MICE AFFAIRS OCT 2022

Editor’s Note

RAISE THE BAR TOGETHER!

The

same has been prime motto for all of us at MICE Affairs Media Group since the inception of the organization and MICE Affairs brand. And we are super excited to share that we are still continuing with the same zeal and enthusiasm to achieve the same objective #RTBT #MICEAFFAIRS We are working on creating a super powerful network of MICE Professionals on a global scale through MICE Club Community and the response has been great. Thanks to all industry leaders for recognizing our efforts to achieve the common goal.

Another key milestone launch this month is India’s First Ever MICE Coffee Table Book. This premium book is aimed at covering MICE Industry at large for all our readers from the corporate and association world. This would be an yearly effort to let corporate be aware of the leading MICE Brands from various parts of the world. Get on board as soon as possible as the space is very very limited. Drop me an email sachin@miceaffairs.com

Another development to be shared is the launch of Travel O Manthan Expo. This would be a series of event to be organized by Trav Buzz News and supported by MICE Affairs with a clear focus on B2B meetings. Do check our social media pages for event updates and participation information.

Let’s Raise The Bar Together

Sachin Monacha

held Vinexpo

16 | Srilankan

Holidays appoints Linkin Reps as a Franchise Operator in India

TRAVELLERS

REFUND AND

INCENTIVES

ARVIND

(MTPA)

18 | AVANI Sukhumvit

Bangkok Is The Perfect Fit for Indian MICE & Weddings Segment Says Chidchanak Pasinpong, General Manager, Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok

19 | The Bold & Beautiful Bahrain’s amulti-city roadshow in India!

India set to become a significant market for global wines,Conclusion at the recently held VINEXPO INDIA THE LEADING WINE AND SPIRITS EXHIBITION

Fizzing with fresh ideas, the 3 day event witnessed an immense footfall of 2000+ visitors and over 1300 attendees at the master classes, including presence of top Indian and international spirits and wine producers

After almost 2 years of no social interaction, having the top players and influential celebrities from the world of wine and spirits all under one roof felt like a nostalgic rendezvous. And that was exactly the scene at Vinexpo’s second edition that was held at the Leela in Andheri from August 18-20. The event was organised by Vinexposium, the Leading Global Organiser Of Wine And Spirits Events and InterAds Exhibitions Pvt Ltd.India’s leading exhibition organiser in India.

Vinexpo India is one-of-its-kind B2B trade show for wine and spirits manufacturers where wine and spirits professionals get to expand their horizons, network with industry key players, identify and explore the markets, promote their brands, all under one roof. The three-day free event was a power-packed one, fizzing with fresh ideas to take the sector forward, witnessing multiple potential collaborations.

Speaking about the event, Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium, commented, “The second Edition of Vinexpo India in Mumbai had a resounding success. It was inspiring to see the prominent leaders of the industry from all over the world, convene under one roof and have productive, solution-oriented sessions. Seeing so many faces actively participating in discussions at the booths and at the masterclasses was a true pleasure. It was impactful to associate with Indian Associations and our partners Interads to launch Vinexpo India at the peak of Pandemic last year. I am already looking forward to the Next Edition in Delhi in December 2022.”

The event witnessed a footfall of 2000+ visitors and over 1300 attendees at the master classes, including the presence of top Indian and international wine and spirits manufacturers and brands such as Sula Wines, Agriment Italy, John Distilleries, Fratelli Wines, Matia Antonia to name a few. Swiss Luxury Spirits Producer SWISSVÄL showcased the luxury range of Alpine Gin, Single Malt Whisky and an interesting hot and spicy Drink-Williams with bird’s eye chilli that makes an excellent cocktail with Red Bull.

Rajeev Samant, Founder-CEO of Sula Vineyards and Shri K N Kumar, Chairman, Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission delivered an impactful Keynote Address and set the ball rolling for 14 record Masterclasses. Masterclasses were the backbone of the Show, which had a good number of wineries directly participating from Italy, Bordeaux and the US with importers like Sonarys, Aspri, VBev, and The Wine Park raring to show their wares- complete with display and tasting. These sessions were conducted on a wide range of topics. One of the key highlights was an all women panel discussion moderated by Digital influencer MissMalini. The panel included the top wine women of India discussing the opportunities and challenges faced by women in the wine industry.

Other interesting topics discussed at Vinexpo India included The reallife stories of small wine producers in India, wines of Argentina, California, The Untold Story of the World’s Rarest wines, wines of Karnataka and many more..

Roland Coiffe & Associés, wine merchants from Bordeaux (France) and producers of fine wines, brought a range of wines from different parts of France. He said “Vinexpo India has been very well organized. Mumbai is great location choice. At our booth, we witnessed continuous flow of visitors and this is important as we want to optimize our space and time and showcase our products in the best possible way. We will need to have more such expos in the future. This will attract more producers and exporters from different regions to showcase more wines. I see great potential and promise for fine wines in India in the coming years. However, there is a scope of improvement when it comes to administration and logistics in India. There are a lot of constraints in bringing in the wine into the country. There is also a lot of paperwork involved. So with a little help by the concerned officials and Govt. bodies, the wine market in India will accelerate.”

Another highlight was the session by Top Sommelier of Italy 2019. Mattia Antonio Cianca from Italy who has teamed up with Amrita Singh in Bordeaux to bring an eclectic range of Italian wines from 10 wineries. Similarly, Agriment Italia brought a range of Italian wines from different regions.

Jayanth Bharathi, DGM-Marketing at Fratelli Wines, another well-known brand said

“This has been a wonderful experience to meet so many people and showcase some of our wines. With more education and ability to appreciate wines better, Indians are gravitating towards premium and quality wines.”

Rajan Sharma, Director InterAds, says,

“It is encouraging to see such a positive response from an increasing number of wine enthusiasts in India.

Am glad we are able to provide a suitable platform to several wine producers and spirits manufacturer, not only from India but from across the world, thus playing a vital role in the growth of the alco-beverage industry in India”

India is seeing a very healthy growth in the wine industry and it is here to stay. Compared to some of the western regions, India is at a nascent stage but this is just the beginning. Trade events like Vinexpo India will help fuel the existing growth in the industry and get more consumers to enjoy and appreciate wines.

After this successful Mumbai edition, Vinexpo India is all set to take place next at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from December 1-3, 2022.

MICE TRAVELLERS TO MAURITIUS TO GET VAT REFUND AND MICE CASH INCENTIVES ARVIND BUNDHUN, DIRECTOR (MTPA) IN AN EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION...

...WITH MICE AFFAIRS MEDIA GROUP

Mauritius, Pearl of the Indian Ocean has reopened its borders for international tourists since Oct 2021. With pent up demand of international travel, Mauritius has got decent share from Indian market too. Mr. Arvind Bundhun, Director, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority on his recent business trip to India, shared key updates with MICE Affairs Media Group.

“Since we reopened international borders for tourists in Oct 2021, Mauritius has welcomed 500,000 tourists in six months starting October 2021 to March 2022. In the pre covid times the numbers were approximate 1.3 million tourists annually. And during these six months we have also noticed that the infections were very few and nil causalities, which has prompted us to ease down the process. Hence starting 1st July 2022, we have decided to welcome both vaccinated and non-vaccinated travellers in the same way. No testing is required. Only those who get infected at the destination, will have to self-isolate” shared Arvind.

Upon asking about MICE projects in Mauritius and any new initiatives to entice the MICE Planners, Arvind explained

When borders were reopened, there was a cap of 50% on all events in Mauritius. But starting July 2022, there are no such restrictions in place for MICE events. And to encourage MICE movements in Mauritius, we are supporting VAT refund of 15% for groups of 50 persons or more, travelling together and staying for a minimum 3 nights in Mauritius. Moreover there is a plan to offer MICE cash incentive for group of minimum 50 pax traveling together in same flight. The incentives, which will be rolled out in a few days, will be worked out on a case to case basis”

With Air Mauritius increasing flight frequencies to six every week from India to Mauritius starting August and Visa being free on arrival, MTPA is eyeing big on Indian MICE Market.

African Exhibition Industry Outlook

UNLOCKING UNTAPPED OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA

The one-day workshop and seminar for the African Exhibition Industry Outlook will feature expert speakers from across Africa and the Middle East, including the multi-award-winning journalist and author Bruce Whitfield, whose keynote will draw on fascinating, truth-defying, and inspiring case studies of people and businesses that succeed against the odds.

Other industry panellists will present business opportunities in key African markets, business outlooks, incentive schemes for new entrants, and bilateral crossborder collaboration. Topics of discussion will include how convention bureaus support the industry in South Africa, the economic impact of exhibitions both globally and in Africa, a multinational view on investing in Africa and a presentation of the findings of UFI’s Global Barometer Study with a focus on Africa and the Middle East.

Naji El Haddad, Regional Director

MEA at UFI, says:

“Africa represents the next frontier for growth and development for the exhibitions industry. There is great potential for investing in, developing and bringing global events to Africa.

It’s particularly interesting to note the launch of geo-adapted events that are being brought to Africa, which is a testament to the ever-increasing confidence and opportunities available on the continent.”

Whilst the pandemic directly affected the events industry, interesting mergers and acquisitions noted in the past two years include RX Global’s acquisition of two specialized exhibitions; the Media 10 Design Joburg and the Coffee and Chocolate Expo®.

Additionally, dmg Events, with a footprint spanning 25 countries –acquired Addis Build at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal to support growth across multiple industries in Ethiopia.

Further, the African arm of Clarion Events announced a full rebrand under the name Vuka Group earlier this year to form a independent B-BBEE compliant company, adapted to the unique conditions of Africa.

“We are delighted to be hosting this UFI event at the Johannesburg Expo Centre to showcase the commercial opportunities that South Africa, with the rest of Africa, have to offer. Our nation is well positioned from all aspects to be a hub for global events”, adds Craig Newman, Group CEO at GL Events SA.

The workshop will be hosted on Tuesday, 13 September at the Johannesburg Expo Centre and is organised by UFI in collaboration with AAXO, hosted by GL Events, and supported by Johannesburg Tourism.

“South Africa remains the ideal ‘gateway to Africa’ and is an appropriate base of operations from which economic connection to the rest of the continent can be formed and business developed thanks to its strong financial sector, sound infrastructure and competitive talent-pool,” concludes Devi Paulsen-Abbott, Chairperson of AAXO

Connect We Rise an event focused on Women Leaders

The sustainability achievements of IMEX America were honored recently at an international industry awards. The Grand Award for the Show with the Most Commendable Green Initiatives was given by Trade Show Executive (TSE) to the IMEX Group in recognition of the sustainability successes at IMEX America 2021.

Last year’s show, held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, also ranked 57 in the prestigious Gold 100. This listing recognises the top trade shows held in the U.S. based on net square feet of paid exhibit space.

The TSE team chose IMEX America as the winner of the Grand Award for the Show with the Most Commendable Green Initiatives in recognition of some stand-out sustainability successes at 2021’s show:

The show achieved its highest landfill diversion rate todate of 95%.

This along with recycling, composting and donation efforts meant the show achieved the industry threshold for a ‘zero-waste event’

Double award win for IMEX AMERICA

Show secures place in Gold 100 & triumphs with sustainability

100% of carbon emissions from host venue MGM convention center were offset 12,000+ plastic water bottles were eliminated through reuse and provision of alternatives

These sustainability highlights are detailed in an independently verified annual sustainability impact report. The report makes public the show’s energy use, F&B, materials consumption and reuse, community impact and more. As a result, IMEX America also achieved MeetGreen’s highest level of environmental recognition: Visionary status.

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, comments: “These two awards are a wonderful recognition of the hard work, dedication and sheer passion of our team who delivered an outstanding IMEX America last year under exceptional circumstances. It was our first show in over two years, and a milestone for the sector as the very first international event to open after the lifting of the U.S. travel ban.

“To win the Grand Award for the Show with the Most Commendable Green Initiatives is a particular joy: sustainability has been baked into the show since its launch over 10 years ago. We measure and build on our planet-friendly activities year on year and have laid the groundwork to achieve similar sustainability success at this year’s show, opening October 10.”

This year’s IMEX America takes place at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, and opens with Smart Monday, powered by MPI on Monday October 10, followed by the three-day trade show October 11-13.

Geraldine Gatehouse (centre), IMEX representative, collects the TSE Award on behalf of the IMEX team

Jamaica Earnings and Arrivals Expected to Exceed Pre-COVID-19 Levels

TOURISM MINISTER EDMUND BARTLETT

Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says there is every indication that 2023 will be a great comeback year for the country’s hospitality sector, where both earnings and arrivals are ex Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says there is every indication that 2023 will be a great comeback year for the country’s hospitality sector, where both earnings and arrivals are expected to exceed pre COVID-19 levels.

The Minister, who was speaking at the World Travel Awards Caribbean and Americas ceremony, at Sandals Montego Bay, on August 31, said that as it stands, tourism earnings (over the same corresponding period) have already exceeded 2019, while arrivals are just a trifle behind.

“Based on the trajectory, we have every reason to believe that 2023 will be an unbelievable year for tourism,” the Minister noted.

“We have recovered faster than anybody could have imagined, and for this I must commend the team at the Ministry of Tourism and also all of our international partners,” he added.

The Minister also noted that the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) saw a jump in earnings from April to July, pulling in more than $2.4 billion over the period, and representing a 20 per cent increase when compared to preCOVID-19 earnings.

Edmund Bartlett ,Jamaica Tourism Minister

Mr. Bartlett said that not only was the destination close to full recovery but that Jamaica continues to strengthen its resilience and remains on par with rival competitors – the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

“Without a doubt, our recovery numbers are the best in the English-speaking Caribbean,” he pointed out.

“We are also a model for many tourism-dependent countries, many of whom have patterned their recovery programmes off what we have managed to do here in Jamaica,” the Minister added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bartlett said it was with great pride and honour that Jamaica hosted the World Travel Awards, noting that it speaks volume as to how well “recognised and respected” the destination has become in tourism circles.

Several of the island’s hoteliers, attraction operators, villas and transportation companies received top awards at the ceremony.

Jamaica won the awards for the Caribbean’s leading destination, leading cruise destination, and leading Tourist Board. ected to exceed pre COVID-19 levels.

The Minister, who was speaking at the World Travel Awards Caribbean and Americas ceremony, at Sandals Montego Bay, on August 31, said that as it stands, tourism earnings (over the same corresponding period) have already exceeded 2019, while arrivals are just a trifle behind.

“Based on the trajectory, we have every reason to believe that 2023 will be an unbelievable year for tourism,” the Minister noted.

“We have recovered faster than anybody could have imagined, and for this I must commend the team at the Ministry of Tourism and also all of our international partners,” he added.

The Minister also noted that the Tourism Enhancement

Fund (TEF) saw a jump in earnings from April to July, pulling in more than $2.4 billion over the period, and representing a 20 per cent increase when compared to pre-COVID-19 earnings.

Mr. Bartlett said that not only was the destination close to full recovery but that Jamaica continues to strengthen its resilience and remains on par with rival competitors – the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

“Without a doubt, our recovery numbers are the best in the English-speaking Caribbean,” he pointed out.

“We are also a model for many tourism-dependent countries, many of whom have patterned their recovery programmes off what we have managed to do here in Jamaica,” the Minister added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bartlett said it was with great pride and honour that Jamaica hosted the World Travel Awards, noting that it speaks volume as to how well “recognised and respected” the destination has become in tourism circles.

Several of the island’s hoteliers, attraction operators, villas and transportation companies received top awards at the ceremony.

Jamaica won the awards for the Caribbean’s leading destination, leading cruise destination, and leading Tourist Board.

THAILAND REPORTS OVER 60,000 MEETINGS AND INCENTIVE ARRIVALS FROM APRIL TO JUNE, VOTED BEST MEETINGS & INCENTIVES DESTINATION (ASIA)

Meetings and incentives travel industry

Thailand is showing a positive sign. 68,700 arrivals of overseas groups were registered from April to June 2022.

The positive outlook is backed up

selecting Thailand as the Best Meetings and Incentives

(Asia)

The figure of arrivals is drawn from Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). Another 4,143 is scheduled for September under TCEB support and an estimate of 30,700 from 87 leads that TCEB is tracking is scheduled from October to December. This will put Thailand’s meetings and incentives travel haul for the year well over the 100,000 mark. The largest group to date has been the 2022 Unicity Global Leadership & Innovation Conference in August with 10,000 attendees from 50 countries.

The top three destinations for hosting Meetings and Incentives are Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya. Other destinations popular with planners are Hua Hin, Krabi, and Khao Lak.Thailand’s favourable standing is mirrored by the sentiment of Asia’s MICE professionals, who voted Thailand the Best Meetings & Incentives Destination (Asia) for the second consecutive year at M&C Asia Stella Awards, an annual award organised by Singaporebased travel trade publisher, Northstar.

Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of TCEB, who received the award online on behalf of Thailand during the hybrid award ceremony held at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore on 23 August 2022, said: “Thailand’s win in the Best Meetings & Incentives Destination (Asia) category is a recognition of the hard work put in by all MICE stakeholders in Thailand to support each other over a very challenging period. As we emerged with a greater sense of our strengths and weaknesses, we are more aware than ever that great product quality and variety are key to a destination’s appeal. TCEB will be working with our industry partners to translate our resources, creativity, and market insights into winning products that match the evolving needs of planners and visitors. Now that Thailand has fully reopened for MICE and our industry is going all out to woo the world, we are heartened to see the strong response from planners near and far. As we gear up for 2023, let me assure you that we will do our utmost to deliver on the honour of being Asia’s best meetings and incentives destination.”

JUMEIRAH HOTELS AND RESORTS ENHANCES AND EXPANDS ITS PORTFOLIO IN 2022

Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, the global luxury hospitality company and member of Dubai Holding, is continuing to foster and build new relationships in key source markets, including India. A key strategic partner to the UAE, India is a key source markets for Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, especially across Dubai, London and Asia Pacific.

With India accounting for 12% of visitor arrivals to Dubai in H1 2022 (858,000) – an increase of over 109% YoY - Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts hosted events in Mumbai and Delhi to share key updates on its ongoing investment in guest experience and product enhancements at its Dubai properties, as well as key new resorts opened in popular new markets with Indian audiences, including the Maldives and Bali. Key enhancements at Jumeirah properties in Dubai include the current renovation of the beachfront at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, designed to deliver a unique lifestyle destination in Dubai with access to the very best leisure, health, and wellness facilities, and the full refurbishment of its ultra-exclusive Malakiya Villas at Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf to impress the most discerning guests.

Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts also shared information about the upcoming Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Dubai, due to open in late 2023. This new property will lead a new generation of Jumeirah Group’s ultra-luxury portfolio. The new property designed as a futuristic superyacht will complete Jumeirah’s oceanic trilogy, which includes the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel and sailboat-inspired Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.

Internationally, Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts has also continued to expand its offering with new openings in other locations popular with Indian travellers, including the reopening of The Carlton Tower Jumeirah in London last year, following the most extensive makeover in its history. The group also opened its new, all-villa Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island resort in October 2021, marking its entry into another top location for Indian tourists.

The luxury hospitality leader continued its path of international expansion in 2022, with new resorts opened in Bali and Muscat earlier this year. Further new openings in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are expected to launch in the coming months.

SRILANKAN HOLIDAYS APPOINTS

Linkin Reps as a Franchise Operator in India

Srilankan Holidays announced it has appointed Linkin Reps as one of the Franchise Operator for its passenger holiday business in India.

This decision will assist Srilankan Holidays in strengthening its presence and outreach to potential customers in the Indian market and will feed into Srilankan Airlines flights to/ from the 9 states in India i.e., Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Cochin, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli.

This partnership includes providing complete tour packages with set itineraries through marketing, and overall sales support services to agencies. As franchise operator of Srilankan

Holidays, the company will also aim to strengthen the carrier’s brand awareness, develop efficient and strategic commercial activities, boost revenue from ticket sales and encourage trade partners to select Srilankan Holidays as their first choice.

This new partnership is a major challenge for Linkin Reps, as it marks the restart of tourism in the post covid and national emergency era which brings new growth opportunities for both leisure and business travel between India and Sri Lanka.

The event took place in a ceremonial way on 26 th of August 2022 in Delhi where the airline recognized Travel Agents, Cargo Agents and also announced new appointments. Srilankan Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Niluka Kadurugamuwa talked about the history, culture, how Indians contributed to tourism in Sri Lanka and how the recent crisis in the nation affected positive business growth.

Sri Lanka’s tourism officials, conscious of the dire need to shore up their country’s economy also plan to woo a greater number of Indian tourists, who constitute the single largest segment of foreign tourists.

Srilankan Holidays continues to strive for excellence in all areas of the business and we seek partners that share similar aspirations, said Ravindran, Regional Manager India Bangladesh, Srilankan Airlines. We believe we have found such a partner in Linkin Reps, a leading representative company to help us expand our footprint in India.

We are pleased that Srilankan Holidays has partnered with Linkin Reps to assist them in these markets and hope this will lead to further success for this new partnership,said Komal Seth, Founder Director, Linkin Reps. Linkin has the experience, industry knowledge and personnel to generate strong growth for this carrier.

AVANI SUKHUMVIT BANGKOK

Is The Perfect Fit for Indian MICE & Weddings Segment Says Chidchanak Pasinpong, General Manager, Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok

Q: Please share key information pertaining to MICE facilities at Avani Sukhumvit for our readers?

A: Total event space of 1,076sqm with 4 meeting rooms, and a pre-function area of 160sqm, plus 2 venues for outdoor events.

Q: How well Avani Sukhumvit is prepared to welcome back MICE Business post pandemic?

A: Avani Sukhumvit presents a variety of meeting packages, demonstrating our flexibility to organize every kind of event a guest or client could envision, including Hybrid Meetings designed to cater to virtual and in person conferences for the new normal, Meet&Play offering meetings with the added perks of a private movie theatre screening in the complex, Boost it Up Your Way offering an additional onsite IV drip from VIVID. Bangkok Hotel Deals | Special Offers

| Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel (avanihotels.com). We are starting to explore international business through tradeshows in the region, e.g. SATTE Expo in India in May.

Q: Thailand is welcoming travelers with ease in restrictions. What are your expectations from India market with respect to MICE and Events?

A: Incentive and leisure groups are the first that we see coming back, and we are working to capture more of these business. At the same time, Indian weddings are a key priority for us as we have a huge versatility and spaces that can easily and successfully cater to this audience with 382 rooms and variety of event venues.

Q: Location plays an important role for MICE Groups. Can you share location advantages for one staying at Avani Sukhumvit?

A: Located on Sukhumvit Road, the hotel has a direct connection to the BTS sky train On Nut Station which offers easy access to BITEC, Bangkok’s premier exhibition and convention center. It is a short 30 minute drive from Suvarnabhumi Airport, and only 5 minutes to the express way giving an absolute convenience to travel within Bangkok and its vicinity.

THE BOLD & BEAUTIFUL BAHRAIN’S AMULTI-CITY ROADSHOW IN INDIA!

Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority successfully conducted its first four-city roadshow in India. The event was conducted in the cities of Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi on September 12th, 13th 15th and 16th respectively.

The four-city roadshow witnessed the participation from hospitality, travel, and tourism companies from Bahrain in order to reconnect and build new connections with the Indian travel agents. The event was attended by 400 plus agents across the four cities, which aimed to connect Indian travel agents with destination management companies, hotels, and attractions in Bahrain.

Maryam Toorani, Director of Marketing and Promotion at BTEA said:

“The purpose of the roadshow is to strengthen travel trade relationships in order to increase visitor arrivals from India to our beautiful Kingdom of Bahrain. India is one of the most important source markets for Bahrain and as such the Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority is confident that this initiative will further enable and enhance an expansion in the Indian Market”

The prime focus has been placed on achieving a notable number of visitors in the coming few years from varied segments such as leisure, MICE, and weddings. The event began with the trade having one on one B2B meetings with the stakeholders. Following that the travel trade community was educated through a presentation on Bahrain as a destination for Indian travelers. The presentation highlighted that the country has something to offer to every type of traveler from millennials to young couples, from honeymooners to business travelers. The roadshow gave a chance to highlight that Bahrain is the perfect holiday destination for Indian travelers with the convenient e-Visa process and the multiple direct flights which take you to Bahrain in less than 4 hours. Bahrain as a destination has a variety of offerings for its travelers from beautiful beaches, adventure activities, luxurious accommodation options, pearl diving, heritage, culture, and food. The destination is also home to the world-famous Formula one race.

At this event, the #friendsofBahrain concept was introduced to the audience present. The concept behind this hashtag is that anyone who is associated with the destination, promotes it is a friend of Bahrain or as the Bahrain’s brand evangelists. The #friendsofBahrain hashtag will be used by the tourism board in all future communications, encouraging travelers, trade and influencers to use it to promote ours and yours one and only Bahrain!

Be it a fun-filled family getaway, active holidays, one-of-a-kind cultural experiences, opulent resorts, theme park, exotic islands, or world-class shopping excursions, Bahrain has something for everyone. Bahrain is a destination where travelers will feel like home and have a memorable vacation.

INDONESIA SALES MISSION was held in Chennai and Bengaluru from 16th to 19th September 2022

Pack Your Luggage, Indonesia is Ready to Welcome more and more Indian Travelers!

n the spirit to boost international tourists’ visits, Wonderful Indonesia proudly presents the most highlighted destinations and new experiences at the Indonesia Sales Mission which was held in Chennai and Bengaluru from 16th to 19th September 2022.. The event brought together Indonesian sellers i.e. Indonesian Hoteliers, Restaurateurs, Indonesian Tour Operators. and Indian buyers i.e. tour operators, MICE agents, Wedding planners under one roof, The roadshows were held to further strengthen the ties with the Indian travel-trade fraternity and to introduce some of the hidden gems of Indonesia. The roadshow offered a platform for the Indonesian stakeholders to establish direct contact with the Indian travel trade. It is also an opportunity for the Indian travel trade to receive the latest updates of Indonesia as well as directly meet the representatives from some of the archipelago’s most popular hotels and resorts and travel agents who are participating at the Roadshow

An overwhelming response was received from the Indian travel trade for the roadshow, indicating their level of interest in the destination. The attendees in each city included tour wholesalers, travel agents and media. Raffle draws were held in each city with hotel stay vouchers and many

other goodies being won by the attendees. Indonesia highlights its international presence this year by holding the G20 Presidency. Adopting the theme ‘Recover Together, Recover Stronger’, the multilateral event started in December 2021 in various cities, with the event summit held in November 2022. Apart from welcoming international government boards and organizations to G20, Indonesia also successfully held global sports events this year, respectively MotoGP in March and Formula E in June. The international exposure gained is expected to mark the economic revival of the country, as well as open up job opportunities to the affected community after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, Indonesia has been ranked first among the most beautiful countries in the world, according to the Natural Beauty Report from money.co.uk. Indonesia’s natural beauty gained 7.77 out of 10.

Indian tourists are dominating Indonesia’s South Asia market demand as per the first half of 2022. With the ease of international arrival regulations and Visa on Arrival (VoA), travelers from India can now safely enjoy their vacation at the fullest in Indonesia. Apart from its magnificent culture, tourists can also enjoy the variety of natural beauty, adventure, and wildlife of Indonesia. In addition to Bali, which is one of the most preferred islands, we have 5 Super Priority Destinations (Lake Toba, Borobudur, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang).

Lake Toba is a world-class geopark-based tourism destination located on the island of Sumatra. This natural wonder is a magnificent caldera formed from a mega volcano eruption some 74,000 years ago. It is the second-largest lake in the world that offers the charm of green mountains that pamper the eyes, shooting fresh, clean air, and a vast expanse of lake water which can be seen from the accommodation in the vicinity.

The magnificent Borobudur is the world’s biggest Buddhist temple located on the island of Java. The monument sits majestically on a hilltop surrounded by the beautiful scenery of lush green fields and distant hills. Built between AD 780 and 840 during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty, the temple’s design in Gupta architecture reflects India’s influence on the region. However, enough indigenous scenes and elements are incorporated to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian.

Mandalika is the ultimate paradise in the heart of Lombok. Because of its location in the coastal area, Mandalika is blessed with a row of stunning beaches. The special tourism economic zone also boasts vibrant bars and nightclubs, exciting water parks, luxurious hotels and resorts, fascinating golf courses, rejuvenating spas, thrilling racing circuits, and more.

On the westernmost tip of the Island of Flores sits the town of Labuan Bajo. It lies peacefully, with many wonders waiting for you to explore. Labuan Bajo was only a small fishing site, but flourished to become the gateway to many exotic destinations in East Nusa

Tenggara. The Komodo National Park was listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site in 1991. Both on land and underwater, it is home to fascinating wildlife. The park consists of Komodo Island, Rinca Island, Padar Island, and numerous smaller islands around. Labuan Bajo is known as the city of sunset. You can find plenty of out-of-this-world scenic views of the spectacular sky.

North Sulawesi is a province in Indonesia that is well known for its stunning natural attractions. The beaches, the mountainous areas, and lush forests are the highlights that make this destination special. One of the best places you can find here is Likupang Beach. The beach is located in the northernmost part of Sulawesi and is just 48 km away from Manado, specifically in a district called Likupang. From the first time you lay eyes on Likupang Beach, you will be stunned by its marvelous and vast white sandy beach. It also has beautiful clear seawater and also offers several other tourist attractions. In addition, you can also dive to witness the underwater scenery that will hypnotize you.

PATA Nepal Chapter organized a noble event titled “PATA ID”, IN CELEBRATION OF ITS 47 YEARS JOURNEY

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter organized a noble event,called PATA ID, on 26th September 2022 at GATE College, Mandikhatar, Kathmandu, to celebrate the official Inauguration Day of the association which is 26th September 1975 and now falls on the eve of World Tourism Day each year!

Embracing the theme of World Tourism Day, RETHINKING TOURISM PATA ID celebrated the 47 Years journey of the PATA Nepal Chapter, presenting networking, interactions, recognitions and exciting door prizes; and this will be an annual event for each succeeding year ahead.

During the formal function of PATA ID and World Tourism Day Celebration, PATA Nepal Chapter launched the promo video for the 4th Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM) to be held in Nepal from 6th till 9th June 2023. PATA Nepal Chapter organized the three highly successful editions of HTM in 2017, 2018 and 2019, which could not take place later during the global pandemic. HTM is Nepal’s premier international travel and tourism trade show for tourism marketing and promotion, availing the remarkable gathering of Global Buyers, Himalayan Sellers,Travel Bloggers, Influencers, National and International Media, Travel Industry Professionals and Delegates from around the world. Similarly, PATA felicitated its four Annual Awards to the following tourism personalities and institutions.

Lifetime Achievement Award 2022

PATA Nepal Chapter paid tribute to Mr. Joti Lal Khanna with the prestigious PATA Lifetime Achievement Award, with great respect, honour and heartfelt appreciation for his invaluable contribution to the association, as well as his lifelong dedication, untiring efforts and remarkable roles for over 45 Years to the promotion and development of the tourism sector in Nepal.

Personality of the Year 2021

The ‘PATA Personality of the Year 2021 Award’ was rewarded to Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi, in recognition of his unconditional support, persistent activism, advocacy,

Tourism Trail Blazer Award:

PATA Nepal Chapter honored Mr. Birendra Bahadur Basnet with the PATA Tourism Trailblazer Award 2022 in recognition of his exceptional leadership role and outstanding initiative over the years to strengthen the Nepali Aviation sector with his invaluable contribution and some pioneering initiatives to support the development of the aviation and tourism industry in his capacity as the Managing Director of Buddha Air. engagement, tireless contributions with boundless enthusiasm towards the promotion,sustainable development, and revival of Nepal tourism sector during the global pandemic and beyond.

Best Student Chapter of the year 2020

The ‘Best Student Chapter of the year 2022’ was awarded to Global College International (GCI) in recognition of their dedication and contribution in engaging with Young Tourism Professionals at various initiatives of the PATA Nepal Chapter and best illustrating the activities, programs, and events in line with the aims and objectives of PATA Nepal Student Chapter.

Mr. Bibhuti Chand Thakur (Chairman of PATA Nepal Chapter), during his welcome remarks, emphasized the need of the hour to work together for upgrading and upscaling safety, security, sanitation and service standards for the sustainable growth and development of tourism industry in the country. Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi, the Keynote Speaker, shared his insights on “Rethinking Tourism” in the context of Nepal, suggesting the 7 Pillars to work to unleash the optimum tourism potential, including Generating Demand from Asia while maintaining traditional markets, Building Digital Capabilities and Services, Encouraging quality

investments and diversifying tourism sites, Effective management of tourism products/sites and service standardization, Human Capital Development, Quality (Value) focused Marketing strategies instead of targeting numbers, and Fostering Partnership and Collaborations at local, regional, national and international levels. Mr. Rabindra Raj Pandey, the Distinguished Guest and Speaker, shared his experience, fond memories of his engagement with PATA and pioneering initiatives of the PATA Nepal Chapter in the 1980s and 90s to promote and develop the Nepali tourism sector. He appreciated the current promotional efforts and initiatives of PATA Nepal Chapter and the concept of celebrating the official inauguration of the association every year onward as PATA ID.

Avani Hotels Announces a Hedonistic Bolt-Hole on Koh Samui’s Legendary Chaweng Beach

The latest addition to the buzzing Chaweng Beach, the newly opened Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club brings the glamorous, freewheeling spirit of the 1950s Palm Beach and Miami to Koh Samui’s powdery white sand. An unconventional hideaway that blends unbridled socialising with serenity-inducing pursuits, the property invites guests to swan dive into the sights, bites and sounds of the island as they hit the party circuit.

Sitting mere metres away from the sumptuous stretch of silky white sand, the retro glam spot offers access to the best sunsets, dining, entertainment and people-watching on the island.

SEEN Beach Club Samui, the hard-hitting party central next door, throws epic pool parties with top DJs and world-class entertainment on tap. The resort’s social swimming pool feels like a hopping bar, with snug cabanas and a mixology station that moonlights as a check-in area for guests who just want to get on with it.

VA-VA-ROOMS

Samui’s only mid-century modern-inspired beach destination, Avani Chaweng adds a Mad Men vibe to public spaces and its 80 chic rooms and suites.

Conceptualised by SOHO Hospitality, the property’s clean lines and organic shapes are infused with a dose of 1950s nostalgia to create sultry spaces where you want to entertain and be entertained in.

With names such as Cool Pool View, Sweet Sea Breeze and Fabulous Sea View the rooms deliver what they promise — picture-perfect views from spacious balconies, modern comforts and interiors that make you want to dress up and head somewhere fabulous. On the ground floor, Funky Poolside rooms with terraces that open onto the courtyard pool take the resort’s social concept to the next level.

At 61 sqm and 90 sqm, Groovy Sea View Suite and Double Groovy Sea View Suite are where pre-parties take place. With costumes, wigs and other good time essentials on loan and vinyl record player and cocktail-making station at their disposal, guests can throw a party as big as their poolside networking skills allow. At Avani Chaweng, suite guests can even call on their private DJ to spin the decks and a paparazzi-for-hire to ensure no moment of revelry goes undocumented.

PARTY FUEL

From dusk till dawn and all night long, Avani Chaweng’s dining venues offer substantial sustenance, snacks and tasty tipples. Start with a decadent bubbly breakfast or a wholesome lunch of Mediterranean, Asian and American flavours at SEEN Beach Club, then decamp to the 24-hour Social Bar where late-night comfort foods and summery cocktails will keep you company as you catch up on emails or relax to sweet jukebox tunes.

Outdoor leisure and fun-in-the-sun activities, meanwhile, range from pool parties, diving and sail into the sunset SEEN style on a magnificent catamaran for an afternoon of sun-kissed fun on the water. Gym bunnies are well served at AvaniFit, a dynamic, 24-hour facility that aims to challenge fitness enthusiasts with a combination of endurance and resistance training, aerobics and highintensity interval training, and personal trainers on demand. Other wellness and leisure pursuits include SUP yoga, ice breathing and ice bathing on the beach, and portrait sessions with a resident artist to capture your enviable Avani glow.

5° NORTH BY FINOLHU BAA ATOLL,

DESTINATION DINING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAGOON UNDER THE SKY

The turquoise waters of a tropical lagoon surround you, as the sunset gives a magical glow,while you sip your favourite drink. Steaks sizzle on a nearby grill, and the aroma of herbs and spices float by on a gentle sea breeze. You smile as a special someone reaches across the table to take your hands, just as your butler announces that “Dinner is served.” Life is perfect. Welcome to an exclusive new dining experience at 5° North by Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives.

Situated on a special platform, which is located exactly 5 degrees North of the Equator, this whole new level of destination dining experience offers a blissful seclusion in the heart of the tropical lagoon. Available for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 guests, this is an exclusive experience in every sense of the word. With water all around and nothing but sky above, the evening truly belongs to you. As you marvel at the changing colours of golden hour fading into blue hour, tantalising aromas fill the air. Whether you choose to indulge in a romantic dinner with a special someone or a celebratory meal with family or friends, indulge your taste buds with a delicious set menu of your choice. Prepared by your very own chef and served by your dedicated butler, the choice of carefully curated menus includes the finest steak, seafood and vegetarian delights.

After starting with your choice of the chef’s speciality platter, oysters or Mediterranean spreads, the main course awaits. From Angus beef sirloin steak, lamb merguez sausages, marinated reef fish, grilled Maldivian lobster and jumbo prawns to halloumi cheese skewers and vegetables marinated in mild spices, every taste is catered to here. What better way to conclude such a perfect evening than with a choice of scrumptious desserts that includes baked cheesecake, espresso crème brulee biscotti, chocolate chia seed pudding and fruit skewers?

Combining exclusivity and seclusion with fine cuisine on a tropical island paradise, 5° North takes destination dining to whole new level. It is time to start planning your holiday at Finolhu and make this gastronomic escapade part of your itinerary.

TAAI’s Current National Office Bearers to Continue to Represent Trade in 2022 - 2024

The oldest and largest travel tourism association in India had invited nominations from its members for the post of President, Vice President, Hon. Secretary-General, Hon. Treasurer, and 7 Managing Committee members for the 2022-2024 term. The last date to file the nominations was the 15th of September, and withdrawal of nominations was 23rd of September. And, for the first time in the history of TAAI, National Office Bearers and proposed Managing Committee members have been chosen unopposed for the years 2022 – 2024 as there were no nominations filed to contest elections, challenging the current Office Bearers or nominations of MC members. The elections were scheduled for today i.e., 29th of September in Mumbai where the team has once again taken over their positions.

Sharing views on the election process, Jyoti Mayal, has been appointed as the President said that we have done our best for the fraternity. We left no stone unturned and represented the travel trade on every front. Our hard work won us many accolades because TAAI’s relentless support to the travel trade and tourism industry has been appreciated at both national and international levels. Our presence at UFTAA, with Global Tourism Boards, with FAITH and state tourism boards as well as IATA shall certainly be more aggressive and interactive.

Adding to that, Jay Bhatia, who once again continues as the Vice President said that the team worked day and night despite of challenges faced due to the unprecedented event like covid, which

halted our industry. However, we ensured that our voice be heard by the highest echelons and that adequate support must be extended to our trade. I am thankful to all who have been there with us during the tough times, encouraging and supporting us. This term of 2022-2024 shall definitely see more endeavours from this committee especially with more interactions with the government and the airlines along with other stakeholder partners which shall benefit our members

Bettaiah Lokesh, who too is continuing as the Hon. Secretary-General said that against all challenges, we worked for the benefit of the members. Members were paying their annual subscriptions and our responsibilty was to ensure that all statutory and regulatory compliances must be adhered to as per the law and meetings are conducted. Indeed, it was tough but we burnt the midnight oil and made the association strong and faced all such challenges & delivered our best.

Managing finances was a tough call, however, Shreeram Patel, who is continuing as the Hon. Treasurer said that we managed to run offices smoothly. The secretariat, both at Mumbai and Delhi offices, kept the channel of communication open with members with limited resources. The efforts put in by our team at the secretariat resulted in continuous membership subscriptions coming-in post covid.

Along with the Office Bearers, the following 7 Managing Committee will play a crucial role in running the association smoothly. Anoop B Kanuga, Devesh Kumar Agarwal, Dr P Murugesan, Paras Lakhia, R Venkatachalam, Sameer Karnani, and Amish Desai who too were elected unopposed by the members of the Premier Association.

Sachin

HOW YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS LOVE TO NETWORK & SHARE IDEAS

TRAVEL O MANTHAN LTD. EDITION SETS A PERFECT EXAMPLE

With the changing times & trends, the fastest growing travel and tourism industry is recreating ways to network and exchange business ideas. The current times demand for an open environment rather than the conventional ways of doing a business conference.

Recently Trav Buzz News organized their signature event Travel O Manthan Ltd. Edition at a serene location in Uttrakhand near Mukteshwar. Digantaa Resort, Dhanachuli was selected to invite 30 entrepreneurs for a 2 nights conference. The event was one of its kind with business meetings, casual conversations, cricket tournament, sight-seeing to nearby locations, themed gala dinner and celebrating the success of few organizations completing their 10 + years in the industry.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Amrinder Singh, Vice President GIPP and Sh. Parshottam Kumar, Patron –AIPIA along with Mr Rajesh Raghavan, CEO, DE Middle East DMC. The Business Event was planned in an open participation theme, where everyone could speak their hearts out, share their experience from various projects and also brainstorm on the future opportunities.

Companies namely Abovo Travels, Kolormice tours, Travel and Experience, Travel & You, De Middle East, Zest Journeys, VOSAIO, Tripees, Navyush Travel & Experiences, AVNI MICE, GIPP, AIPIA, MICE Club and others shared their perspective related to future travel trends and how they are gearing up to readjust their strategies.Digantaa Resorts presented their resort facilities to all industry stakeholders through a video presentation and show around of the property.

Guinness World Record holder flags off India’s first-ever cross-country journey on electric car at the second annual E-Mobility India Forum

n a bid to raise awareness about clean mobility, Sushil Reddy, IIT Bombay Alumnus and Guinness World Record holder for “longest journey on an electric bicycle” is spearheading a 6000-kilometre journey along the Golden Quadrilateral route of India in 70 days on an electric car – the MG ZS EV. Supported by Messe Frankfurt India, the journey commenced today after the flag-off during E-Mobility India Forum 2022 in New Delhi.

As a part of the “zero tailpipe emission mobility” outreach and awareness campaign, Sushil Reddy, IIT Bombay Alumnus, Guinness World Record holder and Founder of The SunPedal Ride, is carrying out a 6,000-kilometre journey on an MG ZS EV along the Golden Quadrilateral route of India. As India’s first-ever crosscountry journey on an electric car, the initiative aims to make Indian citizens aware of the benefits of clean mobility.

The journey was flagged off during the second annual E-Mobility India Forum after a short address underlining the campaign’s objective by Sushil and witnessed by chief industry leaders from Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU), Jio BP, Tata Power, Hero Electric, BMW India, Ashok Leyland, ZF India, Bosch Ltd, Switch

Mobility and several other dignitaries who are part of the conference.

In the course of the journey, Sushil will circuit major cities including Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai and finish off in Delhi on 10th December 2022. Along with Messe Frankfurt India, the campaign is being supported by MG Motor, Fortum Charge and Drive India.

Kicking off the cross-country journey, Sushil Reddy commented “To accelerate EV transition in India, it is pivotal to make masses aware of benefits and capabilities of e-mobility. I hope that this journey encourages people across the country to embrace EVs and strive towards a sustainable and pollution-free India.”

Supporting the initiative, Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, organiser of E-Mobility India Forum, stated: “Reducing India’s dependence on fossil fuels will not only help in alleviating air pollution and combating climate change but also save the Indian economy billions in oil imports*. Green vehicles are the future of automotive transportation. Messe Frankfurt India promotes and supports clean fuel

initiatives through forums such as E-Mobility India Forum and NGV India Summit. We wish Sushil all the very best and stand alongside him in his journey to raise awareness about e-mobility in India.”

The second annual E-Mobility India Forum which was inaugurated today at Le Meridien, New Delhi has converged brand leaders, government officials and subject experts to address challenges faced by the EV industry in India and discuss key industry topics, such as: Understanding consumer attitudes and perceptions towards EV adoption, localisation, developing charging infrastructure, new business models powered by the EV ecosystem and discussion on safety concerns, standardisation and regulatory needs of the EV industry, as well as a detailed market overview and trend forecast.

ASSOCIATION LEADERS CLUB

MRS.KAJAL ANAND MD. Debon Herbals

MR. GURMEET SINGH KULAR, President FICO

GETS ONBOARD AS NATIONAL CHAIR CHAIR MAHARASHTRA

MR. AMRINDER SINGH

TO TAKE CHARGE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Thailand ends COVID-19

DECREE ON 30 SEPTEMBER 2022

Thailand’s Centre of COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced the ending of the nationwide COVID-19 Emergency Decree on 30 September, 2022, as the kingdom reclassifies COVID-19 from ‘a dangerous communicable disease’ to ‘a communicable disease under surveillance’ from 1 October, 2022. The CCSA also stated that from 1 October, 2022, international travellers to Thailand will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination or ATK test results.

The ending of the COVID-19 Emergency Decree, which has been in place for 19 times since 25 March, 2020, will result to the CCSA be automatically dissolved, and all the regulations, announcements, and orders issued by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet under the decree be revoked. Since the pandemic, Thailand has gradually reopened to international tourism starting in July 2021 with the Phuket Sandbox, Samui Plus, and 7+7 Extension programmes. This was followed by a four-phase reopening timeline from October 2021 to January 2022. The kingdom entered the stage of fully reopening from 1 July, 2022, with the removal of the Thailand Pass registration scheme, and foreign nationals only be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative ATK test result within 72 hours of travel, this will be lifted from 1 October, 2022, onwards.

In addition, the cabinet approved extending the period of stay to 45 days (from 30 days) for tourists from countries/territories entitled for visa exemption, and to 30 days (from 15 days) for those eligible for a Visa on Arrival (VOA). This will be in effect from 1 October, 2022, until 31 March, 2023.

37TH IATO ANNUAL CONVENTION TO TAKE PLACE IN LUCKNOW

The 37th IATO Annual Convention will be held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from 16 -19 December 2022. Inauguration of the convention will be held on 16th December at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath has given his kind consent to grace the occasion with his presence and inaugurate the convention, said Mr. Rajiv Mehra, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators. The Centrum Lucknow will be the venue hotel and all other activities including registration for the convention, business sessions and evening programmes will be held at The Centrum, Lucknow.

While announcing the decision of the Executive Committee, Mr. Rajiv Mehra, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) said “We expect about 900-1000 delegates from all over the country to participate which will include senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and States, industry leaders, tourism and hospitality professionals, travel trade media. Added attraction for this year convention would be Post Convention Tours to Ayodhya and Varanasi.

We expect participation of about 18 to 20 State Governments in the convention as every state is keen to re-instate inbound tourism to their respective states. This year focus in the convention would be to deliberate about the revival of inbound tourism to India therefore, the theme of the convention and subjects for the business sessions would be suitably decided by the committee.

Concurrently with our convention, there will be Travel Mart, which will be an opportunity for the exhibitors to showcase exciting and diverse range of destinations, conference and Incentive venues especially by the state governments.

MICE AFFAIRS MEDIA GROUP

Ajman Department of Tourism Development (ADTD) conducted its first three-city workshop in India

Ajman Department of Tourism Development executed its first ever trade activation through a threecity workshop that was held in Ahmedabad, Delhi and Bangalore on 20th, 21st and 22nd September respectively, which witnessed a constructive and educative session of select 30-35 agents in each city who are keen on promoting the multiple facets of destination Ajman. The workshop was designed to expose the Indian private sector to Ajman’s seamless connectivity from Dubai and Sharjah, emerging tourism

products and the plethora of leisure hotels that guests and travellers can experience in the smallest emirate of UAE. It also highlighted the region’s potential for being an aspirational destination for couples planning a wedding outside the country owing to its stellar beach side properties and cultural benevolence. The workshop’s key purpose was to establish Ajman as a destination which can serve as a gateway to experience the different side of UAE.

Speaking on ADTD’s first-ever initiative in the India market, Ms. Khadija Turki,

Director of Tourism Development and Marketing, Ajman Department of Tourism Development, commented, “The outbound travel market in India has been showing positive signs of recovery and we recognize its potential to outperform in the upcoming months. Capitalizing on these developments, ADTD is excited to introduce its products and experiences to the Indian private sector and entice more Indian travellers to visit Ajman. Through the workshops across the three key cities in India, we aim to

spread more awareness amongst travel agents and enable them to position Ajman as an extended city for travellers visiting UAE and seeking unique experiences. We are certain that the participants of the workshop will act as catalysts and ensure increase in Indian footfalls in Ajman.”

Adding to the same, Mr. Sunil Mathapaty, Director, Intrepid Marketing & Communications, expressed, “As the outbound Indian travel market traffic is directed heavily towards Southeast Asia and gulf countries, the travellers are seeking newer experiences and Ajman fits the bill perfectly for them. Deeply rooted in culture and heritage while offering global hospitality experiences, Ajman is one of the most coveted emerging destinations. The workshops conducted with niche group of travel agents will assist ADTD in training them and empowering them with destination knowledge so that they can cater to their clients and drive conversions to the emirate city in the forthcoming months.”

Banking on the private sector’s welcoming response at the workshops, ADTD looks forward to planning more strategic marketing and communication activities across key Indian source markets in the years to come and make Ajman an aspirational short-haul leisure destination.

EAT SLEEP BEACH PARTY REPEAT AT AVANI Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club

Get ready for New Party Destination in Samui with the first finest Beach Club of Samui #SEEN

Bang on the Chaweng Beach of Koh Samui, newly opened Avani Chaweng Beach is the real happening place

MICE Affairs Media Group spoke to Jamie Sinclair, GM of SEEN Beach Club part of the Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club in Koh Samui, Thailand

Avani is the perfect fit for Celebrations, be it Birthdays, Anniversaries, Top Management & Strategy Meets an atmosphere where your early morning can start with Yoga on the beach, Poolside Breakfast, Jump into the Sea, Enjoy Water Sports, Relax, Party till wee hours. Various instagrammable spots inside the property add to its USP’s portfolio.

Situated at 10 minutes drive from Koh Samui Airport, with no check in timings, Indian travelers can easily opt for early morning flight from Bangkok into Koh Samui and check in by 1000 AM. The whole day is yours. Unwind yourself at this amazing property right on the Chaweng Beach.

Evening are colourful with DJ playing right next to beach overlooking sea. Grab your favourite drink, swim, dance, eat and repeat.

Talking about the Indian market, Jamie replied “We are eyeing big on the Indian market. India is a really important source market for Thailand and so for us at Avani. At Avani Chaweng Beach, our focus is to target the Top Management Meetings, Theme Weddings, Brainstorming workshops and Special celebratory occasions. We are a party destination offering picturesque views of the beach, plenty of bar options, a trendy atmosphere to get you the perfect vibes for a stay right on the beach.”

With top-class DJ and Pool parties, Avani Chaweng is offering world class entertainment to its guests. Mid Century modern inspired beach destination Avani Chaweng offers 80 modern rooms with balconies. The resort’s social swimming pool feels like a hopping bar, with snug cabanas and a mixology station that moonlights as a check-in area for guests who just want to get on with it.

Avani Chaweng’s dining venues offer substantial sustenance, snacks and tasty tipples. Start with a decadent bubbly breakfast or a wholesome lunch of Mediterranean, Asian and American flavours at SEEN Beach Club, then decamp to the 24-hour Social Bar where late-night comfort foods and summery cocktails will keep you company as you catch up on emails or relax to sweet jukebox tunes. Not to be Missed while at Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club is – The Fire Show Right on the Beach.

Jamie Sinclair

SUN SIYAM GROUP CELEBRATES

A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT AT THE GALA HELD TO MARK THE GOLDEN JUBILEE OF MALDIVES TOURISM

As Maldives celebrates its 50 years of tourism, Maldivian-owned Sun Siyam Group is celebrating a milestone achievement of its own. At the Gala held on the third of October 2022 to celebrate the Maldives Tourism Golden Year, the owner and visionary behind Sun Siyam Group, Hon. Ahmed Siyam Mohamed received the “President’s Tourism Gold Award” for his exemplary contribution to the development of tourism in Maldives.

Renowned for being one of the most energetic and visionary businessmen in the country, Hon. Ahmed Siyam Mohamed is also one of the youngest resort developers in the industry. Since the inception of his first company, Sun Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd, he has carefully developed his business to create a thriving resort chain in just over three decades.

For his sustainable leadership in the Maldivian tourism industry, he has been recognized both locally and internationally as an icon of the hospitality industry. He has won the prestigious National Award from the President of the Maldives for distinguished services rendered towards the sustainable development of Tourism in the Republic of Maldives in the year. He also received the ‘Sustainability professional of the Year’ award at the World Sustainability Congress held in Dubai in 2016, ‘Tourism Pioneer’ award at the World Travel Awards 2016 and ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the Maldives Travel Awards 2016. He has continued to serve as an executive board member of Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) since 2004. Hon. Siyam is committed to building a strong employable work force within the tourism industry to continue the legacy of Maldives as the frontrunner in global tourism.

IN OCTOBER, ABU DHABI TO WELCOME OVER 2,000 DELEGATES

who will be coming from across the globe, to discuss the latest advancements in the field of dentistry.

“This is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s world-wide status, as a leading destination for specialized meetings and conferences. This would have never been achieved without the support of our partners; the Arabian Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, who supported us in securing a successful bid win, and INDEX Conferences & Exhibitions, who will ensure to provide an exemplary event in all aspects as they always do”.

Says Mr. Mubarak AlShamsi, Director, Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition BureauAbu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism

The upcoming 12th World Congress of Esthetic Dentistry will take place on 27 – 29 October 2022, at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers.

MILIPOL INDIA

The Leading International Event for Internal Security for Indo-Pacific, will be held in New Delhi from the 26th to 28th October 2023

We are thrilled to announce that Milipol India, the latest addition to the Milipol International Network of events dedicated to internal security will take place in New Delhi from the 26th to 28th October 2023. Placed under the patronage of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India along with Ministry of External Affairs,Government of India and the French Minister of the Interior, this new exceptional event is organised by Interads Exhibition and Comexposium, acting on

Mr Jounot, President of Milipol Network, said. “Milipol India illustrates the strong will from France and India to further strengthen and grow their strategic and political partnership. Technology is a driving force within the Internal Security ecosystem.It’s a place where innovators take the lead.”

The Milipol International Network is the world reference when it comes to events dedicated to Internal security. It provides the perfect forums for unveiling the latest technologies in internal security and perfectly meets the needs of the whole of the sector while addressing the current fast evolving threats.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR AMIT RAY AT LOT POLISH AIRLINES

Amit Ray, Director India, DACH Markets and Italy at LOT Polish Airlines, will be additionally appointed as Head of Global Corporate and Strategic Sales at the Polish Star Alliance member with immediate effect.

The Global Corporate and Strategic Sales unit at LOT Polish Airlines is responsible for the creation, negotiation and administration of all global corporate contracts as well as for all key strategic decisions in the corporate travel segment. The Global Account Managers, under Ray’s leadership, will manage relationships with corporate partners and their respective agencies of record, with industry

consultants focused on corporate travel and foster the collaboration with trade organizations. The globally based team members will also focus on program efficiency, contribution to sustainability goals, improving the business travel experience and keeping contracted partners engaged and informed.

Amit Ray has been working for LOT Polish Airlines since October 2014 and had a leading role in expanding LOT Polish Airlines’ presence in the German-speaking market and Italy as well as spearheading the airline’s successful market entry in India since 2019.

LOT Polish Airlines is a modern carrier connecting Central and Eastern Europe with the rest of the world. LOT’s offer includes, inter alia, direct long-haul flights to airports in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, India and Sri Lanka. The Polish carrier has been consistently increasing the number of its flights to those destinations, thus strengthening its position in the Central and Eastern Europe. It operates its longhaul flights with Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of the most advanced wide-body aircraft in the world. Present in the sky since 1929, the Polish carrier is the 12th oldest airline worldwide, being one of the most internationally recognisable Polish brands.

LIGHT + LED EXPO INDIA

mega launch edition to beacon India’s growing technological excellence in the lighting sector

Following the grand success of LED Expo India, Light + LED Expo India is all set to raise its curtains from 3 – 5 November 2022 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Deemed to be India’s biggest lighting exhibition, the mega trade event will deliver a strong impetus to local lighting and component manufacturers. Implementation of road, housing infrastructure, and smart city development plans, coupled with the Indian government’s rally for localisation have created a manifold of opportunities for lighting manufacturers in the country. By capitalising on its manpower and technological strength, the Indian lighting industry can not only meet domestic demands but also emerge as a global leader in lighting technology production. Strongly aligned with this transformational objective,

Messe Frankfurt India and ELCOMA (Electric Lamp and Component Manufacturers Association of India) are geared up for the grand launch edition of Light + LED Expo India on 3 November 2022 in New Delhi.

As India’s most equipped and all-encompassing lighting exhibition, Light + LED Expo India will showcase an endless variety of lighting technology ranging from neoteric smart lighting solutions to LED semiconductor chips and other fine lighting components.

During the three-day fair, over 175 brands, including leading lighting and component manufacturers like Syska LED, iTvis, Utkarsh Pipes, Cygnus Lighting, Crescent Opto, Uniglobus (Polycab), LC Tech, Dominar,Rabyte, Fulham, Semiconic, Componix, and Juki India will unveil their latest advancements in the presence of architects, interior designers, builders, professionals from construction industry, government agencies, public authorities, ESCOS (Energy Service Companies), as well as distributors and retailers. The event will also attract small and large scale lighting businesses from across the domestic value chain under one roof.

Highlighting the shifting focus towards localised manufacturing and the launch edition of Light + LED Expo India,

Mr Shyam Sujan, Secretary General, ELCOMA, stated:

“As far as manufacturing of finished goods is concerned, the entire base has shifted from assembling of lighting to the manufacturing of end products. It is now desired to revive the manufacturing of maximum components and finished products in India.

Since the Government’s push for ‘Aatmanirbhar’ with the issuance of PLI Schemes by DPIIT (LED light components) and MEITY (Semiconductors), it is expected that in the next four to five years, India will witness the creation of an ecosystem of component manufacturing thus reducing the dependency on imports. This sets up the context for organising Light + LED Expo 2022 where the industry shall witness a fabulous display of component manufacturing and finished LED light products. The exhibition is also expected to showcase a fascinating display of IoT enabled lighting digital LED Technology which has a promise of excellent futuristic lighting applications in India.”

According to ELCOMA Vision 2024 report, IoT LED Lighting technology will be the future of lighting in India and on a global scale, it will grow at a CAGR of 19%.

“Light + LED Expo India will induce business interactions of an unprecedented scale. It will provide a perfect platform for local lighting manufacturers to showcase their extensive technological capabilities before local and global industry players. We are confident that it will have a burgeoning impact in the progress of India’s domestic lighting sector.”

“Building a localised supply chain is the ultimate pathway to India’s ascent as a global lighting technology hub and through our mega trade fair launch we strongly aim to support the lighting industry in this pursuit,” Mr Manek further remarked.

LED lights and the invention of smart and energyefficient lighting systems as a whole have become an integral part of modern infrastructure, majorly contributing to industry demand. However, the dearth of domestic semiconductor manufacturers has continued to be a major drawback to the massive growth potential of the Indian lighting sector. With a PLI scheme of INR 76,000 Crore, the Indian government is currently working towards the development of semiconductors fab units and upscaling domestic production capacity within India.

Poised to be the most anticipated lighting exhibition in India, Light + LED Expo India 2022 will highlight India’s potential to become the world’s most lucrative lighting market.

Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holding Ltd, underlined the significance of the exhibition:

Asian government representatives and global Business Events industry leaders agree on next steps of collaboration

KEY AREAS OF COLLABORATION WERE AGREED TO CATALYSE THE POTENTIAL OF THE REGION’S BUSINESS EVENTS INDUSTRY

The Business Events and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry in Asia is on course to catalyse its potential after global industry leaders and government representatives agreed on five key areas of collaboration at the Joint Leadership Summit (JLS) at The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore on 5 October. Senior representatives from global Business Events organisers underlined their commitment in the region and the vital role that the industry play in supporting national and regional governments in implementing their economical and societal development priorities. They emphasised that the sector is a critical element in delivering postpandemic recovery that can be immediately utilised by governments. Industry leaders, trade associations and government representatives present agreed to develop five key areas to activate the potential of Business Events and to boost the growth of the industry through international and regional collaboration.

Define Business Events as “controlled gatherings”

Business Events are not public gatherings, but highly controlled assemblies.

They need to be classified as distinct from generic mass gatherings. This will ensure that, in future situations, the sector can continue to operate and fulfil its strategic role for governments.

Establish Business Events as both an economic and tourism tool Business Events are economic, scientific, and professional in nature. Beyond serving as a key pillar of the tourism and hospitality sector, it also provides industry platforms to discuss and achieve strategic priorities. Therefore, it is imperative that business events are recognised as tools and platforms to be leveraged upon in the context of trade, economic development, social and investment, and policies should be mirrored as such.

Accessibility

The success of Business Events that gathers international delegates relies on accessibility of respective markets. Accessibility is driven by crossregional alignments on issues related to travel, immigration, and health & safety protocols. There needs to be cross-regional collaboration to reduce accessibility hurdles to empower Business Events to deliver their benefits

Talent and capability development The pandemic has caused a massive talent loss to the industry and attracting new and existing talent back will be among the key challenges to ensure the increasing demand of physical business events is met as the region continues to reopen. The region needs to come together to address and reduce the talent gap through talent sharing and collaboration on capability development initiatives

Sustainability While reviving the region’s Business Events industry remains the key focus, there is an understanding that sustainability plays a key role in the growth and revival of the industry. More than ever, delegates and attendees are demanding greener events. Therefore, we need to seize opportunities to collaborate internationally, regionally and locally between stakeholders (countries/cities, venues, organisers and suppliers) to step up our efforts to ensure that we not only deliver on our customers’ needs, but create a more sustainable future for the industry together.The parties will reconvene in October 2023 to review the progress and discuss additional measures to drive the next stage of growth for the region’s Business Events industry.

Dato’ Vincent Lim, President, Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA), said: “All of us are united in rebuilding and reviving Asia’s Business Events and MICE industry together. We hope for businesses and governments to work with stakeholders in closer collaboration to create a powerful synergy to drive our industry forward and upwards, as it is an important and invaluable economic contributor to many countries.”

Hosea Andreas Runkat, Chairman, Indonesian Exhibition Company Association (ASPERAPI), said: “The exhibition industry performance relies on bringing together exhibitors and visitors in large gatherings. Covid-19 measures strictly prevent any mass gatherings offline, while online exhibitions – regardless of innovative digital features for doing business interactions, will never perfectly replace the advantages of in-person interactions. To revive the industry, all parties must engage in real collaboration including the government, therefore Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association (IECA/ASPERAPI) is delighted to lend its full support to the Joint Leadership Summit and Asia CEO Summit, which will help forge greater collaboration regionally and globally.”

Francis Teo, President, Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS), said: “The global economy is in a troubling state, it is more important than ever that we stand together to support and show the world that we are a united industry. We are committed to working together to drive recovery and growth, and to promote the region as a safe and welcoming destination for MICE events. The MICE industry is essential to the global economy and we will continue to support one another through these challenging times. I am confident that the measures being put in place by our respective governments, businesses as well as people across this region will ensure safety for all MICE participants. We look forward to welcoming foreign business travellers to the region soon.”

Joel Pascual, President, Philippine Association of Convention and Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS), said: “While the MICE industry has been allowed to open up in recent months, there is much work to be done to bring it to pre-pandemic levels and the best way to quick recovery is to foster strong collaboration between the public and private sectors. Governments can help bring much needed confidence for safe travel and safe participation while industry associations can help bring greater awareness on the importance of MICE towards a quick economy reboot. Private MICE stakeholders will do well to explore collaborative efforts to help each other bolster MICE within the region.”

Richard Ireland, President, Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), said: “These are exciting times for the Business Events and MICE industry in Asia. While different markets are experiencing varying stages of reopening, the region has come together to agree on key areas of collaboration to catalyse the potential and growth of Business Events in Asia. We look forward to working with our regional and global partners to forge a brighter and more sustainable future for the industry together.”

Sumate Sudasna, President, Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), said: “The Joint Leadership Summit and Asia CEO Summit serves the purpose of uniting the business events industry in this region. The recognition on the contribution to national and regional economies, knowledge and legacies that events generate is essential and timely. Kudos to our industry friends in Singapore on this initiative which will certainly strengthen Southeast Asia as a respected destination for international events.”