Express TravelWorld (Vol.14 No.1) February, 2019

V0L 14 NO. 01 PAGES 40

February 2019, `50

More comfy!

With wider seats on Boeing 777-200

EDITOR’S NOTE

The Nxt level 2019 commenced with events galore. From tourism boards, to the aviation industry from the world of hospitality to the cruise sector, the industry which makes people travel, was itself on the move. From our very own Express Food & Hospitality expo to other exhibitions in the travel space, the motive was to connect, reconnect, learn and unlearn. India's Tier II and Tier III cities are gaining prominence especially amidst the NTOs, who are moving into newer regions to position their country in new markets. This clearly reflects the changing face of the travel industry and the steady shift in the demand supply dynamics.

On the domestic front, the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India added a new chapter, which brings home a point that India's domestic business is looking buoyant.

This month also witnessed some interesting mergers and business collaborations in the MICE space. The tech space is also getting robust. Travel apps are addressing niche demands of consumers.

This issue will give you a crisp look into all the above mentioned industry trends and technology.

“ The Gen Nxt of the travel trade have a mind of their own.

They are keen observers,well grounded and with a passion to deliver.”

Our cover story this issue, takes you on a trip into the future. The Gen Nxt of the travel trade have a mind of their own. They are keen observers, well grounded and with a passion to deliver. It was interesting to hear how they evaluate and envision the future of this business, which many feel is getting tougher by the day in terms of survival. But the future leaders have their say on what and why they see this business working for them and how they have shaped their careers interestingly by design and not by default. Though they have a pedigree to match up to, they are ready with their respective formulae and frameworks to grow further.

We at Express TravelWorld firmly believe in the cause of responsible and sustainable tourism. We encourage any story that has made an impact towards this highly critical segment. We are glad to learn that the Gen Nxt is looking at working towards the cause with vigour.

REEMA LOKESH Editor editorial.etw@expressindia.com

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February 2019

CONTENTS SPOTLIGHT Vol 14 No 01 February 2019 Pages 40

30

Chairman of the Board Viveck Goenka

Sr. Vice President - BPD Neil Viegas

Asst. Vice President - BPD Harit Mohanty

FLYING FOR ALL The two-day Global Aviation Summit in Mumbai saw participation by 13 ministers and 800 delegates from 80 countries

Editor Reema Lokesh*

Assistant Editor Steena Joy

DESIGN Assistant Art Director Pravin Temble Chief Designer

IN FOCUS

Prasad Tate Senior Designer Rekha Bisht

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Graphics Designer Gauri Deorukhkar Senior Artist Ratilal Ladani DIGITAL TEAM Head of Internet Viraj Mehta

THE FIRST SWADESH DARSHAN PROJECT OPENS IN SIKKIM The project implemented under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of MoT, Government of India was sanctioned by the ministry in June 2015 for `98.05 crore and is the first ever project in Sikkim under the scheme

SCHEDULING & COORDINATION Arvind Mane

Photo Editor

(20-29)

Sandeep Patil MARKETING Prabhas Jha Debnarayan Dutta CIRCULATION Mohan Varadakar

MARKETS

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PRODUCTION General Manager B R Tipnis

ADTOI LAUNCHES MAHARASHTRA CHAPTER TO STRENGTHEN NETWORK IN WESTERN REGION

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‘WE BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE OF RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL VERY STRONGLY’

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“WILDTRAILS APP PROVIDES AN EASY WAY OF IDENTIFYING AND BOOKING WILDLIFE TRIPS”

Manager

SPOTLIGHT

Bhadresh Valia

Express TravelWorld® POSTAL REGD. NO. MCS/163/2019 – 21 RNI Reg. No.MAHENG/2005/15993

10

CLUB MAHINDRA AIMS TO EXPAND NETWORK INTO SRI LANKA AND BHUTAN

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IATA'S NEW PAYMENT METHOD FOR AIR TICKETS

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Printed by The Indian Express (P) Ltd. and published by Ms Vaidehi Thakar on behalf of

WE AIM TO FURTHER IMPROVE VISA SERVICES FOR OUR TRADE PARTNERS: NELISWA NKANI

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The Indian Express Press, Plot No. EL-208, TTC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai 400710 and Published from Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400021.

(Editorial & Administrative Offices: Express

P05 : EDITOR’S NOTE P37 : MOVEMENTS

Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021)

FAST FORWARD International tourist arrivals reach 1.4 billion two years ahead of forecasts

P38 : WEEKEND

Copyright © 2018 The Indian Express (P) Limited. 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

IN THE NEWS

ADTOI launches Maharashtra Chapter to strengthen network in Western region Reema Lokesh Mumbai THE ASSOCIATION of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), recently launched its Maharashtra Chapter with an aim to strengthen its network in the Western region. The chapter will work closely both with the public and the private sector players to further promote and position the tourism potential of the state.

Dharmendra Singh Chauhan, is the chairman, ADTOI, Maharashtra Chapter, along with his team namely Yogesh Lele as secretary and Nilesh Sharma as the treasurer of

the Chapter.

Speaking at the launch event in Mumbai, P P Khanna, president, ADTOI said, “Maharashtra has a wealth of tourism offerings and we are glad to open our Chapter in this vibrant region. We will now be able to work closely with our partners in this region. Our aim is to connect with more trade partners and increase our membership base so that we can work in others parts of Maharashtra and promote newer regions. The Chapter, has promised to take on work in various niche areas, like wildlife tourism, rural tourism and more.”

139 cruise ships carrying over 1.6 lakh passengers visited India in 2017-18: KJ Alphons ETW Staff Mumbai IN 2017-18, a total of 139 cruise ships carrying 1,62,660 passengers visited India at six major ports namely Mumbai Port, Mormugao Port, New Mangalore Port, Cochin Port, Chennai Port and Kolkata Port.

The five major ports of the country have been developed to attract cruise ships with dedicated terminals and other related infrastructure for berthing of cruise vessels and embarking and disembarking of cruise passengers.

The ministry of shipping has brought out a Vision Document with a view to develop India as a cruise shipping destination. The vision document

envisages to develop supporting infrastructure for cruise tourism at ports, to give special focus on developing the domestic cruise industry through policy supports, incentives and port infrastructure development. Separately, the ministry of shipping and ministry of tourism has jointly appointed a consultant for ‘Preparation of Action Plan for Development of Cruise Tourism in India'.

Cruise tourism operations augment local economic activities as business opportunities arise for supply for provisions, transport, hotels, bunkering, etc to cruise ships which generate direct and indirect employment and help in growth of local economy, said Alphons.

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IN THE NEWS

‘WE BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE OFRESPONSIBLE TRAVELVERYSTRONGLY’ Heena J Akhtar, Co-founder, tripXOXO, speaks about the company and it's future plans both in the B2B and B2C domain. By Reema Lokesh Explain in brief the functioning of tripXOXO? tripXOXO is a platform for the best selection of attractive activities experiences and things to- do, with affordable prices, fast confirmations and secured bookings. It caters majorly to all the domestic and international travelers for exciting and better vacations. Customers can choose experiences and activities from 100,000+ options across 250 categories across 140 countries.

What is the business model and what is the primary USP of the App? Our Business Model is majorly B2C and B2B and the primary USP of the tripXOXO app is to offer curated

activities to the travellers.

The following are some of the highlights of the App, namely, * easy discovery and booking, * discovery by location and mood, * mood meter – search by your mood, * split pay – friends can book together and pay separately for their own tickets, * real-time bookings for 95 percent of activities, * location based search, * voice search, *50 + Payment options How does it work as a tool to empower the travel trade both in India and globally?

At tripXOXO, we are empowering travel trade partners with real-time booking facility for 1 lac plus activities and transfers at 2000 airports. We are also offering online booking solution to ac-

The main aim is to provide digitization, e payments and global distribution for activity partners in India. There is vast selection of attractions (100,000+) with low prices, fast confirmations and secured bookings, 95 percent real time booking & 50+ payment options with multi-currency options too.

Heena J Akhtar

tivity providers in remote areas and smaller towns. Our focus is also to empower tour guides with latest technology, digitization and distribution of their services globally.

How do you plan to penetrate the market both online and offline?

We are planning to expand through digital marketing, partnership with tourism boards and partnership with travel and non-travel distribution companies.

What is the current usage?

Currently tripXOXO website has more than 5 lac cus-

tomers.

What are the visible competitors in your area of work?

Clear Trip activities and Klook would possibly be close to what we are doing in the B2C space, but looking at our overall vision, I think we have created a niche for ourselves. Further, we are looking at huge growth in the year 2019- 2020. Besides increasing our customer base and transaction, we are very keen on expanding our company focus and reach toward sustainable tourism products and associating with partners who are working in these field. As an organisation we believe in the cause of responsible travel very strongly.

Tourism Ireland introduces new brand campaign ‘Fill your heart with Ireland’ Reema Lokesh Mumbai TOURISM Ireland recently conducted a two city roadshow namely in Mumbai and New Delhi to reiterate its position in the India market. Tourism Ireland also introduces new brand campaign `Fill your heart with Ireland' at the recently held India sales mission Representatives from established Irish companies promoted the island of Ireland to Indian travelers, however with renewed focus and plan.

Nine Ireland's leading suppliers were part on this focused road

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show. The objective of the India Sales Mission, was both the buyers and suppliers to meet and to rediscover new business opportunities and re-enforce the old ties. Business links between the tourism companies from Ireland and the influential travel professionals in India were strengthened during the sales mission, through a busy programme of workshops, presentations and networking events.

Siobhan McManamy, Director of Markets, Tourism Ireland said, “We have a great connnect with the India market. From our culture to our people there is a lot of similarities between

the two countries. We want to showcase newer elements of the country to our Indian partners. Our sales mission is a key

element of our promotional programme in India. It will give our tourism partners a platform to inform and influence the Indian

travel trade about what the island of Ireland has to offer Tourism Ireland is committed to growing visitor numbers to the island of Ireland from India and our sales mission will play a significant role in helping us achieve this goal.”

The companies who were part of the mission are as follows, namely 1) Fáilte Ireland, 2) Tourism Northern Ireland, Tourism NI), 3) Guinness Storehouse, 4) Winterfell Castle – Game of Thrones Visitor Attraction, 5) Stena Line, 6) Hotel Solutions 7) The Savoy Hotel 8) The Andras Hotel Group, 9) Irish Rugby Tours.

IN THE NEWS

“WildTrails App provides an easy way of identifying and booking wildlife trips” Manjunath Gowda, CEO, WildTrails, speaks about the app that helps you book a wildlife trip with ease with almost sure sightings. By Reema Lokesh Explain in brief the functioning of the app?

We are a 2-year-old end-to-end wildlife holidays management company. WildTrails is reshaping the wildlife tourism industry with a solution that uses data analytics, modern technologies, and AI/machine learning to deliver a personalized delightful experience for Wildlife Travelers. WildTrails is growing at100 percent in revenues quarter over quarter. WildTrails App provides an easy way of identifying and booking wildlife trips for the top exotic wildlife destinations across the world. WildTrails manages the end-to-end trip right from your flights, to wildlife resorts to wildlife safaris to pick-up/drops from local airports to even local experiences including 16-hr support via direct chat with our support staff via our App (in the event of any delays or last-minute issues to any general queries about your plan or destination) and WildTrails Support.

What is the business model and what is the primary USP of the App? We sell wildlife packages to our customers. Like a platform, we make profits on both the supply and demand side. We are the world’s first and only company to bring sightings data analytics into planning Wildlife Holidays. We are also the pioneers in applying data mining and analytics, AI, Machine learning to deliver a truly customized wildlife experience at a scale that is unmatched today allowing us to reduce the time to book a trip from few weeks to just a few hours.

How does it work as a tool to em-

rankings and engagements are very high and of course articles in main media and our Ads in Google and social media and also word of mouth (we have amazing testimonials) is helping us get more customers.

What is the current usage?

We are more than 50,000 downloads of the app both iOS and Android combined with 20 percent of it being monthly active users and we have more than 30,000 unique users a month to our website.

Manjunath Gowda

power the travel trade both in India and globally?

Booking a wildlife package to anywhere in the world is a very complex process and takes your time, commitment and hard work and which also make a lot of people drop it. But Wildtrails makes the whole process so simple and can be done within a couple of hours (we say now you can book a wildlife package on your Uber ride to your office). The Convenience and our USP Sighting Index and Recent Sightings Info is going to open up Wildlife Tourism to mainstream rather than just being only to hard cores. It's going to open up in India too in a big way and mainly the Tiger Tourism is going to attract a lot of westerns who are big on wildlife to India. Tiger tourism is going to be the Gateway of Indian wildlife and then other species will catch up a big way How do you plan to penetrate the market both online and offline?

We have a very good SEO, we come in the first page of Google for many keywords that matter in wildlife and also our social media

What are the visible competitors in your area of work?

Anybody who currently offers wildlife holidays like traditional tour operators and travel companies are our competitors. However, we feel that in all industries, technology and platform capabilities will win in the long run. Most of our current competitors have a website at the best, but we have added new capabilities - bringing animal sighting data and analytics for planning wildlife holidays, which is what matters to wildlife travelers. Also Getting an Automated Booking System for Wildlife Trip is the hardest thing and so far no one in the world has done this and we are the first to do it. We also see someday Google and Amazon can give us a run for our money as they bring technology and platform to tourism. But even in that case they don't have the sightings info and metrics which is very hard to collect and to recreate (historical data) and that is where we have a huge edge compared to anyone. We even have images and video with a time stamp and you know what's happening over there in the recent past.

Youth travel on the rise for Kumbh 2019 ETW Staff Mumbai IXIGO KUMBH travel survey conducted across 11,000+ respondents reveals that 66% travellers for Kumbh 2019 are millennials between 15-35 year age bracket ixigo, India’s leading travel marketplace has conducted a survey on travel trends for the upcoming Ardh Kumbh Mela 2019, which has revealed that youth travel is on the rise with 66 per cent Indian millennials between the age bracket of 15-35 opting to visit the upcoming cultural event.

The survey conducted by ixigo, further revealed that 38 per cent respondents are travelling to Kumbh this year for an overall cultural experience over spirituality and religious rituals like auspicious bathing (snans). Trains have emerged as the most preferred mode of travel for Kumbh with 83 per cent respondents travelling by train while six per cent and 5 per cent travellers are opting for flights and buses respectively. The travel trend survey was conducted in tier I and tier II cities across India.

Survey findings also indicate that 60 per cent travellers are leaning towards budget hotel options ranging between Rs. 500 – Rs 3000 per night, followed by 22 per cent willing to spend between Rs 3000 – Rs 5000 per night. There is also a significant rise in homestay preferences, with over 15 per cent respondents opting to book a homestay over a hotel. Only three per cent of the respondents are willing to spend above Rs 10,000 per night on their Kumbh accommodation.

The trend report also went on to reveal that 47 per cent travellers would prefer to receive Kumbh updates through social media posts and video content on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, which is also being driven in a big way through Kumbh promotion campaigns by the government on social media platforms. Commenting on the above findings, Aloke Bajpai, CEO & co-founder, ixigo said,"Over the years, the mela has evolved into a mega-scale cultural event, set in a combination of trend with tradition.We have seen an average of 30 per cent increase in travel searches from youngsters and working professionals hailing from cities like Pune, Nasik, Chennai, Bhopal and Hyderabad. To cater to this growing demand, we have also launched the Ardh Kumbh information page on our trains app , providing people news updates, transport information, hotel availability, videos, etc. on Ardh Kumbh 2019.” Ardha Kumbh this year has organised a series of events and activities like Yuva Kumbh aimed towards raising awareness on the upliftment of cultural values and the rich heritage of India amongst the youth. Yuva Kumbh recently saw close to 5,000 youngsters gather together to share their views on the modernisation of education, culture and development of India.

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IN THE NEWS

Club Mahindra aims to expand network into Sri Lanka and Bhutan Reema Lokesh Mumbai CLUB MAHINDRA, aims to expand its network in the SAARC region with plans to fore into Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The aim is to provide its customer base more destinations to choose from both national and international.

The company has also invested further in technology and has built a strong back office system to meet and address customer needs and to

Kavinder Singh

bring in a rather seamless guest feedback and delivery system. The club also also introduced Club M Select, which is an exclusive members-only program promising to them a curation of premium products and offerings.

Speaking about the expansion plans and its commitment to offer quality service to its customers, Kavinder Singh, MD and CEO, Mahindra Holidays and Resorts India, said, “We are committed to our customers and hence invest heav-

ily for their benefit. We have resorts spread across India both in popular and unexplored destinations. I would like to proudly say we have been instrumental in creating some unique tourism destinations. We have also invested in the F&B space by providing our guests with quality services. We are also focused to take forward the case of sustainable and responsible tourism through our specalisation. Guest experience for us is paramount and hence we

have placed champs at our resorts, who are our own staff who are trained to provide our guests with a unique stay experience and provide them with quality leisure activities and soft adventure activities through out the day.” He was clear that the company is committed to further venture into new unexplored destinations within India and would like to spread their name into other known destinations internationally. The SAARC expansion is part of this plan.

Jalesh byZen Cruises aims to bring in sea change in the cruise tourism sector in India Reema Lokesh Mumbai THE CRUISING sector in India seems to be undergoing a sea change. From plans to finally the propellers starting to move, Mumbai is scheduled to witness the christening of India’s first established passenger cruise liner, dedicated as a cruise tourism initiative on April 19, 2019 in Mumbai.

Jalesh is being launched by Zen Cruises, an Essel Group Enterprise. The cruise promises to offer its clientele both domestic and international itineraries along with a host of entertainment and a complete Indian and international experience from cuisine to culture. The ship also promises to be user friendly to senior citizens and differently abled passengers, following the required guidelines. Jalesh Cruises, a 2,000 passenger capacity vessel aims to target vacationers, corporates, wedding planners and event organisers to offer new experiences customised for In-

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dian audiences.

Jurgen Bailom, president and CEO, Zen Cruises said, “Zen Cruises is pioneering cruise holidays for Indian passengers in both domestic and international waters. Our premiere brand Jalesh Cruises believes in upholding the spirit, culture and values of ‘Incredible India’ by contributing to the growth of tourism and allied businesses in India. Jalesh Cruises will be a wholesome experience to cruisers who will get the best of culinary experiences, accommodation, wellness and retail therapy, adventure and entertainment, all packed together in one exotic vacation.”

Bailom added, “Zen Cruises wants to grow the cruise market as a whole in India. Our aim is to touch, delight and fulfil the lives of a million Indians and make them travel worldwide by 2025.”

To give a wholesome experience of vacation to cruise passengers, Jalesh Cruises will also offer onshore destinations

and excursions across Indian port cities including Chennai, Kochi, Mormugoa, Mumbai, Vizag and international locations including Abu Dhabi, Colombo, Dubai, Muscat, Penang, Ras Al Khaimah and Singapore.

Speaking exclusively to ETW about this India initiative in the cruising space, Sanjay Bhatia, secretary, Govt of India,

Mumbai Port Trust, said, “We are ready to welcome the ship.

Keeping in view the competitive environment we have reduced the port charges for the vessels and are now open to more business in the passenger cruising space. We are also putting in the right and much needed infrastructure in place to strengthen the cruise tourism initiative in India.”

Supporting his views, Ashish Kumar Singh, principal secretary, transport and port home department, Government of India, said, “The Maharashtra Government is providing complete support to develop this sector in the state.

We are ready to develop more ports along the Konkan belt and give visitors a quality experience.”

IN THE NEWS

IATA's new payment method for air tickets

GreekTourism aims to tap India outbound business Reema Lokesh Mumbai

ETW Staff Mumbai THE INTERNATIONAL Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the successful completion of the first “IATA Pay” ticket purchase transaction in a live test environment. The transaction was conducted in partnership with ipagoo, a UK-based fintech company.

IATA Pay is an industry-supported initiative to develop a new payment option for consumers when purchasing a ticket directly from an airline website. It is made possible by the European Commission’s second Payment Services Directive (PSD2), and the UK’s Open Banking regulation. These regulations encourage use of socalled direct debit transactions in which payments are made from the customer’s bank account directly into the bank account of the merchant. This method offers an extremely high level of security to both user and recipient and can be instantaneous.

IATA’s role is to develop an industry solution enabling airlines to make this payment op-

tion available on their websites. The live test conducted with ipagoo was done under the UK’s Open Banking framework with IATA Pay pilot airlines, including Cathay Pacific Airways, Scandinavian Airlines and Emirates.

For airlines, the advantages of IATA Pay are: ● Cheaper payment option compared to other alternatives ● Highly secure ● Faster cashflow with instant/near instant payment to the merchant ● Simpler payment process resulting in fewer lost sales.

For consumers the benefits include access to a new, simpler method of payment that is highly secure.

“Today’s consumers, and especially millennials, have expectations of multiple payment options including mobile and peer-to-peer. IATA Pay responds to these expectations.

At the same time, airlines are trying to manage significant card payment costs – US$ 8 billion per year and rising. A large part of this cost is in-

curred in direct purchases from airline websites. One of IATA’s strategic objectives is to support airlines’ financial sustainability including controlling costs,” said Aleksander Popovich, IATA’s senior vice president of financial and distribution services.

Carlos Sanchez, CEO, ipagoo said, “We are delighted to have completed the first Open Banking live transaction for the airline industry, helping IATA and its member airlines to achieve their goals of operational and financial efficiency. ipagoo’s technology provides a secure, multi-country banking service for IATA. We are at the forefront of development and innovation within the financial industry and committed to helping businesses and their clients take advantage of the opportunities provided by Open Banking.”

IATA is also working with Deutsche Bank on a prototype for Europe (excluding the UK), starting with the German market, which is expected to undergo testing in early 2019. Following this, IATA will validate the concept with the intention to expand to other regions.

INDIA is a golden goose for most international destinations with Greece being no exception. Greek National Tourism Organisation, has announced its commitment toward the India market and is looking at collaborating on various workshops and programmes both in the B2B and B2C space. From leisure touirsm to MICE the country is prepared to showcase its tourism highlights and work with channel partners to promote the region. From weddings tourism to gastronomy tourism, from sports tourism to incentive travel, the tourism board is has marked out a strategy to connect with the right audience through the travel trade.

Konstantinos Tsegas, secretary general, Greek National Tourism Organ-

isation, in an exclusive with Express TravelWorld, speaks about the plans and programmes for the India market. He said, “I am the ambassador of tourism for my country and I feel India is an important inbound market for Greek Tourism and eventually we may consider opening an office in India. From sports to wedding tourism, we are keen to bring in travellers across segments.” He futher added that, Greek Tourism are working on improving the visa processes and educate the trade further on the product offerings across niches. The tourism office also feels sports events such as marathons, which is the authentic marathon that takes place every year in the first week of November, will be an added attractions to Indian visitors.

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IN THE NEWS

We aim to further improve visa services for our trade partners: Neliswa Nkani Reema Lokesh Mumbai SOUTH AFRICAN (SA) Tourism recently conducted a focused road show to reconnect and further strengthen ties with the trade. The roadshow featured product lines across specialisations, namely DMCs, airlines, luxury resorts, hotels, attractions etc.

The tourism board lead by Neliswa Nkani, hub head, MEISEA, South African Tourism, was articulate and forthcoming in her speech and showed commitment to provide the trade with seamless visa experiences and service. She has been newly appointed to take on the role and has lined up some concrete plans to strengthen ties between the two countries in the tourism space. She is keen to strongly bring in and open up new tourism areas of the region. The board has identified some accredited tour operators, who will have a rather direct connect with the visa team and also work closely with SA tourism if they face any bottlenecks with visa services. Further, her focus is also to showcase the East of Cape and the Kwazulu-Natal region for the India market amidst others. She feels these destinations have a lot to offer that will resonate with the India market.

Speaking at the occasion and in an exclusive with Express TravelWorld, Nkani, said, “India and South Africa have a deep connect. I am ex-

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Neliswa Nkani

tremely excited about the India market and we value our Indian travelers. South Africa has always been open for business and Indians have found the place interesting for business and well as leisure. For me India is home away from home. I am keen to offer my Indian trade partners a rather seamless visa experience. We are also hoping for improved air connectivity between the countries and direct flights.

This will provide a major boost to tourism even further.

We are also keen to introduce newer regions for our India partners.” South African Tourism has been working closely with the Consulate General of South Africa in Mumbai to introduce an updated visa procedure. Consul General Maropene Ramokgopa said, “In an effort to ease visa procedures, the Con-

sulate of South Africa is working in close association with South African Tourism. We are collaborating to accredit select travel agents and tour operators to allow fast-tracking visa applications from preferred partners. We ensure a quick turnaround time of 5-7 days which is a lot shorter than some of our competitors" Adding further light on the road show, SA tourism aims to surpass the target of 100,000 Indian visitors to South Africa in the current year. 56-member South African trade delegation, that included 6 new SMMEs, reiterated the tourism board’s emphasis on expanding the destination and product offering. As per statistics from the board, for the period of January to September 2018, Mumbai contributed 45 percent to the overall Indian arrivals to South Africa while Delhi was at 17.4 percent, Chennai at 7.7 percent and Kolkata at 1.6 percent. Over 1300 Indian travel agents attended the interactive roadshow sessions to better synergize and address the ever evolving demands of the Indian traveller.

With 86,405 arrivals as of November 2018, the destination board shared a positive outlook for the Indian market, noting that as of June 2018, total spend by Indian travellers in South Africa had increased by 20 percent and that there was an upswing in the average length of stay (+7.7 percent) and total bed nights (+4 percent).

fleetx.io raises preseries Afunding from India Quotient & LetsVenture ETW Staff Mumbai GURGAON based intelligent fleet management and predictive analytics platform, fleetx.io, raised an undisclosed amount of funding from India Quotient and LetsVenture’s Angel fund.

This round also saw participation from Arun Tadanki (Former MD of Yahoo Southeast Asia & India), Ajay Prabhu (CFO, Quest Global), Prashanth Susarla (Ex-CTO, PayU Payments), Sajid Rahman (CEO, Telenor Health) and Aditya Pratap Singh (Director, Bookmyforex.com), Vibhu Garg (Co-founder, Unicommerce) and other investors. fleetx is a suite of products to help fleets of all sizes digitize, monitor, and optimise fleet and logistics operations. fleetx’s data platform uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to help fleet owners improve their efficiency, safety and make smart and better decisions.

The intelligent fleet management data platform was founded in July 2017 by IIT, NIT and Purdue alumni, Vineet and his co-founders Abhay Jeet Gupta, Udbhav Rai, Parveen Kataria and Vishal Misra, all with over 10 years of technology and operations experience. The company will use the fresh funding on product and tech enhancement and growth. The company will also use a part of the funds raised to drive expansion in other cities across India. Earlier last year, fleetx raised an angel round from FirstCheque.vc, Ankush Nijhawan & Gaurav Bhatnagar (founders, travelboutiqueon-

line.com), Manish Dhingra (founder, Mediology), Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar (founders, ixigo.com), Prashant Kumar (CTO, unbxd.com) and others.

"Our mission is to build an intelligent and easy to use platform which can seamlessly manage end to end operations of any fleet or logistics company. We believe that fleet management is not only about GPS tracking, there are other critical day to day operations which if not managed efficiently can impact the bottomline of any fleet and logistics business. We want to bring these operations online and optimize the fleet performance, by leveraging artificial intelligence, big data and IoT technology to disrupt the traditional way of doing fleet management," says Vineet Sharma, CEO and co-founder, fleetx. “What attracted us the most towards fleetx is that it’s trying to fix a big pain-point for fleet owners. Their one stop solution gives a monthly 10-15 percent savings in fleet operations costs for companies and fleet owners. The adoption of the platform among fleet owners makes us believe that this business is truly headed north, with a huge room to expand and scale further up,” Gagan Goyal, Partner at India Quotient, said. “We are very excited about this investment, especially about the team, their technology and domain expertise and how they have been able to prove themselves in such a short duration already. We are looking forward to this association,” said Shanti Mohan, Founder, LetsVenture

IN THE NEWS

Sri Lanka to position itself as a weddings and adventure tourism destination for the India market Reema Lokesh Mumbai SRI LANKA, which has established itself as a destination for beaches tourism, Buddhist trails, heritage and culture, is all set to focus on a new business segment, namely the wedding planners.

The aim is to position the destination as a preferred one for wedding tourism and also an adventure tourism destination.

John A E Amaratunga, minister of tourism and Christian religious affairs, Sri Lanka, on his recent visit to India clearly indicated that the destination is aiming to move beyond the obvious and project itself to-

John A E Amaratunga

ward newer tourism businesses. Amaratunga in an exclusive with Express TravelWorld, said, “We are very keen

to strengthen our tourism ties with India. We have been natural partners since generations.

We are here to offer our country as an ideal wedding tourism destination. We are working on inviting quality wedding planners from India on a focused familiarisation trip to showcase our country and its offerings in the wedding space.” The destination also aims to promote the newer attractions in the soft adventure space. From hills and mountain biking, to aviation sports and more. MICE, wedding and leisure business gains further impetus as SriLankan Airlines is well connected and offers services from various destinations from India, he added.

Austria holds 3-city roadshow ETW Staff Mumbai AUSTRIAN NATIONAL Tourist Office (ANTO), recently conducted a three city road show in India to connect with the travel fraternity and reiterate Austria's position as a tourism destination in the India market. The annual roadshow from held from February 4 to February 8, 2019. The roadshow was held in three cities; namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Delhi. Delegates from local tourist boards, incoming agencies, attractions, hotels and travel partners were part of the roadshow to showcase Austria as a destination for summer 2019.

Partners from Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Swarovski Crystal World informed the media about the growth of visitor ar-

Thomas Bachinger-Vienna tourist board; Christine Mukharji-Director, Austrian National Tourist Office India; Andreas Reiter- Innsbruck Tourist Office; Christiane Gasser - Swarovski Crystal Worlds and Klemens Kollenz - Salzburg Tourist Office

rivals from India in 2018 and laid down the plans for 2019. Speaking at the event, and Austria's position in the India market, Christine Mukharji, director, ANTO, said, "Austria witnessed 192, 900 arrivals from India in 2018, which was a 8.6 per cent increase from 2017 and the overnights went up

to 351,300 which is a 8.4 per cent increase from last year. India is one of the important markets for us. We believe Austria is the perfect destination for Indian families and offers everything for the Indian traveller: from culture, history to shopping, adventure sports and soft sport activities.”

Kannur International Airport will bring a fundamental change to the region socially and economically: VThulasidas Reema Lokesh Mumbai KERALA now has its fourth international airport, with Kannur International Airport becoming operational on December 9, 2018. The airport functions as an international airport with connections to the Middle East and and few regions in India. The airport was planned and built from its inception as an international airport. The 3050 metres long runway with a provision to extend the runway to 4000 metres and an apron with multiple aircraft ramp systems, the airport is built to meet the future aviation demand that the country is pitched to generate.

After his retirement as CMD of Air India, V Thulasidas, MD, Kannur International Airport, took up the responsibility of planning and developing this airport. In an exclusive with Express TravelWorld, he says, “It was a greenfield airport and we had to build it from scratch. My job was to acquire land for the airport. We had to appoint a contractor and a consultant.

This airport has been planned and built from day one only as an international airport. The first flight that took off was an international one. We will get three more airlines to start flights from summer.”

V Thulasidas

Speaking about non aero revenue, Thulasidas was quick to respond, as he feels today no airport can survive on only aeronautical revenue. The airport has a huge land area and aims to increase the non aero revenue to 50 per cent, which will help them reach break even soon. Speaking about the airport becoming a tourism game changer, he said, “Many regions will benefit due to this airport especially regions of North Kerala and Coorg in Karnataka. From handlooms to tourism, this airport will make these regions far more connected and accessible. The airport will bring in fundamental change to the region socially and economically.”

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IN THE NEWS

Development Report prepared for islands in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep ETW Staff Mumbai THE HOLISTIC development of identified islands in the country has been taken up

by NITI Aayog. The final Site Potential Development Report has been prepared for four islands in Andaman & Nicobar namely Smith, Ross, Long and Aves Islands and five islands in Lakshadweep namely Minicoy, Bangaram, Thinnakara, Cheriyam and Suheli Islands.Tourism based projects have been identified in Long, Aves, Smith and Neil Islands of A&N and Minicoy, Kadamat and Suheli Islands of Lakshadweep while according priority to air and sea con-

nectivity and the construction of an airport at Minicoy in Lakshadweep by the Indian Air Force.

The ministry of tourism has also sanctioned a project for `42.19 crore during 2016-17 for Development of a Coastal Circuit (Long Island-Ross Smith Island- Neil IslandHavelock Island- Baratang Island-Port Blair) in Andaman & Nicobar under the coastal thematic circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme for development of island tourism in the country.

Islands Development Agency (IDA) has been constituted on June 1, 2017 under the chairmanship of the home minister, Government of India to oversee the

comprehensive development of islands. Further, a committee has been constituted in NITI

Aayog to recommend a roadmap for harnessing the development potential of Little An-

daman and Great Nicobar Islands in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

JTB India selects Cvent to elevate the MICE experience in APAC ETW Staff Mumbai JTB has selected Cvent, to provide the company and its customer base with event management solutions that will help boost their business. The partnership highlights JTB India’s focus on addressing the complex and diverse needs of its clients providing them with solutions through the use of technology.

Cvent’s technology will allow JTB, which manages more than 100 events in a year, to streamline their manual event planning processes and drive better efficiency and productivity within their overall events program.

Commenting on the partnership, Norio Nakamura (aka DOJO San), Managing Director at JTB India said, “We are extremely pleased to partner with Cvent in our efforts to become a ‘pioneer of Solutions Businesses within JTB Group’. As market leaders, both JTB and Cvent are well-positioned to help drive in-

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novation in the meetings and events industry in the Asia Pacific region. We will also be happy to share the knowledge and expertise with other JTB offices across the globe, so they are able to scale their events programs quickly and successfully with Cvent’s solutions.” JTB India will utilize the full spectrum of Cvent’s event management offerings including online registration, onsite badging and check-in, mobile event apps, and feedback

and reporting solutions – helping to optimize the entire event management value chain. The ‘Gold Partnership’ agreement between JTB India and Cvent comes against the backdrop of growing demand for event management technology within the Asia Pacific region. The global MICE industry is growing exponentially and is projected to reach $1,245 billion* in 2023 and the Asia Pacific region is forecasted to see the highest growth rate of 8.6

percent during the projection period. As industry leaders, both JTB and Cvent are committed to enhancing the live events experience for their customers and to help professionals around the world scale their events programs.

Speaking on the partnership, Sandeep Nagpal, VP, Marketing at Cvent said, “We began our partnership with JTB in 2014 and it’s been extremely fulfilling.

We have been proud supporters

of their mission to bring impactful experiences to customers by delivering solutions that help drive success. At Cvent, we believe in the power of live events and we look forward to providing JTB and their customers the technology they need most to execute memorable events.” Sharing his comments, Anil Srinivasan, ED, JTB India said, “The collaboration of Cvent and JTB India aims to bring advanced event technology solutions that will help solve the complex and diverse needs of the customers. Technology is essential to scale our Strategic Meeting Management [SMM] vertical and we work with multinational clients like Siemens, L’Oréal, Dassault Systems, and Capgemini with their SMM needs. There is a lot of untapped potential for the MICE industry, and we aim to encourage and nurture this growth by providing best-in-class technology solutions, like Cvent, to our clients for them to make a lasting business impact through live events.”

IN THE NEWS

Express Food & Hospitality concludes another successful edition in Mumbai Upcoming shows in Goa (April), Bengaluru (June) and Hyderabad (September) ETW Staff Mumbai THE 35TH edition of Express Food & Hospitality Expo, witnessed the who’s who of the food and hospitality industry visiting the tradeshow. The three-day exhibition, organised by The Indian Express Group and Global Fairs & Media, was inaugurated by chief guests, Gurbaxish Kohli, president, Hotels & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI); Mohan Deshpande, chairman, Hospitality Purchase Manager Forum (HPMF); Dr Prabodh Halde, chairman, All India Food Processors Association (AIFPA) and head regulatory, Marico; Chef Michael Swamy, Graduate of Cordon Bleu Culinary School London, food consultant, food writer and food stylist; Jurgen Pannagger, head of global sales, Citrocasa and Kim Jong Boo, director, Kuvings.

Speaking on the occasion, Kohli said, “This is the largest trade show for food and hospitality industry in Maharashtra. Being a participant every year, I have seen the event grow in size.” Saying that it is important to involve the farmers in the food sector, Halde said, “Food & beverage is a recession free sector.

We must promote food startups in India. Most of the startups are mostly in IT sector. Why not food? India is a huge market for food and beverage and we must leverage on it.”

In his address, Deshpande said, “Our main objective through this event is to meet and network with new people from the hospitality industry. Our organisation is associated with purchase managers throughout the country. We look forward to know new trends in the hospitality industry and developing our managers.”

Chef Michael said, “The event has successfully brought industry and chefs together.

There are lots chef setting trends in market, and also want to share their views. So this event is right platform for them.”

Followed by the inauguration there was a GMs Conclave where leading general managers like Sameer Sud, The Leela Mumbai; Nicholas Dumbell, Renaissance; Puneet Singh, Grand Hyatt; Kuldeep Bhartee, ITC Grand Central; Amit Kumar Sharma, Amanora The Ferns Hotel & Club Pune and Ravi Khubchandani, Novotel Hyderabad Airport shared their views on How F&B is driving revenues in Hotels.

The first day ended with the Business Excellence Honours where 10 unique brands were recognised for their outstanding contributions to the food and

hospitality sectors. The winners: Accommodation Portal (Booking.com), Cafe Chains (Chai Point), Restaurant Chain (Barcelos), Unique Accommodation (LetsCampOut), Smart Hotel (Urban Pod), Innovative F&B (Authenticook), Innovative Food App (Box8), Millennial Accommodation (Zostel),Young Turk (Karan Tanna, founder, Yellow Tie Hospitality) and CSR (Cat Cafe Studio).

The second day saw a panel discussion on Food Retail: Fast Forward to 2020. The Hospitality Think Tank had six esteemed panelists: Umesh Kamble, founder & CEO, Farm to Fork Solutions and member of Association of Food Scientists & Technologists India (AFSTI), Mumbai Chapter; Neha Dave, B2B head, Travel Food Services; Amuleek Singh Bijral, cofounder & CEO, Chai Point; Ro-

hit Malhotra, business head, Barcelos – Indian Operations; Kartikay Mehta, vice president sales, Unibic Foods India and Sahil Gilani, director, sales and marketing, Gits Foods.

On the third day, a panel discussion on the topic, ‘Can India Ever Stop Procuring Goods From China’, was conducted by HPMF. Eminent panelists included Nitin Nagrale from

Foodlink, Mahendra Shinde from Kapco, Teckbahadur Sarke from Sahara Star and Rayan Rodrigues from K Hospitality.

Organised by India’s leading media publication The Indian Express, the expo featured workshops, conferences, seminars and live competitions including the Great Indian Culinary Challenge (GICC) in which nearly 150 chefs.

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IN THE NEWS

Budget 2019 Reactions Some of the industry leaders gave their reactions to the Budget 2019 presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal recently.

“We congratulate the government for presenting a forward-looking and progressive interim budget.This budget while announcing financial sops for MSME’s, farm and health sectors that form the backbone of the economy and tax relief for the middle class, also sufficiently prioritized infrastructure for railways and airports by allocating hefty investment to add fillip to ongoing progress. For airlines, the business has grown exponentially in the last year as UDAN Yojana has made travel possible for anybody and everybody.This has put an unexpected burden on airports severely crowding them.There is an urgent need to upscale existing airports and introduce the stipulated 100-mark operational airports soon, to cater to an ever-increasing demand.We now await the implementation of the promises made.”

Dr. Ankur Bhatia, Executive Director, Bird Group & Member of CII’s Core Committee on Aviation

“The union budget has a positive ring to it and lays down the roadmap for robust growth.

100th airport opening in India, number of flyers which has doubled in the last 5 years and 27 km of roadways being built everyday (the fastest in the world) have all meant that more and more people are traveling than ever before and thus the demand for quality accommodation which is on the rise.”

J B Singh, President and CEO, InterGlobe Hotels

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“While the Interim Union Budget 2019 has seen no direct mention of the travel and tourism sector, focus on tax breaks for the Middle Cl ass (including doubling of income-tax exemption to Rs 5 Lakhs, raising of the threshold on bank fixed deposit interest to Rs 40, 000, etc.), will result in increased disposable in come and a cascading boost to consumption- offering the sector an opportunity for increased travel & tourism spends. Impetus to associated industries including the Indian Railways with a budget outlay of Rs 1,48,650 cr., a specific focus on untapped sister states Meghalaya and Tripura, along with 19,000 cr. allocation to roadways under PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna) will see enhanced access and connectivity bringing newer tourism destinations on the radar, especially in Tier II and III regions.”

Mahesh Iyer, ED and CEO, Thomas Cook (India)

IN THE NEWS “The move by the government to increase the tax exemptions will lead to additional savings thereby leading to more discretionary spends and travel and tourism can be one of the beneficiaries The overall emphasis on improving rural connectivity with an outlay of Rs 190 billion will lead to easier access to key tourism destinations which are located in rural and semi-rural areas.

Furthermore, the government’s continued emphasis on the North East by allocating additional resources to the region will dramatically improve the connectivity and give a boost to tourism.”

“Increased in personal tax limit will see higher disposable income and with the ever-expanding food sector and delivery module in place, we see higher share of wallet coming to F&B sector. Happy to see relief for farmers and labourers, all in all a positive step to strengthen the purchasing power, which was much needed. Complete digitalisation of tax assessment is a welcome step. Interim Union Budget 2019 promises to be progrowth and ushers a new era of transparency.”

Puneet Gulati, CEO, Barista

Peter Kerkar, Group CEO, Cox & Kings

“India is poised to become a $5 trillion economy in the next five years and is aspiring to become a $10 trillion economy in the next 8 years thereafter.

The interim budget announced promising initiatives that will definitely augur well for the Indian Travel & Tourism industry. Initiatives such as UDAAN, Eastern Peripheral Highway and several other measures will boost not just domestic travel but also augment inbound tourism. For example, increased connectivity in the North-Eastern region of India, through rail, road and air (owing to projects such as UDAAN and Bogibeel

Bridge) and further proposed allocation of INR 58,166 crore will provide much needed impetus to travel and tourism in the region.Additionally, the fact that domestic passenger traffic has doubled during the last five years shows that there is phenomenal growth expected in the travel industry. On the whole, the interim budget is promising for the travel industry, complemented by further tax rebate for the middle income group – more savings, more travel!”

Rakshit Desai, MD, FCM Travel Solutions - Indian Subsidiary of Flight Centre Travel Group, Australia

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IN THE NEWS

Qatar Airways is the official airline partner of the Qatar-India Year of Culture 2019 ETW Staff Mumbai QATAR AIRWAYS is the official airline partner for the QatarIndia Year of Culture 2019, marking the beginning of a year-long collaboration that will see both nations jointly celebrate their unique cultural legacies.

Developed by Qatar Museums, the Qatar-India Year of Culture 2019 will invite audiences in both Qatar and India to explore their cultural heritage through an exciting array of programmes, including a variety of Qatari-Indian exhibitions, musical performances, fashion, film and artistic events.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive, H E Akbar Al Baker, said, “We are delighted to be the official airline partner of the Qatar-India Year of Culture 2019, taking place in both Qatar and India. As an airline, we believe that culture is a universal connector that brings people together, and this year-long event will enable both societies to share a mutual path of understanding and appreciation of each other. Qatar Airways also looks forward to being the bridge between both countries by bringing more travellers from

India to Doha, so that they can experience Qatar’s incredible hospitality and cultural heritage throughout the year.”

The Year of Culture programme, developed under the patronage of H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums, has continued to grow under her leadership each passing year, with the Qatar-Russia Year of Culture 2018 programme being the largest cultural collaboration to date.

Qatar Museums acting CEO, Ahmad Al Namla, said, “Since its launch with the Qatar-Japan Year of Culture 2012, the Years of Culture programme has been building bridges between Qatar and the world, celebrating both our similarities as well as our differences. After several successful editions, we are pleased to launch Qatar-India Year of Culture 2019. Our two countries have long enjoyed a close partnership, one that extends beyond economic ties. Our aspiration is that the Year of Culture programme will further strengthen our existing ties, encourage new encounters, and spur creativity and curiosity among the new generations of

both countries, so that they may feel inspired to achieve great things together.”

He added, “Throughout this year, we are going to see great works of art, international collaboration and beautiful showcases of the vibrant cultural history of our two countries. We are proud to partner with Qatar Airways as the Official Airline Partner for Qatar-India Year of Culture 2019, which is a testament to the close collaboration between our countries’ institutions.”

In Qatar, residents and visi-

tors to the country will be able to enjoy the Year of Culture experience at the Doha International Book Fair 2019, where India will be the Guest of Honour.

Other highlights include an exhibition by Raqs Media Collective, which makes contemporary art, edits books and curates exhibitions, and a ‘Festival of India’ event that will feature a range of visual arts and performances such as classical dance and music (both Indian and Western), as well as cinema and theatre.

Key events to look forward to

in India include ‘The Monsoon Wedding’ musical, and a contemporary Art Qatar Exhibition – a landmark exhibition showcasing Qatar’s rapid, social and urban transformation through the eyes of talented emerging artists from the country.

Qatar Airways currently operates 102 weekly flights between Doha and 13 destinations in India, including Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Nagpur and Thiruvananthapuram.

Yatra.com acquires PLWorldways to further bolster its corporate business ETW Staff Mumbai YATRA ONLINE Inc, India's largest corporate travel services provider and one of India's leading online travel companies, has announced the acquisition of the corporate travel business of PL Worldways (PLW), a Chennai-

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based corporate travel services provider. This acquisition will help strengthen Yatra’s foothold in the southern India region along with adding over 100 corporate clients to its existing client base of over 700.

Commenting on the acquisition Dhruv Shringi, co-founder and CEO, Yatra Online, Inc, said,

“PL Worldways has an unparalleled reputation in corporate travel in the southern part of the country due to its strong customer focus and unmatched service. With this acquisition, we not only strengthen our position in the growing corporate travel market in India but also in Southern India, which has been in our

cross-hairs for some time. Our endeavour will be to deliver bestin-class service to PLW’s existing customer base, through our selfbooking platform and expense management solution software.

We look forward to welcoming PL Worldways team to the Yatra family."

Anil Pathak, chairman, PL

Worldways, said, ”We are excited for PL Worldways to join Yatra family. PL Worldways’ local connect and customer service expertise will complement Yatra's technology platform and leverage the largest hotel network in the country; helping clients optimise their travel spend and improve their travel processes.”

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Hyatt Place Calgary H

yatt has expanded its portfolio of hotels in Canada with the opening of the Hyatt Place Calgary Airport, the second Hyatt Place hotel in Alberta, and the ninth Hyatt-branded hotel in Canada.

Nestled in the heart of the Calgary Airport business sector, Hyatt Place Calgary Airport allows guests to exit the terminal, hop aboard the free airport shuttle and arrive at the hotel within five minutes.

It features 127 guestrooms and suites with separate spaces to sleep, work and play, as well as a cozy corner sofa-sleeper.

In addition to over 3,000 square feet of meeting/function space, the hotel also features a 24-hour gym featuring cardio equipment with LCD touchscreens and free ear buds. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout hotel.

Iraph Sui, Miyako

Sarovar Portico in Palolem, Goa

M

arriott has expanded its portfolio of hotels in Japan with the opening of the 58-room Iraph Sui, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Miyako, Okinawa.

The hotel, the third Luxury Collection property in Japan, is owned by Mori Trust Co. Iraph Sui is nestled in natural greenery and lushly landscaped gardens on Irabu Island, part of the Miyako Islands, a group of islands in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture known for their beautiful white-sand beaches, clear warm water, and remarkable diving experiences. Guest rooms range in size from 495 square feet to 1,290 square feet and feature private balconies with views of the white sandy beach and azure ocean. Several suites also feature their own private swimming pools.

S

Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru F

our Seasons Hotel Bengaluru at Embassy ONE is now confirming reservations for stays starting 1 May 2019. The hotel, the second Four Seasons Hotel in India, is part of the prestigious new Embassy ONE development, encompassing the 230-room Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru, 105 Four Seasons Private Residences, and commercial space.

Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru is located in the city’s northern corridor, close to Kempegowda International Airport, key business districts and landmarks including Bangalore Palace and Cubbon Park. The hotel features an assortment of F&B outlets, including CUR8, an all day dining restaurant featuring a showpiece grill and a custom-built, supersize pizza oven with interactive live counters; The Lounge & Terrace, for a relaxed afternoon tea; and a curated selection of whiskies from around the world at The Collection. The hotel also features 1,821 square metres of flexible indoor and outdoor event space, an outdoor pool and a spa that will offer modern and holistic wellness solutions.

arovar Hotels has announced the signing of a new hotel in South Goa, marking the group’s further foray into the state. This will be company's third hotel in Goa. The new hotel is in the close proximity of South Goa and popular tourist destination, Palolem is known for its beautiful crescent beach, white sand, quiet water and colorful wooden shacks. The hotel upon completion in mid- 2019 will offer guests a perfect stay experience.

In addition to well-appointed 48 rooms, the hotel will offer all day dinning, bar, spa, gymnasium and swimming pool. The hotel will also feature meeting rooms for up to 300 guests to meet the rapidly growing demand of MICE segment.

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20 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD February 2019

(

THE MAIN FOCUS

KANIKAGANDHI FOUNDER,PANGEATRAVEL Gen Nxt thought: We have risen above challenges rally moved towards the travel and tourism industry. I recently started Pangea Travel to focus exclusively on the high-end, discerning traveller and am creating some unique and luxurious travel experiences for my clients.

Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

It all started with my friends turning to me for travel advice. They knew I had access to resources and information passed on to me by mother, Dimple Gandhi who is a travel agent and Director at Cutting Edge. Although I had an MBA and was a business consultant, I enjoyed doing this a lot more and natu-

An observation about the industry, either challenge or an opportunity?

The travel industry has undergone a major change after the internet. Online forums and websites bombard prospective travellers with open access information about travel, places, etc. While some might say this has been challenging, we at Pangea have risen above it. If anything, it has been a great opportunity to use this as an information base to create curated and personalised trips for our clients. Since

Pangea is all about luxury travel, our clients appreciate the expertise and thought we put into each of their trips. Good agents offering good services are valuable.

Vision for the business?

I see travel as a transformative, enriching and life-changing experience. I have grown enormously as a person through my travels. I want to spread this culture of travel as a tool for personal growth. I want people to do more than just book a ticket and tick sightseeing spots. It is my vision at Pangea, to imbibe a culture of travel as exploration and discovery. We specialise in special interest travel, and experience based trips that serve as a springboard for people to truly discover not only a place but themselves through it.

Technology has a substantial game changer. Comment.

Thanks to technology the world is our oyster. Technology has helped us turn a local business into a global business. Today, Pangea has as many clients abroad as it does in India.

Our global industry connections have grown exponentially. Turnaround times have reduced considerably, and everything is instant.

Technology has brought us closer to the world and the world closer to us.

Gen Nxt thought?

I see the personal travel space growing rapidly. Until recently, in India the Indian travel industry had more of a package tour emphasis.

The Indian traveler is evolving and becoming a lot savvier.

NITIN JOHN DIRECTOR,RIYATRAVEL& TOURS Gen Nxt thought: I expect a lot of consolidation to happen in the retail space.

Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in travel and tourism sector?

My primary motivator has always been my father and my love for travel.

The dynamics and the constant development in the industry keeps me on toes and I learn something new everyday. Travel has always been an essential part of life and it has always been a passion of mine. Seeing new places

and understanding new cultures has also motivated me to pursue my career in Travel. Since childhood, I saw my dad work hard to successfully thrive in this business and build strong relationships and gain respect in the Industry. I was keen on taking it to the next level by starting the Holidays business and opening branches in USA and Canada markets.

An observation made about the industry, either a challenge or an opportunity?

The industry is an ever growing one and is very fast paced. With technology at the palm of the hands, it is not long when "e-travel" might be a reality. Access to so much information and options has made travelers demanding for dif-

ferent experiences and better prices.

But I feel access to information through multiple sources with less credibility creates confusion more than clarity in their minds, which makes our jobs tougher. It is also not a regulated industry like other ones and anyone with a passion for traveling or simply some money tries to start their own agency.

There is no one to check quality. Opportunities are many as less than 5 percent Indians are actually international leisure travelers. India as a market has huge potential and growing day by day.

tion for all travel needs. We are already reaching this milestone in the B2B world in terms of booking flights.

Vision for the business?

I see Riya Tour and Travels as the number one travel provider to Indians across the globe. The vision is to provide exemplary services and be one stop solu-

Gen Nxt thought?

Travel industry will obviously have a huge growth but with fading margins, I expect a lot of consolidation to happen in the retail space.

Technology has been a substantial game changer. Comments.

Technology is only an enabler. Travellers still crave for human interaction and accountability. They like knowing that a machine is not behind planning and executing their huge investment. It has definitely become easier in terms of accessibility and reaching out to the traveler.

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cover ) DHEERAJ S KANDUR PARTNER – FLIGHTSHOPHOLIDAYS Gen Nxt thought: Travel has split into various segments just luxury anymore. It catered to the masses. It was a conscious decision to make a career in this field as it provides ample opportunities to cater to all kinds of people.

Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

This is a family business and was quite monotonous when my father stepped in. Over the years there was a certain transformation. Technology changed the game and travel wasn’t for

An observation made about the industry, either a challenge or an opportunity?

One observation is that travel has split into various segments. Every segment of travel has carved out its own niche. Luxury travel, backpacking, family travel, getaways, cruise travel, adventure travel, culinary tourism and the list goes on. There are wonderful opportunities in each segment and different challenges catering to every individual. The industry is ever changing to the needs of

the client, as everything is more easily accessible today.

Vision for the business?

My vision of business is to provide a series of experiences according to every traveler’s interests with merging of technology and ample expertise on the destination.

Technology has been a substantial game changer. Comment.

Technology has changed tremendously, which I see as a great opportunity. The social media has provided huge potential. People can access everything at their fingertips. Technology is getting the world closer as accessibility through technology has become very very easy.

Technology also provides a challenge to us as the client is smarter due to this accessibility and henceforth driving an enormous competition in the market.

I would also like to mention the time frame for every confirmation has reduced drastically thanks to the dynamic selling platforms available, pushing us to serve travel experiences to more and more clients Gen Nxt thought?

I would like to promote and sell experiential travel for the travellers with respective inclusions of culture, adventure, culinary and lifestyle with importance of environmental sustenance, so we can preserve this beautiful experience for the generations to come.

BHAVESH OZA & SUPRABH OZA VP,INTERNATIONALMARKETS,BOOKONBLUSTAR.COM & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTMANGER,BOOKONBLUESTAR.COM Gen Nxt thought: We should be agile and at the same time thoughtful of our decisions online platform bookonbluestar.com helps people plan their dream holiday.

Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

Travel is one such domain, which

22 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD February 2019

makes you meet the world, its exciting to interact with people across the country and the world, this in itself is a big motivator and adding to it what excites me more is that my

passengers with ease and the price advantage.

An observation you have made about the industry, either a challenge or an opportunity?

One crucial challenge which we have turned into an opportunity is technology. It keeps us on our toes always. Be it the 1st mobile app with whatsapp quotations and tickets to intelligent distribution of email at the back office we are on it.

Technology has been a substantial game changer. Comment.

It definitely is and it depends on how effectively one uses it. At Bookonbluestar.com technology is not just to sell products but also how we use it to manage a lot of things at the back. Also how one uses it to innovate things.

For example, 3 years ago we launched air fare quotations through whatsapp.

Vision for the business?

We are having an encouraging 2018-2019 phase and planning the next year to ensure we have a double digit growth. How would we do this, by empowering our travel agent across India, to design and sell a complete travel product to its

Gen Nxt thought?

Representing the youth we should be agile and at the same time thoughtful of our decisions and also since we belong to the B2B domain we must ensure that its not "I" who grows in life but " *WE* " all grow *Together*

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KARAN VAKHARIA DIRECTOR- BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,PATHFINDERS HOLIDAYS Gen Next thought: my success mantra is honest and right information, backed with solid service and delivery seen my parents work in this industry and make a name for themselves and the kind of work they did surely motivated me to join this industry and the company.

Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

I want to go to work every day doing something that I love to do myself and not just to collect a pay check. As I love to travel myself and have had so many great travel experiences in the past I believe I would make a good agent. I also think my previous work profile in customer service and sales have given me some excellent experience and skills that will help me in this industry very well . It is challenging and exciting. Besides, I enjoy handling people's travel requirements and demands. Since I was a kid I have

An observation made about the industry, either a challenge or an opportunity?

This industry is mix of both – challenges and opportunity. If you find the right way to overcome the challenges and create opportunities , this industry can give you lot of happiness. Travelers have plenty of options when it comes to researching and arranging their trips.

They are sensible enough to shop around and find the best deal, and they certainly won’t be fooled into paying extra money when they know how many potential options there are. This has made an already competitive market even more competitive. On top of this, technology has been a major revolution for this industry, at the click of a button

tickets can be issued today, hotels can be booked and holidays can be planned.

This is the challenge that I am facing on a daily basis – however, at the end of it I feel the personal touch, comfort and confidence a travel agent can give, no application on a phone will ever be able to give and this is a big opportunity bundled with the challenge. Hence at the end of it we feel that customers who have moved to the online world have made their way back to their traditional travel agents and consultants. At the same time if you learn to strike while the iron is hot, then you sure can create the best opportunity in this industry.

Vision for the business?

While talking to my team in the office I always tell them – lets work smart, work focused, and work intelligently to make our clients travel experiences truly memorable and unforgettable, this is when we will reach the

highest possible position in the industry, based on offering honest, correct and right information, backed with solid service and delivery. I want my company to be at a level where the company /brand name itself defines the business category I am in .

Technology has a substantial game changer. What’s your take on it?

Technology has surely been a massive game changer. The entire world is moving more closer to technology and the Travel and Tourism Industry is no exception. We have to accept, embrace and use Technology totally to our advantage, to use it for ease of doing business and to effectively, efficiently and at a reasonable cost service the clients.

Gen Nxt thought?

Work Harder and Party Hard. Accept challenges and use it as an opportunity to grow.

RADHIKAGUPTA DIRECTOR- BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,VAYU SEVATOURS & TRAVELS Gen Nxt thought: There is a need to promote sustainable travel. I urge the Gen Nxt travel consultants to contribute here Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

I joined the travel business in 2015, when the most recent market survey suggested that travel will be fastest growing Industry in the world, the industry providing the highest employment in the next 10 years. And this has proved itself right. My motivators to join tourism business have been tremendous opportunities for business and opportunity to work on different projects and destinations so the work never gets monotonous.

An observation you have made about the industry, either a challenge or an

opportunity?

Opportunity - Tier II and III cities where people have sufficient disposable incomes but less exposure to knowledge/ ideas as compared to the metropolitan.

Challenges - the influx of information online (which is both a boon and a bane) which confuses the travelers.

What’s your vision for the business?

To promote sustainable and meaningful travel that concentrates more on experiences.

Technology has a substantial game changer. Comment.

Technology has been a massive game

changer in the travel industry - in the spread of information as well as marketing support. e-commerce, high tech photography gadgets, social media platforms have totally transformed the way people travel.

Gen Nxt thought?

There is a need to promote sustainable travel. I still feel that the Indian traveler needs to be educated about travel etiquette and be sensitised that there are different cultures across the world. Adaptability will lead to sustainability. I’m doing my bit and would really encourage the Gen Nxt travel consultants to contribute to this.

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cover ) RICHAFOTEDAR MARKETING & BRANDING DIRECTOR,TRAVELNLIVING Gen Nxt thought: It is not a one-size-fits-all industry. lective and at this moment in time really create your own identity due to the technological advances and demands of the coming generations.

Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

For me, foraying into the space of travel as a professional was simply about aligning my passion with my skill sets. I truly believe, travel is a process of continued learning. While my mother, has always been the inspiration, I wish to pave my own path as an entrepreneur.

Over the course of time, I realized there is not one way to be a travel professional.

In this widely collaborative world, one can look at this industry with fresh eyes.

There are opportunites galore. It is not a one-size-fits-all industry. You can be se-

An observation about the industry, either a challenge or an opportunity?

One such particular observation that has posed as both an opportunity as well as a challenge would be the rapidly evolving perception of the term “luxury travel” and “experiential travel” among the travelers. Often influenced by the plethora of images and information found in the web world today, travel advisors are compelled to follow suit with the changing perceptions of travel in the mind of the consumer. Luxury travel is subjective. For one traveller, it could be a private multimillion-dollar cruise around the Arctic on a famous yacht, while for another, it could be the reassurance of having their dietary require-

ments automatically catered for throughout their entire holiday. Curating something that appeals to them on a specific, personal level that goes above a traveler’s “norms” is key to the next chapter of luxury travel and experiences.

Vision for the business?

Future or vision for me would be to continue to carve a niche in unique and immersive experiences for the evolved travelers.

Technology has been a substantial game changer. Comment.

For the brick and mortar travel agents, technology has definitely been impactful, both negatively and positively.

Having to constantly educate the ‘know it all' audience in this field of self proclaimed experts, heavy promotions from online websites and travel influencers

can be daunting. However, in my case, technology has been a boon. Not only has it allowed me to reach out to the millennial and bring in the second generation of clientele in my already existing networks – my personal investment in traveling the world every available time has allowed me to influence the audience across various social media platforms who can then reach out to the operations vertical of the company, book their itineraries, experiences and holidays.

Gen Nxt Thought?

Traveling is a heavy investment for any individual. If travelers genuinely value their time, money and experiences, they will be able to differentiate between the DIY online sites and authentic travel experts and masters in their field. Travel planners will soon be regarded as exclusive service providers and experts.

MAANAVSARAF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTMANGER,LEISURE & MICE,GAINWELLENTERPRISES Gen next thought: Experiential travel is bound to rise further.

Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

I have seen the dynamic nature of the industry, it's highs - lows as I started working at a fairly young age. I have had the chance to learn a lot and I hope it will hold me in good stead for years to come.

An observation you have made about the industry, either a challenge or an opportunity?

Change and speed are words that have to be synonymous with the travel

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industry in it's current scenario. The rapid changes in what customers want, how they book, what they experience is evident to everyone working as a travel professional and although adjusting to these changes is a great challenge, it's probably the biggest opportunity we could have. Even more challenging than change however is the speed at which these changes are occurring. This too is an opportunity for those who can keep up with technology.

Vision for the business?

Our company aims to expand from an Eastern India brand to a national company with presence in other metro cities such as Mumbai and Delhi in the coming years. Also on the horizon are plans to monetize our product brands created over the years through the franchisee route.

Technology has been a substantial game changer. Comment.

Technology has transformed many industries including travel. We have always welcomed opportunities to adapt new technology and believe that this is the only way to sustain. Our digital journey started way back in 1991 with the launch of our first website. Over the years, Gainwell has also diverged most of it's marketing budgets to digital media investing heavily in search engine and social media marketing. One of the other major areas for digital growth for us is search engine optimisation with the majority of inquiries today being originally traced back to Google searches.

These successes have led us to further invest in technology such as CRM and cyber security software helping to build a strong digital base for the future. One

of our most recent digital successes have been with regards to the ICC Cricket World Cup Travel packages which are being sold on our sports website. Instead of traditional paid digital promotions, we have been making use of influencers such as blogs, question and answer websites such as Quora and testimonials being published in various digital media.

This has had a phenomenal response.

Gen Nxt thought?

The travel industry is a very exciting space to be in and with the prospects of the rate at which the industry is expected to grow, the opportunities to succeed are only going to increase further. There is no doubt that travelers needs are evolving and therefore the focus on bespoke products and experiential travel is bound to rise further.

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VARUN GODIA MANAGER -PRODUCTDEVELOPMENT,VARUN WORLDWIDE VACATIONS Gen Nxt thought: We need to promote responsible and green travel. Keep our carbon footprint in check, make sure we travel sustainably and raise awareness about this with our clients Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

Motivations for choosing a career path are often hard to tease out, but for me it started really early- I was inspired by my parents who started our family travel company in the year of my birth. I studied law and business, and enjoyed writing and travelling in my free time.

Being able to apply my entrepreneurship skills to a sector which involved new places, people, food, culture and adventure was the perfect fit!

An observation you have made about the industry, either challenge or an opportunity?

The ability to travel has never been more accessible to people than it is today. It is amazing to see people who would never have dreamed of seeing the world now travelling far and wide. This presents itself as a great opportunity to the Indian domestic as well as outbound markets, especially in the Tier 2 and

Vision for the business?

Adapt & Empower. With the fast paced advent of technology and a more educated market, the travel industry is changing rapidly. It is both a challenging and exciting time to be in the travel industry as agents seek new ways to promote and expand their businesses. Instead of complaining about how technology has impacted our businesses we try and invest our time in figuring out how to use this technology to our advantage. My mother, our director, has always focused on empowering the youth.

Through teaching travel and tourism in her spare time to training unskilled workers to run operations she has given this industry one of their biggest assets – people. I wish to continue this endeavour to empower people with the skills required to be successful in the travel industry.

Tier 3 cities where Low Cost Carriers are now making their presence felt.

Technology has a substantial game changer. Comment.

Technology has been more of a boon

than a curse when it comes to the travel industry. It provides easier access to travel services and occasionally better rates, but it has taken away one of the travel communities greatest strengths – interaction. There is something magical about interacting with someone who is passionate about their work and builds the excitement about their product (this could apply to any industry). That said, it is phenomenal how some of the travel tech entrepreneurs have set up such flourishing businesses. We need to appreciate them for what they have done and take it up as a challenge to get one up on them.

Gen Nxt thought?

Travel is awe inspiring and to keep it such we need to promote responsible and green travel. Keep our carbon footprint in check, make sure we travel sustainably and raise awareness about this with our clients to ensure that the generations to come can experience the wonders of this Earth!

ADL ABDUL KARIM DIRECTOR,CREATIVE TOURS & TRAVELS Gen Nxt thought: Technology, though a need of the hour, also needs to be regulated. connects you to the cultures of different parts of the world.

Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

Travel and tourism sector has always been fascinating for me, since I have been one of the few lucky ones whose grown up in the travel trade since childhood because of my father.

The primary reason that motivated me to join this evolving industry is that it

An observation about the industry, either a challenge or an opportunity?

One major challenge is that there are constant disruptions in the market place with rapid evolution in technology, which is a need of the hour but at the same time it needs to be regulated. India is suppose to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the third largest aviation market after US and China, so yes I see loads of opportunity to cash into this, as 60-70 percent of our population is yet to travel in an aircraft

Vision for the business?

Our vision would be to diversify into different travel verticals. Creative has been a consolidator in airline ticketing over the last 4 decades, we also have a DMC division for Kerala under Creative Holidays and we are also increasing our foot prints in Corporate and MICE travel as well as religious/pilgrimage segments.

Technology has been a substantial game changer. Comment.

Technology has been a major disruptor for traditional travel agents, but it is the need of the hour and

travel agents fraternity need to keep up with time and evolve. Travel agents need to look at it from an investment point of view, which will reap benefits in future if you have the right technology in place. Creative has also developed an online portal to cater to our b2b clients in the name of flycreative.in.

Gen Nxt thought?

I would like to reemphasise that travel agents need to look at technology from an investment point of view, which will reap benefits in future. if you have the right technology in place.

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cover ) NEILPATIL FOUNDER & DIRECTOR,VEENAWORLD Gen Nxt thought: In our country, a hybrid model consisting of both technological innovations and personal service of the highest quality, will go a long way in determining how sustainable your business is in the long run.

Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

At Veena World, we truly believe that travel makes you celebrate life. It broadens your perspective, exposes you to different cultures, and together turns you into a better human being. We have been witness to stories that have been shared by our guests time and again and if you see the feedback we receive on a daily basis, its not just ratings on a point-scale.

Our guests actually write stories, poems, extensive travelogues and create exceptional audio visual content about their holidays and experience with us. At the end of the day, reading or being witness to these stories is what gives you the energy to spread this excitement and happiness to many more people around the country.

An observation you have made about the industry, either a challenge or an opportunity?

Having spent a little more than 5 years in the industry, I personally see the industry becoming more competitive and more service oriented. Newer direct and indirect players are coming in, competition is increasing, guest expectations are increasing. I have often said this, and reiterate, that in such a competitive environment, travel agents all across are left with no alternative but to stand out by providing the highest quality of service at an affordable price. At our company, we pride ourselves in ensuring that our guests enjoy the highest levels of comfort while on holiday through the continuous training of our brand samurais, that is our home-grown Tour Managers. At the same time, picking up the right talent is extremely essential and our goal for the next 5 years as a company is to further strengthen the core of our company, that is our 1000 strong team!

Vision for the business?

As I mentioned earlier, looking into the future, we operate with a simple principle, that is to provide incredible

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holiday experiences to celebrate life.

Now to achieve this, we are currently paving the way towards developing an empowering culture internally that inspires team members all over to personally strive for higher levels of achievement & growth. Now this is only possible if all of us, that is all of the Veena World team, together believe that 'We are in this together! We move forward together! We grow together!'.

Technology has been a substantial game changer. Comment.

Technology and all of the advancements that we've seen over the last couple of years, have definitely aided in reshaping the entire customer journey. At

Veena World, we are making necessary and calculated investments in a number of things including ChatBots, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Machine Learning and more, so as to craft a better experience for our end consumer. ChatBots to automate internal processes & improve the booking experience, artificial intelligence and machine learning to build better predictive models to aid business strategy, data analytics to optimise costs, audio visual aids to create consistent training & learning avenues for the team, are just a few of the things that we are currently experimenting with and are optimistic that these will reap great dividends moving forward. I honestly believe that in our country, a hybrid

model consisting of both technological innovations and personal service of the highest quality, will go a long way in determining how sustainable your business is in the long run.

Gen Nxt thought?

I operate with one principle, 'don't think that you always know everything!'.

It is your team, the people you work with day in day out, who together ensure that the business continues to run in the long term. It is only when you are grounded in thought and show respect and appreciation towards the opinions of your team, that you will be able to deliver results that are in sync with your long term goals.

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ANOSH ERACH KANGA CO-FOUNDER – EXPLORIENCE AND PARTNER - AHURATRAVELS Gen Nxt thought: The online market does pose a challenge but what it has given us are clients with more clarity knowing exactly what they want. ket and that was something I laid my eyes on. Having travelled a fair bit I wanted my clients to experience the same and that was the basis for the leisure outbound team. That is where I began focusing my attention and time has flown since then. Over the years I have been lucky to have had some great guidance of industry stalwarts and met the right people.

Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

Born into a family where travel was a religon has been a boon for me. As both my parents have been part of this industry, even before I was even born, that's what I have always been exposed to and that is the first thing I remember my family discussing or speaking about at home. Even as a kid, on any school holiday, I used to force my parents to take me to office because for me it was an outing where everyone at work spoilt me! So it was only natural that when time came I made the choice to jump into the family business. But not before I took some professional experience in other fields like Finance and Oil and Gas for about 3 years.

As a traditional family owned company in the market for over 30 years, I felt we had a great name and enjoyed the trust of our clients, but there was so much more we could change or do better in terms of services offered, technology, marketing or even simply servicing clients. In those days, we were more a corporate travel firm, we were not that active in the leisure mar-

An observation about the industry, either a challenge or an opportunity?

Wherever there is a challenge, there will always be an opportunity. It may sound poetic but that's how it always plays out. Over the past years the industry has surely going through its fair bit of challenges- the online vs offline debate, the GST issue etc. But every time there has been a down, its been followed by an upturn. I can only use my example here. I have always been asked the perennial question - if the online industry has affected our business and how are we coping with it? But we believe to see it differently The online market is different and does pose a challenge like in any other business. But what it has given us are clients with more clarity knowing exactly what they want.

Has it affected us? Yes maybe, it has slightly affected numbers in terms of direct flight ticketing or hotel nights, but at the same time the quality of business has gone up. If you are smart about it, you can pick and choose your clients. Those spending good money will want personalised service and something unique, something only a personal travel advisor can give. That is where the business lies.

Also with the spew of information available online, clients do not know who to or not to believe and rely on us even more now. Hence challenge yes! but that has given rise to an opportunity for us to adapt a little and do even better.

Vision for the business?

Perfection is what we strive for in

all aspects. Personally, I have taken it as a challenge to make the entire travel process as seamless as possible, and that is our foremost goal. This I believe will only help in the travel experience and in guests coming back for more ideas in the future. From selling tickets and holidays we now sell 'Experiences'- which are the key! Guests may forget the seat they were seated in, the airline they flew, the car they used etc but if you manage to make them experience something extraordinary, that is something will always remember.

That's the main essence of our team.

We also understand the meaning of value. We understand what keeps the guests happy and what we needs to get done to keep them coming back to us in the future. More than asking why, we have learnt that when it comes to travel, the “Why not’s?”are more important, thus enabling us to offer our guests something out of the ordinary and something they would themselves not have thought of.

From this year- we have begun taking baby steps and are trying to play a small role in conservation efforts as well- that is something really close to my heart. In the future, I would feel proud if we could made a positive im-

if you have to survive, we have to keep adapting- be it market conditions, rules & regulations or simply technology.

Self analysis is the key in this

pact in this sphere.

Technology has a substantial game changer. Comment.

Technology is surely a game changer and has increased leaps and bounds over the years! From simply organising your day and week to optimising internal team operations to interacting with your clients, tech plays a major part in all, and will only get more important in time. From past yearly comparisons to forecasts for your own business, future strategies can be laid out as well. That's how important technology has become in today's world. I feel its imperative for individuals and companies to adapt to these changes or they will slowly get left behind. Its never easy making so many changes at the speed tech is changing, but its only for the better.

Gen Nxt thought?

Change is the only constant! If I compare travel today to what it was when I joined the industry 10 years ago, the change has been drastic.

Hence, I feel if you have to survive, we have to keep adapting- be it market conditions, rules & regulations or simply technology. Self analysis is the key in this. We need to step out of the business for a second and take a look at the larger picture. It's not the easiest thing to do as we are emotionally attached to our businesses, but it is required.

Since years I have been hearing people say that travel agents will not survive over the years because of the online influence or other reasons, but I have only seen their importance grow.

If we look hard enough there are that many more clients who need hand holding , guidance and look to us for our expertise. Hence education for us and our teams is really important. We need to keep studying destinations, adapting and giving the clients what they ask for. Lastly, always be ready for the impossible- I would not be shocked if some years down the line, Space travel becomes common and we begin getting inquiries for the same!

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cover ) RISHABH MAKHIJA DIRECTOR,TRAVELVOYAGES Gen Nxt thought: A fruitful partnership between the airlines, agents and associations is much needed Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

A passion for travel and a family business in the same sector were my main motivators to pursue a career in the travel and tourism industry. I have been travelling since a young age and have always enjoyed the experience and exposure that comes with exploring the places and meeting new people. Travel as an idea excites me as it takes people to a completely different world with diverse languages, cultures, beliefs, etc.

This passion and appreciation towards travelling even cajoled me to taking a course in International Tourism Management at the University of Exeter.

dia, rather than go abroad. I believe India has a lot more to offer than many other countries in terms of tourism, but somehow it is still an aspect that remains untapped. A vision can only be reached with the dedication and commitment of the entire workforce, hence it is important to enhance and motivate them to the best of your ability.

Technology has been a substantial game changer. Comment.

Undoubtedly recent technological changes have affected the travel and tourism industry. The competition between agents and online portals has increased, with each one trying to outdo the other in terms of offers and discounts. Someone sitting in Pune, can now book a ticket from Mumbai to Delhi at his fingertips. He does not need to go to a travel agency in order to do so. Certainly, online companies have made things simpler and easier. However, I do believe that nothing can replace the traditional tourism enterprises. The millennial traveller can see through the marketing gimmicks online that are usually inauthentic or short term. As mentioned earlier as well, a travel agent is just a call away to clear any doubts, questions or queries that a passenger might have about his trip. The process of changing or cancelling tickets online can be bothersome. It is important to adapt and change with the changing times and not shy away from it. Accepting changes and using them to our benefit is the only way forward.

An observation you have made about the industry,both as a challenge or an opportunity?

Over the years, commissions received by the agents from the airlines have greatly reduced. This has led to profitability shrinking to a bare minimum. The introduction of the dot com companies and online portals has also posed a stiff challenge to us, though travel agent’s commitment and dedication towards a client is unmatched. In case there is a change, cancellation or delay in flights, I believe it is always easier for the client to communicate with an agent, rather than calling up an online portal’s call centre.

Vision for the business?

As the number of domestic and international travellers in India are increasing by leaps and bounds, my main vision for the company is to provide them with unmatched service and attention to detail.

Rather than going by a standard itinerary that people find on online portals, the effort should be to provide personalised service. Some people prefer to be extremely active on trips, one which is filled with activities and excursions, whereas others prefer a relaxed trip. It is important to give the clients what they want as per their demand and accommodate their requests to the best of our capabilities. Apart from that, it is

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important to embrace the technological changes happening around us and use them to the best of our advantage. For example, social media has become a huge platform to market your company and it is essential to make full use of the platform provided. A lot of companies now have Instagram or Facebook pages, or a website of their own. We have taken

a step in that direction as well, with the aim of reaching out to as many people as possible. Through my company, I would also like to initiate and promote India as a potential place to visit for foreign travellers. Apart from just foreign travellers though, the aim is to induce millennial travellers to explore the heritage, history, monuments and wildlife within In-

Gen Nxt thought?

Travel and tourism is an industry that can promote India on a global scale and bring a lot of money into the economy. Campaigns like “Incredible India” are steps in the right direction.

A fruitful partnership between the airlines, agents and associations involved is needed in order to move forward and upwards. There is stiff competition and the industry is service oriented but still, it provides great prospects to grow and it is up to us youngsters to differentiate and make the most of that opportunity.

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NEERAJ GUPTA DIRECTOR,PEEKAYHOLIDAYS Gen Nxt Thought: There needs to be stringent rules and regulations to enter this business space. No entry barrier is not good news.

Primary motivator to pursue your professional goals in the travel and tourism sector?

Growing up in a business family environment, I was always certain that this is what I want to do in life and witnessing my father's work in the field was a definite motivator to follow his footsteps. Travel has been truly exciting, to visit and understand cultures, people and interact with the locals. It inspired me to a great extent to pursue this as my career . It gave an unique kind of satisfaction to be able to showcase the beauty of this world to people through our creative holiday ideas. It was quiet challenging in the beginning as soon as I joined the business after post graduation and realised there is a lot of hardwork that actually needs to be put in to create memories for people who rely on your services and to be able to do that right is truly appreciating. The perks that you get and the relationships that you make along the way is something which is fare more valuable that any other profession I feel.Who gets to say that I have a friend in almost every part of the world who can be of help at the time of need , so the connectivity that you get through the travel and tourism sector is just unbelievable.

An observation about the industry, either a challenge or an opportunity?

Since I have joined the business in the year 2011, I have realised that there are challenges and opportunities on every step , it is just your personal ability and vision of looking at things that would help you keep going . In the tourism sector there are various challenges that we face since we rely on our partners for everything like flights , land arrangements, transportation, etc and then there are some situations that are beyond our control like the visa and flight issues. I have faced challenges which have helped me grow better and learn from them, which have later paved

path to create more opportunities. I think in today’s time it’s better to play safe and to know your client’s needs well in advance to avoid any awkward scenarios. What I personally do not appreciate are the challenges we face with competitors, if there was a better unity amongst the travel partners and fellow competitors, client will not be able to take us for granted . The opportunities on the other hand are endless, travel knowledge is as vast as an ocean and sky is the limit. You can be so creative with your ideas , marketing seasonal products , promoting out of the ordinary experiences and so on. I enjoy doing all of this since it keeps you ahead of time.

unique ideas to promote tourism amongst my client’s . Travelling has become a necessity for a lot of people to get away from their daily routine and normal life so I see a huge potential in the future , the connectivity is much greater now with competitive fares amongst about the airlines. So literally now the client is the king and I feel there is a lot more scope as variety of destinations have opened up to the Indian market. Indians are recognised to be robust travellers, which has attracted a plethora of tourism boards that eye India for their inbound business. So I am keen on seeing how future unfolds and where this industry would be headed.

Vision for the business?

Travelling today is not just about visiting a country seeing the landmarks or just tick it off your list , people are more aware and exposed. We need to create exclusive ideas to progress. Today’s generation is smarter than ever and if we do not move with the flow it’s going to be difficult. So I keep coming up with some

Technology has a substantial game changer . What’s your take on it?

The times are changing and every day technology is playing a vital role in our day to day life specially when it comes to travel. Travel culture is very diverse, however technology cannot replace the power and value of a human touch hence as travel professionals you need to know your

worth and filter your client’s accordingly . Online bookings have drastically increased over the years but the exclusivity that we can offer through our direct contacts with the hotel cannot be matched by any website.

So there are always two sides to a coin and there is always a phase for everything and I think that people are gradually understanding the value of exclusivity again thanks to the buzzing social media where every body wants to be unique and show off their holiday. So it is good, because it is challenging us to come up with something out of the ordinary to deliver. It is no doubt a great marketing tool, which is much quicker and less expensive from those days of brochure and print media. It’s a part of challenge and we have to deal with it but I feel it’s not for long that people would start putting their money on travel professionals again . I think it’s just in the bigger cities that online bookings are a big deal because even today Tier II and Tier III cities go with the trust and loyalty of word of mouth.

Gen Next thought?

We definitely need more dynamic and passionate people in the industry rather than them who just come into this business either to enjoy the perk or spoil the market through their business strategies , Everyday there are companies opening up and shutting down since there is no regulation to become a travel professional which is very depressing and this definitely needs to stop by coming up with some guidelines or regulations collectively.

I would urge all the young and aspiring travel professionals and specially next gen professionals like me to come up with a unity and form an organisation to get some rules and guidelines in ethics . This is one of the industry which lacks a certain code of ethics to conduct business. So I would be happy to associate myself with other people from different cities with a common vision.

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February 2019

SPOTLIGHT

Flying for All The two-day Global Aviation Summit in Mumbai saw participation by 13 ministers and 800 delegates from 80 countries

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first-of-its-kind event, Global Aviation Summit 2019, commenced with the participation of 13 transport and civil aviation ministers, 36 civil aviation authorities, 800 delegates, more than 35 exhibitors from over 80 countries across the world.

The inaugural session was graced by Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra; Suresh Prabhu, minister of civil aviation and commerce and industry, GoI; Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, president of the council ICAO; Jayant Sinha, MoS, ministry of civil aviation; R N Choubey,

30 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD February 2019

secretary, minister of civil aviation and Sandip Somany, president, FICCI. The inaugural session, which was held here in Mumbai, primarily focused on the summit’s main theme of ‘Flying for all’ which touts to make air travel affordable for citizen of every class in this country. The summit, which is historical in opening a dialogue on several verticals like importance of drones, affordable air travel, use of sustainable fuels in future, infrastructural development in a compact two-day event, seeks to pave the way for greater growth in the aviation sector

SPOTLIGHT through better policy-framing.

The aviation industry in India has been experiencing exponential growth with the domestic aviation market growing at 20 per cent annually for the last four years.

Prabhu highlighted the on the need for technology to pervade all aspects of aviation.

He said that a summit of this stature is necessary to ensure collective thinking that helps in combating challenges of the aviation sector and bring about greater reforms. The rise of fuel prices has been an issue in recent times but can be dealt with through an exchange between the minds in the industry. He also said there will be zero tolerance for any safety violation and as the demand for air travel keeps rising, they need to ensure safer, sustainable and smoother trips.

Besides the ambitious plan of manufacturing indigenous drones, robust air cargo policy for greater trade and more transparent policy logistic study is also on the cards, the minister said.

With greater demand in air travel, comes the necessity to ensure sustainable flights and reduction of carbon emission, Aliu said. The ICAO president said that if the growth momentum of the Indian aviation market continues, then very soon the country is going to be the third largest aviation market in the world. He also focused on the need for better skill development of the next generation aviation professionals.

Vision 2040 The reason behind the choice of Mumbai as the preferred destination for this summit was explained by both Prabhu and Fadnavis who spoke about the city being one of the oldest and the most dynamic. The state of Maharashtra will have nine airports connecting different parts of the country with the geographically prominent Nagpur airport being developed to connect both national and international flight routes. He said, “PM Modi’s dream of

Flying for the man wearing chappals is already becoming a reality here.”

All the panelists and ministers together unveiled the Vision 2040 document which aims to have 1.12 billion air passengers in 2040 from 187 million air passengers in 2018.

Following the unveiling of the vision document, Sinha men-

tioned how PM Modi’s motto of “reform, perform, transform and then inform” is becoming a reality in the aviation sector. With 100 billion air passengers in the last four years, Sinha said it has been a steep climb for the industry.

The minister said that despite the growth, no compromises have been made and instead

safety standards have improved greatly in the last few years.

The session concluded with the minister setting the tone for a discussion on drones later in the day. He said air travel in India is cheaper than auto rickshaw rides if one calculates per kilometre mileage and this can be

better understood with a discussion on the future of drones.

Talking about the exponential growth of the sector, Somany said, “Aviation market in India is now worth Rs 2 lakh crore, the same as telecom and railways. That gives you the scope of how aviation is growing.”

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February 2019

IN FOCUS

The first Swadesh Darshan project opens in Sikkim The project implemented under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of MoT, Government of India was sanctioned by the ministry in June 2015 for `98.05 crore and is the first ever project in Sikkim under the scheme

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J Alphons, Union minister for tourism inaugurated the first Swadesh Darshan project in Sikkim recently. The project was for the development of the North East Circuit: Rangpo– Rorathang- AritarPhadamchenNathangSherathang- Tsongmo- Gangtok-PhodongManganLachung-Yumthang- LachenThangu-Gurudongmer- Mangan- Gangtok-TuminlingeeSingtam. The project was inaugurated in the presence of Ugen T Gyatso, minister of tourism and civil aviation, Government of Sikkim in Gangtok.

The project implemented under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of MoT, Government of India was sanctioned by the ministry in June 2015 for `98.05 crore and is the first ever project in Sikkim under the scheme. Under this project, the ministry has developed tourism infrastructure facilities like tourist information centre, meditation centre, organic eco tourism centre, log huts, zip line, flower exhibition centre, walkways, souvenir shops, cafeteria, rain shelters, wayside amenity, last mile connectivity, parking, public toilets, etc.

Inaugurating the project, Alphons appreciated the efforts taken by the state in completing the project and added that Gangtok is incredibly clean that it can match with any city in the world in terms of its level of cleanliness and hospitality. Highlighting the achievements of India in

32 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD February 2019

IN FOCUS

the tourism sector last year, the minister said that the country has been ranked third

by WTTC’s Travel and Tourism Power and Performance Report for absolute growth in tourism for the year 2017 and also India’s growth at 14 per cent in terms of foreign tourist arrivals in 2017 while world tourism grew at seven per cent. The minister also commented upon the initiatives of the state government in promoting homestays in Sikkim which provide jobs to citizens of all segments and also appreciated the state government’s steps for Sustainable Tourism and Dispersing destinations policy. The minister added that the MoT has sanctioned another project in Sikkim under Swadesh

Darshan scheme, the work of which is 75 per cent complete.

The ongoing Swadesh Darshan project in Sikkim that the ministry has sanctioned is development of North East Circuit: Singtam– MakaTemi-Bermoik Tokel- Phongia- Namchi –JorthangOkhareySombariaDaramdin- Jorethang- Melli” in September 2016 for `95.32 crore. The work under the project is in progress.

Prime focus The development of tourism in North Eastern Region being prime area of focus for the MoT, several initiatives for growth of domestic and international tourism in the region has been taken up by the ministry. One of the many

challenges the region faces in development of tourism is the absence of quality infrastructure, services and awareness about the array of tourism products region has to offer.

The ministry is carrying out number of activities to handle the issues on above fronts. For development of tourism infrastructure, the ministry has sanctioned 16 projects for `1349.04 crore covering all North Eastern States under its schemes of Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD. Swadesh Darshan scheme is one of the flagship schemes of the MoT for development of thematic circuits in the country in a planned and prioritised manner. Under this scheme the Government is fo-

cussing on development of quality infrastructure in the country with objective of providing better experience and facilities to the visitors on one hand and on other hand fostering the economic growth.

The scheme was launched in 2014 -15 and as on date the ministry has sanctioned 77 projects worth projects for `6121.69 crore to 30 states and UTs. 30 projects/major components of these projects are expected to be completed this year. 11 projects have been inaugurated as on date under the scheme.

For promotion of the region, the ministry also carries out special promotions in domestic and international markets highlighting the region's diversity, tourism products and its

rich culture. The MoT has also set up Hotel Management and Food Craft Institutes for creating skilled manpower in tourism and hospitality sector in the region.

The foreign tourist arrivals in the region has shown an upward trend over the years.

The region received a total of 1.69 lakh foreign tourist visits during 2017 as against 1.45 lakh in 2016 registering a growth of 16.7 per cent over 2016. Domestic tourist visits reached 95.47 lakh in the year 2017 against 77.71 lakh, registering an impressive double digit growth of 22.8 per cent over 2016. The increased number of tourists in turn has created better employment opportunities for the local population in the region.

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February 2019

SPOTLIGHT

Fast forward International tourist arrivals reach 1.4 billion two years ahead of forecasts

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nternational tourist arrivals grew six per cent in 2018, totalling 1.4 billion according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

UNWTO’s long term forecast issued in 2010 indicated the 1.4 billion mark would be reached in 2020, yet the remarkable growth of international arrivals in recent years has brought it two years ahead.

UNWTO estimates that worldwide international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased six per cent to 1.4 billion in 2018, clearly above the 3.7 per cent growth registered in the global economy.

In relative terms, the Middle East (+10 per cent), Africa (+seven per cent), Asia and the Pacific and Europe (both at +six per cent) led growth in 2018. Arrivals to the Americas were below the world average (+three per cent).

“The growth of tourism in recent years confirms that the sector is today one of the most powerful drivers of economic growth and development. It is our responsibility to manage it in a sustainable manner and translate this expansion into real benefits for all countries, and particularly, to all local communities, creating opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurship and leaving no one behind.

This is why UNWTO is focussing 2019 on education, skills and job creation,” said UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili.

UNWTO’s long-term forecast published in 2010 predicted the 1.4 billion mark of international tourist arrivals for 2020. Yet stronger economic growth, more affordable air travel, technological changes, new businesses models and greater visa facil-

34 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD February 2019

SPOTLIGHT itation around the word have accelerated growth in recent years.

Results by region International tourist arrivals in Europe reached 713 million in 2018, a notable six per cent increase over an exceptionally strong 2017.

Growth was driven by Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+seven per cent), Central and Eastern Europe (+six per cent) and Western Europe (+six per cent). Results in Northern Europe were flat due to the weakness of arrivals to the United Kingdom.

Asia and the Pacific (+six per cent) recorded 343 million international tourist arrivals in 2018. Arrivals in South-East Asia grew seven per cent, followed by NorthEast Asia (+six per cent) and South Asia (+five per cent).

Oceania showed more moderate growth at +three per cent.

The Americas (+three per cent) welcomed 217 million international arrivals in 2018, with mixed results across destinations. Growth was led

by North America (+four per cent), and followed by South America (+three per cent), while Central America and the Caribbean (both -two per cent) reached very mixed results, the latter reflecting the impact of the September 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Data from Africa points to a seven per cent increase in 2018 (North Africa at +10 per cent and Sub-Saharan +6 per cent), reaching an estimated 67 million arrivals. The Middle East (+10 per cent) showed solid results last year consolidating its 2017 recovery, with international tourist arrivals reaching 64 million.

Growth expected to return to historical trends in 2019 Based on current trends, economic prospects and the UNWTO Confidence Index, UNWTO forecasts international arrivals to grow three per cent to four per cent next

year, more in line with historic growth trends.

As a general backdrop, the stability of fuel prices tends to translate into affordable air travel while air connectivity continues to improve in many destinations, facilitating the diversification of source markets. Trends also show strong outbound travel

from emerging markets, especially India and Russia but also from smaller Asian and Arab source markets.

At the same time, the global economic slowdown, the uncertainty related to the Brexit, as well as geopolitical and trade tensions may prompt a “wait and see” attitude among investors and

travellers.

Overall, 2019 is expected to see the consolidation among consumers of emerging trends such as the quest for ‘travel to change and to show’, ‘the pursuit of healthy options’ such as walking, wellness and sports tourism, ‘multigenerational travel’ as a result of demographic

changes and more responsible travel.

“Digitalisation, new business models, more affordable travel and societal changes are expected to continue shaping our sector, so both destination and companies need to adapt if they want to remain competitive,” added Pololikashvili.

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February 2019

SUSTAINABILITY

INSTO comes to Spain The Tourism Observatory of Navarre has joined the UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO)

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February 2019

Photo credit: Navarre Government Tourist Marketing Service

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avarre’s Tourism Observatory is the first tourism observatory in Spain to join the UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO), bringing the number of network members to 25. The group consists of destinations committed to generating better evidence through the continuous monitoring of the impacts of tourism at the destination level.

The Tourism Observatory of Navarre is led by the directorate of tourism and Trade of the Government of Navarre and will broaden the observation activities already established in the economic area to include the periodic measurement of the social and environmental impacts of the sector.

Navarre’s entry into the network is supported by the Spanish Government, which is committed to further strengthening its destinations by taking advantage of the opportunities deriving from new technological advances to ensure the sustainable development of destinations.

“We welcome the initiative of Navarre, demonstrating the strong commitment at the local level to continuously measure the development of tourism, which will not only generate more evidence on the economic, environmental and social impacts of the sector, but will also facilitate decisionmaking and policy formulation processes and strengthen sustainable development in Navarre,” said Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO secretarygeneral.

Isabel Oliver, secretary of state for tourism, expressed her support for this coopera-

tion project between the UNWTO and Navarre on sustainable tourism in Spain. The project will have a multiplier effect by systematically and periodically collecting data and scientific evidence on tourism in all its dimensions of sustainability, in line with the 2030 Agenda. “What is not measured cannot be improved,” said the secretary of state, who also stated that “this initiative is perfectly in line with the Sustainable Tourism Strategy of the Government of Spain and in particular with the Smart Tourism Destinations initiative.”

“With the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (IN-

STO), the UNWTO offers an excellent platform to share experiences and strategies for monitoring and development based on exemplary sustainability cases with other tourism destinations,” said Manu Ayerdi, vice-president of Economic Development of the Government of Navarre.

To ensure inclusiveness and stakeholder-guided development, the Observatory will follow a participatory approach by creating a local group of interdisciplinary experts, which is one of the key features of the INSTO Observatories.

The UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) was created in 2004 with

To ensure inclusiveness and stakeholder-guided development, the Observatory will follow a participatory approach by creating a local group of interdisciplinary experts the main objective of supporting the continuous improvement of sustainability and resilience in the tourism sector through systematic, timely and regular monitoring of tourism performance and impact at the local level. The network con-

nects committed destinations around the world, helping them to exchange and improve knowledge and understanding of the monitoring activities throughout the destination and the responsible management of tourism.

IN FOCUS

Tourism for Tomorrow The World Travel and Tourism Council announces 2019 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards finalists and India's Lemon Tree Hotels is one of the them

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he World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced the 15 finalists for its 2019 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The 2019 finalists are organised into the following new categories: Climate Action, Investing in People, Destination Stewardship, Social Impact and Changemakers. The Changemakers Award will put a special spotlight on fighting the illegal wildlife trade through tourism, an issue that is also a focus of WTTC with its Buenos Aires Declaration on Illegal Wildlife Trade launched last year.

The WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, now in their fifteenth year, showcase business practices of the highest standards that balance the needs of ‘people, planet and profits’ within the Travel & Tourism sector. All 15 finalists illustrate a strong commitment to supporting change, transformation in business practices and consumer behaviour towards a more environmentally conscious sector.

Following a rigorous threephase judging process, which includes an onsite evaluation, winners of the 2019 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards will be announced during the awards ceremony at the 19th WTTC Global Summit in Seville, Spain from 2 – 4 April 2019.

Gloria Guevara, president & CEO, WTTC, said, “This year’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards shine the spotlight on those organisations which are leading the way in sustainable travel and tourism. They reflect WTTC’s Strategic Priorities of Climate Action, Destination Stewardship, Future of Work, and Social Responsibil-

ity. I am delighted that in this 15th anniversary year, we are particularly highlighting initiatives which are combatting the illegal wildlife trade, in line with the WTTC Buenos Aires Declaration which was launched in April 2018. As pioneers in the world of Travel & Tourism I applaud all these finalists on their business philosophies and encourage the wider sector to look to them as leading examples for the future of sustainable travel.”

Awards lead judge, Prof.

Graham Miller, executive dean and professor of sustainability in Business, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Surrey said, “The shortlisted projects and businesses demonstrate community development, sustainable employment practices, female empowerment, innovative environmental technology and protection of land and marine wildlife as well as positively contributing to the broader Sustainable Development Goals. Their efforts in these areas are a beacon to the rest of the travel sector in signalling the way to a more sustainable world.”

The finalists of the 2019 WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, which is headline sponsored by AIG Travel for the fourth year are: Climate Action Award, for organisations undertaking significant and measurable work to reduce the scale and impact of climate change: ● Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba ● The Brando, Tetiaroa Private Island, Tahiti ● Tourism Holdings Limited, New Zealand Investing in People Award,

Their efforts in these areas are a beacon to the rest of the travel sector in signalling the way to a more sustainable world.”

for organisations demonstrating leadership in becoming an exciting, attractive, and equitable employer in the sector: ● Lemon Tree Hotels, India ● Reserva do Ibitipoca, Brazil ● Shanga by Elewana Collection, Tanzania Destination Stewardship Award, for organisations helping a place to thrive and bring forward its unique identity for the benefit of its residents and tourists: ● Grupo Rio da Prata, Brazil ● Masungi Georeserve, Philippines ● St. Kitts Sustainable Destination Council, St. Kitts Nevis Social Impact Award, for organisations

working to improve the people and places where they operate: ● Awamaki, Peru ● Intrepid Group, Australia ● Nikoi Island, Indonesia Changemakers Award, this year focused on organisations fighting the illegal wildlife trade through sustainable tourism: ● Kelompok Peduli Lingkungan Belitung (KPLB), Indonesia ● SEE Turtles, USA ● The Cardamom Tented Camp, Cambodia The winner of each category will be determined by the WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2019 Winners’ Selection

Committee, chaired by Fiona Jeffery OBE, Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Chair and founder & chairman, Just a Drop. Fiona Jeffery OBE said, “The role of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards is to inspire and educate. They identify responsible leadership in our industry and outstanding role models from which best practices can be learnt and built. Our role is to spread this knowledge and encourage a broader appreciation of environmental and ethical governance which helps drive a growing commitment to sustainable tourism practices, so they become part of the DNA of our industry and not the exception.

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February 2019

MOVEMENTS Air India SATS Airport Services

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS) has announced the appointment of RAMANATHAN RAJAMANI (Ramana) as its new chief executive officer, effective November 10, 2018. He succeeds Mike Chew who was AISATS’ chief executive officer since October 2015.

Catherine Abelema Afeku

Jean-Marc Nasr

utter involvement in tourism not just in Ghana but in the world at large.

tions in the region, as well as for advancing the company’s “One Roof” policy to integrate its various business entities in key markets.

In addition, he is concurrently head of regional sales Asia Pacific, including China and India, for Airbus Defence and Space. In this role, he is responsible for sales of the company’s complete range of defence and space products in this area.

Nasr was until the end of December, head of regional sales for the Middle East, Africa, France and the UK for Airbus Defence and Space. He joined the division (then EADS Defence and Security) in 2005 and has previously held key management positions leading the secure networks, integrated systems and cyber security businesses.

Amadeus

Ramanathan Rajamani

Rajamani comes with over 15 years of experience in both Military and Civil Aviation sectors.

He started his career with the Defence Science and Technology Agency ensuring reliability of fighter jets for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

He subsequently moved to lead several marquee projects for both commercial and military ground operations. He joined SATS in 2011 as head of the engineering team. Under his able leadership, the team later won the first patent for the organisation. He also won Singapore’s prestigious National Productivity Award in 2016 for his enormous contribution to SATS.

UNWTO Ghana’s minister for tourism arts and culture, CATHERINE ABELEMA AFEKU has been appointed as chairperson of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Leadership Taskforce Group. The announcement was made at the first meeting of the Leadership Taskforce which took place in January at the UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, Spain. Her new appointment outlines her

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February 2019

Amadeus has appointed MIEKE DE SCHEPPER as Executive Vice President for Online Travel and Managing Director for Asia Pacific. De Schepper comes from Egencia, the Travel Management Company of Expedia Group, where she held the role of Senior Vice

Airbnb Mieke De Schepper

President and Chief Commercial Officer. Previously, De Schepper was the Vice President of Expedia Group’s Lodging Partner Solutions in Asia Pacific, responsible for building and managing the hotel relationships in the region.

Airbus Airbus has appointed JEANMARC NASR as president Asia Pacific. Based in Singapore, Nasr will be responsible for Airbus’ overall strategy, industrial footprint and opera-

Airbnb has appointed MIKE ORGILL as general manager of South East Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, effective immediately. The appointment is a promotion for Orgill, as he previously held the role of director of public policy for Asia Pacific at Airbnb.

Earlier, he led Google's public policy efforts for emerging markets in Asia, and worked at the US-ASEAN Business Council in Washington D.C. He will report to Siew Kum Hong, regional director, APAC. Orgill will continue to support Airbnb’s public policy efforts until a new APAC

Royal Caribbean Cruises has expanded the role of JOSH WEN, head of sales of Asia Pacific, to cover the Singapore trade sales.

Wen, who has been with Royal Caribbean for three and a half years, now handles a total of 15 markets in the region for trade sales, namely Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Wen is taking over the Singapore role from Mona Foo, head of business development, who will now focus on corporate

sales and operations in Asia.

OYO Hotels, China

Mike Orgill

director of public policy is appointed.

The Fern Residency, Bhuj RUPAM GHOSH has joined The Fern Hotels & Resorts as general manager, The Fern Residency, Bhuj. He has 15 years of work experience having worked with Mahindra Holidays & Resort, Park Plaza Ahmedabad, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma, Maldives, The Manohar, Hyderabad. Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Agra, Heritage Village, Gurgaon and Club Mahindra. He has completed his diploma in hotel management from IIAS School of Hotel Management.

OYO Hotels has appointed SAM SHIH as its chief operating officer (COO) for the China market.

He will be responsible for the overall regional operations, driving consumer experience and building operating efficiencies at scale across OYO China. Before this, Shih served as president of Global Consumables and chief executive officer at Asia Pulp & Paper Co. He also led the operations at Red Bull and Accor Group, France.

Singhania Sarovar Portico, Raipur Sarovar Hotels and Resorts has appointed SUMEET SHANDILYA as general manager of Singhania Sarovar Portico, Raipur. Shandilya brings with him a professional experience of more than 14 years with core expertise in food and beverage operations and marketing.

Before joining Singhania Sarovar Portico, Raipur, he has worked with Xanadu Collection All Suite Hotel Kampala, Uganda as general manager.

Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi, Hotels English Point Mombasa Kenya and Pinewood Beach Resort.

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