Keeping the Indian market in mind, we are also hiring Indian staff.”

Holiday Inn Darling Harbour is popular among Indians. This is because its location is perfect and secondly, it has got an Indian GM who knows the pulse of Indians Yukiko Bigos, Key Account Director, Japan and Asia Markets, Wholesale and Leisure, Australasia,IHG these strategies are working and eventually our business is going up. We have grown by 11.2% that shows our efforts are giving results.” Speaking further on the market, she says Mumbai is our major market source in India. We have 240 hotels in Australia out of which 10 are accredited. Renate Baumgartner, International Partnerships Manager, TOGA Hotels says, “We are very interested in the Indian market. Seeing the rising numbers, we are also becoming aggressive to tap the potential of India. We have got a new trade representative in Mumbai, who is working hard to take trade-friendly initiatives. We are also in the

Indian GM who knows the pulse of Indians. Our chef is an expert in cooking Indian food. Our other property in Sydney, the Intercontinental Sydney is

Staris Latkas, Director - Sales and Marketing, Hyatt Hotel Canberra, “We have seen the number of Indian travellers rising up in the last few years. The Indian staff in our hotels is well-equipped to give a homely feeling to the

We mould the itinerary keeping the Indian taste in mind. To make sure that they relish their taste for Indian food, we have allowed them to bring their own chefs Renate Baumgartner International Partnerships Manager, TOGA Hotels again a very popular property with Indians. When we get some big groups from India, we book the breakfast area for them so they can feel at

Indian travellers. We also have a representative office in India which is helping us to promote our properties in the Indian market.”

HOTELS

We’re positive about profits In 2011, the US hotel operator opened its ﬁrst built-managed Sheraton Hotel in India. The Sheraton brand is betting big on the Indian market. M E G H A PAU L

ashing in on the 42 per cent rise in the fourth quarter profit at Starwood Hotels & Resorts throughout the Americas, Christie Hicks, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Starwood Hotels & Resorts expects rising rates and occupancies to further drive up revenues this year in India as well. Speaking to regarding the company’s sales strategies in the light of global growth and business travel recovery, Hicks said,

“The hotel industry in India is going through a resilient phase. As a global brand, we believe that as we grow our footprints in India and the Indian customer becomes familiar with our brands, it will generate demand for our brands globally.” According to Hicks, the corporate transient business

Christie Hicks Senior Vice President, Global Sales Starwood Hotels & Resorts

is of critical importance. Betting big on the Sheraton brand in India, Hicks informed, “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 leading growth engine in terms of the brand which will grow faster than the others.” 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, the website allows access to more than 1,000 properties worldwide. Meeting planners can view full property details, integrated maps with points of interest, photos and floor plans, on-site meeting services, special offers, as well as utilise a Compare View tool and meeting management tools. “StarwoodMeetings.com has been designed to increase the ease of doing business with Starwood,” Hicks added.

MICE Specific Catering to the MICE segment, the hotel chain recently launched StarwoodMeetings.com Developed to make MICE bookings more user-friendly, the website allows access to more than 1,000 properties worldwide Meeting planners can view full property details, integrated maps with points of interest, photos and floor plans and much more

Cabbies as tourism ambassadors Well-trained taxi drivers can help shape and improve tourists’ perception about Malaysia. Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, Prime Minister, Malaysia, said,

“Taxi drivers are the ‘pulse of the ecosystem’ for tourism as they meet and interact with tourists who come to the country.”

“Tourists meet thousands of taxi drivers and through their interactions, the tourists’ perception of Malaysia is formed,” he said at the launch of the Tourism Taxi Ambassadors programme at Dataran Putra. The launch was attended by Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Tourism Minister, Malaysia, several other cabinet ministers and more than 500 taxi drivers. It was reported that some 4,000 taxi drivers will be appointed as ambassadors, after they have completed a

one-day course at the Malaysian Tourism Centre. Razak also said the plight and welfare of taxi drivers will also be taken care of by the government and announced a RM35 million incentive for 67,000 taxi drivers nationwide under the Teksi Rakyat 1Malaysia (1Malaysia People’s Taxi) programme. Apart from that, he has also announced a new model which enables long-serving drivers who leased taxis to apply for individual permits.

Indonesia invites Bollywood

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, in association with Embassy of Republic of Indonesia New Delhi VITO – India, invited producers from Bollywood to showcase Indonesia as a destination for film shoots. The producers’ group was led by Sanjay Sondhi-Country Director, Visit Indonesia Tourism Officer. The producers met the Vice Minister Sapta Nirwandar along with the Ambassador of Indonesia to India in Jakarta. The hospitality hosts in Bali were Courtyard by Marriott.

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AVIATION

‘Infrastructure boost despite slowdown’ AAI is quite optimistic about the ROI (return on investment) from aviation-related infrastructure in India, despite the ﬁnancial turbulence that the Authority is facing. R ATA N K R P A U L

nveiling some startling facts (major findings of its All India Traffic Forecast for passenger and cargo uptil 2031-32), DP Singh, ED, C&C-CP&MS, AAI, underlined that passenger traffic would increase to 724.18 million (domestic) and 151.10 million (international) during 2031-32 from 106.52 million (domestic) and 37.91 million (international) passengers during 2010-11. In the year 201112, domestic and international passenger traffic witnessed an increase of 6.7 per cent and 5.8 per cent respectively. Singh was optimistic about the long-term future of the aviation industry in India, which is evident from the traffic forecast by AAI for next 20 years. “Accordingly, the Government of India and industry players are planning

to invest heavily in the aviation sector as a whole,” he maintained. He also pointed out that by 2020, India will increase its airports to 200. Meanwhile, 13 Greenfield Airports are in various stages of inception. Prominent

DP Singh ED, C&C-CP&MS AAI

among these Greenfields Airports are Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, Mopa in Goa, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Kannur in Kerala, a second airport in Chennai and

Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh.

Traffic Forecast - All India

Singh pointed out that during the 12 th Five Year Plan, there will be an investment of ` 67,500 crore in different airport projects in India. Out of the total investment, ` 50,000 crore is expected to come from private sector. The remaining will be invested by the Government of India. “AAI is fully committed to invest in its airport projects, though we are facing serious financial constraints at present,” Singh emphasised. It is worth mentioning that AAI has handed over two cash rich airports viz Delhi and Mumbai airports. AAI is also bearing the expenses of huge manpower which it has been retaining even after Delhi and Mumbai airports were privatised. Moreover, AAI is taking care of a number of loss-making airports across the country.

Year 2010-11 (Base Year) GROWTH RATE 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 GROWTH RATE 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 GROWTH RATE 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 GROWTH RATE 2027-28 2028-29 2029-30 2030-31 2031-32

Aircraft Movements (in ‘000) Int’l Dom Total 300.20 1093.66 1393.86 7.4% 8.7% 8.4% 322.41 1188.81 1511.22 346.27 1292.23 1638.51 371.90 1404.66 1776.56 399.42 1526.86 1926.28 428.98 1659.70 2088.68 460.72 1804.10 2264.82 6.0% 8.0% 7.6% 488.36 1948.42 2436.79 517.66 2104.30 2621.96 548.72 2272.64 2821.37 581.65 2454.45 3036.10 616.55 2650.81 3267.35 5.0% 7.0% 6.6% 647.37 2836.37 3483.74 679.74 3034.91 3714.65 713.73 3247.35 3961.08 749.42 3474.67 4224.09 786.89 3717.90 4504.78 5.0% 7.0% 6.7% 826.23 3978.15 4804.38 867.54 4256.62 5124.16 910.92 4554.58 5465.50 956.47 4873.40 5829.87 1004.29 5214.54 6218.83

Int’l 37.91 8.0% 40.94 44.22 47.76 51.58 55.70 60.16 7.0% 64.37 68.88 73.70 78.86 84.38 6.0% 89.44 94.80 100.49 106.52 112.91 6.0% 119.69 126.87 134.48 142.55 151.10

Passengers (in million) Dom Total 105.52 143.43 12.0% 11.0% 118.18 159.13 132.36 176.58 148.25 196.00 166.04 217.61 185.96 241.66 208.28 268.44 10.0% 9.3% 229.11 293.48 25202 320.89 277.22 350.91 304.94 383.79 335.43 419.81 8.0% 7.6% 362.27 451.71 391.25 486.05 422.55 52304 456.35 562.88 492.86 605.77 8.0% 7.6% 532.29 651.98 574.87 701.74 620.86 755.35 670.53 81308 724.18 875.28

Source: Airport Authority of India (AAI)

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TRAVTALK

Lufthansa brings B747-8 aircraft to India The arrival of B747-8 turns India into the Asian launch market for Lufthansa’s new Business Class featuring a seat that turns into a 6.5 ft. long, horizontal sleeping surface. Passengers in the Economy Class can also beneﬁt with in-seat entertainment. T T B U R E AU

ow, flying from Delhi to Frankfurt has become more comfortable and easier. From August 6, Lufthansa is going to serve this route (LH 760/1) with its latest Boeing

Axel Hilgers Director - South Asia, Lufthansa

747-8 Intercontinental (B747-8). As a global launch customer for this new aircraft, the airline chose India as the second market worldwide for the new aircraft. Elaborating on the new development, Axel Hilgers, Director - South Asia, Lufthansa, says,

“Choosing India as the launchpad for our latest two products in Asia underlines the importance of this market in our global network as well as our commitment to grow here. These investments will further strengthen Lufthansa’s position in the core market that is India.” The B747-8 is configured with 8 First Class, 92 Business Class and 262 Economy Class seats. It will replace the Boeing 747-400 – affectionately nicknamed ‘Queen of the Skies’.

India Gets The Best From August 6, Lufthansa will fly on Delhi-Frankfurt route with its latest B747-8. As a global launch customer for the aircraft, the airline has chosen India as the second market worldwide for the new aircraft

The novelty of the aircraft is the innovative ‘V’-shaped seating arrangement. Two neighbouring seats are angled towards one another along a central axis. This solution enabled Lufthansa to virtually double the distance between two neighbouring seats at shoulder level.

The GEnx-2B engines achieve a 15 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and CO 2 emissions per passenger and a 30 per cent reduction in noise emissions.

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NTO

International events calling all Indians Soulful music of the harp resonating through a giant opera house; a cultural extravaganza in the heart of the French Riviera; bull runs through city streets; giant beer tents and brass bands and what not! Culture and traditions have spawned a host of events worldwide that add value to a traveller’s experience. I NDER RAJ A HLUWALIA

Adel El Masry, Director, Egyptian Tourism Office - India, feels tourists look for something special in their travel experience. Egypt’s rich culture has created special events that add value to the visitor’s experience. Arabic Music Festival: Hosted by the Cairo Opera House, this unique cultural festival features the best of singers and musicians in the field of traditional Arab music. This event attracts a large amount of visitors, musicians, instrumentalists, singers and established ensembles. Arabic music has a very distinct sound owing much to its unique instruments. The festival presents a programme that is rich in style from Northern Africa and the Middle East. The melodic sounds of top musicians from across the Arab world resound through the stunning Cairo Opera House. The Egyptian harp is a key instrument in all Arabic music and its variations throughout the Arab world can be traced back to its home, Egypt.

Catherine Oden, Director, France Tourism Development Agency, feels local festivals are perfect cultural ambassadors for any country. In France, cultural extravaganzas provide visitors an ideal opportunity to interact with the locals and experience the French way of life. Nice Carnival: Bringing a slice of French culture on the streets is the Nice Carnival that attracts thousands of visitors. Parades, music concerts and artistic displays mirror the region’s local heritage and traditions. The increasing number of visitors to the region are trying to align their trip with events like the Carnival to make their travel itinerary more fun-filled and entertaining. Cannes Film Festival: In the world of cinema is the Cannes Film Festival that brings together (both Hollywood and Bollywood) international film personalities, film media and world celebrities. Accompanying the films’ screenings are a host of social and entertainment activities.

Arturo Ortiz Arduan, Spanish Tourism Counsellor, feels special

Tina Singh, Assistant Vice President, Canadian Tourism

events enhance a tourist’s experience in a country. San Fermin: “A spectacle, capable of getting you out of bed at half past five in the morning for several days in a row” is how Ernest Hemingway had described the running of the bulls in San Fermín. The event turns the streets of Pamplona into a continuous party, where the bull is the star of the show. Risk and excitement go handin-hand with high spirits and festivities that overflow into nine days of celebrations through the city streets. The festive programme also includes open-air celebrations, concerts, dance exhibitions and bullfights. Fallas Festival: Fallas Festival sees the city filled with gigantic cardboard monuments for a competition marked by art, ingenuity and good taste. Another exciting moment of the festival is the floral offering to the Virgin Mary. Open-air celebrations, parades, bullfights, competitions and other activities complete the festive programme.

Commission, feels that while Canada’s enormous natural beauty charms visitors; special events provide an added bonus. Calgary Stampede: An annual rodeo, exhibition and festival, is a ten-day event that bills itself as ‘The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’. It attracts over a million annual visitors and features one of the world’s largest rodeos, a parade, midway, stage shows, etc. This year, the festival celebrates 100 years of legendary stories culminating in the 2012 Stampede. Montreal Jazz Festival: Welcome to Montreal, the heartbeat of Planet Jazz! Ranked as the world’s largest jazz festival by Guinness World Records, the festival has been synonymous with a passion for music for over three decades. Every year, North America’s French-speaking metropolis welcomes global music fans to 10 days of jazz-centric celebration. The festival hosts some 30 countries, 3,000 musicians and 1,000 concerts and activities, in 15 concert halls and on 8 outdoor stages, welcoming over 2 million visitors to the city.

Anjum Sheikh, General Manager, Macau Government Tourist Office,

Poonam Makhija, India Representative, Munich Tourist Office,

feels special events does enhance and leave a mark on visitors’ experiences. Macau Art Festival: The Macao Arts Festival (MAF) enriches the cultural and artistic life of residents as well as visitors. Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, the MAF actively promotes the arts and artistic education, in an effort to encourage residents to engage in artistic activities’ and welcome the arts into their daily lives. Macau International Dragon Boat Races: This old Chinese event commemorates the heroic poet Wat Yuen who protested against corruption by drowning himself. Today, all celebrations are concentrated on the famous Dragon Boat Races staged on the Nam Van Lake. Many local and foreign teams participate in this colourful event. Companies, government services, clubs and organisations vie for the ultimate dragon honours. And, if you’re a visitor hoping to try your hand at rowing, there are several organisations and clubs where you can join the action.

Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative – Ministry of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, feels Indians like to travel in peak seasons during festive times. Local events and festivals definitely help attract tourists to a destination. The local flavours, colours and schemes that come to life during a festival at a destination cannot be experienced otherwise and thus travellers opt for planning their trips during those times. The Muscat Festival is one such example. The month-long festival offers sports, entertainment and food bonanzas. The event showcases both Omani and international culture and heritage, which provides a treat for visitors. The festival includes an Arabic style celebration at the Muscat Fashion Week; a feast for a traveller’s palettes at the Oman Food Festival and a host of entertainment activities aimed to appeal to the locals and tourists. It’s definitely a local highlight.

feels much of Munich’s touristic charm lies in its famous festivals.

Tollwood Summer Festival 2012: The Tollwood Summer Festival invites music and culture enthusiasts, grown-ups, teens and children to the Olympia Park in Munich. Fascinating theatre groups and performing artists meet in the colourful arena, while the sound of music from all over the world pours from the tents. More than 75 per cent of all performances, ranging from walk-acts, concerts to environmental activities or kids entertainment, are non-ticketed and free! Oktoberfest: An annual day festival which runs for 16 to 18 days, Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture and celebrates beer. The world’s largest fair, the festival attracts over 5 million people every year. Munich’s largest and most traditional breweries cordially invite everyone to join the festivities. Visitors get to drink beer, eat traditional Bavarian food such as pretzels, listen to live brass bands and enjoy themselves with people from world over, dancing and singing the hours away.

Chetna Singh, Senior Marketing Manager, Philippines Tourism Marketing Office, India feels The Philippines’ myriad festivals create a perfect backdrop for tourists to soak in the local culture and enjoy their visits. Flores De Mayo-Santacruzan: A parade of the town’s loveliest ladies depicting the search and discovery of Christ’s Cross by Queen Helena and Constantine. Blossoming in the towns of Bulacan, Laguna, Batangas and Pampanga, the Flores de Mayo features Daughters of Isabela, Knights of Columbus and Solidarity and Adoracion Nocturna, offering flowers to the Virgin Mary. Pahiyas Festival: One of the country’s biggest and the most colourful harvest festivals, along with the harvest festivals of the towns of Tayabas, Sariaya, Gumaca and Tiaong, the event is held to honour San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. The towns are decked with decorations called ‘Kiping’ - leaf-shaped, multi-coloured rice paste wafers used to decorate the facades of homes, along with fruits and flowers.

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TRAVTALK

AGENTS

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TRAVTALK

Thomas Cook India launches PH Direct The new product - Personalised Holidays Direct - comes as a platform that directly serves and supports its travel agent partners in a quicker, efﬁcient and interactive way. T T B U R E AU

homas Cook (India) recently launched its Personalised Holidays Direct (PH Direct). PH Direct is an initiative to enhance the relationship and offer quality value to its B2B partners. Registered agent partners are offered access to a range of pre-packaged and pre-priced international holidays and recommended itineraries via a special FTP Link. Additionally, they can also get holidays customised as per the clients’ requirements and budget. Expertise and a welcome human interface are ensured

Madhav Pai COO, Leisure Travel (Outbound) Thomas Cook (India)

by direct access to a dedicated central operations team, providing prompt responses and proficiency in solutions. Competitive rates, exclusive deals and promotional offers are further attractions that benefit its travel partners. A focus on efficiency is ensured via an effective booking process and predefined response timelines, informed Madhav Pai, Chief Operating Office, Leisure Travel (Outbound), Thomas Cook (India). Talking about this initiative, Pai said, “With an aim to facilitate better

The Benefits Access to a range of prepackaged and pre-priced international holidays and recommended itineraries via a special FTP Link Expertise and a human interface are ensured by direct access to a dedicated central operations team, providing prompt responses and solutions Competitive rates, exclusive deals and promotional offers are further attractions to amuse the travel partners A focus on efficiency is ensured via an effective booking process

services for the backbone of the Indian travel business – travel partners/ agents; Thomas Cook launched ‘Personalised Holidays Direct’, a platform that directly serves and supports our travel partners and sales

agents in an efficient, interactive and prompt manner.” TCIL’s footprint currently extends to over 204 locations (including 25 airport counters) in 78 cities across India, Mauritius and

Sri Lanka and is supported by a strong partner network of 117 Gold Circle Partners and 166 Preferred Sales Agents in over 100 cities pan India. With this, registered travel agents can benefit from the series of serv-

ices offered by the company and non-registered agents can approach TCIL for listing itself under registered Agent Partners. Adding further, Pai said, “PH Direct is yet another innovative endeav-

our from Thomas Cook India to assist our agent partners in promoting FIT personalised holidays to destinations worldwide, which, in turn, will help them to serve their clients promptly. Easy access to a range and depth of products, backed by direct access to our centralised team of experts, will indeed delight our B2B partners."

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A&K synonymous with luxury travel Addressing the needs of high-end travellers and promising a holiday like no other, A&K has redeﬁned extravagance and stands as the epitome of luxury travel. The global brand endorses its focus on B2B relationships and promises a plethora of products and services aimed at that segment. T T B U R E AU

elebrating their golden anniversary this year, Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) is expanding its network in India and strengthening their B2B relationships. A&K has been perfecting the art of tailor-made travel for 50 years and extends their expertise

Company Folio A&K offers a comprehensive network of high-quality DMCs covering Africa, China, South East Asia, North Africa and Middle East, Europe, South America and Australasia The recently launched Indian website highlights the company’s diverse products which helps the trade partners understand the diversified offerings

The recently launched Indian website highlights the company’s diverse products which helps the trade partners understand the diversified offerings.

to every aspect of an inspiring journey not only in luxury but also in culture, wildlife and history, guaranteeing a holiday of a lifetime. “A&K Private Travel in India is being set up to showcase its global luxury product offering to the experience seekers and high profile travellers. We plan to introduce the products and destination experiences, such as private journeys to destinations worldwide, safari experiences, luxury rail journeys, small ship expeditionary and river cruising, A&K villas and skichalets and extreme adventures, to the discerning Indian outbound traveller through our preferred trade partners,” says Vikram Madhok, Managing Director, Abercrombie & Kent India. A&K offers a comprehensive network of high-

Vikram Madhok Managing Director Abercrombie & Kent India

quality DMCs covering Africa, China, South East Asia, North Africa and Middle East, Europe, South America and Australasia. “In contrast to the other travel companies who rely on third parties to create their programmes and support them on the ground, every A&K itinerary is backed by handpicked staff in our worldwide offices,” adds Madhok.

A&K promises superior services and makes sure that they meet all the requirements. The quality control teams keep a check on the suppliers to ensure that the quality of services never disappoints. “Our relationships with suppliers are second to none. It’s these personal, long-standing local connections that make sure we offer the best product to our clients. Whether it’s the most sought-after table in a restaurant or preferential upgrades available at hotels, we hold the key to all customer’s needs,” says Madhok.

Their ability to tailormake a holiday, offering well qualified guides and also looking into any VIP services adds the personal touch.

“We handle every request according to an individual’s need; so that our agent partners can offer the finest combinations available. These include experiences that bring our guests closer to the real people, the culture and their customs. From meetings with renowned archaeologists to tea with a local market-seller’s family, we can make it happen,” he adds. Health and safety of the tourist is also very important and

A&K also offers 24-hour emergency contacts for any change in plans. Since 1982, A&K has been globally committed to respecting the natural environment and giving back to the local people. Internally and through the generosity of their guests, they support over 37 different hand-picked projects worldwide.

QUICK READ Travel agencies have reported a surge in interest in ‘vampire vacations’ since news of the discovery of the remains in the Black Sea town of Sozopol broke in the international press recently

AGENTS

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TRAVTALK

‘Service charge is our right’ After registering a good start with its recently-expanded B2B operations in Hong Kong, Macau and China, Equator Voyagers now calls for a consortium to strengthen negotiation skills with suppliers. T T B U R E AU

ven though the travel trade industry is the fastest growing among others, it is going through a rough patch. “We have to strengthen ourselves by making a consortium and further have a good negotiating power with the supplier, so

Amit Watts Director Equator Voyagers

We are a service industry and for the service we provide, we should be paid our service charge that our product cost can be brought down and we have a better buying power,” says Amit Watts, Director, Equator Voyagers. The biggest challenge facing the travel trade industry is that now an airline ticket, hotel booking or any travel-related service is available at a ‘general store or cyber café’ as they have taken up the B2B portal and are ready to offer the services at a cost as low as ` 20. Such services are now being available without service taxes being levied or even

Latest Trend The latest trend that is emerging in the industry is that all the companies now have their individual holiday divisions to offer allinclusive packages In order to survive, one must offer all services under the same roof This is certainly beneficial as one is able to offer all services related to travel trade all together

incurring any operational or infrastructural cost. Also, nowadays the client is well aware of each and every cost of the service provider, be it the airlines or hotels etc. With the breakup of the cost on the tips of the clients’ fingers, one really

does not know where to add the markup. “We are a service industry and for the service we provide, we should be paid our service charge. We shy away from asking for our service charge and try to add

it in the costing, but we should, with dignity, demand for our service charge as this is our right,” he said. The social media has really helped to keep the people updated about the news in the industry. And

this technology has helped reduce manpower as it has widened its reach. With the travel trade reaping the benefits from the technology front, the latest trend is that all companies now have their individual holiday divisions

to offer all-inclusive packages. “In order to survive, one must offer all services under the same roof. This is certainly beneficial as one is able to offer all services related to the travel trade together under one platform,” said Watts.

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Uniglobe’s half century Uniglobe Air Travel Bureau celebrated its 50 th year of inception on June 8, 2012. The event was celebrated across India in all its 7 locations. During the event, long service awards were distributed to the employees who have been with the company for 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years.

Mobile+social media=Sales The key to capture the target market is to have an online presence. speaks to Mandeep Singh Anand, Chairman and Managing Director, Spring Travels, to know more about his views… single platform like an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) which needs to be linked to its portal, offering all travel related services. “This would ensure an ease and transparency in the transactions with real-time data generation to take critical business decisions,” added Anand.

T T B U R E AU

Delhi

Mumbai

Chennai

he current economy is in a volatile situation and the sliding Rupee has made international travel 15 to 30 per cent more expensive. This volatility has forced Indian tourists to postpone their overseas vacations or choose less expensive destinations. Even trips to South East Asian destinations have become dearer by 10 to 20 per cent.

“The Indian travel industry is due for a shake up and is in the state of a constant flux. Thus, it has become important to attain size and benefit from the economies of scale, which is resulting in a huge investment scenario from the existing large travel

Mandeep Singh Anand Chairman and Managing Director Spring Travels

agencies, especially in the B2B sphere,” said Anand. Springtravels.com has even included mobile, DTH and data card recharge services and their bill payments to help small travel agents generate more customers and maintain the loyalty of the existing customers by providing them with more services. It is important for any large sized agency to shift on a

Technology will help alleviate MIS pains and therefore the management can take critical decisions with better wisdom and agility. Spring Travels has taken a number of steps for their website to ensure a robust selling online system aided with a homegrown customised mid-office connected to an ERP. The impact of technology on the travel industry has been immense. “Technology has ensured the presence of travel companies on three growing

platforms, namely Internet, mobile and social media, which together help push sales. It has also helped streamline business and build processes for seamless generation of real-time business reports so that decision makers can exercise more informed choices. With the industry moving on the brand trajectory, it is important to register volumes with complete focus on customer service,” he says. Technology has a major role to play with automation of key processes and helps grow volumes by reducing the task of managing service intensive fulfilment processes. Ensuring an efficient customer service will help create a brand image of the company. It will also help large travel companies to distinguish themselves. “We are moving towards ‘regularisation’ of the Indian travel and trade industry.”

28 TRAVTALK

AGENTS

JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

Ladakh bike tours Budget India Holidays, a soon-tobe-launched tour operating company, will undertake bike tours to Ladakh in mid 2013.

“T

ccommodation during the tour will be provided in 3-star hotels and in well-equipped tents.

Upadhyay said, “We will also have a 14-seater travel bus with us on the tour for

Intending to keep pace with technology, Minar Travels seeks to strengthen its outbound and MICE segments. In a conversation with , HS Duggal, Managing Director, Minar Travels shares the solution to current challenges. T T B U R E AU

T T B U R E AU

Mrinal Upadhyay, Principal Consultant, Budget India Holidays said, “We are hoping to conduct at least 3 bike tours a year to Ladakh. It will be a group tour for 2530 days.” With Ladakh emerging as one of the hottest tourist spots in the country, Budget India Holidays aims at providing a ‘road trip of a lifetime’ to its clients. Mrinal added, “Ladakh by road is full of adventure. We are hoping that youths and adventure loving people from across the globe will join us on these tours.”

‘Outbound industry is going steady’

Mrinal Upadhyay Principal Consultant Budget India Holidays

people who do not want to bike and just enjoy the drive.” He also said that the company will focus more on adventure tours in the future. With a boom in adventure activities in the country, the tour company will soon begin trekking trips to Triund near Mcleodganj and Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand. The company will begin operations from July 20, 2012.

he outbound industry is going steady; Indian economy is not much affected by the global meltdown and travel out of India is growing,” believes Duggal. He further states that Indians are venturing into new destinations and an increase on luxury cruises among Indian travellers have been recorded.

“Indians have a good spending capacity and this is recognised by the countries abroad. Thus the market is full of offers from various destinations,” he said. However, he notes that the depreciation of Indian

Rupee has made the overseas packages expensive and cites it as a matter of concern for the outbound industry. “Moreover, this coupled

HS Duggal Managing Director Minar Travels

with the happenings at Kingfisher and Indian Airlines, has resulted in the price hike of air tickets both international and domestic sectors and this has been a major concern for the travel industry this year,” Duggal said.

He also cited the cost of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) as one of the other reasons that have led to the rise of air fares. “India imports most of its ATF requirements, but it is the tax structure of the Government of India and the state governments, which make it more expensive, thereby, increasing the cost of air tickets. It is therefore imperative that the state taxes on ATF needs to be rationalised,” reasoned Duggal. Commenting on the importance of technology in the travel trade, he said that technology includes many processes such as dynamic packaging which provides useful new options for consumers. “Today, the tour guide can be a GPS tour guide and the guidebook could be an audio guide, such as city audio guides,” he said. “In the tourism industry, one of the major

applications of technology is in the area of reservations. In the Indian Railways, it has become possible for a person in Town A to make a reservation for travel from Town B to Town C. The possibilities of using technology to enhance the experience of the tourism product are immense, he added.” Discussing further about the company, Duggal revealed, “Minar is poised to strengthen its outbound and MICE segments. The Indian industry is growing and we see the need to tap the already developed MICE sector.”

Importance of Technology Technology includes many processes such as dynamic packaging which provides useful new options for consumers

AGENTS

Redefining luxury on road State Express, a Delhi-based travel agency, provides luxury car rentals with well-trained chauffeurs in Delhi and NCR. State Express also offers special packages for car rentals to tour operators and travel agents. T T B U R E AU

tate Express pioneered in introducing the

car Mercedes S 500 for rental in Delhi. The company aims at becoming the market leader in providing high-end luxury cars in the capital. Sanjeev Chandra, Director, State Express said,

Sanjeev Chandra Director State Express

“People are travelling more often than before and they prefer to travel in SUVs than their own car. For sightseeing car rentals, we also provide multi

lingual guides and airport representation. And, we also rent out cars for weddings and corporate events.” Their fleet of cars include a large variety of sedans, SUVs, mini vans and coaches. They also have the ultra-luxury Volkswagen multi van which can be used for conferences as it is equipped with a refrigerator, speakers, LCD screen, a pop up conference table and 360 degree revolving seats. All cars are also fitted with GPS technology to ensure safety and security. With a history of more than 30 years in the business,

State Express has provided services to many UN organisations including UNICEF, UNDP and World Bank. And their clientele also includes celebrities like Bill Gates, Bryan Adams, Lakshmi Mittal, Salman Khan and many more. Although the agency also handles inbound tours, travels and ticketing, Chandra said, “We want to focus more on our car rentals in the future. With the economy growing and companies expanding, this is a market that has the potential to grow tremendously in India.”

Technology and travel trends In an interview with , Anil Mishra, CEO, SAS Mission Travels discusses emerging travel trends and the role of technology in today’s travel trade scenario… With growing disposable income, Mishra, believes that more Indians are travelling abroad for leisure or business. “The growing image of Indians as ‘globetrotters’ have been promoted over lesser known economies,” he said. Countries such as Tanzania, Philippines and Uzbekistan, which do not figure in the top

Mishra is of the opinion that tourism is set to become one of the greatest industries in the world in future.

Anil Mishra CEO SAS

10 outbound tourist destinations for Indians, have shown interest in the booming Indian tourism market.

“Improvement in the marketing technology and communication and general economic conditions will be highly profitable to this industry. With a constant growth rate, the competition among

establishments is very severe,” he said. Commenting on the role of internet and technology in the travel scenario, Mishra said, “Today, in the developing world, internet and technology play the most important role. Internet gives us all the details like tours, ticketing, etc. And now, bookings for hotels, tickets, tour packages can be done online. We can get all the information we need about the travel scenario sitting in one place.”

One-stop access to West African city In an attempt to dominate the African skies, Ethiopian Airlines recently launched non-stop flights from Addis Abba to Cotonou, capital of The Republic of Benin. With this new connection, tourists and traders from India can

have a one-stop access to the West African city. With three flights flying a week effective from June 15, 2012, this new service will further strengthen Ethiopian Airlines presence in the West African market. Also spreading its wings

to the American continent, Ethiopian Airlines announced the launch of new flights from Addis Abba to Toronto. Indians can now avail the one-stop flight to the Canadian city twice a week beginning July 16, 2012.

This flight will be operated with the Airline’s brand new and ultra-modern B777200LR aircraft, configured with 34 seats in Ethiopian’s luxurious Cloud Nine business class and 287 seats in economy class.

Trafalgar’s aggressive promotion Trafalgar, the global leader in escor ted holidays, along with its General Selling Agents (GSAs) Club 7 & Comfort Leisure, held a product presentation for the trade partners in the cities of Bengaluru and Chennai. It was well-attended by prominent travel agents from both the cities making it a successful event. The agents were made aware of Trafalgar’s brand positioning, products, unique selling points and also other operational details. The event ended with prizes being given away in a spot quiz and lucky dip.

TECHTALK

JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

TRAVTALK

India to be recognised for its travel power India’s travel performance reconﬁrms the resilience of this market’s demand. At the same time, it highlights the areas of opportunity that are ripe for producing even greater results.

otel bookings have displayed durability and improvement. It has been no easy task to match last year’s volumes. India experienced demand surges that yielded remarkably high double-digit booking growth in 2011. Plus, a weak global economy remains a reality. March bookings, in fact, had fallen below prior year by -14.1%. Reservations rebounded within less than one per cent of the prior year in April, proving that slower growth periods are inevitable but not permanent. As the global economy gains more foot-

India’s rates have shown a timid yet stable performance thus far. ADR (average daily rate) has lagged behind last year since December; however, it has stayed within a relatively close 10 per cent range to the prior year. With one of the largest and fastest growing world economies, this moderate performance is not due to deteriorating demand. India is in the enviable but challenging position of being recognised for its current and

Net Avg Length of Stay (nights) Net Avg Booking Lead Time (days)

Apr-12 Apr-11

India, Regional, Global – % change over prior year GDS & ADS channels combined

ing, so too will India’s inbound and outbound travel.

% Chg

Apr-12

Apr-11

India

3.28

3.29 -0.3%

19.87

20.08 -1.0%

% Chg

Asia Pacific

2.74

2.80 -1.9%

21.48

19.95

7.7%

Global

2.13

2.16 -1.4%

20.40

19.49

4.7%

Net Reservation

Net ADR

Net Revenue

Apr ‘12 vs ‘11 Apr YTD ‘12 vs ‘11

-0.8% -4.5%

-7.4% -6.8%

-8.6% -10.8%

Apr ‘12 vs ‘11 Asia Pacific Apr YTD ‘12 vs ‘11

10.2% 5.3%

1.5% 0.0%

9.8% 4.8%

Apr ‘12 vs ‘11 Apr YTD ‘12 vs ‘11

-2.1% -2.2%

6.7% 5.3%

3.0% 1.6%

India

Global

future travel power. Its rates simply reflect the balance hoteliers are trying to achieve during a period of simultaneous room demand growth and room supply growth. Greater number and type of rooms that are becoming accessible mean there are now more needs being fulfilled than ever before. Reservations for Asia Pacific as a whole did rise by +10.2% over the prior year in April. Much of this

increase comes from lower volumes in April 2011 with Japan’s earthquake and the tsunami crisis. The earthquake struck in March of 2011, but April was the first full month impacted by catastrophic events. This regional improvement illustrates Japan’s progress combined with the strength of other markets in the region. It also serves as a reminder to make sure you are targetting key markets,

such as China, to capture lucrative inbound travel. India’s stays are being booked the same number of days ahead of arrival as last year. Booking windows are an indicator of consumer confidence and group business demand. Therefore, stable booking led times point to stable commitment for both vacation and business travel. Trips averaged about the same length of stay as last year. This follows the general trend of keeping the trip length in check to help control costs. Airfares are rising and in addition to the length of stay, travellers need to stick to stringent budgets. The potential is there. Provide the best values that are most suited to your promising markets.

Julie Parodi Sr. Director, Strategic Planning

The writer is Julie Parodi, Sr. Director, Strategic Planning, Pegasus Solutions.

(The above analysis is based on the over five billion monthly transactions processed by Pegasus Solutions, the world’s single largest global processor of hotel transactions. The data represents transactions from both the GDS (Global Distribution System) and ADS (Alternative Distribution System) channels, representing the business and leisure markets respectively for approximately 90,000 hotels worldwide.)

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TECHNOLOGY

Travel on a technology ticket The Internet and Mobile Association of India’s 4th Travel & Tourism Summit held recently in New Delhi talked about the use of technology in a strategic manner to help quench the thirst of the new traveller. The summit deliberated on ways to build a strong relationship between hotels, airlines and OTAs. Here are excerpts from panellists: T T B U R E AU

Himanshu Singh Chairman, Digital Commerce Committee, IAMAI and Managing Director, Travelocity India In the online travel space, all the large players are, by and large, following the same model. The said model itself is almost 17-20 years old. Hence, there is an exigent need to usher in great innovations that will herald a new era of change. The players in the social media industry have done so. In my opinion, the company, who will be able to bring such change in the online sector will be the one to watch out for. As of now, there is no single large player that commands a substantial share in our fragmented travel market.

Marco Gorin Chief Commercial Officer InterGlobe Technology In the early days the motto going around in the online circles was ‘content is king’. But now, over the last decade, there has been a major shift and we are now actually talking about user experience. However, this is a very difficult science, because the actual user experience may appear to be very random. Payment is a very critical step in the user experience in an online environment, no matter what kind of products are being marketed and sold. The time of payment is when every user may feel the most vulnerable and it is the step where potentially the online players may miss the opportunity for conversion.

Nalin Shinghal

Gaurav Chiripal

Director - Tourism and Marketing IRCTC With over 6 million inbound and over 740 million domestic tourists, India is a big travel market. Our focus lies largely on the roughly estimated 250 million domestic tourists that use our services for either leisure holiday or pilgrimage travel. Accordingly, we have made packages that serve their distinct needs and offer travel options starting from as low as ` 500 per day that includes travel, basic stay amenities and food. Going forward, we also see potential in education tours.

Chief Executive Officer Quadlabs ‘He came, he saw, he conquered’ can now be juxtaposed in the context of the modern day users. It is technology that is enabling the change but it is we who drive it. One has to have the best technology for his business operations which in turn would bring users a wonderful experience and a sense of security, as they will be able to derive the best possible results through technology.

Samil Malhotra

Devdutta Banerjee

Vice President - Sales & Marketing The LaLit Suri Hospitality Group Hotels are just getting to understand marketing. How many IIM graduates do you see entering the hotel industry? We need to garner the right attention to enhance our value personnel who can then take on the marketing initiatives. An extremely important strategy could be the usage of social networking sites. For the recently opened nightclub at The LaLit New Delhi – Kitty Su – we depend entirely on Facebook where we are promoting ourselves in a big way.

Regional Director - Revenue Management Starwood Asia Pacific OTAs and Online Distribution Platforms are very critical for the hotel industry. However, offline bookings are still too prominent to be ignored. In spite of this, a growth in online bookings has been observed all over India. Today, people are not only making their bookings through the internet, but there are many consumers who are also using their mobiles for making bookings. This has been noticed especially in Jaipur, where we have registered a spurt in business through mobile bookings.

Gautam Chadha

Karan Anand

CEO JourneyMart.com In my opinion, there shall never arise a situation when there will be a one-stop shop for meeting all the travel needs. Travel intermediaries should try to become the source that the clients can trust. In the endeavour to become such a reliable source, the travel intermediaries should harness technology to its optimum. Another, important need that the travel agencies must realise and practice is the art of continuously refreshing oneself. It will help them reinvent themselves and win over incremental business.

Head-Relationship and Supplier Management Cox and Kings India Now with more personal disposable income and the urge to see the world, more Indians are travelling abroad. The Indian outbound will only grow from this point. However, these are challenging times for the travel sector and there are issues that need to be looked at. We have been able to maintain stability in the prices of our packages despite the Rupee fluctuation on the back of our global gross buying capacities. Last quarter has been good for the business and the projections for the upcoming quarters are also positive.

Gautam Gandhi Head - New Business Development Google There is too much focus on technology but not on the solution. Therefore, we need to know the problem that we are trying to solve for the consumer. One of the most important things today is that as there are more and more solutions on the internet, it is hard to differentiate a small player from a big player. After all, competition is just a click away. If you don’t like something, it’s very easy to go to another website and get that, so how do you measure trust or loyalty? The important things people have to focus on are trust and loyalty and the word’s that’s most neglected today - customer service.

Aloke Singh General Manager - Revenue Management and Pricing Air India In today’s scenario, we must reduce both the commission and GDS costs which can be attained through agent-principal partnership. Similarly, there is a need to move from offline to online and one fare to unbundling of fares, among many other measures to make use of new opportunities. The ancillary revenue is one of the biggest opportunities for both the principle and agents. The idea is to sell the right thing to the right person at right time and at the right price. It should be done in such a manner that the transaction leads zero consumer surpluses in the hands of the consumer.

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AGENTS

International river cruising options in India Maison de Voyage plans on doing roadshows and participate in various trade exhibitions to increase brand awareness about the international river cruise options in India. T T B U R E AU

niworld Cruises, operating a fleet of 21 ships along the rivers of Europe, Russia, Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia and China has recently appointed Mumbai-

based Maison de Voyage as their distribution partner in India. With the appointment, the cruise company, part of The Travel Corporation, has entered in India and is looking at redefining the sailing experience of Indian travellers.

In the first year, the company aims at establishing the brand and spreading awareness about the product. To increase visibility in India, Maison de Voyage plans on doing sales, roadshows and participate in various trade exhibitions, informed

Beatrice Dolder, Director, Maison de Voyage. She said,

“We are looking at educating travellers across India with the maximum concentration on Tier-II cities as

there is a lot of potential in those markets. This is a niche product for experiential travellers who want to do more than just a touch-down destination.” Adding further on the unique selling point

Beatrice Dolder Director Maison de Voyage

of Uniworld Cruises, Faisal Siddiqui, Director, Maison de Voyage said,

Faisal Siddiqui Director Maison de Voyage

“Uniworld is not a regular river cruise, it’s a luxury experience every traveller must explore once in his/her life. Not only do they have outstanding hospitality, the cuisine and staterooms are just like being in a five star hotel. Once on-board, all a passenger has to do is – Unpack, Unwind and leave the rest to Uniworld.”

Philadelphia’s tourism initiative City of The Philadelphia is in the process of signing off its first partner for tourism promotion in India – Kuoni India in next two months. Under the initiative ‘Ambassador’s Programme’ for boosting trade, tourism, education and investments from India, Kanika Choudhary, Honorary Ambassador of Philadelphia to India, recently visited major cities of the country. In the first year, the city council wants to spread awareness about the city and its offerings for various segment of travellers. After meeting travel trade associations like TAAI and TAFI, it also plans to hold meeting with VUSACOM, an association consisting of tour operators selling USA.

CAR RENTAL

New avenue for revenue Car rental is one of the non-air products that is still not sold as a standalone product in India. checks whether it is a revenue generating business for travel agents. A N I TA J A I N

ith evolving travellers, travel agents and tour operators have shifted focus from air ticketing to non-air products. However, car rentals is heavily dependent on other travel products in India both by location (airport transfers) and sector (leisure and business travellers). Internationally, it has grown into a well organised industry. Global car rental

Rajiv Vij

President The Confederation of Association of Cars Rental Service Providers

companies now offer loyalty programmes, special booking channels and even trainings to travel agents. For instance, Thrifty Car Rental, Europcar, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz, Avis, Budget, Alamo, etc. offers exclusive website for travel agents with assistance on information, special promotions, commissions, rates and booking channels in various international markets.

Organised business prospects Currently, the Indian car rental market size is around ` 2,000 crore, of which, organised players account for only ten per cent market share. According to Rajiv Vij, CEO, Carzonrent India also the President of The Confederation of Association of Cars Rental Service Providers; road travel is not yet a ‘happening’ thing in India and thus the car rental segment is still emerging and maturing. He said, “There have been car rental companies in India for many years, it is time for the organised ones

We encourage our travel trade partners with unique benefits, incentives and commissions SP Balasubramaniam Managing Director & CEO, Car Club

to come up with more feasible options for the travel agents to move from localised option to a more central car rental booking method.” With more and more organised players entering the market, car rental industry is improvising on quality of service which makes travel agent rely on them for their repeat customers. According to SP Balasubramaniam, Managing Director & CEO, Car Club; the car rental business in India

compared to air, bus or rail tickets. Bengaluru-based YourCabs is scouting for travel companies who are keen to explore additional business avenues. According to Rajath Kedilaya, CEO, YourCabs, the car rental business in India is huge and untapped and offer quality business opportunities for travel companies. He said, “Travellers like the flexibility of road travel and car rental is a completely different experience as compared to bus or

Rajath Kedilaya

Hutokshi Marker

CEO YourCabs

COO TrailBlazer Tours

has a lot of untapped potential with opportunities for both organised and unorganised players. He said, “Post

Car rentals can also become an alternate revenue generating source for travel companies Bhavish Aggarwal Co-Founder & CEO Olacabs

recession, major travel companies have turned their focus to non-air products, especially tour packages and hotels. However, car rental is one such segment which can reap long-term benefits for agents, provided they offer reliable car rental services with convenience and affordable prices bundled with unique packages. We encourage our travel trade partners with unique benefits, longterm business relations and attractive incentives and commissions.”

New kids on the block The new players in the car rental segment are coming well-equipped with focussed business plan and international practices. They consider travel agents and tour companies as their key channel partners and offer better commission levels as

train travel. If packaged well, a travel agent can attract a lot of customers through customised packages and make it the USP of the company. We do work with a few travel companies across India. Currently, we provide a few additional options for the B2B segment (like dashboards and credit billing) and we have plans to build this further.” Mumbai-based Olacabs has launched a B2B platform for travel agents to earn healthy commissions. Bhavish Aggarwal, CoFounder & CEO, Olacabs said, “With no promising future in air-ticketing business, car rental has the potential to become an alternate revenue generating source for travel companies. Through our B2B channel, we are working closely with 200 travel agents by offering competitive pricing and commission of up to 20 per cent depending on the volume of business.”

Other side of the story The car rental companies are looking out for better options to enhance their profit margins. However, getting on the other side of the industry, travel companies observe that car rental is still not a big revenue generator. Hutokshi Marker, COO, TrailBlazer Tours confirms, “Car rental is still a marginal business earner for the company.However the sector will witness growth in the coming years.”

ASSOCIATIONS

US$ 5.2bn investment in hotels for 12th 5-Year Plan With a requirement of 1,88,000 rooms by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan period, India’s hotel industry is anticipating an investment of about ` 26,000 cr reveals Kamlesh Barot, President, FHRAI. memorandum submitted to the government is extended to below three-star hotel categories in the near future, this would automatically mean reduction in hotel tariffs.”

M E G H A PAU L

espite the hike in service tax from 10 to 12 per cent during this recent Budget, the hospitality industry is geared up for some big investments. It is expected to see an investment boom of almost ` 26,000 crore by 2017, feels Barot. In an interview with , he opined, “The hotel industry will need an additional 1,88,000 rooms by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan period as per the estimates. We anticipate an investment of about ` 26,000 crore by that time.” According to the FHRAI President, the industry currently employs 24 million people and by 2017, it is expected to add another 44 million employees.

Industry Status The hotel industry currently employs 24 million people and by 2017, it is expected to add another 44 million employees Even though the industry was given infrastructure status, it excluded majority of hotels in the country It covers only five per cent of the hotels. The remaining 95 per cent is still not enjoying the infrastructure status

Kamlesh Barot President FHRAI

We have requested the government to provide the whole industry an infrastructure status. We will then be able to compete with the rates at which foreign hoteliers operate Barot also suggested that lowering input costs of hotels could lead to reduction of hotel tariffs. Addressing the concerns of hotel tariffs, he said, “If the infrastructure status demand made by FHRAI in its post-budget

Infrastructure status to the hospitality industry under RBI’s infrastructure lending list would mean that bank loan repayment period would be extended to 10-15 years, and the interest rate would settle around three-four per cent compared to the current 12-13 per cent. “When the interest rate comes down more in tune with the international hotel lending rates, it would translate into our input costs getting lowered. If the interest burdens are reduced, tariffs may come down by two-three per cent,” he explained. According to him, even though the industry was given infrastructure status, it excluded majority of hotels in the country. “It covers only five per cent of the hotels. The remaining 95 per cent is still not enjoying the infrastructure status. We have requested the government to provide this status to the entire segment. We will then be able to compete with the rates at which foreign hoteliers operate,” he added.

Think different Contd. from page 6

within Asia with high-end hotels seem to be the way forward to promote this tourism segment. Agreeing with these opinions, Ashwin Narayanan, COO, Travel Tours Group says, “Short-haul outbound is still a very good value proposition vis-a-vis travel within the country. I think it’s a combined effort by the airlines, NTOs, embassies and the industry at large to promote outbound tourism. Better connectivity and fair prices from airlines, more marketing Dollars to promote destinations, easier processes for tourist visas and a greater effort from tour operators will go a long way to develop the outbound sector in the present scenario.”

Outbound travel agents are becoming destination specialists. Putting together a dream holiday has also opened up an opportunity for tour operators to earn from nonancillary revenue streams and provide special experiences for the avid traveller. “I know of some agents in western India who are planning biking tours in Australia. Overseas travel insurance has become a product to offer to customers as they are now participating in adventure activities and are bringing extra money for the tour operators. Specialised tours for ladies only, golf tours, gay tourism, spa tours, senior citizens or shopping tours are becoming popular. Agents are adding specialty restau-

rant visits, theme parks or adventure sports to their packages. Skydiving, bungee jumping, hot air ballooning, diving, snorkeling, parasailing and other activities are generating revenue for tour operators,” adds Sahni.

Greater Scope Putting together a dream holiday has opened up an opportunity for tour operators to earn from nonancillary revenue streams and provide special experiences for the avid traveller Skydiving, bungee jumping, hot air ballooning, diving, snorkeling, parasailing and other activities are generating revenue for tour operators

42 TRAVTALK

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COVER STORY

Promoting skill training

First Experience of Delhi-Nairobi flight with Kenya Airways

Contd. from page 1

This was a joint fam venture that took off on May 15. Initiated by three companies – Kenya Airways, Safari Trails and Sarova Hotels, the fam delegates had the privilege of experiencing the first flight of Kenya Airways on the New Delhi-Nairobi route. The agents taken on the trip were mainly from North India, especially Rajasthan and Delhi.

reap the benefits of HSRT, which was launched by the centre in 2009,” he added. Also present on the occasion were Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Tourism; Shankersinh Vaghela, Chairman, ITDC; S Ramadorai, Adviser to Prime Minister on Skill Development and CEO, National Skill Development Corporation; Usha Sharma, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism; Kothari and Panwar. The workshop also witnessed the release of a brochure of ‘Hunar Se Rozgar’, a Compendium in Computer and a Radio Jingle.

As per a study of 2004 carried out by the Market Pulse for MOT, the annual supply of skilled manpower to the hospitality sector comprised around 18,000 people which further came down to about 12,000 after attrition. This is against an estimated annual requirement of about 2 lakh heads. The recent study (of 2010) of the Market Pulse for the MOT reveals the growing dimension of tourism in the country as it estimates that the hospitality sector alone will open up additional 36.18 lakh jobs during the 12 th Five Year Plan at the projected growth rate of 12 per cent,

About Hunar Se Rozgar Tak • • • • •

MOT launched Hunar Se Rozgar Tak (HSRT) in 2009-10 Initially, the initiative covered only two trades, namely Food Production and Food & Beverage Services Segments namely Housekeeping and Bakery were added later HSRT now also offers training related to driving skills Now, HSRT also offers training programmes to revive the languishing skills of heritage conservation, stone masonry and cover many new related segments essential to enhance tourist’s experience

as envisaged by MOT. “Reckoning the need to reduce this skill gap, the MOT stepped up its efforts of creating institutional infrastructure for training programmes for skill development,” said Sharma. “Presently, only 9 states are participating in HSRT. Servicing the Sector effectively will be a prerequisite for the anticipated delivery of a unique travel experience. It’s a primary concern of MOT and ought to be a concern for all stakeholders including the authorities in the states. She added,

“Hence, we urge other states and union territories to come onboard and facilitate and harness the employment creation potential of tourism.”

44 TRAVTALK

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FAMILY ALBUM

in real time It is time for all the skypers, facebookers, twitters, snail mailers, googlers from our industry and believers in virtual social networking to finally step out and meet the people face to face! brings the industry together every month on a Monday for an evening of fun, laughter and conversation over cocktails and snacks (Network Talk). The third such event, on July 2 was sponsored by The Suryaa, New Delhi. Drinks and snacks flowed through the evening amidst the crowd that is growing larger every time. We had a great turn out, with one and all appreciating the wonderful networking opportunity to meet old friends and make new acquaintances.

FAMILY ALBUM

JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

brings the travel trade together

TRAVTALK

46 TRAVTALK

JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

FAMILY ALBUM

Face2Face Good-old-style Networking

48 TRAVTALK

NEWS

JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

Mobile apps a priority for airlines JULY 20-22 20-22 23 25 26 27–29

Hyderabad Chennai Kolkata Ahmedabad Pune Bengaluru

Travel & Tourism Fair India International Travel Mart B2B Indonesia Sales Mission B2B Indonesia Sales Mission B2B Indonesia Sales Mission India International Travel Mart

AUGUST 6 7 8 9 10-12 13-14 16-17 21-23 24-26 24-25

Chennai Bengaluru Mumbai New Delhi Vadodara New Delhi Mumbai New Delhi Ahmedabad New Delhi

Chennai

Mumbai

New Delhi

30-2 31-2 31-6

Mumbai Surat Australia

PhilippinesTourism Roadshow PhilippinesTourism Roadshow PhilippinesTourism Roadshow PhilippinesTourism Roadshow Holiday Expo Kiwi Link India B2B Event Kiwi Link India B2B Event IT&CM India’s Convention Travel & Tourism Fair FICCI’s The Great Domestic Tourism Bazaar Macau Tourism’s B2B Megamart Macau Tourism’s B2B Megamart Macau Tourism’s B2B Megamart IATO’s 28th Annual Convention Travel & Tourism Fair Tourism Australia’s India Mega Famil & Workshop

SEPTEMBER 4

New Delhi

4-6

New Delhi

Mumbai

6-8 9 11

Goa Mumbai Mumbai

11-13

New Delhi

12-14

Kochi

12-14

Beijing

New Delhi

14-16 14-16 18-21 19-20

Pune Mumbai Paris Birmingham

19-22 20-23

Moscow Tokyo

21-23 25-28 26-27 26-28 27-29 27-30

New Delhi Philippines Germany Kazakhstan Poland Kerala

ATOUT for France’s B2B Workshop HAI’s “Managing the Training Function” ATOUT for France’s B2B Workshop 47th FHRAI Annual Convention Travel and Tourism Fair US Travel Association India Mission’s B2B Tabletop Workshop HAI’s “Hotel Opening: Soft & Grand” Emerging Kerala Global Connect The China Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition US Travel Association India Mission’s B2B Tabletop Workshop Travel and Tourism Fair India International Travel Mart Top Resa International Group Leisure & Travel Show Luxury Leisure Jata Congress & World Travel Fair India International Travel Mart PATA Travel Mart Business Travel Show Astana Leisure TT Warsaw Tour & Travel Kerala Travel Mart

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

Nine out of ten airlines are planning to sell tickets via mobile phones by 2015, establishing mobile as the mainstream distribution channel for airline tickets. Growing from zero just a few years ago, mobile phones as a distribution channel are expected to generate signiﬁcant growth in the years to come. and generate revenue. This is the second year that mobile services for passengers top the list of investment programmes,” says Francesco Violante, CEO, SITA.

T T B U R E AU

irlines are clear about the importance of mobile phones to communicate with passengers and enabling them to purchase tickets and ancillary services, track baggage and a number of other functions. Mobile devices and social media are seen as key enablers in airlines’ drive towards greater personalisation of service. Around 93 per cent of airlines have mobile services as a top investment priority for passengers over the next three years, with 58 per cent investing in major mobile programmes. 90 per cent of the airlines plan to sell via mobile phones by 2015, says a recent Airline IT Trends Survey, 2012. Airlines are focussing on IT investments in the key areas of improving passenger service, reducing cost of business operations and revenue generation. But the real transformation is not just in area of sales; airlines are using mobile apps right across their business. Half of the airlines have already implemented mobile services for flight search and check-in with close to half also providing boarding passes, ticket

Francesco Violante CEO SITA

Mobile apps are being used to improve passenger experience, reduce operating costs and generate revenue purchase and flight status notifications. “This year’s survey shows how airlines are committed to mobile services across the whole business. Mobile apps are being used to improve passenger experience, reduce operating costs

70 per cent airlines believe that smart phones will be one of the top two dominant sales channels. Airlines are continuing to expand their ticket distribution through direct channels. Emerging sales channels such as mobile and social media will have a significant impact on the future growth of direct sales. Airlines believe that smart phones can support most, if not all, customer facing interactions including customer service, commerce, in-flight entertainment and passenger processing. Social media will feature most strongly in promoting services and supporting customer service according to the survey. Some 57 per cent airlines believe social media can play a significant role in promoting sales with 39 per cent stressing its value in customer services. Four out of ten airline brands promote flights

ICTP welcomes more members After announcing three destination members in India, the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is now looking out for more members in the country. The council helps the member destinations and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities, including tools and resources, access to funding, education and marketing support. Additionally, members get benefits like global networking, global PR and visibility, assistance and help of partner associations and media mem-

Greener Pasture Officially launched at World Travel Mart, London in November 2011 with six founding members, ICTP aimed to add 20 members a year, but instead has successfully registered over 250 members in just seven months

bers, knowledge sharing on issues relevant to the growth of tourism in a responsible manner and co-operate with other stakeholders worldwide. Launched in November 2011, the council has over

it would be a good opportunity for ICTP to assist. With growing concerns of stakeholders for the environment, we are hoping to attract many new members from India, as it is one of the

India has the highest potential both as an inbound and outbound destination Juergen T Steinmetz, Chairman, ICTP 251 members worldwide and five members in India. Talking about India as a market, Juergen T Steinmetz, Chairman, ICTP said, “India has the highest potential both as an inbound and outbound destination. This market is growing aggressively in both ways and to further boost the growth in a responsible manner environmentally,

most important destinations for us. We have five members in India, including three destinations: Gujarat Tourism Opportunity Limited, Hyderabad Convention Visitors Bureau and Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. We still don’t have any academy or board members in India, but we are positive to have one soon.”

via social media already and almost 90 per cent plan to do so by 2015. Both social media and mobiles open the door for a more personalised service and 78 per cent of airlines in this year’s survey already have or plan to, personalise sales offerings via their direct channels. The results this year show an absolute commitment from the airlines to a mobile future.

Gung Ho Over Mobiles Ninety-three per cent of airlines have mobile services as a top investment priority for passengers over the next three years, with 58 per cent investing in major mobile programmes. Ninety per cent of the airlines plan to sell via mobile phones by 2015, says a recent Airline IT Trends Survey, 2012 Some 57 per cent of airlines believe social media can play a significant role in promoting sales with 39 per cent stressing its value in customer service

Railway’s June revenue up by 23.16% The total approximate earnings of Indian Railways on originating basis during the period from June 11-20, 2012 was ` 3281.74 crore compared to ` 2664.59 crore during the same period last year, registering an increase of 23.16%. The total goods earning has gone up from ` 1800.83 crore during the period from June 1120, 2011 to ` 2330.99 crore during June 11-20, 2012. The total passenger revenue earnings from June 11-20, 2012 was ` 835.00 crore compared to ` 756.92 crore during the same period last year, reflecting an increase of 10.32%. The revenue earnings from other coaching amounted to ` 81.16 crore during this period compared to ` 71.29 crore during the same period last year. The total approximate number of passengers booked during the period June 11-20, 2012 was 254.76 million compared to 232.49 million during the same period last year.

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JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

OPPORTUNITY

CLIPBOARD

JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

TRAVTALK

52 TRAVTALK

MOVEMENTS

JULY 2 ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012

Courtyard by Marriott Chennai

InterContinental Hotels Group Gurgaon

Hyatt Regency Mumbai Mumbai

Rejin Thomas is the new Director of Sales for Courtyard by

Chirodeep Chakraborty is the new Key Accounts Manager

Marriott. In his present profile, Thomas will be responsible for revenue generation for the hotel, be in charge of the rooms and banquets and also take care of the reservation covers for the day. He started his career with The Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts and was a part of the group for 5yrs. Followed by this, he had a successful stint with Hyderabad Marriott Hotel and Convention Centre / Courtyard by Marriott, Hyderabad.

Sanjeev Advani joins Hyatt Regency Mumbai as the new Director

– South West Asia for InterContinental Hotels Group. In his last assignment, he was associated with The Crowne Plaza Okhla in Delhi as a Sales Manager. He was a part of the hotel since the opening of the property and played an instrumental role in taking care of the Travel Trade Business. Prior to joining IHG, he has worked with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he was involved with different kind of roles with The Westin Mumbai.

of Sales and Marketing. He brings over 18 years of rich experience from the hospitality industry. Advani started his career with Hotel Leela Venture, Mumbai in October 1992 and thereafter worked with Oberoi Group of Hotels & Resorts, Mumbai. He joined Grand Hyatt Mumbai in June 2007 and later moved back to Oberoi Group of Hotels & Resorts in Bengaluru in June 2008 and was promoted as the Director of Sales & Marketing for Oberoi Group of Hotels & Resorts in Mumbai in July 2009.

PATA Bangkok

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Hyderabad Banjara Hills Hyderabad

Sheila Leong has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for PATA. A Singaporean national and a PATA staff member since 1998, Leong assumes the newly introduced position to consolidate all operational activities. All the Regional Directors and representatives will report to her. Before joining PATA, She established her travel and tourism event management skills and contacts working with Franco-Asia Travel, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort and Reed Exhibitions.

Neha Mishra joins the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Hyderabad

Sophia Sumitran has been appointed as the Executive

Banjara Hills as the Marketing & Communications Manager. She is specialised in Marketing with more than 5 years of experience in the fields of Events Management, Sales & Marketing. In her current position, she will focus on strategic planning and the execution of marketing communication of the property. Mishra started her career with an events management firm in Lucknow and moved to Corporate Sales with Amalgamated Bean Coffee trading Company Bangalore (Coffee Day Beverages).

Assistant Manager of Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Hyderabad Banjara Hills. She brings over 18 years of comprehensive knowledge from the hospitality industry. In her present profile, she will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the property. Having been on the expat trail for over 9 years, Sumitran has worked in various parts of the world and has a folio of working with brands like Starwood, Le Royal Meridien, Raffles, Marriott and Radisson.

TripAdvisor New Delhi

MakeMyTrip New Delhi

Deepesh Saxena has been appointed as the Territory Manager, Business Listings for TripAdvisor in India. In this role, he will oversee the India region of the company for Business, including TripAdvisor Business Listings. He will be responsible for building brand awareness and engaging hoteliers throughout the region to maximise their potential through a better understanding of the Brand’s product. Prior to this, he was with Yatra.com as the National Head of Sales, heading up Hotel Sales and Contracting.

Sanket Atal has taken over as Chief Technology Officer at MakeMyTrip. He was previously working as Senior Vice President & General Manager for the India Technology Center of CA Technologies in Hyderabad. He started his career developing a parallel Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) at Informix Software. Atal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science & Mathematics from Cornell University and MS in Computer Science from University of Wisconsin Madison with an MBA from University of Oregon.

Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel Mumbai James (Joo Kiang NG) has joined Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel as the new Chinese Executive Chef at Emperor’s Court. James joins the hotel from JW Marriott Bangkok where he was the Executive Chinese Chef for two years. Prior to joining Marriott hotels he had lent his expertise to hotels like Shangri-La Hotel, New Delhi and Beijing. He comes with 40 years of experience in Chinese cuisine and has worked in many countries across the globe.

Christie Hicks, Senior Vice President – Global Sales, Starwood Hotels & Resorts

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

Christie Hicks

Glen Agustin, Head, Team India, Department of Tourism, Philippines, likes to read. “Most of the times, you’ll find me glued to a pocket book reading books based on science or fiction. I have been married to Catherine for 16 years and tourism flows in our family. Our children - Nicole, 15 and Arphiel, 12 - also loves to travel.” Glen Agustin Head, Team India, Department of Tourism, Philippines

Agustin strongly believes in the saying, ‘ad majorem dei gloriam’, which means whatever role almighty has assigned to us, we should conduct in the best possible manner.

Senior Vice President – Global Sales, Starwood Hotels & Resorts

has a passion to travel across the world. “I have a small gang of friends and we travel a lot to different places whenever we get time. This is my second visit to India and I love this place already,” she says. She went on a recent trip to Costa Rica and absolutely loved it. “One of the most interesting places in the world that I have travelled to is Egypt. There is so much of antiquity and beauty in that country.” However, what rules the travel chart for Hicks is Italy. Talking about her big plans this year, she reveals, “I am headed to Italy this November. Tuscany is what enchants me the most and I am too eager to venture in the winters in Italy.” Cooking is another pastime that keeps Hicks occupied. “Cooking is a huge stress buster for me. However, as I am a cook and not really a chef, my dishes might not be too attractive to look at but they always taste good.”

Hanneli Slabber, Country Manager, South African Tourism, loves to read thriller spy, detective and crime stories. “I like music and love to cook Indian cuisine. Presently, am taking lessons to be able to cook a perfect Biryani. In India, I live with my Husband, who is an economist and 10 year old son- Conner,” says Slabber. “I remember that prior to my taking up the present assignment in India, I had shortlisted some 31 places as must visit in India. Today, after having visited Delhi, Jaipur, Kerala, Chennai, Puduchhery and a host of other Indian destinations, I reckon that the list of must see places has grown five fold to about 157 attractions,” she adds. As per the present plans, she is inclined to pay a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, when on next break.

Hanneli Slabber Country Manager South African Tourism

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:14-07-2012

HIGHLIGHT

It’s fun for ‘groups’ in the Philippines In a candid discussion with , Glen Agustin, Head - Team India, Department of Tourism, Philippines, highlights how the destination is geared up to offer a memorable experience to Indian group travellers. VIVEK SETHI

American, UK, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Japanese or Singaporean passport. In the long run, we are working on enticing private Indian air-carriers to explore connecting Manila and other strategic tourist attractions in the Philippines with a host of Indian cities

he Philippines, composed of 7,107 islands, is readily accessible and offers countless travel attractions that create a memorable travel experience. The country is blessed with tropical islands, beaches, lakes, rivers, lush forests and hospitable people, who always look forward to welcome visitors. Also, Philippines in its recent marketing campaign focussed on bringing out the ‘fun’ element, which is deeply imbued in all its travel attractions. It has also announced a visa fee waiver for the nationals of seven countries. “The ‘fun’ element has been missing in all the leading destinations that compete with us. Hence, we have launched a new campaign, based on fun - ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’. Under the leadership of our present President, who is adamant about change, we are working fast on uplifting infrastructure facilities and quality of services in the short run so as to make our destination even more attractive and pleasant. Going forward, our objective is to raise the bar even higher,” said Glen Agustin, Head Team India, Department of Tourism, Philippines.

top five markets in general are Korea, USA, Japan, China and Australia for Philippines.” “Our growing focus is on facilitating group travel, as the FIT segment has started showing continuous growth. We have also got a commitment for additional

Glen Agustin Head - Team India Department of Tourism, Philippines

The USP of our destination from the Indian perspective are: a large English speaking population, close foreign exchange parity and shopping amenities to name a few “On the visa front, we recently announced ‘Zero Visa Fee’ for up to 14 days for tourists with a valid

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park lies in the Saint Paul Mountain Range. The Subterranean River is said to be among the longest in the world, measuring up to 8.2 kilometres

Fun in the Philippines

that offer immense potential,” he added. The Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world. Surrounded by ultra-modern skyscrapers, the capital city of Manila is the heart of Philippines. It had served as the centre of Spanish military might and was transformed into a cosmopolitan city, when it ceded to the United States in the late 19th century. Further talking about Indian arrivals, Agustin said, “In the year 2011, Philippines welcomed over 42,844 Indian visitors. In 2012, we expect the Indian arrivals to grow by 50 per cent to touch 60,000 Indian tourist arrivals. Overall, it received 3.5 million foreign tourists in 2011 and has set its eyes on attaining 4.2 million foreign tourists in 2012. The

funds from the government that will be deployed to hand hold agents and promote joint promotions,” he added. “The USP of our destination from the Indian perspective are; a large English speaking population, close foreign exchange parity and shopping amenities to name a few,” he informed.

Showcasing Philippines Recently, the Department of Tourism showcased the underground river at Palawan that has been pitched as the seventh wonder of the world and the Boracay Island, which is blessed with white sand, picturesque surroundings, amazing nightlife and best of water sport activities along with the metropolitan Manila