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COVER STORY 2018: The year of Zayed
NEWS VFS Global records 34% increase in France visa applications from Puducherry
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SPOTLIGHT
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NEWS
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SPA CORNER
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DIPLOMAT’S CORNER
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AROUND THE WORLD
NEWS Slovakia becomes VFS Global’s 62nd client government for visa processing services
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'2018 has been a game changer for ITQ and the travel industry'
'Macao Light Festival 2018 – Time to travel in Macao' presents a magical journey
A place to revitalize oneself
BITE CORNER The Royal cuisine of Rampur
Immense potential of trade and tourism between India and Turkey
Popular festivals around the world to look for in January 2019
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FROM THE EDITOR
Tribute to UAE's Founding Father 2018 being the birth centenary of the beloved leader, the grateful nation celebrated 2018 as the Year of Zayed. To know more about his life and time, read our cover story, '2018: The Year of Zayed'. Publisher & Editor Srishti Rai Director Bharat S. Rai Managing Editor Prem Kumar General Manager - Marketing Prem Sagar premsagar@tnhindia.com (M) +91 99106 81111 Art Director Sunny Singh Correspondent (Kolkata) Swaati Chaudhury Accounts Chander Shakher Balodi Administration Executive Sarwat Jahan
For any query, write to us at: info@tnhindia.com
www.tnhglobal.com Printed, published and owned by Srishti Rai. Printed at Somsons Printing Works, 1/7, DoctorĂŠs Lane, Gole Market, New Delhi - 110001, and published at P- 23/90, Connaught Circus, New Delhi 110001; Editor: SRISHTI RAI
The UAE is fortunate to be the birthplace of a great leader like Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, popularly known as the Father of the Nation. Today if the UAE is a peaceful, progressive and prosperous country in the world, and a regional power playing a key role in global peace and stability, the foundation of this strong, united and modern UAE was laid down by none other than Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founder and the First President of the UAE, who led the progress and transformation of the nation from 1971 until his demise in November 2004. Sheikh Zayed founded the Union of the seven emirates, the United Arab Emirates, ‘based on unity and solidarity to build a stable and progressive society.
ITQ (Interglobe Technology Quotient) has always strived to be in sync with the latest technological advancements in order to cater to the needs of the travel industry and lived up to their expectation. In this issue, we have featured the interview of Sandeep Dwivedi, COO of ITQ on page 22. Read the interview to know the recent initiatives by the company. Also read our 'Diplomat's Corner' on page 38, which features the interview of the Ambassador of Turkey to India, H.E. Mr Sakir Ozkan Torunlar. As always, we have carried news and analysis from diverse segments of the travel and tourism industry to keep you informed of the latest happenings. Enjoy reading!
Srishti Rai Editor
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NEWS
VFS Global records 34% increase in France visa applications from Puducherry
NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART JOINT VISA APPLICATION CENTRE FOR 13 SCHENGEN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING FRANCE, LAUNCHED IN THE CITY
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itnessing a rising demand for visa services from the city of Puducherry, VFS Global has relocated its Joint Visa Application Centre for 13 Schengen countries, to a new, centrally located facility. The centre was inaugurated on 2 November 2018 by Ms. Catherine Suard, Consule Générale à Pondichéry et Chennai, Consulat General De France, in a formal ceremony. France has traditionally been a popular destination for visitors from the coastal city, with an average year on year growth of over 30 per cent recorded. Between January and September 2018, VFS Global has already received 34 per cent more applications for France when compared to the same period in 2017. Growth in demand for France visas from Puducherry is the third highest in South India, with Kochi record-ing a 51 per cent increase, and Chennai notching a 39 per
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cent increase in applications from January to September 2018. Puducherry has also seen an impressive rise in visa applications to the other destinations, recording a whopping 57 per cent growth in total application numbers during the period. Speaking at the inauguration, Catherine Suard, Consule Générale à Pondichéry et Chennai, Consulat General De France, said, “Given the steady rise in visa applications to Europe and France in particular, with respect to business, touristic and educational purposes, I am very happy to be here at the inauguration of this new VFS Global Joint Visa Application Centre, which is more centrally located and easily accessible to the general public of Puducherry.” Commenting on the launch of the visa centre, Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group Chief Operating Officer – Middle East, South Asia and China, VFS Global, said, “Puducherry has historically held deep ties with France, seeing a
Key features of the centre include:
• Convenient and central location • Skilled staff well-versed with the local language to handle applications and queries • Extended operating hours enabling visitors to submit applications at their time of convenience • Dedicated website for easy access to information including visa categories, requirements, checklist, applicable fees, visa status update • 100% secure handling of passports, documents and personal information • Doorstep delivery of passports
continuous strong demand for visa services to the European destination. The new facility has been launched with an aim to even better cater to our applicants’ needs and comfort, so we are able to continue providing exemplary services to the residents.”
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NEWS
The centre will offer the residents of Puducherry best-in-class visa services for France and the other Schengen countries served in the Joint Visa Application Centre, as well as a range of additional services to ensure a smooth
and convenient visa application experience, including SMS updates, courier return service, photo booth and photocopy facilities, and video conferencing amenities. VFS Global has been providing France visa services globally since
2004, and commenced this partner-ship with the Consulate General of France in India with a centre in Mumbai. The organisation currently accepts France visa applications in 15 cities across India. by TNH DESK
Tourist Facilitation and Information Counter inaugurated at IGI Airport New Delhi Tourism Ministry to open 24X7 Facilitation Counters in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Gaya and Varanasi soon. KJ Alphons, Union Minister for Tourism inaugurated the Tourist Facilitation and Information Counter at Indira Gandhi International Airport New Delhi. The facilitation counter is located at the T3 terminal arrival gates of the IGI Airport. The Tourism Ministry is also starting Facilitation Counters in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Gaya and Varanasi. Opening the facilitation Centre for visitors, which is first of its kind by the Government in IGI airport, the Minister said that this shall be of great help to the tourists visiting the country. The Minister added that the counter shall cater to non-English speaking tourists also
as the Counter will also be connected to the 24x7 Helpline – ‘1363’ of the Tourism Ministry where the tourists can speak directly with the foreign language agents and get guidance in French, German, Italian, French, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Arabic. The Ministry of Tourism has set-up this Counter with an objective to provide 24x7 information to both domestic and international visitors arriving into IGI Airport, New Delhi. The Tourist Facilitation Counter will be manned by 2 staff and a Supervisor to answer the queries of the tourists and also guide them with information. The Counter is also stocked with sufficient high quality tourist literature and brochures to be provided to by TNH DESK the tourists.
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NEWS
ITC HOTELS OPENS GRAND GOA RESORT & SPA ITC Hotels opened its 13th luxury hotel in India, ITC Grand Goa, a Luxury Collection Resort &Spa, formerly known as the Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa, on Arossim beach in Cansaulim, South Goa. Celebrating the spirit of Goa, this 252-keys beach-side, village-styled resort's architecture, draws inspiration from the Indo-Portuguese vintage and blends classical elegance with a distinctive regional allure. ITC Hotels' customary warmth is reflected in 6 signature dining options, bespoke experiences curated in indoor and outdoor meeting & banquet spaces and time-honoured Indian wellness principles showcased at the Kaya Kalp - The Royal Spa. Set amidst 45-acres of lush landscape, with direct access to the pristine Arossim beach, the resort exemplifies all the essentials for an invigorating or intimate relaxed getaway. ITC Grand Goa further reinforces ITC Hotels’ exclusive partnership with The Luxury Collection brand in India. Speaking on the occasion, Nakul Anand, Executive Director, ITC Ltd. said, “With this resort ITC Hotels has expanded its footprint in a globally sought after leisure destination in Asia. The addition of ITC Grand Goa Resort & Spa to our luxury hotel portfolio further reinforces ITC’s vision to consolidate its portfolio in key business and leisure destinations in by TNH DESK the country.”
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LEMON TREE HOTELS SIGNS ITS FIRST HOTEL IN DUBAI Lemon Tree Hotels Limited, through its management subsidiary Carnation Hotels Pvt. Ltd., has signed its first Lemon Tree Hotel in Dubai. Lemon Tree Hotels Limited is India’s largest hotel chain in the mid-priced hotel sector, and the third largest overall, on the basis of controlling interest in owned and leased rooms, as of June 30, 2017, according to the Horwath Report. The hotel, owned by Al Waleed Real Estate LLC, is expected to launch in the third quarter of the coming year. Located on Al Wasl Road, this will be the first midscale hotelin the area. The hotel will feature 114 well-appointed rooms and suites, complemented by a multi-cuisine restaurant, Citrus Café, with a beautiful al fresco extension, a conference room, Tangerine, a swimming pool, a wellequipped fitness center and more. Speaking on the occasion, Rattan Keswani, Deputy Managing Director – Lemon Tree Hotels and Director – Carnation Hotels, said, “We are delighted to enter Dubai with our partners Al Waleed Real Estate. This is our first hotel in the UAE, and we feel that it holds immense by TNH DESK business potential.”
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NEWS
TURKEY CALLING INDIAN TRAVELLERS Turkey, the merging point for Asia and Europe is hard selling its destinations to welcome Indian leisure, MICE and wedding visitors. The destination that serves as a connecting link between Asia and Europe is beyond doubt Turkeysurrounded by four seas- Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Sea of Marmara and Mediterranean Sea. In a unique move to entice more number of Indian leisure and MICE tourists, Turkish Tourism Board in close association with Destination Management Companies (DMC) hosted Turkey Destination Workshop in Kolkata sometime on October 10 this year. There were 30 DMCs present at the event in Kolkata. H Deniz Ersoz, Culture and Tourism Counsellor, Embassy of Republic of
Turkey, Culture and Tourism Office, said “Kolkata has a vast tourism potential and we intend to increase the visibility of Turkey in the city so that more number of Indian travellers and MICE tourists get to interact with the DMC’s of Turkey. We also look ahead to pull more wedding visitors from the eastern zone of India. We are going for a six-city tourism road show and plans are on to take it to tier-II cities of India like Hyderabad, Cochin, Chandigarh and Pune sometime in January, next year.” Turkey is a perfect destination for MICE tourists. There are 18 UNESCO listed World Heritage sites. Ersoz informed, “We have Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Izmir that serve as great destinations for Indian MICE travellers. India has an enormous tourism
Etihad Airways launches new economy space Etihad Airways has introduced Economy Space, a new seating option across its wide-body fleet, to enhance its product offering and to provide more choice to its customers on longer flights. By December 2018, Etihad Airways will have retrofitted its 10 Airbus A380s with Economy Space seats, which feature an increased seat pitch of up to 36 inches. The
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redesign increases the number of extra legroom seats in Economy from 20 to 80 on by TNH DESK this aircraft type.
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2018
H Deniz Ersoz
Culture and Tourism Counsellor, Embassy of Republic of Turkey, Culture and Tourism Office
potential and talks are on to expand air connectivity with an aim to lure both inbound and outbound tourists from Turkey to India and vice-versa. There is authentic Indian food rustled up by Indian chefs. We had nearly 40 million global visitors in Turkey in the current period. Around 87,000 Indian tourists flew down to Turkey last year and we are eyeing about 92 per cent rise in Indian tourists’ footfall this year.” by TNH DESK
KAZAKHSTAN TO HOST PATA TRAVEL MART 2019 The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is set to organise PATA Travel Mart 2019 in Astana, Kazakhstan in September. The event will be hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh Tourism National Company JSC, the key organization in the tourism industry effectively promoting the tourist brand of Kazakhstan and contributing to attracting investments to the industry. “We are excited to hold the first-ever PATA event in Central Asia in the Republic of Kazakhstan. by TNH DESK
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NEWS
Kerala Tourism wins Gold for Responsible Tourism initiative Kerala Tourism has won gold at the maiden International Travel and Tourism awards, presented at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, for its Responsible Tourism initiative. Kerala Tourism was chosen for the coveted award in “the Best in Responsible Tourism in the World “category, in recognition of its endeavours in promoting eco-friendly and heritage preserving activities with the involvement of local communities. Kerala has 10,938 units working under Responsible Tourism Mission. Over 50,000 families enjoy the fruits
of responsible tourism in the state. Billed as the biggest annual global event for the travel industry, WTM2018 was held in London from November 5 to 7, generating more than £2.8 billion of business contracts between attendees. The awards, decided by an eminent jury from among international competitors, were instituted in 14 categories. With Kerala Tourism winning the gold in the Responsible tourism category, the first silver medal went to Cinnamon Elephant Project of Cinnamon Hotels (Sri Lanka) and the second silver to Coral Reef Revival project from
Sarovar announces its next project in Greater Noida Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, India’s leading hotel Management Company, expands its portfolio in the Delhi-NCR region, with the signing of a new project in Greater Noida West. One of the fastest growing hotel chains in India, the Anil Madhok Company manages 80 opExecutive Chairman, Sarovar Hotels & erational hotels in 50 destiResorts nations in India and Africa. The Gaurs Sarovar Portico Greater Noida West is owned and developed by Gaursons, one of the most eminent and well-respected real estate brands in Northern India. The hotel is part of an 18 acre Sports Club and adjoins a sports stadium, giving it by TNH DESK a unique locational advantage.
Indonesia. Also, Kerala emerged as the finalist in Best Regional/ City Campaign for its campaign ‘Live Inspired.’ Other finalist destinations included Canary island, Manchester, for visit Flanders, which won by TNH DESK the gold.
VITS Upper Thane launches ‘Sky Dhaba’ rooftop lounge VITS Luxury Hotels has launched Sky Dhaba Rooftop Lounge, a Punjabi themed dhaba at VITS Upper Thane. The restaurant is especially for those who like to be in the presence of a live kitchen while enjoying their mealtime. Sky Dhaba serves multi-cuisine food in Indian, Chinese and Italian cuisines and the ambi-
ence is presented as an authentic dhaba. The live bar counter will serve a wide choice of wines, beers, vodka and scotch. Guests can choose from a variety of handpicked authentic cuisines that pledge to give your taste palette an unforgettable by TNH DESK experience.
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NEWS
Slovakia becomes VFS Global’s 62nd client government for visa processing services
VFS Global will operate 38 new Visa Application Centres in 10 countries, including India, by Dec 2018 On 5 November 2018, VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd., operating as VFS Global, signed a contract with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic for providing visa services in 10 countries worldwide. As per this new contract, VFS Global will now provide visa services for Slovakia in China, India, Kazakhstan, Palestine, Belarus, Russia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Egypt, through 38 Visa Application Centres. The rollout of all these new operations is expected to be completed by December 2018. Under the new contract, VFS Global will accept both short and long-term visa applications on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. Chris Dix, Head – Business Development, VFS Global, remarked, “We are excited about our new part-
nership with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. The countries where we will be operating are markets where VFS Global has worked for several years, and whose travellers are familiar with our services and expertise. We are also pleased to have the opportunity to serve our new clients in new locations, and bring applicants in these locations the same benefits and high quality service that we have been offering our customers worldwide for the last 17 years.” Over the last three months, VFS Global also signed eight new contracts with other European governments, reaffirming its position as a market leader in the visa facilitation space. In total, VFS Global is the trusted outsourcing services
Chris Dix Head- Business Developement VFS Global
provider of 30 European governments out of 62 client governments served worldwide. VFS Global is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and dip-lomatic missions worldwide. VFS Global, headquartered in Dubai, UAE, has Swiss parentage and is a portfolio company of EQT, a leading global private equity firm headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. With 2763 Application Centres, operations in 141 countries across five continents and over 182 million applications processed as on 30 September 2018, VFS Global is the trusted partner of 62 client by TNH DESK governments.
India to chair the Programme and Budget Committee of UNWTO Executive Council till 2021 K J Alphons presides over the Program and Budget Committee meeting of UNWTO The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, KJ Alphons along with a delegation of senior officials is attending the 109th session of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Ex-
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ecutive Council in Manama, Bahrain. The three day Session of UNWTO Executive Council began on 30th October 2018. The Executive Council will discuss several topics on the agenda that are related to the development of global Tourism sector. by TNH DESK
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NEWS
VFS Global wins global visa contract for the Netherlands The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has awarded VFS Global the global tender to provide visa services in eight out of nine regions worldwide. Under this new mandate, VFS Global will significantly extend its operations on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands across the world. VFS Global will operate for the Netherlands government in Africa, North America, Central and South America, Asia and Pacific, Eastern Europe, in the Middle East, in Western Europe; and in India. VFS Global has worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands since 2006 and under the new contract will provide Schengen visa services, Caribbean visa services, long stay national visas, Dutch Travel Documents and Civic
Integration Exams. Chris Dix, Head of Business Development, VFS Global, said, “VFS Global is delighted that we will continue to serve the Netherlands Government. We have enjoyed a strong partnership with the Nether-lands Ministry of Foreign Affairs for well over a decade, and welcome this opportunity to enhance our ser-vice capabilities on their behalf. We look forward to opening our facilities in 40 new locations to offer Netherlands visa applicants best-in-class visa solutions, and a seamless application process.” Since August 2018, VFS Global has signed visa service contracts
with nine existing and new client governments from Europe to extend their visa service network. This includes contracts to provide additional visa services for client governments such as Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia and The Czech Republic. “VFS Global is delighted that we will continue to serve the Netherlands Government. We have enjoyed a strong partnership with the Nether-lands Ministry of Foreign Affairs for well over a decade, and welcome this opportunity to enhance our ser-vice capabilities on their behalf. We look forward to opening our facilities in 40 new locations to offer Netherlands visa applicants best-in-class visa solutions, and a seamless application process.” by TNH DESK
2018 Poised to Advance Tourism’s Leadership among Top Global Economic Sectors The latest figures on world tourism issued by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) show that international tourist arrivals grew 5% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2018. This reflects continued strong demand in a favourable overall economic context. All world regions enjoyed robust growth in international tourism in the first nine months of this year, fuelled by solid demand from major
source markets. Asia and the Pacific led growth (+7%), followed by Europe and the Middle East (+6% each), Africa (+5%) and the Americas (+3%). Despite comparatively slower growth between July and September, UNWTO estimates that destinations worldwide received 1,083 million international arrivals through September, an additional 56 million when compared to the same period of 2017. by TNH DESK
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NEWS
HRAO releases booklet on recommendations of the 3rd Odisha Tourism Conclave The HRAO compiled and printed the booklet, which was released by R. Balakrishnan, IAS, Development Commissioner, Government of Odisha on 25th November 2018, in presence of Special Secretary and Director Tourism Archana Patnaik, IAS and other government officials and members from travel trade.
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he Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha had organized the 3rd Odisha Tourism conclave on 24th August 2018 highlighting the needs and potential of Odisha Tourism for its growth. The participants from various government departments, experts in the field of adventure tourism, beach tourism, hoteliers, airlines and from other industries related to the tourism sector of Odisha were delivered their valuable suggestions for growth of the Tourism in our State.
Some of the key recommendations are: • Govt. of Odisha should spend at least 20% of the publicity budget on information and technology in promoting the destinations of the State through social media. In benchmarking on the social media and in terms of best video online, Rajasthan, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are all ahead of Odisha. Coming to Facebook and Twitter, Odisha is much below than the top states in almost all matrices • In terms of site optimization, Odisha Tourism website is not even linked to the FB page. It was suggested to engage with branding experts, hire professional IT agency of repute on a retainer basis, create comprehensive plan for branding and positioning Odisha, ensure that all components are given proper attention, create a strategic plan to develop, communicate and facilitate tourism on each of these parameters like People, Culture, Governance, Immigration, Investment, Tourism and Exports. A Brand Ambassador (popular film star) may be appointed to promote Odisha as an attractive tourist destination. Odisha Tourism must make a vibrant Brand Odisha Campaign Video like the way countries like New Zealand, Thailand and Dubai have done. The Branding should be integrated and positioning should be unique to Odisha.
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• Odisha Tourism should focus on Research to appropriately promote tourist destinations. • Odisha Tourism should prepare a tourism master plan for the next 5 years short term goal with a target for annual growth in foot falls to the State. It should produce a MICE Tourism Booklet, and promote Eco Tourism, Cinema & Medical Tourism in Odisha. • Air connectivity to Bangkok should be revived and connectivity with Dubai should be explored. We can double our domestic tourism with direct flight connectivity to Varanasi, Bodh Gaya, Pune and Ahmedabad. • Odisha should focus more on domestic tourism without differentiating with international tourism. Every month the Govt. may plan one domestic and one International Road-show in selected countries of South East Asia. • Govt. should act fast on allotment of land to investors to create roadside amenities for travelers. • Private Sector should play a more proactive role and all Panthanivasas should be privatized. • Ownership of Odisha beaches must be decided under various municipalities or NACs so as to maintain their by TNH DESK cleanliness through PPP model.
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NEWS
CELEBRITY EDGE: THE MOST ANTICIPATED SHIP OF THE YEAR FINALLY ARRIVES! Celebrity Cruises’ highly anticipated ship gets an electrifying welcome to her new South Florida home. The game-changing Celebrity Edge has officially arrived at the new home of modern luxury – Port Everglades’ Terminal 25 (T25) in Hollywood, Florida – following the ship’s first-ever, 15-day transatlantic crossing. Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Richard D. Fain, said: “The arrival of Celebrity Edge today book-ends a major chapter in the growth of Celebrity Cruises. It’s the culmination of years of dreaming, designing and dedication to bring this magnificent ship to life. A new era is truly upon us.” Viewing this momentous occasion from the bridge of Celebrity Edge with Fain, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, added: “The completion of her first-ever transatlantic crossing and arrival at T25 marks such a historic moment for Celebrity Cruises. This has been more than four years in the making. The collaboration and effort between teams across the world all comes together in this incredible moment. I can think of no better place to be than with Captain Costas and the crew of Celebrity Edge knowing that we are sailing into the future, literally and figuratively, with this beautiful ship.”
Adorning the decks as Celebrity Edge entered the channel for the first time, more than 1,400 excited crew members waved to a sea of shoreside colleagues who gathered to welcome the ship and her crew to their new home at an exclusive welcome event hosted at the Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center — a fitting debut for Celebrity’s first new ship in six years and the first of a new class in more than a decade. After the arrival of Celebrity Edge at T25, Lutoff-Perlo and Fain then hosted a grand opening ceremony in the revolutionary new terminal. Attended by key brand executives and esteemed Broward County and City of Hollywood officials, the dramatic ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official grand opening of the first terminal designed exclusively for the Celebrity brand, dubbed the new home of modern luxury. Brought to life in collaboration with Broward County’s Port Everglades, Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. and Moss Construction, T25 bonds a stunning and inviting design with unique technology, such as Expedited Arrival, which will make the check-in process absolutely seamless, as well as an interactive light wall art installation. T25 will also offer The Retreat guests a singular experience along the path to The Retreat, with an exclusive lounge, elevator lobbies, screening areas and even by TNH DESK a private rooftop terrace.
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NEWS
Aditya Ghosh takes over as CEO of OYO Hotels Aditya joins OYO Hotels after a successful stint at IndiGo and has been tasked to lead the next wave of growth for the company. OYO Hotels has appointed Aditya Ghosh as its CEO for India and South Asia, effective December 1, 2018. This appointment comes as a part of the company’s efforts to continue to invest in and attract world-class leadership, in the wake of its focus to drive accelerated growth in its home markets India and China. Aditya is a proven professional with over 21 years of experience and is entrusted with the responsibility to oversee and grow OYO Hotels business in South Asia,
which will include, India, Nepal, and the other upcoming markets in the region. He will focus on continuing to drive growth while delivering high-quality customer experience and sustained yields for asset owners. He will be a thought partner to every OYOpreneur, by enabling a work culture that rewards performance and celebrates diversity and inclusion, a key focus area for the company. His appointment is critical in the company’s journey into becoming not just the largest but also the most preferred
Aditya Ghosh CEO India and SA, OYOid Office in Asia
chain of hotels, homes and living spaces in India and around the world. He will be reporting to Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & Group CEO, OYO Hotels & Homes. by TNH DESK
Wyndham continues elevating signature mid-scale brands Signature limited service mid-scale brand gets face-lift complete with new design, new brand identity and new logo. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchisor and leading provider of hotel management services, with more than 9,000 hotels and20 iconic hotel brands, today unveiled an exciting new direction for the Ramada Encore by Wyndham brand globally. Recognising that today’s traveller has more choice than ever before, at the heart of this new identity is a brand promise to be “Refreshingly Different”, which is underpinned by the brand’s core attributes of being fresh, approachable and vibrant. This new identity includes a redesigned and reimagined logo, created by London-based marketing agency Octopus Group, and prototype designs for guest rooms and common spaces designed
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by hospitality architecture firm Harrison. Ramada Encore by Wyndham is a portfolio of 54 hotels by TNH DESK in 20 countries around the world.
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NEWS
Madrid Chamber of Commerce promotes digitalization of commerce and shopping tourism
Susana Fernandez Perez Director of Madrid Office in Asia
The Madrid Chamber of Commerce launched a number of free activities including presentation workshops, development-based initiatives for shopping centres and [xxx], with a view to promoting the digitalisation of retail trade and shopping tourism in the region. These initiatives are part of the 2018 Comprehensive Plan to
Miguel Bufala Perez Tourism Manager of Madrid Chamber of Commerce
Improve Competitiveness in the Retail Sector, promoted by the State Secretariat for Commerce of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and the Chamber of Spain, and is developed in conjunction with the Directorate General for Commerce and Consumption of the Region of Madrid, and Madrid's Chamber of Commerce. The Plan is also
Jose Ramon Baranano Spanish Ambassador in India
co-funded by the ERDF. A total of 60 workshops were staged recently with an aim to increase efficiency in retail trade based on a number of areas such as e-trade, digital marketing, innovation, shopping tourism, new consumer habits or new selling techniques. by TNH DESK
Sarovar Hotels expands presence in Africa Sarovar Hotels has opened its first hotel in Zambia - Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere, Lusaka. With three operating hotels in Tanzania and Kenya this will be their fourth in the African continent. Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere is an all-suite upscale development in the vibrant Manda Hill area of Lusaka and offers easy connectivity to the airport. It offers a splen-
did guest experience with 82 allsuite, an all-day-dining restaurant, poolside grill, bar, lobby cafe, fitness centre and spa. The hotel has large banquet and conferencing facilities to accommodate up to 600 people. Designed to exacting standards, the hotel interiors are contemporary and make liberal use of traditional African art. Each suite
speaks of a unique and bespoke style. All suite in the hotel are equipped with best in class modern amenities and supported by Sarovar’s distinct service standards. Lusaka, the geographical and commercial heart of Zambia is the sure stop for any business traveller by TNH DESK to Southern Africa.
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COVER STORY
ZAYED 2018: THE YEAR OF
The UAE is concluding its celebration of 2018 as the Year of Zayed. 2018 marks the birth centenary year of late Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the modern UAE
v B PREM KUMAR Y
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he country throughout 2018 remembered the contribution, legacy, vision and leadership of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, popularly known Father of the Nation in the UAE, who founded the modern UAE. To commemorate his birth centenary year, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE had declared 2018 to be officially known in the UAE as the Year of Zayed.
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Late Sheikh Zayed was born on 6th May 1918 in Abu Dhabi and served as the first President of the UAE from 1971 until he passed away on 2nd November 2004. Under his rule, the UAE witnessed the complete transformation in terms of peace, progress and prosperity. The Year of Zayed is also about propagating and instilling his values among people in the country. Many new initiatives, events and awards were organized across the UAE to promote values such as tolerance, progress, environmentalism and
charity. With such events and initiatives throughout the year, the people of the UAE were encouraged to uphold the noble values instilled in them by the late Sheikh Zayed, including those of wisdom, respect, determination, loyalty, a sense of belonging to the nation, and a willingness to make sacrifices at whatever cost. The Year of Zayed is also about underling the significance of tolerance and co-existence in the contemporary world for international understanding, peace and security. The UAE is known for its kind-
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The best way to celebrate the Year of Zayed would be by spreading Zayed’s glorious human and cultural legacy via all the people of the UAE, to continue his inspirational and noble values, and introduce these ideals to new generations.
Sheikh Zayed’s main objective was to invest in building the Emirati person, believing in his or her ability to actively participate in the building of the nation.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
heartedness with which it welcomes people from different races, religions, and cultures without abandoning its social and cultural identity. These are the principles the late Shaikh Zayed strongly believed in, practised and promoted to create a world of coexistence and peace. He founded a global school of tolerance and coexistence to promote these values. Sheikh Zayed founded the Union of the seven emirates, called the United Arab Emirates, ‘based on unity and solidarity to build a progres-
COVER STORY
Sheikh Zayed's life: 6 May 1918 – 2 Nov 2004 Ruled Abu Dhabi for 38 years Founded the UAE; became its 1st President Laid foundations of modern UAE across sectors Ruled the nation till his death in 2004
sive society that benefits everyone, and in which people live in security and stability’. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, and the vice president of the UAE observed that Sheikh Zayed instilled in the people of UAE the willpower and determination to challenge and achieve the impossible. “This is why we are always convinced that we are capable of being pioneers and to become one of the best countries in the world. He inspired us to see his way to the future, to follow in his footsteps with confidence and insight, and to consolidate the gains and achievements,” said the VP. Sheikh Zayed had established the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, which gave away a part of the UAE’s income from oil to as many as 40 de-
veloping countries in the Arab world, Asia and Africa. He also made a huge investment in building schools and hospitals in the UAE and helping orphanages across the world. As Sheikh Mohammed pointed out, Sheikh Zayed was a model leader: “He was modest, and he personally checked on the needs of citizens. He would visit their homes and attend their occasions, thereby creating a unique bond with the people, becoming an inspiration to many in our region and the world.” The Year of Zayed was marked with programmes to create greater awareness of the life and achievements of Sheikh Zayed among local, regional and international audiences. The year was aimed at reinforcing the status of the late Sheikh Zayed as an eternal source of national pride and a powerful symbol of the UAE around the world. Sheikh Zayed assumed leadership in Abu Dhabi on August 6, 1966. He established the UAE as a regional and international power. The late leader held the unique standing in the hearts of every Emirati. As His Highness the President of the UAE said, the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed will remain alive not only in the hearts of people in the UAE, Arab and Muslim nations but throughout the world.
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NEWS
India and South Korea sign MoU for strengthening Tourism The Ministry of Tourism recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Government for the Republic of Korea for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism in New Delhi. K J Alphons, Union Tourism Minister and Do Jong-hwan Korean, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sports,
GOVERNMENTS, INVESTORS SHARE KNOWLEDGE ON TOURISM TECHNOLOGY AT UNWTO
Republic of Korea signed the MoU and officials from the Ministry and their counterparts from the Korean side were also present during the signing ceremony. The MoU was signed by two parties desiring to strengthen and further develop the established relationship for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. by TNH DESK
The UNWTO/WTM Ministers’ Summit, held recently by World Travel Market and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), was well received by participants from government and the private sector for its more dynamic new format leading to more concrete takeaways around this year’s theme: Investment in Tourism Technology. This year, the UNWTO/WTM Ministers’ Summit held at World Travel Market, one of the world's biggest tourism trade show (6 November 2018), focused on investment in tourism technology with a novel format. For the first time the summit featured a panel of private sector leaders alongside a panel of ministers, sparking an open and useful exchange of ideas and opinions on how to channel private capital into innovative tourism technologies. by TNH DESK
MoT rolls out online Certification programme The Union Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma recently rolled out the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification (IITFC) Programme in New Delhi. The Union Tourism Minister KJ Alphons had earlier launched the IITFC on 27th September, 2018 on the occasion of National Tourism Awards function & World Tourism Day. With the latest roll
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out , the participants will now be able to register for this programme through an online digital platform. IITFC will enable Indian citizens to develop and enhance the skills associated with tourism, and where one can incorporate knowledge about facilitating tourists across the country. by TNH DESK
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SPOTLIGHT
'2018 has been a game changer for ITQ and the travel industry' 2018 HAS BEEN A REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR INTERGLOBE TECHNOLOGY QUOTIENT (ITQ), SAYS ITS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SANDEEP DWIVEDI, IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TO TNH.
Sandeep Dwivedi Chief Operating Officer, InterGlobe Technology Quotient (ITQ)
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How has been 2018 for ITQ? What were your achievements in the year? 2018 has been a remarkable year for ITQ. We are the believers of innovation and customer satisfaction; keeping this approach at the core of our business, we are proud to have set new milestones this year. Being the members of travel and tourism fraternity, we all know how technology has taken a front seat in recent years. And, 2018 has been a game changer year for ITQ as well as our fellow members of the industry. Talking about our achievements, ITQ has come this far with flying colours. Undoubtedly, providing technologically advanced solutions to our clientele has been the prime area of focus in the year.
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In this line, some of our major achievements include: • Travelport won a competitive tender for being the sole distribution supplier to Air India for its domestic flight content in the Indian market. • Travelport and Jet Airways have signed a new long-term supplier agreement, commencing April 2019. Leveraging the wide network and codeshare alliances of the airline, travel agents (online and offline) would be able to easily shop, book and manage itineraries for leisure and business travellers. • Travelport has become the first GDS operator to provide NDC content. This means it can manage the live booking of flights using IATA's NDC technical standard.
Technology has been the backbone of our products and services. We continually strive to be in sync with the latest technological advancements catering to travel agents, travel business management companies to airlines, hotels, car rental companies etc.
Q
What new technologies, programmes and tools did you introduce in 2018? Technology has been the backbone of our products and services. We continually strive to be in sync with the latest technological advancements catering to travel agents, travel business manage-
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SPOTLIGHT
ment companies to airlines, hotels, car rental companies etc. Travelport Smartpoint 8.1, which is the latest version of this travel commerce platform is equipped with the latest tools and features to make travel booking, selling and sharing much simplified, faster and hassle-free than before. The best part about 8.1 version is that it enables businesses to provide customisation options to its users that ultimately boosts productivity and improves the customer experience.
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Travelport recently won the bid to distribute Air India's domestic flight content in India, a move that was opposed by travel agents. Your comment. The Air India contract for sole distribution of its travel content was awarded to Travelport post a competitive bidding process at the airline's own discretion on the basis of technological capability credentials and it's a great achievement for the company. We, being the official distributor of Travelport in the Indian market, welcome this as an endorsement of their technology and world-class services in the home market of Air India. Also, the contract will enable the travel commerce platform to extend its technologically advanced solutions and bestin-class services to the airline. Travelport’s rich content and branding will enable the airline to deliver better value for money and a superior distribution to its customers in the domestic and international market from Indian POS
(point of sale). In addition, Travelport has seen a rapid expansion in India in recent years following the acquisition of the business from the largest OTAs such as MMT, Goibibo, Yatra, EMT and ClearTrip as well as working with the major corporate travel agencies and new entrants in the travel sector such as PayTM. Having exclusive distribution rights of 6E has also played a vital role. Travelport has also expanded its footprint and capabilities with leading hotel groups and aggregators in India such as Oberoi, Taj, Treebo and Trident etc.
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How has Travelport's presence grown in India in the last couple of years? Travelport, renowned as the leading travel commerce platform worldwide for rendering distribution, technology, payment and other travel tech solutions, contributes to the $7.6 trillion global travel and tourism industry. Since its inception in 1971, the company has its presence in more than 170 countries throughout the world. ITQ is the official distributor of Travelport in 6 markets across Asia Pacific region including India and Sri Lanka. Considering the Indian aviation sector, Travelport is completely redefining the way of doing travel business. It has acted as a bridge between the travel agencies, travel providers, corporations and developers to search, share, buy and sell travel. According to the results of a Global Traveler Survey conducted by Travel-
port, Indian travellers came out to be the most digitally advanced among 16,000 travellers across 25 countries analysed. This shows how technology is making its way into the Indian aviation sector. The latest development of Travelport's presence in the Indian market can be attributed to Air India choosing the travel commerce platform as its sole distribution supplier. Further, leading Indian OTAs including MakeMyTrip, Yatra and Goibibo leverage the extensive travel database of Travelport to provide the best deals to their end customers. In a nutshell, Travelport is expanding in the Indian market and what's interesting to see is that even the Indian travel businesses are also welcoming it with open arms!
Q
How do you see the role of GDS evolving in overall travel distribution space? We all know, how GDS has have made its way successfully into the travel distribution market worldwide. Let's not forget the times when booking a ticket was such a time-consuming, manual and complicated process. Thanks to the dawn of GDS era, the gap between airlines and travel agents has been bridged. In recent years, there is a huge expansion in travel booking via GDS platform and the amount of security, reliability and speed it provides to the airlines and hotels is simply commendable. Going by a study of IATA, the future of GDS is very bright and wide; it will form a strong e-commerce travel platform for the travel distribution industry. If it works in compliance with the ever-changing needs of the airlines and hospitality industry, the day is not far when GDS will lead the travel industry.
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NEWS
'Macao Light Festival 2018 – Time to travel in Macao' presents a magical journey
'Macao Light Festival 2018 – Time Travel in Macao' will unfold glamorously at various locations in Macao from 2 to 31 December. Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the event organizer, held a press conference today (12 November) with co-organizers including the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Sports Bureau to unveil the fascinating program. The event is also supported by the Environmental Protection Bureau and Companhia de Electricidade de Macau (CEM) this year. Held for the fourth year, the Macao Light Festival will feature projection mapping shows created by local and overseas teams, light installations and interactive games besides an array of new highlights such as “Food Truck x Light” and Gastronomy Night Market, a virtual reality game as well as Cultural and Creative Night Market, among others. The route will connect a string of new locations to welcome visitors into various neighborhoods.
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MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and Deputy Director Ricky Hoi, President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mok Ian Ian, Acting Head of the Department of Civic Affairs and Consultation of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Au Chan Weng, and Head of Sports Facilities Management Department of Sports Bureau, Ho Wa, were present in the press conference among other guests. Senna Fernandes: an international event in the making In speaking at the press conference, Senna Fernandes
remarked, “Since the inaugural edition in 2015, we have been dedicated to optimizing the Macao Light Festival towards a growing confluence of highlights and a new level of performance quality, in parallel with the key goal to enhance the diversity of tourism products and experiences as proposed in the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan. We continue to stage the Macao Light Festival in the city, merging light artistries with a palette of local elements from history, culture and creativity to other realms. Our pursuit is to present a diversity of events and a wider choice of nighttime entertainment for residents and visitors, to enrich visitors’ travel experience and extend their length of stay in Macao.” by TNH DESK
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NEWS
Grand Opening of Abu Dhabi's New Al Hosn Cultural Site on 7th December 2018 • Al Hosn features Qasr Al Hosn Fort, the Cultural Foundation, the National Consultative Council, and the House of Artisans • Abu Dhabi's most important historic and cultural landmark to be opened with days of celebrations and public events The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced that the much-anticipated grand opening of Al Hosn, a new cultural destination located in the heart of downtown Abu Dhabi, will take place on 7 December 2018. Al Hosn is the city's original urban block and will comprise four interrelated components: the historic Qasr Al Hosn Fort, the Cultural Foundation, the National Consultative Council building, and the House of Artisans. The official launch will be a celebration of Abu Dhabi's rich history and culture, with days of public programming to mark the occasion. Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest and most significant heritage site in Abu Dhabi city, encompassing two iconic buildings: The Inner Fort dating back to around 1795 and the Outer Palace, which was built in the 1940s. A witness to Abu Dhabi's vibrant history, over the past two centuries it has previously been home to the ruling fam-
Rendering of Al Hosn site, Abu Dhabi. © Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
ily, the seat of government, the consultative council and the national archives. Now transformed into a museum following several years of rigorous and ambitious conservation works, Qasr Al Hosn is a national monument that traces the city's development from a settlement reliant on fishing and pearling in the 18th Century, to a modern, global metropolis, with the fort now surrounded by Abu Dhabi's skyscrapers and a dynamic downtown area. The newly renovated premises of the Cultural Foundation will host a diverse visual and performing arts programme, alongside the opening of the first Children's Library of its kind. To mark the occasion of its reopening in December, the Foundation's Visual Arts Centre will present a landmark exhibition which will focus on the building's history as a beacon for local artists. Cultural Foundation will re-open in phases with 7 December allowing access to the Visual Arts Centre, which will feature exhibition halls and art studios. The two remaining components - a theatre and the Children's Library – will open in 2019. HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, DCT Abu Dhabi said: "Qasr Al Hosn retraces the history of the city of Abu Dhabi, our very first building. It stands as a constant in
Qasr Al Hosn North Façade, 1960s. Prof. John Wilkinson © Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
our evolving city. It is a testament to the heart and spirit of our people and the repository of our collective memories, and its reopening is a key moment for both the citizens of Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. In addition, we are thrilled to reopen the Cultural Foundation, which has always played an integral role in the cultural scene of Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the region. With the Al Hosn site, we look to foster a sense of community and make a home for Emirati culture. It is a place to both reflect on our past and embrace the present, as we look to shape Abu Dhabi's future." HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary, DCT Abu Dhabi said: "With the historic Qasr Al Hosn Fort and the Modern Heritage Building of the Cultural Foundation sitting side by side, Al Hosn will be a year-round destination open to the wider community.” by TNH DESK
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NEWS
TrawellTag Cover-More insured delegates of OTAOI convention held in Cape Town TrawellTag Cover-More provided insurance covers to all delegates of OTAOI convention 2018, with specialized travel assistance and insurance. The convention was held in Cape Town in August. The old Boy Scout pledge says “Be Prepared”. The convention committee’s foresight to partner with TrawellTag Cover-More for comprehensive assistance services proved to be extremely crucial when Ms. June Mukherjee, a senior journalist and convention delegate, set on an adventurous Segway ride. The enjoyable ride turned into a nightmare within minutes when she fell off the Segway and
Lords Hotels & Resorts signs up new property in Udaipur Lords Hotels & Resorts, one of biggest mid-market hotel chain in India has announced plans of launching new property at Govardhan Vilas in Udaipur. To be launched as Lords Inn, Rishi Puri Vice President, Lords Hotels Udaipur the forty one and Resorts room’ property is designed for smart traveller seeking hassle free and contemporary experience. Commenting on this tie up, Pushpendra Bansal, COO – Lords Hotels and Resorts said, ''This tie up will further strengthen our presence in Rajasthan. It is our endeavour to offer unmatched services and accommodation at very competitive prices”. Rishi Puri – Vice President, Lords Hotels and Resorts further added “Lords Inn, Udaipur –will differ in a way that it will offer tourists a more relaxed atmosphere”. by TNH DESK
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realized her right leg was non-functional. Mukherjee was traumatized from the accident as she was all alone in a foreign country, far from her family. The Convention organisers, however, June Mukherjee senior journalist and convention contacted the emergency delegate assistance team of TrawellTag Cover-More who then swung into action immediately. by TNH DESK
Karnataka Tourism in fast forward mode Karnataka Tourism is looking forward to increase the visibility of Destination Karnataka in the realm of global travel and has rolled out a slew of initiatives to entice travellers. In a relentless effort to make Destination Karnataka highly visible in the global travel world, Karnataka Tourism is teaming up with prominent organizations and charting out significant initiatives. According to Ramu B, Director, Department of Tourism, Karnataka, “We intend to make Karnataka the most preferred tourism state and we are working in close association with India Tourism in hosting global road shows. by TNH DESK
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NEWS
EROS HOTEL RINGS IN DIWALI CELEBRATIONS On Saturday, 3rd Nov 2018, Eros Hotel, Nehru Place hosted an exclusive corporate event for its business partners to celebrate the Diwali festival and their long-held bond and valuable contribution to the hotel. The glittery evening was graced by the presence of over 500 guests from various spheres such as Embassies, Corporate offices and Media. Guests enjoyed a musical treat of Ghazals followed by
a stand-up comedy. The evening also witnessed the felicitation of guests by the General Manager for their long association with the hotel. The major highlight of the evening was the Mughlai décor and cuisine. Guests thoroughly relished the extensive variety of live food counters, dinner and drinks and later shook a leg during the DJ party. On the occasion, General Manager, Davinder Juj, welcomed and extended his gratitude to all eminent guests who graced the evening. Leading a legacy of more than 20 years, Eros Hotel Nehru Place stands as a true icon of by TNH DESK Indian Hospitality.
TRIPURA'S GOVERNOR INAUGURATES 7TH INTERNATIONAL TOURISM MART 53 foreign delegates from 18 countries participated in the mart. The Governor of Tripura Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki inaugurated the “7thInternational Tourism Mart for the North-East States” in the presence of Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism Shri K.J Alphons and the Chief Minister of
Tripura Shri Biplab Kumar Deb in Agartala, Tripura this evening. Minister for Tourism of Tripura Shri Pranjit Singha Roy, Secretary, M/o Tourism Smt. Rashmi Verma, Director General (Tourism) Shri Satyajeet Rajan and other dignitaries from Central Ministries and North Eastern States were by TNH DESK present.
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NEWS
Kamats Restaurants opens its first outlet in Surat ‘Muziris Paddle 2019’ explores the oldest spice route of Kerala and aims create awareness for river conservation
Kamats Restaurants, India’s largest pure vegetarian restaurant chain has now unveiled its first outlet at Surat. The new outlet is situated en route to Surat International airport, opposite to famous landmarks Shyam Baba Temple & VIP plaza. The restaurant offers pure vegetarian, delicious food that is served in hygienic surroundings. It is ideal place for travelers to take a quick bite and choose from wide of variety of quality food, fresh ingredients and distinctive flavours. Kamat Restaurants operates chain of quick-service restaurants at various locations on national highways, state highby TNH DESK ways and cities.
Muziris Paddle, the two-day kayaking expedition organized by Jellyfish Watersports in partnership with Muziris Heritage Project (Kerala Tourism) will be held on January 5th and 6th, 2019. Over 200 paddlers are likely to participate in the event which will be flagged off from the Kotturpuram Jetty in Kodungalloor district and end at Bolgatty Island in Kochi. Being touted as one of Kerala’s most incredible nature experiences the event targets domestic & international tourists, paddling enthusiasts, people from all walks of life, children and even by TNH DESK non-swimmers.
Skål International Srinagar, new Club in India Skal International India has launched its 12th Club under the name of Skal International Srinagar. Located in the northern most part of India, Kashmir as the place is known popularly and called "Paradise on Earth". This club will comprise of members from Jammu and Ladakh as well. Srinagar is in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, the place is known for its unparalleled beauty, warm hospitality, excellent cuisine, great connectivity from all major cities/towns of India. The club was formed with 21 members and
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the founder President of the club is Mr. Ibrahim Siah with an ever efficient, energetic Secretary Nasir Shah. Chief Guest of the Chapter Night was Syed Abid Rasheed Shah -District Development Commis-
sioner, SaleemBaig , Mahmood Shah and Rakesh Gupta were the other dignitaries. Hosted by ITC Fortune Heevan, the event was wellattended by the Skal India National Board and its All India Club Presiby TNH DESK dents /Representatives.
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NEWS
Mandarin Oriental, Geneva Offers 'Swiss Winter Fun' Package Mandarin Oriental, Geneva has launched an accommodation package, Swiss Winter Fun, which offers guests luxurious accommodation and breakfast for two, a dog sled ride in the beautiful Jura Mountains, an authentic Swiss fondue dinner and other Swiss treats. Guests booking the Swiss Winter Fun package can thrill at driving a husky-drawn sled through the snow-covered pine trees of the Jura Mountains near Geneva, guided by a musher, or sit back and enjoy the ride and clean mountain air, leaving the by TNH DESK musher to take charge of the reins.
Jet Airways commences non-stop, daily service between Pune and Singapore Airline to become the largest Indian operator of flights between India and Singapore. Jet Airways, India’s premiere, full service international airline will launch its first daily, nonstop service between Pune and Singapore effective 1st December 2018, making it the first and only airline in India to connect the vibrant city of Pune with the financial hub by TNH DESK of the East.
NYC & Company unveils refreshed tourism campaign: 'Famous Original New York City' Digital-First Global Campaign Invites Travelers to Discover New York City through Personalized Experiences. NYC & Company Creates New Travel 'Affinities,' Secret NYC, Glamorous NYC and Classic NYC. NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization, has unveiled its refreshed digital-first global tourism campaign “Famous Original New
York City.”The campaign intends to reach travelers around the world, celebrating the personal ways NYC can be experienced. Original inhouse creative—along with supporting video, photo galleries, editorial and social content—is pegged to distinct newly curated travel “affinities”:Secret NYC, Glamorous NYC and Classic NYC. “Our refreshed campaign ‘Famous Original New York
City’—with its affirming tag line ‘Welcomes You. by TNH DESK
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SPA CORNER
A place to revitalize oneself
The Spa spells rejuvenation in every sense of the word and is a welcome solace from the madding crowd that won’t let you down. v B SWAATI CHAUDHURY Y
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or those belonging to the hashtag generation, savouring experiences and leading stress-free life are the new-age mantras. All those wellheeled travellers and professional elites looking to visit Kolkata and would like to go for some rejuvenating experiences, drop in at Rejuve The Spa at The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata lying on Old Court House Street in the hub of the metro. Sprawling over an area of 13,000 sq.ft, Rejuve is an elaborate spa and is one of the largest spas in the city where fitness freaks can pamper themselves with facilities matching global standards. Moreover, the luxury haunt has devoted its entire first floor to its awardwinning spa. The interiors of the spa flaunt antique works like Dokra craft and terracotta stuff. The spa offers the guests its signature detoxifying drink called The Rejuve tea that soothes and refreshes the entire body. The Rejuve tea is made by boiling a mixture of basil leaves, ginger and jaggery and lemon juice
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SPA CORNER
is added to it. The spa has an advanced gym, salon, and a swimming pool. There are broadly two kinds of therapies on offer at the spaAyurvedic and Western therapy. For those suffering from a migraine, headache and insomnia, there are Ayurvedic therapies like Shirodhara. For those inflicted with joint pain can go for Abhyanga that implies a complete body massage. If you’re interested to get rid of your acne and pimples, then try Mukh Lepa or facial massage. There are Ayurvedic therapies like Udwarthanam or the complete body scrub offered to get rid of obesity and to exfoliate the skin. For those preferring Western therapies at Rejuve, there are a host of treatments like aromatherapy, Swedish massage, Balinese massage, deep tissue massage and foot reflexology. For weary travellers, Western therapy is the best option. Each therapy corner is supplemented with its own steam bath and shower and this goes well with the gym. There are a slew of packages
on offer in Western therapy that include A Journey through Bengal is a kind of Swedish massage offered with Bengal tuberose scrub and mineral mud body wrap. This particular package relaxes the muscles and at the same time nourishes and moisturizes the skin. For those who have a whale of the time, Western therapy is best suited.
A pertinent question arises in one’s mind that in which way Rejuve begs to differ from other luxury spas in the metropolis. Rejuve is the one and the only spa that prides in having an aqua bed that provides facilities for body scrub and body wrap. The spa stands off from others in offering hot stone massage – a one-of-a-kind Western therapy done by applying lemon and ginger oil on the body and then massaging with lava stones procured from Finland to get rid of body ache, fatigue and stiffness. The oil helps to alleviate the pain in the muscles. Besides, there are other Western therapy packages including sensual experience comprising kokum butter and honey wrap, aroma massage and Rani Padmavati facial. For those on the lookout for aromatherapy along with rose scrub and deep cleansing facial, try the serene experience while the detox experience comes with deep tissue massage and mineral mud body wrap.
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NEWS
THE KINGSBURY HOTEL COLOMBO & AMAYA RESORTS AND SPAS SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED A 4-CITYROADSHOW IN INDIA
The Kingsbury Hotel Colombo& Amaya Resorts and Spas, renowned for offering elegant accommodation, exceptional service and a diverse culinary experience to tourists visiting Sri Lanka and Maldives, conducted its 4-city roadshow in India, with Mumbai being the first city. After Mumbai, the workshop was held in Ahmedabad, New Delhi, & Chandigarh.Stakeholders, travel agents & policy makers attended the product
presentation, which was curated specifically for the Indian market. Representatives of The Kingsbury Hotel Colombo & Amaya Resorts and Spas were present and gave a detailed product presentation on the group’s properties across Sri Lanka & Maldives. The delegation also interacted with the agents and shared insights on how to promote The Kingsbury Hotel & Amaya Resorts and Spasamongst Indian
leisure travellers, business travellers, honeymooners and MICE groups. The product presentation was followed by cocktails and dinner. by TNH DESK
VISIT.BRUSSELS HOSTS AN ‘EXCLUSIVE NETWORKING EVENING’ FOR THE TRAVEL TRADE IN MUMBAI AND DELHI The Visit Brussels Team from Brussels were on a week-long mission in India with the objective to interact with over 130 trade and media partners from the travel fraternity. The two city event covering Mumbai on 20th November 2018 and Delhi on 22ndNovember 2018 was taken an opportunity to talk about the tourism offerings that this European Capital can offer to Indian outbound travellers. The exclusive networking session in Mumbai was attended by The Consul General of the Kingdom of Belgium, Peter Huyghebaert as the Chief
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Guest. While, the Ambassador of Belgium to India H.E. Mr. François Delhayegraced the event in Delhi. The visit.brussels team led by Anousjka Schmidt, Foreign Markets Manager, visit.brussels, Pieter Callebaut, Business Development Leisure, visit.brussels, and Ellona Pereira, Account Director, visit.brussels – India, gave an in depth overview of the booming tourism industry during the networking evening in Mumbai and Delhi. by TNH DESK
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Bite Corner
The Royal cuisine of Rampur
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henever we think of the royal food of from the Mughal era, the Awadhi cuisine with its biryani and kebabs comes first in mind. It is always a favourite and has overshadowed cuisines from other princely states like Rampur. Rampuri cuisine is characterised by the use of ginger, onions and a mix of javitri (mace) and jaiphal (nutmeg) and is not as hot as foods of Old Delhi; not as sour as Hyderabadi food and not as sweet as Awadhi food. Rampur’s food justifies its palate as its location; between Delhi and Lucknow, and lies roughly between the rich and hot Delhi food, and the fine and distinctly sweet Awadhi cuisine.
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Rampur is not only famous for its biggest library in Asia and for Bollywood dialogues like: 'Yeh Rampuri chaku hai babu - bacchon ke khelne ki cheej nahi,' it is also famous for its rich and historical cuisine which was fashioned by Nawabs to suit their individual zest. These historical delicacies are popular even today as the tradition of making them has been passed on by generations of khansamas. Rampuri cuisine is essentially a 'courtly cuisine' — blending influences from Awadhi, Mughalai, Rajput, Afghani and other kitchens. Because of the geographical location, Rampuri cuisine can be classified as something between Delhi’s Mughlai tradition and the Awadhi food. It has been influenced by both and is not as delicate as Awadhi and not as rich/full of spices, ghee and nuts as
Delhi’s Mughalai food. Rampur was a small riyaasat situated in between Delhi and Lucknow; 150 km away from Delhi and 350 km from Lucknow. The history of the royal cuisine of Rampur dates back to 1774 when Faziullah Khan established the city under the protection of the British. Rampur became a safe haven for all artists, architects, writers and chefs. A number of cooks and khansamas from other princely states made Rampur their home. This gave Rampur cuisine influences from various regions like Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Kashmir. Rampuri cuisine thus evolved because of this cultural space created. Experimenting with their food was a speciality of the nawabs and they encouraged the chefs to experiment and come up with unique dishes that had never been seen before. Regular con-
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Bite Corner
f
tests were held for cooks for new dishes. With their experiments evolved some dishes which are unique even today. Signature dishes like Meethe Chawal; a rice preparation where twice the quantity of sugar/sugarcane juice is used to create a sweet pilaf that had the texture of biryani, Adrak ka Halwa and kheer, Gosht Halwa, Macchi ka Halwa, Mirchi ka Halwa, Chukandar ka halwa and Ande ka Halwa are the most favourites ones from the desserts section. Zarda chawal is another unique creation of the Rampuri kitchens. Creativity also was an important part, chefs used to carve out rice and lentils from almonds and pistachios to prepare the Dal Khichada. Doodhiya Biryani is another dish that’s unique to Rampur. The dish is white, made with milk. The chefs at Rampur were champions when it came to the innovative use of ingredients. They used bottle gourd and papaya to tenderise meat for kebabs and curries and also used varq to give flavour and beauty looks to desserts.
Rampur, a municipal city located in the Rampur District of Uttar Pradesh, is famous for its knife. The city is surrounded by district Udham Singh Nagar in the north, Bareilly in the east, Moradabad in the west and Badaun in the south. Rampur is also known for its royal cuisine which is losing its identity.
The main difference between the Awadhi and Rampuri cuisine is the usage of spices. Whereas Awadhi cuisine uses finely powdered spices, Rampuri cuisine uses Khada masalas or dry spices to give the dishes a unique flavour. Vegetables like doodhi, lotus stem, jackfruit, figs, pineapple khus roots and even amla are among the favourite ingredients of the Rampuri cooks. Onions play a very important role in Rampuri food and are used in various forms; raw onion paste, brown onions and golden onions. Also, potatoes are used in good quantities. Rampuri cuisine is a meat-intensive cuisine
with a fair amount of chicken and seafood. But there are enough interesting dishes for vegetarians too. The dishes are always paired with breads like Fitri, Rampuri Naan and Sheermal. In Rampur, they also make a Khameer Roti using yeast. And the most characteristic innovation of the royal Rampur cuisine is Badam Ki Roti which is made with flour made of ground almonds. For non-vegetarians, the best known and most distinctive Rampuri dish is the Taar Qorma. The dish derives its name from the layer of fat; taar floating over of the curry, made primarily from beef. The fish and fig tikka is another yummy creation which is a lovely combination of fig with the spices and the dish melts in the mouth. Achari Baingan (eggplant cooked with spices), Aloo Katliyan (Slice potatoes cooked with spices), Ghiya Chane ki Dal (Lentil cooked with Bottle Gourd), Khush Urad ki Dal (Dry lentils cooked with spices) are some of the well-known veggies dishes that are always a hit in a Rampuri Kitchen.
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Brussels Travel Expo December 10-11, 2018 Location: Brussels, Belgium
One of the leading platforms for travel and MICE professionals in Belgium, the travel mart takes off once in a year in the month of December. It is hosted in close association with major MICE groups of Belgium and intends to spruce up the network between travel service providers, travel agents and event organizers. Conceptualized by four tourism veterans with a view to strengthen the tourism industry of Belgium, the travel expo that is on since 2004 lives up to the reputation of being the only event in Belgium that provides a plethora of opportunities to the travel agents.
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Travel Tech Summit 2018 December 4-6, 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia
The conclave is the newest event in the Australian travel calendar for the wellheeled class of travellers. Created for travel groups that are looking to grow up encountering disruption with the help of innovative business strategies and technologies of contemporary times, the summit is the ideal opportunity to interact with the pioneers of technology and the founding fathers of travel tech revolution. The summit will focus upon themes like the ultimate tech talks, the future of travel distribution, mobile strategy, virtual and augmented reality, corporate travel and fraud technology.
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2018
Travel Turkey Izmir Tourism Fair and Conference December 6-8, 2018 Location: Izmir, Turkey
The travel fair is designed for the Turkish tourism industry and catapults buyers and sellers from the major tourism markets of Europe and Asia. It intends to provide valuable info for the discerning travel professionals that result in signed contracts with international deal makers. In other words, the fair is the best platform for developing current business relations, forming new contacts and partnerships. There will be products showcased in the sphere of hospitality, travel, holiday, tourism management, tourism products, tourism marketing and tourism economics. Nearly 45,000 participants will be attending the event in the current year.
Athens International Tourism Expo December 7-9, 2018 Location: Athens, Greece
Once famed as Greek Tourism Expo, the travel extravaganza is widening its professional goals and increasing its slew of activities. Aimed to emerge as a leading global tourism mart, the expo is eyeing to pull exhibitors and visitors from a number of global destinations. One of the novel innovations of Athens International Tourism Expo will be – “Come to meet the secret Greece� this year. This would be a special event that intends to flaunt the lesser-known tourist destinations of Greece. The travel mart aims to provide an accurate understanding of its enhanced targets.
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NEWS
Indian tourist arrivals to Greece jumped by record 119% Konstantinos Tsegas Secretary General of Greek National Tourism Organisation
More than 38, 000 Indian travelers visited Greece from January to September in 2018, registering a record growth of 119% as compared to same period in 2017.
As per the statistics released by Greece National Tourist Office (GNTO) and Athens International Airport, 38,046 Indian tourists Ionia Zakynthos visited Greece in the nine months vis-à-vis 17,376 Indian tourists during the same period in 2017, which is a whopping increase of 119%. Speaking about the positive growth, Konstantinos Tsegas, Secretary General, Greek National Tourism Organization said, “Greece as a destination has gained momentum over the years and we are glad to witness the rising interest of Indians for Greece as a popular holiday
Attica Acropolis
destination across the country. Our approach is to target the captive audience across various age groups simply by by TNH DESK appealing to every kind of travel need.”
Sands Resorts Macao launches winter extravaganza programme to celebrate the festive season Entertainment and activities open to the public until Jan. 6, 2019. The festive season officially kicked off yesterday at Sands Resorts Macao with The Venetian Macao and The Parisian Macao transformed into enchanting winter wonderlands, complete with spectacular Christmas trees, a genuine ice skating rink, fun markets, superb
entertainment and delicious food and drink treats. Guests and visitors alike can enjoy the celebrations right through until Jan. 6, 2019. The highlight of the launch event was the official unveiling of the stunning 50-foot inverted Christmas tree which hangs from the ceiling in the lobby rotunda of The Parisian Macao by Dr. Wilfred Wong, President of Sands China Ltd.,
and Mr. Cheng Wai Tong, Deputy Director of Macao Government Tourism Office. by TNH DESK
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DIPLOMAT’S CORNER
‘Immense potential of trade and tourism between India and Turkey' v B PREM KUMAR Y
In an interview, H.E. Mr Şakir Özkan Torunlar, Ambassador of Turkey to India said that India and Turkey share a long history of close relations. Both countries have many things in common. He sees immense trade and tourism potential between the two countries.
H.E. Mr Şakir Özkan Torunlar Ambassador of Turkey to India
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"We consider India as an important market for our tourism industry. We offer e-visa to Indian tourists. Our e-visa is very easy to avail. Indians having a valid Indian passport and valid US, UK, Ireland or Schengen visa can apply for our e-visa through our official website. Those not having any of these valid visas can apply through our consulate."
Turkey and India have had strong ties based on our shared cultures, values, histories, progressive ideas, etc. Our bilateral relations at the leadership level are very close. Indian PM Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have met many times in the last three years and developed very close and cordial relations. I think it is not easy to develop such an exemplary relationship in such a short period of time. India and Turkey are on the same page on almost all the regional and international issues. Both countries work closely to strengthen regional security and stability in the world. We are on the same page in the fight against terrorism. I think it is necessary to address the root causes of terrorism. Fight against terrorism cannot be won unless the root causes of terror-
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DIPLOMAT’S CORNER ism are addressed. It is also important that while fighting terrorism, one should refrain from clubbing it with any religion. Certain western media organizations, because of their vested interest, club terrorism with Islam, that is unacceptable.
Trade relations We are working together to enhance our trade relations. The current Turkish government is strengthening the country's ties not only with its neighbours but also with all the geographies of the world. We are realizing that we need to expand our trade with countries like China, India, Japan, Iran, America and African countries. The current size of bilateral trade between India and Turkey do not reflect our true potential. The volume of total bilateral trade between India and Turkey in 2017 was USD 6,975 billion. In the first eight months of 2018, the total bilateral trade between the two countries has been USD 5,893 billion as compared to USD 4,182 billion in the same period of 2017. Honourable Prime Minister of India and the President of Turkey have set USD 10 billion as the target of bilateral trade between the two countries by 2020. Our potential is quite high. We must expand the size of our trade. We are quite behind in realizing the full potential of our economic and commercial ties. Turkey remained focused on its neighbouring countries and ignored commercial ties with countries like India. In fact, both countries ignored the commercial aspect of their bilateral ties in the past. Now we are realizing the immense potential of our commercial ties. Turkey and India are in talks to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. This would be an important instrument to enhance bilateral trade significantly. Another area of cooperation is that both countries can trade with each other in their national currencies, at least some part of our trade. I think it will be a win-win situation for both countries.
Tourism ties We consider India as an important market for our tourism industry. We offer e-Visa to Indian tourists. Our e-visa is very easy to avail. Indians having a valid Indian passport and valid US, UK, Ireland or Schengen visa can apply for our e-visa through our official website. However, this e-visa has to be obtained before leaving from India. Those not having any of these valid visas can apply through our consulate. In 2017, about 75% of the total Indian tourist arrivals to Turkey were on e-visa. On the other hand, Turkish Citizens are not entitled to Indian e-visa. India currently offers e-visa to the nationals of as many
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DIPLOMAT’S CORNER
as 161 countries, but Turkish nationals are not among them. Turkish people love India and they are keen to visit this beautiful country, but inconvenience in getting Indian visa discourages them to travel to India. Today if any Turk wants to visit India, he or she has to visit Indian consulate to apply for a visa and wait for 15-20 days. This discourages many Turks to visit India. I request the Government of India to allow Turkish citizens to avail Indian e-visa so that they can see this country and experience its culture and heritage. The second most important thing to promote bilateral tourism is to expand and strengthen air connectivity between the two countries. We can have much more tourists visiting India from
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Turkey and Turkey from India if we enhance our air-connectivity. There is a need to have direct flights to Turkey from cities like Kolkata, Bangalore and other India cities. Lack of air-connectivity is impeding people-to-people contact and tourism between the two countries. There is a need for more direct flights as families prefer direct flights. Both countries and their tourism will benefit from more direct flights. It is the duty of our governments to facilitate travel by citizens. Once the entry is easy and connectivity improved, bilateral tourism will grow significantly. I believe that every Indian, after visiting Turkey and enjoying Turkish hospitality, becomes our ambassador in India. They feel at home in Turkey. We are happy to host more and more Indians. The higher number of Indians visiting Turkey, the more ambassadors we will have in India. As for the number of Indian tourists visiting Turkey this year, in the first eight months of 2018 (Jan to Aug), a total of 94,917 Indians visited Turkey as compared to 49,541 Indian visitors in the same period of 2017. Turkey is around six-hour flight from India. Most Indians travel to Turkey when there is summer vacation in Indian schools. Indian families prefer to travel together. Family system in Turkey and India is the same. Adults like to travel with children. Unlike Russians and Germans, not many Indians visits beaches. Most of the Indian tourists visit historical and archaeological sites and nature. They generally visit Istanbul and Antalya. Indians are not lovers of beaches.
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NEWS
QATAR LAUNCHES FIRST GLOBAL DESTINATION CAMPAIGN 'Qatar. Qurated For You' tagline invites visitors to discover the country's bespoke experiences; Campaign to run in 8 languages targeting 225 million travelers in 15 countries. Qatar has launched its first global destination campaign aimed at positioning the Arabian Gulf country as an attractive destination for authentic and bespoke experiences. Under the tagline Qatar. Qurated For You. the campaign brings to life Qatar’s focus on tailored visitor experiences that celebrate its heritage, and will be rolled out across 15 existing and targeted priority markets. The campaign's launch comes at an exciting period of growth and development for Qatar's tourism sector. Just a few weeks earlier, Qatar Tourism Authority was converted into the Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC). The new governance structure paves the way for the implementation of key initiatives across the public and by TNH DESK private sectors.
SRILANKAN AIRLINE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF DIRECT OPERATIONS FROM COLOMBO TO NEW DELHI SriLankan Airlines commenced its operations to Delhi in June 1993, which makes the airline one of the longest standing airlines operating flights to Delhi with 25 years of continuous operations. SriLankan Airlines started its operation with 2 weekly flights and now it has expanded its services to 2 daily flights after it started its double daily operation to DEL from this year. Both flights from Delhi have convenient schedules using state of the art A320 New. At present SriLankan Airlines flies from 13 destinations mainly Australia, Singapore, Japan, China, Middle East and the UK with 122 flights a week making it the largest international airline operating to India in terms of the number of destinations. Reaffirming its strong presence in India, the airline was crowned the World’s Best Airline to Indian Ocean and Asia’s Best Airline to Indian Ocean at the prestigious World Travel by TNH DESK Awards 2017.
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NEWS
STB launches 2nd wave of Passion Made Possible brand campaign in India ‘This wave throws the spotlight on three tribes; Socialisers, Culture Shapers and Action Seekers’
Emaar Hospitality partners Arabian Travel Market Being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April to 1 May 2019, ATM 2019 will host international press and key buyers across Emaar Hospitality Group’s hotel portfolio Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the leading travel and tourism event for inbound and outbound tourism professionals in the Middle East, has renewed its host hotel partnership with Emaar Hospitality by TNH DESK Group.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) launched the second wave of its Passion Made Possible brand campaign in India with an evening of fun and entertainment for the travel trade, media and influencers - focusing on the Socialiser tribe offerings available in Singapore. Held at Verbena Brewpub & Skygarden in Kamala Mills, the event featured performances by Singapore’s noted artistes – Wayne Liu aka DJ KoFlow, the turntablist icon and Yung Raja, popular rapper signed to M03 Records, a division of Kartel Records, who mixes his lyrics in both English and Tamil. The event also showcased the original Singapore Sling mixed by bartender Andy Lim from the Raffles Hotel while culinary expert Ruqxana Vasanwala, founder of Cookery Magic which conducts cooking classes, provided her unique twist on local by TNH DESK Singaporean delicacies.
Ranveer Singh Campaign Boosts Switzerland Tourism Switzerland Tourism conducts four-city roadshow. Indian Tourists are increasingly looking at Switzerland as a travel destination because of the plethora of options it offers to each traveller. In order to showcase these diverse options, Switzerland Tourism has taken its multiple offerings across the four Indian cities of Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Delhi through its recently-concluded annual roadshow that saw the participation of destinations, hoteliers, transport partners, mountain excursions and
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other local representatives from various parts of Switzerland. Key partners included the cities of Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken and St. Moritz, regions such as Lake Geneva Region and the Swiss Travel System among others.
Switzerland’s increasing number of Indian overnights can be attributed to the very successful and talented Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh coming on board as the brand ambassador in August 2016. by TNH DESK
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AROUND THE WORLD
Popular festivals around the world INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL January 6-14, 2019 Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
The annual International Kite Festival held in Gujarat is famed as Uttarayan and occurs during Makar Shankranti days. One of the biggest festivals in Gujarat, the kite festival heralds the departure of winter and the setting up of the summer season. Moreover, it symbolizes the harvesting season when the days become longer with clear, blue skies.
Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival January 5- February end, 2019 Location: Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
Jaipur Literature Festival January 24-28, 2019 Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Rated as one-of-a-kind and the largest literary festival in the world, Jaipur Literature Festival is a fiveday literary extravaganza that brings together the literary stalwarts from all across the globe. The literary fest is a great crowd-puller and marks around 1 lakh gathering every year. There are participants from Nobel laureates to Booker Prize winners and aspiring novelists who gather at Diggi Palace in the capital city of Rajasthan.
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The 35th Harbin China International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival will be jointly hosted by Heilongjiang Provincial government, Harbin Municipal government, China National Tourism Administration and travel groups. The festival will open with a theme “Pearl on the Crown of Ice and Snow� and will feature in five categories of ice and snow events along with activities in tourism, culture, fashion, trade and sports.
t
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AROUND THE WORLD
to look for in January 2019 EDINBURG HOGMANAY LOONEY DOOK January 1, 2019 Location: South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland
Hogmanay implies the Scottish celebration of the New Year that heralds with a wide range of customs like first-footing involving friends and family members visiting each other’s homes with a gift of whisky or a lump of coal. The festival goes on for four days in Edinburgh followed by processions, concerts, fireworks and a street play on Hogmanay. The Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations are the largest in the world. The Looney Dook is an annual event on the New Year’s Day when individuals take a dip into the freezing waters in river Forth at South Queensferry in fancy attire.
MAMALLAPURAM DANCE FESTIVAL December 25-January 15, 2019 Location: Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
Hosted by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department, the dance festival serves as an exemplary tribute to the art and culture of the bygone Pallava dynasty of Mahabalipuram around 55 Km from Chennai. The dance festival spans for a period of three weeks with enthralling performances of Indian classical dance forms including Bharatnatyam, Mohiniattam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali et al. Arjuna’s Penance forms the main stage. The dance forms are performed in the backdrop of the renowned Pallava rock sculptures. The budding classical dancers get a platform to showcase their performances in the prestigious event.
Camel Festival January 13-14, 2019 Location: Bikaner, Rajasthan
A vibrant and colourful festival of Rajasthan, the two-day festival is an annual event devoted to the ship of the desert- camels. A concept of the Tourism Department of Rajasthan, the festival is the perfect time for tourists who would like to experience the authentic charm of Rajputana in its colourful glory. The local artists perform folk dances during the festive days. The festival kicks off with parading of highly adorned camels and there are attractions like camel milking, camel races, fur cutting design, camel acrobatics and even camel beauty pageants. There are fire dancers, skirt swirling dancers and fireworks that light up the fort city of Bikaner. Camels are attired in traditional necklaces, heavy anklets and attractive foot works.
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EVENT WATCH
S KAL D ELHI M EET The latest monthly lunch meet of Skal Delhi was held on 22nd November 2018 at Radisson Blu Plaza, Delhi Airport. The meet was attended by skalleagues in large number, who enjoyed the hospitality laid out by Radisson Blu Plaza and discussed issues of relevance.
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NEWS
POLO: SIR PRATAP SINGH CUP 2008 PRESENTED BY TAJ In our constant endeavor to provide unique and memorable experiences to patrons, three iconic Hotels of the Indian Hotels Company Limited presented the esteemed Sir Pratap Singh Cup 2018 at the Jaipur Polo Ground, New Delhi. Taj Mahal, New Delhi, Taj Palace New Delhi and Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur curated a memorable afternoon that witnessed fine horsemanship in the presence of H.H. Maharaja Gajsingh II of Marwar-Jodhpur. Taj Mahal, New Delhi is privileged to continue the special collaboration with the Indian Polo Association to enhance the awareness of this great sport and to bring it closer to a large audience in the heart of the Capital City. The final game of the Sir Pratap Singh Cup 2018 tournament was witnessed in the presence of the Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat and the Quartermaster general Lt. General Ashok
Ambre. The ceremonial arrival of the Chief was followed by an uplifting display by the 17th Sikh Li military band. This year marks the Centenary Year of The Battle of Haifa 1918 – 2018. The Jodhpur Lancers, raised
by Lt. Gen. Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh (born on 22nd October 1845 into the royal family of MarwarJodhpur), had their Finest Hour at the Battle of Haifa on 23rd September 1918. On horse, with lance and sword against machine gun, their action and victory there is regarded by many as “the last great cavalry charge of the modern era”. The final match between Sona Koyo, captained by Sanjay Kapoor and La Pegasus, captained by Samir Suhag was attended by the city’s eminent guests, polo enthusiasts, including Kalyani Saha, Priya Sachdev, Naveen Jindal, His Excellency Jean Claude Kugener, Ambassador of Luxembourg in India among others. The exciting tournament concluded with the Sona Koyo team scoring the golden goal to by TNH DESK win the Championship.
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MOVING ON
Christian Szabo General Manager, Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa, Dhonakulhi Maldives Hideaway Beach Maldives has appointed Christian Szabo as its new General Manager. A result driven and perceptive professional with 25 years’ experience in the luxury hotel industry, Christian Szabo, originally from Austria, is set to improve the resort’s unique and effortless luxury experiences offered to guests. Before joining Hideaway, Szabo worked in countries such as Russia, the Czech Republic, Germany and his native Austria. His experience includes working for brands such as The Ritz-Carlton & Marriott International and most recently for privately owned luxury properties. Given his experience as General Manager, Christian Szabo will be a great addition to the team at Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa.
Ashok Sivashankar Director of Rooms, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway appoints Ashok Sivashankar as Director of Rooms to manage day-to-day room operations and guest relationship. Ashok comes with over 16 years of experience and has successfully carried out his responsibilities at various established hotel chains. At Sheraton Grand, he is entrusted to elevate guest experience and room operations. Ashok’s expertise in room operations and guest relationship management has earned him many accolades over the years. His dedication and forward thinking capabilities have proved to be an asset at the previous organizations he was associated with. An individual with capabilities to manage operations all by himself, as well as guide a team of professionals to deliver to their best abilities, he continues to thrive and learn new things to up his game.
Radhika Dewan Director of Sales, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway is pleased to announce the appointment of Radhika Dewan as Director of Sales. Radhika comes with over 10 years of experience in sales and marketing domain with commendable knowledge and expertise. Prior to Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway, Radhika held the position of Director of Sales at Fairfield by Marriott Rajajinagar where she was involved in strategic implementation and development of the hotel. Subsequently, she was associated with other Marriott and Accor properties like JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu; JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar; Renaissance Hotel & Convention Centre, Lakeside Chalet, Mumbai; Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport; respectively that shaped her career.
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MOVING ON
Mylo Lallawmzuali New Spa Manager, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway recently appointed Mylo Lallawmuali to ‘Shine Spa for Sheraton’ as the new Spa Manager. Mylo is a vibrant individual, who comes with valuable industry experience, and is a great addition to the brand. In her new role, Mylo will be responsible for all operational aspects of the spa as well as the fitness center and spearheading the development of both, Shine Spa for Sheraton and Sheraton Fitness. She will also focus on ensuring the highest levels of service delivery by aligning spa menus, signature treatments and therapist training to further enhance guests’ satisfaction. With an experience of over 8 years, Mylo started her career with D’Ashram Mumbai as a Spa Therapist in 2011. Prior to joining the team at Sheraton Grand, Mylo held the position of Assistant Manager - Spa at JW Marriott Bengaluru.
Trupti Mishra Director of Rooms, The Novotel Pune Nagar The Novotel Pune Nagar Road has appointed Trupti Mishra as the Director of Rooms. She has completed her diploma in hotel management from Bharti Vidyapeeth, Pune and has an experience of more than a decade in the hospitality sector. In her 11 years long stint in the hospitality industry, Trupti has been associated with renowned brands like Hyatt Regency, Le Meridien, Novotel Imagica and Oakwood Premier across different cities of India. She also had 5 years of experience of Cruise Liners, visited 80 countries and also sailed twice around the world. She is a thorough and dedicated professional who brings in a wealth of knowledge and experience within the hospitality landscape. At Novotel, her responsibility is to ensure smooth operation of guest services and deliver the best hospitality services efficiently and productively.
Ashwin Vaidya Director of Rooms, Renaissance Mumbai Renaissance Mumbai has promoted Ashwin Vaidya as the hotel’s new Director of Rooms from October 1, 2018 where he will be ensuring that the guest experience at Renaissance Mumbai is aloft to exceptional levels. After beginning his career in 1991 at the Oberoi Mumbai, Ashwin joined The Renaissance Mumbai in 2007 as a Front Office Executive. After which he also worked as the Duty Manager at Marriott Goa in 2010, and in 2011 was appointed as the AFOM for Courtyard and Fairfield Bangalore and shortly was promoted as the Rooms division manager as well. Since Ashwin reconciled with us in 2017 as the resident manager, he has demonstrated leadership and effective, efficient management in all aspects of the hotel’s operations. Ashwin has also won some considerable and recognizable awards in his tenure with Marriott International, in particular- Rooms Division Award from Hotelier of Year Awards, Function and the Rooms Leader of the Year award from Marriott APAC for select service hotels.
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NEWS
Memorial service held at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai to mark 10th year of 26/11 Memorial Service commemorating the 10th anniversary of 26/11 was held at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Group, N.Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Group, Puneet Chhatwal, MD&CEO, IHCL along with Taljinder Singh, Area Director, Mumbai Hotels & General Manager, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai paid their homage at
Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Group paying homage at the memor...
the memorial service held for the victims of 26/11 terror attack that had took place on 26th November 2008 at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. by TNH DESK
IHCL receives top honours at the Ethical Boardroom Corporate Governance Awards 2018
OYO celebrates completion of one year in China • Adds 180,000 exclusive rooms to its chain in 12 months • Emerges as one of the top 5 hotel chains in the country • Expands its footprints to more than 285 cities and 4,000+ franchised & leased hotels • Appoints three CXOs, Wilson Li as CFO, Jia Zhou as CTO and Tony Liang as CHRO OYO Hotels and Homes, South Asia’s largest, one of China’s top five, and the world’s fastest-growing chain of leased and franchised hotels, homes & living spaces has today announced the milestone of expanding its chain to 180,000 rooms in China, in less than 12 months of operation. As the company celebrates its first year of operations in the country, it has made an incredible by TNH DESK mark on China’s hotel industry.
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The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has been recognised as the winner of the Best Corporate Governance award in Asia in the Leisure & Hospitality categoryat this year’s Ethical Boardroom Corporate Governance Awards. Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL said, “It is an honour to receive the highest rating for corporate governance at the Ethical Boardroom Awards. IHCL's philosophy on corporate governance, since inception, has been based on integrity, excellence and ethical values.” by TNH DESK
(From left) Beejal Desai, Sr. VP - Legal & Company Secretary, IHCL and Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL
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TnH December 2018 final -2A_Layout 1 12/5/2018 9:15 PM Page 52
DL (ND)-11/6167/2017-18-19 | DATE OF POSTING: 5-6 OF MONTH | RNI NO.: DELENG/2010/33723 | DATE OF PUBLISHING: 4 th OF THE MONTH