Asian traveller september 2016 ktm issue by Mediasteps

Vol. 9

No. 12

Pages 136

` 100

US $10 (Overseas)

September 2016

www.mediastepsindia.com

KTM &

Anniversary Special

History, nature and peace ALL AT ONE PLACE

Welcome to the land of miraculous ruins dating over 800 years â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hampi, the historic abode of monuments built by the famous Kings of Deccan India. Book 2N/3D Explore Hampi Package and get ready to be awe-struck! Wish you a historic weekend ahead.

Highlights Vol. 9 I No.12 I September 2016

Land of smiles to host official WTD celebrations

The official World Tourism Day 2016 celebrations will be held in Bangkok, Thailand.

KTM 2016 hopes to add spice to its theme with a unique culinary festival

Qatar: The Travellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Paradise

BLTM garners strong support from the industry

Global Panorama Showcase announces its 2017 Calendar

Goa Tourism bags Most Innovative Product Award at the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) Hyderabad 2016

TTF Ahmedabad opens 25% bigger than last year

National Tourism Awards 2014-15 presented

Kerala Tourism bags 12 National Tourism Awards

Somatheeram Ayurveda Group wins National Tourism Award once again

Places to see in Dhanushkodi

Rudra Nite 2016

Ramoji Film City

Not just cinemagic but also oodles of adventure and joy for nature lovers

Plant a Happiness Tree in Bhutan

When Mountain Calls To Tushitaâ&#x20AC;Ś

Can Mumbai be like Shanghai?

7 World Tourism Day celebrations

The Travellers Paradise

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

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Cover Photo: Siril Thomas, Image Factory 5

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

CHEERFUL OUTLOOK FOR TOURISM

Editor & Publisher : Dr. G Biju Krishnan* Chief Mentor : Rajashekharan Nair

Group Vice President : Santhosh Kumaar K Deputy Editor : Shibi Kiran M Design : Kailasnath

Regional Head (Hyderabad) : Uma Ram

Director-Finance : K Harikrishnan

AGM-Operations : Krishna Nair

AGM-Marketing : Anurag Baby

ochi is all set to host the ninth edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), the largest gathering of tourism stakeholders in the state. This bi-annual event is meant for networking and interactions between travel industry professionals and entrepreneurs, and is expected to have a record participation this year. KTM is also the platform to present the state as a tourism product before the world. With a record participation of foreign delegates expected this year (around 560 as per the latest data), things are looking bright for the stakeholders. As the state tourism minister A C Moideen pointed out recently, the KTM has boosted the earnings of the tourism industry as one takes stock of the positives of the event. The industry is also hoping that the earnings will shoot up from Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore in the coming two years. This year, the rate of growth of tourist arrivals both domestic and international, has come down slightly as compared to previous years. It could be a result of various ‘global reasons’ and there is no need to hit the panic button yet. But KTM is the right forum to look at the various reasons and come up with solutions. The industry is hopeful that the government will also take the necessary action to rectify certain policy decisions which have adversely affected the tourism industry in the state. This September also marks the 10th Anniversary of Asian Traveller. It has been an eventful ten years and we take this opportunity to thank our readers, advertisers and well-wishers for the support extended to us during the decade and thus helping us become one of the leading travel trade publications in the country.

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The news items and Advertisements published herein have been collected from various source, which are considered to be reliable. Readers are however requested to verif y the facts before making business decisions using the same. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the writ ten permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2016 *Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

WTD

Land of smiles to host official WTD celebrations

The official World Tourism Day 2016 celebrations will be held in Bangkok, Thailand. Located at the heart of mainland Southeast Asia, with coasts on the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea, Thailand has a reputation as the “Land of Smiles”. The country boasts thick jungle, crystal clear blue waters and an ancient culture stretching back to its time as the Kingdom of Siam. Tourism in Thailand has been increasing rapidly in recent years. In 2015, the country became the most visited in Southeast Asia, hosting almost 30 million international tourists. This helped Thailand earn US$ 44.6 billion in

tourism receipts, showing that tourism is playing an ever greater role in the country’s development and path to further prosperity. Bangkok, the capital is a browsing city known for its beautiful temples, floating markets and impressive skyline. After Thailand, Qatar has been selected to be the official host country for World Tourism Day (WTD) in 2017. WTD 2016 will be celebrated under the theme of “Tourism for All – promoting universal accessibility” and WTD 2017 under the theme of “Sustainable Tourism – a tool for development”.

“I am looking forward to celebrating World Tourism Day in collaboration with these two prominent UNWTO Member States:

Thailand, one of the world’s most visited destinations where tourism is a rooted part of society and Qatar, a prominent, emerging tourism destination ”, said UNWTO SecretaryGeneral, Taleb Rifai. “Tourism must be in the forefront of national development plans. In 2017 we will arrange an event that will carry this

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

message to the world,” said the representative of the Qatar Tourism Authority. “The Thai government

would like to express sincere thanks to the Assembly for the opportunity to host World Tourism Day in 2016 and we will do our best to live up to our slogan and show you the Amazing Thailand”, said the representative of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand. Celebrated annually on 27 September, World Tourism Day aims to foster awareness among the global community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. 7

WTD

“Tourism for all!” T

ourism has experienced a revolution in the past 50 years. In 1950 there were 25 million international tourists; today there are around 1.2 billion people travelling the world. Travelling has become a huge part of many lives.

Taleb Rifai Secretary-General World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

When travelling, we come across new people, new sights, and new ideas. Often our perception of the world changes as we see more of it. However, we must not forget that for many, travelling can be quite a difficult process. 15% of the world’s population is estimated to live with some form of

disability. That is 1 billion people around the world who may be unable to enjoy the privilege of knowing other cultures, experience nature at its fullest and experience the thrill of embarking on a journey to explore new sights. Accessibility for all should be at the center of tourism policies and business strategies not only as a human right, but also as a great market opportunity. With the world’s population ageing, all of us will benefit sooner or later from universal accessibility in tourism. As we celebrate World

Tourism Day, let us recall that all of the world’s citizens have the right to experience the incredible diversity this planet has to offer. We thus urge all countries and destinations, as well as the industry, to promote accessibility for all in the physical environment, in transport systems, in public facilities and services and in information and communications channels. I wish you a very happy World Tourism Day and a future full of enriching and compelling travel experiences to be enjoyed by all. Thank you very much!

“Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility”

ourism is vital and at the heart of forging friendships, creating a better understanding between each other and it connects people to people, hearts to hearts. At the same time, tourism is also a key economic development strategy and a catalyst for the growth of the country, while at the same time tourism is also a significant contributor to job creation and then provides an opportunity to work with people in local communities, giving them the tools to adapt to the needs of a modem day traveler. Tourism is an integral source of income for

the people in local communities and it is certainly relevant and connected to the operations, as well as the development in areas that would benefit the whole country in various aspects, both directly and indirectly. The state of our tourism industry has to be diversified, whether it is the social, cultural, or environmental aspects, all of these aspects bring about a sense of pride for the people who work ever so hard to maintain the balance of the quality of tourism that is presented to our guests. We are improving and developing human resources from the very

H.E. Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

people who know and understand the culture and who are able to spread the charms of Thainess, while at the same time locals have to understand the meaning of quality tourism and sustainability. This year of 2016, the Kingdom of Thailand or often referred to as “Amazing Thailand”, and we are affectionately recognised to be the “Land of Smiles” by the world, has been honoured by the UNWTO in carrying out the responsibility of the host nation for the official celebrations of the World Tourism Day 2016. For this year’s theme, “Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility”, it is indeed a challenge for Thailand and the world to recognize the necessity of accessibility in the world of tourism and to accommodate everyone everywhere they may travel to, and we feel that it is time for us to turn our attention to accessibility for all and the message must be, all are welcome. We have to understand the theory of Universal

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Design in order to fully support and accommodate our guests, there has to be a level of fairness in terms of a healthy competition of employment and competition amongst tourist destinations. As the world of travel and tourism is an expanding industry and the number of travelers increases every year, we have to ensure that travelling the world has to be safe and seamless at its utmost. Understanding one another and providing flexibility and space, while at the same time we have to consider the impact of energy conversion has to be our mutual goal of sustainable tourism. For this year’s World Tourism Day theme “Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility”, it is a conscious reminder to us all around the world to push for integration in order to improve each other’s potential in tourism and to promote a mutual understanding of different cultures and traditions. This is where tourism extends beyond numbers and figures, as tourism has the magic

to bring people from all over the globe, from all walks of life to be together peacefully without discrimination and to be in a world where we respect each other and work towards a common goal of sustainable tourism and human capital development. There is not a greater time than now for us to integrate and work together for us to reach our optimum in the internationally recognized universal design and for us to work hand in hand towards the development of our beloved tourism industry. On the occasion of World Tourism Day 2016, which falls annually on the 27th of September, on behalf of the Royal

Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Thai people, by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, I would like to express my sincerest thanks to the UNWTO for honouring Thailand by giving us, “Amazing Thailand”, the opportunity to be the host of the official celebration for World Tourism Day 2016. My gratitude also goes out to every single one of you involved in the process and for making this year’s celebration a grand success, and finally, I invite everyone around the world to celebrate this glorious day with us in the Land of Smiles and to be a part of the promotion of tourism for all and the development of universal accessibility.

KTM NEWS

KTM 2016 hopes to add spice to its theme with a unique culinary festival

he upcoming Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), 2016, the largest gathering of tourism stakeholders in the State, is hoping to enhance its appeal by leveraging a unique Spice Route Culinary Festival to commemorate the shared legacy of over 2,000-year-old maritime trade way. The culinary festival, to be hosted by UNESCO, Kerala Tourism, and the Union Tourism Ministry in Kochi from September 23-26, will see leading chefs from 31 countries

on the historic Spice Route converging in ‘God’s Own Country’ to discover the famed gastronomic delights of the

State. The festival, the first-of-itskind celebration of flavours and friendship, is a prelude to the ninth edition of the KTM, to be inaugurated on World Tourism Day, September 28. This three-day event, to be held at the Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centre, Willingdon Island, will end on September 30. Abraham George, President, KTM Society, said: “The festival will promote the KTM 2016 theme: ‘Muziris and

Spice Route.’ The three-day event will hold great appeal for foodies. There will be a

competition in which an expert panel and invited dignitaries will rate dishes and select the best chef.”

“We have been receiving great response from international as well as domestic buyers. Around 350 international and 900 domestic buyers have registered.” George added. Around 265 stalls for Kerala-based exhibitors will be featured at the venue. At the festival, leading chefs from across the Spice Route countries will sample Kerala’s cultural and gastronomic offerings, take part in

cooking demos and culinary discussions, and showcase the choicest cuisines from their homelands in a tasting competition. Ambassadors from the respective countries will participate in the culinary festival with the winner to be felicitated at the inaugural ceremony of KTM 2016. The ninth edition of KTM, organised in association with the Department of Tourism, will also focus on ‘Responsible Tourism.’ The KTM will be a platform for B2B networking, bringing together business entrepreneurs from Kerala that offer a range of various tourism products and services, including tour operators, hotels, resorts, home stays, houseboats, Ayurveda resorts, and cultural art centres. It also facilitates their meetings and interactions with buyers from around the world.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

QATAR

The Travellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Paradise

Qatar has a wealth of beauty and culture to offer people visiting from all over the world. You certainly wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be bored in Qatar. With so much of beauty to offer, every traveller shall have a memorable holiday here.

n independent sovereign state since 1971, Qatar is one of the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Qatar comprises an 11,500 sq. km peninsula extending northwards into the Arabian Gulf. It has 563 km of uninterrupted coastline.

Qatar is a land of contrasts, dynamic and exciting, yet with a sense of timeless serenity and tradition. It brings together old world hospitality with cosmopolitan sophistication, the chance to enjoy a rich cultural tapestry, new experiences and adventures. It has got a unique

ambience and offers something for every traveller. From desert adventures to dhow cruises, souqs to malls, parks to air sports, beaches to mangroves the list of adventures Qatar offers is infinite. Here are the top six beautiful places in Qatar where you can spend your time wisely.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

QATAR

Katara Mosque

he Katara Mosque is situated in the centre of the Katara Cultural Village site, where some of the most beautiful architecture in the Middle East is waiting to be seen. The design of the Katara Mosque is very much unlike typical mosques in Qatar. The building is a mosaic of predominantly blue tiles, with hints of red and yellow. You will be blown away by the intricate designs and the equally complex interior. Accompanying the mosque are three spiked pillars reaching for the sky. The contrast between these overwhelming structures and the beauty of the mosaic

walls is truly striking. ‘Grand’ is the apt description of this mosque. Though the exterior is pleasantly intimidating, with the appearance of an impenetrable fortress, the interior is aweinspiring. The domed ceiling is high above your head, with stone white pillars throughout and simple chandeliers dangling above you. The space itself is impressively large, and you will be rendered speechless by the effect the architecture will have on you. At night, the mosque’s exterior is particularly beautiful, as it is lit up with purple lights.

The Doha Desert

he Doha desert lies mostly untouched, but should certainly be a part of your visit to Qatar. Very little is as stunning as miles and miles of untouched, smooth sand. The beauty of the desert views will leave you feeling small and in awe of the awesomeness of this unfamiliar landscape. The sand is flawless, the dunes are rolling, and this gorgeous desert landscape can be enjoyed on any desert safari day. Rev your engines and stir up the dust to experience the allure of the desert first hand.

Al- Zubarah Fortress

ocated precisely in the middle of nowhere, the sand stretches ahead of you for miles before this ferocious fortress comes into sight. Its beauty lies in its lonesomeness, and you can approach it on camel-back at a leisurely pace. As you stand beneath this fortress, you will feel a sense of being connected to an exciting and influential history. To help you understand the history of the fortress better, Al-Zubarah often holds exhibitions of the site. This fortress will have you feeling humbled; you will feel that there is something wonderful about realizing your own insignificance

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

QATAR

Al Wakra Museum

he Al Wakra museum is another site that boasts some of the best architecture in Qatar. The exhibits in the Qatar museum are quite fascinating and feature ancient artifacts and the details of the history of Qatar. But in terms of the museum’s beauty, you will not even feel the need to step inside — just bask in the beauty of this unique building. This old fortress has an eerie quality to it which is strangely enticing, and this mysterious allure will leave you feeling fascinated and in full admiration.

Doha Fort

his military fortress is located in the heart of Doha and was built in 1927. This fortress was eventually converted into a museum, and now has exhibitions that feature wooden ornaments, old fishing equipment, oil paintings, and old photographs. The fort will make for a pleasant day out if you are looking to understand Qatar’s history and the lifestyle of its occupants a little better. The most striking element of this fort is its exterior, which is grand and formidable and creates a sense of being surrounded by something eerily powerful. This makes for quite the experience. You will love the sight of this beautifully intimidating building.

The Museum of Islamic Art

he Museum of Islamic Art is located in the heart of a body of still, clear water. As you approach you will cross a bridge across the water and feel yourself being drawn in by the striking appearance of the museum. The white building has sharp, boxed edges, and stands alone on the water. In the sunlight, the museum seems to glow with brightness, and its compelling ambiance is enhanced. When you step inside, you will be struck by the intricacies of its interior, which sharply contrasts with the simplicity of its exterior.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

KTM TALK

EXPECTATIONS FROM

KTM 2016 K

TM is a unique model in the tourism world and the only Mart organised jointly by the trade with government partnership for the marketing of Kerala products. Since the inception of KTM in 2000 we had eight Marts which improved one by one, and KTM 2016 is the ninth edition which should be even better. The response by the sellers as well as the buyers is proving its significance. The online allocation of the seller stalls was completed in 20 minutes and is a record. Also the response of the buyers is also promising. There are 10 new countries attending the 2016 Mart totalling 57 countries, with registration of 560 International buyers and 1300 domestic buyers. This shows the success of KTM 2016. Prefix appointments introduced for International and domestic buyers is ensuring confirmed meeting with the sellers.

Abraham George President, Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society

E M Najeeb Chairman and Managing Director, Air Travel Enterprises (ATE)

Jose Dominic CEO, CGH Earth Group

he coming KTM needs to go deeper into the destinations and offer more responsible tourism products. KTMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new initiative to adopt 9 point charter of responsible practices, I think, will be the hallmark of this KTM. As much as the destination needs to be promoted, it must also be conserved. KTM 2016 will serve to bring this to the forefront; for the buyers, and especially for the sellers.

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

erala Travel Mart, which started in the year 2000 was a unique venture of the tourism industry stakeholders in Kerala and the government as well to promote and market the destination and its products. It is a Destination Mart focusing on Kerala, where we bring all the service providers and products together in one place. Buyers from different parts of the world come looking for what we have in offer every two years. The enthusiasm and energy level is very high in that mart. All have only one look out to sell Kerala and its products to the maximum. It is about 16 years now, since we commenced this meaningful effort. And now at the 9th KTM, the industry has great expectations. There is a slowdown in the international arrivals to India and Kerala. We expect to break that lull by finding new markets convincing potential tour operators and also by upgrading and fine-tuning our own products and the destination itself. I expect to meet up with potential buyers and open-up possibilities of business. KTM is a right opportunity to see the showcased products and services, and to study the inventory.

KTM talk

TM is a unique platform where Kerala tourism at its best is on display. It has provided an opportunity for regular buyers to renew their contacts as well as to update on new products. For buyers from new markets it is a one stop shop as far as our state tourism products are concerned. This year, registration of both domestic and international buyers has been encouraging and the expectations are high.

Riaz Ahmed Managing Director, Abad Group of Hotels

P K Anish Kumar President, Association of Tourism Trade Organisations (ATTOI)

erala still gets 80% of the tourists from a handful of less than 10 countries. KTM needs to focus on destination promotion and to increase the market size of source markets. Target 100 new buyers from the emerging markets and give focus on Fam trips to give more awareness about destinations and experiences rather than meeting at a cubic space when they come to Kerala. It is not encouraging to see that out of 560 registered international buyers less than 200 are coming for the mart when there are 261 sellers available for appointments. Kerala needs more social celebrity visits and online engagements to promote our tourism products and KTM can play a vital role in such promotions.

Rupesh Kumar K State Responsible Tourism Field Coordinator, Kerala

TM has become a trade show of international repute, comparable to industry meets such as WTM. It is definitely Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best tourism market.

It offers new buyers and sellers a chance to meet and for old contacts to reacquaint themselves. It is an important venue to showcase our products. CGH Earth has over the past several KTMs effectively shown off our main theme of our strong green background, our interest in local agriculture and our culinary skills to national and international buyers via KTM.

Subrahmanian P President, Kerala Hotel General Managers Club (KHGMC)

he only permanent thing in this world is change; and true to it, KTM has also changed from 2000 to 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; changed for good, for keeping in tune with times. That shows the success of successive KTMs.

As a member, I will look for better buyers, in terms of quality, improved business as result. I expect medium and small players (both buyers and sellers) to be benefitted than big players, who have the resources and skill to fight through. K R Vancheeswaran President, Wayanad Tourism Organisation (WTO)

think this Kerala Travel Mart will give a boost for Kerala Tourism. The Kerala travel Mart will help to overcome the obstacles of Kerala Tourism in the World Tourism Market. At the same time, I hope this Kerala Travel Mart will provide a better marketing option to Kerala Responsible Tourism, especially for our Village Life Experience Tour Packages. This time, we have a strong government with a progressive Chief Minister and Tourism Minister along with visionaries like Dr. V. Venu IAS, Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism; Mr. U.V. Jose IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism, and other industry leaders in Kerala Travel Mart. Apart from the good timing of this KTM, I hope such a collective visionary leadership can make wonders in Kerala Tourism with the help of major world tourism market players.

Sajeev Kurup Managing Director, Paithrukam Hospitality Group & Ayurvedamana Properties

s a seller I am here with great expectations to meet new buyers and to fix business. I am not sure of the quality of buyers before meeting them. It is unfortunate that a lot of members have not got their stalls this time. There could have been space for more members if the organisers had done proper planning. Like all sellers, I am also looking for a productive mart. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

KTM TALK

M P Sivadattan Director, Kerala State Homestay & Tourism Association

erala Travel Mart 2016 will speed up the growth of tourism in Kerala. It is a great platform for buyers and sellers to meet and showcase their various tourism products. Homestays also look forward towards KTM-16 as an opportunity to market our products along with other sellers. The most promising part is that even small time players like homestays also gets a chance to showcase the products along with industrial leaders of hospitality industry. Yet everyone gets their share. This time we will have improved business.

rom the ninth edition of KTM, we expect a better business. Since our group has plans to diversify into various sectors, we really look forward at coming KTM. We are hopeful to get new contacts of buyers, both domestic and international from KTM-16 which will boost up our business. We are ready to welcome the new potential buyers and eager to show our products to them. KTM will take Kerala Tourism industry into newer heights.

Rajasekharan Nair Managing Director, RR Holiday Homes

Rakesh OM Managing Director, Niramayam Heritage

TM has always been helpful in promoting ayurveda and wellness products of our state. Our ancient science ayurveda and wellness treatment has got many takers in the west. KTM is the best platform to get potential buyers. Even the outlook of the west on ayurveda and wellness treatment is different. Also, Yoga and other healthy lifestyles have more takers in the west. We are looking forward to have more potential buyers who can bring in good guests for ayurveda and experience the rich tourism culture of Kerala. We have plans to take ayurveda globally, in its true sense to the outside world. Our new brand “Ayurambalam” which means ‘temple of ayurveda’ will attract more foreigners into wellness and spiritual side while “Niramayam” will remain as a therapeutic centre for those look forward for treatment. We believe KTM-16 will provide us good results.

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Mathew Jose General Manager, The Avenue Regent

am confident that this KTM will give good result for every participant who is showcasing their products efficiently. Hope the sellers will get enough business meetings with potential buyers this time and will generate reasonable results. I feel there is a setback in the tourism industry last year due to various reasons. We lost few business opportunities to other destinations. Many destinations, both domestic and international (neighbouring) destinations pose enough challenge to Kerala Tourism today. Moreover certain policies concerning tourism need to be re-examined. The policies should be helpful in attracting tourists and business opportunities to our state. Hope this KTM will bring back the good days. KTM has the potential to provide best results. The only thing is that we need to be equipped and updated.

INTERVIEW ramoji rao

“Digital technology is the biggest opportunity in Indian cinema in the coming decade”

Chairman of Ramoji Group, Ramoji Rao in an exclusive interview with Asian Traveller, talks about the next big opportunity in Indian cinema industry among other things. A brilliant man; he generally hides his business acumen in his down-to-earth character. As the founder of Ramoji Film City, the world’s largest film studio complex and a game changer in Indian cinema industry, what is the next big industrial opportunity you see coming to India? I see digital technology as the biggest opportunity for India especially in cinema in the coming decade. After announcing

‘Digital India’ among the top priorities by the union government, digital is certainly going to touch several facets of citizens. Opportunities are plenty, and as one of the youngest nations in the world India can expand its role and influence in the global economy. With more than 50% of India’s population being youth, the future

Group.

is very optimistic for the country. How has the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh affected the business of Ramoji Group? Bifurcation of the State has actually stirred up greater economic activity in both the States. There is a new enthusiasm and hope. It is positive for everyone including Ramoji

Did the partnership with ICRISAT to develop an agriculture theme park within the film city reap its results? If yes, to what extent? Agri theme park is yet to take its final shape. The research work is underway and it will take some more time.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

TRADE EVENT

BLTM garners strong support from the industry

The Business and Luxury Travel Mart (BLTM), the first fullfledged travel mart of its kind in India is receiving strong support from a wide variety of trade bodies, which will drive assured visitorship of target audiences and bestin-class knowledge and networking sessions. Being organised at the September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Hyatt Regency Gurgaon from October 24-25, 2016, BLTM will feature sellers from global business, MICE and luxury travel suppliers, who will interact with hundreds of qualified hosted buyers from all over India, in addition to thousands of buyers from Delhi National Capital Region, which is arguably the

biggest source market in India for these segments. Also, attending will be incentive and meeting travel planners, event management companies, wedding planners, association managers, film line producers etc. The business travel industry in India is emerging as a specialised market with differentiated

needs, in tandem with the global trends. The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Foundation report forecasts 10.7% growth in business travel spending in 2016, followed by another 10.2% in 2017 reaching $36.1 billion USD. India remains the tenth largest business travel market in the 19

TRADE EVENT

Mahindra & Mahindra; Ericsson; Tenova India Pvt Ltd; Hewlett Packard; and Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd.

come onboard as a key stakeholder for the MICE industry.

world, moving up five spots since 2000. GBTA expects that India will become the sixth largest business travel market in the world by the end of 2019. “We are committed to creating BLTM as India’s premier show focussed on Business, MICE and Luxury Travel segments,” said Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman of Fairfest Media Ltd. “Hundreds of genuine hosted buyers will be flown in from all parts of India and the neighbouring countries. Additionally, the venue Gurgaon NCR will provide a rich hinterland of highvalue corporate buyers in thousands, who will be also accorded the same status as hosted buyers,” he added. The host state – Haryana Tourism will be supporting and participating in BLTM to promote itself as an emerging MICE destination. Leading trade bodies like Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) India, Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA), India Association Network (IAN), Indian Golf Travel Association, (IGTA) and Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), have confirmed their support, and will be curating education and networking sessions during the two20

day event. Luxury Travel is also growing rapidly, buoyed by the new phase of conspicuous consumption by the affluent Indian travellers, where the demand is fuelled not only by FITs, but also uniquely Indian markets for weddings and other social occasions. A clutch of apex organisations from the film industry, including the Film and Television Producers Guild of India Ltd, Motion Picture Association of AmericaIndia office, National Film Development Corporation of India will actively participate to highlight the marketing opportunity of promoting destinations for and through film shoots. To cater to the growing segment of weddings, BLTM has roped in WedWise, India’s first ‘community driven’ wedding start-up with 31,000 active members including the top wedding planners in India. The support and participation of other travel industry associations like Global Business Travel Industry Association (GBTA), Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), is being finalised. Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA) is also keen to

‘A’ list of hosted buyers containing 500 top corporate buyers from all over India is being offered fully hosted buyer status. In addition, the sellers also have a quota of nominating buyers. Hosted buyers from different companies whose acceptances have been received include Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd; Balmer Lawrie Van Leer Ltd; Prestige Estates Projects Ltd; Lava International Ltd; Football Players Association of India; Football Edge Management Pvt Ltd; Asian Granito India Ltd; Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd; Tata Motors Ltd; Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd; Red Bull India; RBS Services India Pvt Ltd; Total Oil India Pvt Ltd; Grant Thornton India LLP; IDFC Bank Ltd; Reliance Infrastructure Ltd; Superior Spirits Pvt Ltd; L&T Infotech Ltd; Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Ltd, Appliance Division; Aegis Ltd; Tata Communications; Clifford Chance LLP (OSC); Godrej Industries Ltd; BCD Meetings & Events; Chep India Pvt Ltd; Fountainhead Entertainment Pvt Ltd; Transasia Bio Medicals Ltd;

Among those who have confirmed their participation as sellers at the BLTM include Accor Hotels, Chancery Hotel, Bengaluru, Clarks Group of Hotels/ 1589 Hotels, Club Mahindra, Hotel Fairmont– Jaipur, Lemon Tree Hotels/Redfox Hotel, Ottila, Pride Group of Hotels, Shanti Maurice, The Ambassador Hotel Group, The Lodhi Hotel, The Paul Bengaluru/ Kumarakom Lake Resort, The Royal Orchid, The Tamara– Coorg, Travel Motivations and Variety Cruises. International destinations like Korea, Nepal, Malaysia, Zimbabwe etc, are the early birds who have confirmed their intention to participate. Confirmations are awaited from at least 10 more countries. BLTM will also provide unique opportunities for the Indian states to promote their Business Travel, MICE and Luxury products. Among the ones who have shown keenness to participate in BLTM along with the private sector are Goa, Rajasthan, and of course host state Haryana, with confirmations also expected shortly from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

TRADE EVENT

Global Panorama Showcase announces its 2017 Calendar Nagpur: 10th September 2017

The 4th edition of Global Panorama Showcase Nagpur was extremely successful and registered an increase in Visitor footfalls from Central India. The event was followed by adding on 4 new shows into the portfolio namely; GPS Ahmedabad, GPS Chandigarh, GPS Kolkata and GPS Coimbatore. GPS 2016 saw a combined unique travel trade visitor registration of over 3000 people, firmly cementing GPS as a Premier B2B Travel event to recon with for the Tier 2 & Tier 3 Cities of India.

Harmandeep Singh Anand – Co Founder said, “GPS 2016 being a runaway success saw attendance from leaders of travel community in the Tier 2 & Tier 3 Cities. The format of the event is specially designed to empower and knowledge share various topics, issues and products that will have a positive impact on day to day business and benefit the trade in the region”. GPS 2017, the Premier 22

B2B Travel Trade event for Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities of India will take place in 6 cities namely; Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Kochi and Pune. GPS will continue to offer important industry trends and relevant knowledge to the industry with one day dedicated to learning and workshops, alongside the business meetings that will take place over the three days. “For the Nagpur edition, we will launch Voluntourism packages as we have identified a few NGO’s in the region to work with, this will also help travel agents put forth an interesting tour product for the region, that will include wildlife and community service together with local sightseeing. We will also get a local travel industry expert to speak and highlight the tourism products that available in the region and how to make it available to the industry and also to throw light about the regions traveller behavior in the context of domestic as well as outbound tourism.”

says Raju Akolkar - CEO “Tourism is a key contributor to our economy, not only on a national level but also regional level,” says Madhu Saliankar – Sales & Marketing Director. GPS provides an opportunity to launch new destinations/ products/ packages and reach out to the travel fraternity directly and understand the business potential of

the region. Our target for GPS 2017 will be to put forth an array of varied exhibitors who will promote both Domestic as well as Outbound Tourism Products.

For more information, please contact: Amrita Mondal Global Panorama Showcase 91 22 26382700 -09 pr@gps-india.com, madhu@gps-india.com

GPS Calendar 2017 January 2017 - 19th – 21st - Nagpur July 2017

- 13th – 15th - Ahmedabad

July 2017

- 20th – 22nd - Chandigarh

July 2017

- 27th – 29th - Kolkata

August 2017 - 3rd – 5th - Kochi August 2017 - 10th – 12th - Pune

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

A Decade of Delectable Service

Thrissur, Kerala

Puzhakkal, Ayyanthole P. O., Thrissur, Kerala - 680 003 Ph: 0487 3011111 | luluicc@luluicc.in | www.luluicc.in

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INTERVIEW Jose Dominic

“Quality of experience is our idea of luxury” current context, luxury means compliance, creating a sense of wonder, having safeguards, protecting community’s interests, and being in harmony with nature. This is the model we gave to ourselves and this is the model Kerala has also become famous for. Are there any new projects coming up?

Jose Dominic, CEO of CGH Earth Group, is an insightful businessman, who developed and showcased a new luxury hospitality model without the extravagance of conventional luxury hotels. His experiments with responsible hospitality has gained worldwide recognition. As a CA by training what made you enter the hospitality sector? Could you briefly tell us about your early career? I began my career as a CA with AF Ferguson & Co, Mumbai during the 70’s. It was the same time when my father began Casino Hotel in Kochi. Though I was reluctant initially, my father’s constant persuasion made me quit the firm and come back to Kerala to join him in business. In 1988 we opened a new hotel named Bangaram Island Resort in Lakshadweep. It was a new model in the hospitality sector. Its unique feature was the absence of newspaper, telephone, television, air conditioner, hot water, room service, swimming pool, multi-cuisine restaurants, etc. And yet, we were trying to attract 24

premium clients. This new model is now called Responsible Tourism, and in those days it was called Eco-Tourism. After being encouraged by its success we started Spice Village in Thekkady in 1991. Then we opened Coconut Lagoons in 1993 which was a celebration of Kerala’s indigenous food, architecture, and a new culture. We introduced the backwater houseboats in 1991 or 1992. In 1996, we went on to Marari beach. What all places had in common was environment sensitivity, inclusion of the local community and being local. In those days we were called Casino Group Hotels. In 2004, we changed our name to CGH Earth. Short for Clean, Green, and Healthy, it represents our core values of

environmental sensitivity, inclusion of community and being local. You are credited with developing an alternate model of luxury hotels especially in Lakshadweep. What is your definition of Luxury? The usual meaning of luxury is ostentation. We have redefined luxury as ‘quality of experience’; we could be luxurious though made of mud and thatch. We found that there is no competition between luxury and sustainability. To be luxurious, first pre-requirement is sustainability. If you are not sustainable, you cannot be luxurious, that was the premise we began from. Here the consumer’s interest is subjugated to the interest of the planet and to the community. In the

We are starting a new hotel in Wayanad near Vythiri which would open by late September or early October. Named ‘Wayanad Wild’, it is our first venture in North Kerala, which offers the harmony of forest without causing any harm to it. Can you tell us about the growth prospects of the Indian hospitality sector? India is on the cusp of a big economic explosion. We have a large number of young people who have gone abroad for education and has enriched both financially and experientially. With this comes the urge to travel — this opens up tourism, both for domestic and foreign tourists. And the direct beneficiary of this is the hospitality industry. I read somewhere about your dream to open a restaurant without flames. Can you elaborate on it? Apart from growing with experiential holidays, we have also ventured into wellness and health. We first ventured into ayurveda, from there into yoga; now we are looking at a Nature Cure Centre, which will be opened shortly. One of the strong ingredients of naturopathy is food and healthy lifestyle. The best possible food is the one created by nature, i.e., raw fruits and vegetables; and hence a kitchen where fruits and vegetables are only cut, squeezed, and sliced but not cooked. So, a restaurant without flames! ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

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www.tgihotels.com For Reservations: +91 96558 89898, 95855 98989, Email: reservations@tgihotels.com

TTF

TTF 2016-17 series kicks off

ravel & Tourism Fair season started on a good wicket, with TTF Kolkata and Hyderabad concluding successfully with houseful shows. Over 500 exhibitors from 11 countries and 28 Indian States and Union Territories participated with colourful pavilions and stalls, in the two cities. TTF is India’s oldest and largest travel trade show, which is now organised in nine cities annually. TTF Kolkata was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Goutam Deb, Tourism Minister, Government of West Bengal. While inaugurating the event, he said, “I express my humble thanks to TTF for organising this beautiful edition of TTF in Kolkata. TTF is a fantastic event that will boost our tourism industry in a big way.” Azmeera Chandulal, Tourism Minister, Government of Telangana,

inaugurated TTF Hyderabad. “I am very happy to see the beautiful fair. As the host state, Telangana Tourism sponsored a Food Festival, where members of the Telangana State Hotel Association had set up food stalls selling local delicacies for the guests visiting TTF,” the Minister said. Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Goa, and Jammu & Kashmir participated as partner states at TTF Kolkata whereas Gujarat, Odisha and Himachal Pradesh were partner states at both the TTFs. Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh were the feature states at TTF Kolkata; Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Goa

were at TTF Hyderabad; and Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Punjab were represented as feature states at both the TTFs. Keeping up with the current trends and challenges, this year StartupKnockDown+ was organised by TravHQ in association with TTF to highlight the emerging travel technologies across various cities in India. During the session, innovative travel startups from different sectors of the industry pitched in

front of an expert panel of judges to win the title and many other opportunities. The newly introduced Tea@TTF had special networking sessions by top travel trade bodies IATO, OTOAI, ADTOI, SKAL club and the Tour Operators Association of Telangana (TOAT) during the three days of the event. TTF Kolkata saw a 50% jump in footfalls and TTF Hyderabad grew by over 20% in exhibitor area, over last year.

Goa Tourism bags Most Innovative Product Award at the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) Hyderabad 2016

oa Tourism once again received honours at the recently held Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) at Hyderabad 2016. TTF Hyderabad was held from July 15-17, 2016 at HITEX Exhibition Centre with over 182 exhibitors from 8 countries and 20 Indian States and Union Territories.

Mr. Yogesh Naik Marketing – Manager, GTDC along with Mr. Lawrence D’ Souza of Hotel Mandovi receiving an award on behalf of Goa Tourism for the Most Innovative Product at TTF Hyderabad

The Award for the Most Innovative Product was received by Mr. Yogesh Naik, Marketing – Manager, GTDC along with Mr. Lawrence D’

Souza of Hotel Mandovi. Goa Tourism’s pavilion showcased new tourism initiatives, activities, events and aspects which included monsoon tourism, festivals, heritage tourism, culture and cuisine, wedding tourism and a lot more. GTDC also showcased its new tourism products and services such as Hot Air Balloon, Sea Planes, Amphibious vessels, Helicopter joy rides, the new user-friendly webportal and mobile app. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

TTF Ahmedabad opens, 25% bigger than last year The annual travel show of Ahmedabad has emerged as the biggest TTF among the 9-city series in 2016-17

ravel & Tourism Fair (TTF) Ahmedabad concluded successfully at Gujarat University Exhibition Hall as a houseful show with over 535 exhibitors. It caters to the tourism industry in the region, at a strategically important time before the high seasons of Diwali. Western India in

converging at the TTF in Gujarat and wish good business to all.” N Srivastava, IAS, MD and Commissioner, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd, said, “Gujarat Tourism is glad to partner with TTF and we are certain that this platform will aid us in showcasing our sincere efforts to transform Gujarat into a world class tourism

(the organiser of TTF), said, “TTF Ahmedabad has surpassed our expectation by growing 25% over the last year. It has the distinction now of being the largest in the annual circuit of TTF spanning nine cities.” Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Goa and Maharashtra are the Partner States for the event whereas Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Manipur and Andaman & Nicobar are the Feature States. Bangladesh, Nepal, New Zealand, Thailand and Macao are participating in a big way as the Feature Countries.

general and Ahmedabad in particular are the most important markets for the travel industry in this season. Located in the country’s biggest travel markets, TTF Ahmedabad is 25% bigger than last year. Commenting on the occasion, Ganpatsinh Vasava, Minister for Tourism, Government of Gujarat, said, “I am glad to know that TTF, India’s largest fair network is being organised in Ahmedabad and Surat (in the coming week). TTF is one of the most successful tourism promotion platforms bringing together all stakeholders of India Tourism under one roof to realise the true potential of domestic tourism. I welcome all the tourism industry stakeholders

hub and further boost our tourist inflow.” First half of the show (i.e. from Friday to Saturday till 2 pm) is reserved for the travel trade, after which it is open for all (i.e. from Saturday afternoon till Sunday evening). Participants from 13 Countries and 25 Indian States & Union Territories have come to sell at TTF Ahmedabad. These include state tourism boards, national tourist offices, hoteliers, airlines, tour operators and travel agents, online travel companies, railways, cruises and other travel marketers. Highlighting the importance of TTF Ahmedabad, Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman & CEO, Fairfest Media Ltd

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

TTF Ahmedabad is also having participation from Assam, Delhi, Haryana, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh. Other countries represented at Ahmedabad include Greece, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore, Turkey and UAE, eyeing the booming Gujarati outbound market. The TTF Series is supported by India Tourism, who is also participating in TTF Ahmedabad as in the past. Important exhibitors include India Tourism Development Corporation, Costa Cruises, Thomas Cook, Mahindra Holidays, Travstarz Holiday & Destinations, Galaxy Tourism, DS Hotels, Mercury Car Rentals, Ezeego1, ARK Holidays, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Shriji Tours, Rayna Group, Bonton Holidays, Clarks Group of Hotels, Synergy Hotels

& Resorts, TGB Banquets & Hotels, Delta Corp and many more. To enhance and showcase their respective offerings, aside from attractive and elegant stalls, participating states and countries at TTF Ahmedabad are presenting daily cultural events and marketing presentations to trade visitors and the media. Uttarakhand and West Bengal Tourism are organising travel trade road shows on the side-lines of TTF Ahmedabad to woo tourists from the Western region. The newly introduced Tea@TTF will have special networking sessions by top travel trade bodies, including the Tour Operators and Travel Agents Association of Gujarat (TAG) and SKAL Club, during the three days of the event. Immediately after Ahmedabad, TTF will take place in the subsequent weekend in Surat (September 9-11), Mumbai (September 16-18) and Pune (September 23-25), together comprising the biggest tourism market in India. TTF is supported by Incredible India, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), SKAL and SATA (Southgujarat Association of Travel Agents). For more info visit: www.ttfotm.com

NATIONAL TOURISM AWARDS

National Tourism Awards 2014-15 presented

adhya Pradesh won the first prize in the category of Best State/Union Territory for Comprehensive Development of Tourism at the National Tourism Awards for 2014-15 awarded by the Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan at a function recently. Gujarat won the second prize in the category while the third spot went to Karnataka. Warangal in Telangana won the award for the Best Heritage City while India City Walks for the Built Legacy of Mughals (Old Delhi Heritage Walk) and the Heritage Walk of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, were the joint winners of the award for Best Heritage Walk.

Tourism, Government of Kerala were jointly given the award for the Best Responsible Tourism Project among the Niche Tourism Awards. Sargaalaya Arts & Crafts Village at Iringal in Kerala won the award for the Best Rural Tourism Project. Jaypee Green Golf Course in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, was given the award for the Best Tourism Friendly Golf Course. The Best Wellness Centre award went to Somatheeram Research Institute and Ayurveda

Hospital Pvt. Ltd., Trivandrum in Kerala. Gujarat was chosen for the award for the Best Film Promotion Friendly State, while the award for the Most Innovative and Unique Tourism Project was given jointly to Heritage Transport Museum, Gurgaon, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh Tourism for “Art Ichol, Maihar”. The award for the Best Airport in Class X Cities was given to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, while

Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan got the award for the Best Tourist Friendly Railway Station. In the category of Publicity and Promotion, Kerala Tourism won the award for Excellence in Publishing in English for its coffee table book, “Kerala and The Spice Routes”. Kerala Tourism also won the award for Excellence in Publishing in Foreign Language other than English for its brochure, Das Faszinierendste Gewasser der Erde on the

The monuments of Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh were chosen for the award for the Best Maintained and Disabled Friendly Monument. “Edge of India” by Yes Bank Limited, New Delhi and “Responsible Tourism in Wayanad” by the Department of 28

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

backwaters of the state in German. The Department of Tourism, Daman and Diu won the award for the Best Tourism Film for their film “Ilha De Calma”. The award for Best Tourism Promotion Publicity Material by States and Union Territories went to Department of Tourism, Government of Telangana for its coffee table book “Ancient Temples of Telangana”. The award for Best Foreign Journalist for India went to Ms. Stephanie Pearson, USA, for “The Green Heaven”, a feature on Kerala.

Segment, Machindra Umakant Kasture, Executive Chef, The Ashok, New Delhi won the Best Chef award (in 4 star, 5 star, 5 star Deluxe, Heritage Classic & Grand category Hotels). The award for the Best Chef (In 1 to 3 Star, Heritage Basic and Stand alone restaurants) went to Muruganandham, Executive Chef, Confluence Banquets & Resorts, Mahabalipuram, Chennai. Amninder Sandhu, Chef – De-Cuisine, Masala Bay, Taj Lands End, Mumbai, won the award for the Best Lady Chef.

House of Kapaali, Noida won the award in the category of Incredible India Bed and Breakfast Establishments approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, while among those approved by the State Governments and UT Administrations, Coconut Creek Farm and Homestay, Kumarakom, Kottayam topped the list. Jaypee Vasant Continental, New Delhi won the Best Eco Friendly Hotel award, while The Lalit, New Delhi won the award for the hotel providing best facilities for differently abled guests.

Gajner Palace, Bikaner won the award for the Best Heritage Hotel in the Basic Category, while Coconut Lagoon, Kottayam, Kerala won the award in the Heritage Classic Category and Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur in the Heritage Grand Category. Minerva Grand, Tirupati won the Best Hotel award in the 3-star category, Quality Hotel DV Manor, Vijayawada in the 4-star category, Turtle on the Beach, Kovalam, Kerala in the 5-star category and Taj Exotica, Salcette, Goa in the 5-star deluxe category.

Kerala Tourism and the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat were the joint winners of the award for the Most Innovative use of Information Technology – Social Media / Mobile App. Among Convention Centres, The Ashok, New Delhi, won the award for the Best Hotel Based Meeting Venue. Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Hyderabad, got the award for the Best Stand Alone Convention Centre. In the Hospitality September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

NATIONAL TOURISM AWARDS

Kerala bags 12 National Tourism Awards feat. “It is a welcome recognition of our pioneering measures, especially our cutting edge marketing techniques and leveraging of technology, to position Kerala as a touristfriendly destination,” he noted.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan presented the awards to Principal Secretary Dr. Venu V and Director U V Jose in the presence of Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma at a function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.

Kerala Tourism on Saturday bagged three out of the six National Tourism awards for 2014-15 in the marketing category for states. It received two more awards, including the one for its Responsible Tourism (RT) initiative in Wayanad. Hoteliers, tour operators and an Ayurveda Centre swelled the kitty of awards for God’s Own Country to 12, by winning seven more, including the Best Hotel in Five Star category and the Best Heritage Hotel. The awards were presented by Ms. Sumitra Mahajan, Lok Sabha Speaker, in the presence of Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister for Tourism at a function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. The awards on behalf of Kerala Tourism were received by Dr. Venu V., Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism and Mr. U. V. Jose, Director, Kerala Tourism.

Particularly impressive was Kerala Tourism’s marketing feat in winning three out of the six awards for states in the Tourism Promotion and Publishing category, including the one for ‘Most Innovative use of Information Technology’ — social media/mobile app. The Wayanad initiative, which has transformed the hilly district’s economy through intensive participation of the local people, was selected for the award in the ‘Responsible Tourism’ category.

tourism product for the entire country. We also received three national awards for our brilliant marketing initiatives which are designed to woo travellers from both inside the country and abroad,” said Mr. A.C. Moideen, Minister for Tourism, Kerala.

Sargaalaya Arts and Crafts Village at Iringal, a small but thriving village in Kozhikode, fetched the award for Kerala Tourism in the Rural Tourism project category.

Dr. Venu V., Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism, said winning five national tourism awards and seven for private players is a tremendous

“The awards are a heartening and robust reaffirmation of our Responsible Tourism initiative, which has emerged as a trailblazing

Mr. U. V. Jose, Director, Kerala Tourism, said the national awards have come in the wake of Kerala Tourism winning two PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Gold Awards for its brilliant marketing initiatives. “The national awards will further boost the state’s profile as a coveted destination for the inbound tourism market,” he added. Kerala and the Spice Routes, a coffee-table book designed by Stark, won the award in the category of

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

Excellence in Publishing in English language. The book takes readers through the Malabar Coast that was the starting point for Kerala’s spice trade with the rest of the world. ‘The Great Backwaters’, a brochure in German language, details out the unique, standalone and once-in-alifetime experience of the Kerala backwaters to the

international travellers, was adjudged the best in foreign language segment. The third award for Kerala Tourism in ‘Tourism Promotion and Publishing’ category came for its most innovative use of information technology for the website designed by Invis Multimedia and social media managed by Stark Communications.

Kerala Tourism has 12.8 lakh Facebook followers, the largest figure for any Tourism Board in India. Turtle on the Beach, Kovalam, was the adjudged the best hotel in the Five Star category; Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom, bagged the award for Best Heritage Hotel in Classic Category; Coconut Creek Farm and Homestay,

Kumarakom, was given the award for ‘Best Incredible India Bed and Breakfast Establishment’ approved by State Governments / Union Territory Administrations’ and Somatheeram Research Institute and Ayurveda Hospital Pvt Ltd, Thiruvananthapuram, was declared the Best Wellness Centre.

Somatheeram Ayurveda Group wins National Tourism Award once again

LokSabha Speaker Ms. SumitraMahajan and Minister of State for Tourism Dr. Mahesh Sharma is presenting National Tourism Award 2014-15 to Mr. Baby Mathew, Chairman & Managing Director and Mrs. Sarah Baby Mathew, Director of Somatheeram Ayurveda Group.

Somatheeram Research Institute and Ayurveda Hospital of Somatheeram Ayurveda Group has bagged again the prestigious National Tourism Award 2014-15 instituted by Government of India for the “Best Wellness Centre”. Mr. Baby Mathew, Chairman & Managing Director and Mrs. Sarah

Baby Mathew, Director of Somatheeram Ayurveda Group received this prestigious Award form LokSabha Speaker Ms. SumitraMahajan and Minister of State for Tourism Dr. Mahesh Sharma. The awards ceremony was held at VigyanBhawan in New Delhi on 30th July 2016.

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

“Somatheeram” has

fetched this coveted award by considering its performance of excellence towards quality and standard assurance, hospital hygiene and safe management policies, corporate social responsibility, eco-friendly concept, innovative ideas in Ayurveda, environmental preservation and customer

satisfaction among the Ayurveda wellness centers in tourism sector of India. “Somatheeram” is the winner of twenty six national and international awards for excellence in Ayurveda which includes Kerala Government Tourism Award for “Best Approved and Classified Ayurveda Centre” consecutively. 31

INTERVIEW Abraham George

Abraham George, President, Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) shares with Asian Traveller the growth prospects of Kerala Tourism and the role of KTM in it. Apart from his official duties, he finds time for music and reading. He is also a keen listener and an eager learner.

As the President of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), how do you see the growth prospects of Keralaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism sector? Kerala has tremendous prospects in tourism sector. It is the only state where a traveller can experience the backwaters, beaches, wildlife, hills, spice garden, cultural history, Ayurveda, and village experience in a short circuit. Kerala tourism resource is yet to be explored. How do you see the role of KTM in developing the tourism industry? KTM is the showcasing place for its membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; products and services to the whole world. The Department of Tourism and the trade also helps different sources to reach the whole world and market those products. KTM is giving the opportunity to invite the whole world to Kerala and showcase the products, and offers an experience of destination Kerala. What do you think is the biggest challenge in the tourism industry now? We have many challenges now in the Tourism industry. The competition created

by the new emerging markets in India as well as the neighbouring countries is one threat for Kerala Tourism. Also the internal problems in Kerala like poor infrastructure, change in excise policy, failure in waste management, high airfare and connectivity, and lack of new products are some of the major challenges. How do you see the growth prospects of Indian tourism sector? Indian Tourism has great potential and scope for growth. The growth of the Indian economy and the infrastructure will definitely attract more tourists. You have been in the tourism industry for the past several years as the Chairman and MD of Intersight Tours and Travels. Could you tell us about your early days? What made you enter the tourism industry? I started my tourism journey during 1995 with Intersight as the brand, and was the beginning of my long wish to be an entrepreneur. There were not many players in the tourism sector during that period except reputed national agencies, and very few Kerala operators. Most of them were specialised in

inbound tourism and having business tie up with foreign operators. I was totally a newcomer, not having any back support from this industry. It was very difficult to establish in the existing market competing with the experienced and established companies. During that period tourism meant only International travel and nobody thought of domestic tourism. I decided to concentrate on domestic market and worked hard to create a brand in the domestic sector. Initial days in my business life were a real struggle. Hardwork, determination, commitment, and a dedicated goal was the initial capital, and we started low profile. In 1997, I opened my Mumbai and Delhi branches and started promoting Kerala exclusively in these markets. I was very keen in thinking and doing innovative things and work with unique ideas. I could develop a committed team and this helped me in establishing a trusted brand name in the Indian market. The innovative projects like Rail Chartering, Ship Chartering, and Airlines Partnering helped me to establish as a credible brand in the Indian domestic market.

Would you please share with us the proudest and some of the unforgettable moments in your professional life? I am always proud on my achievements and the recognition we receive. As a new comer in this sector, the achievements and acceptance we have got in the Indian market is itself a proud recognition. Where would you like to see yourself, say, 10 years from now? Intersight should be positioned as the top brand in the Indian tourism sector. About your Family? Living with my wife and three daughters â&#x20AC;&#x201D; daughters are in different fields and settled outside. Please tell us about your hobbies and other interests? I like music, reading, listening to others, and like to learn more. Which is your favourite destination? Why? New Zealand is one of my favourite International destinations, and Kerala is my Indian favourite. New Zealand is a loving and serene destination with natural scenes, very calm. Kerala is always the best gifted with nature, greenery, and many more.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

TRADE EVENT

India International Travel Exhibition

ndia International Travel Exhibition (IITE) is India’s Premier B2C & B2B Travel & Tourism Exhibition, held annually in TIER II cities. It is a One Stop Shop where the upward moving and high earning consumers interact with tourism boards, travel partners, and affiliated service providers, thus promoting the beauty and the benefits of the destination. The Event is organized keeping in mind the consumer’s travel and leisure needs. This year, IITE will be held at Rajkot, Indore, Mangalore, Madurai, Nagpur, Vijayawada, and Bhubaneshwar.

Rajkot

Rajkot is the fourth largest city in the state of Gujarat. The city contributes to the economy of the state with heavy and small scale industries under the patronage of Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) and Gujarat State Financial Corporation (GSFC). The economy of Rajkot got another shot in the arm with 280 million World Bank aid for development of infrastructure of the city. Rajkot is famous for its jewellery market,

silk embroidery, watches parts, and is also famous for its gold purity and has one of the largest gold markets in India. The city hosts several small scale manufacturing industries like bearings, diesel engines, kitchen knives, and other cutting appliances, watch parts (cases & bracelets), automotive parts, forging industry, casting industry, machine tools, share market, and software development. The city is also home to some of the largest CNC machine and auto parts manufacturers in the country. Rajkot is also growing up in Software Industries and ITeS. There are many SOHO companies working in Web Development along with many new multinational call centres and software companies setting up their operations and development centres in Rajkot. Rajkot is also famous for its textile printing units.

world class concerts and soirees coupled with chic restaurants, pubs and nightclubs while swanky cars ply through the city’s roads. There are more than 30,463 small scale industries working in Rajkot district. Major industries comprise machinery, glass, textiles, food products and ceramics, and metal products. According to a recent market review, the City of Rajkot is now becoming the Biggest Automobile Zone in Asia.

• Hotels, Resorts, Transport Companies etc. participating • Lunch & Tea coupons , all 3 days • Power connectivity, light, fan and proper visibility at our eventstalls • Professionally managed press-coverage

Event Calendar

Rajkot – 19, 20, 21 August 2016 Indore – 21, 22, 23 October 2016

For details visit: www. iiteindia.com

Mangalore – 18, 19, 20 November 2016

What you get:

Madurai – 16, 17, 18 December 2016

• 200+ top agents visiting the exhibition (for you to tying-up & networking) • Large B2C crowd visiting too our events ( 5000 + footfalls)

Nagpur – 27, 28, 29 January 2017 Vijayawada – 24, 25, 26 February 2017 Bhubaneshwar – 24, 25, 26 March 2017

The historical city is today dotted with leading business conglomerates and corporate powerhouses, premier academic institutes, state of the art shopping malls with plush movie theaters, ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

INTERVIEW N K Mohammed

Kerala has an extremely good climate, including ayurveda, it will attract more people.

be given as prescribed by the doctors. Since all the people are of a similar age group, they won’t feel bored. If their children want to see them they can come and stay here for a few days.

How many cottages are you planning?

Where all are you planning to start this project? First, in Wayanad; second, in between Bengaluru and Mysore; third, somewhere in Kannur; and fourth, in Kochi. I will be one of the members, and also will most of the people from my family, as most of them are doctors. Only then will this be a continuous process and a success. What will be the investment required for it?

N K Mohammed, Chairman and Managing Trustee of Oriental Group of Educational Institutions and Chairman of Vythiri Village Resort, a luxury resort in Wayanad district, talks to Asian Traveller in detail about his new project in hospitality and so on. Could you tell us about your dream project? In the olden days, people used to take much care of the elderly. Now people think how to get rid of them. In old age people may have diseases and several other problems. Their children don’t find time to take care of them, as they are busy taking care of their children. The situation is becoming worse day by day. As a solution, I have created a project called ‘Golden Ages’. Old age is best called golden age, and I have chosen this project to take people into their golden age. The spouse — both husband and wife after 55 years can become a member of this body for 30 years, i.e., till 85 years. The 36

profit they get during that period they can use even after 85 years. If a family spends 2 crores during the 30 year period, the service they get will be a 5 star service. Every day there will be cultural programmes, ayurveda, yoga, activities, etc. Any food, any time based on availability, will be given. There will also be doctors: ayurvedic and allopathy; there will also be a dialysis unit. If any complicated case happens they will be taken to hospital, and its cost will be borne by us. Then, once in a year there will be an Indian tour; if they want to go to a particular place they can go as a group. Food will

Investment depends, approximately 400 crores. It can also increase based on the number of projects. This is for the entire life. We are taking responsibility for their life as if adopting them. From where did you get this idea? When I thought about my life, I asked what is ultimate: I want a comfortable life, with resorts it is not possible to go alone. Here there will be more people working: doctors, nurses, housekeeping staff, etc. It will be more advanced than a 5 star hotel. I saw this in one place, Mombasa in East Africa. I saw a person, probably an UK citizen. He has been staying there for 15 years in a 5 star hotel. He said I have all facilities here: I go for a tour once every year, and come back here. Children need not bother about us and we need not bother about them. The rest of our life we will enjoy and live. Who will be your clients? Most of our clients will be foreigners. And since

There will be both cottages and rooms. We will have 200 cottages where 400 people will stay. It will also have a jogging track. They will be getting ayurvedic treatment and spa free of cost. But before allowing anyone in, there will be a full check up. If something happens once they enter here, it will be our responsibility. How did you enter the hospitality sector? In 1991 when Padmakumar was the Chief Secretary, I told him that I want to start an industry. He was also the Industry Secretary. He asked me what is the point in starting an industry in Kerala, and instead suggested opening a hospitality educational institution. So, I started the Oriental Group of Educational Institutions. That’s how I entered the hospitality industry. It is easy to make an investment but difficult to run it for long. About your school, Oriental. It recently won the Best Hospitality Educational Institute award? Initially it ran at a loss, it was very difficult but I didn’t leave it. Most of the people think negatively, if so, nothing positive will happen in life. But my policy is: I think negatively and see it in a positive way. We see negatives everywhere, but how to make it positive is all that matters. Apart from your resort Vythiri Village, do you have any new hotel projects? We are planning to do one in Kozhikode. Sometimes I may attach it with the ‘Golden Ages’ project.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

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INTERVIEW Rajashekharan Nair

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Need a better plan to attract both domestic and international touristsâ&#x20AC;? Mr. Rajashekharan Nair has been in the hospitality sector for over three decades as Managing Director of RR Holiday Homes. This time around he shares with Asian Traveller his thoughts on the challenges faced by the tourism industry in the country among others. in hospitality experience to discerning guests, driven by people with commitment and resources that offer truest value in service. What plans do you have for the company?

Can you give us a profile of your company? RR Holiday Homes is a conglomerate with diverse business interest in hospitality sector. It manages the Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel and Spa

(UDS) which is a four star hotel in Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram. Apart from it, the group is actively engaged in building world class resorts in Kerala and the rest of India. The guiding philosophy of the group is to provide the best

We have got ambitious and diversified plans in the coming years. First, we are planning to have a group of hotels which are friendly and highly professional, covering all destinations in Kerala. A catering college of international standards comes next in the list. We also plan to extend flight catering to more airline companies. Projects are in pipeline for a school of international standards. What do you think is the biggest challenge in the tourism industry now? I think certain Government

policies stand hinder to the growth of tourism in the country. A well worked out plan to attract both domestic and international tourists is the need of hour. Also, we should adapt friendly means in matters concerning airport tax and landing charges for charter flights which will definitely help to get us more tourists from abroad. Authorities should also keep in mind of matters relating to flight connectivity and fares. There will be a positive impact in tourism sector if we have express highways connecting major tourist destinations, better infrastructure, activities like water sports, casino, liquor, night life, clean beaches. About your Family? I am married to Smt. Udaya Chandrika Nair alias Radha as she is known in the South Indian film industry. She is a noted character artiste and Kalaimamani Award winner. Children, viz., Ms. Karthika Nair, film actress and student in London University; Mr. Vignesh Nair, doing higher studies in Hotel Management in London; and Ms. Thulasi Nair, film actress and BBA student in Cambridge University. Which is your favorite destination? Why? Singapore; because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a well planned country in terms of infrastructure, facilities for tourists, hygiene, night life entertainment, etc.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

INTERVIEW E M Najeeb resort project in the Bekal tourism zone. It is a project in an area of 54 acres with proximity to beach, river and backwaters. The work is progressing fast and we have signed up with ‘Starwood’, the international hospitality brand for management of the resort. We also have a resort namely ‘The Tea Valley’ in Munnar. In the course of time we will look at hotels at other locations also. What do you think is the biggest challenge in the tourism industry now?

E M Najeeb, Chairman and Managing Director of Air Travel Enterprises (ATE) group of companies shares with Asian Traveller about the success of his firm Airtravel Enterprises. Apart from enjoying swimming and golfing, he finds time for social activities as well. You have been in the tourism industry for the past several years. Could you tell us about your early days? What made you enter the tourism industry? After my education I had an earnest desire to stay back in my own country and to contribute to the economy and the society in my own way. Fortunately that was a time when there was a busy traffic to the Gulf region from India, particularly Kerala. The passengers required a lot of support for travel documentation; therefore I started Airtravel Enterprises in 1976 as an airline-travel ticketing company. It was gradually recognized repeatedly for productivity by various airlines, and became a very productive travel company 40

with affiliations and memberships in various trade organizations. The company later diversified to different other fields of business such as tourism, tourism consultancy services, hospitality, housing, advertising, event management, etc. We have more than 500 people now working in our group. You have recently ventured into the hospitality sector under ATE Hospitality. What plans do you have for ATE Hospitality? While Kerala was growing as a self contained destination for tourism, I realized the importance of the growing hospitality industry in Kerala. So, in a small way I developed a city hotel brand called ‘The Capital’. Purely to be in the tourism hospitality segment, I embarked on a major 5 star deluxe

The biggest challenge the destination has right now is the lack of a high power body coordinating tourism implementation and management, which can bring together all the departments which have roles related to tourism. Passing of a ‘Tourism Act’ can spell out the rule of the game and help building up tourism through a clear set of guidelines. Once this coordinating body is in place, all other major problems like infrastructure, garbage disposal, lack of funding, law and order, and all such issues would be resolved. Moreover, the present branding “God’s own country” is more than two decades old, and it needs a vibrant new branding, conveying to the world that this is the destination of their choice. How do you see the growth prospects of Kerala’s hospitality sector? Kerala is the right place for a flourishing hospitality industry. The hospitality centers at vantage, scenic locations extending authentic Kerala flavour and hospitality is quite unique and will surely have a tremendous future. At the same time, there should be a self regulation on the part entrepreneurs on all aspects of quality, from its construction, eco-friendliness, etc., or there should be a set-up to regulate the mushrooming

establishments. Would you please share with us the proudest and some of the unforgettable moments in your professional life? My proudest experiences in the professional life were on achieving recognitions for our productivity and performances. We have already achieved close to thousand awards. Seeing the happiness and goodwill of my customers is still a great feeling. Above all, I enjoy seeing the confidence exuding smiles of my team of employees. Where would you like to see yourself, say, 10 years from now? I look forward to consolidate my business, utilize the opportunities and to be a part of a growing Travel, Tourism, and Healthcare industry in Kerala. About your family? My wife Dr. P.M. Saffia is now the Head of the Plastic Surgery Department in KIMS Hospital and also Vice Dean of KIMS Academic Department. My two sons are in business: elder one, E.N. Zaheer is the Executive Director of ATE Group. Second son, E.N. Tariq is in charge of managing the KIMS Hospital, Kollam. Please tell us about your hobbies and other interests? My regular hobbies include swimming and golfing. I also consistently go for my morning walks. Apart from all these, and my professional work, I find time for social activities and spend more time with the people. Which is your favourite destination? Why? I have a special affinity for London. I have found Cappadocia in Turkey as an exotic holiday location. Also I like the UAE, particularly Dubai because of its infrastructure, facilities and hundreds of my friends over there.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

INTERVIEW P K Anish Kumar

P K Anish Kumar, President of Association of Tourism Trade Organisations (ATTOI) shares with Asian Traveller about the challenges faced by tour operators, and the role of MICE in the development of tourism. Apart from being enthusiastic about yoga, he likes web-surfing and travelling. Can you give us a profile of your organization ATTOI, of which you are the President? The Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India was established in 2003. A majority of the leading tour operators are members of ATTOI and share business ideas, organise common discussions, travel together, and more importantly a relationship could develop between families of members. It creates a platform for all these service providers to build business relationships among the members. In order to achieve this objective we try to enhance the professionalism and profitability of members through effective representation in industry and government affairs, education and training, and by identifying and meeting the needs of the travelling public. What plans do you have for your organization? We have two big upcoming events, the second edition of International Conference on Travel Technology (ICTT 2017), which is planned to be conducted on June 9 and 10, 2017 and South India Hotel and Tour Operators meet in 2017. There is now a shift from agency tour booking to online tour booking. Has it affected the business of tour operators? Are there any other challenges faced by tour operators and what have ATTOI done in this regard? Online booking is on the rise. The positive aspect of online booking is that the small entrepreneurs can reach out through various channels of distribution using social media and online digital space. It has also made exotic destinations competitive and plug leakage of money since the intermediaries are avoided. Only short trips are booked through these online sites. As much as 40% of the hotel and tour booking are done

online. However, the relevance and role of tour operators will not get diminished with this dependence on online. Tour Operators are once again trending up but this time, chock-full of technology makes them better than any machine. They are evolving into professionalists in the travel field. Has the MICE sector helped in the growth of tourism? Do you think lack of quality infrastructure can be a hurdle to the nascent MICE sector? The MICE traffic is declining due to unfriendly liquor policy of the Kerala state government. Kerala can have a number of choices to MICE seekers, holding a meeting in the roof top of a houseboat or a meeting in a Jungle with tented accommodations are exciting meeting options. A stakeholder of tourism has identified MICE as an emerging vertical to promote. Instead of going for large conference and conventions, most destinations can offer facilities for group size of 50 to 500 people capacity conferences which will not affect the carrying capacity of the destination. How far has internet helped in promoting a destination and how do you see the role of social media in this regard? As travel decisions become increasingly influenced by peer reviews and opinions on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Instagram and Pinterest, experts are advising businesses to factor in the internet in their marketing strategies. ATTOI conducted the first International Conference on Travel Technology (ICTT) where all the speakers are of same opinion that tourism stakeholders cannot move forward leaving the digital marketing apart. How do you see the growth prospects

of the India’s tourism sector? There is no other destination in the world which can offer the variety and diversified tourism products that India has to offer. Finest beaches, marvellous architectures, diversified culture, variety of cuisines, trending tourism products like ayurveda, yoga, and spirituality. By implementing E-tourist visa to all major source markets, now India is the brightest spot on the world economy; and the new aviation policy and the implementation of GST will bring tremendous tourism growth in India. Domestic tourism is also on the rise and it will grow further when the air connectivity between two tier cities will be improved as a result of new aviation policy. Could you please share with us the proudest and some of the unforgettable moments in your professional life? The Travel Planners has got National Tourism Award for the category ‘Best Inbound Tour Operator’ in 2011, and it was an unforgettable moment to receive the award from Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra. About your Family? I live with my wife Anjali and two daughters. What are your hobbies and other interests? My hobby is practicing yoga. I learn and practice yoga because it is constant improvement on myself and day by day I am getting more stronger, more powerful and more peaceful. And in today’s world everyone needs emotional strength, inner peace, to deal with everyday situation effectively and to find its solution. Surfing on the web, travelling, and making friends are my other interests. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

INTERVIEW Riaz Ahmed

Accommodation providers are the key drivers in popularizing a destination. helps in driving customers to our properties. Training and retention of service oriented staff, constant upgradation and maintenance of properties, good value for money for our customers, keeps us ticking. How do you think a hotel can help in developing a destination and what can the hospitality sector do in this regard?

Riaz Ahmed, Managing Director of Abad Hotels, shares with Asian Traveller his thoughts on the growth of the hospitality sector in India. Apart from watching movies and listening to music he is interested in doing social and charitable works. How long have you been in the hospitality industry? Could you briefly tell us about your early career and what made you enter the hospitality sector? In 1977, right after completing my studies, I joined our family business ‘Abad Fisheries’ — processors and exporters of marine products. My hometown Mattancherry had a dearth of good hotels and a need was definitely felt. A small hotel with 20 rooms 44

and a good restaurant with sea food specialties was the beginning. Can you give us a profile of your hotel and what plans do you have for it? We own and operate 10 properties located in Kerala, at Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Marari, Kovalam, and Kumarakom. We also operate 2 food courts at Nucleus and Baypride Malls in Kochi. Our guest oriented approach, a reputation for tasty food and decent accommodation

Accommodation providers are the key drivers in popularizing a destination. However, every destination has a carrying capacity and environmental concerns. Therefore, it is imperative to formulate a broad idea on how a destination should be promoted. High rise buildings in Munnar, Thekkady, or Kumarakom, etc., will definitely destroy the destination. Similarly, sewage treatment and waste disposal are concerns to be addressed. Many good destinations are not popular owing to lack of accommodation, for example: Ponmudi, Thenmala, etc. Serviced villas in such destinations should be ideal and sustainable. Could you please share with us the proudest and some of the unforgettable moments in your professional life? Abad Group sets aside a portion of its profits for charity and we also have a trust for this purpose. That we could successfully utilize such funds for housing, medical and education, etc., is gratifying. Our track record in servicing loans in time is also a morale booster.

Have you ever worked abroad in your career? What do you think are the advantages of working overseas? Except to travel on business and leisure I didn’t have the experience of working abroad. How do you see yourself 10 years from now? Our policy has always been to give space between growth which happens every 5 years. We are presently preparing the ground to build 3 new properties. In the next 10 years we hope to double our inventory. Can you tell us about the growth prospects of the Indian hospitality sector? As a vast country we have much to offer. Our infrastructure is gradually improving and so is the connectivity. The Indian hospitality industry is growing despite the lukewarm treatment it receives from both centre and state governments. A small push in the form of reasonable taxes would go a long way in promoting tourism. What are your hobbies and other interests? Movies, music, reading, social work are of interest to me. Which is your favourite destination and why? Dubai is a city state which is fascinating. More so because we have observed the vision of its government and witnessed its subsequent growth over the years. It has proved that good infrastructure and liberal business policies are the key to growth. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

INTERVIEW Nihit Srivastava

“We want to expand in different verticals” Nihit Srivastava, Director Operations & Business Development (India), Ramee Group of Hotels, Resorts & Apartments, one of the top hotel chains in Middle East and India shares with Asian Traveller the vision of Ramee Group in India, among others. With 32 hotels in different countries, what is the vision for Mr. Shetty?

How do you see the growth prospects of hospitality industry in India?

It’s not 32 but 35 owned and 5 signed managed properties. After having expanded in Middle East and having over 2.5 decade of experience while operating and building properties, the vision of our Chairman & Managing Worker Mr. Shetty is very clear: to expand in different verticals like management & franchise contracts, time share, etc. In this fiscal year 2015-2016, 4 properties have been signed in both 4 and 5 star category in New Delhi, Surat-Adajan, Surat- Warracha, Noida West, adding 600 room inventory where in total number of hotels now in India are 11.

Tourism has now become a significant industry in India. It is a sunrise industry, an employment generator, a significant source of foreign exchange for the country. Tourism in India is the third largest foreign exchange earner of the country after gems, jewellery and readymade garments. The booming tourism industry has had a cascading effect on the hospitality sector with an increase in the occupancy ratios and average room rates. The long term outlook for the Indian hospitality business continues to be positive, both for business and leisure

segments with the potential for economic growth, increases in disposable incomes and the burgeoning middle class. Are there any new plans for Ramee Group in India? Yes, apart from Outright Purchase and Development, Ramee is expanding in all 5 regions including Dubai / Abu Dhabi / Oman / Bahrain & in India (Mumbai – 110 New Owned Property / Chennai – 200 Rooms New Owned Property / Bangalore – 210 New 5 star Hotel). Are you looking for geographical expansion beyond Middle East and India? Yes, in the US & UK. Recently the Ramee Group entrusted Internet Moguls to look after your digital marketing. How important do you think

is the digital medium, especially the internet, for your brand promotion? We want to be prepared for the digital marketing trends of 2016 in order to stay relevant and be a strong contender within the online marketing world. As we look back on 2015, there were big contenders dominating the search landscape including the big OTA giants like Expedia and Booking.com as well as the lodging marketplace, AirBnB, which continues to be a big threat to hotels, big and small. With the competitive pricing offered by OTAs and how influential this is in how consumers book, we need to not only stay in rate parity but also offer enough value to the guest and stay in tune with the next big hotel trends if they want to stay in contention.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

INTERVIEW Subrahmanian P

The ‘eco-friendly’ General Manager Thekkady, I grabbed the offer.

Subrahmanian P, President of Kerala Hotel General Managers Club (KHGMC) and General Manager of Marari Beach Resort shares with Asian Traveller his thoughts on being eco-friendly. Apart from his keen interest in learning, he enjoys trekking, cycling and doing yoga. How long have you been in the hospitality industry? Could you briefly tell us about your early days and what made you enter the hospitality sector? I have been a part of the hospitality industry for over three decades. I got into the sector, because of the human connect it offers. I enjoy dealing directly with people, rather than sitting in front of a computer in an office. I have also felt that there is a spiritual aspect in serving food and drink to people, as well as giving happiness and memorable experiences. I was associated with Taj Coromandel, Connemara, Holiday Inn, all in Chennai. I joined CGH Earth Group in 1985 and is still continuing. Can you give us a profile of your club KHGMC, of which you are the President? This is the first such association for Hotel 48

Do you think hotels and resorts can be a threat to the eco-friendly approach to development? On the contrary, I feel that the industry has opened people’s eyes to the virtues of green and sustainable living. Tourism can be a tool for creating awareness about recycling, waste and sewage management, because we are showcasing a beautiful environment to tourists.

General Managers, which was launched on April 8, 2016. It is a forum where senior leaders and juniors of the fraternity meet. They get to share new ideas, learning new trends and find out new and creative methods of problemsolving in our industry, from each other. It is also a welfare organisation which offers a fallback to families if anything tragic happens to members. You have won the Kerala State Best Hotel Manager award twice. Could you please share your success secret with us? The secret is that I don’t think of this as a job, it is a way of life for me. My biggest asset is that I am able to connect with the local community wherever I am based, and is protective of their interests. As General Manager, I have invited the local panchayath members to come and see what we

are doing at the resort. At Marari Beach, we opened the doors of the butterfly garden and organic vegetable garden to school children, so that they can see and appreciate it. We host organic farmers’ meets and even foreign students have come over to learn our methods of working. I have been associating with several nature organisations such as the Kottayam Nature Society, Vembanad Nature Club, Jaiva Karshaka Samithi and ATREE. You are described as an ‘ecofriendly general manager’. What made you choose this eco-friendly way of life? Usually, you don’t choose your lifestyle, it is chosen for you. My interest in eco-friendliness aroused when, as a student of Law College, I went on a threeday nature camp deep in the forest in Thekkady. That was in 1987 and I was bitten by the nature bug. When CGH Earth asked me to go to Spice Village in

The CGH Earth resorts are eco-friendly, and are serious about recycling water and waste. At Marari Beach, we have a four-acre organic vegetable garden in a 25-acre property. We are proud to say that other resorts in the area follow our lead in adapting green measures. How do you see the growth prospects of the Indian hospitality industry? The immense potential of the Indian tourism industry hasn’t been properly tapped. We have a diverse culture, beautiful locations, highly appreciated climate and amazing food, but we have not been able to attract the tourist numbers that a land such as ours should. Now, things are changing, and the prospects look bright. Could you please share with us the proudest and some of the unforgettable moments in your professional life? My most unforgettable moment is my meeting Pope John Paul, who visited Kerala in 1986. I was part of the service team at the Bishop’s House. My meeting with Paul McCartney and Jude Law and other dignitaries is also memorable.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

INTERVIEW V C Zachariah

V C Zachariah, President, Kerala Houseboat Owners Federation (KHOF) shares with Asian Traveller about the formation of the federation and the problems faced by houseboat owners and the sector among others. Could you tell us the motto behind this federation?

farm lands is much higher but it never gets mentioned.

The motto is ‘togetherness’. If we stand together we can achieve many things especially in the tourism field where there are lots of challenges — to face it as well as for the industry’s betterment.

What are the problems faced by houseboat owners?

What are the aims of this federation? The members have come together for their betterment as well as for the progress of the industry. The members get various benefits like, say, from the Dept. of Tourism and other departments, to get things done, etc. There is a talk that houseboats are contributing to environmental damage in some ways. What has the federation and its members done in this regard? Exactly. The general talk is that houseboats are the main cause of pollution. In my view that is totally baseless. For all houseboats there is a sewage treatment plant (STP) and every boat is fitted with biotanks. So it does not pollute in any way. Some time back plastic waste used to be dumped, but after educating the staff for a long time this has been eliminated. Now there is zero pollution. Why this is said in the context of houseboats is — it is commercialised, so it gets all the blame. In comparison, the pollution coming from

Houseboats have developed mainly because of private initiative involving local people. As its boom happened in a very short time there we no rules. Now the rules are there but the sector has not received any consideration from the government’s side. The subsidy that was there earlier is not available now. The infrastructure needs to be developed a lot combined with problems with licensing, etc. Boat licensing is another main problem. Since the staff strength in the port department is not sufficient, it is difficult to survey and take count of the increasing number of houseboats every year. If this is looked into it can make a big difference. Apart from that, it is also difficult to get local staff for the drivers post. The qualifications which the department has set for the post is very high so fewer number of people are available. What are your thoughts on the proposed centralized hangar unit in Alappuzha? This has been demanded by our members for a long time. After the boat anchors in the evening there is not much activity to do. Now an anchoring unit along with a night activity

center in Vattakayal is about to be completed. This will benefit the domestic clients a lot. When compared to inbound guests they like to involve in activities — they are restless and need action. So, if there is a night activity centre it will be helpful for houseboats; more guests will accept it and we can get business all around the year. How many active members are there in this federation? There are currently 37 members with 200 houseboats, and all of them have license. Statistics say that there are around 1000 houseboats and most of them operate without license. Do you think that other houseboat owners can be brought under your federation and be made aware of the need to get license? There are four associations in Alappuzha, and any houseboat owner is a member of any one of it. Recently regarding licenses the government held two adalats. The purpose of it is to give license for all houseboats. Now almost all the members have attended it and are given temporary licenses. Since there are some defects in it the temporary licenses are not converted into permanent ones. How many people are dependent on the houseboat sector for employment?

The sector gives direct employment to 5000 people, and indirectly to 15,000 to 20,000. As the MD of Lakes and Lagoons what made you enter the houseboat sector? In the 90s there used to be tourism boat races during the Republic Day. I happened to take part in it and got inspiration from it to join the industry. What are your new plans for Lakes and Lagoons? Now we are in the 20th year in the tourism industry. We currently operate around 26 houseboats. Recently we entered into resort business with El Oceano Beach Villas, an Ayurvedic resort with 60 rooms, constructed in Kerala heritage style at Marari Beach, Alappuzha. In order to survive in the tourism industry we need constant updation; we always think innovatively in terms of better services. Can you give us a break-up of your client list? If we go by houseboat bookings we get 50% domestic and foreign clients. Our foreign clients come mostly from Europe; recently there has been an increase in clients from US and Australia. Is there any message for new entrants in the houseboat sector? They are always welcome. One thing needs to be kept in mind is: in order to survive in the industry we should be service minded. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

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INTERVIEW K R Vancheeswaran

K R Vancheeswaran, President of Wayanad Tourism Organization (WTO) and Managing Partner of Wynberg Resorts, Wayanad shares with Asian Traveller about the role played by WTO in the development of Wayanad tourism. He is passionate about travelling, photography and is a conservationist at heart. than done. What do you think is the biggest challenge in the tourism industry now? The challenges are manifold: from simple destination management to marketing, pricing, taxation, satisfaction of guests, OTAs, etc. They are too many and too complex to be described in a few words.

You have been in the hospitality industry for the past several years. Could you tell us about your early days? What made you enter the hospitality industry? I was in pharma industry as Product Executive, in charge of product launch and sales. I was also in marketing for around 15 years. I always loved travelling, and it lured me to Botswana in Southern Africa where again I was involved in sales and marketing, besides agricultural production (farming), liaison with department of agriculture for crop production, etc. In the course of work, I was also involved in overseeing operations of a motel, thus came my conviction to start my own accommodation unit, and thus was born Wynberg Plantation Hideaway in Wayanad, back in 2003. What plans do you have for the company? The reason for starting the resort was wanderlust and passion, with certain idealism like zero waste 52

and pollution, nature, experience, etc. I have been following it till now with a niche clientele, avoiding loud and noisy groups. I deal more on experience tourism and walk in nature and wild including, wildlife all over India and Africa. In fact, I do noncommercial tourism and hence have now reduced my cottages from 14 to 8, to get out of rat race. If commercial world call it degrowth, it’s fine to me. You are also the President of WTO. How far has WTO been able to promote tourism in Wayanad? Wayanad Tourism Organisation was started by a few of us as a club with good values for tourism in 2003. Whatever Wayanad is today WTO has a major role to play in it; that will sum up its role. Even now we are trying hard to minimize bad effects of tourism, and to inculcate values in tourism, benefits to locals, no or little impact on environment and culture and so on. In the present aggressive world of marketing, it is easier said

Surely in the days of fast change and difficult economic conditions, quite some compromises have to be done on all fronts to forge ahead. One of the most challenging tasks would be to give value for money proposition in difficult situations, and one who does it will be successful. How do you see the role of resorts in developing a destination? What all things can hospitality sector do in this regard? The role of an accommodation unit — be it resort or hotel — is to provide food and accommodation. This is important as far as a destination is concerned. Besides, providing information at ground level is most important for any traveller. Lack of good accommodation units can seriously impede growth of a destination. In a well known destination increased visitor days can be seriously affected, if there is lack of good accommodation units. Thus 50% of the destination growth depends on its dwellings.

Right pricing (not necessarily cheap), good and authentic food, correct information will be the basic things hospitality sector should provide to nurture a destination. Would you please share with us the proudest and some of the unforgettable moments in your professional life? This is a question that you should put to people who have accomplished a lot. Getting a satisfied client is always a proud moment, and making the client loyal is an accomplishment. Where would you like to see yourself, say, 10 years from now? I have already set my clock to slow mode, and is becoming more choosy: doing more niche level experience, be it exclusive safaris in the jungles to walks in the unknown. So, it will be more of refined experience, more countries and destination to travel, many rare animals and birds to photograph… miles to go before I sleep. Please tell us about your hobbies and other interests? I am still a nomad — love to travel to the far and wide. I do at least one trip outside the country and as many as possible, inside every year. Travel makes you more wiser. I love photography, and is a conservationist at heart. I just have time to keep these balanced. Which is your favourite destination? Why? Wayanad, my beautiful home! It was more beautiful 20 years back.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

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INTERVIEW Sajeev Kurup

Ayurvedamana, the abode of authentic ayurveda wellness seekers Sajeev Kurup, Managing Director of Paithrukam Hospitality Group and Ayurvedamana Properties, shares with Asian Traveller, about the growth and popularity of his ayurvedic treatment centers; his love for reading and travel, etc. You have been in the hospitality industry for the past several years. Could you tell us about your early days? What made you enter the hospitality industry? I am a native of Kottayam district. I did my graduation from CMS College, and postgraduation in Management from Poona University in 1987. I started my career as a Management Trainee with TATA, and later worked with different national and multi-national companies in personnel and HR departments. In 1996, I took over the charge as Project Head of the biggest Private Sector Hydroelectric Project in Kerala — Kuthungal Hydroelectric Project in Rajakkad, near Munnar, till its commissioning in 1999. During this time, I used to stay in Munnar Resorts and Hotels, and got interested in the hospitality field. Hence, I decided to take up my future career in the hospitality sector. Can you give us a profile of your company? In 2005 April, I started Paithrukam Hospitality Services: a partnership firm, along with Rakesh OM as Partner, and took over the management and marketing of Poomully Mana, the oldest Ayurveda treatment home in Kerala by renovating and rebranding it as “Poomully Aram Thampuran’s Ayurvedamana.” In 2008, the Group started another heritage

property in the heart of Thrissur town called ‘Kuruppath Heritage’. In 2012, we took over a 300 year old mansion, near Guruvayoor and started another authentic Ayurveda Hospital called Perumbayil Ayurvedamana with 20 rooms. Could you please trace the growth of Poomully Ayurvedamana? Poomully Ayurvedamana provides quality traditional ayurvedic treatments and services by mixing authentic ayurveda with hospitality requirements for the international clients. It has now become the favourite place of authentic ayurveda seekers and has established its market position very fast. Poomully Ayurvedamana was the role model of the Ayurveda sector, for the responsible tourism initiative study conducted by the Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS). Famous film celebrities like Mohanlal, Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Rajkumar, etc. became the Client Ambassadors of Poomully Ayurvedamana. How is Perumbayil Ayurvedamana different from Poomully Ayurvedamana? Perumbayil Ayurvedamana is a 6.5 acre treatment center with 20 rooms. It is considered to be the best authentic ayurveda treatment center which is moderately priced in Kerala. A lot of International and Indian

celebrities are already in the client list like Dr. Shashi Tharoor, etc. Perumbayil Ayurvedamana is now the flagship ayurveda project of Paithrukam Hospitality Group in terms of client ratings, overtaking its associate Poomully Ayurvedamana in terms of ambience, nature, facilities, and services. Were you involved with the wellness industry in any way before starting both the centers? Yes. From 2000 January till 2005 March, I was associated with the Delhi based Kairali Ayurvedic Group as its CEO, and was actively involved in restructuring the Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort, in Kodumbu, Palakkad, and later expanded its activities to Gokarna, Karwar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. What plans do you have for the company? The future plans of Paithrukam Hospitality is to start a wellness ayurveda retreat in the beautiful

beach of Omanapuzha near Cherthala, as well as a highly professional training center for ayurveda therapists in Guruvayoor, and another heritage ayurveda hospital in Palakkad district. Can you tell us about your association with Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society? I was an active member of KTM Society from 2000 onwards, and served as Management Committee member from 2002, Joint Secretary in 2004, Secretary for two terms till 2012, and Chairman Exhibition Committee for 2014. Tell us about your association with the tourism industry? I had served in the Tourism advisory committees; participated in the international exhibitions and workshops the world over, along with Kerala Tourism. Now, actively associated as Chief Coordinator for the upcoming Kerala Ayurveda Promotion Society. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

Ashish Kumar INTERVIEW

“We want to be the most preferred hospitality brand” Ashish Kumar, General Manager at Hyatt Place, Hampi has been in the hospitality sector for many years. For him it’s just not about lavish rooms and delicious food but an overall brand experience.

You have been in the hospitality industry for the past several years. Could you tell us about your early days? What made you enter the hospitality sector? Hospitality gives you the opportunity to meet different people from different cultures. A hotel is a very happening place to be at because you always tend to meet a new person every day. I am in love with my work and it indeed gives me great joy that they chose us to serve them. Most importantly, I love to see the beautiful smiles on our guests and of course my colleagues. Over the years hospitality has evolved and nowadays it’s just not about lavish rooms and delicious September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

food but an overall brand experience. What plans do you have for the company? We are looking forward to expand our F&B offerings to provide a wider range of palate for our guests; to enter dynamically into various other market segments and to expand our market reach across India; and to initiate concepts that will help save energy, go green and contribute to the ecosystem. Apart from this, the focus will be on operations and offering seamless service just as Hyatt Place brand promises. Most importantly our enthusiastic team shall use Hyatt Thinking Process and shall deploy all the strategies to

ensure brand loyalty from our guests. I also plan to invest a lot in my team and ensure they become great business managers in their coming days. How do you see the role of a hotel in developing a destination? What all things can hospitality sector do in this regard? The tourism industry in India is at its peak as we all are aware, therefore a hotel indeed becomes a medium through which travelers experience a destination enriched with local culture and spectacular sights. Primarily, a brand does make an impact on a location. After the opening of Hyatt Place, Hampi – the first Hyatt Place brand in India, it has been our constant

endeavor to create awareness and bring travelers from various locations to witness the city of epic archeological ruins dating over 800 years old. Where would you like to see yourself, say, 10 years from now? Well I certainly hope that I keep working for Hyatt and would love to work for an overseas property, maybe in the Middle East or Far East. I believe: once a hotelier, always a hotelier; so even ten years down the line I’ll definitely be in the same profession. My main focus is on contributing towards the Hyatt’s goal and eventually become an integral part of a successful team.

TAMIL NADU TRAVELLER

Places to see in Dhanushkodi

Photo credit: www.mugdhasays.blogspot.in

After the devastating cyclone which hit Dhanushkodi 50 years back, this now ghost town is struggling as a tourist destination. This time around Dr. S. Bakthavatchalam lets you discover untouched beaches, sparkling water, and beauty in devastation at Dhanushkodi.

Dr. S. Bakthavatchalam Additional Director, Tamil Nadu Tourism

hanushkodi, meaning ‘end of the bow’ is a ghost town located at the southeastern tip of Pamban Island of the Tamil Nadu state of India. The place, which is about 28 km away from Sri Lanka, is known for its mythological importance. It is said that Lord Rama and

his vanara sena along with his brother Lakshmana, Hanuman and Ravana’s brother Vibhishana, built a bridge using floating stones. It is this bridge which helped them to reach Lanka to rescue Sita from Ravana. After coming back victorious from Lanka, Vibhishana, the new king, asked Rama to destroy the bridge. So, Rama broke the bridge using one end of the bow, giving the place its name —‘Dhanush’ meaning bow and ‘Kodi’ meaning end. There is now geological evidence to suggest that this Rama Setu or Adam’s Bridge

once connected the Pamban Island tip to Talaimannar in Mannar Island, Sri Lanka. The locals claim that this bridge, which was once visible, was completely destroyed in a cyclone in the 15th century. Another cyclone hit the region in 1964 and destroyed the region to such an extent that it has remained a ghost town since. The railway link that connected mainland India to Dhanushkodi was destroyed completely. Currently the rail network connects the mainland till Rameshwaram only. From Chennai almost

midway to Dhanushkodi is Kothandaramar temple. Locals believe that at this place Rama crowned Vibhishana, the new king of the asuras. The temple follows a simple architectural style and houses the idols of Kothandaramar (Rama), Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman as well as Vibhishana in the sanctum sanctorum. It is also surrounded by the sea on all sides except the approach road. The walls of the temple have murals depicting how Rama and his vanara sena rescued Sita. Presently, there are only 300 fishermen families ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

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TAMIL NADU TRAVELLER staying in the region who make a living by selling shells and other fancy items. The only vehicle that can take you to the tip of Dhanushkodi is a speciallymodified jeep. The drive from the check post to the devastated region is like a

roller coaster ride on the beach. As you go further you will see the endless deep blue sea on either side of your vehicle. On one side, you can see the Indian Ocean, and on the other, the Bay of Bengal. And the difference is

completely stark with the two â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one side of the sea is calm and blue while the other side sea is green with choppy waters. Here are some of the places to see in Dhanushkodi.

Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bridge

It is a natural bridge that connects India with Sri Lanka, and is set amidst the gorgeous setting of raw nature that can leave anyone awe-inspired by its beauty.

The Dhanushkodi Beach

It is one of the few major attractions this sleepy town has to offer. The white sand beach is mostly deserted. It is a natural bridge that connects India with Sri Lanka, and is set amidst the gorgeous setting of raw nature that can leave anyone awe-inspired by its beauty.

Ramar Patham Temple

About 20 km away from Dhanushkodi is the Ramar Patham Temple. The temple is believed to have footprints of Lord Ram himself, on a stone. It is believed that it is at this place Lord Hanuman told Lord Ram that he had found Goddess Sita in Sri Lanka.

Pamban Island

Located about 20 km from Dhanushkodi, this island is called the Pamban Island. The deep blue sea island is yet another spectacle and is considered as one of the most beautiful islands in the region. Travellers can go there by crossing the Pamban Bridge.

Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park

The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is one of the few marine national parks in the country. The park consists of 21 islands along with estuaries, mudflats, beaches and forests.

Church and Station Ruins

Before the cyclone hit Dhanushkodi, back in 1964, there was a railway station and a church close to the shore. They got destroyed in the cyclone, but their remnants survive and are simply fascinating.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

woman of the month

In the challenging world of hospitality industry, there are some amazing women leaders who handle tough situations with impeccable finesse. Monica Suri, General Manager, Le Meridien Kochi is one such woman who has made her mark in the hospitality industry. In this exclusive interview with Asian Traveller, she shares her experiences in the industry. So far I have mentored at least 20 glorious contenders formally and still many informally seek my guidance.

It seems you have, over the years, established yourself in the travel and tourism industry. What attracted you to this business segment and how has been the journey so far? The important thing I have learned in life is to follow your passion when it calls you. I find myself fearless, rather excitedly attracted to chaos and have built a brand in my job that I can operationalize any business area which looks chaotic but promising with growth. I let my passion drive me to demystify the business levers, where the opportunities and risks are, scaling an organisation, optimum performance from the team and creating transparency to manage and scale the growth. What plans and changes are you going to implement in your organization to attract tourists/customers? Quality, memorable and authentic experiences are not negotiable both for internal and external stakeholders, which can only be achieved when organizational culture is progressive, inclusive and collaborative, hence

remains one of the top priorities for me. Also in this digitised era, marketing landscape is a constant flux, hence re-energised efforts on targeted, measurable and interactive digital marketing is essential to reach the right customers at the right time. Innovation always remains close to my heart, by focusing on enhancement of Innovation competency prevailing within organization, strategically leveraging resource allocation, thus aligning innovation to strategic objectives and “Change”. Brief us about your first assignment in the hospital industry? I started as a Hotel Management Trainee with Taj Hotels and Resorts in the Food & Beverage service department. Having been in the industry for quite some time, you will surely be having some great moments of glory. Do you mind sharing them? For me, moment of glory is to see someone I have mentored through the years getting recognised at their success.

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

The proudest moment however was when my daughter walked up to me and said “Mama I am proud of you”. Though, I have heard compliments from many industrial colleagues after being the first home grown woman GM, one that I treasure the most is the one from my daughter. Being a woman, what were the hurdles you faced from the industry? First, we never refer to ourselves as “female, or women leaders.” We are not a category. We are leaders who are women, so let’s “focus on task, not gender”. I believe in leading with the power of language, cultivating relationships, building teams that release the energy and potential of others, developing flexible and fluid management systems, building an inclusive organization. My association of nearly a decade with Starwood Hotels and Resorts gave me that freedom to express, execute & expand, wherein organizational core culture is inclusive and collaborative. How do you rate your career success so far? I am quite satisfied with the kind of balance I have maintained in terms of quality time both at work and home and most importantly unwinding myself. I do manage to take

time out for everything I want. From the career point of view, isn’t a job in the tourism sector very challenging? Tell us from your experience how you have handled demanding situations with calm and dignity? If you love what you do and the choices you made, it will somehow drive you forward to enjoy every bit of it. Then the chaos, frustration, exhilaration and exhaustion during the journey will help you find your strengths. How special is the family for you? How important is it for you to spend some lighter moments with other members of your family? Balancing professional life and career is a challenging task especially in an industry like ours. But at times in order to harness that perfect balance we have to compromise on both ends. For me, my family supports my professional growth and is the reason behind all my success. Your future aspirations and plans My passion lies in exploring a new country every year. Professionally, my long term aspiration is to mentor senior leadership and to work towards diversity and inclusion to drive the organizational changes both culturally and generation wise. Integrating more people with disability into the work eco system is also due in the cards.

INTERVIEW Jacob Thomas Plakkattu

“Our houseboats are the most luxurious and expensive ever to grace the backwaters of Kerala” Jacob Thomas Plakkattu, Managing Director, Blue Jelly Cruises & Resorts shares with Asian Traveller the details of the company’s ultra-luxurious houseboats, and his future plans among others. What made you enter the houseboat tourism sector? Initially we had 11 speed boats. After that, while travelling, I happened to see many houseboats. I thought why not make a boat which is different — in a luxurious way — so that it stands out from the rest. Presently we have two ultraluxury houseboats: ‘The Blue Jelly Onyx’ and ‘The Blue Jelly Opal’. What are your future plans? We are positioned in the ultraluxury houseboat category. We are coming up with a third boat being readied to set sail by the end of this year. Are there any plans to enter the resort sector? Our company is registered as Blue Jelly Cruises & Resorts. So, if an opportunity comes we will surely enter the resort sector. Presently there are no plans. As a new comer in the houseboat tourism sector did you face any difficulty? There has been no difficulty as such. With Lakes and Lagoons helping us there was no difficulty. Lakes and Lagoons is in charge of marketing and we take care of the rest. Since our rates are premium we don’t have any competitor as far as rates are concerned. What is your unique selling point (USP)? We are the first in Kerala to come up with ultra-luxurious houseboats. Our houseboats are

the most luxurious and expensive ever to grace the backwaters of Kerala. Classified as the only ultra-luxury houseboat in the State, the houseboat’s elegant physical structure is well complemented by the gold standard interiors, creative space utilisation and themed bedrooms on offer. Built for all kinds of travel and business purposes, our boats are perfect to host a king-size party, hold elite board-meetings or romance the exquisite backwaters; all in the comfort of your private space. Each boat is draped with the finest of fittings, and showcases the best of boat craftsmanship. Broad, majestic, and opulent in form, these royal water chariots have been designed to make you feel like the ‘King of the Backwaters’. We will also be the first in Kerala to come up with a stateof-the-art recreation centre with Blue Jelly Marina, which also includes a houseboat docking bay. Situated in the village of Champakulam, it will be officially launched by September 2016. The international design and modern amenities of the marina will add value to the evening time of guests who return from a cruise on Blue Jelly’s ultra-luxury houseboats. With facilities such as an ayurveda centre, in-house library, indoor play area and an open air swimming pool, The marina is poised to elevate the standards of classical ambience that characterise ultra-luxury backwater resorts in Kerala.

As of now you have two premium houseboats. How many are you planning in the future? We are new in this field. If everything goes well we will have a new boat with an upper deck next year. Now there are many new houseboats in Alappuzha. Do you see it as a threat or an opportunity? I have come to this field expecting large number of houseboats and more business. What steps have you taken to prevent environmental pollution by houseboats? We have now made arrangements to store pollutants inside the boat. What are your views on the controversial liquor policy? The previous government’s liquor policy has seriously affected tourism. Many people have raised objections against it. There has to be a liquor policy, but it is a decision that needs to be taken after much consideration and detailed study.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

INTERVIEW Rupesh Kumar K

Rupesh Kumar K, who formulated the concept of Responsible Tourism is now the State Responsible Tourism Field Coordinator, Kerala. Having worked his way up and being part of various struggles involving local communities, it was natural for him to develop a people friendly model for tourism. His continuing contribution is receiving accolades near and far. What do you mean by Responsible Tourism (RT) and how different is it from prevalent tourism practices? Any tourism activity which can attribute importance to the feelings of local community in any specified destination is Responsible Tourism. Such tourism activity will provide opportunities for the local community in decision making and implementation. It will help to empower the local community especially women, differently-abled and backward communities. It will also try to protect local art and culture and promote packages for the protection of traditional livelihood. Such tourism will try to purchase and involve maximum local products. It will not be CSR but passion. I think prevalent tourism practices never try to address such issues, but fortunately now in Kerala majority of the tourism entrepreneurs are ready to realize the necessity of practicing responsible tourism in their activities. How long have you been associated with Responsible Tourism programme? Could you tell us about your current role in it? I am associated with Responsible Tourism initiatives from the very beginning, which date back to 2007. I worked in the capacity of RT Consultant, RT Destination Coordinator and State Coordinator. Now I am State Level Field Coordinator of Kerala Responsible Tourism. 62

Can you tell us briefly about your early days and what made you enter the tourism sector? I was a student leader in earlier days of my career and held various positions like senate member, college union chairman, university union general secretary, etc. I was a Block Panchayat Standing Committee Chairman in my early days. I had strong association with Kudumbashree activities, and also was the part of various struggles. I was totally against the unethical development of tourism during the period of my political career. I took part in various struggles against unethical tourism development in various parts of Kerala, especially at Kumarakom, and always stood for Janakeeya (people friendly) tourism. Thereafter, I came to realise about a tourism concept called ‘Responsible Tourism’. I found that it can support community through tourism activity. Gradually I got involved in it and became a full time activist for RT. Now, I think I can develop various models of RT and is enjoying my present role. How do you see the growth prospects of tourism sector in India? I hope that India will be the leading tourism destination within a short span of 10 years because it started intensive tourism marketing very recently. How far have local communities been benefitted from Responsible Tourism

Initiative? RT is the only initiative which helped the local community to achieve benefit from the Tourism sector. For example, before starting RT at Kumarakom, there was no role in local community in any type of tourism activity. There was no local purchase of produces, no role in tourism packages and decision making. Before starting the initiative even a coconut or tender coconut or plantain leaf wasn’t purchased from the locality. But, now more than 48 locally produced items are purchased by the Tourism industry, and the turnover is minimum 1.5 crore a year. Do local communities have a role in developing a destination? When tourism emerges in a destination, the local community has their own ambitions and anticipations about tourism development. Major attractions of tourism like ‘nature’ are under the ownership of community or they are social capital. So, when we use such social capitals we need to take care about its usage and its exploitation. If local

community has a role in tourism development especially in decision making of tourism you can address various types of local issues. Without community support you never win in any tourism destination development or any type of successful tourism activities in that destination. Could you please share with us the proudest and some of the unforgettable moments in your professional life? Kumarakom RT project won UNWTO Ulysses Award for innovation in Public Policy and Governance. And, the award was received by Suman Billa IAS from UNWTO Secretary. I received the National Award from the Vice President of India for Kumarakom RT. Like this, UNWTO spice route head Mrs. Alla Pereslova honoured me at SATTE Delhi on 2014 for my efforts to develop RT in Kerala and they gave me a chance to attend the panel discussion for Kumarakom RT. Our project got more than 10 awards including PATA Gold, Grand and various National awards for Kumarakom, Thekkady, and Wayanad.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

INTERVIEW M P Sivadattan

Adding the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;homelyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; touch in tourism

M P Sivadattan, Director, Kerala State Homestay and Tourism Society (Kerala HATS) shares with Asian Traveller about the role of homestays in the promotion of tourism in the state. How long have you been in the hospitality sector? Could you briefly tell us about your early days and what made you enter the hospitality sector? About 12 years. I was the President of Kumbalanghi Panchayath. During that period I was fortunate to implement Village Tourism

Project in my panchayath. Can you give us a profile of your organization Kerala Homestay and Tourism Society (KeralaHATS) and what plans do you have for your organisation? KeralaHATS is an NGO registered under the Charitable Societies Act of

Kerala. The society had been formed basically to serve as a consortium of homestay providers and tourism promoters for effective co-ordination of tourism activities in Kerala and also to ensure qualitative and competitive service. It also strives to enhance the working conditions of Homestay providers and tourism providers along with conservation of natural resources and environment, preserving heritage structures and monuments. How do you think a homestay can help in developing a destination and what can the hospitality sector do in this regard? In rural locations where there are no accommodation facilities for tourists, homestays need to be promoted. The greatest advantage of promoting such homestays is that they provide genuine and authentic travel experience. Travellers get to know the place in all its serenity through this. Apart from that, interested tourists can experience genuine and diverse food habits of the local people. Can you tell us about the

growth prospects of the Indian hospitality sector? At present the hospitality sector is struggling to reach the target. Also, Kerala is lacking in good accommodation facilities. So in order to get the benefit of tourism sector, the hospitality sector should be given adequate encouragement. Could you please share with us the proudest and some of the unforgettable moments in your professional life? The formation of KeralaHATS is one of the unforgettable moments in my life. It gives me immense pleasure to be part of the organization that could be beneficial to both tourists and homestay providers and by thus to develop a destination overall. What are your hobbies and other interests? Politics and social service are my areas of interest. Which is your favourite destination and why? Cochin and Munnar are my favourite destinations. Both places have got an enchanting charm to themselves.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

INTERVIEW Rakesh O M

Rakesh O M, the Managing Director of ‘Niramayam’, a heritage ayurvedic hospital, shares with Asian Traveller about his entry into the wellness sector with the opening of ‘Ayurambalam.’ Apart from his love for hospitality and conservation, he enjoys travelling and watching movies of variable genres. You have been in the wellness industry for the past several years. Could you tell us about your early days? What attracted you to the wellness industry? Even though I started my career in hotel industry 24 years ago, I am associated with the wellness industry only for the past 16 years. I worked in some prestigious business hotels after my graduation in hotel management. Due to personal reasons, I had to move to my native, Palakkad which was the beginning of my career in wellness, through Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort. During my tenure at Kairali for 3 years, as their Group General Manager, I realized that it was more peaceful and interesting in a wellness resort. We get more acquainted with the guests because of their longer days of stay and dealing them is easier because they are in their best mood and time during rejuvenation. We also help them to cure them both mentally and physically, which is a great service. It was during that time that I got an opportunity to associate with Mr. Sajeev Kurup in initiating the project of Ayurveda Mana at Poomully Mana. Can you give us a profile of your ayurvedic treatment centre? After the success of Ayurveda Mana, my maternal uncles 68

approached me to take up my grandfather’s ancestral house at Cherpu, Thrissur. That was the beginning of Niramayam around 5 years ago. It is a traditional heritage ayurveda hospital located at Cherpu on the Thrissur-Thriprayar main road.

and also as wellness has great scope and potential. When a patient or guest visits an ayurveda centre, they don’t spend money like in a spa, they rather invest on their health. Yoga and meditation supplement ayurveda, and this vedic lifestyle is already very popular in many European countries.

What plans do you have for the company?

Could you please share with us the proudest and some of the unforgettable moments in your professional life?

Our plan is to take ayurveda globally, in its true sense, the authentic way, without diluting its core value and ethics. So, we formed a new brand “Ayurambalam” which means ‘temple of ayurveda.’ Niramayam will remain as a therapeutic centre and Ayurambalam will be more into wellness and spiritual. ‘Ayurambalam’, as a brand, depicts the soul of ayurveda when employed to work in human body to transform it to renewed energy and life. We have opened our treatment centres at Trivik, Chikmagalur and more centres in Bengaluru, Munnar, Malaysia, Bangladesh, etc. We have also come up with a spiritual retreat in Rangamalika which is very close to Kuthiramalika Palace at Thiruvananthapuram. What are your thoughts on the growth prospect of the Indian wellness sector? In the present lifestyle, Ayurveda as therapeutic

The recent unforgettable moment is when I got an opportunity to have a very peaceful darshan of Lord Padmanabha which wouldn’t have been possible if I had not taken over Rangamalika, a spiritual retreat in the same compound, at Thiruvananthapuram. Though there are quite a few unforgettable incidents, I would like to tell you about a childless Russian couple, who had come to Niramayam for infertility treatment and went back to Russia after conceiving. Recently when I went to St. Petersburg, Russia for the road show of Kerala tourism, the couple came all the way with their child to meet me, and not only that, arranged a Russian interlocutor to converse with Russian travel agents and made my challenging job much easier. It was also very satisfying news to know that she could conceive once again for a second child through natural means without any treatment. It is in a sense, contentment, which a sentence or few words cannot express.

How do you see yourself, say, 10 years from now? I would see myself spending leisure time with my family and nature. Have you ever worked abroad in your career? What do you think are the advantages of working overseas? Yes, working overseas helps us know ourselves and to realize that we are far more superior in our work culture and ethics and clear our perspective and outlook to a broader platform. When we travel abroad and interact with people from other countries, we feel proud of ourselves because of our rich cultural heritage. The exposure and assimilation to various cultures bring a change to one’s professional pattern that is holistic and permeable, which helps one to adapt and evolve in the ever-changing external environment. About your family? Born into an aristocratic Namboodiri family as the son of Mahakavi Olappamanna, he helped me to nurture my skills in hospitality and guided me during my initial years in the hospitality industry. My mother has always been an inspiration, who was a good host to family and friends. My wife, Parvathi provides me with unstinted support in all my hospitality wellness activities and my young children Advaith and Malavika have brilliant hospitality acumen as well. What are your hobbies? Travelling and watching movies of variable genres. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

EVENT GALLERY

Rudra Nite 2016 Rudra Hospitality Services, after five years of operations rebranded itself as Rudra Leisure Services Pvt Ltd and unveiled its new logo during Rudra Nite by Dr. V Venu IAS, the Hon. Principal Secretary of Kerala Tourism. Shri. U V Jose IAS, Hon. Director Tourism inaugurated the responsible tourism projects in Kumarakom initiated by Rudra. In the event, renowned actress Mrs. Asha Sharath inaugurated her website www.ashasharath.com, which was developed by

the IT division of Rudra – Garymark Infotech. She was gifted with an ‘Aranmula Kannadi’ by Rudra’s Directors in the event. Shri. Abraham George, Hon. President – KTM honoured Shri. Sajeev Nair, MD, Nature Zone Jungle Resort, Munnar; Shri. Shiju Mathew, MD, The Whispering Meadows, Munnar; and Shri. Sunil Kumar, MD, Jasmine Palace, Kovalam, in the event for their long term association. Rudra also honoured Shri. Sharafudheen, Managing Director, Seasonz India

Holidays, who is a travel agent turned new generation actor. Mr. P K Anish Kumar, President, ATTOI; Mr. Paul M S, Secretary, TPC; Mr.

Peter Paul, Director, Jess Hospitality; Mr. Raja Gopaal Iyer, Corporate Director UDS & CEO Raj Hospitality were felicitated in the function.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

HOSPITALITY

Radisson Blu, Ahmedabad

Experience the Blu Life

et in the heart of Gujarat’s largest city, the Radisson Blu Hotel Ahmedabad is an all new, upscale 5-Star hotel. Located just 20 minutes from Ahmedabad Airport and situated in the heart of the Ahmedabad’s central business district, the Radisson Blu Hotel offers a convenient location to match world-class services. Surrounded by shops, restaurants and cultural sites, our hotel allows easy access to all of the city’s most important businesses and attractions with proximity to C.G. Road, S.G. Highway and Ashram Road.

Rooms and Facilities

The Radisson Blu Hotel Ahmedabad pampers guests with personalized attention and exceptional services in 115 contemporary hotel rooms and suites. One can choose from 77 Superior Rooms, 24 Business Class Rooms, eight Executive Suites, five Business Class Suites and one Presidential Suite for an unforgettable stay in stylish, upscale accommodations. If you are traveling for work, reserve a well-equipped Business Class Room to enjoy Business Class Lounge access and upgraded amenities throughout your visit.

all-day dining restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets with Thai, Indian, Chinese and Italian dishes, or order à la carte from an extensive menu. If you need to host important clients or colleagues, choose from a mouthwatering assortment of impressive vegetarian and non-vegetarian options at The Great Kabab Factory. The Business Class Lounge, open to suite and Business Class guests, also serves complimentary refreshments throughout the day.

Meeting Venue & Events Perfectly positioned

for business conferences, training seminars, wedding receptions and gala banquets, the Radisson Blu Hotel Ahmedabad is the area’s finest choice for meetings with 24 to 250 guests. Host a breakout session in our boardroom just a five-minute drive from IIM-Ahmedabad and Gujarat University Exhibition & Convention Centre, or reserve one of the two ballrooms for elegant dinners and oneof-a-kind weddings. In addition to five-star service and professional attention to detail, the Radisson Blu Hotel Ahmedabad proudly provides cutting-edge audiovisual equipment, Free high-speed Internet and secretarial services. For your added convenience, attendees can take advantage of convenient, stylish overnight accommodation by booking a spacious hotel room or suite.

Gym and Spa

With free weights and cardio equipment like cross trainers and treadmills, guests can continue with their regular workout routine. When the day’s meetings are over, retreat to the hotel’s on-site O2 Spa for a soothing aroma treatment or a beauty therapy.

Dining

Alex Koshy General Manager

Whether you are craving a comforting classic to remind you of a homecooked meal or an exciting taste of local cuisine, the Radisson Blu Hotel Ahmedabad has the ideal dining option to suit your needs. Stop by Timpani, our ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

PROFILE

Ramoji Film City

Not just cinemagic but also oodles of adventure and joy for nature lovers

amoji Film City is a repository of cinematic charm, infectious glamour, live shows, rides, and hospitality attract millions of tourists from all over the country. With the introduction of newer attractions, world class adventures, and an exclusive bird park, holiday experience reaches the crescendo. Ramoji Film City has plenty to offer to the adventure and nature lovers now, inspiring in them a deep appreciation for nature.

Sahas – Asia’s finest adventure land offers adventure and pure thrills

It invites adventure seekers to explore pure thrills, pit against the rough terrain and bumpy road — all in the grandeur of nature. It is where participants can be summoned into shining examples of adrenaline rush, flirtation with adventure, intimate and shared fun with family and friends, boosting confidence, and personal excellence in the midst of exotic locales.

Be it roughing it out in the rugged terrain or funny fight-tofinish, Sahas is prepared for all. One can picturise Sahas with father and son showdown at its inflatables arena or members of family having fun with net courses or buddies racing at ATV rides or soul mates ensconced in zorb balls rolling down in the longest zorb platform in the country.

According to Mr Ramoji Rao, the Chairman of Ramoji Group; Sahas, with a large range of adventure activities has been designed as the Asia’s Finest Adventure Land. Set in rocky hills, high altitude plateau, low-lying sloppy meadows and stonecliffs has the technology built into its artery which aid to the tactics, strategy, speed and operation of each individual sport. Here,

the component of nerve coexisting with pleasant relaxation characterizes the essential absorbing action and experience. It’s where participants can sweat it out and have the experience of fun. Sahas designed with international standards by a world famous French team which constantly works with the aim to optimize the adventure experience.

Wide range for fun and adventure challenges

The variety of activities include – high rope / harness course, net course, paintball, zorbing, ATV Rides, mountain bike, target-shoot range

(archery/ rifle shooting etc.), inflatables (sumo suit fighting) and bungee ejection. The ATV rides at Sahas has an exclusive track for children and ladies. While the net courses and inflatables have separate arrangement for kids. Besides, its inflatable arena with human foosball, melt-down, body zorb fight and tele-boxing has a true

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

variety of hilarious sports. The other features of Sahas include — its paintball arena which has a viewing gallery and themed obstacles. Sahas also has the longest zorb platform for the roller zorb activity in

the country, with a length of 220 ft. Besides, the target shooting zone offering the Angry-Bird theme caters for all from the novice to the experts; which is for the first time in the country. Be it the lower net courses, separate ATV tracks for the amateurs or fun fights with inflated zorb ball, for children all the risk-averse arrangements are made with special protective gear designed for the junior participants. All the activities conform to international safety standards and are pursued in the presence of experts, specially trained instructors who can guide the young all through the course.

Wings — the bird park the absolute treat for nature lovers The naturalistic aviary with an eclectic collection of birds has created a perfect habitat for the feathered beauties. The bird park surrounded by lofty green trees, slices of rocks

and splashing waterfall offer a transformative experience. The Park is naturally landscaped with striking native plants, ingrown flora creating a harmonious ecosystem for the birds to thrive in. Designed for the Birds and nature lovers — Wings has the beauty of a bird sanctuary. In a perfect replication of habitats, the Bird Park encompasses four zones – Water bird Arena,

Enclosure for Caged Birds, Free-ranger bird Zone & Ostrich Zone.

Water bird arena

The arena has the look of a sparsely wooded forest with bubbling springs and waterfall. A walk through the place introduces visitors to awe-inspiring Black Swan, Mandarin, American Wood Duck, Trumpeter Swan, and the magnificent Mute Swan which is the national bird of Denmark. From to Scarlet Ibis — the bird once worshipped in ancient Egypt to Manchurivan Crane, known as a symbol of luck, longevity and fidelity in many Asian countries — the arena tells timeless stories.

Enclosure for caged birds

Decorative cages with exclusively designed tree cavities have some of the famous residents that include — Yellow Bibbed Lory, Chattering Lory, Hahn’s Macaw, Umbrella Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot and Crimson Rosella. Some of the birds that would absolutely captivate

visitors are Galah Cockatoo, Great Blue Turaco, Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Scarlet Macaw, Lady Amherst Pheasant, Reeves Pheasant etc.

Free flying bird zone

A stunning variety of Lorry and Lorikeet waddle freely around to intermingle with visitors. They just flutter and glide into visitors to intimately engage with them. The experience is amazing as they make a contact and eat out of one’s hand.

Special Zone for Ostrich

The largest living bird that inhabits the desert land finds its home at wings. With special sand beds and desert ambience, perfect atmosphere and habitat feel has been recreated here for the majestic ostrich. It is the sustained engagement with Nature and its live Orchestra at Ramoji Film City which keeps its visitors invigorated. Ramoji film city is just an hour’s drive from historic city of Hyderabad now in Telangana State.

Sahas for all

Sahas is not just about lots of nerve for youth but is also a perfect day-out with family and friends, groups, school/college groups, fitness freaks, diehard adventure lovers and corporate professionals for team building and other people engagement activities.

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

BHUTAN

Bhutan Plant a Happiness Tree in

Bhutan, one of the world’s most eco-friendly countries and the same nation that set a Guinness record for planting nearly 50,000 trees in just an hour, welcomed the birth of a new prince by planting exactly 108,000 trees. The number of 108,000 was chosen because 108 is a sacred number in Buddhism grows up healthy, strong, wise and compassionate,” Lekphell added.

orn to His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema on February 5, their first Royal Child’s birth was celebrated in the tiny mountain kingdom with with its citizens planting the trees. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, three of his ministers, and the leader of Opposition were among the 100,000 volunteers who planted the trees across

the country about a month after the Royal Couple announced the birth of their first child. In Buddhism, a tree is the provider and nourisher of all life forms, symbolizing longevity, health, beauty, and even compassion,” said Tenzin Lekphell, who coordinated the initiative. “The number of 108,000 was selected because 108 is a sacred number in Buddhism. Each sapling encapsulates a prayer and a wish from the person who planted it to His Royal Highness the Prince so that just like the bountiful tree, the Prince also

Meanwhile, as the people planted trees in celebration of the new prince, the Ministry of Tourism used the occasion to inaugurate a “Happiness Garden” in the capital of Thimphu. The 48,400-squareyard garden will be a place where tourists can plant “happiness trees,” with the aim of having trees representing each country on the planet. “Bhutan is known as a country of happiness. To have a happiness garden is therefore logical. With this garden, we hope to bring the peoples of the world closer,” Damchoe Rinzin,

a spokesperson for the Tourism Council of Bhutan, said.

The Happiness Garden

The Happiness Garden is dedicated to the birth of His Royal Highness The Gyalsey (Prince of Bhutan), and to the conservation of our Mother Nature. Guests are presented with an opportunity to plant and dedicate a sapling to the Prince and Mother Nature. The Tourism Council hopes to ensure that ultimately every nation has a “Happiness Tree” grown in the Garden. The Garden consists of roughly 10 acres of an otherwise barren land interspersed with a few species of trees.

Location

The Garden is located at Kuenselphodrang, five kilometers from the capital city, on a hillock where one of the world’s biggest

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

Buddha statues (169 ft tall) stands, symbolizing universal peace and harmony. This vantage point also offers a spectacular view of the entire capital city and the surrounding valley. To reach the garden, it entails a 10-minute drive from the centre of the capital city and an additional 20 minutes of walk along a scenic nature trail. The route provides excellent views of the Thimphu city through a forest of oak, rhododendron and blue pine.

Selecting your tree

The choice of the species has been made based on the soil and climatic suitability. The following species will be made available to you through an on-site greenhouse nursery or by sourcing from other nearby nurseries. • Cypress • Dogwood • Blue pine • Chir pine • Oak

• Maple

How to plant your happiness tree

1. Drive to the entry of Kuenselphodrang Biking Trail. The entry point also has an open-air (outdoor) gym. 2. On reaching the garden, the garden’s caretaker will provide you a sapling plant of your choice from among the varieties available. 3. After choosing the spot, you can say a prayer or make a wish and then plant your sapling in a ready-made pit. 4. You will also be given a stand, mounted with a wooden plane to write your name and address. 5. After taking photograph of you with the sapling - if you will – you will enter your address into a book of register

A nominal fee

You will have to pay USD 5 or its equivalent in local currency per sapling. Among others, the fee will cover the cost of the following:

• Rhododendron

1. Sapling

2. Pit 3. Leaf mould/manure 4. Mount for your name & address

5. On-site guiding services 6. Life-long care for your sapling (tree) 7. Maintenance of Happiness Garden Recommendation: Please get in touch with your tour operator in advance to make necessary arrangements.

Keeping in touch

Using your address in the book of register, you will be updated, at least twice a year, on the progress of the growth of your plant. It will be sent via email or any other medium you may like. Contact: Happiness Garden Desk Institute for Management Studies Olakha, Thimphu Tel: +975-2-351276 Mob: +975 17886272/77248055 Email: bhutanhappinessgarden @gmail.com

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

HOSPITALITY

The Residency Towers, Coimbatore

A World of Convenience Erine Louis, General Manager

short) eats.

Chin Chin

This popular Chinese restaurant is known for its fine cuisine, warm décor and the trademark Residency hospitality.

ituated close to Coimbatore’s business hub and the main shopping area, The Residency Towers offers a business hospitality experience in the heart of the city, with all the conveniences the global traveler is used to. Equipped with leisure facilities, well-appointed rooms and luxury suites The Residency Towers also hosts a fine variety of delightful food and beverage outlets that have become a destination by itself in Coimbatore.

as well as comfortable. The Residency Towers Coimbatore hotel prides itself on catering to a variety of guests and giving them what they need. As a result,

communication equipment, etc.

you’ll find that we have a range of facilities that will make your stay a memorable and smooth one. Our facilities include: 24-hour check-in and check-out facilities, complimentary Wifi, complimentary buffet breakfast, RESPA bodywork shop and spa, swimming pool access, 24-hour chauffeur service, in-room mini bar, meeting/ conference room facilities with state-of-the-art

serving some of the finest local and international flavours in the city. One can choose from an array of options like:

Dining

The Residency Towers Coimbatore is known for

Pavilion

This 24-hour coffee shop is the perfect place to start the day. It offers a sumptuous spread for breakfast, lunch and dinner and gives you an a la carte

Rooms and Facilities

We have 135 wellappointed rooms and suites offering comfort and convenience. Everything you need to ensure your stay in Coimbatore is productive

Bike & Barrel Bar

This English pub is a popular spot to unwind. A typical English pub, the Bike & Barrel serves up a fine list of alcoholic and non-alcoholic favourites, not to mention a delectable menu of short (and not-so-

option as well.

The Afghan Grill

India is known for its cuisines from all parts. One of its favouritesare the rich flavours and textures of the North East frontier. The Afghan Grill offers a varied menu and soothing outdoor atmosphere to enjoy a meal.

The Edition

A contemporary cocktail lounge.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

TRAVELOGUE

When Mountain Calls To Tushita… This article is an array of true inspirational incidents occurred in my life. I was planning for a vacation in Manali from Doha as an expatriate and finally ended up in Dharamsala. I never thought that spiritual meditation and yoga will be playing an important part in my fun loving life until I became a student of Tushita Buddhism and Himalayan Iyyengar Yoga center in Dharmkot. Arun V S Asian Traveller, Doha Correspondent

“Every single day and moment we are passing our lives with different feelings, emotions, reasons, experiences, ups & downs but don’t forget our inner values of warm heart, loving, kindness and compassion. These are the main sources of happiness for oneself and others.” – Geshe Lotsang Tegyan like any other expatriate Indian coming back to our land and roots were exciting but how to spend the days in a fruitful and relaxing manner was my concern. I have to join my kid in Aurangabad kindergarten school and relocating family back to India diminishes my happiness.

Travelling to new destinations, exploring and meeting people have always been a passionate experience in my life. It all started on a hot summer 80

day during the holy month of Ramadan in Doha in the Persian Gulf where the weather has been tough this year and mercury was rising beyond expectations.

During Ramadan mostly the business is slow and it’s time for Vacation for school kids and expatriates working in this region. Moreover my Vacation was nearby and

My Family has been with me since the birth of my kid and leaving them in India was more of painful and agonizing. In Life we have to sacrifice many things as a parent for the upbringing of our children that eases my worries and tensions. I have nearly one month of vacation in India and my kid’s school is starting so I will be a lonely traveler.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

TRAVELOGUE

I thought of a new destination as always and I called my college mate and close friend from Punjab Ravinder Bhalla who was doing business and bit of Politics in Pathankot and also we haven’t seen for the last 17 years. We planned for Manali Trip in Himachal Pradesh for a week and also there was a 3 day music festival going in there called “When Mountain Calls”. I was energized and thrilled for the reunion with my buddy after so many years, booked the tickets from Delhi to Manali by Volvo from Doha and also called the event guy for “When Mountain Call” tickets for Festival & Camping. I wanted to find the inner happiness and consciousness which was deprived of being an expatriate working in the Gulf. I started my travel from Doha with my family to Mumbai and drove down with my In Laws to Aurangabad. I was happy to join my kid in the nearby School with a good environment, her Classes start off well and my wife was busy taking care of our daughter. After staying 3 days in Aurangabad I had to catch a flight to Delhi and my friend Bhalla was supposed to join me in Manali. The 82

travelling day on the way to the Aurangabad airport my friend Ravinder Bhalla called and told me that he met with an accident previous night and won’t be able come to Manali as he has got pain in his leg and body. He asked me to come to Pathankot instead of Manali, will plan after reaching there and told me to call from Delhi. I was very happy till then was very sad & confused of the detour and boarded the flight to Delhi. Once I reached Indira Gandhi Terminal in Delhi I called Bhalla and he first asked to take a cab to ISBT, again called made changes to take a metro train from the terminal and get down in New Delhi Railway station (NDR). He told, I being an NRI, me to go to the NRI counter and book a train ticket to Pathankot. From the Airport I bought a bottle of whiskey for my Punjabi friend and twocold beercan for me.

literally moving here and there when one person came to me and asked me what I am looking forward. He introduced himself and told he will get a ticket for me from the nearby travel agency and also he needs

his service charge. He took one of my bag and we walked around for more than 2 kms and whenever I ask him about the place he told don’t worry it is near. To be continued…

Once I reached NDR, I was very tired with my baggage, humidity and rush in the station. I was very much worried and all my thoughts were in Manali, started cursing Bhalla and couldn’t find out the counter. I was ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

HOSPITALITY

Experience more with TGI

The Great Indian Hotels

hospitality — “Atithi Devo Bhava”, says Arun Kumar V K, Executive Director. TGI Hotels specializes in offering a full range of hands-on hotel management services, spanning the entire hotel investment cycle. Through their strong foundation in each hospitality management areas they ensure that there is maximum profitability to the promoter.

GI Hotels is a young hotel brand which is having a massive expansion plan in South India. The group has recently entered into an exclusive marketing contract with Mayapuri Amira near Swamimalai Temple at Kumbakonam. Speaking to Asian Traveller, Amitava Roy, Founder/CEO said, “Adding the luxury hotel like Mayapuri Amira in our portfolio will surely give choice to our regular customers apart from city, beach and hill properties and enables them to experience more. We are looking forward to expand to other tier II / tier III cities like Trichy, Madurai, Munnar, and Thekkady

Amitava Roy Founder / CEO

to complete the circuit tourism.” The group is looking to tie up with properties in unique and unexplored destinations which are twothree hours drive from the metropolitan cities.

is designed keeping in mind the needs of today’s travellers. From business to leisure the group has all kinds of accommodation to offer to its discerning customers. TGI Star Holiday Yercaud is an ideal

With the changes in the evolving travel market, TGI constantly brings in innovative technology and services. Their expertise combines the best of Indian hospitality, keeping in mind the global trends and best practices. They are also deeply committed in making every owner’s property a successful venture by offering profit and value. This comes from

“This year our focus will be to enter into Kerala and Karnataka and next year we would look at Andhra Pradesh and Telegana to cover the entire South of India,” adds Amitava. Mayapuri Amira, which is very close to Swamimalai Temple at Kumbakonam will be a discerning choice for domestic and foreign tourists visiting the divine city for serenity and sanctity. Set in the natural landscapes of Swamimalai with its divinity drenching the best luxury hotel in the neighbourhood, Mayapuri Amira beautifully blends the age old tradition of hospitality with modern facilities.

Arun Kumar V K Executive Director

TGI Hotels

family resort with adventure activities at Yercaud. Spread out in 6 acres of land, 60 cottages with banquet hall for 400 pax makes it an ideal place for MICE destination. “We offer comfortable accommodation and facilities that cater to the needs of both business as well as leisure travellers. At TGI Hotels, the staff always endeavours to satisfy guests beyond their expectations in the true spirit of Indian

their innate passion that exists, which helps them in delivering the best. TGI is currently having 5 Hotels with 250+ room inventory, with presence in Hosur, Salem, Yercaud, Chennai, and Kumbakonam (Swamimalai). They are confidently looking at 10 Hotels with 400 room inventory by this fiscal year end. For details visit www.tgihotels.com

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

Malabar escapes

Keralaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest circuit of small resorts, boutique and villa hotels

member

www.malabarescapes.com

HOSPITALITY

Lulu ICC, Thrissur celebrates 10 years of MICE success

uly 2, 2006 saw the beginning of a new era in the MICE history of Kerala. Lulu International Convention Center and Garden Hotels — the largest convention center of Kerala was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Kerala Shri. V.S. Achuthananthan in the presence of eminent personalities including

Jose Sebastian GM, LuLu ICC & Garden Hotels

opposition leader Shri. Ummen Chandy. The world renowned Lulu Group under the leadership of business

tycoon Mr. Yusuff Ali M.A. was entering the Indian hospitality market space under the brand name Lulu through this convention center. Now after completion of successful 10 years Lulu ICC, Thrissur has become a synonym for MICE venues in Kerala and has hosted numerous conferences of national and international stature. Just 45 minutes drive from Cochin International airport and 4 kms from Thrissur Railway Station, Lulu is aptly located very near to the city and Thrissur itself as we all know is located in the centre of Kerala. Easy connectivity and accessibility to all major and important cities and tourist destinations is a major advantage of Lulu’s location.

Lulu Garden Hotel is undoubtedly the best Hotel in Thrissur with spacious rooms and suites, appropriate for relaxation of mind and body of the business and the pleasureseeking class.

The success of Lulu ICC, Thrissur was well appreciated by the public and the numerous accolades and awards bestowed upon Lulu ICC, Thrissur is for sure more than a proof for their continuing triumph.

The unilevel design of the convention center with pillar less halls all across is customer friendly and also supports differently abled guests. With its futuristic design, splendor and functionality Lulu International Convention Center and Garden Hotel is all set to grab your attention.

A few of the several citations and accolades of significance conferred on Lulu ICC, Thrissur includes

The 100 room five star property nearing completion will add to the existing room inventory and is well poised to attract more MICE business to the city

Won the Top MICE Hotel of India 2015 Award bestowed by Exhibition Showcase during the Exhibition Excellence Awards 2016 function on 23 January 2016 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida Honored by Hospitality Trailblazers and Food hospitality World in MICE category for our innovative and path breaking contribution to South India’s hospitality growth on 12 June 2014 organized by The Indian Express Ltd. at KTPO, Whitefield, Bangalore. Winner of the prestigious National Tourism Award 2009-10, for the Best Convention Center in India, by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

FOCUS

Can Mumbai be like Shanghai? (Our ex-Prime Minister’s dream)

hina has emerged as one of the largest travel volume handling country for inbound. It has over 50 million domestic and inbound tourists annually. If India has to think of such numbers then which factors do we need to address seriously. In 2007 I had written an article on the same subject. However, 9 years have passed, but the dream of Mumbai to be like Shanghai is yet a dream. Although the world is progressing at jet speed, but the development of Mumbai and its infrastructure does not find any major changes. Hence, I am compelled to write again after 9 years for the readers to evaluate if we have moved towards the fulfillment of our exPrime Minister’s dream: “Can Mumbai be like Shanghai?” A major percentage of China’s tourism is attributed to Shanghai. Let’s analyse some key highlights of Shanghai and its infrastructure. My write up is divided into 2 parts:

I. Airport Infrastructure II. City Infrastructure

Shanghai is China’s largest economic centre, with a leading port, airports, and also China’s well-known historical business, and cultural city.

I. Airport Infrastructure

a. Shanghai has 2 international airports with international flights covering the world’s 73 countries and regions. Both airports have a

capacity of handling 5 crore passengers annually. b. A multistoried terminal building with over 60 aerobridges, and a vast parking space for more airplanes. The modern architecture provides arrival, departures, and public transport on separate floors of the airports. c. Satellite check in areas Each satellite marked A to J have more than 20 check in counters. A huge “May I help you” counter does not exist at Mumbai airport. d. Clearance at airport Although there is a language problem, Chinese immigration officers and custom officers speaks negligible English, but their simplification of rules and systems helps to clear loads of continuous arrivals and departures speedily. Pictorial visual signs throughout the airport, helps passengers to overcome language difficulty.

be kept in mind, such as:

gates area.

1. Mobile Phones

4. Restaurants

Mobile Sim Cards are sold in various denominations at various kiosks. One can buy new Sim Cards which are instantly activated with new mobile telephone numbers without any legal or other formalities. This makes the visitors well connected immediately on arrival (this facility is not available in India).

In large numbers, with international brand names such as McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, and others, in areas of pre-departure for public & passengers and similarly post immigration for passengers.

2. Foreign Exchange counters in pre and post immigration sections. Local Chinese currency is exchanged at uniform rates from airports to bank and hotels. (Exchange rates at Mumbai airport are much higher). 3. Shopping A large number of shops of branded goods in the check-in and duty-free area, and a vast shopping complex in the boarding

5. Public transportation available for all directions of the city of Shanghai at the airport. 6. Taxis: A unique system is provided to avoid cheating the foreign visitors by taxi drivers. The moment the driver puts down the taxi meter, there is a recorded announcement first in Chinese language and then in English. It says, “Welcome to Shanghai.” The rate per kilometer is… Ask for the bill from the taxi driver. This has the fare and the number of taxi driver. The

e. Items of public interest The needs of arriving tourists is to

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

FOCUS announcement further says that if you are not satisfied and you wish to complain, please fill the card kept in the pocket in front of your seat and handover to any policemen or drop in the letter box (without affixing postal stamp).

one upon the other.

tourists.

b. Suspension bridges are built with no support pillars to cross the rivers.

g. International cuisines:

7. Transit international passengers for domestic destinations in China:

Shanghai has 25 museums covering history, culture, industry, and other subjects. Entrance to most of the museums is free. Huang Pu River flows in the centre of Shanghai city. It is filled with tourist boat cruises with tremendous illumination in the evenings; some with dinner and music. Tremendous lighting on both sides of the banks of the Huang Pu River provides a spectacular view which beats some of the famous skyline cities of New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and even London.

International passengers can clear immigration formality at the same gate of arrival and then board the next destination domestic flights from the same terminal. This saves transfer/transportation hassles and need less of connecting time. 8. High speed public transport from Airport to city: The fastest train called Maglev train with magnetic technology flies above the tracks. The distance of 30 kms is covered in 7.5 minutes with highest speed touching 431 kms per hour (the fastest in the world). This train itself provides tourists an attraction to travel and experience this unique speed and the train itself.

II. Infrastructure of the city

a. Multi-miles and multilayers of flyover road networks are built covering hundreds of kilometers. At some point 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7 flyovers are

c. Tunnels below the river Huang Pu in Shanghai for road traffic. d. Tourist attractions

e. The 101 floor Shanghai World Financial Centre tower, where tourists can buy tickets and transported by high speed lifts in less than a minute. A circular atrium view from the top is a great experience, and there is also an observatory. f. Disneyland in Shanghai The tallest addition of Disneyland in Shanghai will further attract much more tourists and will provide more hotel nights by

Restaurants representing most of the countries are available in sufficient numbers throughout the city of Shanghai (including many Indian restaurants). h. Shopping streets with pedestrian area only (no cars). All branded and unbranded goods are sold here (beware of fake watches and other items).

Mr. Om Prakash, ex-Chairman TAAI (WR) Director, InORBIT Tours Pvt. Ltd.

passengers at Shanghai station. Jet-speed trains available, which compete with the flights.

i. Hotels Shanghai has more than 350 star rated hotels with over 65000 rooms. j. International Exhibition & Convention venues: Some of the most modern and Hitech trade exhibition venues built with German collaboration, house over 100 trade exhibitions in Shanghai which attracts lakhs of business visitors from all over the world. Similarly, many of the 5 star hotels having convention facilities to host upto 4000 delegates. These exhibition venues are instrumental in boosting the economy of Shanghai and China. k. Inter-city Railways and buses: Tourists can enjoy long distance train journeys with soft sleeper cabins, where immaculate white linen, pillow, blanket, towel, tooth brush, and dining car facilities are available. Train wise waiting lounges are available for waiting

l. Similarly, intercity buses have separate terminals and even luxury buses with reclining seats, reading lights, and are air-conditioned equipped. Announcements on TV monitor in the buses in Chinese and English are frequently announced. m. The public places of interest are full of dozens of tourist buses. One can visually see thousands of tourists during the sightseeing tour of Shanghai. n. Development of city business Such large volumes of tourists contribute to the economy and various businesses such as hotels, restaurants, shopping, travel agencies, guides transportation, airlines, airports and international business development and the domestic industries. To encourage expatriates there are 50 associations formed by various nationalities settled in Shanghai. They meet periodically. To be continued... By Mr. Om Prakash, ex-Chairman TAAI (WR) Director, InORBIT Tours Pvt. Ltd. email: omprakash@ inorbittours.com tel: 02224229281/40436868.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

HOSPITALITY

Radisson Blu, Kochi

A Beacon of Modern Style and Sophistication

adisson Blu Kochi is one of the best 5-Star contemporary business hotels in the city. Situated in the heart of Kochi, the hotel lies in close proximity to the transportation hubs, leisure destinations and great shopping areas. The central location of the hotel appeals to both business and leisure travellers. The excellence of the hotel is reflected in its super chic interiors, combined with a unique service culture, and an unforgettable ambience that makes one want to book a return stay even before

are soundproof, ensuring a restful visit.

Rooms & suites

Meticulously designed, the various comfortable rooms and plush suites at Radisson Blu Kochi impart a sense of indulgence and elegance. There are 150 rooms, including Superior Business Class, Deluxe Suites, Club

maintaining privacy. The Presidential Suite offers the ultimate experience in comfort, elegance and style. You will enjoy attentive service from your very own personal butler, besides a private bar and dining area that seats six people at a time.

Meetings and Events

Suites, Executive Suites and Presidential Suites, offering stylish accommodation, besides featuring a chic white and blue design. For those demanding the luxury of more space, the suites feature separate bedroom and living areas, making them ideal to meet valuable guests Mahadevan K in the living General Manager room while

one has left Kochi. Visitors to the hotel discover the perfect blend of relaxation and productivity through its rooms and suites which

Raju Rajendran Director of Sales & Marketing

Its four distinguished meeting areas: the Convention Center, the Banquet Hall, the Conference Hall and the Boardroom boasting nearly 15,000 square feet combined can be arranged in a variety of setups, including theatre, classroom, buffet and formal dinner. These meeting facilities can host up to 600 guests, with features like refreshments, catering options and audiovisual equipment can be included with your eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reservation. Being an ideal place for weddings, the hotel also offers wedding packages which can be customised

with an excellent range of elegant choices, including their unrivalled menu selection and complimentary anniversary offering. Thus making your wedding an event to cherish for a lifetime.

Dining

The restaurants at the hotel cater to varied tastebuds, with specialties ranging across various cuisines. Keshia, the coffee shop, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mainland China, the Chinese specialty restaurant, offers an upscale and authentic experience in Chinese cuisine, while High Bar, the rooftop restaurant and bar, serves Mediterranean dishes and creative libations under the open sky.

Other facilities

Amenities like an on-site Spa, Gymnasium, an open, rooftop Swimming Pool and a Business Centre, are some of the facilities offered that deliver a perfect blend of relaxation and productivity.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

CHEFS CORNER

Chef of the month Shanavas C A, Executive Chef of Apollo Dimora Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram is chosen as the ‘Chef of the month’. Apart from being passionate about creating recipes and food styling, he also likes to share his experiences and tips with others. For this special edition he shares with the readers of Asian Traveller the recipe of one of his numerous signature dishes. Shanavas C A

Profile

Shanavas C A is currently the Executive Chef of Apollo Dimora, Thiruvananthapuram – A Four plus Hotel. He has over 10 years of experience in culinary world working with various hotels and

resorts including Turtle on the Beach, Kovalam; Club

Mahindra Hotels & Resorts; Lalit Resort & Spa, Bekal; Nalapad’s Hotel Bangalore International; The Leela Kempinski, Kovalam, etc. He has also worked abroad with the cruise liner – Norwegian Cruise Line, Miami, Florida.

Shanavas graduated in Catering Science and Hotel Management from CMS College of Science & Commerce, Coimbatore.

Cheesy Volcano Stuffed Chicken Steak Ingredients

Chicken Breast, Chopped Garlic, Chopped Rosemary, Olive OIL, Grated Mozzarella cheese, Cheese Slice, Sliced Mushroom, Chicken Jew, Mash Potato, Butter,

excellent restaurants - Café Hive and Dimora Vega – that serve tempting food to gourmet lovers.

Boiled Veg, Salt, Crushed Pepper.

Method:

Stuff the chicken breast with grated mozzarella cheese and herbs, then marinate it nicely with olive oil,

Café Hive is the multicuisine restaurant and coffee parlour that remains operational from 7AM

chopped garlic, rosemary, salt and crushed pepper and grill it on a slow fire. Plate it and pour mushroom sauce on top made with olive oil, chopped garlic, sliced mushroom, chicken Jew, salt and pepper. Keep the boiled vegetables on side and some mashed potato tossed with butter and salt. Keep a cheese slice on top of the steak and keep under salamander just for melting. And serve hot. Savour this delicacy at Apollo Dimora restaurant. The hotel flaunts two

to 11PM and can house more than 100 people in one sitting. The main restaurant, Café Hive also serves mouth-watering nonveg delicacies. For those lovers of vegetarian food, Apollo Dimora pays their respect through ‘Dimora Vega’, the exclusive vegetarian restaurant. Unlike other hotel kitchens, Dimora Vega has got a distinct kitchen for preparing vegetarian dishes so that all vegetarian lovers get the purest food.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

HOSPITALITY

Apollo Dimora, Thiruvananthapuram

Discover yourself in the midst of diverse experiences

pollo Dimora, the smart new four plus business hotel, is the first venture of Apollo Builders, a leading Kozhikode based construction firm. Located right at the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala state, the hotel was conceived keeping the minutest details in mind for the convenience of discerning guests, especially the business and leisure travellers. With easy access, unique facilities, exquisite food and flawless hospitality, the Apollo Dimora is a unique recipe for your luxurious stay. Nestled snugly in the neighbourhood of corporate companies, shopping malls, diplomatic missions, sightseeing places and entertainment centers etc., the hotel is now the preferred choice

of travellers from various segments of the industry. The name ‘Dimora’ is the Italian word for ‘home’. The brand logo is a hexagonal design symbolizing the honeycomb structure which is a feat of perfection that not only provides a comfortable stay but also

a unique blend of tastes collected from around the world.

The Brand Dimora

Dimora, an ambitious project by Apollo Builders, was launched as part of their foray into the hospitality industry. Apollo Dimora is the brand name for the chain of four-star business class hotels and sojourns in Kerala and abroad. With a trend-setting array of commercial and residential projects, Apollo Builders has literally altered the skylines of Kerala, the God’s own country, in a remarkable way over the years. An ISO 9001:2008 certified builder with over 15 years of experience, Apollo has become a byword for trusted total building solutions. A member of CREDAI, Apollo is synonymous with loyal customer relationship, quality and security. The brand’s vision is to create benchmarks in the hospitality industry by achieving a premier position with continuous innovation, thereby making it the first choice for stakeholders, employees, and guests.

Upcoming Units

The next project in the chain is Apollo Dimora Kozhikode, which is to be located close to Kozhikode Cyber and IT Park with 101 rooms, the construction of which will commence at the beginning of 2016. The

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Apollo Dimora chain is also set to extend to Ernakulam, Kannur, and Dubai.

Apollo Dimora: The Premium 4 Star Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram

Apollo Dimora, Thiruvananthapuram, is the largest hotel in the city in terms of inventory, it houses 135 rooms and has parking space for 160 cars. It is located adjacent to the KSRTC bus stand, opposite to the Trivandrum Central Railway station and is less than half an hour from the airport. The building consists of seven-storeyed twin towers connected by an awe-inspiring sky bridge, and has an asset value of INR 2500 million.

Rooms and Facilities

Apollo Dimora presents 135 elegant hotel rooms, among which 120 are standard, 10 suites, and 5 deluxe hotel rooms. The parking space is efficiently designed to accommodate upto 160 cars. Apart from these basic facilities of stay and parking, Dimora also offers countless unique facilities. Apollo Dimora Trivandrum takes pride in providing 7 conference halls where you can hold professional parleys and business meetings. Apollo Dimora is all set to change the hospitality sector of the state with their brand new hotels. 93

HOSPITALITY

Hotel Plum Judy

Enjoy the essence of Munnar from above

otel Plum Judy is a premium leisure high-altitude hotel where a bird’s-eye view is the number-one selling point. Plum Judy promises that you are cocooned in comfort, but still on top of the world. The name Plum Judy has been derived from the name of a butterfly, meaning: a striking and beautiful butterfly. This active butterfly is usually seen at the tops of trees and amidst foliage. Similarly, the Hotel Plum Judy is also located

on top of a mountain which adds to its beauty. Located in Pallivasal, the hotel is around 8 kms from Munnar. It is a fabulous masterpiece of nature having a dreamlike view, which combines greenly mountains, valleys, lakes, waterfalls, and verdant forests. One side of the hotel faces towering hills and on the other side is the valley which has excellent scenic beauty, panoramic views, lush green forests, enchanting streams and attractive surroundings makes the guest’s dream come true. In addition, there are numerous flora and fauna in the scenic area and rare species of animals. Hotel Plum Judy is a premium business hotel in Munnar. Its location, décor,

and lavish atmosphere distinguish this leisure

T N Asok Kumar, MD

décor. These rooms are divided into three categories

Praveen Menon, GM

hotel from others and make it perfect for an exclusive holiday. Apart from the lavish rooms, sheer curtains, restraints, it also provides the ideal destination for board meetings in the specially designed board room. Hotel Plum Judy as the name suggests has spectacular views on the outside and is even more beautiful to look from the inside.

Rooms & facilities

Plum Judy Resort has 60 lavish rooms with exotic

Sreeraj C S, MM

i.e., jacuzzi suites, premium rooms, and interconnected rooms. Each of them offers a spectacular view of the misty mountains of Munnar. There are 4 jacuzzi suites, 53 premium rooms, and 3 interconnected rooms. The jacuzzi suites are best known for its elegance and refinement. Some of the facilities include: a restaurant, banquet hall, board room, well-equipped gym, massage and spa center, and recreation activities.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

HOSPITALITY

Villa Portia, Marari

For an authentic Kerala experience the highest quality of accommodation, with good kitchen amenities to fire your culinary interest. But, if you plan to get away with books or a leisure trip, the caretaker will take care of the cooking.

Dining

f you have tried staying at regular resorts and is still looking for an authentic Kerala experience then Villa Portia in Marari is just the right place for you. Marari which derives its name from Mararikulam, is a small village in Kerala inhabited by the local fishermen. Life in this place hasn’t changed much in the last many decades. Men here continue to go for fishing in the morning while the womenfolk perform the necessary household chores. This small village is host to numerous soft sand

beaches that promises one a holiday that will relieve him from all worries and tensions. Marari Beach was rated as one of the world’s top five hammock beaches by National Geographic survey. The location’s alluring aura of village life will enhance your vacation. Its proximity to Alappuzha(the Venice of the east) will provide you the opportunity to explore its backwaters and house boats at a touching distance. You can also make a visit to a coir factory or an ayurvedic health spa to make your visit delightful. The cool breeze from the sea, the sight of a swaying palm and the warmth of the tropical climate

will certainly linger in your memories. Located just 11 kms away from Alappuzha town, Villa Portia has all the ingredients of an ideal vacation. It doesn’t just offer a place to stay but welcomes you to anexhilarating experience atits half-centuryold traditional Kerala home.

At Villa Portiayou can savour typical South Indian food. The staple diet of the people of Alappuzha includes rice, spicy curry with a local specialty of steamed rice cake served with coconut topping. The town has something or the else to serve to both vegetarians and nonvegetarians. Seafood is the main highlight of the cuisine of Alappuzha. Karimeen pollichathu (burnt/grilled), pearl spot fish baked over coals, karimeen curry and viral fry are some of the main seafood dishes of Alappuzha.

Rooms and Facilities

Pavi, which still retains its old-world charm has two well-appointed luxurious AC rooms which will ensure that you are not only comfortable but also relaxed and at peace. It is equipped with all the modern amenities that assure ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

HOSPITALITY

Xandari Resorts

It’s a journey of discovery

andari originated in the coffee-growing hills of Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Architect Sherrill Broudy conceived a spa resort on a 40-acre estate with lush gardens and a large forest reserve within its borders. As Forbes calls it, Xandari is a Costa George M George Rican Managing Director Mountainside Slice of Paradise. The resort’s concept was based upon sustainable practices that broadly encompass the need for community and conservation oriented tourism. For nearly two decades, Xandari has embodied the concept of ‘community’. Its collaborative efforts with the local community to preserve the social and cultural environment are widely appreciated. Travellers to Xandari

will have the distinct, pure experience of how communities stand and support each other through sustainable social enterprise that offers them a taste of the local culture in each destination. George M George, an avid traveler, passionate about ‘experience based travels’ on one of his explorations to Costa Rica, happened to meet Xandari architect Broudy and his wife Charlene, and good chemistry led to discussion of their shared vision for the future. When it was time for the Broudys to retire from the day to day operations, they entrusted Xandari to George M George, Executive Director of Muthoot Leisure & Hospitality Services (MLHS), after their desire to see Xandari expand under a new ownership and to ensure that Xandari remains Xandari in perpetuity.

This company now named Xandari Hospitality Services also went on to carry out projects in Asia, Africa and Europe. The group started three Xandari properties in Kerala, India after George’s desire to bring the Xandari concept to India. These resorts offer its own interpretation of the Xandari Costa Rica’s authentic sense of community. Xandari’s India experience showcases the best of its natural and cultural wonders, which include Xandari Harbour in the World Heritage-

worthy Fort Kochi. It offers a signature all-day restaurant ‘51’ that tells the ancient spice-route story, brings together Indian and Mediterranean ingredients in its cuisine, which is slow cooked for the guests to enjoy. Then there is Xandari Pearl on Mararikulam beach, rated one of the top five “Hammock Beaches” in the world by National Geographic; and Xandari Riverscapes (a fleet of traditional houseboats, the Kettuvalloms), on the world-famous backwaters at Alappuzha, the Venice of the East.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

HOSPITALITY

Sanctum Inle Resort, Myanmar to celebrate October Grand Opening

he first upscale hotel to come on line in one of Myanmar’s most compelling tourist destinations will officially debut October 1, when 94-room Sanctum Inle Resort holds its grand opening on the shores of Inle Lake. An Olympic-sized swimming pool overlooking the lake, the 150 square meter presidential Sanctuary Suite and a Shan and international cuisine restaurant, The Refectory, are among the new features

100

to be unveiled as part of the Brigitte Dumont de Chassart-designed resort’s grand opening. “In a region long closed off to the wider world, we’re opening the doors on an experience of accommodation that celebrates removal and contemplation,” said Philippe Arnaud, the resort’s general manager. “Our location invites this sort of mind-set, and our design does, as well.” At 120 square kilometers and 800 meters above sea level,

Inle Lake is renowned for its stilted wooden homes, floating vegetable gardens and fishermen, who propel their boats across the water with a singular, one-legged rowing style. Two hours by air, car and boat from Yangon, Sanctum Inle Resort inspires contemplation through its off-the-beaten-path location and architectural flourishes that invoke monastic traditions, such as Spanish-style arches and minimalist but modern room designs.

The resort offers four room categories, including a pair of suites with full vistas of the lake, and a window on some of Asia’s most remarkable markets, pagodas, and stupas. While the rooms range in size from 40 to 150 square meters, all feature lofty ceilings, natural wood floors, plush beds, air-conditioning and cable TV. The 107-seat Refectory offers a full complement of Chan and Western dishes, and Cloister Bar, an elegant hangout, boasts a selection

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

Inle Lake is renowned for its Intha fishermen, who propel their boats across the water with a singular, one-legged rowing style.

of Myanmar-brewed beers, international wines and Cuban and Dominican cigars. The resort’s Chapter House is a quiet venue with books and board games that can be transformed into a meeting space. Totaling 170 square meters, Sanctuary Spa is home to five treatment rooms and offers a multitude of therapies including its signature Tamarind Scrub with tamarind harvested from the property, as well as hot stone massages and facials. In addition to the saltwater swimming pool, a fully-equipped gym will be ready in time for the grand opening. To encourage exploration of the area, the resort’s team has developed eight tours ranging from a half-day cycling excursion to Red Mountain Estate winery to a full-day trip to Kakku’s ancient temples.

Ranging in size from 40 to 150 square meters, all of Sanctum Inle Resort’s rooms feature lofty ceilings, natural wood floors, plush beds, air-conditioning and cable TV.

Traditional dancers and musicians from the Shan, Intha and Pao tribes will gather on the property to mark the grand opening and celebrate a sunset barbecue buffet dinner with cocktails and candles floating around the resort’s jetty. Just as Sanctum Inle Resort’s architecture blends the traditional and the modern, the event will also include a fashion show of recycled garments, fireworks display on the lake, and DJ spinning the decks at the resort’s Cloister Bar. Opening room rates start at MMK 334,470 ++ [USD 284 ++] per night. September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

Sanctum Inle Resort inspires contemplation through its off-the-beaten-path location and architectural flourishes that invoke monastic traditions, such as Spanish-style arches and minimalist but modern room designs.

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HOSPITALITY

Chariot Beach Resort

Truly Heritage. Truly Mahabalipuram.

hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sense of exclusivity about Chariot Beach Resort that starts the moment you check in. Perched upon 42 immaculately-landscaped oceanfront acres, Chariot Beach Resort is classy, yet relaxed, classic yet timeless. The imposing heritage model is inspired by the celebrated ancient Five Ratha monument and the Shore Temple just a few steps away. Fashioned as a temple, the resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open layout and intended greenery are in total harmony with the monuments and multiplies the beauty of the entire heritage ecosystem.

70 pieces of paradise

The paradise experience begins with 70 immaculate living spaces offering stunning views of the

sapphire sea and pool, each providing an unprecedented level of privacy. And every succeeding sun- swept day is filled with an array of leisure activities, adventure sports exclusive to Chariot Beach, local expeditions, lazy dips in an olympic size pool, with a stopover at a rejuvenating spa.

skies and a sea bathed in moonlight. Savory aromas fill the air as dish after delectable dish is carefully prepared. The food will surely stimulate your palate and satiate your soul.

are planning an intimate gathering of 20 or a large ceremony for 4000, the resort offers beautiful locations and a complete range of supporting services and amenities.

Escape into delicious indulgence

At Chariot Beach Resort, our cuisine is as varied and generous as our people and our landscape. Our gifted chefs are specially cued in to create an inspiring and sensational array of dishes that give you a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Savor local and international delights in the background of warm sands, swaying palms, starry

Make your events and celebrations memorable

Chariot Beach Resort offers dream-like settings for unforgettable wedding celebrations. Whether you

A fun filled holiday at Chariot Beach Resort gives you the best of three worlds. A date with ancient Indian culture at Mahabalipuram, a colonial adventure at Pondicherry and a delightful shop till you drop experience at Chennai. Come discover a piece of history, an inviting ethnic atmosphere that co-exists charmingly with world class services and amenities, all in natural and unspoilt surroundings. Come tick off the top ten on your bucket list. In a truly heritage, truly Mahabalipuram setting.

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ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

NEWSLINE

NHCC presents the fifth season of ‘Colours of Novotel’ Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre (NHCC) and Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) unveiled its fifth season of ‘Colours of Novotel’ recently at the hotel premises. Supporting a community of immense talent — the signature event series focussed on bringing together artists under one roof and presenting them a platform to showcase some of their best works. This edition is curated by a renowned connoisseur of the field and an artist herself, Ms. Rangoli Garg, and showcases over 30 paintings. Mr. Neil Paterson, General Manager, NHCC and HICC hosted the

inauguration ceremony of this edition at the Ballroom. Featuring a collection of exquisite illustrations, the paintings made from acrylic, oil pastels and watercolours that are inspired from nature, love, culture as well as mythology are being presented this season. This edition features works from renowned artists like Bala Bhakta Raju, Vasanthula Ramakrishna, Rangoli

Garg, Agacharya, and Satheesh Khanna that will be available for sale till 31st October 2016. The inaugural ceremony saw guests interacting with the artists and their works in the company of wines, snacks,

and live ethnic-Indian tunes. Live interactive sessions on Lippan work, Tanjore art, bamboo art, and bangle making crafts kept guests involved with the overall theme of the evening.

NEWSLINE

AP Tourism announces State Annual Tourism Excellence Awards (2015-16) Andhra Pradesh Tourism announces State Annual Tourism Excellence Awards for the year 2015-16. Commemorating World Tourism Day on September 27, 2016, the winners of the awards will be honoured by the Department of Tourism on the same day. World Tourism Day is celebrated globally to foster awareness among the international community of the

importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value. As the official day set aside in the United Nations Calendar, the celebration seeks to highlight tourism’s potential to contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing some of the most pressing challenges society is faced with today. The theme for 2016: “Tourism for All —

Promoting Universal Accessibility.” Accessible Tourism for all is about the creation of environments that can cater for the needs of all of us, whether we are travelling or staying at home. The State Tourism Awards will be presented to classified hotels, approved travel agents, tour operators, writers, educational institutions, etc., in recognition of their performance in their

respective fields and also to encourage healthy competition in order to promote tourism. Andhra Pradesh State Annual Tourism Excellence Awards will be given to all the segments of travel industry recognized either by the Central Government or the State Government, Travel agents, Tour Operators, classified Hotels including Heritage Hotels, Restaurant, and independent hotels.

Away Koh Samui Elements Resort and Spa opening in Thailand

Bangkok-based hotel management group Bespoke Hospitality Management Asia (www. BHMAsia.com) has expanded its portfolio by opening Away Koh Samui Elements Resort and Spa. This is the first property on Koh Samui to become part of the Away Resorts and Villas brand under the management of BHMAsia. Away Koh Samui Elements Resort and Spa, located at Phang Ka in the southwest of the 104

island, boasts single and double bedroom pool villas and deluxe suites and a private beach. It provides Thai and international cuisine in its renowned Fai restaurant, as well as ‘Bamboo’, an atmospheric Thai beachfront bar cafe and restaurant. Away Resorts and Villas are well-known as the brand that provides luxurious accommodations in hideaway paradises. By extending its presence

in Koh Samui, Away Koh Samui Elements Resort and Spa brings its signature and charm for people to be able to experience paradise in Thailand.

of the best fitness clubs on Koh Samui, ‘Body and Soul’, which offers a wide range of private and group yoga courses and planned healthy diets and detox services.

In addition, Away Koh Samui Elements Resort and Spa provides guests with the Serenity Spa, offering a full range of massages as well as its own signature range of spa treatments. Guests can also start the day with a morning yoga class or enjoy a workout in one

To celebrate the very first Away Resorts and Villas’ property on Koh Samui, Away Koh Samui Elements Resort and Spa would like to offer the introductory special rates start from THB 3,823 per room per night inclusive of breakfast for two persons. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

NEWSLINE

Paddle Board Yoga With A View On Sparkling Bass Lake Provides Health Benefits Low impact: Although there are lots of muscles being used, it is a low impact exercise which means that it is unlikely to cause any injury. In fact, it can help with rehab as it slowly increases strength. Reduces stress: Who doesn’t like to be near the water because it has such a calming effect on our mind, body, and soul. The sound of water as your paddle strikes takes all your stresses away and connecting to nature quietens your mind.

Stand up paddle boarding is a fast growing sporting activity because it provides many wonderful health benefits including building strength and reducing stress. Start your morning off right with paddle board yoga on beautiful Bass Lake that is full of sparkling blue water and surrounded by the Sierra National Forest

that makes for the perfect yoga session with a view on Tuesday mornings, 7am. Michelle Miller from Miller’s Landing said “There are so many excellent health benefits to paddle board yoga for all ages and we have lots of fun at the same time Paddle board yoga health benefits include:

Full body work out: Each muscle in the body is used, especially leg muscles as they are working to stabilize your center of gravity. Arms, back and shoulders are working to propel the paddleboard in the water. The core, back and abdominal muscles are constantly at work to maintain your balance.

Cardio workout: You can really build up your heart rate if you challenge yourself and your friend’s to go fast and perhaps have a race. Prevent heart attacks and strokes: According to iSupWorld.com, paddle boarding will help you avoid being a victim of heart attacks and strokes. As you can see there are many health benefits to paddle boarding and paddle board yoga for children and adults.

Thailand formulating strategies to boost industry and tourist confidence after recent incidents The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has put together a raft of initiatives, including a Situation Monitoring Centre and a We Care Campaign, to ensure the safety of tourists in Thailand and to let people know that the country is still a secure and welcoming destination to visit in the wake of the

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incidents over the last weekend. A number of special events and festivals are being planned to stimulate future travel and bookings. Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor said, “To boost industry and tourist confidence, TAT is putting initiatives in place to ensure that Thailand’s positive image

as a safe and welcoming tourist destination remains intact. TAT is also launching a “We Care” initiative, campaigning for the local communities to pull out the stops when it comes to hosting tourists and to encourage everyone working in the field of tourism to wear special White-Yellow Ribbons — symbols of

the peace and unity of the nation. We want to show that Thailand and the Thai people genuinely care for the well-being of all tourists. And we want tourists to know that by visiting Thailand, they’ll make memorable travel memories and enjoy experiences that will entice them to return time after time.”

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

NEWSLINE

Interline Agreement between Hahn Air and Vietjet expands cooperation Hahn Air is proud to announce the expansion of its cooperation with Vietjet. The Vietnamese low cost carrier has signed its very first interline agreement with the German scheduled airline and the leading provider of airline distribution services and ticketing solutions. The agreement with Hahn Air enables Vietjet to sell its flights on Hahn Air’s HR-169 ticket under its own designator “VJ” in the GDS — even in markets where the airline is not a member of the local Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP). Vietjet has already joined Amadeus independently with plans to enter more GDSs in the future.

Thanks to its partnership with Hahn Air Systems since 2014, Vietjet has already been available in all GDSs worldwide under the code H1. With H1-Air, Hahn Air Systems enables airlines with no GDS presence of their own to sell their services to over 95,000

travel agencies in 190 markets worldwide. Vietjet is the fifth partner of the Hahn Air Group to make use of a so-called dual partnership combining both the H1Air product with an HR169 interline agreement for an enhanced

global distribution strategy. Through this dual partnership, Vietjet benefits from a full suite of services including scheduling, fare filing, messaging, inventory management, reservations, settlements, money repatriation and HR-169 ticketing.

World’s Largest Aircraft makes maiden flight cubic meters of helium inside its hull, which is made from ultralight carbon fiber.

The giant blimp-like Airlander 10 spent 20 minutes in the air on August 17th, after months of flight preparations and years of searching for funding, and landed safely at Cardington Airfield north of London. Part airship, part helicopter, part plane, the 300-feet

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long aircraft is about 50 feet longer than the world’s biggest passenger planes. The Airlander, made by British company Hybrid Air Vehicles, has four engines and no internal structure. It maintains its shape thanks to the pressure of the 38,000

Together with the aerodynamic shape of its hull, the lighterthan-air helium gas provides most of the lift. The aircraft’s odd shape has led some observers to describe it as a “flying bum.” The aircraft was originally designed for U.S. military surveillance. But the project was grounded in 2013 because of defense spending cuts. The Airlander has a significantly lower carbon

footprint than other forms of air transportation, and the team behind it hopes it will be used in a wide range of commercial jobs. They said the aircraft could carry communications equipment or other cargo, undertake search and rescue operations, or do military and commercial survey work. The Airlander can stay airborne for up to five days at a time if manned, and for more than two weeks if unmanned. It can carry up to 10 tons of cargo at a maximum speed of 91 miles per hour.The aircraft doesn’t need a runway to take off, meaning it can operate from land, snow, ice, desert and even open water. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

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Japanese school groups show confidence in Thailand as planned events go ahead The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased that confidence in Thailand as a safe destination for travel and tourism remains high among

Japanese travellers, with several pre-booked school tours from Japan taking place as planned and organisers expressing full confidence in the safety and security of the

kingdom. Two exchange groups, totalling 57 participants, from Fukuoka, Japan will be visiting Thailand this month. The first group from Koge’s

Elementary School will be in Bangkok from 17 to 22 of August, and will comprise a total of 45 participants, including Koge Mayor, Mr. Tsubone, 30 students and 14 teachers and trip leaders. The second group, comprising 10 selected students from 10 high schools in Fukuoka Prefecture will be in Bangkok from 17 to 23 of August. As well as taking part in educational exchanges, some of these students will be experiencing a more personal side of Thai culture by staying in homestay accommodation with Thai families. See more at: TATNewsroom

All of Phuket’s popular events and festivals going ahead as planned The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to announce that the calendar of events taking place in Phuket for the rest of this year remains full and covers everything from food festivals to conferences,

media trips and sporting events, with at least 12 major events scheduled to be held between now and early October. Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor said, “Phuket has long been a world-famous

holiday destination and a popular venue for meetings and festivals, which will be taking place as planned with organisers all fully confident that Thailand is a safe place to visit. The increased security

and a stepped up police presence nationwide has also offered reassurance that events and festivals in Phuket or elsewhere in the country will be trouble free and that people attending them are safe.”

TAT to host four-city roadshow in August TAT’s offices in Mumbai and Delhi are in the midst of a four-phase event in four cities that are ripe for outbound travel. TAT Delhi began the roadshow with an event in Raipur on Thursday and one in Bhubaneshwar today while TAT Mumbai will take the annual initiative to the

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travel trade in Hyderabad and Pune. “We are taking the Thailand product beyond metros because we are also experiencing huge traffic and interest from these cities,” says Soraya Homchuen, director, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mumbai office.

The Amazing Thailand roadshow will see over a dozen suppliers visit all four cities. Sellers will be briefed on each city’s unique needs and way of doing business, along with demand-related information, trends and connectivity to ensure that they are on the same page

as the travel trade who will attend the roadshow. Travel trade in Raipur, Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad and Pune can look forward to meeting with an eager supplier’s delegation that includes hotels, destination management companies and attractions.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

NEWSLINE

Thailand and Qatar official hosts of World Tourism Day 2016 and 2017 WTD 2016 will be celebrated under the theme of “Tourism for All – promoting universal accessibility” and WTD 2017 under the theme of “Sustainable Tourism – a tool for development.” Thailand and Qatar have been selected to be the official host countries for World Tourism Day (WTD) in 2016 and 2017 respectively, at the 21st UNWTO General Assembly in Medellín, Colombia (17 September 2015).

“I am looking forward to celebrating World Tourism Day in collaboration with these two prominent UNWTO Member States: Thailand, one of the world’s most visited destinations where tourism is a rooted part of society and Qatar, a prominent, emerging tourism destination,” said UNWTO SecretaryGeneral Taleb Rifai. “Tourism must be in the forefront of national development plans. In 2017 we will arrange an

event that will carry this message to the world,” said the representative of the Qatar Tourism Authority. “The Thai government would like to express sincere thanks to the Assembly for the opportunity to host World Tourism Day in 2016 and we will do our best to live up to our slogan and show you the Amazing Thailand,” said the representative of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand. Celebrated annually on

27 September, World Tourism Day aims to foster awareness among the global community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. WTD 2015 will be celebrated under the theme “One billion tourists, one billion opportunities,” highlighting the tourism sector’s vast potential to be an agent for positive change in countries and communities around the world.

Hyderabad gets its first ibis in HITEC City with ibis hotels globally. Like all ibis hotels around the world, ibis Hyderabad HITEC City guarantees all its guests a happy sleep with the signature Sweet Bed™, an innovative bedding concept from ibis guaranteed to offer guests a quality sleep experience. Modern, comfortable and well-designed rooms replete with a High Definition LED TV and high speed 50 mbps Wi-Fi Internet access ensure that guests can relax and work with comfort and ease. Left-Right – Rubin Cherian, General Manager, ibis Hyderabad, J.B. Singh, (President & CEO, InterGlobe Hotels) along with Arif Patel (Vice-President -Sales, Marketing and Distribution, India AccorHotels)

AccorHotels and InterGlobe Hotels today announced the opening of ibis Hyderabad HITEC City, marking the debut of the in-demand economy brand in the vibrant city. Strategically located in the heart of HITEC City, a hub to some of the world’s leading technology corporations, the hotel

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is easily accessible from Hyderabad International Convention Center managed by AccorHotels, making it the ideal stay destination for business travellers. With 178 well-appointed rooms, the hotel boasts of a contemporary design that offers unparalleled comfort and convenience

with a range of in-room amenities at an affordable price. Living up to the ibis promise of providing ‘well-being at the best price’, ibis Hyderabad HITEC City offers travellers a unique blend of modernity, comfort, affordability and availability synonymous

The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant Spice It, offers buffet and a la carte menu options. It also offers the ibis signature Great Indian Breakfast, an eight-hour breakfast which runs from 4 a.m. until 12 noon. The Hub, lobby bar provides a wide selection of refreshing beverages and complimentary Wi-Fi access, serving as the perfect place for an evening wind down. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

NEWSLINE

India Travel Mart inaugurated by Hon’ble Mayor of Amritsar Shri Bakshi Ram Arora

Honourable Mayor of Amritsar, Shri Bakshi Ram Arora inaugurated the three day Punjab’s biggest Travel and Tourism exhibition; India Travel Mart in the presence of Trade Members of Hotel, Restaurant & Resort Association of Punjab (HRRA-Punjab),

Punjab Travel Agents Association (PTAA), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Travel Agent Association of India (TAAI), OTOAI, TAFI, Media, Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Tour Organizers, Hoteliers,

Delegates, Exhibitors, Hospitality trade and Invitees from different parts of the Punjab and other States. This is the best time for everyone to visit this travel exhibition from August 12 to 14, 2016 from 11 AM - 7 PM at Hotel Holiday Inn, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, Punjab. “Punjab is a great market and it has huge potential when it comes to tourism sector. We have various tourism circuits, tourists’ spots, cuisine delights and much more. Exhibitions like ITM should target cities like Amritsar as these places have a lot

of possibilities which needs advancements and promotions. People of Punjab are fun loving and they wish to explore new and fresh destinations, so this exposition is a great platform for people who are willing to Travel in India and around the world. I wish a very good luck for his venture and hope for its success,” said Shri. Bakshi Ram Arora. On the first day of ITM received huge response from the visitors and people were seen enjoying their visit. They interacted and discussed about new destinations, various travel packages and discounts. Some of the visitors got customized packages according to their wishes.

TOFTigers Wildlife Tourism Awards 2016 The sustainable nature tourism action charity, TOFTigers, in association with India’s premier wildlife magazine, Sanctuary Asia, and India’s best known travel magazine, Outlook Traveller, have combined to bring together the 4th TOFTigers Wildlife Tourism Awards 2016. The theme this year is ‘Rewilding — at the heart of responsible nature tourism’. The Awards aim to highlight and reward the very best in the nature tourism field; those individuals, businesses, service providers and community enterprises who are leading the way in wilderness destinations in the Indian subcontinent. Each in their own way will be pioneering new ways 114

to support and inspire wildlife conservation, engage local communities and help restoration of wildlife habitat through their vision, drive and actions. The voting on the nominations which was closed on 8th July consists of the following awards: • The John Wakefield Memorial Award for Most Inspirational Eco Lodge of the Year 2016

INR 25,000 prize)

• Up and Coming Excellence for Nature Award 2016

• Visitor Friendly Wildlife Destination of the Year 2016 (also carries a prize of INR 75,000 worth of kit or equipment to be used in tiger protection/conservation)

• The Billy Arjan Singh Memorial Award for Wildlife Guide of the Year 2016 (also carries INR 20,000 prize)

• Wildlife Tourism Related Community Initiative of the Year 2016 (also carries a prize of INR 50,000)

• Lodge Naturalist of the Year 2016 (also carries

• Wildlife Promotion Company of the Year 2016

• Wildlife and Tourism Initiative of the Year 2016 (also carries a prize of INR 50,000 towards equipment/services for the benefit of the community) • International Wildlife Tour Operator of the Year 2016 The Winners and Runners Up will be announced on 23rd September 2016 at a Gala award ceremony in Delhi. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

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Chiang Mai tourism stakeholders reiterate readiness in welcoming tourists

Chiang Mai tourism stakeholders have stepped forward in a concerted effort to reiterate the city’s readiness both in terms of infrastructure and hospitality in welcoming all international tourists, especially Chinese travellers whose numbers have increased

significantly over the last few years. The announcement was made during a joint press conference, held at Chiang Mai Zoo, by Chiang Mai Province, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Royal Thai Police, Department of Transport, and the private sector

represented by the tourism-related associations. Mr. Mongkol Suksai, Chiang Mai Vice Governor said, “Chiang Mai’s positioning as one of Thailand’s major tourist destinations is further strengthened annually. Chiang Mai has just been named the

Top City in Asia as well as ranked second for the World’s Best Cities in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2016 readers’ survey. In addition, Chiang Mai was voted the best destination among the 17 most favourites of the 2016 People’s Choice Awards Thailand voted by the Chinese tourists.”

AHIF to probe crucial issues for hotel investment in Africa

The 7th Africa Hotel Investment Forum, being hosted this year in Rwanda, promises a highly influential line-up of speakers, ready to unpick the major challenges and opportunities facing the hospitality industry in Africa. 116

AHIF brings together a prestigious group of international investors, business leaders, industry experts, government ministers and officials, from over 50 countries. It gives delegates the chance to network, learn about latest developments, share expertise, make business pitches and secure future deals. Bench Events Managing Director Matthew Weihs, Organizer of AHIF, said, “AHIF is renowned as the place where conversations lead to firm projects and the

private and public sectors come together to form mutually beneficial partnerships. Our cast of high-level experts is attracting significant interest from delegates across the globe, with attendance set to increase on previous years.” Major highlights at AHIF, which is taking place at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre in Kigali from 4-6 October 2016, include: ‘Economic outlook for Africa,’ ‘Developing tourism infrastructure,’ ‘Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood,’ ‘Tackling political and security risk,’ ‘The shape of the industry,’ ‘The real

African opportunity,’ ‘Money matters: Raising capital,’ and ‘Successfully transacting in Africa.’ Other key sessions include: • Making the best of natural assets – how Rwanda built a lucrative and sustainable tourism industry around gorilla conservation. • Developing talent in Africa’s hospitality sector. • From concept to opening: the hotel development process. • Innovations in design. See the full programme at: www. africa-conference.com ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

NEWSLINE

Travelport and OYO announces new Hotel Content Deal Travelport, a leading travel commerce platform, and OYO — India’s largest network of hotels, recently announced a new agreement whereby 6,000 hotel properties offered by OYO will be made available through Travelport’s Travel Commerce Platform to its travel agency users, both in India and around the world. OYO currently operates in more than 180 Indian cities, including Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Goa. The agreement with OYO is the latest example of Travelport responding to the needs of its agents to add the hotel content they need in their local regions. It also responds to the needs of hoteliers by giving them access to

the international travel booking industry. Once on Travelport’s Travel Commerce Platform, travel agents globally have access to the hotel content through their normal workflow, eliminating time-consuming and inefficient bookings across different channels. Travelport’s Travel Commerce Platform connects hotel providers and independent properties to its 68,000 connected agencies worldwide, in turn, offering travellers more hotel choices as Travelport now offers 650,000 unique hotel properties. Kavikrut, Chief Growth Officer, at OYO said, “We are pleased to partner with Travelport and take

our offerings to a wider audience. Both OYO and Travelport are recognized for leveraging innovative technology capabilities. We are confident of utilizing this synergy to unlock new growth areas for both partners.” Niklas Andreen, SVP of Hospitality at Travelport, said ,“We are delighted to welcome OYO to Travelport. This is an

exciting partnership and one that forms part of our ongoing strategy to extend our hotel offerings. Our industry-leading connectivity enables us to directly acquire specific hotel content, as well as requested local hotel chains and individual properties, and we are looking forward to expand our offerings in this area throughout the year.”

Hotel doorman clocks 50 years of service at Sri Lankan heritage hotel the tap room at the Galle Face Hotel. Now – at 71 years old – the loyal employee is still earning his keep at Sri Lanka’s oldest and most fabled property.

It has been 50 years since Mr. Banda lugged his first barrel of beer into 118

Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage Punchi Banda was barely out of his teens when he began work at the property on July 17, 1966. By then the hotel, which opened in 1864, was already more than 100 years old. In his

first ten years, he worked his way from bar labourer to security guard. Fourty years ago, he began greeting guests as a doorman, and he’s still at it today. “Mr. Banda is more than just a doorman. He is the face of the property. He is the first person guests see when they arrive and often the last person from the hotel they see as they depart. In his role, he embodies the hotel’s grace and charm,” said Sanjeev Gardiner, Chairman of the Galle Face Hotel. Over the years he has welcomed many famous guests including Indira Gandhi, Marshal Tito, Fidel Castro, and Yuri Gagarin. He has greeted

many former Sri Lankan presidents and prime ministers. And once, he held an umbrella for Arthur C. Clarke, author of 3001: The Final Odyssey (which was penned at the hotel). Mr. Banda trained under the watchful eye of Kottarappu Chattu Kuttan, Sri Lanka’s most famous doorman who worked at the hotel until his passing in 2014. At the time of his death, Mr. Kuttan had served at the hotel for 72 years and was one of the oldest hotel employees in the world - at 94 years of age. Mr. Banda plans to follow his mentor’s footsteps by continuing to work at the hotel for many years to come. ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

NEWSLINE

Deccan Odyssey rolls out its Attractive Companion Offer World Heritage sites and relish secret recipes of the royal kitchen.

Deccan Odyssey, the award-winning luxury train operated by Cox & Kings, the outsourced partner of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), in India has announced an exclusive Companion Offer for the new set of

journeys commencing October 2016. One can now book a cabin and avail 25% discount for his/her companion. It is time you let yourself immerse in opulence. Visit the iconic symbols, India’s architectural wonders,

Deccan Odyssey will embark on its unique journeys from October 2016. The offer is applicable on bookings made from June 16August 31, 2016. The special offer has been exclusively rolled out for NRIs, OCI card holders, Indian / Foreigners overseas (including the Gulf and Far East). The train has been refurbished to reflect the changing needs of the new age traveller. In addition to the companion discount, couples can avail of a

relaxing spa session for 30 minutes absolutely free at ‘Ayush’ – the luxurious spa. There is more to the offer; passengers can also treat themselves to a complimentary wine/beer at the well-stocked bar on board the Deccan Odyssey. The train stands out for its superlative service combined with worldclass amenities. The journeys offer a glimpse of Incredible India with stops at destinations that have historical significance and diverse cultural offering. Each journey on the Deccan Odyssey is an exploration of India’s diversity, exotic locales and the discovery of timeless traditions.

Deccan Odyssey when simply put is an experience of magnificence. Itineraries: Maharashtra Splendour: Mumbai – Nashik – Aurangabad – Ajanta – Kolhapur – Goa – Sindhudurg – Mumbai Hidden Treasures of Gujarat: Mumbai – Vadodara – Palitana – Sasan Gir – Little Rann of Kutch – Modhera - Patan –

Nashik – Mumbai

Indian Odyssey: New Delhi – Sawai Madhopur – Agra – Jaipur – Udaipur – Vadodara – Ellora Caves – Mumbai Indian Sojourn: Mumbai – Vadodara – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Agra – Sawai Madhopur – Jaipur – Delhi Jewels of the Deccan: Mumbai – Bijapur – Aihole - Pattadakal – Hampi –Hyderabad – Aurangabad – Ajanta –

Mumbai

Maharashtra Wild trail: Mumbai – Aurangabad – Pench (Ramtek) – Tadoba –Ajanta – Nashik – Mumbai

The bookings for 2016-17 are open. For details visit www.thedeccanodyssey.com

SATA 2016 gets overwhelming response South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) opened up for nominations on June 30, 2016 and has received overwhelming support from major hospitality brands present in India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. SATA is the first

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hospitality award brand recognized by the regional organizations including Federations of Chambers of Commerce in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Confederation of Associated Tour Operators (CATO,

India), Association of Tourism Trade Organizations of India (ATTOI), Association of Travel Agents (ATA, Maldives) and Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM). SATA has also appointed major regional

tourism media including Asian Traveller as premium media partner, and Asian Diver, Asian Geographic, Floating Asia and Maldives.net. mv as media partner of the event scheduled to take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka during late October.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

AIRLINE NEWS

Ethiopian wins Skytrax World Airline Award for “Best Airline Staff in Africa” Ethiopian Airlines has won Skytrax World Airline Award for the Best Airline Staff in Africa, for the second time at Farnborough Airshow event held in Hampshire, England. Skytrax awards are solely based on customer survey and customer satisfaction measurement for their experience; from check-in to boarding, onboard comfort, cabin cleanliness, food, beverages, in flight entertainment, staff service, and associated travel items. While receiving the award, Ethiopian Group CEO Ato Tewolde

GebreMariam, said, “We are proud that Skytrax, the most reputed customer-service tracking organization in the airline industry, has recognized our service delivery for the second time. We thank Skytrax for this recognition and make the pledge to our customers to work even harder to meet their high expectations. We also thank our valued customers for the strong vote of confidence in our services and for choosing Ethiopian as their preferred travel partner. I also take this opportunity to thank and appreciate the hardwork of my 12,000 strong men and women at the Ethiopian family who

have made the airline a global winner.” It is to be recalled that, in the past Ethiopian has received an accolade in the same category from Skytrax. Ethiopian is above all a customerfocused Airline with global standard service and superior delivery through its hallmark Ethiopian flavoured African hospitality. The airline is implementing

a 15-year strategic plan, Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading Aviation Group in Africa offering its passengers international standard product with five star service delivery, and with a strong mission of ensuring being an airline of choice to its employees.

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AIRLINE NEWS

Jet Airways to offer tailormade fare options under ‘Fare Choices’ branded fare structure which offers flexibility and transparency.

Jet Airways, India’s premiere international airline, will introduce a new flexible fare structure allowing guests more choice and freedom when booking flights. The new fare structure,

named ‘Fare Choices’ will be introduced effective August 17, 2016, and will provide significant benefits to guests. Jet Airways joins a select group of airlines worldwide offering a

A total of eight new ‘Fare Choices’ will be introduced across Economy and Premiere, allowing guests to tailor their bookings to their individual needs. Guests traveling in Economy for instance will have the option of choosing from the Deal, Saver, Classic or Flex fare categories. Likewise, Premiere includes Saver, Classic and Flex, while in First Class there will only

be one fare family – First. ‘Fare Choices’ are transparent and differ in flexibility and tailored benefits that otherwise need to be purchased separately. Some guests, for instance, may want flexibility in changing travel dates, others might want to accrue more JetPrivilege miles. Fare Choices will give them the ability to customise their travel experience according to their needs. The various fare categories are differentiated based on the changeability and refundability of a ticket, mileage accrual, upgrade eligibility, priority checkin and lounge access.

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AIRLINE NEWS

Srilankan Airlines signs up Jacqueline Fernandez as Brand Ambassador Srilankan Airlines, the award-winning airline, on Saturday signed on board Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez as their brand ambassador. The letter of agreement was signed last night between Srilankan Airlines Chairman Ajit Dias and Jacqueline Fernandez, July 29 at St. Regis Hotel, Mumbai. With this collaboration it made her, the face of Srilankan Airlines and the brand continues to strengthen its presence in India. Commenting about the association, Jacqueline Fernandez said, Its an honour to be part of

Srilankan Airlines, the brands heritage and ideology are depicted in its service and strong reputation carried since many years. Ever since I was a kid I had great memories travelling with this airline. I am quite excited about this opportunity to represent the brand from my country origin, which I truly believe in. Speaking on the occasion, Ajit Dias, Chairman, Srilankan Airlines, said: We are delighted to have Jacqueline Fernandez as

the Brand Ambassador for Srilankan Airlines. Jacquelines strong connect, passion towards Srilanka and being an iconic profile in Srilanka

aligns her naturally with the brand, just like our other two brand ambassadors, Mahila Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

NEWSLINE

F1 Grand Prix and MotoGP rev up Oct 2016 in Malaysia Sepang International Circuit (SIC) in Malaysia is cranking up the adrenaline this October 2016 as it hosts the world’s two biggest motorsports events in the same month. This motorsports extravaganza will see the 2016 Formula 1 Malaysia Grand Prix (F1 Grand Prix) taking place from 30 September to 2 October 2016 - Round 16 of 21, while the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle

Grand Prix 2016 (MotoGP) will be held from 28 to 30 October 2016, maintaining its position as the penultimate round of the 18-round championship.

Riders’ Autograph Session, Public Pit Lane Walk and the SAATC talent development championship as a support race.

In addition to main action on the track, visitors will also be able to enjoy other activities like the Drivers’ Autograph Session, X-Track for all ages, Public Pit Lane Walk, Drivers Fan Forum, Malaysia Championship Series and the afterrace concert, located at Hillstand B.

Ticket pricing

Meanwhile, the MotoGP weekend will feature the Mega MotoGP Carnival offering fans everything they could want, from souvenirs to accessories to limited edition merchandise or even a brand new bike, and other popular activities such as the

Tickets for the 2016 F1 Malaysia Grand Prix include Main Grandstand tickets priced from INR 9,220 to INR 36,500 in various seating areas. Star Stand (Hillstand B) and C2 Hillstand (Covered) tickets at INR 3,750 and INR 3,400 respectively allowing fans to catch both the race and the post-race concert from a premium vantage point on the same spot. Other tickets entitle the holder entry into the concert area. Standard ticket prices for the 2016 Malaysia MotoGP range from INR 6,100 for a Premier Roving

pass to INR 1,300 for a C2 Covered Hillstand ticket. This year, SIC has also introduced child tickets for the F1 Grand Prix with upto 50% price reduction, as well as 50% discounts for the disabled spectators at accessible seating zones. Meanwhile, for motorsports fans that enjoy luxurious settings, SIC offers an array of options and hospitality packages. These include VIP and corporate suites and hospitality lounges, and the F1 Paddock Club. To find out more about the hospitality packages, ticket pricing, and activities lined up for 2016, visit Sepang International Circuit’s website at www.sepangcircuit. com. Tickets are available via the website and from authorised agents in India.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation inaugurates Keys Hotel, Vishakhapatnam in the region reinforcing our commitment of growth in the state. Moreover, as part of our expansion strategy of entering into smart cities, we aim to attract business travelers from multiple industries besides leisure travelers. ”

Strategically located in the heart of the city, Keys Hotel, Vishakhapatnam is an ideal choice for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel is located close to the famous tourist attractions of the city such as Visakha Museum, Submarine Museum, R K Beach and the Kailasa Giri.

Keys Hotels, part of Berggruen group of hotels, as part of its expansion strategy across smart cities of India, announced today the launch of its hotel in Vishakhapatnam today,

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inaugurated by guest of honour, Shri Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Union Minister for Civil Aviation with Ms. Anshu Sarin, CEO, Berggruen Hotels Pvt. Ltd.

Anshu Sarin, CEO, Berggruen Hotels Pvt. Ltd. said, “Southern part of the country, especially Andhra Pradesh is a critical market for us and the launch of the hotel in Vishakhapatnam will enhance our presence

Keys Hotel, Vishakhapatnam offers scrumptious breakfast, lunch and dinner at Keys Café. The hotel will also provide its signature brand promise of Keys Hotels, ‘Ghar Ka Swaad’ which will entice long-staying guests of the hotel feel completely at home and “Breakfast on the Go” for busy corporates.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

AIRLINE NEWS

Jet Airways enhances ‘seat select’ feature Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, has expanded its ‘seat select’ service to now give all guests flying Economy the chance to reserve preferred seats in the cabin. With immediate effect, bulkhead seats with extra leg room will now be part of the ‘seat select’ offering, which allows guests to reserve a seat of their choice for a nominal charge at the time of booking. Guests can use the seat select feature, available on all rows, to reserve their preferred seats right up to 24 hours prior to departure. JetPrivilege Platinum members of Jet Airways’ loyalty and frequent flyer programme, may

continue to block available bulkhead seats or any other seats, free of cost. JetPrivilege Gold members of Jet Airways’ loyalty and frequent flyer programme, may continue to block available bulkhead seats or any other seats, free of cost for Fare Choices of “Classic” and “Flex”. Guests will be charged INR 600 on domestic routes and INR 1000 to INR 3500 on international routes, inclusive of taxes, for bulkhead and exit row seats. All other rows will be available for a nominal charge of INR 300 on domestic routes and INR 500 to INR 1750

on international routes, inclusive of taxes. For seats reserved outside India, guests will be charged an equivalent amount in their local currency. Guests can reserve these seats, for travel on both domestic and international routes while booking their tickets

either on the airline website, jetairways.com, the Jet Airways mobile app or through a travel agent. In case the booking has already been made, guests can use the ‘Manage Booking’ option on jetairways.com and the mobile app to reserve their preferred seats.

NEWSLINE

Jordan tourism seeks to capitalise on the new Petra discovery The Jordan Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has confirmed the archaeological discovery of an enormous monument in Petra. It is believed that the new location has no known parallels to any other structure in the Nabatean city. This discovery was recently reported by archaeologists Sarah Parcak and Chris Tuttle in a study published in the Journal of American Schools of Oriental Research. Lina Annab, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities said, “The historic discovery of something this monumentally significant brings us to a state of pride, joy, and awe. The fact that technological advancement has given us a glimpse into our history is a sign that we must further invest in the future to be able to see and uncover our past. This discovery brings us

closer to our heritage and to understanding the prosperous civilisation of the Nabateans.” “With that said, we are proud to further look into drone technology, satellite imaging, and excavation ventures in hopes of bringing more of Jordan’s hidden treasures to light.

We are also very excited to see the enthusiasm with which this amazing finding was welcomed globally, hoping it bodes well for Jordan’s tourism industry,” she added.

to the world that the city of Petra extends further than what meets the eye. Using Google Earth, Satellite imaging and drone technology allowed this discovery to unravel. Although the site has not been excavated yet, the pottery found near the structure dates it back to 2100 years ago.

Nearly 800 meters to the south of the famous Treasury, this breakthrough confirms

Oman Tourism to conduct four-city India roadshow in September

The Sultanate of Oman in association with the national airline Oman Air will conduct multi-city roadshow for the travel trade in India during September. The roadshow will commence on September 19 at Park Hyatt, Hyderabad; September 21 at The

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Oberoi, Kolkata; September 23 at Courtyard by Marriott, Ahmedabad; and conclude on September 26 at JW Marriott, Pune.

or enhance commercial ties with the Omani delegates. Representatives from Ministry of Tourism, Oman along with a 15 member delegation representing hotels, DMCs and attractions in Oman will interact with key travel agents and tour operators from India. The roadshow will follow a pre-fixed meeting format whereby the invited travel agents will get adequate time to meet each delegate from Oman.

The objective of the roadshow is to create a platform for the Indian travel trade to establish

Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative - Ministry of Tourism, Oman says, “In 2015, we

witnessed 17% growth in Indian arrivals and in the first six months of 2016 too we have seen a positive growth. Encouraged by these figures and to penetrate better in tier 2 cities, we have decided to conduct the roadshow in Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. This year, we also identified Kolkata as a new market for Oman and will be conducting our first roadshow in the city. With this new addition, Oman has made presence in 8 Indian cities with Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai being our main source markets.”

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

NEWSLINE

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort announces Special first Anniversary Offer The Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort is offering a special half board package that guarantees upto 40% discount as part of its limited-period first anniversary celebrations. Special anniversary prices start from USD 619 and can be booked until 30 September 2016, but are valid for stays upto 30 April 2017. The deluxe 53-key resort opened on 1 August 2015 and has the largest average villa sizes in the Maldives. To enhance family bookings during school holidays, kids below 12 are entitled to stay on complimentary basis and join the parents’ meal plan. Kids can participate

in the Coral Kids activities and learn how to make pizza or cookies, do facial paintings with nail art and henna tattoos for little girls. For children upto two years old, a babysitting service is available for free for upto two hours once during the stay – just the right time for parents to enjoy a sunset cruise or go for a relaxing massage at the Navasana Spa, where all massages are subject to a 20% discount if booked in advance along with the first anniversary offer.

a glass bottom kayak, or go on a snorkelling trip with the full-time marine biologist who also gives educational talks on request.

On the activities side, guests can paddle around the lagoon with a standup paddle board, enjoy watching coral life from

If you are an experienced windsurfer, enjoy chasing the waves or cruise around on a catamaran. Kite surfing is

also possible and is among the non-motorized water sports available at no charge. To book the Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort first anniversary offer before 30 September, call +960 684 7770, visit your travel agent and quote “First Anniversary Offer”.

NEWSLINE

TCEB launches TIME 2016 to promote meetings and incentives travel The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) launched the first Thailand Incentive & Meeting Exchange 2016 programme or TIME 2016, offering the MICE industry a new platform for knowledge exchange and business negotiations. With an initial focus on Meetings and Incentives in

China, a key MICE market for Thailand, TIME 2016 is earmarked as a flagship project that will broaden its scope to provide market information coveringall MICE marketsegments and key countries. Mr.Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of TCEBrevealed that, “The Business Meetings & Incentives or MIsegment of the MICE industry has achieved its target last year in terms of visitor numbers and revenues. Last year the MICE industry as a wholeattracted 1,095,995 visitors, contributingTHB 95.9 billionbaht (US$2.7 billion) to total MICE industry revenues. MICE customers from China were ranked first, followed by the India, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, Japan, 130

Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Australia. Of this total, MI accounted for 516,663 group travelers generatingrevenues of 44.5billion baht (US$1.25 billion). In first three quarters of the 2016 fiscal year, Thailand welcomed750,742MICE travelers, generating revenues of60.593billion

baht (US$ 1.7 billion). China dominates the market, followed by India and Singapore.Of this total,MI accounted for 393,859 visitors, generating29.7billion baht (US$ 837 million) in revenues” Building on the continuing healthy growth of MI, TCEB recognises the importance of supporting the development and capability of the private sector in order to meet an expanding demand in the region and globally. This is the basis for establishing the Thailand Incentive & Meeting Exchange 2016 or TIME 2016 for the first time in Thailand. In a broad collaboration with private sector partners and industry bodies, the TIME 2016initiative

offers a new platform for knowledgesharing among MICE operators to support the MI business, for example in providing strategic marketing guidance and exchange of perspectives. It also aims to expand the MICE industryby targeting quality MICE travelers with high potential spending power. This will help to stimulate Thailand’s broader economy.

of a Forumwith invited MI experts as keynote speakers, presentingkey issues including analyses of China’s MICE industry, selection of MICE destinations for Chinese organizations, etc. Approximately 150 Thai MICE industry operators will participate in the event.

Business Exchange

This first event is focused on the Chinese MICE market, whichis highly diversified, with its own unique market structure and needs. Last year’s strong growth in this market has continued into the third quarter of this fiscal year, highlighting the exciting potential of the Chinese market. TCEB aims to attract Chinese MICE events to Thailand through a series of marketing campaigns and promotions to present a wide range of innovative MICE products and services tailored to the Chinese market. We are confident that the TIME 2016event can play a major role in helping Thai MICE operators boost both numbers and quality of Chinese MICE events held in Thailand. TIME 2016 will comprise the following three activities:

Knowledge Exchange

A platform to exchange MI industry knowledge, in the form

A Table-top Session for direct business negotiations will create new sales and marketing opportunities for Thai MICE operators and more than 40 MICE Agents from China.

Experience Exchange

A ‘Mega Familiarisation Trip’ to Phuket will be organised for 40-45 Chinese MICE agents, media and corporate customers, in order to create awareness of the potential and worldclass quality of venues and amenities available, and promote the market among Chinese operators. Phuket is already gaining strong and increasing interest from Chinese MICE operators as a result of the success of Phuket as a MICE City. “In terms of TCEB’s target for MI this year, we anticipate a total of 518,000 visitors in the MI segment, with total revenues around 44 billion baht (US$1.24 billion). We have set a target for the overall MICE industry of 1.06 million visitors, generating revenues of 92 billion baht(US$ 2.59 billion). Key MI events this year include Infinitus China Overseas Training 2016, with over 14,000 participants, and Pro-Health, with 5,500 visitors,” Mr Nopparat said, in conclusion.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

NEWSLINE

Nando’s Launches “New and Young Africa” themed Restaurant at Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi Nando’s, the South Africa based international chain of casual dining restaurants serving Afro Portuguese cuisine, continues to increase its presence in New Delhi with their first outlet in West Delhi at Punjabi Bagh. In a collaboration with Design Collective, Yellow Wood and award winning lighting designer Samantha Foeden, the Contemporary African inspired geometric patterns in bright yellow and bold turquoise are subtly stained onto the light oak wall cladding which creates a warm and inviting space. These design elements include

solid timber floors, an intricately designed timber ceiling, custom designed pendants for the first time in India and carefully crafted tables and chairs which add a unique aesthetic to the Nando’s design language. The design is completed with the use of various lighting elements and methods to create a play of light, shadows as well as ‘highlighting’ feature design elements. The Afro-Luso music directly streamed from South Africa and curated local art pieces from

Southern Africa installed in the Punjabi Bagh casa add to the essence of a homely decor and is set to leave Nando lover’s enthralled. More than 13000 South African art pieces adorn the walls of Nando’s world-wide! With this new casa at Punjabi Bagh, Nando’s

has introduced the new style of service, just like their restaurants globally known as the Hosted Cockerel Service Model. The new service is all set to make you feel at home. Nando’sbelieves in the concept of ‘Minha Casa é Sua Casa’ which means ‘Our Home is Your Home’.

NEWSLINE

Yanni set to scintillate Abu Dhabi with his brand new live performance Award winning internationally renowned composer and multiinstrumentalist – Yanni makes his first Abu Dhabi appearance at the du Forum, Yas Island, on Friday, September 30th. The Greek artist will enchant fans with a brand new show including new compositions from his latest album ‘Sensuous Chill’. FLASH Entertainment, the region’s premier entertainment company, continues to raise entertainment standards by bringing top talent to the Capital and Yanni is set to scintillate his fans in the region with this new show. A 15-member international orchestra will accompany the infamous composer who will stage a show that will delight UAE fans with his ultimate favourites from his 30-year career.

In addition, fans can expect to hear his brand new compositions which were first ever performed during his current North American tour that started in February 2016. Speaking about his latest album ‘Sensous Chill’, Yanni says: “This album represents several years of collaboration with some of the brightest artists in the world! That is what brings the uniqueness the beauty and the color on this album — I wanted to create a sensuous and melodious environment for the listener; and I wanted it to last a long time, the whole collection contains 17 songs, 10 of which have never been released

35 countries, before a cumulative worldwide audience of more than 5 million and counting. He now brings his charismatic on-stage persona to the du Forum stage for his first ever, unmissable Abu Dhabi performance on Friday, September 30th.

before. Put it on repeat and enjoy!!!” Yanni is a music producer, composer and pianist and has had 15 albums reach #1 on Billboard’s “Top New Age Albums” chart – more than any other artist ever. For over two decades, Yanni has been one of the world’s top selling live acts, performing on every continent except Antarctica, in more than

Tickets starting at AED 495 AED available at www. ticketmaster.ae and all Virgin Megastores across the UAE.

Hilton to bring two new hotel brands to Kuwait substantially.”

which will see almost US $1billion invested in The Avenues Mall in Kuwait City.

Hilton and Al-Rai Real Estate Co, owned by Mabanee Co, has announced it will develop two Hilton properties in Kuwait — the Conrad

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Hotels & Resorts and the Hilton Garden Inn. Scheduled to open in early 2019, the development forms part of an expansion project

Hilton Worldwide president, Middle East, Africa & Turkey Rudi Jagersbacher said: “We’re delighted to be working with Al-Rai as part of the fourth phase expansion of The Avenues. With its number of shopping outlets set to increase by nearly 50%, demand for accommodation at a site which already attracts millions of visitors every year is set to increase

“Our Conrad and Hilton Garden Inn brands will enable us to cater for guests seeking either smart luxury or affordable accommodations during their stay,” he added. Both hotels will be managed by Hilton Worldwide and will be located on opposite sides of the mall. The complex itself is located off Kuwait’s fifth ring road (now named Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Road) allowing ease of access to junctions connecting to both Kuwait International Airport and Kuwait City.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016

P P Khanna

elected President of Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI).

Pranav Vohra

Shuvendu Banerjee

appointed as General Manager, Crowne Plaza Kochi.

Binu Varghese

Prashant T V

appointed as Secretary, District Tourism Promotion Council – Thiruvananthapuram.

Hana Al Toaimi

appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing, Hyatt Regency Dubai.

appointed as the Director of Sales, Millennium Airport Hotel, Dubai.

Caroline Alexander

Amirtham Umapathy appointed as Rooms Division Manager at The Leela Palace Chennai.

appointed as Human Resources Head at The Leela Palace Chennai.

Elias El Bahri

Sudipto Mukherjee

Anurag Baby

appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park.

appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing, Holiday Inn, Abu Dhabi.

appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing, Mercure Hyderabad KCP.

September 2016 | ASIAN TRAVELLER

appointed as Director of Human Resources, Nobu Hotel Riyadh.

Bijay Thakur

appointed as AGM – Marketing, Asian Traveller.

K B Kachru

appointed as Chairman Emeritus and Principal Advisor, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, South Asia.

Ashutosh Garg

appointed as F & B Manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pune – Chinchwad.

Jerome Colson

appointed as General Manager, One & Only Seef, Bahrain.

Shibi Kiran M

appointed as Deputy Editor, Asian Traveller.

Ashutosh Jha

appointed as Sales Manager, Eastin Residences Vadodara.

Jean-Gabriel Pérès

appointed as President and CEO of Kerzner International Holdings, Dubai.

Henk Meyknecht

appointed as Senior VP, Regional Operations Middle East and Africa, Kempinski Hotels.

Viji V

appointed as AGM Marketing – TVM, Asian Traveller.

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ASIAN TRAVELLER | September 2016