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MARCH 2019
NEWS 09
N EWS
Growing Exponentially 10
N EWS
SATTE 2019: ITS BEST SHOW EVER 12
N EWS OF THE MONTH
TECHNOLOGY: THE X-FACTOR 17
N EWS
South African Tourism eyes surge in Indian visitors in 2019
24
NEWS
Air France new long-haul cabins exclusively on board Airbus A330 26
NEWS
Redefining Corporate Travel Management 27
NEWS
Luxurious Spa Treatments in Atlantis, The Palm 28
NEWS
Most Exclusive Suite: on Seven Seas Splendor
HIGHLIGHTS 18
18 COVER STORY
COVER STORY
A humble tribute to the brave martyrs of Kashmir 22
I NTERVIEW
'Proud to offer the new eVisa-On-Arrival service jointly with VFS Global' 34
28
42
38
34
BITE CORNER
Mallacca, the Malaysian Kitchen in Delhi
DIPLOMAT C O RNER 38
‘Looking forward to welcoming more Indians' 42
SPA CORNER
In quest of good living
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FROM THE EDITOR
KEEP OUR GUARD UP
Publisher & Editor Srishti Rai Director Bharat S. Rai Managing Editor Prem Kumar GM - 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
At the outset, we pay our heartfelt tributes to our 40 brave martyred soldiers who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack by a suicide bomber on 14th of last month. We also pay our tributes to all those soldiers who have been martyred fighting terrorists and guarding our borders. Their sacrifice will not go in vain, but only strengthen our national unity and integrity, and our resolve to fight terrorism and any evil aggression aimed at our disintegration. We salute the valour and dedication of each and every member of our armed forces serving and defending our Nation. Even as calm returns to the borders and tensions deescalate, we as a nation need to keep our guard up. It is also time to reevaluate our military, paramilitary and intelligence prowess in the light of new and emerging challenges and strategize our counter-ter-
rorism operations accordingly. In terms of modus operandi, the Pulwama terror attack was a completely new strategy adopted by the terrorists. They have not carried out such an attack in recent decades. In this issue, our cover story is dedicated to the brave martyrs of Kashmir. Read our cover story: 'A humble tribute to the brave martyrs of Kashmir' on page 18. In our regular feature, Diplomat's Corner, we have interviewed H.E. MR. JEAN CLAUDE KUGENER, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to India, who speaks about a highly promising trend of an increasing number of Indians applying for a Schengen visa to visit Luxembourg, and his country’s desire to welcome Indians in the years to come. Read on the article on page 38 for more insights into the destination, which is located in the heart of Europe and famous for its multilingualism and hospitality. And there are many more articles and news to read. Have a fun time reading!
Srishti Rai Editor
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W H AT ’ S O N
NEW HERITAGE PROPERTY BRINGS ALIVE COLONIAL AND ZAMINDAR CULTURE RAAJKUTIR, THE LATEST HERITAGE ATTRACTION IN KOLKATA, PROMISES TO SHOWCASE OLDWORLD ZAMINDAR ERA CHARM BELONGING TO THE TIMES OF THE BRITISH RAJ. For luxury tourists visiting Kolkata and looking for a bundle of quirky and enigmatic experiences, there’s Raajkutir- the newest boutique hotel that has opened in December last year. Commanding a strategic position in the heart of the city, the heritage mansion sprawls over 15 acres of land and dates back to the era of Bengal Renaissance. The heritage property, owned by Ambuja-Neotia hospitality, has been set in the backdrop of pre-Independence period and revolves around the bygone Zamindars of Bengal. The plush hotel is replete with 33 rooms done up in Zamindar style. There are three large indoor and outdoor banquets as well as an all-day dining restaurant called East India Room spread over 2,000 sq. ft area. by TNH DESK
GOD’S OWN COUNTRY BOUNCES BACK WITH MICE TOURISM Kerala has positioned itself well to welcome a sizeable chunk of global and domestic travellers into the state. In the aermath of a huge natural calamity last year, God’s Own Country is reverberating with a plethora of interesting tourism-related activities and Kerala Tourism has made a conscious choice to kick-start the New Year with a slew of marketing initiatives. e event entitled “Promoting Kerala in Eastern India” was hosted in Kolkata sometime on February 19 that had the presence of around 40 hospitality groups, resorts and house boats. Muraleedharan P, Deputy Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala informed, “Kerala has recovered from natural disaster and has bounced back with sound infrastructural facilities. It took a certain period of time for us to recover. by TNH DESK
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | MARCH 2019
Providing an impetus to tourism infrastructure
Chhattisgarh is poised to rev up in the vertical of MICE tourism. Chhattisgarh Tourism Board has set the ball rolling by bolstering its tourism infrastructure with a view to pull both domestic and global travellers into the state. e state has come up with a host of new found tourist destinations equipped with sound infrastrucM T NANDY ture facilities. Managing Director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board M T Nandy, Managing Director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board informed, “Our state prides in having world-class accommodation facilities for tourists and we are hosting adventure events like bike rides, bicycle rides and trekking that have gained immense popularity in the global travel scenario. We are banking on social media to pull travellers into our state.” e state figures on the itinerary of MICE travellers. Nandy said, “With robust infrastructure for MICE travellers in Raipur, we are into hosting global conclaves and meets in the sphere of medical, mining, smart city by TNH DESK projects and sports.”
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NEWS
SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH HIDDEN DISABILITIES VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRLINE has launched its Hidden Disabilities Scheme across its network. Offered to passengers at no extra cost, the scheme ensures the airline provides extra assistance to those who may need it without them having to ask. Hidden Disabilities may not be instantly recognisable, but can significantly impact a person’s life and often means that preparing for a flight can prove a stressful situation. Currently 22% of the UK population has a disability. One study found out that of those who identified as having a disability, 74% had a disability that is hidden. This means many people may be travelling in discomfort or avoiding travelling due to the stress that flying may create. A specially designed symbol, which can be worn as a pin badge or discretely tucked away in your passport as a bookmark, alerts extensively trained Virgin Atlantic staff that extra assistance may be needed by an individual, or their family, whilst travelling. Prior to the flight taking place, the Virgin Atlantic Special Assistance team can also assist the individual to ensure that their journey is as accommodating as possible. The team can arrange for travelers to be escorted through the airport, have access to priority boarding and reserve seating where necessary. Onboard, the team can also ensure that inflight entertainment is provided for blind passengers, with some crew also trained in sign language. by TNH DESK
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | MARCH 2019
A ROMANTIC SOJOURN WITH TAJ Head off on an adventure with your loved one to far-flung lands with Taj Hotels. From remote islands to the ultimate safari, February is the month of indulgence to explore the exotic ends of the world and break away from the ordinary. With stunning views overlooking Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain, Taj Cape Town offers a myriad of experiences. An adventurous couple is spoilt for choice, from going on the lookout for the Big Five on a Game Drive in any of the nearby National Parks to hiking and abseiling Table Mountain! Couples that prefer a more laid-back approach to holidays can venture to Stellenbosch to explore the rolling vineyards and experience world-class cuisine and cockby TNH DESK tails.
CORINTHIA announces a new luxury hotel in
Moscow
IHI plc, owners of the Corinthia Hotels Group, has announced a luxury Corinthia Hotel & Residences project in Moscow. IHI is acquiring a minority share in a company being formed with a consortium of investors to acquire a landmark property at 10, Tverskaya, Moscow’s principal avenue leading onto the Kremlin and Red Square. The property has a listed façade, and houses the famous 19th century Filippov Bakery. The consortium has plans to create a luxury Corinthia Hotel and branded serviced apartments for sale. An element of high-end retail will be featured alongside Tverskaya. IHI plc has had a presence in Russia since 2002, when the company acquired and later redeveloped five historic properties on the main boulevard in St Petersburg, where the company now owns the Corinthia Hotel St Petersburg, the Nevskij Plaza Retail and Commercial Centre as well as other commercial properties. by TNH DESK
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NEWS
Growing Exponentially No. of Indians opting for VFS doorstep visa services grows by 144% V I N AY MALHOTRA R E G I ONAL GROUP COO – MIDDLE EAST, S O U T H ASIA AND CHINA, VFS GLOBAL
In the span of one year, the demand for doorstep delivery of visa services grew by 144% (average year-on-year growth) in 2018. e ondemand service provided by VFS Global allows enrolment of biometrics and document submission at the applicant’s doorstep, instead of visiting the visa application centers. e service which started in 2016, witnessed over 100% y-o-y growth from cities of Goa, Lucknow, Shillong, Nagpur, Bhubaneshwar, Mangalore and Gurgaon. 2018 not only saw an increase in applicants from India’s metros, but also first time demand for doorstep visa services from the cities of Allahabad, Amravati, Trivandrum, Erode, Surat, Nagercoil, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Tiruppur, Muzzafarpur, Indore, Palakkad, Guwhati, Jodhpur and Chattarpur. e highest number of applications processed was in Nagpur, followed by Indore. In Shillong, the doorstep visa application grew from 2 applications in 2017, to 150 in 2018. Beyond the metros, there was a multifold increase in applications from the tier II cities which are already availing this service. With emerging trends around consumers wanting to seek convenience, even at an additional cost, it also indicates the potential for growth of personalization and customization in government-
to-citizen services. rolling biometrics, all from the “To say that the Visa comfort of their home or ofGoa, Lucknow, Shillong, At Your Doorstep servfice.” says, Vinay Malhotra, ReNagpur, Bhubaneshwar, Manice, first introduced in gional Group COO – Middle galore and GurgaondemonIndia by VFS Global in East, South Asia and China, strated more than 100% 2016, has revolutionised VFS Global. increase in the number of the visa application Smaller states like Mizoram, ‘doorstep’ applications, with process may not be an Telangana and the highest number of such understatement. While Chattisgarh,along with counapplications being processed VFS Global has an extentries such as Bhutan and Sri in Nagpur and Indore. Lanka,entered the demand cirsive physical network of cle. Corporates, large groups of Visa Application Centres travellers, film crews, celebrities, in 17 cities across India, travel agencies and high net this service exponentially increases the worth individuals were among reach of visa services to every corner of the majority of those who availed the country. It is significant these services. to note that there was high VFS Global has Visa Application growth in doorstep applicaCentres in 17 cities in India while oftion numbers even in cities fering doorstep delivery of visa services where there are physical cenacross the length and breadth of the countres present. Flexibility and try. Today, VFS Global offers this service for superior customer experience are top priorities of cus12 client governments and this service is availtomers in any sector, and the able across the globe wherever VFS Global visa industry is no different. Applicants have manages visa services. appreciated the customised nature of the service, and the overall enhanced experience in by TNH DESK submitting application, documents and en-
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS OPENS SEVERAL HOTELS ACROSS INDIA InterContinental Hotels Group has opened seven more Holiday Inn Express hotels in partnership with SAMHI. The hotels are spread across some of the key cities in India, including, Pune, Hyderabad, Nashik, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru. by TNH DESK
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | MARCH 2019
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S AT T E
2019: ITS BEST SHOW EVER
Tourism Industry hails SATTE 2019 as its best show ever. In its 26th edition, the show shifted to a new venue, the world-class India Expo Centre in Greater Noida, Delhi NCR. The event concluded with record attendance.
By Shayan Mallick
The number of exhibitors from India and abroad surpassed all previous participation as SATTE 2019 concluded with the grandest and most comprehensive show ever. Spread over a massive 25,000 square meter, the subcontinent's biggest travel and tourism show registered a record number of exhibitors and trade buyers. Altogether suppliers and exhibitors from over 50 countries and 90 Indian cities participated in this edition. The event also witnessed 35 countries and 28 Indian states represented by their tourism boards. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), India´s as well as the South Asia’s position in the world tourism, is increasingly becoming more significant both as a destination and as a source market. Tourism is among one of the leading economic sectors of the world, surpassing 1.4 billion in international arrivals in 2018, two years ahead of the forecast. South Asia, which achieved an astonishing growth rate of 9 per cent in 2017, has continued to show an increase in the first 9 months in 2018, reinforcing its potential as a leading destination and the source market. As 2019’s first international tourism event from the South Asia region, SATTE 2019, that recently concluded in Delhi NCR on January 16-18, has continued to play an integral part in South Asia’s growth as a tourism destination and has helped the stakeholders develop the source market potential of the region as well. Speaking at the inaugural function of the event at India Expo Centre, Yogesh Mudra, Managing Director of UBM India, said, “Over the years SATTE has built a reputation of being one of the most comprehensive B2B platforms catering to domestic and international buyers and
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | MARCH 2019
professionals from across the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors along with the national and state tourism boards. This has also enabled professionals to congregate and conduct business, arrive at solutions and innovations to counteract economic uncertainties by promoting inbound, outbound and domestic tourism in India. On our part, we have pulled out all socks to celebrate this edition of SATTE and the growth of this sector. This 26th edition of SATTE is the largest ever, spread over 25,000 square meters of gross area. On behalf of UBM India, I hope we make most of this unique platform that has been created over the years that understands entertains and celebrates hospitality and tourism.” Former Union Minister of State for Tourism and currently Union Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge), Mahesh Sharma, was the Chief Guest at SATTE 2019. Sharma, who represents the Gautam Budh Nagar constituency where
the Greater Noida’s India Expo Centre, venue of SATTE 2019, is located, said, “I congratulate everyone involved in bringing South Asia’s biggest travel and tourism exhibition to my parliamentary constituency,” he said. Sharma pointed out that being the largest travel and tourism event in the Indian sub-continent, SATTE’s role is integral to taking India’s and the region’s tourism to new heights. He said that the visionary Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi has undertaken great initiatives but results cannot be achieved in isolation unless banners like SATTE are parts of tourism growth story that India and the region want to script. “Tourism contributes 6.8 per cent of our GDP. We have seen tourism growth by up to 13 per cent in terms of the number of foreign tourists and in financial terms, it contributes 1.56 Lakh crore of foreign currency that India earns from tourism. We understand its potential,” said Sharma un-
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derscoring SATTE’s role in building the story of India tourism. Sri Lanka, one of the emerging tourism hotspot in the region has been participating in SATTE for a long time. Despite a challenging 2018 because of political turmoil in the island nation, Sri Lanka’s travel and tourism industry has witnessed a quantum leap in tourism over the last few years growing at double-digit figures year after year. India is Sri Lanka’s biggest tourism source market contributing over 424,000 tourists in 2018. And as Sri Lanka tourism makes a sprint for 500,000 in Indian visitor arrivals this year, the destination showcases at South Asia’s biggest travel and tourism exhibition SATTE and is key to its target from India as well as from across the world. Leading a strong delegation of Sri Lankan tourism suppliers to SATTE 2019, “John AE Amaratunga, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, said, “I extremely pleased to be here participating in South Asia Travel & Tourism Exchange. On behalf of the Sri Lanka Tourism, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all present here. SATTE has grown from strength to strength over the year to become South Asia’s leading travel and tourism show.” “As per the last tourism data recorded in Sri Lanka, 20 per cent of all tourists that
came to Sri Lanka last year, originated from India. This is the highest ever number of Indians who have visited Sri Lanka in a calendar year. It is no secret that India for Sri Lanka is the most important and the biggest tourism market. And we want a close relationship between the two countries to achieve millions of bilateral tourism,” added Amaratunga further, reinforcing SATTE’s growing profile as a platform to showcase to trade buyers from not just India but all over the world in order to grow the country’s tourism interests. Expressing “great pleasure” for Malaysia to take part in SATTE again this year, YB Tuan Muhammad Bakhtiar bin Wan Chik, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, said, “I am pleased to see a huge interest in Malaysian tourism. India has always been an important tourist market for Malaysia and SATTE is one of the major tourism platforms that we look forward to attending each year. This year we have got a bigger Malaysian tourism delegation to SATTE comprising almost 40 organisations, from travel agencies, hotels and resorts, tourism authorities, tourism product owners to airlines and state governments. We all are excited to be here at SATTE to kick off another great tourism year in a good spirit. I wish to extend my appreciation to the organizer of SATTE for putting together another successful event.”
Malaysia has set a target of 30 million international tourist arrivals by 2020 and sees India as one of its key tourism source markets that will help the country achieve its target. It received around 26 million tourists in 2017. The number is expected to be closing in on 27 million international tourists this year. Indonesia that has been participating at SATTE year after year witnessed a robust 29 per cent growth in 2017 in its Indian arrivals, with close to 500,000 Indians visiting the country in that year. And despite a number of natural calamities the country has recorded double-digit growth in 2018 as well in Indian arrivals. Indonesia was one of the feature countries at SATTE this year and made a big splash showcasing the country’s massive diversity and products at the inaugural dinner that it hosted. The three-day event witnessed live performances to draw trade buyers’ attention to the exhibitors and their products and offerings, destination briefings, business workshops, meetings, awards, networking evenings, rich conferences, among others. SATTE 2019 was attended by over thousand exhibitors from 50 plus countries, 28 Indian states and drawing trade buyers not only from every part of India but also from the region as well as around 200 international buyers from across the globe.
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NEWS OF THE MONTH
TECHNOLOGY: THE X-FACTOR It has never been so amazing for Indians to apply for UK's visa. The adoption of new technology such as brand new interface and self-upload option has completely transformed UK's visa service in India offered by VFS Global. In a new and modernised online visa application journey, from February 25, 2018, Indian cus-tomers for UK visas can experience a more modern, digital visa service as a result of improve-ments developed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), and VFS Global. UK visa customers can now fill the visa application form, book regular or priority appointments, self-upload documents prior to visiting the centre, or choose from a range of services, in a single online journey. The intuitive and simplified online visa application system, developed by VFS Global for UKVI, is part of UKVI’s continuing initiatives to transform the visa application jour-ney for customers around the world. SHIFT TO INTEGRATED ONLINE SYSTEM Previously, Indian visa applicants ap-
HOW TO CHECK & VERIFY WORKS
plied for a visa via two separate websites – Gov.UK and VFS Global. As part of a new customer journey, customers can access information about, or opt for, all visa services at the outset of their visa application journey. The new system can be ac-cessed via www.gov.uk. Customers now have the option to digitally upload documentation prior to visiting the Visa Ap-plication Centre using their smartphone, tablet or other cameras/computing device. Customers who opt for the self-upload option can visit the centre with just their passport – meaning they don't need to carry original documents with them. A scanning service will still be offered by VFS Global, for a fee of 500 INR, however, this will be free to customers for a short period of time.
For customers opting for the Check and Verify servic, VFS Global staff will undertake the first level of scrutinyon the information / documents submitted – through designated checks on bank statements, income tax returns and employment. VFS Global will provide an independent validation of the documents and submit an official verification report directlyto UK Visas & Immigration. The service can be purchased online during the online visa application process or at the Visa Application Centre itself. It should be noted that availing the Check & Verify Service does not guarantee a visa. The decision of your visa and processing time is at the sole discretion of UKVI.
ADDED CHOICE & CONVENIENCE FOR INDIAN CUSTOMERS A range of optional services aimed at providing a stress-free application experience can now be opted for online, at the application stage. Services include: • CONVENIENCE: Customers can opt for the ‘Walk-in without appointment’ service (for customers seeking to submit applications urgently), or ‘Keep My Passport While Applying’ (enabling customers to apply for other visas during the processing of UK visa) at the application stage itself • COMFORT: Personalised services at the Premium Lounge • SPEED: Super Priority Service and Priority Service for fast-track turnaround times • PEACE OF MIND: Document-scanning assistance for customers opting for self-upload CHECK & VERIFY: GREATER ASSURANCE ON DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED
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NEWS OF THE MONTH
VFS Global, in association with UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI), has also launched a new Check and Verify service for UK visa applicants across India. Using this service, customers can opt to run their documentation past trained VFS Global professionals, and have the verification report sent directly to UKVI. This service provides customers with a higher degree of assurance about the documents/information submitted while giving greater confidence to UKVI about the genuineness of the documents. In view of rising UK visa application volumes, the service will also strengthen the integrity and security of the visa process, by minimising the influence of touts and risks of fraud. RISE IN INDIAN TRAVEL TO UK Over 630,000 people applied for a UK visa from India last year. That included over 475,000 visit visas – an increase of 43,000 applications, the largest absolute increase for any country. In addition, almost 19,000 Tier 4 student visas were granted to Indian nationals – a 32% increase on the previous year – along with over 55,000 skilled work visas – more than the rest of the world combined. VFS Global recorded an 8% increase in the number of UK visa applications in 2018, year-on-year. Most numbers of UK visa applications in 2018 were submitted from Delhi and Mumbai – which accounted for over 40% of UK visa applications from the country.
KEY POINTS
• UK visa applicants can digitally upload documents prior to visiting the Visa Application Centre, and walk in with just their passport • New integrated online visa application system allows customers to fill in visa application form, book appointments, pay fees, self-upload documents, and opt for convenient services in a single online journey • Over 630,000 people applied for a UK visa from India in the last year
DELEVERING A CUSTOMER-CENTRIC EFFICIENT VISA SERVICE
DAVID RATCLIFFE Regional Director South And South East Asia, UK Visas & Immigration
VINAY MALHOTRA Regional Group Chief Operating Officer – Middle East, South Asia And China, VFS Global
David Ratcliffe, Regional Director South And South East Asia, UK Visas & Immigration, says: “UKVI and VFS Global’s shared goal is simple – to deliver an efficient, secure visa service that places the customer experience at the heart of our operation. These latest announcements do just that. By making better use of digital technology we can make the visa application process easier for the customer, giving them the opportunity to upload documents with their smartphone or tablet from the comfort of their home or office. In addition, this move will make us much more efficient and resilient as we prepare for another busy year – so, as Indians travel to the UK for the Cricket World Cup, they can be confident that they won’t get caught out by the visa service!
Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group Chief Operating Officer – Middle East, South Asia And China, VFS Global, says: Customer comfort has always been at the forefront of our efforts, and the new UK visa online application system is a big step in that direction, as it essentially integrates access to convenient visa services in one seamless interface. The United Kingdom is an esteemed client government that VFS Global has served since 2003 in India, and with their support, we have continuously developed flexible solutions aimed at easing the application journey for customers. We are confident this latest innovation will become a benchmark for visa application systems the world over. by TNH DESK
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GOING AROUND
STEPPING UP THE PACE OF TOURISM IN MONACO Practising sustainable tourism, conserving resources and providing exceptional MICE facilities form an inextricable part of Monaco. Monaco, where luxury and eco-tourism defines its global appeal is a perfect mix of heritage and contemporary culture. It is going great guns as a MICE tourist destination. In its latest initiative, Monaco Government Tourist Bureau is keeping up with its strategy of sustainability that has been themed as “Green is the new glam”. Rajeev Nangia, India Di-
Rajeev Nangia India Director , Monaco Government Tourist Bureau
rector, Monaco Government Tourist Bureau said, “The government of Monaco has rolled out a series of front-ranking initiatives to ensure that it meets its target of sustainability. These include setting up a Mission for Energy Transition to support green initiatives, banning the use of plastic straw and cutlery, installing of beehives at the luxury Novotel Monte Carlo and new-age transport options like 17 bike stations, solar powered bus boats and a host of hybrid buses. by TNH DESK
Setting benchmarkS in cruiSe touriSm Celebrity Edge from the house of Royal Caribbean Cruises has on offer a melange of wonders that will leave the tourists completely mesmerized. At a time when cruise tourism is on the rise in India and has emerged as the fastest growing segment in the country, the India representative of Royal Caribbean Cruise- Tirun Travel Marketing hosted its road show in Kolkata on January 25 with an aim to introduce its renowned luxury cruise ship- Celebrity Edge. e launch of the novel, luxury cruise ship is all set to rev up the cruise travel industry in the country since it has set up a plethora of milestones in the sphere of architecture, itineraries and aesthetics. In today’s day and age, luxury cruise travel is an 18 million dollar industry and the Celebrity
Edge boasts of an innovative revolving deck known as Magic Carpet that forms the premier floating platform in the world and keeps changing its position. ere is a spanking 14,000 sq. spa replete with a gym and a cafe and the spa provides an array of wellness treatments that will provide connection with the sea. According to Varun Chadha, Chief Operating Officer, Tirun Travel Marketing, “Cruise travel is an employment generating industry and can generate revenue up to `35,000 crore. Kolkata will occupy around 15 per cent market of cruise travel in the next couple of years. Unlike other global destinations, once luxury cruise opens up in India, it will rely more on domestic cruise.”
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by TNH DESK
Varun Chadha Chief Operating Officer, Tirun Travel Marketing
Unlike other global destinations, once luxury cruise opens up in India, it will rely more on domestic cruise.
'INSPIRATION TO GO FURTHER': THEME FOR ICCA 2019 IN DURBAN Delegates at the upcoming ICCA Association Meetings Programme 2019, taking place in Durban, South Africa from 1820 June, are set to drive value and impact through international association meetings, as ICCA reveals the theme of the event as “Inspiration to go further”. Influenced by Durban’s entrepreneurial spirit and guiding all aspects of the core education programme, the theme has been chosen to communicate the AMP’s aim of providing all delegates with, through personalised ROI, the tools and expertise to be more effective in winning association meetings business. ICCA Interim CEO Dennis Speet said: “e AMP host destination for 2019, Durban, is full of stories of people who, driven by their own knowledge and passion, have used their local heritage and traditions as inspiration to help them reach great heights in their chosen profession. We urge all delegates to bring their burning challenges to the ICCA AMP and join our education programme.” by TNH DESK
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NEWS
RS 25 CR HERITAGE RESTORATION PROJECT LAUGHED IN KERALA Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated a Rs 25-crore project for the restoration of the heritage of the iconic Mascot Hotel, coinciding with the celebrations of 100 years of the hospitality pioneer, here on Wednesday. The comprehensive project, drawn up by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), was unveiled close on the heels of Mascot Hotel bagging the fivestar status. The Chief Minister also unveiled the plaque to mark the historic occasion and opened a month-long exhibition that vividly depicts the 100 years of glorious service of the trailblazer in the hospitality sector in the state. Hon. Minister for Co-operation, Devas-
wom and Tourism, Kadakampally Surendran presided over the function held at Mascot Hotel. In his presidential address, Surendran said that Mascot has got the unique distinction of being the maiden five-star hotel in the public sector. Recalling the history and fame of the institution, he noted “In the hotel map published by the Bombay-based Indian Hotel Company in 1937, Mascot was one among the four hotels listed from South India. In 1965, it came under KTDC.” The Minister underscored the need to adopt quality service and new marketing strategies in order to compete with private players in the hospitality industry. K Muraleedharan MLA was present at the func-
NYC & COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS ‘2019: A MONUMENTAL YEAR’
NYC & Company team to promote New Developments, Attractions, Hotel Openings across 8 key cities in India through media and trade partners. NYC & Company, New York City’s official, destination marketing organization, led a delegation to India from Feb 18-22, 2019 to present a new global initiative—'2019: A Monumental Year’—spotlighting several iconic and large-scale openings and developments debuting in the City along with a historic anniversary that will make New York City a must-visit destination. by TNH DESK
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | MARCH 2019
tion, where M Vijayakumar, Chairman, KTDC, delivered a felicitation speech. Rahul R IRS, MD, KTDC, welcomed the gathering. Vijayakumar said, “Mascot Hotel is a priceless treasure of Kerala. It is the Jewel in KTDC’s crown. The heritage restoration project will be carried out without in any way harming its distinguishing architectural features.” P Bala Kiran IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism; and Krishnakumar, Member, Board of Directors, KTDC, were also present. Rahul said the project to strengthen and preserve the heritage property will be executed under the leadership of Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society by TNH DESK (ULCCS).
ALLURING VISITORS WITH SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
The new calling card of TAT is SAMUT SONGKHRAM that promises an array of community-based rural activities for travellers.
Fred Dixon President & CEO, NYC & Company
The evergreen global destination of Thailand has always endured Indian travellers and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has placed its ambitious plans to entice a large chunk of Indian tourists in the New Year. There are novel destinations in the offing with a plethora of out-of-the-box attractions. Isra Stapanaseth, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand informed, “We are offering an impetus to new tourist destinations, attractions and services. The latest tourist destination to explore is Samut Songkhram province in the central region of Thailand and is 1 ½ hour’s drive from Bangkok.” by TNH DESK
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NEWS
SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM EYES SURGE IN INDIAN VISITORS IN 2019 South African Tourism kick-started 2019 with its biggest travel trade initiative in India – the 16thedition of their annual roadshow, with aim to capitalize on the strong potential consumer demand in India in order to surpass the target of 100,000 Indian visitors to South Africa in the current year. Recognizing the evolving demands of the Indian traveller and in continued efforts to enable trade partners, the 56-member South African trade delegation, that included 6 new SMMEs, reiterated the tourism board’s emphasis on expanding the destination and product offering. In addition to experiences, representatives from accommodation establishments, destination management companies, airlines, tourism associations display their products and engage Indian travel and trade partners. For the period of January to September 2018, Mumbai contributed 45% to the overall Indian arrivals to South Africa while Delhi was at 17.4%, Chennai at 7.7% and Kolkata at 1.6%. Over 1300 Indian travel agents attended the interactive roadshow sessions to better synergize and address the ever evolving demands of the Indian travellers. “Our brand research shows that Indian travellers prefer South Africa as a holiday destination, due to the memorability and value for money it offers. We will continue to drive this demand by introducing a wider geographical area, thus allowing us to introduce new experiences. We remain focused on customizing our engagements and product offerings to suit the unique requirements from each of our target regions within India,” said Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head, MEISEA, South African Tourism. With iconic cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban as draw cards, the tourism board is growing efforts to promote the engaging surrounds of newer regions like Stellenbosch, George, Simon’s Town, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Port Elizabeth and East London in the current year. In 2018, there was a higher uptake in the demand for and travel to new and off-beat provinces like Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Free State. In response to the need for introducing new experiences, the tourism board will lay special emphasis on promoting the diversity of activities and experiences. With Indian travellers consuming the highest adventure activities outside of South Africans, the board will deepen
We remain focused on customizing our engagements and product offerings to suit the unique requirements from each of our target regions within India.
BEN JOUBERT Minister Plenipotentiary, South African High Commission, India
focus to promote the 3000+ adventure activities that South Africa offers including off-beat activities like Long Tom Toboggan rides, Fatbike Tours, Mountain Boarding and Walking Safaris along with popular activities like abseiling and paragliding. Along with building, cementing and sustaining two-way tourism ties between India and South Africa, the brand isalso seeking new and creative ways to enhance the destination’s USP. “We are keen on optimizing our collaboration with complementary African nations to enhance our value proposition. In particular, we have been exploring partnerships with Mauritius and Seychelles that will enable us to co-promote both destinations,” said Neliswa Nkani. While consolidating its positioning wildlife, adventure and cultural offerings, the destination will also target the niche wedding market, for which South African Tourism has seen an upswing in enquiries. In order to arrive at this, the destination is engaging aggressively to educate trade partners about the plethora of worldclass facilities, distinctive attractions, unforgettable and value for money experiences available in South Africa. Speaking about the importance of India, as they unveiled the brand strategy, South African Tourism, Hub Head, Neliswa Nkani said, “As India plays a key role in achieving our 5-in-5 target, which includes 4 million international visitors, we are now looking to double our marketing efforts and enhancing destination marketing support within the region. While we are already widely known for our wildlife offerings,
the 5-point strategy for 2019 will ensure that we incorporate certain measures and leverage partnerships to position and cement ourselves as the Adventure Capital of the world, while building preference as a wedding destination for the India market.” South African Tourism has been working closely with the Consulate General of South Africa in Mumbai to introduce an updated visa procedure.In an effort to ease visa procedures, they are collaborating to accredit select travel agents and tour operators to allow fast-tracking visa applications from preferred partners. At present, they ensure a quick turnaround time of 5-7 days which is a lot shorter than some of their competitors. is year the Roadshow covered Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata paving way for interaction to allow an exchange of detailed market insights and Indian traveller specific trends, thus allowing both partners to deliver and serve better. An unusually high demand for adventure activities in comparison to other markets, big-five wildlife sightings, requests for private kitchens and Indian chefs, and vegetarian food are some of the key behaviours observed by the South African suppliers. With 86,405arrivals as of November2018, the destination board shared a positive outlook for the Indian market, noting that as of June 2018, total spend by Indian travellers in South Africa had increased by 20% and that there was an upswing in the average length of stay (+7.7%) and total bed nights (+4%). by TNH DESK
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COVER STORY
A HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THE BRAVE MARTYRS OF KASHMIR We salute our soldiers, their valor and sacrifices for our beloved motherland. We pay our solemn homage to the martyred brave soldiers who lost their lives in a dastardly terror attack at Pulwama in Jammu & Kashmir. We also pay our tributes to the soldiers and police personnel who sacrificed their lives in fighting terrorism. By Prem Kumar
On 14th February a suicide bomber attacked a CRPF convoy in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, killing 40 soldiers and injuring many other. The convoy was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar. The terrorist used a high-intensity improvised explosive device (IED) to attack the soldiers in traveling in buses. This is the worst attack on India's armed forces since the Uri airbase attack in 2016. Although Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing regular terror attacks in the past five years, the Pulwama attack is the biggest terror attack in the past five years. Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Terrorist organisation banned by the UN but supported by Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack. Leaders cutting across party lines expressed their condolences, Condemning the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that "attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly."
TERROR ATTACKS IN THE PAST In terms of casualties, the Pulwama terror attack, the deadliest terror attack on security forces in Kashmir in recent past, is also the biggest terror attack in the country since the Mumbai terror attack of 2018, when a group of sea-borne Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists struck at the heart of Mumbai on 26th November through their coordinated attacks on the main Chattrapati Shivaji railway terminus, the iconic Taj Mahal hotel, the Trident hotel, and a Jewish centre - all in the heart of the financial capital's downtown area. 10 terrorists had sneaked into Mumbai from Karachi through sea routes and carried out the attacks that lasted three days. Earlier in 2001, Islamist terrorists belonging to two Pakistan-based terror outfits Lashkar e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had attacked the India Parliament on 13 December. Five terrorists were killed by Indian security forces in the in the encounter whereas eight security personnel and one civilian also lost the lives. The attack has led to the 2001– 02 standoff between India and Pakistan, with armed forces of the both country being eye ball to eye-ball. Recent examples of Islamist terror attacks in India are Pathankot attack of 2016 that was carried out by a heavily armed group on 2 January 2016 and had attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station; and later the Uri attack in September 2016, near the town of Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 19 soldiers.
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COVER STORY
After the Uri attack, our armed forces had carried a surgical strike in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to eliminate terrorist camps and their infrastructure, but it seems that strike failed to deter terrorists from attacking us. On 26 February our Indian Air Force carried a preemptive non-military strike on targeting terrorist camps and infrastructure inside Pakistan, killing many terrorists. In the wake of the Pulwama MAJOR TERROR ATTACKS IN INDIA Attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001 Mumbai attack in November 2008 Pathankot terror attack in Jan 2016 Uri, J&K in September 2016 The Pulwama, Feb in 2019.
terror attack and the consequent air strike by India, the situation between the two countries are very tense. Such action is necessary for the national security and to create a fearless environment where not every citizen but also the tourists visiting our country feel safe here and India earns a reputation of a safe destination for tourists.
PULWAMA ATTACK: THE FINAL STRAW Any likelihood of war does not augur well for anyone, including our citizens, the economy, investors and tourists, but it is also important to end protracted proxy that
war our western neighbour has been waging against us in the form of terrorism for decades. Let our Government and armed forces settle this issue once and for all. We request our government that the Pulwama terror attack on our soldiers of Central Reserved Police Force must be the final straw in the protracted proxy war that Pakistan has been waging against us by using terrorism as state policy of aggression. It seems that our government did not learn enough lessons from the previous terrors attacks like the Uri and the Pathankot attacks. Our security arrangement is always reactive rather than being preemptive that meet the emerging internal and external securing challenges. Our political leadership is most of the time occupied in competitive politics rather than focusing on governance and security. Recurrent violence by anti social elements, insurgents, terrorists not only create an unfavorable environment for the whole economy, but it is also a major drain on our resources which otherwise can be used for socio economy betterment of our citizens. According to a report, violence costs $1,190.51 billion to the Indian economy in 2017, that was 9 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or $595.4 (over `40, 000) per person. That is huge loss for an emerging country like India whose sections still suffers from poverty, malnutrition, poor hygienic conditions, lack of basic services like health, education, poor physical infra. The country is striving hard to provide a decent livelihood to its
poor citizens, develop adequate infrastructure across the country and put in place a robust social security net for it vulnerable and underprivileged citizens.
END TERRORISM FIRST Needless to say, the safety and security of the nation comes first. But when the country suffers due to terrorism and violence, tourism cannot escape from its evil consequences. In fact, such is the nature of the travel activity that tourism is more vulnerable to violence as no foreign national would like to visit a country and risk their safety in the environment of violence. Therefore, eliminating terrorism in its varied colors and shades plus all sorts of violence are a prerequisite for sustainable tourism growth. Only in a safe and secure environment can economy grow and economy flourishes. India's tourism industry is patriotic fraternity and willing to make any sacrifice for the Nation at this time of crisis. As our armed forces act in self-defense, it is time for us as a nation to rise above our vested interests and ideological differences, and to be vigilant of divisive forces and stand united by our soldiers. We must reaffirm our commitment that the nation is first. It is high time that our government formulates an effective strategy to counter terrorism and thwart the evil design of our external enemy. by TNH DESK
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NEWS
IHG SIGNS HOLIDAY INN GOA CANDOLIM Continues growth momentum for the Holiday Inn brand family across India. InterContinental Hotels Group has signed a management agreement with Tipping Point Hospitality Private Limited for Holiday Inn Goa Candolim. Nestled amidst two of North Goa’s famed and popular destinations – Candolimand & Calangute, the hotel is expected to welcome guests in November 2019. Offering leisure and corporate travellers a perfect stay experience, the newly built, 110-room Holiday Inn Goa Candolim will be a 30minute drive from the city center and a 60-minute drive from the Dabolim Airport. The hotel is also in close proximity to North Goa's popular entertainment and nightlife destinations and is a 15 minute walk from Candolim beach and Sinquerim fort. In addition to featuring well-designed, fully equipped guest rooms, Holiday Inn Goa Candolim will comprise an expansive meeting space and a business centre to meet the rapidly growing MICE demands. Holiday Inn Goa Candolim will also feature an all-day dining restaurant and a lobby bar, offering guests some great dining options at the hotel. The hotel will also feature leisure facilities such as an outdoor pool and a gymnasium for guests.
YOU MUST GET TRAVEL INSURANCE BEFORE VISITING LOVED ONES ABROAD e thrill of meeting a loved one who lives miles away is always a special occasion that everybody looks forward to. is becomes extra special when parents visit their children residing abroad. Smart parents, like Ashok Soni, take a suitable travel assistance and insurance cover when they make such trips, as they understand the costs and risks involved in any unforeseen emergency in a foreign land. Soni was visiting his son in Bangkok, when he experienced sudden uneasiness and complained of chest pain. Soni’s son, Ankush Soni immediately contacted the emergency assistance team of TrawellTag Cover-More, who arranged for the hospitalization of Senior Soni in Bangkok. Post examination, the medical team advised Soni to undergo angiography and immediate surgery to place an artificial pacemaker. e TrawellTag Cover-More global assistance team swily supported Soni’s family by liaising with the hospital to provide regular updates on Soni’s health. ey also mediated with the underwriter and facilitated end-to-end financial assistance and co-ordination with the hospital. On being discharged from the hospital, Soni decided to stay on with his son in Bangkok, with a sense of gratitude for travelling with TrawellTag Cover-More’s global assistance and insurance. by TNH DESK
by TNH DESK
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | MARCH 2019
OYO GAINS FOOTHOLD IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA
OYO enters Philippines with an investment commitment of over $50 Million. Aer proving its mettle in Southeast Asia with successful operations in Malaysia and Indonesia, OYO Hotels is set to further expand its leadership in the region by commencing its operations in Philippines. Starting with over 21 franchised and leased hotels, OYO’s current footprint includes presence in Metro Manila, Tagaytay and Cebu as it plans to grow to 10 cities by 2020. With the mission of transforming the country’s hospitality landscape, OYO Hotels would be franchising and leasing assets while transforming them into quality living spaces. e hospitality chain has also committed an investment of over $50 million over the next few years in the country with the mission of transforming its hospitality landscape in the country. As a part of its continued commitment to the country, OYO Hotels aims to further generate over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs that will help support the economic trajectory of Philippines. With the launch, OYO will also be generating lucrative job opportunities for locals in various fields including housekeeping, front office, F&B, general management, civil engineering, data science, hospitality operations and technology. by TNH DESK
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INTERVIEW
'PROUD TO OFFER THE NEW EVISA-ON-ARRIVAL SERVICE JOINTLY WITH VFS GLOBAL' The government of Thailand recently unveiled its eVisa-On-Arrival (eVOA) services for foreign nationals planning to go to Thailand. The new-age digital visa solution came into effect on 14 February 2019, in collaboration with VFS Global. Speaking exclusively to TnH on the launch of the new visa services, Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachate HAKPARN, Commissioner of Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police, said, "We are confident the eVOA service will help us achieve our objective of increasing tourism into Thailand." Excerpts of the interview: Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachate HAKPARN Commissioner of Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police
WITH THE RECENT UNVEILING OF THE EVOA SERVICES TO THAILAND, HOW IS THAI IMMIGRATION COMMITTED TO MAKE TRAVEL TO THAILAND HASSLEFREE FOR TRAVELLERS? We are proud to offer the new eVisa On Arrival (eVOA) service, a new-age digital visa solution that became available for travellers from 14 February 2019 in collaboration with VFS Global. This solution will enhance the Thailand visa experience for travellers from 21 coun-
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tries across the globe who will experience a faster, smoother and convenient immigration clearance process through dedicated eVOA Immigration counters at major Thai airports. The benefits of the eVOA service for the millions of travellers entering into Thailand are manifold. Simply put, travellers using this service do not have to wait in long queues for Visa On Arrival, or fill up application forms or change currency at the airport to pay for the visa
fees. All they have to do instead is complete a simple online eVOA application form, upload documents and make the fee payment online, all before departure. This can be done via thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com from the comfort of their home or office, after which they will receive the eVOA in 24 to 72 hours by email. We are confident the eVOA service will help us achieve our objective of increasing tourism into Thailand. It also takes
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INTERVIEW
into consideration the all-important security aspect that allows pre-check of travellers prior the arrival and offers time to the Immigration Bureau for effective assessment.
CAN YOU PLEASE PROVIDE THE STATISTICS ON THE TOTAL FOOTFALL OF VISITORS TO THAILAND? DO YOU EXPECT THE EVOA SERVICE WILL DRIVE UP VISITORS TO THAILAND? We are fortunate to remain a preferred tourism destination for travellers the world over for several years. In 2017, Thailand welcomed a record 35 million tourists. In 2018, over 4 million visitors used the conventional, time consuming Visa On Arrival service at Thailand airports. Chinese nationals accounted for the largest section of those who opted for Visa on Arrival at the Thai airports, with Indians as the second largest nationality. From the Immigration Bureau’s perspective, this digitised version of the visa application will enable the Thai Immigration authorities to focus on the security and merits of each application more effectively. Keeping in mind the growing traffic into Thailand, measures like eVOA will alsodramatically enhance visitors’ experience at our airports so they can start their visit on a positive note. They do not need to carry physical copies of documents or photographs to Thailand or complete complicated physical visa application forms on arrival or pay visa fees in Thai Baht on arrival. The new eVOA solution ensures a very simple and quick arrival process– something every traveller wants after a long flight. Visitors themselves can submit their application online or via travel agents or any VFS Global Visa Application Centre. We are convinced that this travel-friendly measure such as the eVOA will have a
Q
positive impact on further developing travel and tourism into Thailand.
WHAT ADVANTAGES CAN A TRAVELLER AVAIL THROUGH THIS EVOA SERVICE? The advantages are clear: • eVOA eliminates the uncertainty about getting the Visa On Arrival, as travellers get it before their departure • Travellers can breeze through Immigration using dedicated eVOA counters and avoid the long paper-based Visa On Arrival queues • As all documentation is submitted at the time of online application from the
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The benefits of the eVOA service for the millions of travellers entering into Thailand are manifold. Simply put, travellers using this service do not have to wait in long queues for Visa On Arrival, or fill up application forms or change currency at the airport to pay for the visa fees.
comfort of your home or office, there are no visa application forms to be filled or documentation to be carried • No need to arrange for local currency at the airport as the visa fees are paid online along with the eVOA application • In case of urgent travel, using the Express Service can get you the eVOA within 24 hours.
THAI eVOA SERVICE • The new service is available from 14 Feb 2019. • This enhances the Thai visa experience for travellers from 21 countries. • eVOA service offers a faster, smoother immigration clearance process through dedicated immigration counters at major Thai airports. • eVOA can be easily availed via thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com before departure • Applicants will receive the eVOA in 24 to 72 hours by email.
Travellers who enter Thailand at the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in Bangkok, and at the Phuket and Chiang Mai airports, can use this service.
YOU HAVE SAID YOU ARE COMMITTED TO DRIVE UP THE TOURISM ECONOMY IN THAILAND. WHAT OTHER PLANS ARE IN THE WORKS FOR THE SAME? Currently, there is a waiver on Thailand visa fees until April 30, 2019 – we are confident this move will also drive up tourism into Thailand in 2019. During this period, travellers opting for the eVOA need to only pay the service fee to get the new convenient and time-saving immigration process. We are continuously workingon introducing new ways to increase convenience for applicants at the airports and immigration. At the same time, with the assistance of visa domain experts like VFS Global, we will reduce the administrative burden on Thai Immigration operations, so that we can focus more effectively on security and assessment.
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by TNH DESK
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NEWS
new long-haul cabins exclusively on board A330 15 PLANES BEING FULLY REDESIGNED
for jet lag-free flying across time zones. Whether travelling alone or with a companion, the new seat adapts to every need. Customers can choose to enjoy greater proximity when they’re travelling with someone or total privacy thanks to a sliding panel separating the seats. The ambient lighting emphasizes the details of the new Business cabin’s decor. A brand new, extra-wide HD touchscreen measuring over 18.5 inches offers Business customers over 1,400 hours of entertainment. Its intuitive interface comes with a new more user-friendly handset. The toilets, inspired from the cosmetics universe, and the self-service bar in a blue and Champagne colour scheme have also been redesigned with customers’ well-being and comfort in mind.
Air France will unveil its new long-haul travel cabins exclusively available on board its Airbus A330s. The company will offer a new travel experience in its Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins. 15 aircraft will be completely redesigned by 2020 thanks to an investment of 140 million euros. Until the end of the winter season, customers will be able to enjoy these cabins on flights to Accra (Ghana), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and Houston (USA). As from the 2019 summer season, the new
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Airbus A330 will progressively serve Accra (Ghana), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Cotonou (Benin), Lagos (Nigeria), Niamey (Niger), Bengaluru and Delhi (India) as well as Seattle, Chicago and Dallas (USA). BUSINESS, PEACE OF MIND & CONVIVIA LITY The new Business seat, adapted to the dimensions of the Airbus A330, offers an unparalleled travel experience. Completely redesigned, the seat will convert into a lieflat bed that is 2m long and 57.1 cm wide
P R E M I U M E C O N O M Y, E X T R A COMFORT & SERVICES In Premium Economy, comfort has been redesigned and upgraded on the Airbus A330, with additional space: such as a 130° seat recline in a fixed shell, one of the widest seats on the market with 48.5 cm, 102 cm seat pitch, lumbar support adapted to different body shapes, additional storage space, a wider footrest, and a 13.3 inch HD screen.The softer seat cushions and wider leather armrests have also been redesigned. On board all its long-haul aircraft, Air France also guarantees its customers moments of relaxation with a red feather pillow and a deep blue blanket. A comfort kit renewed every 6 months is also available.
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NEWS
Between relaxation and gourmet delights, each passenger enjoys a personal power outlet and two USB ports as well as a wide choice of entertainment. E C O N O M Y, C O M F O R T F O R A L L The Economy seat has changed to provide additional comfort: such as more space between the armrests, reinforced ergonomic foam in the seat and a 118° recline, 79 cm legroom, a larger tray table and a wider, latest generation 11.6-inch 16:9 HD touch screen. For an even more comfortable trip, the company offers a range of redesigned accessories. A deep blue monochrome fabric signed with the accent, the symbol of the Air France brand, adorns the new cabin cushions and headrests. To accompany your most perfect dreams, a new bright red blanket, the company's iconic colour, as well as collectible night masks, inspired by the company's destinations, are also available. The Economy seat is equipped with a personal power outlet and a USB plug, allowing customers to use their electronic devices throughout the flight. They can also enjoy a wide range of entertainment with the audio headset that they will find on their seat as soon as they settle in on board.
A CONNECTED TRIP WITH AIR FRANCE CONNECT On board all its redesigned Airbus A330 cabins, Air France offers its new Air France CONNECTWi-Fi offer to stay connected throughout the flight. Customers can thus choose from 3 Wi-Fi passes, accessible from their personal devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop): A F R E E ' M E S S A G E ' P A S S : This allows customers to send and receive messages free of charge from their favourite apps on their smartphone or tablet throughout the flight. Customers can also access the airfrance. com website and the Air France app to consult or modify their reservations. A ' S U r F ' pA S S : This enables customers to surf the Internet and consult or send emails. Customers can use this service in the following way:3 euros for the entire duration of the trip on short-haul flights; as from 5 euros for the entire duration of the trip on medium-haul flights; and 8 euros (2,700 Miles), for one hour
or 18 euros (6,000 Miles) for the entire duration of the trip on long-haul flights. A ' S T R E A M ' P A S S : Available on all long-haul flights, this includes all the benefits of the Message pass and the Surf pass. The Stream pass allows you to benefit from a high-speed internet connection to enjoy streaming and downloading throughout the flight for just 30 euros (10,000 Miles). The Air France CONNECT offer will gradually be extended to offer customers additional services and entertainment such as detailed flight information, shopping and a wide selection of films, TV series and documentaries to watch free of charge on their smartphone or tablet. This Air France CONNECT offer will also be available on board the Boeing 787 and gradually installed on board the Boeing 777. The entire Air France fleet will be equipped with AIr FrANCE CONNECT by the end of 2020.
The first flight equipped with these new cabins connecting Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Accra (Ghana) took off on February 3, 2019.
THE NEW BUSINESS SEAT OFFERS: Unparalleled travel experience
Superior lie-flat bed for jet lag-free flying
Seat-separating sliding panel to choose proximity or privacy Extra-wide HD touch-screen offering 1,400 hours of entertainment
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C O R P O R AT E N E W S
Redefining Corporate Travel Management MAJOR ELEMENT OF TRAVEL SPENDS The analytical whitepaper titled ‘Redefining Corporate Travel Management’ presents businesses with a holistic approach towards business travel and helps setting benchmarks to evaluate the performance of their chosen travel partner. According to WTTC, Business Travel contributed to a major chunk (77.5%) of Travel Spends in the Global Travel Market in 2017. Globally, Business travel spend has now been able to reach the pre-recession levels and it seems to have embarked on an unprecedented growth trajectory in recent years. In the past year, rise in annual growth of business travel spend for India has been
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the highest among the top 15 business travel markets globally. According to Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the business travel spends in India stood at USD 37 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 46 billion in 2019 with a projected annual growth rate of 11.5% - making India one of the world’s fastest growing business travel market. While India is the 7th largest businesstravel market globally, it isprojected to be amongst the top5 travel markets by 2022.Furthermore, India-China-Indonesia (ICI) travelspend is predicted to reach USD 565billion in 2022 and is projected tobe the largest in the world by 2035.
PAPER'S KEY HIGHLIGHTS • Corporate SMEs's travel expenses: $7 bn of India's biz trip • Small travel agents manage 60% business travel • Millennials to account for half of global employees by 2020 • 60% of 19 to 34 year-old Indians consider biz trip sign of growth • 46% spend leisure time in exploring destination in business trip • Online bookings to account for 4050% of total business by 2020 • 85% employees books flights through advanced booking tools HOLISTIC BUSINESS TRAVEL APPROACH To truly recognize benefits of business travel, corporates need to look at their travel management programme in a holistic way. The whitepaper focuses on key mainstays that make up a successful travel management programme; ensuring Safety of employees, increasing cost Effectiveness of the programme, boosting Productivity of employees while travelling for business and greater Transparency within the programme. Thus, aiming to succour organizations by helping them adopt a comprehensive travel programme that can integrate and fulfil the needs of all the stakeholders involved. The report also details that while currently women account for approximately 30% of the economically active workforce, they also account for nearly 25% of domestic business travellers. This number is expected to rise as women account for 41.6% of those enrolled in higher education and are entering high level positions in the professional hierarchy. As the number of women in business travel increases, the industry will have to adapt to cater to this trend. In order to ensure safety of women travellers, certain adjustments will have to be made across all stages of travel such as cab booking, flights, hotels, etc. by TNH DESK
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HOLISTIC NEWS
LUXURIOUS SPA TREATMENTS IN ATLANTIS,
Synonymous with holistic wellbeing, Shui Qi Spa in Dubai has a treatment for every wellness-seeker and a place where you can enjoy some proper ‘me time’. ShuiQi Spa combines inner harmony, wellbeing and aesthetic beauty with exclusive spa treatments and products from well-known international brands such as ESPA, Shiseido and Aromatherapy Associates.Select treatments that reset the balance between your body and mind, while addressing your needs and desires. The term ‘Shui Qi’ translates as ‘water energy’, and all our spa treatments concentrate on using water to induce deep relaxation and harmonize an individual’s inner balance with the surrounding environment. SIGNATURE TREATMENTS – SHISEIDO JAPANESE COUPLE’S RITUAL Experience tranquility and lose yourself in the privacy of Shui Qi’s `Royal Spa Suite´, our absolute most popular spa suite designed only for couples. The exclusive Shiseido Japanese Couple’s Ritual focuses on balancing ‘Qi’, vital energy of the natural world, that is central to traditional Chinese medicine, by stimulating certain pressure points in the body and inducing relaxation. The signature treatment begins with an infused rose petal foot bath and a Japanese inspired body bath. The ritual continues over the course of four hours with a full body Qi massage, scalp massage and Shiseido’s premium facial, ‘Future Solution LX Facial Ceremony’ for her, and the ‘Time Fighting Facial’ for him followed by an elegant Sushi selection. Included within this package, is a delicate refreshment of Japanese Green Tea. Retreat with your loved one to ShuiQi Spa’s ‘Royal Spa Suite’ and experience this top-to-toe decadent pampering couples spa treatment with our Shiseido Japanese Couple’s Ritual Valentines’ Day Offer. by TNH DESK
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MOST EXCLUSIVE SUITE: ON SEVEN SEAS SPLENDOR
AS THE LARGEST SUITE ever built on a luxury cruise ship, The Regent Suite, the World’s newest and most exclusive suite on board seven seas splendor, perfects elegance with $200,000 hand-crafted bed, magnificent in-suite spa retreat and 4,443 square-feet of beauty and comfort.
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CRUISE NEWS
TOP: SPL Regent Suite Dining Area ABOVE: SPL Regent Suite Living Room SPL Regent Suite Master Bedroom
KEY FACTS • The in-suite heated relaxation loungers and walk-in shower feature floor-to-ceiling vista views. • The custom-made Treesse mini pool spa is perfectly located on the front balcony. • The fully-stocked bar in the solarium allows for unobstructed ocean views.
The new most luxurious residence at sea will be perched on the 14th deck of Seven Seas Splendor, above the bridge and overlooking the ship’s bow when she sets sail in February 2020. As the largest suite ever constructed on a luxury cruise ship with more than 3,000 square-feet of interior accommodations, the Regent Suite is 4,443 total square-feet of palatial elegance at sea, complete with an in-suite spa retreat featuring a personal sauna, steam room and treatment area with unlimited spa treatments, unobstructed 270-degree views over the ship’s bow from the 1,300 squarefoot wraparound veranda, and a glass-enclosed solarium sitting area on top of the bridge for a Captain’s view to see the world’s most beautiful destinations as Seven Seas Splendor arrives at each port. Guests in the Regent Suite enjoy a dedi-
cated personal butler to manage all the details of the guests’ experience, a personal car with driver and guide in every port, and the exquisite comfort of a custom, hand-crafted $200,000 Vividus bed from the renowned Hästens brand. And unlike the most exclusive residences and retreats on land, the stunning views from Regent Suite’s floor-to-ceiling wall of windows along three sides of the ship change daily as guests sail to iconic destinations and hidden gems across the world on Seven Seas Splendor voyages. “The Regent Suite is the ultimate example of how Seven Seas Splendor will astonish luxury travelers with an unrivaled experience, and it reflects the superior level of detail you’ll uncover throughout this stunning ship,” said Jason Montague, president and chief executive officer of Re-
gent Seven Seas Cruises. “In the Regent Suite, whether you’re entertaining friends in your elegant living room, enjoying caviar or lobster in your dining room, relaxing on your hand-crafted Hästens Vividus bed, delighting in unlimited spa services in your personal in-suite treatment area, or exploring a seaside village with your personal car and guide coordinated by your dedicated head butler, the holistic experience represents luxury perfected.” There is only one Regent Suite on board Seven Seas Splendor, and it builds on the renowned reputation of the Regent Suite on Seven Seas Explorer. The Regent Suite master bath and in-suite spa are 30 percent larger on Seven Seas Splendor to incorporate a stunning floor-to-ceiling ocean-view shower. Also different: A custom-made Treesse minipool spa is placed on the front balcony, providing incredible views from the glow of dawn to the setting sun while guests soak and relax while sipping a glass of Veuve Clicquot. The fullystocked bar bordering the living room and solarium allows for unobstructed ocean views while you recline in comfort as a personal butler mixes your favorite beverage. by TNH DESK
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RESORT REVIEW
THE TAMARA, COORG SUPER LUXURIOUS RESORT IN SOUTH INDIA By Pradeep Chamaria
e Tamara Coorg, located at Kabbinakad Estate in Yavakapadi village is a luxurious property offering luxurious rooms, trekking to a nearby peak, elegance at the spa, picking up coffee beans during the coffee plantation tour, soaking in the landscapes of the western ghats, a multi-cuisine restaurant, etc. to give the guest an incomparable experience. It was dark by the time we reached Tamara and aer the check-in was escorted on an eco-friendly buggy to our luxury cottage. My first impression even in the night lights was captivating. e sound of the waterfalls near
the front desk and also of bugs (especially the Shikado) was creating a musical concert scenario. Tamara Coorg is a highend luxury resort and has been craed out on 8.5 acres of land inside a functional coffee plantation area measuring around 170 acres which has coffee, pepper, cardamom honey and beetle nut plantations amidst a unique allaround view of rivers and lakes. It is one of the best resorts for romantic and Honeymoon couples in India. Tamara, in fact, means “the Lotus flower” in Tamil, Malayalam, and Telegu. Just like the purity of the Lotus
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RESORT REVIEW
flower, Tamara also symbolizes purity and pristineness of the forested hill of Coorg. It also means spice in Sanskrit thereby matching it with the spice plantations all around. Tamara was launched in 2012 and is designed considering the topography of the area in mind, the dense plantations, and the delicate ecosystem of the area by providing “Timber Bridge” structures with Shingles roof. e resort has four different types of cottages - luxury cottages, superior luxury cottage, suite cottages and exclusive Eden lotus cottages which feature an outdoor private Jacuzzi. e interiors are comfy and cosy with an alpine chalet appearance featuring the most modern facilities. Each cottage is divided into the comfortable sleeping area, elegant living space and a private sun deck. Outdoor luxury in form of an east facing wooden sun deck to soak in the morning sun and enjoy clean fresh mountain air while enjoying morning tea is fascinating. Unique elevation and orientation of each cottage offer unmatched panoramic views and privacy. e atmosphere is fabulous at the restaurant, e Falls at the Tamara; with a waterfall flowing beneath the see-through floor – the view is awesome and makes the guest forget about the food for a while till the spicy fragrance pulls them towards the huge buffet spread that they have to offer. roughout a guest’s stay Chefs at the Falls offer wonderful food from India, Chinese, Continental, regional, and International cuisines. Local Coorgi delicacies like the Koomu Curry (Mushroom Curry), Bamboo shoot curry, Akki Roti (rice roti), Pandi Curry (Pork curry) etc. are also served on request. ey also have the Deck, a luxurious lounge bar featuring the best concoctions supervised by a highly creative mixologist who offers a superb collection of wines and liqueurs. e guest can go for various activities while at the Tamara, like the Elephants training camp at Dubare, the Town of Madikeri, Raja Seat Top at Madikeri, Abbey fall etc. At the end of the day the guest can indulge in elegant spas that the resort offers. Spa op-
RATING
Rooms
Services Cuisine Spa
5/5
4.5/5 4/5 4/5
Attractions around: Elephant training camps, waterfalls, Madikeri etc. Activities: Trekking, coffee plantation tours, spa etc Address: The Tamara Coorg, Kabbinakad Estate, Yevakapadi, Napoklu Nad Madikeri, Karnataka -571212
tions like traditional Ayurvedic full body massage European massage, Stone treatments, various types of coffee scrubbing and other grooming facilities are available to make you fully rejuvenated aer a long day in the nature. e most significant feature of the resort is its recycling policy – not a small piece of scrap is wasted - everything from food waste to newspapers to glass to beer cans to CFL tubes to wires, even the leover soap pieces from guest toilets are reused here. e best part and the most positive feedback of the resort is the personal involvement of everybody at Tamara – everyone working here taking a personal interest in cleanliness of the area, care for nature, and always serving the guest with a smile on the face. by TNH DESK
HOW TO REACH The Tamara Coorg is well-connected by roads from different cities and towns.
2 & half hour-drive from Kannur Airport 6 hour-drive from Bangalore (Via Mysore) 3 hour-drive from Mysore (Via Virajpet) 4 hour-drive from From Mangalore (Via Madikeri) 5 hour-drive from Kozhikode (Via Virajpet)
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NEWS
AMAN TO LAUNCH AMAN KYOTO
WYNDHAM CONTINUES GROWTH MOMENTUM ACROSS THE REGIONS
Aman has announced to launch its third resort in Japan. It will open Aman Kyoto in Japan’s Ancient Imperial Capital on 1 November, 2019. Unlocking the secrets of Japan’s ancient capital Situated in a hidden garden close to Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), the resort, with 24 rooms and two two-bedroom villas, draws on the country’s ryokan (traditional inn) and onsen (hot spring) concepts to provide an authentic yet contemporary Kyoto sanctuary surrounded by nature. Unlocking the secrets of Japan’s ancient Imperial capital, Aman Kyoto and its secret garden are just a stone’s throw from the city’s 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, yet feel a world away. Aman Kyoto is situated in a once-forgotten secret garden that provides a secluded retreat moments from the centre of beguiling Kyoto. Hidden at the foot of the symbolic Mountain of Hidari Daimonji in Kyoto’s north, the resort is nestled in forested grounds in the district of Takagamine, within walking distance of the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinkaku-ji Temple. The garden’s next custodian The 80-acre Aman Kyoto site comprises 72 acres of permanent forest and eight acres of exquisite gardens lovingly tended over many decades by the previous owner of the site, who was one of Japan’s most respected collectors of the obi (the ornamental sash for a tradi-
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tional Japanese kimono). His unrealised aim was to house his collection in a textile museum to be built within the garden. Aman is honoured to be the garden’s next custodian, giving it a fresh lease of life and protecting its fragile grounds for decades to come. 24 guest rooms and two villas Each of Aman Kyoto’s 24 guest rooms and two villas is a contemporary reimagining of the traditional ryokan. Strikingly minimalist in their design, the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows framing the spectacular natural surroundings, tatami mats covering the floors, and tokonoma (alcoves where items for artistic appreciation are presented) providing a subtle focal point. The interiors are spacious and light-filled – ingeniously crafted to foster peace, relaxation and contemplation. Aman Kyoto’s signature restaurant in the Dining Pavilion will be a landmark addition to one of Japan’s most celebrated gastronomical regions.
AMAN KYOTO OPENING: 1 November 2019 ADDRESS: 1, Okitayamawashiminecho, Kita, Kyoto, 603-0000, Japan WEBSITE: AMAN KYOTO by TNH DESK
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has continued to further expand its hotel portfolio across Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA), with important new openings,and a series of important brand launchesand new market entries over the past year. The strong growth follows the appointment of Dimitris Manikis as President and Managing Director for the region in April 2018, when he joined the company to spearhead strategic development and the performance of Wyndham’s brands and hotel portfolio in EMEA. Other key corporate milestones in 2018 included the launch of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as an independent, pure-play hotel company, the decision to endorse all brands in the portfolio with the powerful ‘by Wyndham’ hallmark, as well as the acquisition of the La Quinta brand –further strengthening the company’s position in the midscale segment. by TNH DESK
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MALLACCA
THE MALAYSIAN KITCHEN IN DELHI
Nasi Lemak
Salad – Tauhu Kukus
Kela
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BITE CORNER
Address: Unit 34, 32nd Milestone, Part 2, Sector 15, Gurugram, Haryana
Kelapa Lengkuas soup
RATINGS
Food
Service
Cocktail
Ambience
4.5/5 5/5
4.5/5 4/5
By Pradeep Chamaria
I am a big lover of Pan Asian food, and during my stay at Singapore, I often used to cross over the border to Malaysia to feast on authentic Malaysian cuisine. Once back in India, I missed this cuisine as it was hard to find. With the opening of 'Mallacca, the Malaysian Kitchen’, I now have a reason to be delighted as Mallacca becomes the very first restaurant devoted to the culinary heritage of South East Asia. The idea at Mallacca is very basic, to serve culinary delights from Mallaccan Strait which edges Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia in your plate. Mallacca has been introduced by Salil Mehta, an international celebrity chef from Laut, New York, along with his brother
Salad
VERDICT:
We were there to experience the taste of Malaysia, truly Asia, and we returned with a divine feeling. It was a delight having tasted the exotic food and drinks from the South East Asian kitchens. It was a nostalgic experience for me. Overall, we recommend Mallacca to every foodie who wants to try out something new, and yes, don't miss the signature desserts. Jumbo Udang
Saurabh and they aim to please the Indian palate with the best of cuisines from South-East Asia. Serving authentic cuisines from Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, it is surely going to be the new milestone of fine dining at 32nd Milestone, Gurugram. The ambience has been well designed to make other restaurants envious. The moment you enter the restaurant you feel as if you are in a fine dining place in a far eastern country with wooden decor and paintings. It has a total seating capacity of 100 which includes a breathtaking out-
door seating arrangement as well. Mehta brothers have used their experience and designed their menu quite astonishingly, which has tempting dishes lovely flavours. The menu showcases unique dishes with prominent use of rice, galangal, lemongrass, raw mango, kaffir lime, coconut, roasted peanuts, chilies etc. to lend authenticity. Drinks are unique and truly Malaysian. They have a range of pulled Teas, served both cold and hot. The Teh Tarik and Kopi Tarik are very flavoursome. The mocktails are also interesting because of
doses of kaffir lime in the mixes. Coming to the food section, the soups are amazing with Kelapa Langkuas being the best. Signature dishes like Nasi Lemak - the national dish of Malaysia, Singapore Chilli Lobster, UbiKeledek Goring (Panko Sweet Potato), Murukku Doughnut, Rendang Mallacca, Ikan Bakar (Grilled fish in banana leaves) should not be missed while at Mallacca. The Chef special, Roti Tissue is chef’s own creation and is the signature dessert from Laut, New York.
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NEWS
Visit Finland positions Finland as an ultimate destination for Indians
With an aim to promote Finland as a unique bucket list destination in the Indian Market, Visit Finland organized a conference in New Delhi recently at the Embassy of Finland. The event was graced by several eminent personalities such as H.E. Ms. Nina Vaskunlahti, Ambassador of Finland, Dr. Jukka Holappa, Commercial Counsellor India, Ms. Sari Hey, Head of PR & Media – Asia & Australia, Visit Finland and Ms. Sara Sodhi Juneja, Country Head - India, Visit Finland to promote Finland as a travel hotspot. To position Finland as an ultimate destination, the event highlighted Finland as a location in the crossroads of West and East that provides a great opportunity for
travelers to experience Finland en route to or from Europe. Sharing her thoughts on the destination, Nina Vaskunlahti, Ambassador of Finland quoted that “Finland has reinvented itself in just one short century – from a largely agrarian society into a high tech country. Our national character and Northern heritage have boosted us to the top of many kinds of country rankings from quality of life to clean air. Finland is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries, almost 80 % of the land is covered by forest and 10 % by water! So it’s no wonder that tourists are blown away by the sheer beauty of the Finnish landscape. We are very excited to be here in India and we
H.E. Ms. Nina Vaskunlahti Ambassador of Finland to India
look forward to welcome more tourists and travel industry professionals to visit Finland to Experience the country themselves”. by TNH DESK
ROBUST PERFORMANCE IHCL has deliverd a strong performance for the 3Q of 2018-19 The Indian Hotels Company Limited reported its consolidated and standalone financials for the third quarter and nine months of the year ending December 31, 2018. The Company delivered a strong performance in the third quarter of this current fiscal, says Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL. “We saw double digit growth in revenues, robust increase in EBITDA margins of 150 bps and a PAT growth of 50%. This has been a significant year for IHCL. We retained the iconic Taj Mahal, New Delhi; renewed a long-term agreement for the landmark hotel, Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur; and won the bid for The Connaught in Lutyens’ Delhi. We have signed
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20 hotels in this financial year totalling over 2500 rooms in key cities such as London, Dubai, Makkah, New Delhi and Kathmandu. This year also marked the 115th anniversary of our flagship hotel The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai which was celebrated with a charity gala raising funds for the Taj Public Service Welfare Trust.” The historic Taj Connemara, Chennai dating back to 1854 reopened after undergoing an extensive renovation and redesign. Ginger underwent a major repositioning and unveiled the brand’s new look in the lean luxe segment at Ginger Panjim, Goa. The quarter saw the opening of our second hotel in Udaipur - Taj Aravali Resort & Spa. Giridhar Sanjeevi, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, IHCL stated: “This is the third consecutive quarter of strong results in the current financial year which is an outcome of increase
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
• IHCL Won the bid for Taj Mahal, New Delhi • Renewed contract for Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur • Signed management contract for two Goa hotels • IHCL to take over management of the legendary Cidade de Goa • Landmark Taj Connemara, Chennai reopened after renovation • Poised to capture the growing domestic demand • Have completed renovations/upgradations of its many hotels in key cities • Opened its 2nd hotel in Udaipur – Taj Aravali Resort & Spa • Launched its first mountain resort Taj Theog Resort & Spa, Shimla in HP • Unveiled a new look for Ginger in Panjim to reposition the brand • Signed 20 hotels in the current financial year
in revenues and leveraging operational efficiencies; while maintaining a healthy growth in ARR over the market. ” by TNH DESK
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D I P L O M AT ’ S C O R N E R
‘LOOKING FORWARD TO WELCOMING MORE INDIANS' Located in the heart of Europe and famous for its multilingualism and hospitality, Luxembourg has seen a growing number of Indians visiting its fairy tale castles, thousandyear-old historical sites, museums, vineyards and beautiful nature reserves. In an exclusive interview with TnH, H.E. MR. JEAN CLAUDE KUGENER, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to India, speaks of a “highly promising trend” of an increasing number of Indians applying for a Schengen visa to visit Luxembourg, and his country’s desire to welcome more Indian tourists in the years to come. Read on: By Prem Kumar
IN RECENT YEARS, LUXEMBOURG HAS EMERGED AS ONE OF THE LEADING TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS MOST EXTRAORDINARY ABOUT LUXEMBOURG AS A TOURIST DESTINATION? e Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a cosmopolitan country ideally located in the heart of Europe with a thousand-year-old multicultural capital and different tourist regions each with its very own characteristics. e only remaining Grand Duchy in the world, Luxembourg offers a huge variety of touristic attractions. Set in natural and green surroundings, Luxembourg City, the capital of the country has been marked by centuries of history, shaped by tradition and modernity. e old city and its fortress around the Grand Ducal Palace have been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1994. e historical, medieval, classical and contemporary styles come together like nowhere else. e remains of the centuries-old fortifications are among the many tourist attractions in Europe, called the Casemates with 17 km of underground tunnels. e Corniche offers panoramic views of the historic sites and the surrounding valleys of this unique city, which is oen referred to as the 'Gibraltar of the North'. As one of the six founding members of the European Union, Luxembourg is one of three European cities to hold institutional seats of the EU. Over the centuries, Luxembourg City has expanded with the most recent addition being the Kirchberg district, which hosts many financial institutions. Luxembourg is the premier private banking centre in the Eurozone and the second largest fund centre of the world. Kirchberg is also home to a Modern Art Museum designed by the Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei and the Drai Eechelen Museum, which is housed in the Fortress and illustrates the history of the city and the country. In the Municipal Park, Indian visitors will find a bust of Mahatma Gandhi created by their own famous artist Amar Nath Sehgal, who le a remarkable heritage with numerous sculptures, paintings and drawings in private and public collections during the 24
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Jean Claude Kugener Ambassador of Luxembourg to India
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D I P L O M AT ’ S C O R N E R
Taking into consideration the tremendous increase in tourist and business visa applications in 2018, our Consulate in Delhi became the first Luxembourg Consulate in the world last year to deliver Schengen visas to travel to Luxembourg.
years he lived in-between Luxembourg and India. Due to its geological location, Luxembourg is home to an array of different landscapes, which include the dense woodlands and valleys of the Ardennes, the fascinating rock formations of the Mullerthal region and the region of the 'Red Earth' with its former mining landscapes as well as the vineyards of the Moselle region. Let me highlight some of the many tourist attractions, from the “Valley of the Seven Castles” to the picturesque Castle-Palace of Vianden, which was built between the 11th and 14th Century on the foundations of a Roman castle. At the impressive Castle of Clervaux, you can visit the final integral version of the photographic exhibition 'e Family of Man' by Luxembourg born Edward Steichen, which was exhibited in over 150 museums worldwide before being permanently installed in the Castle in 1994. e exhibition is also inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register since 2003.
© Fränk Weber / LFT
TOP: (L) Casemates, Luxembourg City, (R) Echternach, the capital of the Mullerthal region, Luxembourg BELOW: Luxembourg City view on the Grund
e Grand Duchy has one of the densest certified hiking networks in Europe, all laid out in breath-taking settings. For example, the Mullerthal Trail and the Escapardenne Eisleck Trail acknowledged among the 'Leading Quality Trails - Best of Europe', offer breathtaking views over very panoramic landscapes. Strong local traditions and centuries of foreign influences have fostered a unique blend and rich offer of national and international gastronomy. e mild climate and the spectacular beauty of the hilly vineyards make the wines, and crémants of the Moselle region very popular. Among them is also the small wine-producing town of Schengen in the Southeastern part of Luxembourg in the ree-Border-Region, where Luxembourg, Germany and France meet, becoming synonymous with open borders and free movement since the signature of the Schengen Agreement in 1985.
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D I P L O M AT ’ S C O R N E R HOW IS LUXEMBOURG GROWING IN THE INDIAN TRAVEL MARKET? We are profoundly satisfied with the 36% increase in tourist and business visa applications from Indians in 2018 as compared to 2017. We see this as a highly promising trend. We are also buoyant with the 22% increase in the size of the Indian community living and working in Luxembourg during the same period. We look forward to welcoming more Indian tourists.
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WHAT ARE THE UNIQUE DESTINATIONS IN LUXEMBOURG YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO INDIAN TOURISTS? I would recommend all Indian tourists to visit the Land of the Red Rocks, which is located in the South of the country. It owes its name to the red ore, which was behind the success of the steel industry in Luxembourg during its golden years in the 20th Century and led to the creation of the world’s largest steel producer through the merger of Arcelor with Mittal Steel, headquartered in Luxembourg City since 2006. Today, the former mining area of the Land of the Red Rocks has established a new identity by combining old and new technologies. Some of the old blast furnaces have been refurbished as a testimony to our past and now stand side by side to modern glass structures of the new University campus and the concert hall Rockhal among others. For the younger travellers, the Red Rock Mountain Bike Trail guides cyclists on the traces of Luxembourg’s industrial and historical past through former open iron ore mines in protected nature reserves. A guided tour of the National Mining Museum in Rumelange should
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Jean Claude Kugener Ambassador of Luxembourg to India The Grand Duchy has one of the densest certified hiking networks in Europe. For example, the Mullerthal Trail and the Escapardenne Eisleck Trail, acknowledged among the 'Leading Quality Trails - Best of Europe', offer breathtaking views over very panoramic landscapes.
be every tourist’s trip to this region. Another recommendation is to visit the capital of the Mullerthal region, Echternach, which is the oldest city in Luxembourg. e famous dancing procession of Echternach, held every year on Whit Tuesday, was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. It is the last traditional Roman Catholic dancing procession in Europe that honour Saint Willibrord, who established the Abbey of Echternach in the 7th Century.
WHAT TIPS CAN YOU OFFER TO INDIAN NATIONALS APPLYING FOR LUXEMBOURG VISAS? e procedures to give visas to travel to Luxembourg are rather straightforward and in line with the rules and regulations applying to all 26 countries of Schengen. Taking into consideration the tremendous increase in tourist and business visa applications in 2018 compared to 2017,
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The Mullerthal Trail
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© Fränk Weber / LFT
I would recommend Indian tourists to visit the Land of the Red Rocks located in the South of the country. It owes its name to the red ore, which was behind the success of the steel industry in Luxembourg during its golden years in the 20th century.
our Consulate in Delhi became the first Luxembourg Consulate in the world last year to deliver Schengen visas to travel to Luxembourg. Just aer my arrival in India six months ago, my visit to the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in Connaught Place was very high on my agenda and I was very impressed by their management set-up to allow a smooth process as much for every applicant as for the Consulate. We have a small but highly professional and efficient Consulate and we are known for delivering visas on time. I highly recommend to any citizen who plans to travel for tourism or business to Luxembourg to add all required documents to his file to ensure timely delivery of their visa from any VFS Centre throughout India to and from Delhi. e Luxembourg Consulate works with the 17 VFS Centres in India (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Goa, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Puducherry, Pune, iruvananthapuram) and Kathmandu in Nepal. HOW IS THE AIR CONNECTIVITY TO LUXEMBOURG? ANY NEW ROUTES BEING PLANNED? e Grand Duchy can be reached with any major airline and is easily accessible from any European capital. Situated in the heart of Europe, any tourist
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TOP: Contemporary Luxembourg Kirchberg
with a Schengen visa can easily travel within the Schengen zone by plane, train, car or coach to Luxembourg. HOW WILL YOU DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES? We are currently celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations, which were signed on 1 July 1948. We are also celebrating the upcoming 90th Anniversary of Luxembourg’s first Vice-Consulate in Bombay established on 5th November 1929. We have become strong partners over the years, a relation that has further deepened aer the inauguration of the resident Embassy in Delhi in 2002. Luxembourg ranks as the 16th largest Foreign Direct Investor and has strong economic and commercial bilateral ties with India. e bilateral relations between both countries are developing fast. e ever-increasing political, economic, financial, cultural and people-topeople bonds give us a promising outlook for the next decades of friendship.
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WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT INDIA? Since my arrival in September, I have been travelling a lot and received a very warm welcome in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Agra, Bhubaneshwar, Amritsar, Goa, Bengaluru and Jodhpur, to name but a few. I am thrilled about all the opportunities to discover India’s heritage, arts and cras as well as the new trend of combining traditional and modern art, which you find in galleries in New Delhi, Mumbai and many other Indian cities. Until now, I have met many fascinating people from various backgrounds and have discovered the cultural and spiritual diversity of India, which is very inspiring. I also enjoy the delicious Indian cuisine, another quality Luxembourgers share with Indians, and I do recommend the reader to visit Luxembourg to enjoy our culinary delights.
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IN QUEST OF
GOOD LIVING
Fitness Centre, The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat
Couple Therapy Room
All those who wish to fulfil their fitness cravings do take a break from hectic schedule and spend time in silence at Heavenly Spa getting rejuvenated.
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VERDICT:
The newest luxury spa in Kolkata begs to differ from others not only in the area, architecture and health food on offer but there is a complete treatment of the human body as well as the mind.
Therapy room By Swaati Chaudhury
For those who swear by fitness, here’s a new address in Kolkata that has become the most coveted destination in today’s times. We’re talking about the luxury hospitality group The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat that has devoted its entire third floor to wellness best known as Heavenly Spa by Westin. Sprawling over an area of 4,000 sq.ft., Heavenly Spa is a signature creation from the Westin brand that promises to rejuvenate your mind and body with a personal sensory experience. This is incidentally the largest, luxury spa not only in Kolkata but in the eastern region of India. For those who crave blissful and serene ambience and wish to pamper their senses with a wide array of healing treatments and luxury therapies that would bring harmony to both their mind and body, Heavenly Spa should be on the top of your mind. Having said this, it’s not only luxury living but quality living at Heavenly Spa. The warmly-lit spa has five treatment rooms and one couple treatment room done up with Jacuzzi and sauna. Based on
five sensory elements of the human body, the five rooms are Embrace, Emerge, Escape, Evolve and Enrich. The couple therapy room is known as Embrace, single therapy room is Evolve and the segment where Shirodhara is offered is called Emerge. The oil massage room is in the name of Escape. Apart from this, the spa also has a relaxation lounge. The treatment therapies are imparted in a way that it not only impacts the human body but it also works on our mind. The ambience is quite homely and the set-up is based on the comfort factor. There is health food to make the customers feel at ease. White tea is offered as rejuvenating fragrance to all the customers while green apple or a concoction of orange is used as a rejuvenating drink. One can also come across a host of Tatha products on display at the spa that includes massage oil, body wash made of lime, hand cream and body mousse. The heavenly Spa signature treatment is one-of-a-kind treatment on offer that includes a heated compress with a blend of the heating power of
white tea and aloe oil with an aim to ward off the pain before going for a Swedish massage that peps up your mental health and revitalizes your body. The highpoints of the Heavenly Spa is the health food menu, detox drinks, fresh food juice done up with yoghurt or milk or ice cream and herbal fusions on offer to its valued guests. Herbal infusions comprise green tea or mango or strawberry juice or ginger and lemon. Guests can place orders for smoothies like almond milk, chia seeds and avocado et al. There are snack options like honey and sweet potatoes, tofu burger, stir-fried pumpkin, asparagus and tomatoes. The spa has the corporate group and luxury tourists halting at The Westin as its guests. The spa remains open from 9 AM to 11 PM for its guests.
Address: Heavenly Spa by Westin, 3rd Floor, Plot No. CBD /2, Action Area II, New Town, Rajarhat, Kolkata- 700156 www.westin.com/kolkatarajarhat Phone: (033) 4037 1234 by TNH DESK
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AROUND THE WORLD
POPULAR FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD TO LOOK FOR IN APRIL 2019 SONGKRAN WATER FESTIVAL April 13-15, 2019 Location: Bangkok
SANT JORDI FESTIVAL April 23, 2019 Location: Barcelona, Spain
Better known as Saint George’s Day or the Feast of Saint George that is well-known as a special day for romance and literature in Catalonia. The festival is held in an attempt to commemorate the death of St. George, the legendary co-patron saint of the province of Catalonia in Spain who was known as San Jordi in Catalonia. Bookstalls and book shops are set up all over Barcelona on this significant day. The one-day celebration follows with romance, books and roses. Nearly 7 million roses and books worth 20 million euros are on sale on this auspicious day.
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | MARCH 2019
Songkran Water Festival marks the advent of Thai New Year and is derived from the Sanskrit word “Sankranti” that implies transformation. It is a national holiday in Thailand and is observed by splashing water that forms the cleansing ritual of festival . Paying obeisance to elders is a significant aspect of Songkran celebration. Being the biggest festival in Thailand, one should be ready to get wet during this period while in Thailand. All houses are cleaned and the statues of Buddha are carried in long processions and washed with fragrant water. Floral garlands are most popular Songkran gifts.
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AROUND THE WORLD
Tulip Festival April 1 – 5, 2019 Location: Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
At the onset of the spring season, Kashmir Valley blossoms with its annual Tulip Festival held in Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, the largest tulip garden in Asia. The festival is a unique one in the country and is a must-visit for nature lovers and floral enthusiasts. The seventerraced garden is snuggled on the foothills of Zabarwan Range in the Himalayas and was done in order to boost tourism and floriculture in Kashmir.
Sand Fest April 26-28, 2019 Location: Port Aransas, Texas
The three-day annual sand sculpture event began way back in 1997 and has now grown into an extensive festival with amateur and professional sculptors congregating and joining the competition to create brilliant sand sculptures. Themed on “Texas Sand Fest Gives Back”, the mission of the festival is to support the community by fund raising for local charities and scholarships for high school students.
SNOWBOMBING April 8- 13, 2019 Location: Mayrhofen, Austria
The greatest show on snow is hosted at Tirolean resort in the snow resort of Mayrhofen and it’s been past 20 years that the week-long festival is being held. What was once confined to a small night club has now grown into one of the highlights of the ski festival calendar. The festival witnesses around 6,000 British spectators heading to Tirolean hamlet for a period of six days to experience the exotic fusion of festive pleasure and ski town culture.
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E V E N T WAT C H
SKAL DELHI'S ANNUAL EXTRAVAGANZA
Skal Delhi recently organized its annual Skal Ball on 16th February 2019 at Le Meridien, New Delhi. The event saw an impressive presence of Skaleagues and guests comprising of the many who's who of our Industry. Members and guests had a great evening over lavish entertainment, cocktails and a sumptuous dinner.
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | MARCH 2019
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MOVING ON
APPOINTMENTS OF THE MONTH
1 2 GERD KOtLORz
GM, phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, nai yang Beach phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, nai yang Beach has announced the appointment of Gerd Kotlorz as its new General Manager. a German national and highly experienced hospitality professional, Gerd moves to phuket from Bangkok.
SaBRIna pOOja DEy
Director of operations, jW Marriott Kolkata In her new role as Director of Operation at jW Marriott Kolkata, Sabrina will be seen effectuating strategies to support business growth, revenue generation through up selling of products and services and creation of value through designing new products.
3 4 GauRav LuthRa
Chief Operating Officer, FCM travel Solutions, India FCM travel Solutions has appointed Gaurav Luthra as the Chief Operating Officer of the company. Gaurav Luthra is a distinguished industry veteran with over 20 years of vast experience in Managing Relationships with airline and hotel partners.
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | MARCH 2019
Bhanu Gupta
Director, Food & Beverages, Renaissance Mumbai Bhanu Gupta has been appointed as the Director of Food and Beverage at Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre hotel & Lakeside Chalet – Mumbai, Marriott Executive apartments. Bhanu has been in the hospitality industry for the past 15 years.
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MOVING ON
5
Ritu Rana
Director of sales, Renaissance Mumbai Ritu Rana, appointed as the Director of sales for Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel and lakeside Chalet - Marriott executive apartments, will be spearheading the sales functions of both the renowned Hotels.
7
CHeF PRaKasH CHettiYaR
executive Chef, JW Marriott Kolkata Chef Prakash Chettiyar has joined JW Marriott Kolkata as executive Chef. His responsibilities include getting the newest trends in Kolkata and offer the best & most innovative food offerings in catering;His aim for JW Marriott Kolkata is to take the Food and Beverage offerings to an all new level.
6
suBRata DeBnatH
Business Head, Raajkutir, swabhumi, Kolkata ambuja neotia Group has appointed subrata Debnath as the Business Head of its upcoming hospitality project, “Raajkutir�- swabhumi, Kolkata. in his new role, Debnath will lead this mega experiential boutique hotel inspired by legacy and heritage that endeavours to take one back into time.
8
Hetal BHanusHali
spa Manager, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru has appointed Hetal Bhanushali as the spa Manager at spa by JW. Hetal is a driven individual, who comes with valuable industry experience, and will prove to be an asset to the brand.
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NEWS
15 new hotels join Preferred Hotels
Preferred Hotels & Resorts – the world’s largest independent hotel brand representing more than 700 distinctive hotels, resorts, and residences across 85 countries – has announced the growth of its global portfolio with the addition of 15 new member hotels between October 1 and December 31,2018. From an adults-only all-inclusive resort to a 16th century palace, these exciting new properties deliver authentic, one-of-a-kind experiences that speak to the spirit of independent hotels and encapsulate #ThePreferredLife across exciting destinations including Jaipur, Lisbon, and the Yucatan Peninsula. Among the hotels joining the Preferred Hotels are Hotel Clarks Amer Jaipur, Hotel Hendricks, New York, Frutt Lodge & Spa, MelchseeFrutt, Switzerland and Haven Riviera Cancun (Playa del Carmen, Mexico).
by TNH DESK
CATHAY PACIFIC TO INCREASE FLIGHTS BETWEEN HYDERABAD AND HONG KONG FROM JUNE 2019 With an aim to grow its India network, Cathay Pacific, a Hong Kong-based airline, has announced the launch of its fifth non-stop flight service from Hyderabad to Hong Kong. The carrier will begin its services effective from Seventh June 2019. Cathay Pacific launched flights into Hyderabad with four flights a week in December 2012. This service will be operated by Airbus A330-300 aircraft. It is a two cabin flight –the award winning flat bed in Business class and the popular Economy class. This flight will not only provide comfort and convenience, but also seamless connectivity through Hong Kong into various destinations in North America, China, Philippines, Australia, South Korea and Japan. This service is designed to cater to travellers in business and leisure segments including corporates from the IT sector, people visiting friends and relatives and students. On the other hand, the cargo composition of the flights will be focused on IT, pharmaceuticals and textiles business. by TNH DESK
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | MARCH 2019
VISTARA TO FLY TO DIBRUGARH FROM APRIL 3 Vistara recently announced the addition of Dibrugarh to its nation-wide network, the 24th destination to be announced by the airline, and its second destination in Assam after Guwahati. StartingApril 3, 2019, Vistara will connect Dibrugarh and Bagdogra with daily direct flights between the two cities, and also connect Dibrugarhand Delhi with convenient same aircraft one-stop flight via Bagdogra. Customers from Dibrugarh can also take convenient connections via Delhi to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune. Dibrugarh, known as the “Tea City of India”, is the nerve centre of industry, communication and healthcare of the upper Assam region, and is also the emerging communication and industrial hub of Northeast India. The new service will offer business and leisure travellers more choices as well as the option of three classes of service to choose from, including India’s only Premium Economy class. Travellers from Dibrugarh travelling to and from international destinations via Delhi will also benefit from seamless same-terminal international transfers at Delhi’s T3, from where Vistara operates. by TNH DESK
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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