Express Travelworld (Vol.10, No.11) December, 2015 by Indian Express

CONTENTS MANAGEMENT Vol 10 No 11 DECEMBER 2015 Pages 40

Chairman of the Board

Viveck Goenka Sr Vice President - BPD

Neil Viegas Editor

Reema Lokesh* Chief of Product

Prabhas Jha Assistant Editor

Steena Joy ONE FINE LUXURIOUS SUNDAY WITH A VISION TO MAKE LUXURY TRAVEL AFFORDABLE AND FLEXIBLE FOR INDIAN TRAVELLERS, JYOT AND PURVI JHAVERI SET INTO MOTION THE SUNDAY STORY. THE COMPANY AIMS TO POSITION SUNDAY PURE HOLIDAYS AS A LUXURY TRAVEL BRAND

Sr. Associate Editor

Sudipta Dev CONTENT TEAM Mumbai

Kahini Chakraborty Rituparna Chatterjee Kolkata

Joy Roy Choudhury DESIGN National Art Director

Bivash Barua Deputy Art Director

Surajit Patro Chief Designer

Pravin Temble Senior Graphic Designerr

Rushikesh Konka Senior Artist

Ratilal Ladani, Kiran Parker SCHEDULING & COORDINATION

Ashish Anchan Photo Editor

Sandeep Patil

WHITE GOLD From winter sports to traditional Christmas events, destinations across the world are offering an expansive range of winter tourism products and the travel trade can tap this goldmine to leverage on its immense popularityamong Indian travellers (18-21)

EDGE

EXPLORING AN INDIGENOUS HERITAGE THE INDIGENOUS CULTURE, CUISINE AND TRADITIONS OF THE EIGHT STATES OF NORTH EAST INDIA ARE UNIQUE TOURISM OFFERINGS OF THE REGION TO THE NEW AGE TRAVELLER

MARKETING Regional Heads

Harit Mohanty - East & West Prabhas Jha - North Dr. Raghu Pillai - South

MARKETS

Marketing Team

Baljinder Singh Ajanta Sengupta Mathen Mathew Ravindra Pawar

MEGHALAYA GOVT TO POSITION STATE AS HIGH-END GLOBAL DESTINATION

CONSULATE GENERAL OF ITALY, MUMBAI ISSUES 200-250 VISAS FOR WINE TOURISM EVERY YEAR

LIFE

CIRCULATION

Mohan Varadakar PRODUCTION

BULGARIA TO ORGANISE ROUND TABLE FOR TOURISM IN 2016

GENTING HONG KONG LAUNCHES PREMIUM CRUISE BRAND – DREAM CRUISES

TIGERAIR CONNECTS UP PASSENGERS TO SINGAPORE AND BEYOND

SKAL HYDERABAD AIMS TO SHOWCASE TELANGANA AT SKAL WORLD CONGRESS 2017

General Manager

B R Tipnis

Manager

Bhadresh Valia Express TravelWorld® Reg. No.-MH/MR/SOUTH156\2013-15 RNI Reg. No.MAHENG/2005/15993 Printed by The Indian Express (P) Ltd. and published by Ms Vaidehi Thakar on behalf of The Indian Express Press, Plot No. EL-208, TTC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai - 400710 and Published from Express Towers, 2nd Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400021. (Editorial & Administra-tive Offices: Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021)

P04: EDITOR’S NOTE P34 : APPOINTMENTS P36 : WEEKEND

A DIFFERENT CALLING HAILING FROM A RAJPUT FAMILY WITH AN ARMY BACKGROUND, BHIM SINGH ASPIRED TO BECOME A SCIENTIST. BUT FATE HAD OTHER PLANS. TODAY, HE IS A VISIONARY IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY AND AS THE FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN, RAJASTHAN TOURS, SINGH IS STILL ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT PROMOTING RAJASTHAN'S TOURISM

Copyright © 2015 The Indian Express (P) Ltd. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. *Responsible for selection of news under PRB Act

EDITOR’S NOTE

A time for new beginnings

t is that time of the year when there seems to be a natural feeling of happiness in the air. December brings with it a certain element of joy and celebration across the world and everyone surely gets back to making those solemn resolutions to welcome 2016 with a re-energised disposition. My recent visit to the land of Gross National Happiness, Bhutan, was in a way an eye opener. It is a land amidst the mountains that looks reasonably content and at peace with itself and the surroundings. Pitched as a high end niche tourism destination, the country aims at preserving its uniqueness by placing a certain restriction in the form of tourism tax on foreign nationals (India and now other SAARC countries are exempted). The objective is to activate some control on the carrying capacity of the region. India may not want to follow its SAARC neighbour's example with respect to tourism tax, but it can surely place in no uncertain terms, definite rules to address the issue of carrying capacity into the mountains and other eco tourism sensitive zones. India has the best to offer to the world; all we need is the authorities to implement real time tourism programmes that are meaningful and measurable. In this issue, Dr Mukul Sangma, Meghalaya's chief minister states in his interview that for a small state like their's they are

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December 2015

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“India may not want to follow its SAARC neighbour's example with respect to tourism tax,but it can surely place in no uncertain terms,definite rules to address the issue of carrying capacity” Vill & PO- Ankurhati P.S.- Domjur (Nr.Ankurhati Check Bus Stop), Dist. Howrah- 711 409 Mobile: +91 9831182580 Email id: ajanta.sengupta@expressindia.com KOCHI The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Ground Floor, Sankoorikal Building, Kaloor – Kadavanthra Road Kaloor, Kochi – 682 017 COIMBATORE The Indian Express (P) Ltd. No. 205-B, 2nd Floor, Vivekanand Road, Opp. Rajarathinam Hospital Ram Nagar, Coimbatore- 641 009 AHMEDABAD Nirav Mistry The Indian Express (P) Ltd. 3rd Floor, Sambhav House, Near Judges Bunglows, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad - 380 015 Mobile: +91 9586424033

aiming to bring in high end clientele. Involvement of the local community and training them right to deal with high end tourism is their focus. 2016 cannot afford to be just another year of promises without action on the ground. Effective skills development is the need of the hour for quality tourism in the country and grassroots mobilisation will go a long way in building the much needed sustainable tourism programme. Further, our cover story this issue is unique in every way. This last issue of 2015 takes you into regions far and wide that celebrate winter sports and winter tourism delights. The travel trade can tap this goldmine to leverage on its immense popularity among Indian travellers. From Christmas markets in Austria to dog sledding competitions in Alaska, from skiing in Auli to watching the colourful Aurora Bourealis (Northern Lights) in Norway, the attractions are many and varied for those opting for a holiday in sub-zero environs, both in India and overseas. On a note of positivity, we wish all our readers and associates a peaceful and progressive 2016. REEMA LOKESH Editor editorial.etw@expressindia.com

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IN THE NEWS

Meghalaya Govt to position state as high-end global destination Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma looks at engaging local communities in tourism initiatives Sudipta Dev Shillong THE GOVERNMENT of Meghalaya is making concerted efforts to position and promote the state as a highend global tourism destination. Increase in tourist numbers is not the primary aim, the focus is on attracting upscale leisure and MICE visitors. In an interaction with Express TravelWorld, Dr Mukul Sangma, chief minister, Meghalaya affirmed, “For a small state like ours, with a population that is not too huge, we subscribe to the idea of focusing and looking at not too heavy footfall but high-end visitors. I look at coming together of people of the North East to promote the whole region as a global destination and offer visitors diverse products." According to him, hosting an event like the recently organised Indigenous Terra Madre that brought delegates from almost 60 countries, was an excellent opportunity to reach out to a global audience who will connect to the rest of the world through word of mouth and social media about their experiences and the potentialities in the state. Dr Sangma acknowledged that his government is looking at engaging potential stakeholders who are willing to participate in the tourism agenda. “We need to take simultaneous action of getting people motivated so that they are happy to participate in the sector. What was seen as impossible about five-10 years back by the people of the state, now seems possible,” said Dr Sangma, adding that recently the first edition of NH7 (which attracted more than 13,000 people the first day) was organised away from the hustle, bustle of the city. “The whole idea was to

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Dr Mukul Sangma

penetrate the rural areas and make people realise how the communities can leverage on this kind of an event and get economic benefit. That gives them an opportunity to understand the potentiality of the hospitality sector. The local youth and women were involved so the organisers understood the need to engage residents from different walks of life,” he mentioned. Promotion of rural tourism and eco tourism are among the key focus areas. “We have also been investing substantial money to build that kind of infrastructure to promote eco tourism with communities and that has been an immense success story,” he said adding that more communities are now willing to come forward and participate. The state government has a programme supporting homestays and eco resorts. One of the challenges has been room inventory and halls for conferences. Dr Sangma pointed out that recently a state convention centre was inaugurated. The `150 crore

In the organised sector, to attract investment in hospitality, the most important component is to create a land bank at appropriate locations Shillong International Centre for Performing Arts is also coming up to position the city as the destination for events in the region. The government is also developing land banks for attracting hotel investors. “In the organised sector, to attract investment in hospitality, the most important component is to create a land bank at appropriate locations. We are looking at certain locations which are ideal for high end hotels to be located. This exercise is on,” informed Dr Sangma. The state government has had initial engagement with potential partners from the hospitality sector. “The locations being looked at are away from the hustle and bustle of city, in picturesque places where multiple products (like golf resorts) can be developed,” stated Dr Sangma, adding that the state does not have too many government properties (managed by Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation) and is not looking at marketing brownfield projects.

FHW Mumbai to roll out in January 2016 ETW Staff Mumbai THE 27TH EDITION of Food Hospitality World (FHW) will be held on January 21-23, 2016 at Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. Some of the exhibitors already registered for the exhibition include Samarth Cookware, Vsilover Hotel Wares, AV&T Hospitality Solutions, Sun Mark, The Coffee Co, Venus, Gilly, Raunak Kitchen Equipment, Shree Manek, Alliance Laundry System, King Metal Works, Chheda Industries and many more. Prior to this exhibition, in a new milestone, FHW opened its doors for the first time in Goa. The 26th edition of FHW exhibition was held at Dayanand B Bandodkar Ground, Campal, Panaji from September 29October 1, 2015. The three day exhibition was inaugurated by Chef Hemant Oberoi, consultant, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL). Speaking about the exhibition, Chef Oberoi said, “This exhibition is a good platform for the hospitality industry. I met a lot of suppliers, some of whom I already know. Exhibitions like Food Hospitality World exposes a market like Goa to various business opportunities.” The FHW Goa event also witnessed the launch of an exclusive coffee table book titled ‘Famous Flavours of Goa’ featuring Goan recipes by well known chefs in the industry. Dignitaries present during the book launch were Chef Sunit Sharma, executive chef, Cidade de Goa; Chef Manjit Singh, executive chef, Holiday Inn Resort Goa; Chef Surajit Sarkar, senior sous chef, The O Resort & Spa, Goa; Chef K S Mahesh, executive chef, Radisson Blu Resort Goa Cavelossim Beach; Chef Edia Cotta, Goan specialty chef at Spice Studio, Alila Diwa Goa; and Chef Farooq Baig, executive chef, The Zuri White Sands, Goa Resort & Casino. The FHW trade show is organised by Global Fairs & Media – a joint venture between Hannover Milano Fairs India and The Indian Express.

IN THE NEWS FUTURE NEXT / BENAZIR NAZAR CEO, AKBAR HOLIDAYS MY SUCCESS MANTRA Hard work, determination and believing in your instinct and positivity.

MY BIGGEST LEARNING Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something. Dreams do not have an expiration date, take a deep breath and try again.

MY FIRST MILESTONE Starting off a division with a team of 15 people with a turnover of `one crore and within five years extending our horizon globally to a team of 250 and an annual turnover of `250 crore.

of Akbar Group), who has taught that success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty and persistence.

MY STRESSBUSTER Shopping and reading.

MY FAVOURITE MANAGEMENT BOOK Barbarians At The Gate, and Zero to One by Peter Theil.

MY DREAM DESTINATION South of France, Maldives and Finland.

USP OFAKBAR HOLIDAYS MY INSPIRATION IN LIFE My father, K VAbdul Nazar (CMD

It is the most affordable and creates memoirs of every

holiday, provides personalised services and assistance and is there for you 24x7.

VISION FOR MY COMPANY Sell new and offbeat destinations and introduce special holiday packages like food and wine trail holidays to Italy,Yacht Week, Burning Man, and Tomorrow Land.

MYADVICE TO GEN-NEXT Believe in yourself, take up your challenges, dig deep within yourself to conquer fears, prove yourself and kick the word impossible from your system. (As told to Rituparna Chatterjee)

Benazir Nazar

IN THE NEWS

Bulgaria to organise round table for tourism in 2016 Sudipta Dev Mumbai THE RECENT VISIT of Nikolina Angelkova, minister of tourism, Republic of Bulgaria was successful in creating awareness about the destination and its varied products in the India market. Angelkova is the first tourism minister in the newly formed ministry. In 2016, Bulgaria will be organising a round table and invite the Indian tourism minister, the travel trade industry, media, and other key players. Angelkova mentioned that the most interesting fact is that her country has managed to attract the attention of Bollywood which, she believes, is the most powerful marketing tool for the

India market. “We have hosted three movies, including the soon to be released Dilwale. We are happy that we managed to convince Bollywood producers to shoot in Bulgaria and give them the right environment,” she said, adding that, she considers Ajay Devgan to be a friend of Bulgaria. “Next year he is going to shoot more movies in Bulgaria. I met Shah Rukh Khan and discussed other possibilities. We are receiving a huge support from them and are supporting them also to comfortably shoot in our country. We hope it will be a long lasting relationship,” said Angelkova. Similar to the video campaign that Bulgaria has launched with Hollywood bigwigs, a campaign will be

Nikolina Angelkova

launched with Bollywood stars for the India market. In terms of value for money, Bulgaria is in top 10 position for winter resorts and ranks number six for summer resorts. The minister pointed out that it is much cheaper than France, Austria, Turkey, Greece and many other European destinations. “Bulgaria is real value for money for mid market and high-end hotels. Most of four / five star hotels are located in cultural and historical buildings, and when you enter these hotels you can feel the history dated back in time,” she stated, adding that she is hopeful of attracting luxury hotel investments and had a meeting with the Tata Group regarding this. For a country that has a pop-

ulation of 7.3 million citizens, it attracts almost an equal number of tourists. Acknowledging that there is lack of awareness about Bulgaria in the India market, Angelkova said, “We want to show that Bulgaria is an undiscovered treasure that needs to be visited and unveiled. We have so much to offer the year around - from skiing in winters to water sports in summer, culture to spa and wellness, gourmet, MICE, eco rural tourism, golf. We are blessed to have everything in our small land.” Bulgaria that is currently offering combined touristic products with Romania, is preparing common cultural products with Turkey and Greece for long distance markets like India.

Aviation stakeholders meet to ensure sustainable growth of airports ETW Staff Mumbai AIRPORTS COUNCIL International’s (ACI) Economic Oversight and Regulation Conference in Delhi, organised in cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), kicked off on December 2 with pre-conference seminars covering the fundamentals of economic oversight and regulation, ICAO’s policies on charges for airports and air navigation service providers, and publicprivate partnerships (PPPs). Delegates heard Dr Fang Liu, secretary general of ICAO, and Angela Gittens, director general of ACI World speak at the conference opening on the importance of the event for airports in India and worldwide; the forecast growth in passenger num-

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bers over the next 15 years; and the resultant need for a transparent and light-touch regulatory regime that encourages private investment in airports. “A modern, liberalised aviation system is not only ‘young’ in India, but is also maturing worldwide,” noted Angela Gittens in her opening address. “In the US, it was just 37 years ago that the Airline Deregulation Act was passed, beginning the wave of airline deregulation that quickly spread across much of this globalised industry. Accompanied by liberalisation of air traffic rights, improvements in aircraft technology and growing economies and middle classes, the conditions were present for today’s vibrant and worldwide interconnected aviation industry." “In contrast, many airports

In the US, it was just 37 years ago that the Airline Deregulation Act was passed, beginning the wave of airline deregulation that quickly spread across much of this globalised industry are still subject to haphazard and heavy-handed regulation that is administratively burdensome and unnecessarily costly,” Gittens said, adding, “Empowering public and private airports to be more commercially oriented is the next step in building a successful industry. We need to take this step.” “It is essential that states prepare today to reap the full

benefits of growth in the years ahead,” stressed Dr Liu in her keynote address. “Financing airport infrastructure is difficult for some states and poses potential risks to the sustainable economic development of their air transport sectors. The aviation industry has the ability to make substantial progress towards implementing United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal

9, particularly Target 9.1, which calls for the development of infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. It is almost certain that challenges will continue to exist, but none that cannot be overcome through concerted dialogue, partnership and action,” she added. Topics to be discussed over the remaining day and a half of the conference include the views of stakeholders regarding economic oversight and regulation, assessing the benefits and limitations of airport economic oversight and regulation, the international regulatory experience from the perspective of public and privatised airports, and the challenge of financing aeronautical infrastructure.

AVIATION

Tigerair connects UP passengers to Singapore and beyond Sudipta Dev Mumbai SINGAPORE-BASED budget carrier, Tigerair, that has just launched direct flights between Lucknow and Singapore is looking at providing hassle-free connectivity to passengers from Uttar Pradesh to Singapore and other international destinations. Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Teh Yik Chuan, director, sales and marketing, Tigerair said, “After establishing our base in the south, we were keen on expanding our network in India due to the tremendous potential and opportunities available in the Indian aviation market. We studied the potential and the demand across various markets in India and arrived at the decision that Lucknow is a relatively untapped market with immense travel demand.” According to Chuan, choosing Lucknow as the next destination is a win-win for the airline as well as for the trav-

ellers from UP. “Moreover, we are the first airline to launch direct service between the two destinations, which will ensure hassle-free travel to them instead of travelling to nearest metro,” he added. The top priority for the airline, mentioned Chuan, is to firmly establish its footprint in Lucknow-Singapore market and also further strengthen its presence in other existing markets – Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru,

Tiruchirappalli and Kochi. “We have also expanded our network across Asia Pacific such that Indian passengers can also take advantage of our expanding network. Currently Tigerair connects to over 39 destinations across 12 countries in Asia Pacific. After transiting in Singapore, they can connect to popular destinations such as Sydney, Bali, Hong Kong, etc either with Tigerair or one of our interline partners such as

Scoot,” said Chuan. Pointing out that Indian travellers are increasingly using Tigerair for onward journeys, Chuan mentioned, “In addition to our own flight, we also offer connectivity on our partner airline Scoot to Australia and Cebu Pacific to the Philippines.” Tigerconnect is an add-on product that offers seamless transfer facility for Indian travellers to travel beyond Singapore without the need to clear immigration or

Teh Yik Chuan

retrieve baggage. “This service aims at paving the way for international journey for our travellers. Our Tigerair mobile application is highly userfriendly and enables customers to easily search for the best flight deals, book tickets, select seats, and store their personal information securely to speed up future bookings,” stated Chuan.

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IN THE NEWS

Fjords, Northern Lights draw Indians to Norway Sudipta Dev Mumbai NORWAY THAT is still an unexplored destination for most Indian global travellers, has interestingly been witnessing about 45 per cent growth from this market. The greatest attractions in Norway are the Norwegian fjords in the summers and the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) in the winter months. “The fjords are unique. These can be explored year-long, but in winter time because of snow, it is a bit complicated to travel. To see Aurora Borealis one has to go to the northern part of Norway. The Northern Lights are visible from October to end of March,” said Per Holte, market director tourism, Asia and New Markets, Innovation Norway. North

Cape is the northern most point in Europe, next stop is the North Pole. Holte believes that Indian travellers are curious about the Northern Lights and the number of winter travellers has been growing in recent times. There are four-five tour operators who feature it in their programme. “If you stay two-three nights, there is 90 per cent guarantee that the Northern Lights will be visible. However the sky has to be clear,” he said. Pointing out that because Norway lies on the Atlantic Coast, hence it is not so cold like Sweden and Finland, Holte stated, “The Gulf Stream makes it warmer. By the coast it can be zero to minus five degrees but if you come inland it can be minus 20 to minus 25 degrees. Norway mostly has four-

star hotels, though there are a few five-star properties. A big country of only five million people, Holte acknowledged that Indian travellers appreciate the beauty of the land, its silence, fresh air, and of course the sea food. “They also like to do shop-

ping, we have quite a few shopping areas and many international brands. Since last year the Norwegian currency has been very low, compared to what it used to be so it is a value for money destination. It is about 20 to 30 per cent

cheaper than last year,” he stated. In terms of flight connectivity the quickest option from India is Finnair from Delhi to Helsinki. Emirates and Qatar Airways also have direct connections to Oslo.

Consulate General of Italy,Mumbai issues 200-250 visas for wine tourism every year Italy witnesses 10-15 Indian weddings every year Rituparna Chatterjee Mumbai ACCORDING TO a report by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), the global wine production is estimated to have increased by two per cent in 2015 with Italy once again being named as the world’s biggest producer having increased its volumes by 10 per cent. Because of this reputation of being the world’s biggest wine producer, Italy has been receiving an increasing interest for wine tourism from India. For

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Ugo Ciarlatani

instance, the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai has been issuing 200-250 visas only for

wine tourism every year. Elaborating on this trend, Ugo Ciarlatani, consul general, Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai stated, “The quality of wines in Italy has improved over the years as compared to what they were 40-50 years ago. We have been issuing around 200-250 visas only for wine tourism every year. Though this number represents less than one per cent of around 60,000 visas issued by us annually, it is still significant in a market like India and is growing steadily.” The high-end segment (usu-

ally groups of 20-25 pax) are opting for the wine tourism experience in Italy. Tuscany is the most preferred region followed by Florence. “Many new wine regions are also being discovered like Piedmont. I have also seen some trips being organised to Sicily and Puglia. Every year people are opting for a different wine region and are staying mostly in bed and breakfast vineyards. Because of this demand, now every restaurant in Italy is serving Italian wines,” added Ciarlatani. In addition, Italy (especially

Tuscany) is also witnessing an increasing number of Indian weddings because of its wine and shopping experience, rich culture, the Ferrari and Lamborghini factories, among others. He opined, “We had our first big Indian wedding in Puglia two years ago. Since then we have been witnessing 10-15 weddings per year. We are also having an Indian wedding at the end of November where 700 guests are expected. Post the wedding, the guests will be going to the Marchesi di Barolo wine cellars.”

IN THE NEWS

Genting Hong Kong launches premium cruise brand – Dream Cruises Rituparna Chatterjee Nansha GENTING HONG Kong, one of the leading global leisure, entertainment and hospitality corporations, has launched its premium cruise brand – Dream Cruises – targeting specifically the Asia market thereby further cementing its position in the Asia-Pacific region. The tentative date of sailing for Dream Cruises is November 2016. Dream Cruises will be the third cruise brand of Genting Hong Kong, the other two being – Star Cruises and Crystal Cruises. This announcement was made during the recent Chairman’s Cruise event held on SuperStar Virgo from November 6-8, 2015 as the cruise liner sailed from Nansha, China to Hong Kong and back. Making this an-

nouncement, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, chairman and CEO, Genting Hong Kong stated, “Dream Cruises will be Asia’s premium cruise brand. The ship will be bigger than SuperStar Virgo and the price point will be higher as well. We would finalise

the price point in January next year.” The itineraries of Dream Cruises will include a two night cruise (Pearl River Delta); a five night cruise (Vietnam and Sanya); and a seven night cruise (starting in Guangzhou/Nansha Port).

The ship will boast of 1700 staterooms accommodating 3400 lower berth guests; sectional meeting space; 35 restaurants and bars; various entertainment areas like Zodiac Theatre, Bowling Alley, Zouk, etc; outdoor adventures; relax-

ation and rejuvenation facilities like The Gentlemen’s Barber, Aeris Spa Cafe, etc, among others. The ship will also have the Genting Club, a boutique hotel within a hotel. The Genting Club will have 142 suites wherein guests would receive exclusive privileges, including priority access, special events, European butler service, among others. An investment of US$ one billion has been made for this cruise. Speaking about the target market for the Dream Cruises brand, Michael Goh, senior VP – sales, Star Cruises stated, “The major target market for Dream Cruises will be Asia. 40-50 per cent would be domestic clientele and the rest would be international comprising of Indian, European, American markets among others.”

Georgia witnesses 81% growth in Indian travellers Kahini Chakraborty Mumbai WITH AN AIM to create awareness about Georgia as a tourist destination in the India market, Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA) in collaboration with Air Arabia organised its first roadshow in New Delhi and Mumbai. Georgia witnessed a 81 per cent increase in Indian visitors in the first nine months of 2015. Speaking to Express TravelWorld on the sidelines of the roadshow in Mumbai, George Chogovadze, head, GNTA said, “India is one of the target markets for us. Despite the fact that the destination is lesser known in

George Chogovadze

the India market, we received approximately around 7000 Indian visitors from JanuarySeptember 2015. With an aim to establish our presence in

the India market, we have already started our marketing activities. And we will have our representation office in India by next year.” As part of their plans, Chogovadze informed that the destination will be targeting honeymoon, FITs, families, groups, MICE travellers from the India market. “Georgia has a variety of tourism products to offer, be it activities around mountains, seaside, vineyards, spa and wellness, culture and more. The destinations that will be promoted include Batumi, Tbilisi and Black Sea Coast. We are not only targeting high end luxury travellers but also the growing middle class segment.”

Last year Georgia received 5.5 million international visitors and this year GNTA is expecting to attract six million international visitors. He mentioned that Air Arabia has good flight connectivity via Sharjah to Georgia and similarly from other destinations as well. “Hence we have decided to promote Georgia as a tourism destination together as a combined product in the India market. Going forward, we will continue organising roadshows, seminars, FAM trips for the media and travel trade, in order to understand the destination better,” said Chogovadze. Elaborating on the hospitality offerings in Georgia,

Chogovadze informed, “Georgia has five-star to budget category hotels to cater to the needs of every type of traveller. Presently the average length of stay of Indian travellers in Georgia is four-five days, but we are hoping that with more awareness building activities in the India market, the length of stay will increase further.” The destination also has many investment opportunities, he said, adding that, Tata group has invested approximately US$ one billion in hydro electricity projects. With several Bollywood movies been shot in Georgia, GNTA is looking at attracting Bollywood tourism as well.

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IN THE NEWS

Lombok makes a mark in halal tourism Sudipta Dev Lombok LOMBOK, AN island in West Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia, recently won the World Halal Travel Awards for the best destination for halal tourism and also the best halal honeymoon destination. The major source markets currently include Australia, France and Germany. While the destination has a strong focus on attracting tourists from the Middle East, considering the significant number of Muslim populace in India, it is also looking at the India market. “India is a new market for us. When we talk of culture and religion, there are many Muslim people in India who would be interested to visit Lombok. The market segment is also not different from European market, so there is a lot to offer to Indian visitors,” said H Abdul Harris, spokesperson, Culture and Tourism Office of West Nusa Tenggara, adding that, in

Lombok has 3 big potential segments for tourism culture, nature and special interest 2016 they are looking at participating in a travel trade show in India. The largest city on the island is the capital Mataram. “Almost 60 per cent visiting Lombok are domestic tourists and 40 per cent are international travellers. Lombok has three big potential segments for tourism - culture, nature and special interest,” said Harris. MICE tourism facilities have also grown here in the last five years. While the island is pre-

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dominantly inhabited by Muslims, before the advent of Islam the inhabitants were primarily Hindus and Buddhists. There are still many historic Hindu temples like the Batu Bolong temple which is built on a rock. The destination is also home to people practising Wetu Telu, which is a mix of Islam, Hinduism and animism. Visitors can go to the Sasak village of Sade in Lombok, where people practicing Wetu Telu reside. They can take a walk around the village, buy local craft items and also watch a cultural performance. Sasak Traditional Tour is a combination of nature and culture including visit to museum, pottery making village, beach visit, etc. Mount Rinjani is an active volcano in Lombok, which is one of the major tourism attractions and a highlight of adventure tourism activities that the destination offers. Lombok is well connected with Bali - 35 minutes by flight and 3.5 hours by ferry.

Skal Hyderabad aims to showcase Telangana at Skal World Congress 2017 Reema Lokesh Secunderabad HYDERABAD HAS won the bid to host the 78th Skal World Congress 2017 (to be held from October 5 8, 2017) and Vijay Mohan Raj, president, Skal International Hyderabad, is keen to give the members of Skal worldwide an experience of the regions of Hyderabad and Telangana, and naturally India. The team has already identified pre and post tours of the regions as a showcase that includes wellness, architecture, beaches, wildlife, etc. “Our aim is to offer our delegates with a memorable Skal World Congress as we consider it to be a perfect platform to showcase India, Telangana and Hyderabad. There are 20,000 members across the globe from 85 countries who are a part of Skal. They are top players in the tourism space across the board. We hope to showcase the regions in the best possible way as it will be a perfect platform

Vijay Mohan Raj

to see and experience India. On a conservative note, I feel we will have at least 2000 members attending the event. We want to showcase India and the royalty associated especially with Hyderabad and its Nizam legacy,” stated Raj. The work has already begun with hospitality partners and venue partners in place. Leading hotels brands in Hyderabad have partnered for the same with Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) as the event venue. There will be business sessions and meetings along with other special highlights over the four day event.

IN THE NEWS

Spain Tourism bullish on Tier II Indian markets Sudipta Dev Mumbai SPAIN TOURISM has been focusing on the Tier II cities in India in recent years. The recent roadshow organised by the tourism board saw 11 key suppliers from Spain being taken to Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Colombo in Sri Lanka, before coming to the main markets in Delhi and Mumbai. Acknowledging that the destination has been receiving an encouraging response from many B towns in India, Ignacio Ducasse Gutierrez, director, Tourism Office of Spain – Mumbai, said, “We have seen a

lot of interest from smaller cities, also there has been a lot of interest from groups.” The focus areas are – the honeymoon segment, luxury, shopping, fly & drive, along with activity based tourism which had got a big boost following the success of 'Zindagi Na Milagi Dobara'. “Gastronomy and wines are other emerging areas,” added Gutierrez. A significant section of travellers from India are interested in football, Gutierrez mentioned, “Many people fly in just to watch a game. We also have DMCs who organise special programmes for them even for short trips. The packages are upscale. Even for those not

Ignacio Ducasse Gutierrez

watching a game, a visit to the iconic stadiums is an interesting experience.” The MICE segment is another key area with 35 per cent

of Indians applying for visas being group travellers. Pointing out that according to the last report by International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Spain ranked number three worldwide in the number of meetings. “Barcelona and Madrid were among the top five cities. This year we will have 68 million tourists, number three in arrivals (only after US and France). Our presence in India is not as big as it should be, however we see a lot of potential here,” stated Gutierrez. Informing that Spain Tourism will be sponsoring the first digital women's award in India, Gutierrez stated, “We

are launching a campaign on smart destinations for smart women.” In 2016, he is planning to introduce an online Spanish specialist programme for India. The programme was a big success in the US. Seminars are also being conducted for the travel trade and media. Though there are no direct flights from India to Spain, Turkish Airlines offers one of the best connectivities to Spain, with direct flights from Istanbul to six Spanish cities. “Emirates and Qatar also have good connectivity. European airlines like British Airways and Lufthansa fly direct to many Spanish cities,” added Gutierrez.

GNTO promotes smaller cities in India market Mohit Rathod Mumbai THE GERMAN National Tourist Organisation (GNTO) is promoting newer destinations such as Saxony and BadenBaden in the India market. Munich is the most preferred destination, followed by Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Cologne and Berlin in the India market. Speaking to Express TravelWorld on the sidelines of their annual roadshow held in Mumbai, Romit Theophilus, director, marketing and sales – India, German National Tourist Board, said, “This year, from January to August, we received a 10 per cent growth over the last year. We are hoping

to continue that till the end of the year. It has been a great year; we are going to touch close to 700,000 overnights from India to Germany. We are hoping that we retain our number one spot we have had for the last five years.” The roadshow also took place in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru. He further commented, “In 2014, we saw 5.6 per cent growth from India to Germany and until August 2015, we have already grown 10 per cent. We have crossed about 670,000 overnights until August. We do see a lot of interest towards leisure, Germany is known for trade fairs, etc, but we do see a lot of increase in interest in

terms of MICE, as well as leisure. We are seeing newer cities in Germany being recognised by the trade as well as travellers.” Kunal Kothari, executive director, Rail Europe India, said, “Last year we launched promotions in the September-October to influence people to travel in the off-season period when trains are also comparatively more available. Price wise also, it makes a lot of difference to the traveller, because of more seat availibility and it is also the lean season for hotels .” Mark Spivey, director, international sales, Maritim Hotels, said, “We will have a 7.5 per cent market share of Indian arrivals

We see the importance of the India market; that’s why we come here every year into Germany; we are at six per cent now. Of course, Modi staying with us helped greatly. We will bring more packages into

the family market. We have already devised a lot of strategies by having the Indian chef option.” Gian Semrau, market executive, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa, Air Berlin, said, “We have 200 per cent growth in revenue out of India for the last year. Especially during summer season, there is a lot of traffic into Vienna. We also have a huge traffic from Bengaluru to Stuttgart, which is a corporate centre for Germany as well as India. We see the importance of the India market and that’s why we come here every year to promote our partnership with Etihad Airways and Jet Airways.”

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December 2015

IN THE NEWS

Region of Crete tests India waters Kahini Chakraborty Mumbai WITH AN AIM to understand the India market, Region of Crete organised an exclusive seminar, for the first time in India, in Mumbai, to showcase the Island of Crete, Greece. The plan is to have a long term stable presence in the India market. Michalis Vamiedakis, commissioner of tourism, Region of Crete, said, “Presently the India market has a small presence in Greece and much smaller in Crete. But we believe India to be a growing and potential market for us. Apart from the region being well known as a wedding and honeymoon destination, we are looking at expanding our portfolio and attracting FITs, families, groups and MICE. We believe that with a different approach it

is possible to target more segments and have a wider flow of tourists to the region. Not only are we looking at attracting high-end luxury travellers, but also the growing middle class segment.” Tourism is the main economic pillar for Crete, as 48 per cent of the regional GDP is directly linked to tourism. Commenting on the economic crisis of Greece, he opined, “Greece has passed through many difficult years due to many mistakes. I believe that we as a nation have learnt from our mistakes and are now moving towards making reforms. During the next year we could see the situation improving.” The region has more than 30 per cent of five-star hotels and there are some under construction. “The government is

also motivating for upgrading and refurbishing properties. Development will not come in terms of numbers but with quality projects. The region has many five-star and budget hotels to cater to all types of travellers. We have various five-star hotels which provide facilities for MICE. The region witnesses an average length of stay of eight to nine days among travellers. The ideal duration could be 10 days if travellers are interested in covering more destinations.” When asked about how is the region looking at working closely with travel agents in India, he informed, “The target is to have a steady flow and wider presence across India. We don't just want to promote the island as a standalone destination but as a part of a wider European Union package.”

Paris attacks: Outbound tourism from India will not be affected in the long run Mohit Rathod Mumbai The November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, the second terrorist attack in Paris, since the Charlie Hebdo shooting, has shaken France in numerous aspects, including tourism. India contributes to a large proportion of tourism in Europe. According to France embassy's website (ambafrancein.org), more than 3,00,000 Indian travellers visit France each year. Although, Indians were present in France during the attacks, the French authorities coordinated with the Government of India and travel companies in India to ensure their safe return.

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Travel companies across India have witnessed the effects on outbound tourist flow to Europe and their businesses. However, they feel that the events will not impact business in the long term. While speaking to Express TravelWorld, Manoj Saraf, managing director, Gainwell Travels, said, "There have been cancellations from people travelling to Europe; also the people who are wanting to travel to Europe have postponed their plans. Sales of major airlines have come down by almost 20 per cent. The winter season isn't the peak period to travel to Europe. I don't think many people would travel to Europe at this time, and if travellers travel to

Europe, the impact will not be very great. By the time summer arrives, I hope everything will settle down. We will probably wait for some time. The impact will be definitely there, but not in the long term." Harmandeep Singh Anand, managing direc-

Indian travellers are choosing Southeast Asian countries

tor, Jagsons Travels, said, "People have cancelled or postponed their bookings. Even we have received a few cancellations. Indian travellers are choosing Southeast Asian countries as alternate destinations, due to the attacks in Paris, but the impact will not last in the long run." "Particularly, the period between mid-April to May sees more tourist activities in Europe. So the impact of the attacks will not be big," he added. Karan Anand, head-relationships, Cox & Kings, said, "Indians travel to Europe in large numbers and Indian outbound to Europe has been on the rise and in percentage terms it is in double digits. The unfortunate incidents in Paris

will not cloud the judgment of the Indian traveller as Europe continues to be a must-visit destination for Indians. An incident in one part of Europe will not have any long term impact of traffic flow to these destinations. However, people have become more cautious while travelling and we advise them to take necessary precautions." "The bookings for Europe are done much before in advance and we have not experienced any cancellations so far. All our Europe tours are going as per the schedule. We are grateful to our customers who are showing faith on us and we are committed to provide them the best of travel experience," added Anand.

IN THE NEWS

The BlueberryTrails looks at technology investment Kahini Chakraborty Mumbai MUMBAI-BASED The Blueberry Trails is planning to expand aggressively in the India market. Started in September 2010 with an investment of around `eight-10 lakh, the company is constantly working towards providing different experiential tours. Presently working with a team of 10 people, the company is looking at investing into manpower expansion,

getting automated ERP systems, booking systems and automated website, wherein potential travellers booking on their platform can get a complete experience. Sudeepta Sanyal, founder, The Blueberry Trails told Express TravelWorld, “We started with an aim to share unique experiences and provide a different way of travelling and experiencing a destination. The company started doing weekend trips to virgin destinations around Maha-

rashtra and then expanded to other destinations in India such as Ladakh and North

East regions, Himalayas. In 2015 we also started organising international tours,

The company started doing weekend trips to virgin destinations around Maharashtra and then expanded to destinations such as Ladakh and North East

wherein we can provide experiences like wine tours, cooking classes, local market visits to buy spices, boutique stay options and homestays facilities.” The company, last year, generated a business revenue of `one crore. The company is looking at providing itineraries to more domestic and international destinations in the coming years. “We are looking at having technology enabled front end and back end operations,” she added.

Marriott-Starwood merger not to affect India market: say industry experts Rituparna Chatterjee Mumbai THE RECENT news of Marriott International being all set to acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide for US$ 12.2 billion, has caused hospitality experts in India to speculate on its impact on the Indian hospitality industry. While a few industry experts are of the opinion that this consolidation would lead to fierce competition in the market with other brands becoming more aggressive, many expressed that there would not be any disruption. Expressing the latter view was Manav Thadani, MRICS, chairman, HVS Asia Pacific, who stated, “We do not expect to see any disruption in the market. If at all, these two companies will potentially start to work together and operate more efficiently in the global hotel market.” Echoing a similar

viewpoint Bharat H Malkani, president, The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) stated, “The India market is not heavily represented by either of the two groups. The India market is still primarily dominated by the organised sector in terms of large chains. These group mergers are increasingly taking place since this industry has been taking a beating for a long time and the only way forward is for larger/smaller chains to come together. The larger chains will get a higher level of sustainability in an otherwise depressed market. It is hard to tell whether this kind of merger will have a dramatic impact. However, customers having loyalty cards with either of the chains will have an advantage.” Giving an alternative perspective was Mandeep S Lamba, MRICS, MD-India, Hotels &

Hospitality Group, Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants India who stated, “In India, the Starwood-Marriott merger will see fierce competition with other brands becoming more aggressive to combat the combined strength of the merged entity and their ability to offer 30 brands touching every market positioning or product requirement across all geographies. While the budget and economy space is still nascent in India, the upscale and luxury sectors will have a larger impact on account of this merger. The new entity will control the largest inventory of rooms in the country and with their freshly acquired no one status, could lead to less attractive commercial terms for new hotel owners seeking operator tie ups. It will however be interesting to see how the two companies align their various brands and teams to achieve the scale while ensur-

ing reduced costs.” When asked whether this deal could spark industry consolidation, industry experts replied in the affirmative. Lamba stated, “This deal is a beginning of consolidation of the industry into three or four major players globally and will see similar consolidations over the next few years as global majors align to get the scale and the synergies through mergers and acquisitions. Talks of other major players actively in dialogue are already doing the rounds. This is going to be an exciting space to watch.” Adding to this, Malkani stated, “I think many property/chain owners will now wait and watch to see if this consolidation is receiving a result. If the consolidation result is positively accepted by either the stakeholders or owners then we might see many consolidations

taking place. Since the consolidation comes at a cost and if the consolidators are unable to justify the expense then we will not see a round of consolidations.” With both brands having a huge asset base, is the buyout development price of US$ 12.2 billion between the brands justified? To this Thadani states, “I am not technically qualified to answer this but certainly if you look at the stock prices for Starwood, shareholders do not seem to be convinced that the deal has happened at a premium - much as they would have hoped for.” This deal is expected to create the world’s largest hotel company wherein the merged company will operate or franchise more than 5,500 hotels with 1.1 million rooms worldwide. (With inputs from Kahini Chakraborty)

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IN THE NEWS

Schengen states launch Visa Information System in India Rituparna Chatterjee Mumbai THE SCHENGEN states have launched the Visa Information System (VIS) in India along with the neighbouring countries as part of the worldwide introduction of the VIS, which since October 2011 has been functioning in 17 out of 23 world regions. All Schengen consulates worldwide will be connected to the VIS by end of November 2015. VIS, a system for the exchange of data on short-stay visas (maximum 90 days in 180 days) be-

tween the Schengen states, was introduced to protect applicants against identity theft, to prevent document fraud and 'visa shopping'. Since November 2, Indian citizens applying for a Schengen visa have to come in person to provide biometric data. The biometric data will be taken from the previous visa application included in the VIS for subsequent applications within the next five years. However, children under the age of 12; persons for whom the collection of fingerprints is physically impossible; and sovereigns

This would enable easier access to multiple-entry visas with long validity, quick examination and efficient processing of applications and other senior members of a royal family, heads of state and members of the national governments travelling for official purposes will be exempt from fingerprinting. Speaking about the bene-

fits of this system, Dr Norbert Revai-Bere, consul general, Consulate General, Hungary in Mumbai stated, “Though under this system applicants would have to come personally for providing the biomet-

ric data, it would enable easier access to multiple-entry visas with long validity, quick examination and efficient processing of applications, better protection against identity thefts, among others. We are reaching out to the travel trade, travel associations and tour operators to make them aware about this system.” In 2014, the top applicant countries for the Schengen visa included – Russia followed by China, Ukraine, Belarus, Turkey, Algeria, India and Morocco.

India to surpass UK as 3rd largest air passenger market by 2026: IATA ETW Staff Mumbai THE INTERNATIONAL Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its passenger growth forecast, projecting that passenger numbers are expected to reach seven billion by 2034, with a 3.8 per cent average annual growth in demand (2014 baseline year). That is more than twice the 3.3 billion who flew in 2014 and exactly twice as many as the 3.5 billion expected in 2015. India will displace the United Kingdom as the thirdlargest market in 2026, with Indonesia rising to number five in the world. Japan, Spain, Germany and France fall relative to their competitors, Italy falls out of the top 10, while Brazil moves from 10th place to seventh.

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China is expected to overtake the United States as the world’s largest passenger market by 2029. In 2034 China will account for some 1.19 billion passengers, 758 million more than 2014 with an average annual growth rate of 5.2 per cent. Traffic to, from and within the US is expected to grow at an average annual growth rate of 3.1 per cent, that will see 1.16 billion passengers by 2034 (523 million more than 2014).

The five fastest-increasing markets in terms of additional passengers per year over the forecast period will be China (758 million new passengers for a total of 1.196 billion), the US (523 million new passengers for a total of 1.156 billion), India (275 million new passengers for a total of 378 million), Indonesia (132 million new passengers for a total of 219 million) and Brazil (104 million new passengers for a total of 202 million).

The demand for air transport continues to grow. There is much work to be done to prepare for the seven billion passengers expected in 2034

In terms of routes, Asian, South American and African destinations will see the fastest growth, reflecting economic and demographic growth in those markets. Indonesia-East Timor will be the fastest growing route, at 13.9 per cent, followed by India-Hong Kong (10.4 per cent), Within Honduras (10.3 per cent), Within Pakistan (9.9 per cent) and UAEEthiopia (9.5 per cent) Tony Tyler, director general and CEO, IATA, said, “The demand for air transport continues to grow. There is much work to be done to prepare for the seven billion passengers expected to take to the skies in 2034.” A sizeable gulf has opened up between the performance of air passenger markets in the BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China). China

and India are growing fast, with annual growth this year-to-date of 12.5 per cent and 16.5 per cent respectively. India has bounced back from a subdued 2014, and is seeing a strong increase in domestic frequencies. Although China’s growth rate has moderated, it is still on course to add an additional 230 million passenger journeys between 2014 and 2019. This is more than double the other three BRIC nations put together. Brazil and Russia, by contrast, are struggling. Falling oil and other commodity prices are partly to blame. Economic sanctions have also affected the Russian economy. It is notable that airlines in Brazil pay some of the highest fuel charges in the world; bringing the country’s fuel policy in line with global standards would certainly be a boost for air transport.

cover story)

he winter season has always been considered the best time for family vacations, albeit the recent years have witnessed an increasing number of Indian travellers, in particular the adrenaline junkies, getting hooked to winter sport activities and events to bring in the new year with a dash of adventure. From Christmas markets in Austria to dog sledding competitions in Alaska, from skiing in Auli to

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watching the colourful Aurora Bourealis (Northern Lights) in Norway, the attractions are many and varied for those opting for a holiday in sub-zero environs, both in India and overseas. With new destinations joining the fray, Christmas/winter tourism is a segment that has immense growth potential in the future as awareness about the varied product offerings increase in the market. With activities including skiing, snow tubing, snowball fighting, snowmobile safari, and many more, the popular

winter tourism destinations are Europe, including Switzerland, and the Nordic countries that are home to Santa Claus, along with the US, Australia and New Zealand. Cox & Kings has been observing around 1520 per cent increase in bookings in winter/Christmas tourism and the growth in the coming years, according to Karan Anandâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;head, relationships, Cox & Kings, should be in line with the same. "Earlier, the interest in winter sports/activities was limited to a specific set of travellers like

solo or young travellers aged between 18-35 years. However, in the past few years, winter tourism has become a trend among families and women travellers too," mentions Anand. The company offers special packages with focus on Christmas and Santa Claus, which includes visiting Helsinki and Rovaniemi-the Santa Claus village, traditional Christmas Eve dinner, snowmobile safari with ice-fishing, exploring the husky and reindeer farm and Ranua wildlife park.

The expectations of travellers have increased and is changing according to the trends. Vishal Suri, CEO-Tour Operating, Kuoni India avers, â&#x20AC;&#x153;They plan their holidays and choose the destinations based on the events. Travellers are looking forward to explore everything - attractive tourist destinations, food, shopping and mainly the culture, which one can understand through such events or cultural activities that are held annually mainly for tourists.â&#x20AC;? Europe takes the top spot in

(

terms of winter vacations with most of the countries, by holding events ranging from quaint Christmas markets to international winter sport activities. For instance, from November to end of December hundreds of Christmas markets are organised in Copenhagen selling local products, decorations and warm wine, as the cafes and restaurants in the city are lit up for the festivities. For winter activities Giuseppe Liverino, project manager, Wonderful Copenhagen, recommends the second oldest amusement park

in the world - Tivoli Gardens, in the city centre. "Indians love the atmosphere in Tivoli Gardens with its restaurants, high class bars, a five star hotel. From India market we have seen 30 per cent growth and next year more is expected. It is the safest city in the world and Indians love the nightlife," says Liverino, adding that the Carlsberg Visitor Centre is packed with Indians who also like to try the local micro breweries. The castles in the outskirts of Copenhagen are open in winters with the snow-cov-

ered surroundings looking breathtakingly beautiful. St Moritz and the Engadin Valley is well known for its legendary winter sports and events held annually on the frozen lake and in partnership with luxury hotels of the region. Winter in the Engadin Valley commences with the first event on December 5 - The St Moritz City Race- a cross country and ski race where the slopes are relocated into the village of St Moritz. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also have Indian tourists who are interested in unique events

THE MAIN FOCUS

such as Cricket on Ice on an artificially crafted pitch on the frozen lake of St Moritz. Or the Snow Polo World Cup, introduced in 1985 as the first Polo World Cup tournament played on snow, and by now is the most important Snow Polo tournament in the world. We have also had Indian visitors attending the horse races at the White Turf, a tradition dating back to 1907, and the exciting races by night at Night Turf St Moritz,â&#x20AC;? states Mirjam Bruder, head of markets and business development, Tourism Organi-

sation Engadin St Moritz. Indian travellers enjoy learning how to ski and snowboard either in a group or in private lessons at The Swiss Ski School St Moritz, which is the oldest and largest ski school in Switzerland. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Couples and families love a horse carriage ride that takes guests into the forest and alongside the frozen lakes of the Engadin Valley into the enchanted winter wonderland. Guests do not want to miss the experience of visiting the highest casino in Switzerland - Casino St Moritz, the

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December 2015

cover story)

“Earlier, the interest in winter sports/ activities was limited to a specific set of travellers ” Karan Anand Head – relationships, Cox & Kings

“Travellers are looking forward to explore everything - attractive tourist destinations, food, shopping and culture” Vishal Suri CEO - tour operating, Kuoni India

“Indians love the atmosphere in Tivoli Gardens with its restaurants, high class bars, a five star hotel” Giuseppe Liverino Project manager, Wonderful Copenhagen

20 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD December 2015

Swiss Alp’s jewel, at 1850 meters,” she adds. While St Moritz is famous for its luxury heritage properties like the Kulm Hotel and the Badrutt’s Palace, hotels owned by Indian hoteliers such as Nira Alpina and the mountain hotel Diavolezza serving Indian thalis are popular.

MICE on ice One of the interesting aspects of visitor profile to St Moritz has been the growing MICE segment. "The valley offers a glorious natural setting for meetings and events. The modern Rondo Convention Centre, numerous top-class seminar and conference hotels are available as venues for all kinds of events with up to 500 participants," mentions Bruder. In Europe, according to Suri, Russia exhibits endless capabilities and enormous potential as a MICE destination, primarily because the country is driven to provide more and more unique and innovative solutions for business travellers from all over the world. “Numerous world chain business and luxury hotels, high quality hospitality, gourmet and authentic restaurants, modern trades, exhibition and sport complexes, business centres, the most up-to-date congress halls and sophisticated entertainment venues have been created in Russia within the last 20 years and not only in major cities like Moscow and St Petersburg but also in another regions of the country,” points out Suri, adding that foreign consulates, international corporations, banks and other businesses located in St Petersburg, prove to be a major trade getaway. Other emerging winter MICE getaways are countries like Slovenia, Sweden and Denmark.

Winter adventure Across the Atlantic, the US and Canada have been attracting winter travellers from India, both family crowd and adventure lovers. Skiing is possible in over 30 US states

“There has been a rise in the number of people travelling to snowy destinations in winter”

“Travel is increasingly becoming experience-led instead of destination led” Hari Nair

Mohit Poddar Founder Shoes on Loose

and resorts offer unique locations, from lakeside to under the Northern Lights. “From the Sierra Nevada mountains in California to the Green Mountains in New England, across the US skiers will be able to find an array of different slopes to choose from,” states David Whitaker, chief marketing officer, Brand USA, reminding that ice-skating is another quintessential winter

Founder and CEO HolidayIQ

activity for travellers. Visitors can glide across the Rockefeller Center’s renowned rink in New York, National Gallery of Art Sculptor Garden in Washington DC, Millennium Park ie rink in Chicago and Boston Common Frog Pond to name a few. Other popular activities unique to the US are dog sledding in Alaska and Maine, snowkiting in New England and snow tubing in

Pennsylvania. Brand USA expects a positive growth in this segment from the India market. Whitaker acknowledges that the Indian travel market is maturing and there is a higher demand for outdoor activities, new experiences and destinations. “India also has one of the world’s youngest populations who want to indulge in outdoor activities and experience high adrenaline rush. In addition, families also enjoy the winter season as this is also the best time for shopaholics, as some of the biggest sales send prices plummeting with the temperature,” he adds, pointing out that one of the advantages of travelling in winter season is that one can experience amazing experiences at unbelievable off-season rates. New Zealand is one the world’s ultimate destinations when it comes to adventure activities, and winter sporting events are no exception. The country has been playing host to many important winter events like ‘The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival’ for the last 40 years, while the Coronet Cup attracts some of the most skilled skiers in the Southern Hemisphere. There is also the Gay Ski Week

( to offer, which is a week long event featuring dancing, cabaret shows, on mountain action and adventures and more. The Audi Quattro Winter Games is another tourist attraction where the world’s top winter athletes come together in New Zealand to battle it out on the slopes. “Winter in New Zealand is a series of activities and kiwi celebrations. Bidding adieu to the autumn, we welcome our visitors for some snow-filled fun. The Queenstown and Wanaka alpine resort towns set the winter ski holiday feel. For winter holidaymakers wanting to take a day off from skiing and snowboarding, New Zealand’s ski regions offer some quirky fun-filled snow-related activities. Off-piste outdoor winter experiences include guided snow shoe treks, snow tubing, bungy jumping, glacier hikes and scenic flights to spectacular landscapes that are otherwise not easily accessible,” says Steven Dixon, regional manager, South and South East Asia, Tourism New Zealand. Specially recommend in New Zealand is a self-drive tour through snow-capped landscapes, stopping along the way to take in the local cuisine. The winter season also hap-

pens to be the best time for whale and seal spotting. “With 15,134 kilometers of coastline and one of the most diverse collections of marine life in the world, spotting mammals such as whales and seals is especially likely at this time of the year,” informs Dixon.

India's snow getaways Destinations in India that

have been attracting inbound travellers particularly for winter activities and adventure are Auli and Munsiyari, Uttarakhand; Zanskar Valley, Ladakh; Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh; Gulmarg and Pahalgam, J&K; Yumthang Valley, Sikkim; and Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. “Over the past years, there has been a rise in the number of people

travelling to snowy destinations in winter. Winter activities like skiing are gaining popularity among domestic travellers," mentions Mohit Poddar, founder of experiential holiday company, Shoes on Loose. While the arduous Chadar Trek on the frozen Zanskar river has grown in popularity over the years, a new interesting route and activity being tapped in Ladakh is the Snow Leopard Tracking Circuit. “The new age traveller does not prefer the regular hill stations that are already done to death, he is always looking for something offbeat with unique experiences. The modern traveller is more experimental and wants to taste a variety of flavours, adventure being on the top of every one’s bucket list,” adds Poddar. While for adventure lovers camping in the snow or in the hills provide an adrenaline rush, for high-end travellers and MICE, the following properties are recommended - Cliff Top Club Resort - Auli; Aamod Tethys - Narkanda; Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa Gulmarg; Denzong Regency Gangtok (near Yumthang). According to HolidayIQ statistics, adventure travel is a new favourite among couple travellers and account for 52 per cent of adventure holidays in India, followed by larger groups at 21 per cent, family travellers at 18 per cent, and single travellers at nine per cent. Interesting adventure events coming to India includes the World Ski Championship. "Travel is increasingly becoming experience-led instead of destination led. On HolidayIQ, we have seen a marked growth in the interest in experiential holidays in the last 18-24 months,” says Hari Nair, founder and CEO, HolidayIQ. More interest in off-beat destinations and adventure activities can be seen in travellers from metros such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi.

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“The valley offers a glorious natural setting for meetings and events” Mirjam Bruder Head of markets and business development, Tourism Organisation Engadin St Moritz

“Across the US skiers will be able to find an array of different slopes to choose from” David Whitaker Chief marketing officer, Brand USA

“Spotting mammals such as whales and seals is especially likely at this time of the year” Steven Dixon Regional manager, South and South East Asia Tourism New Zealand

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AHMEDABAD HOSPITALITY SPECTRUM

Not so Blue after all Even as Ahmedabad is being cautious about the new supply of rooms courtesy the many international hotel chains that are making a beeline to this city, existing brands like Radisson Blu Ahmedabad are carving their own niche in the market to stay in the race By Steena Joy

ot many people know that Gujarat’s largest city Ahmedabad is the second largest producer of cotton in India, and its stock exchange is the country's second oldest. What peo-

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December 2015

ple do know is that the city is making headlines as an emerging hotspot for industrial investment, driven by PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. Honda is setting up a two wheeler plant, expected to

open in early 2016 at Vithalapur, 80 km from Ahmedabad. Plans are also on for a four wheeler plant in the same location. Once operational, the Vithalapur facility will be the largest scooter-only manufac-

turing plant in the world. A new company Suzuki Motors Gujarat is also being set up. Located strategically in the heart of the city, Radisson Blu Ahmedabad is all set to capitalise on these new business op-

Alex Koshy

AHMEDABAD HOSPITALITY SPECTRUM According to a Jones Lang La Salle report, by 2020, the hotel room inventory in Ahmedabad is expected to grow by 45 per cent over 2014

portunities. This upscale hotel which opened in September 2012, is 3.4 km from the 16thcentury Sidi Saiyyed Mosque and 12 km from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The hotel also provides easy access to the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and Gujarat University Exhibition & Convention Centre. While each of the hotel’s 116 rooms and suites includes perks like complimentary Wi-Fi, the 24 Business Class rooms also offer access to the exclusive Business Class Lounge. The hotel also has eight Executive Suites

excluding six Business Class Suites and one Presidential Suite. The hotel's conferencing facilities totals over 3982 sq ft, including two ballrooms Antra and Raag - which can accommodate 220 and 120 guests respectively and a boardroom, Manthan, which can accommodate 16 people. The hotel has the O2 Spa for guests to relax and rejuvenate. Ahmedabad is expected to witness an inventory addition of 1,250 keys over the next five years. Commenting on the hospitality market in the city, Alex Koshy, general manager, Radisson Blu Ahmedabad, says, “Ahmedabad's hospitality scene is very vibrant and dynamic. 2015 was a good year for us. But 2016 may be slow. At the moment supply is more but by 2017 the market will stabilise and then a good hotel will do 70 per cent occupancy and ARRs will also rise. In 2013 the occupancies were in mid 40s, in 2014 it climbed to 54 and in 2015 it touched 61. Ahmedabad is going the Pune way.” Thanks to a location close to C G Road, S G Highway and Ashram Road, guests enjoy proximity to Sabarmati Ashram and Kankaria Lake. They can begin their day with the expansive breakfast buffet at Timpani (which means 'drum'), the all day dining with 110 covers, and then sample Indian favourites at the award-winning The Great Kabab Factory (TGKF) for dinner. Koshy recommends, “When dining at TGKF which has 54 covers, make sure to try the paan ice cream, a speciality of the restaurant. There is also the Cake Place (pastry shop) for those with a

sweet tooth.” According to a Jones Lang La Salle report, by 2020, the hotel room inventory in Ahmedabad is expected to grow by 45 per cent (over 2014 numbers), with 54 per cent of the pipeline stock only within upper upscale segment of properties – a number demonstrating the growing interest of the global as well as the domestic business and tourist community in the emerging metropolis. Recently, major impetus has been given to the information technology/information technology-enabled services (IT/ITES) and financial services industries, with major special economic zones (SEZs) coming up in and around Ahmedabad. SEZs in engineering, pharmaceutical and textile sectors have also been planned in the Ahmedabad district. The report states that the manufacturing hub Sanand (a satellite town of Ahmedabad) has investments proposed to the tune of `3,200 crore as of April 2015, from over 18 domestic and international firms for which land has already been allocated. Koshy informs, “Our main customers are the corporate clientele. Our feeder markets are 40 per cent from Mumbai and Delhi and 15 per cent are foreigners. We get a lot of Japanese guests. We sent 12 of our associate staff to Japan for training so that we can interact with these guests better.” Ahmedabad is very experimental with food, opines Koshy. “In the last couple of years, the room revenue to F&B sales has been 60:40. But this year has shown a slight increase in F&B sales to bring the ratio to 55:45,” he says.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

December 2015

AHMEDABAD HOSPITALITY SPECTRUM

ACOURTYARD STRATEGICALLY PLACED Marriott almost had a first mover advantage in Ahmedabad when it established one of its brands in the city around five years ago. Since then Ahmedabad has witnessed a growth in the number of international hotel chains who have made inroads into the city. Reema Lokesh finds out what makes Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad stand strong amidst increasing competition

he real estate space on which Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad stands is considered to be a prime location of the city. Once considered to be in the outskirts of the city, it is today one of the most promising regions of the business district and is strategically placed. The centre of Ahmedabad city has been shifted from CG Road to SG Highway as a business district and the property is in close proximity to SG Highway. The 164 room hotel with 7,500 square feet of banqueting space, popular for corporate and pre-wedding functions, has been in operation since 2010. Though a few other hotel chains have set foot in the region, as per the locals, this hotel still enjoys the first brand recall as an international brand in its space. The property has been appreciated for consistency in service standard and keeping up to the competition that is emerging from newer brands in the same space. The city is known to have a business appeal and it is considered to be a hotspot for automobile manufacturers and the pharma industry. The city also plays host to six leading educational institutions and there are more planned for the future. Though new to the city and its culture, Gaurav Apte, GM, Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad, is excited to take one on an assign-

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December 2015

The team at Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad with Gaurav Apte, GM (second from left)

ment in one of India's fastest growing cities. He along with his team swear by the Marriott culture of offering high service standards in the hospitality space. He is all set to bring in new strategies and

changes both in the F&B and marcom space. Apte says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ahmedabad is high on business. Though people like to spend on vacations and eating out, they definitely seek value for money. The city

is also all about food. Eating out over the weekend is routine. The social fabric of the city is also distinctly divided one which is inclined towards art, theatre and culture and the other where the locals

who are hardcore business people have their place well established in the share market and construction space. Our job is to cater to both the segments and understand their tastes and preferences

AHMEDABAD HOSPITALITY SPECTRUM

and offer them their choices.” He also states that his predecessors have been highly successful in maintaining the popularity of the property amidst growing competition and the locals still prefer the Marriott as it was the first international chain in the city. He along with his team are ready to take the experience to the next level.

F&B focus Since dining out is the culture of the city especially over the weekends, the focus is to refresh the F&B experience at the property. For Chef Ramakant Mishra, executive chef of the property since De-

The hotel also plays host to the MoMo Cafe and the Java + which is one of the best dens in the hotel having a vertical garden with a Zen like effect on the mind cember 2013, who has spent 13 years in kitchens across the world, the mission has been to bring in something novel to the city of Ahmedabad in the culinary space. The current fine dining restaurant of the property called ‘Shakahari'

which serves authentic Indian vegetarian food, may soon undergo a revamp under his hands. He intends to introduce North-West Frontier cuisine and eventually change the name of the outlet to suit the culture and the cuisine

that will be served. From a vegetarian outlet to a non-vegetarian one will be an interesting change. According to their research, the city is ready for the change and will welcome the same. Supporting his thought Apte states, “Though the locals prefer their traditional flavours, the young are ready to explore and experience. For the locals the set menu concept is popular and the plan is to introduce new mixes in the menu. The hotel is also proud of its liquor retail outlet called B&W.” Apte and his team are also focused on tapping long staying guests for the future as a business strategy. The city is

a very popular destination in the car manufacturing space and he along with Mishra are working on a menu and service that can meet the demand of the Far East clientele dominated by the Japanese. The hotel also plays host to the MoMo Cafe and the Java + which is one of the best dens in the hotel having a vertical garden with a Zen like effect on the mind. Java+ is one of the best places in the property to unwind. Sudeep Sharma, director of operations, concludes, “We are a young team and are ready to meet the expectations and demands of this growing city especially in the MICE space.”

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December 2015

CORPORATE FILE

One fine luxurious Sunday With a vision to make luxury travel affordable and flexible for Indian travellers, Jyot and Purvi Jhaveri set into motion the Sunday story. Focusing purely on innovation and ethics in business, the company aims to position Sunday Pure Holidays as a luxury travel brand rather than just another travel agency By Reema Lokesh

rom looking after his own family business to entering an industry, which he was earlier wary of, Jyot Jhaveri, founder, Sunday Pure Holidays, has come a long way. He attributes his entry into the travel space to Vishu Mutta who gave him a sound footing in the travel business as head-leisure at Birla Viking Travels in 2004. However, with time he felt that he was ready to set out on his own and he attributes his confidence to take that risk to three people - his wife Purvi and his mentors, Vivek Gupta of Amigo Travels and Pravin Shah of Shree Harshil Tours and Travels. “My wife has been in this industry since 1998 and has a strong knowledge and experience of the industry. Gupta and Shah gave me the much needed moral support and confidence to start out on my own, as there were many in the industry who ignored me when I quit my job at Birla's,” he says. They started in April 2010 in a small office with just a table and chair, provided by his cousin Darshan Sheth, over the years Sunday Pure Holidays has evolved as a credible brand within its space headquartered in Mumbai. Speaking about the decision to enter the luxury travel business, Jhaveri reminisces, “Five years ago during the recession, it was a tough decision to start our own business and I must admit I was scared. But today I think that the decision was good. Sunday Pure Holidays is a different concept, we are all about luxury. Our main USP is that we believe in the personal touch and go that extra mile to understand our client’s needs and require-

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December 2015

also offer Ferrari car drive experiences in Italy as we represent Ferrari drives in India.” She further adds, “Some of the most popular destinations for our clients include Scandinavia, Russia, Fiji, Bora Bora, Australia, New Zealand, and many more. Luxury travel mostly works on repeat clients and the references and feedback they give about us.”

ments.” With the rise in spending capacity of the middle-class, luxury travel business has rapidly started evolving in India. As many new players are entering the luxury segment, there has been cut-throat competition. Speaking about the competition, he stresses, “In the luxury segment, I think there is no competition for us. Competition is good and so are your critics. They help you only to grow further. If there is constant innovation, clients are ready to pay happily. We generally tie-up with DMCs who do not cater to the India market. This is what makes us unique and cuts off the competition. We try to provide a different experience to every client. In all our trips, we try to create some ‘wow factor’, which helps us get repeat clients. Today we are just a small cub, moving steadily we will make it big one day.”

Into the future

Pure personalisation The term ‘luxury’ is different for every client. Here personalisation comes into play. Purvi Jhaveri says, “We first do a background check of all the data available of our client list. This helps us understand the minds of our clients. Then we try to cultivate experiences according to their choice and preference. I think the first meeting with the client is more like a psychologist; we need to understand the mind of the customer. We first work like a counsellor, next we check the budget. We sell packages exclusively for the leisure segment; our core segments are the FITs, couples, etc. We also have special packages like gastronomy tours, full moon party experiences and most importantly we

The key to survive in the future will be to cater to small markets but with stability, rather than go behind the larger groups. It is very important to understand your market

The scope of the travel and tourism industry is wide ranging; it is an industry comprised of numerous sub-industries. Transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, amusement, recreation and services, all form the backbone of what is collectively referred to as the travel and tourism industry. He says, “Together, this single industry produces over 10 per cent of the world’s GDP. In one-way or another, it touches almost every individual in the developed nations. Travel and tourism, along with telecommunications and information technology, will lead the 21st century economy in terms of growth and absolute revenue production.” He adds, “The Indian travel industry will see changes in the future, taxation-wise and market-wise. The key to survive will be to cater to small markets but with stability, rather than go behind the larger groups. It is very important to understand your market. To make our brand visible and enhance our service, in the future we will attend all the luxury events as this will help us to understand the market even better. The company has a clear vision for the next five years and is confident to get bigger by 2020.”

LUXURY TRAVEL

THE 'PULSE' OFLUXURY A stream of immersive experiences is what guests can expect at PER AQUUM

ER AQUUM will begin operations in 2016 with the launch of PULSE. In February, Grammy award-winner, Joss Stone, will visit Maldives for an exclusive one-night performance at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi for her Total World Tour. In each country, Stone aims to collaborate with local home-grown musicians, playing indigenous music as well as her own songs including hits from her new album ‘Water For Your Soul’. This experience will be a first for the Maldives as PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi brings a ‘World Tour’ event to its shores. In April, PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi and PER AQUUM Niyama will join forces to host Chef Akira Back and his brand of Japanese cuisine with a Ko-

rean twist. Known for his appearances on Food Network’s ‘Iron Chef America’ battling Chef Bobby Flay, Chef Back can also be seen on NBC’s ‘The Today Show’, Food Network’s ‘Best Thing I Ever Ate’, The Cooking Channel’s ‘United States of America’ as well as KBS’ ‘Success Mentor’ which airs in Korea. Once a professional snowboarder, Chef Back has worked under acclaimed maestros, Nobu Matsuhisa and Masaharu Morimoto, and is the success story behind the famed Kumi Japanese Restaurant + Bar and Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge, both in Las Vegas. Also conjuring up culinary creations at PER AQUUM Niyama is Chin Chin Labs. From Camden market in the UK, Chin Chin Labs has

Injecting a vintage elegance to PER AQUUM’s ‘Dream Island’ in mid-2016 will be Indian artisans of leather, Nappa Dori. Guests at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi will have the chance to take part in bespoke workshops, learning the art of leather making from the masters of the craft achieved a cult status amongst chefs and ice cream aficionados across the world. Chin Chin Labs has been creating artisanal ice creams to order, frozen with liquid nitrogen and billowing with clouds of ‘ice’ since 2010. Having pioneered liquid nitrogen ice-cream as a retail concept, Chin Chin Labs is known for nods to haute cuisine with flavours such as Guinness caramel with smoked salt,

pink guava and pepper crack and blueberry marshmallow and apricot rose. Injecting a vintage elegance to PER AQUUM’s ‘Dream Island’ in mid-2016 will be Indian artisans of leather, Nappa Dori. Guests at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi will have the chance to take part in bespoke workshops, learning the art of leather making from the masters of the craft.

Nick Downing, vice president, PER AQUUM Hotels & Resorts, has appointed Angeline Leo as the new creative director. Leo has spent the last ten years curating a number of exclusive events, including PULSE’s previous incarnation as the brand’s iconic ‘Dream Calendar’, which was shortlisted for several awards including most original campaign and greatest guest experience at LE Miami.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

December 2015

BUSINESS TRAVEL & MICE

Business travel breaks out Germany leading the way with 10 per cent business travel growth in 2015

USINESS TRAVEL spending in Germany, the UK, France, Spain and Italy combined will grow at over six per cent in 2015 and 2016, a leading indicator that the European economy is 'gathering steam' and is poised for a moderate economic breakthrough. These findings are part of the semi-annual GBTA BTI Outlook – Western Europe report, conducted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Foundation, the education and research arm of GBTA and sponsored by Visa, Inc. These five markets comprise nearly 70 per cent of Western Europe’s business travel market. Business travel spending in the countries will grow 6.4 per cent in 2015 and another 6.3 per cent in 2016. In total, this segment of the Western European business travel market will grow from US$ 186.3 billion (€140.2 billion) in 2014 to US$ 210.6 billion (€220.3 billion) in 2016. “The study shows that the European economy is gathering steam and beginning to put its economic woes in the rear-view mirror,” says Catherine McGavock, GBTA’s regional vice president – EMEA. “Business travel is faring even stronger than the moderate economic breakthrough, with double digit spending growth in Germany as well as over seven per cent growth in both the UK and Spain this year. Still uncertainties in the global economy present risks to this business travel breakout, leading to a cautiously optimistic outlook for many companies.” After 2014 proved to be a bounce-back year for Western European business travel, the recovery continues to pick up the pace in 2015 with Germany, the UK and Spain leading the way, according to the report. Germany represents over 20

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December 2015

COUNTRY-LEVEL BUSINESS TRAVEL OUTLOOKS Germany A US$ 57.9 billion market (€43.6 billion), Germany is leading the way, with 10 per cent business travel growth projected in 2015 and 9.5 per cent in 2016. Spending on domestic business travel is surging at 11.4 per cent this year and 10.4 per cent next year, while international outbound business travel will grow 4.2 per cent in 2015 and 5.5 per cent in 2016 The United Kingdom The UK is a US$ 43.5 billion market (£26.4 billion) and is expected to grow at 7.4 per cent in 2015 and 6.2 per cent in 2016. Spending on domestic business travel will grow at 8.3 per cent in 2015 and 7.8 per cent in 2016, while international outbound travel will grow at 5.5 per cent in 2015 and 3.1 per cent in 2016. Spain Spain is a US$ 18 billion market (€13.5 billion) – is expected to grow at 7.7 per cent in 2015 and 7.1 per cent in 2016. Spending on domestic business travel will grow at 8.6 per cent in 2015 and 7.8 per cent in 2016, while international outbound travel will grow at 4.6 per cent in 2015 and 4.8 per cent in 2016. France This is a US$ 36 billion market (€27.1 billion) which is expected grow at 3.1 per cent in 2015 and 3.4 per cent in 2016. Spending on domestic business travel will grow at 4.1 per cent this year and 4.5 per cent next year, while international outbound travel will grow at 2.5 per cent in 2015 and 3.4 per cent in 2016. Italy Italy is a US$ 31 billion market (€23.3 billion) and is expected to grow at 1.1 per cent in 2015 and 1.9 per cent in 2016. Spending on domestic business travel will grow at 0.8 per cent this year and 1.4 per cent next year. International outbound travel will grow at 4.1 per cent in 2015 and 5.0 per cent in 2016.

per cent of Western Europe’s business travel activity and continues to be the strongest market on the continent. The UK has exhibited some of the strongest performance in the region as improving employment and low energy prices have spurred consumption. Spain continues its impressive economic turnaround and is expecting robust business travel growth this year. France and Italy, on the other hand, are the two most challenged markets with weaker economic growth leading to much lower business travel growth rates. “With this continued growth forecast in Europe, companies will want to retain control of their costs as travel activity increases. Visa’s best-inclass payment solutions play a key role in providing buyers and suppliers with the visibility and automation needed to drive efficiencies to the bottom line,” says Tristan Kirchner, executive director, sales and marketing, Visa Europe.

RESEARCH

Wacky,weird and wonderful: The world of souvenirs unveiled Part Three of Holiday Inn Souvenir Study reveals travellers’ most memorable souvenirs

SSORTED SPICES from India, fossilised bird dropping and even an Australian didgeridoo. These are just a taste of the most memorable souvenirs received and bought by travellers from around the Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region, according to the multi-part Holiday Inn Souvenir Study. In the third and final installment, which polled 900 jetsetters from Australia, India, Japan, the Middle East, South Africa and Southeast Asia, respondents describe the trinkets, tokens and, in some cases, throwaways, they’ve received from friends and loved ones returning from abroad. On a scale of love to hate and from wacky to wonderful, local keepsakes like Vietnamese coffee and African drums scored high on the ‘love it’ scale while educational or novelty items like sushi shaped USB flash drives scored a chuckle but not pride of place on a recipient’s mantelpiece. Also revealing an interesting insight, the Souvenir Study shows souvenir preferences and wackiness/wonderment are not mutually exclusive, particularly since magnets of global landmarks – those cheap and cheerful items on every traveller’s souvenir list – though considered wonderful, are generally not thought that highly of. On the brighter side, people across the region are happy to receive food and art or antique pieces reflecting

an authentic experience. Similarly, travellers who embrace the element of surprise are fans of wacky souvenirs, such as a sheep’s wool belly button warmer from New Zealand. LeeLin Teo, brand marketing director, Holiday Inn brand family at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) says, “These insightful and sometimes humorous results from the Holiday Inn Souvenir Study helps us delve into the psyche of travellers from across this diverse region through the sort of souvenirs they both buy and like to receive. They want to bring home a part of their

travels and share their experiences with friends, family and colleagues. By uncovering the type of souvenirs that travellers prefer to receive, we want to inspire our guests with ideas when shopping around for souvenirs.” He adds, “Love them or hate them, wacky and wonderful souvenirs are memorable, proving that there are more ways than one to leave a lasting impression. From this research, we will look at how we can help our guests find the perfect and most memorable memento from their travels.” The first two parts of the study reveal the 'Evolution of

By uncovering the type of souvenirs that travellers prefer to receive, we want to inspire our guests with ideas when shopping around for souvenirs Souvenirs' as well as the 'Value of Souvenirs', which investigates souvenir-buying habits and preferences of travellers from across the region. To unveil travellers’ most memorable souvenirs, from the most loved to the most

hated, as featured in 'The Wacky and Wonderful World of Souvenirs' infographic, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts ran an online survey from August 5 to September 9, 2014 and received responses from 912 travellers across the AMEA region.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

December 2015

SPOTLIGHT

Exploring an indigenous heritage The indigenous culture, cuisine and traditions of the eight states of North East India are unique tourism offerings of the region to the new age traveller who wants to understand and experience the ethos of the land and its people By Sudipta Dev

he recently organised Indigenous Terra Madre in Shillong brought the world tribes to India and showcased before them the culture and cuisine of the north eastern states. For those interested in understanding and exploring the wealth of tribal life in these states, the best beginning is the Don Bosco Museum which is a part of the Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures. The museum is the only one of its kind in North East India. The various galleries in the museum are a vibrant showcase of all the 400 tribes and sub tribes of the eight states in the region. “The Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures includes the museum, research, publications and our effort to share knowledge through seminars, courses, workshops, etc,” says Fr (Dr) Joseph Puthenpurakal, director, Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures. There are 22 alcoves at the entrance of the museum, with figurines of people from the region welcoming visitors. Before beginning tour of the galleries that cover seven floors, a beautiful documentary 'Mist and Magic' acquaints visitors to what is in store for them when they travel through these states. There is a Language Gallery showing groups of all the languages of the world.

30 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD December 2015

“The language chart was put up as without knowing the language one cannot pretend to know the culture,” asserts Fr Puthenpurakal. The entry to the expansive Art Gallery is marked by a stained glass door depicting all the eight states. The gallery has murals of mask dances and Thanka paintings from Sikkim, head gears from Nagaland and tattoo art from

different tribes, etc.

Living traditions A glimpse of the North East is not possible without understanding the morphology of settlements and housing patterns, and the Housing Pattern Gallery depicts this in the best possible way through a model that dominates the hall. Different kinds of settlements

SPOTLIGHT are shown in enchanting landscapes – from stilt houses in Mizoram and Manipur to quaint huts in Nagaland and Sikkim and sloping roof dwellings in Arunachal Pradesh. The Costumes & Ornaments Gallery has a colourful display of dress styles and traditional ornaments worn by various tribes, from Angami Naga to Mizo - shell jewelleries, wrist bands, head ornaments and beaded necklaces. The Weapons Gallery is a display of traditional weapons of different tribes, from Naga warriors to Garo and Khasi warriors. The wide ranging display of traditional percussion (long / elongated/ round drums) and wind instruments (buffalo horn bugle) occupy a pride of place in the Musical Instruments Gallery. The everyday life of tribals is well displayed in the Basketery Gallery. Baskets occupy the foremost place in a tribal home and is used for storage, decoration, catching fish, and other activities. The Traditional Technology Gallery is another interesting segment with works of goldsmith, blacksmith, basket making, pottery making on display. The Agriculture Gallery highlights jhum cultivation and terrace cultivation. The Land and Peoples Gallery has life size models and busts of different ethnic groups with distinctive facial features. Religion and Culture Gallery gives an insight into the ancient beliefs of indigenous cultures, alternate religious traditions of India, practices of Christian faith, Hindu beliefs, and others. There is also a display of Teotihuacan, 'Place of God' in Aztec language. A gallery dedicated to Don Bosco gives visitors an insight into his philosophy and the family that is working around the world with young people, particularly in the field of education.

Cuisine traditions At the Food Gallery in the museum visitors get a chance to order indigenous food from any of the eight north eastern states. "Travel agents with big groups can inform the Food Gallery in advance and order

local cuisine,” informs Fr Puthenpurakal. In the city of Shillong there are a few restaurants that offer authentic local cuisine for travellers and locals alike, for instance Alelang Restaurant that specialises in Khasi cuisine and Naga Mandarin, which as the name suggests, offers spicy and unique flavours of Nagaland. For a fine dining experience of local culinary traditions the Rice Court at Royal Heritage Tripura Castle and Sao Aiom (‘Four Seasons’) at Ri Kynjai resort are recommended.

For the new age experiential traveller interested in getting a first hand experience of taste and traditions of indigenous cultures, it is essential to

beautifully woven stoles, shawls and traditional dresses crafted by the locals, but also get an opportunity to witness the life cycle of the silk worm. It is the everyday life of the village women which is of interest to any visitor – whether it is weaving silk or catching fish. The local women have a unique way of catching fish with their baskets in the shallow river that flows through the village. Another interesting spot is the painstakingly nurtured garden of Lastnokhel Jalong, who has been trying to preserve the vanishing plants of the region. These wild plants that are on the verge of extinction, are brought by Jalong from the wild and grown in his own garden. In Khweng, a village of friendly and hospitable people, visitors can take a break from

visit a village in a scenic locale. Khweng village in Ribhoi district is the closest to Shillong. The village is not too far from Guwahati-Shillong main highway, from where you have to take a detour. The inhabitants are Khasi tribes people, who belong to the Bhoi subtribe. Khweng village was established in 1932 by 10 families. The village has a picturesque setting, surrounded by green fields, hillocks and ponds. Currently there are 106 houses in the village, with a population of 615 people. Though the primary occupation in the area is cultivation (ginger, turmeric and various varieties of sticky rice), what has made Khweng famous is seri culture, that is Eri silk weaving. In fact the highlight of the trip to the village is a visit to the Eri silk spinning centre where tourists do not just buy

walking and sit for a while in a quaint village cafe that serves tea and rice. The other villages where visitors can get similar experiences and more are Nongtraw, Dewlieh, Laitsohpliah, Pyrda, Nongwah, Mawhiang in East Khasi Hills; Dombah in West Khasi Hills and Moosakhia in West Jaintia Hills.

Village visit

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

December 2015

THE TORCHBEARERS

A different calling Hailing from a Rajput family with an army background, Bhim Singh aspired to become a scientist. But fate had other plans. Today, he is a visionary in the travel industry and as the founder and chairman of Rajasthan Tours, Singh at the age of 77 years, is still enthusiastic about promoting Rajasthan's diverse tourism offerings By Kahini Chakraborty

aving a fondness for chemistry as a subject, and holding an aspiration to become a scientist, Bhim Singh, founder and chairman of Rajasthan Tours had a different calling for him. Entering the travel industry at the age of 22, when he was still a student, Singh established the company in 1959. Elaborating on the inception of the family-owned travel company, Rajasthan Tours, Singh says, “I had invested `200 for opening the account and my mother became my partner and started the company through a partnership model which later became a private limited company. When I started my company, I had just completed my post graduation in marine economics and did my BSc from Bikaner University. I never had the inclination towards starting a travel company. But when I was still a student, I changed my direction of focus as the vice chancellor, a mathematician who changed his line of subject and taught English literature, had told me that if I wanted I could too change my subject stream, whether in arts or commerce.” Earning huge amounts of money was never a priority for Singh, as he believes that he has a much bigger responsibility of promoting the varied tourism offerings of Rajasthan and providing the best services for tourists visiting the destinations. Finding it difficult to recollect his first earnings, Singh highlights, “We

gan to evolve and develop and other palace hotels came into existence. With all of this publicity, tourism to the destination began to increase. This was the period when the Golden Triangle circuit tour became popular. The travel and tourism industry then saw a lull due to war and other calamities. These were some of the ups and downs of the travel industry.” Recognised by the department of tourism, Government of India, Rajasthan Tours handles over 75 per cent of all tourist traffic to Rajasthan. The company provides individual travellers, or group, with complete services, inclusive of land and air travel, hotel accommodation, special itineraries, entertainment, including gala dinners and barbeques at their family farm, elephant, camels and boat rides, horse, jeep and camel safaris, expert multi-lingual guides and all travel related requirements. “I started my company with just two people and now I have 170 employees working across our eight offices. In the 80s I started with one coach and now have about 30-40 coaches and a fleet of about 100 paid vehicles. I believe in investing in manpower, and hence my staff members have been working with me for the last 30 years,” he points out. opened our first office in Rambagh Palace, Jaipur almost 50 years ago and now have branch offices in all major cities of Rajasthan - Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, besides asso-

ciates throughout India and abroad.” He adds, “In 1959, there were not many travellers and palaces. Rambagh Palace was the first palace to be converted into a hotel. Slowly tourism be-

Flowing with the tide Braving through the storm of working in an unpredictable industry, Singh changed his focus from initially catering to

only inbound tourists to domestic tourism. Reminiscing about those times, he says “I had no training or course for gaining expertise in the travel and tourism industry. Even in bad days when there were no tourists, I had to continue with my basic earnings. There were times during my 50 years of career in the travel industry, when I was contemplating on backing out from this industry when tourism witnessed a slowdown. Earlier inbound tourism opportunities were booming and we had good clientele, and likewise infrastructure in India was developing to cater to this demand. But suddenly due to the financial crisis in Europe and America, inbound tourism decreased in India.” He continues, “Then there was a mushrooming of small travel agents and big travel companies, and the market started becoming more competitive which gave rise to the cost war, bringing down the standards of the tourism industry. During this period, we evaluated the scenario and turned our focus to domestic tourism, which came to our rescue. In the last five years, Rajasthan witnessed 33 million domestic tourists and we are looking to attract 50 million by 2018.” Singh signs off by saying, “Tourism is a very different business and I have learnt and still follow this rule that 'the customer is always right'. That is how I have survived in this industry for so long.”

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

December 2015

MOVEMENTS HolidayIQ

Paytm

HolidayIQ has appointed VIKAS RANA as chief technical officer (CTO). He was previously the founder and CEO, Must See India. At HolidayIQ, Rana will strengthen the tech-

Paytm has brought on board Myntra’s head of mobile and digital business, ABHISHEK RAJAN to lead the vertical as vice president. Rajan, an IIMAhmedabad alumnus will be based out of Bengaluru and will primarily focus on scaling this category. This is his second stint at Paytm where he had earlier played a critical role in setting up the digital payments and e-commerce business.

Kuoni Group

Vikas Rana

nology team, scale infrastructure and lead technological innovation. Rana, a computer science graduate from IIT Delhi, has worked for more than five years in ‘Trilogy’ in enterprise software.

ZUBIN KARKARIA, CEO, VFS Global, has been appointed as CEO, Kuoni Group – VFS Global’s parent company. Karkaria is the first Indian to be appointed as the head of the 109-year old travel services company, and will concurrently continue in his function as the

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SkyTeam SkyTeam has appointed PERRY CANTARUTTI as chief executive officer and MICHAEL WISBRUNAS as chairman of the governing board. Cantarutti joins SkyTeam from Delta Air Lines where he held the position of senior vice president Europe, Middle East and Africa. During his five years in this role, Cantarutti was instrumental in maximising the profitability of the airline's trans-Atlantic operations and identifying growth opportunities for its joint venture with Air France, KLM and Alitalia.

SITA

MakeMyTrip MakeMyTrip has announced the appointment of DEEPAK TULI, former co-founder and COO, Goibibo, as senior vicepresident - growth business. In his new role, he will focus on building and implementing strategies for growing new business lines in the accommodations segment for the company. He comes with over 10 years of experience in the ecommerce ecosystem, with expertise in diverse areas including mobile platforms, digital marketing, product management, P&L management and CRM among others. Prior to Goibibo, he was a part of the launch team at Yatra, where he setup the non-air business for the company. He has done PGDBA in airlines and travel related business management from Sky Line Business School and has also completed Naspers Harvard Executive Management Programme in General Management.

porate HR function of Kuoni Group on an interim basis from 2013 till the beginning of 2015. He will be based in Dubai from where he will concurrently continue in his current VFS Global role. Martyris graduated from Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) in 1976.

Zubin Karkaria

CEO of VFS Global. He will continue to be based in Dubai, UAE. After exiting the tour operating business, Kuoni is aiming to accelerate the implementation of its new corporate strategy, and that will be one of Karkaria’s key priorities in his new role. BERNARD MARTYRIS, chief of human resources, VFS Global, has been appointed as group chief human resources officer of Kuoni Group. In this role, Martyris will be responsible for the overall group’s HR strategy, leadership development, and talent and performance management. He joined VFS Global in 2004 and led the cor-

SITA has appointed RANDY PIZZI as president – Americas. Pizzi will be responsible for developing and driving the strategic direction for SITA in the region and will be based at SITA’s America’s headquarters in Atlanta. Pizzi joins SITA from Rockwell Collins/ARINC where he held a number of key roles including the establishment, as managing director, of the Asia Pacific Division in Singapore. He then became VP of international business, based in London, where he was instrumental in expanding the company’s international airline communications and airport IT businesses.

STR STR has appointed ELIZABETH RANDALL-WINKLE as chief strategy officer. She is currently the managing director of London-based STR Global, and will begin her new role on January 1, 2016. She will be replaced at STR Global by Robin Rossmann, formerly

eRevMax eRevMax International, has appointed JYOTI KUMAR SARAF as chief financial officer to spearhead its international financial operations. Saraf joined the company as VP – finance in August this year and has now been promoted as chief financial officer following his performance over the last few months. Saraf will be overseeing all financial management and reporting, including corporate accounting for the company globally. Prior to joining eRevMax, Saraf was associated with Reliance Communications as assistant vice president, finance and commercial head. He has also worked

a senior director at Deloitte London. As chief strategy officer, she will oversee STR’s strategic initiatives, including the launch of its research, development and education department. Her team will be responsible for formalising the company’s strategic planning processes and assessing whether strategic initiatives, at all levels of the organisation, are in line with the company’s standards and objectives. She will also continue her involvement in global business as she joins the STR Global board of directors as chair in the second quarter of 2016.

Nordic Aviation Capital Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) has appointed SØREN MOVERGAARD as chief executive officer, effective immediately. Overgaard has played a key role within NAC’s senior management team for the past three years, joining in 2012 as chief financial officer. He previously held senior positions with blue chip trans-

with Usha Martin and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Saraf has completed chartered accountancy from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

portation company, the AP Moller Group, Maersk and Damco Europe.

Travelport Travelport has appointed STEPHEN SHURROCK as executive vice president and chief commercial officer, replacing Kurt Ekert who leaves the company at the end of the year, as the position relocates to the UK. Shurrock joins Travelport from Telefonica, where he is currently CEO of its consumer division, responsible for both the consumer business and digital divisions globally. Shurrock's appointment will become effective on January 4, 2016. As chief commercial officer, Shurrock will lead Travelport's customer-focused teams in air, agency, hospitality and digital media around the world, as well as have global responsibility for customer engagement, product strategy, marketing and market research. Based in Travelport's global headquarters in Langley, UK, Shurrock will report directly into president and CEO, Gordon Wilson.

BUSINESS AVENUES

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weekend

E V E N T S

JOINING FORCES Turkish Airlines was announced as the official partner of European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup during EPCR’s Tournament Launch for 2015/16 season at Twickenham Stoop, England

RELIEF EFFORT Airlink, a disaster response organisation, honoured Cathay Pacific Group for its work to support relief efforts in Nepal following the earthquake in April, at the Airline Economics conference in Hong Kong

WINNING ACCOLADES Winners of the Go-Karting and Bowling Championship hosted by Cathay Pacific for travel agents in Mumbai

CEMENTING TIES Etihad Airways signed a MoU with Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and Miral Asset Management at a ceremony held at Ferrari World theme park on Yas Island

FINEST FLEET

Dubai-based flydubai marked its fourth participation in the Dubai Airshow by showcasing its 50th aircraft, the newest and last aircraft to be delivered from the carrier’s historic order placed at the Farnborough International Airshow

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Qatar Airways showcased the best of its ultra-modern fleet, with three of the airline’s latest generation aircraft on display on the opening day of the Dubai Airshow

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NEW LAUNCHES Trafalgar launched its Summer 2016 products for Europe, Britain, The Americas, South Pacific and Asia through a product and sales conference for the India GSA partners held at Hotel Novotel Juhu in Mumbai

PROMOTING TOURISM TAAI’s Karnataka Chapter signed a MoU for three years with Garden City College of Management (Department of Tourism) in Bengaluru

HISTORIC LINKAGES A two-day international seminar on 'Kalinga-Lanka: Reviving Old Linkages and Exploring New Opportunities' was organised by the 'Kalinga-Lanka Foundation' at Bhubaneswar's Utkal University

STRONG REPRESENTATION A delegation of Odisha Tourism, led by L N

CULTURAL EXTRAVAGANZA The Ministry of Culture, Government of India

COLOURFUL PARADE The 'Parade through Macau, Latin City', an annual parade, was held in Macau to celebrate the 16th anniversary of Macau’s Handover to China

inaugurated the cultural festival of India, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav, at IGNCA, New Delhi

Gupta, principal secretary, department of tourism, Government of Odisha and A K Samal, director – tourism, participated at the World Travel Mart, London

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PRESENTING CEREMONY Umang Narula, chairman and MD, India Tourism

PLAYING POLO The HVR Baroda Polo Cup Tournament 2015 was held at the

Development Corporation (ITDC), on behalf of ITDC and Kumarakruppa Frontier Hotels, handed over two cheques to Mahesh Sharma, union tourism minister, towards dividend payment to the Government of India for 2014-15 during ITDC's 50th AGM held at The Ashok, New Delhi

Jaipur Polo Grounds in Delhi

SKILLING INDIA Bandaru Dattatreya (centre), minister for labour and employment, Government of India addressing the gathering at SKILLS2015 International Conference held at MSME centre in Hyderabad

STRATEGIC TIE-UP Thomas Cook (India)'s education and training vertical, Centre of Learning, launched a Global Immersion Programme THROUGH a strategic tie-up with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore in Mumbai

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December 2015

WORLD OF PENGUINS Penguins Plus, a partnership between Phillip Island Nature Parks and RACV, became the world-first penguin viewing experience following its official opening

PACKAGE LAUNCH L-R: Amod Thatte, head product and innovation tour operating, Kuoni India; Madhura Velankar, Marathi actress; Daniel Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;souza, head sales - India and NRI markets, tour operating, Kuoni India at the launch of KuoniSOTC's special tour package 'Brahman Mandal' at Courtyard by Marriot, Pune

REGD.WITH RNI UNDER MAHENG/15993/05, MH/MR/SOUTH-156/2013-15 PUBLISHED 11th OF EVERY MONTH AND POSTED ON 12, 13 & 14 OF EVERY MONTH POSTED AT MUMBAI PATRIKA CHANNEL SORTING OFFICE.