Interviews

n Conversation With LC GOYALICHAIRMAN AND MD, INDIA TRADE PROMOTION ORGANISATION (ITPO)

The redevelopment of Pragati Maidan is a project of national importance and envisages setting up of a world class iconic state of the art International Exhibition and Convention Centre (IECC) with latest modern architectural design. According to the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2015, a comprehensive revamp plan of Pragati Maidan - called the Integrated Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) project - was conceptualised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO). The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved it in January 2017 for implementation in a mission mode. The scale and size of the IECC project - with an estimated cost of Rs 2,698 crore - is enormous. It has a total built-up area of 4.2 million sq. ft, comprising an iconic, world-class convention centre that can accommodate 7,000 people in a single format, six modern exhibition halls with an exhibition area of 1.5 lakh sqm and plenty of underground parking facilities and good infrastructure connectivity to encourage use of public transportation, but also allow roads to decongest fast. The exhibition and convention centre is located 18 km from the international airport and only 2.5 km from the main business area of Connaught Place. The redevelopment of the 50-year-old exhibition centre, Pragati Maidan Complex, is about to finish. Even though the old complex was India's leading exhibition centre, the introduction of the new and modern world class Integrated-Exhibition-cum-Convention-Centre, IECC, will make it even better. The plan also envisages monetisation of 3.70 acres of land at Pragati Maidan by allowing a third party to set up a 5-star hotel. The convention centre is the masterpiece of the project. It will be a 36.4-m-tall structure on a raised platform with elliptical façade, modern architecture and unique artworks with inspiration from Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhawan, with a huge front plaza that, inter alia, includes a 7,000-sqm water body with a laser musical fountain It also includes a comprehensive traffic decongestion plan including an underground tunnel passing through Pragati Maidan, and making Mathura Road signal free, with a basement parking facilities for 4800 vehicles.

On the occasion of his renewed term extension, Exhibition Showcase spoke to Mr. L. C. Goyal, CMD of ITPO. Mr. Goyal has been at the helm of affairs since the beginning of this mammoth project.

L. C. Goyal is a member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) belonging to 1979 batch, Kerala cadre and presently Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of India Trade Promotion Organization, a miniratna Public sector undertaking (PSU). In his long career, he has held many key senior management positions at the Center as well in the Government of Kerala.

Speaking to Exhibition Showcase, Mr. LC Goyal said, “I remain committed to making the new Pragati Maidan as a benchmark for exhibitions and conventions in Asia. We have already started physical exhibitions in four newly built exhibition halls. Pragati Maidan 2.0 will be a world class venue & the entire project is expected to be completed by August 2022. I am willing to extend all my support to the industry to come out of the Covid induced current difficult situation.

In an exclusive interview, he spoke in detail on the latest developments of the revamp of Pragati Maidan in its 2.0 avatar.

ES. Many congratulations on your extension as the CMD of ITPO. What would be your key priorities in the coming one year?

LC Goyal. First priority is to complete this entire project within the stipulated time. Certain segments of the project like 4 exhibition halls and entire traffic component of the project are ready for a formal launch within 3-4 months. However, the entire IECC project is now scheduled to be completed by August 2022. Another priority is to make sure that our industry comes out of these stressful conditions and reboots itself in terms of physical events, exhibitions and conventions

ES. What are the latest developments of the revamp of PragatiMaidan? Please share the timeline of construction.

LC Goyal. Four exhibition halls comprising exhibition area of 50000sq. mts. are ready and we have applied for various mandatory completion certificates. Another component is traffic decongestion plan. This unique initiative, first-of-itskind, would go a long way in ensuring comprehensive traffic solutions to decongest traffic in and around Pragati Maidan and also providing huge relief to the general public. The site will have 6 underpasses and a main tunnel for smooth movement of traffic in the region. Serving as the focal point of this traffic intervention is a 1.1 km tunnel, which will run across Pragati Maidan, starting from Purana Qila Road up to Ring Road. One of the biggest beneficiaries of this six-lane tunnel will be the Mathura Road, which is dotted with frequent traffic signals. It will also reduce significantly the vehicular pollution levels in this area. The Pragati Maidan tunnel and four underpasses near Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, Kaka Nagar and Bhairon Marg are likely to be opened by November, 2021.

The tunnel is passing beneath seven relevant tracks, so it required a lot of coordination with different departments like Railways etc. The work on traffic management in and around the place has been going on simultaneously with the project. Main tunnel is 95% complete, four underpasses are 99% complete and other two will be completed in another few weeks. This intervention was absolutely necessary. But for this intervention in terms of traffic decongestion, the IECC project would not have made much sense. And right in the beginning, I had asserted this. The above-mentioned components are ready to be launched in three-four months. The rest of the project is to be completed by August 2022. The third leg of this complex will be building of a 5- star Hotel which has been delayed due to the pandemic. Hopefully, it will come up in another 5-6 years.

ES. Earlier Pragati Maidan was known for trade fairs and exhibitions, but now with PragatiMaidan 2.0 coming up, can we say that it will become a MICE hub?

LC Goyal. The redevelopment of Pragati Maidan as a modern, up-to- date centre for holding global conferences and exhibitions, will include creation of a modern Convention Centre with a seating capacity of 7,000 persons. The convention centre will include 26 meeting rooms of different seating capacities, special areas for highlevel and international dignitaries. Convention Centre is the master-piece of the entire project. It has a grand architectural design with beautiful columns. It has unique

Indian artworks. It's going to be unique in terms of both internal and external facade. The convention centre is to be serviced by entry and exit points from Mathura Road, Purana Quila Road and Bhagwan Das Road. There are huge convention facilities. Mega conferences, both domestic and international, will be held there.

Pragati Maidan 2.0 will be not only be known as an exhibition venue, but also as a landmark. Pragati Maidan 2.0 will be a world class MICE complex.

ES. You have built the project brick-by-brick. You were dealing with so many different agencies regarding this project. What were some major challenges that came your way?

LC Goyal. This has been a difficult journey indeed – full of challenges and hurdles given its sensitive location But the challenges have made the journey very exciting too. The main challenges included getting vacated the pavilions occupied by state governments and central ministries, demolition of the Hall of Nations and the Nehru Pavilion, seeking statutory clearances, defending as many as 14 cases (including those at the National Green Tribunal) against the project, resolving intricate issues relating to shifting of utilities by multiple agencies, finding funds for the traffic decongestion component, handling procedural delays in securing approvals for the project as well as for monetisation of land for the hotel.

The timelines for the IECC project and traffic

decongestion interventions have undergone revisions, mainly due to unanticipated factors such as long construction bans in the NCR due to poor air quality in the winters of 2018-19 and 2019- 20, followed by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. But all issues have been handled successfully. In the next few months, shape of the project will be more pronounced. It will be a historic day when this entire project will be launched.

ES. Due to pandemic and challenges, has the budget estimation also gone up?

LC Goyal. No. This is an EPC project. It means design, engineering, procurement and construction. Being an EPC project, there is no cost escalation. Covid has only delayed the project. There is no cost escalation unless I have expanded the scope of the project, which I have done

Pragati Maidan 2.0 was an idea whose time had come: L C Goyal, CMD, ITPO

in some cases to meet the requirements of G-20 and that of exhibition industry.

ES. How competent has your team been during these times to help you to lead this project?

LC Goyal. The main interface with contractor/vendor is through the Project Management Consultant i.e. PMC. They only have invited bids, selected the vendor and made agreement with the vendor. The vendor interfaces with them. As far as ITPO’s role is concerned, I monitor the project every ten days along with the stakeholders and other agencies involved with the project. When I monitor and review the project, my team is with me. I prefer a small team and hands on approach. We have been able to closely monitor the project through a small engineering set in ITPO.

It is primarily PMC that is to make sure that the contract is followed, specifications and quality are maintained, formalities ensured, and no slippages are there in the completion timelines unless valid reasons are there. At my level, I do not take more than 48 hours to do what is required of me concerning this project. All the decisions are taken timely and effectively.

ES. Your project will have huge implications for the growth of Indian exhibition as well as convention industry. Do you plan to have a team to bid in foreign countries to attract conventions and major events in India and in PragatiMaidan?

LC Goyal. That is true. This project is a huge resource and should not go under- utilised. We have to strengthen our marketing strategies here. I have taken steps to strengthen my marketing division. We might look for outside expertise to help us guide in this complex process, both in India and abroad.

ES. ITPO comes under the Ministry of Commerce and MICE comes under Ministry of Tourism. Do you plan to have any synergy with Ministry of Tourism to charter the growth story ahead? LC Goyal. There is no structured mechanism as of now. True, we need to work in synergy. There have been some proposals in this direction, which may be revived at the appropriate time.

ES. This project is going to add muscle to ITPO's standing on the global stage. What implications do you foresee this project will have on the Indian exhibition industry?

LC Goyal. The revamped Pragati Maidan will be a unique landmark enriching the skyline of Capital city and an iconic symbol of new India. The exhibition and convention industry in India and globally is upbeat and excited about the upcoming state of-the-art complex. Over the years, it will be useful to evaluate the vital role the new Pragati Maidan would have played in the country's economic progress and its growing stature as an emerging global superpower.

ES. This pandemic has brought a lot of strife to the industry. The organisers and service providers have been adversely affected. How does ITPO plan to support the industry in these tough times?

LC Goyal. ITPO has announced several relief measures for cancellation/re-schedulement of events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I have done away with all the penalties. Organisers may reschedule events without any penalty being levied provided the request is conveyed to ITPO at least 15 days prior to the start of the tenancy. ITPO has always stood with industry in these difficult times and has issued a list of concessions/ relaxations to the event organisers during the financial year 2021-22. Last month also we have come up with more extensive concessions. We have given 20% discount till December end. We are there for the industry. Industry should come and tell me what they want. If industry is not capable to use this resource, then it is of no use. We have to work together and ensure that exhibition and convention industry comes out of this difficult time. Industry has the resilience and strength to bounce back. The idea is to make sure that events are held and more importantly, industry should come back to pre-Covid levels.

Exhibition Showcase Talks To Seema Srivastava, Executive Director, India-International Textile Machinery Exhibition Society

ES. The India ITME Society has been successfully serving the industry for 40+ years now and hosts 3 Mega International Textile Technology events in India addressing different aspects of industry requirements and focusing on future technology. Exhibitions have played a pivotal role in ITME's journey. Please share with us the legacy of India ITME Society and its incredible journey over the years with major milestones achieved since its inception.

Seema Srivastava. The India ITME Society has been serving the Textile Engineering industry for 42 years now. Our first Executive Director Late Mr. N. G. Abhyankar I.A.S., Finance Secretary Govt. of Maharashtra, who along with along with major industry stalwarts from Textile engineering industry formed India ITME Society to support and promote Indian capabilities in manufacturing most modern machinery in India apart from establishing India as a major hub for Textile Engineering & Allied Industry. Keeping in view the size of domestic market, our focus is on linking isolated small and medium buyers and sellers to the larger ecosystem and enabling customer connect throughout the globe. Our flagship event was always the India ITME event, of which we have now held for 4 decades. In 2015, we launched “Global Textile Technology & Engineering Show (GTTES)”, which was meant to link European textile machinery sellers to small and medium buyers in the burgeoning Asian market, especially within the post spinning and weaving sectors. In 2020, we held the first International Textile Machinery Exhibition (ITME Africa 2020), to link the African technology demands to Textile engineering & technology solutions.

ITME Society also offers trade enquiry services to help our customers generate leads and access specific products worldwide, as well as supports education and research through various programmes in collaboration with foreign

Global Connect Initiative - Panel Discussion

universities. Moving with time, ITME Society has initiated multiple programs to Encourage Women Entrepreneurship in Textile Engineering. Recently ITME Society worked with MSME and Project “Siddhi” towards improving lives of women weavers in Madhya Pradesh. Under this scheme personal hygiene training and facilitation for girls in the age group 12 to 18 years for period of one year was launched.

Another major milestone is our collaboration with ITCUN for promoting India- Africa business, skill development and technical education. Under this ITME Society facilitated donation of weaving machine to from India to Bahir-Dar university, Ethiopia to support hands on technical training to students. India ITME Society works towards 360 degrees development for Textile Engineering Industry in India & focuses not only on Trade & business aspect but also nurtures the future talent of the Industry. In short, we are right in the thick of it and look to be so, for the foreseeable future!

ES. As a pro-active industry body, please share with us how difficult it has been functioning in the midst of a pandemic and what value could you generate for your members during this difficult period.

Seema Srivastava. Like every industry, the Indian textile industry is no exception to the pandemic slowdown. For a period of about 7-8 months, all activity almost came to a standstill in the textile and textile machinery industries. Imports of raw materials, machinery components, and other goods arrived, but there were legal obstacles to moving them to factories, resulting in heavy demurrages and detention charges. For the exhibition industry, the coast was clearer, but the result was the same: we could not organize physical exhibitions. We had to adapt to virtual events to keep generating value for our members who were all facing hardship. That being said, we’re looking with hope at the future, as the vaccination cycles make their mark. The best of business rests on public, face-to-face interaction and we know face-to-face interactions will return to our industry soon enough. Virtual Buyer- Seller Meet, Textile Exchange 2021, Technical Lectures for Students all were conducted virtually. In fact apart from our Exhibition Society delivered most of its activities virtually ensuring that Indian Textile Engineering Industry remained visible and engaged with global customers/associates.

ES. The textile industry in China is the largest in the world in both overall production and exports. Globally, India still lags behind China in the textile machinery industry. What would be your thoughts and tips for India to improve its standing on the global level in this sector?

Seema Srivastava. China’s excess capacity in fibres and yarn will continue to affect the domestic Indian industry, as it disseminates cheap products in the Indian market. And China’s raw material input, labor force, and infrastructure considerably outstrips India. On the other hand, last year’s Xinjiang cotton issue opened up old wounds in the ChinaUSA trade war. Added to the onset of the crisis, the American market is looking for alternative sources for supplies. Within this gap, India can make a difference over the next decade, but I would not want to suggest that our separate nations are on the same level. For now, it is not a competition and it need not be one.

ES. You yourself have been a very prominent face in the India ITME's journey. Please tell our readers about your successful journey over the years since you started your association with ITME. What major milestones and achievements do you especially cherish in your heart with regards to making ITME's exhibitions par excellence?

Seema Srivastava. When I joined in 2009, immediate task in hand was to modernize the operational aspect of ITME exhibition. With great satisfaction I can say, India ITME events are conducted now with precision and quality using most modern apps and technology. Another scintillating task I undertook was to Conceptualize, plan & execute 2 new exhibitions each with different focus and expanding into overseas market as exhibition organiser. Establishing successful MOU’s with international industry associations of various countries thus increasing Society’s global connect tremendously. Being a woman myself, working for upliftment of rural and tribal women through skill development program, encouraging girl students through internship etc. are all well cherished memories and experiences for me.

ES. You have been a prominent face in the Indian exhibition industry. Please share with us your thoughts on the challenges surrounding the Indian exhibition industry?

Seema Srivastava. Indian Exhibition Industry has to have a defined structured growth path and pursue it. As of now, we lack clear frame work to pursue a purposeful growth, influence domestic and international exhibition policies. Proper Skill training program, Common Safety and service standards for events / Exhibitions, venues, service providers etc. have miles to go to reach global levels. Cooperation with state and regional government agencies needs to be addressed to provide seamless experience to participants in terms of travel connectivity, information, permissions, tourism options, public transport facility.

Unless trade fairs / exhibitions are considered as an important activity for business growth, tax revenue and foreign exchange revenue for government, employment generation etc by governing authorities, exhibition industry will continue to be viewed as unorganized sector. Covid pandemic has taught us that lesson very well isn’t it? And how much prepared are we for such future calamities as an industry.

ES. You are a member of the Steering Committee of the newly formed body for exhibition organizers - CIEO. We would like to know what prompted you to be a part of this initiative especially when there is already an association i.e. IEIA which has been advocating the concerns of the industry stakeholders. What concerns are being addressed at CIEO and has there been any breakthrough so far?

Seema Srivastava. I am a member of IEIA & appreciate the association for its work & all its efforts towards betterment of Exhibition Industry. I believe IEIA has a strong role to play in the growth of Exhibition Industry in India & should carry on its responsibilities diligently. However, being heterogeneous IEIA is unable to focus on needs of a specific segment. This apparently was felt and identified by service providers and logistic segment and all have formed their own association to address their needs. In fact exhibition organizers are the last to take this step. Last 1.5 years of disruptions to normal way of conducting business brought in a realization that we as exhibition organizers, who initiates an event, takes all the risks of investing time and money, need to have a homogeneous and exclusive platform to present and discuss our concerns with focus and practicality. Our challenges as organizers are very different from venue owners, or logistics services or any other services which form part of exhibition industry. Extended Pandemic crisis brought the hard realization of the fact, that we organizers didn’t have an exclusive or unified collective voice so far in our country and how crucial it is to have one for our survival and future.

We also realized that, it is a necessity for us to stand united, think out of the box, Adapt to the changes and take bold steps in order to grow and evolve successfully into an organized sector recognized by government.

These very emotions and thoughts shaped CIEO or Council for Indian Exhibition Organizers: an exclusive forum which brings an identity, unified voice and one umbrella for organizers to stand under. This is the first ever such forum in our country - which is – FOR the organizers, BY the organizers, and OF the organizers,– a truly democratic collaboration of exhibition organizers and the exhibition industry.

ES. As a largescale organiser of a live machinery show that involves huge venue space, your relationship & coordination with the venue requires a special mention. Also because venues are very important stakeholders in the event ecosystem. What do you feel about the rapport of the organizers and venues in India and whether any concerns & challenges exist in their equation (both in precovid and post-covid scenario)? Also, If there are challenges then how can they be addressed?

Seema Srivastava. India ITME Society has been organizing industrial business exhibitions with live machinery display in India since 1979, when venues were not available in India. We organized our first event in open ground & subsequently shifted to NESCO which was a factory facility initially. INDIA ITME is one of the 1st exhibition was held at NESCO. Thus NESCO & India ITME Society share long term association since 1979. Subsequently we also held India ITME event in BIEC, Bangalore & the 11th Edition in 2022 is scheduled at IEML Greater Noida. Providing facility for full venue Industrial Exhibition is complex and requires excellent co-ordination between organizers & Venue. I appreciate & thank all 3 venues & its team for their exemplary co-operation & support to India ITME Society over the years.

From no venue, India now has multiple venues of different size and advantages in all metro cities and 2 tier cities. However, still our country has miles to go before we can become boast of being Exhibition destination with world class Venues with size, coordinated services, infrastructure and other conveniences. As I pointed out earlier, this has to be coordinated effort not just by venue owners, but also government bodies. Now these are regular issues, not specific to current pandemic situation. With all events being postponed last year and this year too, venues and all other service providers have to pitch in to restart the industry. Concessions on space rental or services, affordable paneled services, flexibility in hiring self selected service providers all will help an organizer to revive shows and business. Mind you, organizer has to offer many discount to participant and absorb all additional costs as well as suffer from reduced booking and as such reduced income, that too after long 20 months of no income as on date.

ES. While exhibitions are a catalyst for several industries, the exhibition industry itself is badly hit by the pandemic and were amongst the first to close down and will probably be the last one to open. What are your thoughts on the ongoing situation of the exhibition industry and the future that it beholds?

Seema Srivastava. The future is hybrid. We will continue to have physical exhibitions after the pandemic subsides, but the exhibition industry will also incorporate an increasing number of virtual events. The logistics required for virtual events is considerably more manageable than for physical events, and that will allow the exhibition industry to hold several buyer-seller meets in a short period of time. From our side, we held a 3-day virtual event in December 2020, which included a buyer-seller meet with 284 exhibitors from 18 nations and 1,767 buyers from 57 nations. In April 2021, we held another 3-day virtual event called the ‘TextilesExchange 2021.’ This facilitated more than 700 meetings between buyers and sellers. In my experience, the exhibition industry will continue to create business, and in situations where applicable, will adapt through the digital sphere. There is no panic; in fact, we are looking forward to a rich vein of virtual business in the months before the 2022 exhibition.

40th Year Celebration

ES. According to your expertise & knowledge, what would be the top trends we can expect to witness in the Indian Exhibition ecosystem in the new normal after COVID?

Seema Srivastava. As we move forward into 2021-22, I see confidence rising in the industry. Slowly, business will go back to normal. We have estimated that it should be safe to return to physical interactions by the end of 2022, which is why we have postponed our ITME exhibition to 2022 December. On the topic of trends, as I already mentioned, I see the industry will adapt to hybrid versions of exhibitions, with more virtual and digital events.

ES. We are witnessing growing usage & advancement of technology in every industry? To what level do you feel our industry should embrace technology and do you feel it has some negative aspects too in regards to our face to face industry?

Seema Srivastava. Nothing can replace face-to-face business interaction. Business is deep and nuanced, even more so the textile machinery industry. If someone is looking to buy a high-speed jacquard loom that costs 5 lakhs, they would usually prefer to see it in person and test its various functions and compatibility. The eye of an industry expert may not be able to use its potential over virtual mediums and video conferences. Human relationships just seem to thrive in real-life conditions. Having said that, the virtual medium does allow us flexibility and cost-friendly options, so we will surely be using virtual events as well.

ES. What are ITME Society's upcoming plans in regards to exhibitions? Seema Srivastava. As I mentioned before, the future is hybrid. The Society is looking forward to organizing as many virtual buyer-seller meets as possible. The success of our prior virtual meets encouraged us to try out the format more frequently. One aspect of the meet that we want to continue was the virtual networking lounge, which enabled informal interactions between buyers and sellers. This increasingly informalized the setting and opened up a greater number of business interactions than were possible in fixed meetings. For physical exhibitions, we have the India ITME planned in December 2022, and the GTTES and ITME Africa in 2023.

ES. Finally, what would be your message to the industry?

Seema Srivastava. I would want the industry to look ahead with optimism. As the pandemic subsides, we have a lot to be thankful for. India still has one of the largest labour forces in the textile industry, and the cost of manufacturing of spinning machines in India is already one of the lowest in the world. The world will continue to look to us for business opportunities, even in American markets. Under the 2020-21 Union Budget, a National Technical Textiles Mission is proposed for a period from 2020-24 at an estimated outlay of Rs. 1,480 crore. The Indian government is also enabling the Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS), a credit linked Capital Investment Subsidy (CIS) scheme during 2016 to 2022 with an outlay of Rs. 17822 crore for the modernization of the industry. I can see us recover all that we may have lost in 2020-21, and get back to tried and tested ways.

In Conversation With

Gaurav Juneja, Director, MEX Exhibitions

ES. Gift world Expo is one of the successful trade exhibitions held post-pandemic. What were the key highlights of the Gift World Expo 2021?

Gaurav Juneja. Gifts World Expo aims to get the latest trends in the gifting industry to suit all budget ranges. Held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from 9-11 September, the 2021 Edition was organized specifically to target the post-pandemic market and get back to business!

Ten different segments were key highlights of the show: Corporate Gifts & Premiums, Health & Hygiene Products, Custom Branding Machinery, Electronic Appliances & Gadgets, Awards & Rewards, Home Decor & Handicrafts, Houseware & Home Furnishings, Office Supplies & Stationery, Gourmet Hampers, and Gold & Silver Gifts. Thereby, catering to Celebration Gifts, Festive Gifts, Corporate Gifts, and Promotions.

ES. Each year we talk about the problems, and now we are starting to see some subtle and not-so-subtle shifts from the worries of 2020. What do you think are the biggest challenges surrounding this sector? Gaurav Juneja. In 2020 a lot of virtual buying was happening. But with the show coming back on the ground, we see that people were eager for face-to-face interaction, to have a touch and feel of the product and make their buying decisions after an interaction, after a touch and feel of the product. So this platform of exhibitions is there to stay and to grow and cannot be substituted for anything else. We see a bounce-back of the industry with the re-launch of the show.

ES. According to the reports, the Indian gifting market is projected to grow significantly, from an estimated $ 119 million in 2019 to $ 159 million by 2025. What is your forecast in terms of the trends that will shape the gift industry in India?

Gaurav Juneja. The post-pandemic market has seen a shift in the kind of products that are in demand. There has been a new category on health & hygiene products that has been added. That has also become an integral part of the gifting now.

ES. What are your upcoming plans in regards to your shows in India?

Gaurav Juneja. The plans are to hold exhibitions keeping Covid Protocols in mind and following the social distancing. Planning more and more entry by invitations and targeting selected prospective buyers to ensure that business happens as usual and also health and safety standards are taken care of.

The shows will be held keeping all the protocols in mind. While focusing more on buyer-specific campaigns so that the crowd is more filtered and more fruitful for the show and for the exhibitors exhibiting their products.

ES. How do you ensure that visitors are directed towards their chosen segments of interest and can efficiently use their time at the expo?

Gaurav Juneja. We have tried to flag every booth marking the board segments it caters to so that buyers with interest in that particular segment enter the booth.

The entire expo is planned well in advance. We create a floor plan that very much suits even a first-time visitor. Every segment is categorized and exhibitors matching with that segment, represent their booth accordingly. As mentioned earlier, this edition comprised ten segments.

For example, if visitor A is looking for home decor products, he/she will find all the products for home decor in one segment which is well labeled to be visible from a distance. This will ensure that visitors are directed towards their chosen segments of interest and can efficiently use their time at the expo. For any help, we have our organizing office at the show.

ES. Normally, Gift World Expo witnesses participants from all across the nation & also had records of successful editions previously. What was the response to this edition of Gifts expo 2021? How has the post-Covid-19 scenario changed the overall experience of the show?

Gaurav Juneja. This year also we had exhibitors from all across the nation though the size of the show was smaller. But we had buyers from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Central India, Southern India & Northern India, which was very encouraging. Also the feedback from exhibitors told us that the less serious buyers were not seen at the Expo. Everybody who visited had their specific requirements and was there to do real business. There was also an increase in the number of corporates attending the show.

ES. What kind of an overall impact do your shows make on their respective industries? Gaurav Juneja. We are very focused on our shows and we put in a lot of effort to make every show very successful in terms of creating the right platform for both buyers and sellers to interact. Our campaigns are very specifically targeted at the industry profile and the exhibit profile. They act as the growth engines for the particular industry segment and are the most sort after platforms for doing business.

ES. What have you done to keep the visitors safe on the day of the event?

Gaurav Juneja. All the norms for preventing the COVID19 were strictly followed throughout the show. Announcements at regular intervals to wear a face mask and sanitize hands were followed. Our staff was available all the time during the show to monitor the social distancing regulations.

ES. What differentiates GWE immediately from other shows. How has it grown to become one of the biggest shows on corporate gifting in India?

Gaurav Juneja. We have tried to cover the maximum segments possible and to categorize the show as per the varying demands of the buyers. We tried to include all the budget range gifts so that complete sourcing can take place at the show. Also, we have a very strong data bank built over the years which is refined every year to ensure that the right kind of buyers come to the show.

Exhibition Showcase Talks To Kush Kapoor CEO, Roseate Hotels & Resorts & Chairman, National Council On Tourism & Hospitality, Assocham

ES. You have joined as Chairman of the National Council on Tourism and Hospitality, ASSOCHAM, which is one of India's largest and most influential chambers of commerce. How are you preparing for challenges that lie ahead?

Kush Kapoor. I am confident with the team I have & the support from Assocham fraternity, I will be able to deliver the output expected from me. Our focus will be on key areas and we will try to address them in the Best possible manner by acting as a catalyst between Tourism Industry, various stakeholders & Govt. bodies. As we are moving out of 18 months long lockdown period and as domestic Tourism has shown Great support to the economy, we are confident that the future ahead will be a Blessing for all of us.

ES. With over 22 years of experience in this industry, we would like to know about your professional journey, major challenges faced and milestones achieved over years.

Kush Kapoor. A life without a challenge is a lazy life. I have always loved challenges and prefer always looking at the positive side of life. Our Failures always are our stepping stone to success and they always teach us Great experiences. We only need to keep a positive attitude towards life. I always say that “ If I can do this, you all can do it much better & faster than me. “ I was fortunate to start my career as a room boy in Oberoi Hotels, moved ahead to work as a laundry valet, matrimonial agent, a steward and later a receptionist before moving up the ladder of my career. Its been an immense learning all through these years. I have made many mistakes and always learnt from them as I do believe in 6 Fs ( fail first, fall forward, fail fast ). You only have 24 hours in a day,

hence need to priortise your time and energy in the right direction as both time & energy are limited.

ES. What do you think it takes to succeed in this industry?

Kush Kapoor. Hospitality industry is one of the easiest industries to work in ( as per me ) as whatever do at home ( receive your friends & relatives, prepare the best food, show them your home, see them off & keep in touch ) you do the same thing in a hotel industry as well. Its only that you get paid for doing the same thing in a Hotel unlike at your home. It’s a fun & equally challenging industry, however if you love meeting & solving the concerns of Guest & your team, time flies away very fast teaching you & giving you immense memories to cherish.

ES. Roseate Hotels and Resorts is a luxury hospitality brand that offers a global collection of one-of-a-kind stay experiences. What makes Roseate and Hotels stand out from other properties you have worked in?

Kush Kapoor. It’s the flexibility to take decisions at all times to ensure your team & Guest are happy, satisfied which makes a huge difference in Roseate Hotels & Resorts. As a CEO, even I am out of having any office, without any E.A. we all work together from our work stations without any offices being given to anyone, without any doors, cabins which makes it a complete Transparent environment to work in which is loved by everyone at work. We always ensure to compete with our yesterday and try to do atleast one different thing everyday which adds value to the whole system.

ES. Two things you would like to change in the industry. What can we expect in the coming years?

Kush Kapoor. Use of technology In the most efficient & effective manner having a synergy between human capital & Artificial intelligence. Secondly, to bring Indian Hospitality to the World map.

ES. How do you see the hospitality industry evolve in postCOVID? What would constitute the new normal hotels?

Kush Kapoor. Flexibility, sticking to your basics when it comes to Hospitality will always be the key in any industry. There are numerous brand who have perished in the last 18 months & many Brand have evolved, its always survival of the fittest in any industry. We at Roseate Hotels & Resorts have been fortunate enough to make some Great innovations ( our own bottling plant, generating water from moisture, 24 X 7 access to anyone who wishes to see their food being prepared by our Chefs in our kitchens, opening of our Cafes, biggest Iskate ring in India, etc. and many more innovations have been done by us in the last 15 months ) which will take us a long way ahead. hygiene to attract guests?

Kush Kapoor. I always refer & prefer sticking to basics & use a 4 letter word for success ( TIPS – Transparent, innovation, Passion, Simple ). Keep your business as simple as possible as we are human being handling human beings and every human being loved being spoken and loves to talk to someone who addresses and resolves his or her concerns. If we learn how to manage ones EGO, we can work anywhere in the World.

ES. Increasingly, hotels are connecting with their guests on social media. What are your social media and online marketing strategies and how well has that worked?

Kush Kapoor. Our social media & marketing strategies are always aligned ensuring we connect with our partners, Guest, team members and always create an emotional bond with them. Our social media messages always talks about the human life, nurturing the talent, taking care & providing support to the community and I believe this has really worked well for us.

ES. What have been the crucial lessons learned and how has that helped changed your strategy?

Kush Kapoor. Be your competition, keep competing with your yesterday. Forget what you did yesterday, learn from your mistakes & moves ahead. Make mistakes & keep learning as this is the Best way to grow faster.

ES. While managing your time and deciding when to take breaks on a tight schedule, we are eager to know what keeps you busy when you are away from work? Please tell us about your hobbies that help you to relieve stress by keeping you engaged in something you enjoy.

Kush Kapoor. My day starts at 3:45 am when I wake up, go for a jog & walk, do my morning meditations & plan my day ahead. I love controlling my inner self which always provide me immense energy to handle entire day challenges. My day ends around 11:00 pm and I sleep peacefully ensuring I did whatever best I could do on that particular day. In order to get something different & new in life, you will have to something which you have never done in life. NEVER EVER QUIT.

ES. Any message that you would like to share with us.

Kush Kapoor. 3 things. Make sure you know your WHY – why you are doing what you are doing.

Ÿ Make sure you know your goals. Ÿ Know the process you have to follow to achieve your goals. Ÿ Know what you will have to sacrifice in order to achieve your goals

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Exhibion Showcase In An Exclusive Interview With: Iyad Rasbey, Execuve Director, Desnaon Tourism Development, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Iyad Rasbey has a rich wealth of knowledge, and the ability to tap into the pulse of local and internaonal market trends and insights. He is responsible for the connued tourism growth and sustainability of Ras Al Khaimah especially during a post pandemic era. Here, he shares his valuable insights:

ES. You’ve been in the MICE industry for years. What’s your most favourite memory from working in this industry over these past 20 years? Please share with us your professional journey.

Iyad Rasbey. I have always been passionate about the travel and tourism sector, and built my career working with a number of leading global tour operators such as TRAVCO, Alpha Tours and Kuoni, in addition to providing consultancy services for several tourism authorities. Naturally, the MICE sector was an easy fit given its growing importance and the increased demand for meeting, events, conferences and incentive travel given what the UAE has to offer in all those areas and more recently in Ras Al Khaimah as a developing MICE destination. When I first joined Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority as the Director for MICE, my responsibility was to build on this sector, especially in terms of identifying new opportunities and adding new offerings.

This was aligned with the vision of the government and the tourism authority, which focused on both attracting foreign investment as well as positioning MICE as a driver to tourism. With Ras Al Khaimah investing considerably in new hotels, attractions and infrastructure, the MICE sector

RAK Police and the Tourism Development Authority: Close

Collaboraon to Develop the Tourism Sector has also witnessed sustained growth. Our approach to developing the MICE sector has been even more holistic, with the integration of authentic cultural, culinary and other tourism offerings, which have added value to the unique MICE proposition of Ras Al Khaimah. Moreover, as a nature-based destination, Ras Al Khaimah offers the promise of an escape, one where you can enjoy your meetings or conference and then immerse yourself in our natural offerings, from day and overnight excursions on Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE with the longest zipline in the world, Bear Grylls Explorer Camp, the highest restaurant in the UAE, international hiking trails, camping and more.onds and meet the new conditions in the ‘new normal’.

Today as the Executive Director of Destination Tourism Development & MICE, I am responsible for the continued, balanced, and sustainable development of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah as a fast-developing tourist destination. I also work with the team to develop the Emirate’s existing diverse portfolio of attractions and activities, and ensuring its appeal to a wider mix of audiences. We are delighted that today Ras Al Khaimah is established as a tourism and MICE destination.

ES. Ras Al Khaimah was named the Gulf Tourism Capital for 2021 at the fifth annual meeting of Tourism Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council. How does the Ras Al Khaimah contribute to government revenues and in growth of GDP and employment?

Iyad Rasbey. We are proud that Ras Al Khaimah has been named the ‘Gulf Tourism Capital’ for the second consecutive year. This is a testament to our consistent efforts not only to ensure guest safety but also to re-start sustainable tourism to the destination. Our leadership has identified tourism as one of the key drivers of the economy, and over the past years, Ras Al Khaimah has recorded an impressive growth in the number of hotels, in addition to the diversification of the tourism offering through the concerted efforts of the Authority. In addition to the revenues generated directly from hospitality, travel and leisure services, growth in tourism has a ripple effect for the economy. It contributes to retail revenues in addition to creating new jobs and supporting small and medium enterprises associated with the travel and tourism value chain.

Despite the challenges of last year, our resilient and agile approach which saw everything from financial stimulus packages for our hotel partners, certifying the destination as the first safe city worldwide (including the first safe meeting facility – Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre – in the region), to launching four domestic and international marketing campaigns, providing free return PCR testing for visitors and delivering a massive vaccination drive for all tourism and hospitality workers, have all contributed to a quicker rebound in tourism. Like all destinations, Ras Al Khaimah experienced the impact of the pandemic. Tourism dropped by 28% in Ras Al Khaimah, but globally tourism dropped almost three times as much to 74%. The measures that I have outlined above have enabled us to mitigate any severe downturns. This was to the extent that Ras Al Khaimah became the best performing market in the GCC in terms of revenue per available room (RevPar) in 2020 and continues to well into 2021.

ES. How involved and supportive is the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) for the promotion of Tourism in its region?

Iyad Rasbey. I believe that the question on being involved and supportive is an understatement. Our mission as a tourism authority is to promote tourism and bring visitors to Ras Al Khaimah in addition to transforming the industry into a sustainable driver of the economy. In this, we have several priorities. These include diversifying and enhancing the visitor experience in Ras Al Khaimah through various

attractions, world class hotel brands and experiences. We also work to position and promote Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism offering in international markets through a global network of B2B and B2C channels, including well established tourism offices in key markets, a variety of workshops and roadshows and engaging with both broad and niche tour operators as well as having a well-defined presence in major exhibitions from ITB, WTM to ATM and ILTM, to name a few.

We are continuing to build on our success, and have recently announced an AED 500 million investment plan, covering 20 sustainable tourism projects. For this, we are partnering with RAK Hospitality Holding and RAK Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The new projects span the Emirate including rooms on Jebel Jais, scallop farming in Al Hamra, and new hotels on Marjan Island, among others. It’s important to note here that our ability to scale up our tourism efforts is directly in-line with the availability of accommodation (i.e. rooms) in the destination. With the recent July 1st opening of Hampton by Hilton on Marjan island, the largest Hampton in the world with 515 rooms, our hotel inventory is currently 7,241 rooms with a 70% increase forecasted (from our current inventory) in the next few years, which is the highest increase, proportionally, when compared to other Emirates.

ES. As Ras Al Khaimah continue to see a gradual rise in the number of corporate travellers in the emirate, how are you strengthening MICE profile further on the global stage by hosting MICE events? Please share with us some of the key events hosted by Ras Al Khaimah in the recent past.

Iyad Rasbey. We have a two-pronged approach to expanding our target markets: the first is to explore opportunities with new markets, and the second is to maintain engagement with existing source markets. Globally, the Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB) reports that MICE travel could be the last segment to recover. However, we believe that once the travel industry restabilises, there will likely be a quick pick up in interest. We continue to build on the robust growth in the Emirate’s MICE sector, having hosted the eighth annual Arab Aviation Summit 2021. It was the first in-person event of its kind in the region following the pandemic, reinforcing the Emirate’s credentials in building back the MICE sector. The event, held at the Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in March, was supported by global industry partners such as Airbus, CFM, Air Arabia, and Alpha Aviation Academy. Highlighting the strong links between the aviation and tourism industries, it provided a platform for industry leaders to discuss the next steps in tourism recovery.

Its success has resulted in the event confirming its return to Ras Al Khaimah in the coming years, an accomplishment that underlines our efforts to enhance safety and hygiene at the venue, leading to it being the first conference centre in the region to be certified as safe by Bureau Veritas. In recent years, we have attracted global events to the Emirate such as The Meetings Intelligence Workshop, organised in partnership with Meetings Intelligence Workshop that addressed the increasing competition stemming from the shift of the international meetings market to the Middle East. We also signed a MoU with the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations to promote European outbound tourism to Ras Al Khaimah, an agreement that led to hosting two semi-annual meetings of ECTAA, including one in Ras Al Khaimah. This enabled European trade members to discover the destination while showcasing Ras Al Khaimah’s world class MICE offering.

Another milestone was hosting the World Travel & Tourism Council Middle East & North Africa Leaders Forum that brought together key industry leaders to address the core issues facing the region’s travel and tourism sector. The forum was organised for the first time in the region and held at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre - Ras Al Khaimah. Other high-profile events that we hosted include the Belgian Travel Summit and the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference. We are also focused on strengthening business travel, with various measures put in place to support this. We have seen incentive group travel already make a comeback and are focusing on enhancing the appeal of the Emirate to this segment. We welcomed our first incentive group of over 220 guests in January

from Ukraine, with a further 15 experiencing the Emirate in the first quarter of the year. This year, we will be hosting more international conferences such as the Gulf Indian Ocean Hotel Investment Summit (GIOHIS) and events held by the Tour Operation Association as well as Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Summit in 2021. We remain optimistic that MICE travel will gain traction fast.

ES. How well Ras Al Khaimah is connected with the rest of the world? What are its unique portfolio of natureadventure assets which allows it to compete with top worldwide destinations?

Iyad Rasbey. Ras Al Khaimah is very well-connected globally, and we are continuously investing in strengthening connectivity. The Emirate and by extension, the broader UAE is located between east and west with close proximity to Europe, Asia and Africa with over 2 billion people are just a four-hour flight away. The UAE is also home to the largest number of international airports within close proximity, including Dubai International Airport – the busiest in the world, which is just a 45-minute drive away from Ras Al Khaimah, in addition to Abu Dhabi International Airport, Sharjah International Airport and of course our very own Ras Al Khaimah International Airport which is increasingly active and is currently undergoing its biggest expansion strategy since its opening in1976. The seamless connectivity has drawn in more footfall from new markets as well as driving it to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport.

A perfect example is our partnership with SCAT Airlines, which has led us to welcome multiple flights a week from eight major cities in Kazakhstan, as well as the activation of new routes to Prague from our new partnership with SmartWings established earlier this year. The Ras Al Khaimah International Airport has also welcomed expanded operations by SpiceJet, bringing in guests from six key cities in India, spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Cochin, Amritsar, Lucknow and Jaipur. Further discussion is underway with partners to open additional routes across Europe and Asia. We are also exploring new markets that include Romania, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Slovenia, to assess possibilities for further aviation partnerships, including charter flights and tour operations. This highlights that our focus lies beyond our core and secondary markets and takes in promising emerging feeder markets. In terms of natural adventure attractions, our offering is truly unparalleled. At the heart of this is Jebel Jais, situated in the Hajar Mountain range. It is the UAE’s highest peak, towering over Ras Al Khaimah at a height of 1,934 metres. Here, above the peaks and valleys of the surrounding mountains, temperatures are around 10 degrees lower than sea level and ideally suited to a refreshing escape from the summer heat. Jebel Jais offers an adrenaline fuelled getaway for those seeking an escape from city life, and looking to take on adventure, outdoor sports and survival experiences. Over the years, we have strengthened the reputation of Jebel Jais as a standalone tourism offering by unveiling a series of exciting adventure-based projects, positioning the Emirate as the adventure hub of the Middle East. Launched in 2021 the Jais Adventure Peak serves as the gateway to the iconic mountain’s various attractions. It welcomed over 70,000 thrill-seekers from the start of 2020 until April 2021, with all its attractions adapted to implement strict safety protocols.

Heading the charge of adventures to be experienced is the Jebel Jais Flight: The World’s Longest Zipline. Introduced

in 2018, it is one of the destination’s highest profile attractions, loved by thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies from around the world. The length of the zipline spans an incredible 2.83km, the equivalent to over 28 soccer fields. Another attraction not to be missed is the Jais Sky Tour comprising seven ziplines flying over the grand cliffs and canyons of Jebel Jais, connected by nine platforms and a 15m-long sky bridge – the highest of its kind in the UAE. The Jais Sky Maze, suspended 10 meters above ground, challenges visitors, as they tackle a rope swings, wobbly bridges, swinging loops and more. In addition to this, Jebel Jais Viewing Deck

Park features seven viewing decks to help guests soak in the stunning 360-degree views of the spectacular Hajar Mountains. A dedicated Jais Adventure Centre ensures guests are well-informed and equipped for the exhilarating activities to follow, while they can also fuel up on delicious and energy boosting fare from the UAE’s highest restaurant – 1484 by Puro. Further down the mountain is The Bear Grylls Survival Camp, the first of its kind in the region and the first in the world to offer branded accommodation, that calls on visitors to try out exhilarating courses run by UK experts trained at the Bear Grylls Survival Academy.

In Ras Al Khaimah, the natural ecosystems and the cityscapes, meet the aspirations of those looking to break away from their routine. We are now further building on these with new experiences that cover Ras Al Khaimah’s mountain range, including Jebel Jais, , the pristine beaches and land-based tourism assets. We are launching more mountain-based accommodation and great F&B options. As well as introducing new adventures with Jais Wings, Balloon Base, Jais Swing, Wadi Track and the first ‘HIGHLANDER’ hiking experience.

ES. As the vaccination drive picks up pace and the season opens up to welcome back tourists, how Ras Al Khaimah is gearing up for the new normal?

Iyad Rasbey. We have built-in agility and the capability to shift strategy and respond quickly to changing market conditions. Tourist authorities in many other destinations require time to adapt. Our ability to make the most of this new model and take a lead in a new era of travel is underpinned by our resilience and a capacity to respond rapidly to changing conditions - qualities that we believe will help place Ras Al Khaimah at the forefront of the minds of people seeking something fresh and inspiring with their vacations. Following the pandemic, our timely efforts played a key role in energising the tourism sector, as we report a steady increase in the number of visitors – from the UAE and abroad).

In fact, Ras Al Khaimah the first destination globally to secure the ‘SafeGuard Label’ from Bureau Veritas and the ‘Safe Travels Stamp’ from the World Travel and Trade Council, offering our guests peace of mind when considering us as a destination to visit. We were also the first destination to offer complimentary PCR testing for international arrivals last year, in addition to running an Emirate-wide vaccination programme that will see all hospitality and tourism employees fully vaccinated by the end of this year.

ES. How do you focus on international tourism in Ras Al Khaimah? What are the major investment opportunities for the tourism sector?

Iyad Rasbey. We are constantly looking to set ourselves apart and lead the market, and create offerings that appeal to a variety of travellers, such as the ‘Live RAK Play’

campaign, which was aimed at digital nomads. We were also the first destination in the region to engage with the CIS market actively, as well as the first to return with roadshows meetings and workshops. Another differentiator is our cohesive efforts with Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and aviation partners to identify and bring to life new travel routes. We pride ourselves on the prompt airport experience which leads to quicker access to the destination. We also work closely with our aviation partners to ensure guests have well-adjusted flight slots, taking into consideration hotel check-in and check-out times, adding to the overall guest experience. In fact, today our international visitation averages three to four nights and domestic footfall, averaging one-and-a-half to two nights, placing us in the lead for ADR (Average Daily Rate) – a measurement of the average revenue earned for an occupied room per day - in the GCC.

We are now further strengthening the tourism offering – that opens new opportunities for stronger collaborations covering investments in hospitality, leisure and entertainment. We have now launched 20 new projects on Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak and a stellar attraction that draws visitors from around the world. These projects cover four priorities: accommodation, mobility, infrastructure enhancements and new touristic attractions. Other upcoming developments include a mega-beachfront zone by Marjan with a marine zone, leisure trampoline, swimming pool, outdoor gym and extensive F&B offering, calling on beach lovers. Manar Mall, a retail hub in the Emirate, will create the region's first artificial volcano synchronised with live performances and visual effects as well as a Flying Arch. To delight kids and adults alike is the upcoming Light Maze at Manar Mall, an aesthetic and playful art installation that also helps promote team activities. Al Hamra Marine is launching a scallop farm that will offer activities such as live cooking, family and kid activities, cultural activations, oyster/scallop diving and opening, while Wadi Shawka will feature a new bicycle pump track that will be a hub for bike lovers.

The mountain biking track is designed to be suitable for kids and adults. In short, across its mountain ranges, beaches and lands, there is a plethora of opportunities to partner in Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism growth for investors and operators.

ES. RAK TDA has recently announced a strategic, highimpact investment programme, SelectRAK. How would it help in consolidating core economic sectors in Emirate and in making it most preferred destinations for Tourism and investments in affordable luxury?

Iyad Rasbey. SelectRAK is endorsed by the government of Ras Al Khaimah and we are rolling it out in partnership with Arton Capital, a leading government advisory company. As a key engine of investment and tourism activity, SelectRAK will focus on providing an array of benefits to investors, including long-term residency based on criteria outlined by the government. By enhancing the appeal of Ras Al Khaimah for investment, the initiative will help build all core economic sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, education, trade, and retail, in turn, creating new jobs and supporting domestic enterprises. SelectRAK will also support investors in registering and operating international businesses from Ras Al Khaimah, and assist in finding a home of their choice in the picturesque setting of the Emirate. All investors who meet the criteria and other guidelines mandated by the government, will also be provided long-term residence visas.

We envisage this strategic platform as as a one-stop-hub for promoting the Emirate, highlighting its tourism attractions to a global audience by underscoring business and investment opportunities. The strategic objective of SelectRAK is to support RAK in becoming a strong local favourite for residency investment by developing a competing product to bring FDI to RAK real estate sector. To achieve that goal, SelectRAK is actively working with local stakeholders to create a portfolio of products that would attract qualified investors from the broad region. SelectRAK will cover the entire process – from the contact initiation, through the pre-qualification, and the guidance needed at the stage of investment transfer, until the final steps are completed and the investors obtain their permits – SelectRAK will provide reliable support to create w an unforgettable experience for applicants.

ES. No doubt, domestic tourism is a tool to eliminate local poverty, generate employment and economic growth, what role does domestic tourism play for Ras Al Khaimah?

Iyad Rasbey. Domestic tourism has served as a key enabler in driving the growth of the tourism sector following the pandemic. In fact, from a 70:30 international/local visitor split, last year, the domestic market more than doubled with a 55:65 split by the end of the year. Going beyond the value-add to the economy, the tourism sector enables us to highlight our rich cultural heritage to visitors. Ras Al Khaimah is one of the oldest human settlements in the world; we have archaeological findings that go back to the Bronze Age – from which comes the phrase, Umm Al Nar – the mother of fire. Further, the name Julfar is cited widely in historic books – and has been a thriving medieval trade city – linking Asia to Europe.

ES. On a personal note, we are curious to know what keeps you busy when you are away from work? Please tell us about your hobbies and other activities that you would love to do at home.

Iyad Rasbey. As a family man at heart, my two children (under the age of 10) keep me very busy and you’ll often find me engaged in activities ranging from taking them to water parks in the city to engaging in arts and crafts at home. Moreover, I’m French so gastronomy plays a big part in my life and making a big family meal on the weekend is certainly something I enjoy a lot. Lastly, when it comes to hobbies, of course its football – both being a participant and a spectator.

ES. If you would like to share a message and one key advise to the industry, what would be that?

Iyad Rasbey. This is certainly a challenging time for the global tourism sector and - with the pandemic situation remaining one that is dynamic and constantly evolving - it is clear that we are not out of the woods yet. My advice would be to stay agile, flexible and innovative. This is the time to further invest in strengthening your tourism infrastructure and preparing yourself as the industry returns to positive growth. At the Authority, we are confident that Ras Al Khaimah is best placed to leverage the new normal of travel – one that values outdoor and interactive experiences driven by the months of lockdown and restricted travel. Our ability to make the most of this new model and take a lead in a new era of travel is underscored by our resilience and agility to respond to changing conditions - qualities will help place Ras Al Khaimah at the forefront of travel. In sum, my main message would be that in the face of adversity, we will always come back stronger. We will learn, we will adapt, and we will do things differently. The appetite for travel will never leave.

In Conversaon With Dr. Patrick Patridge, MICE, Tourism Markeng & PR Consultant Past - President SITE Germany Author and Public Speaker

ES. What motivated you to write “INCENTIVE TRAVEL for a New World”?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. It is early days yet, but readers from eight countries worldwide have already stated that they are delighted that I have written this book. It is one of the first books ever written about Incentive Travel and has been described by SITE – The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence - as an “excellent” and a “must read” book for industry professionals. It has also been recommended by SITE for colleagues studying for their tourism management, CITP, CIS and / or CMP exams.

ES. What kind of response have you been receiving?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. My aim is to offer subjects and themes that may provide readers with food for thought and inspiration for what I have termed: Incentive Travel for a New World. So, imagine that you are starting from “GO” in a game of Monopoly. "GO" marks the border between our worlds preCovid and post-Covid. Questions will have to be asked, answers provided, and critical decisions taken. Such as: - What will remain? - What will change? - How will change manifest itself? - How can we readapt? - Where should investment occur? - How can we assist one another? Providing practical answers to these and to other questions was my primary motivation. The book serves as a small contribution for collegial discussion, industry debate and as an impetus for optimistic engagement and affirmative thinking.

ES. What are its key highlights?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. The book is a benchmark for where our industry is at, and for where it could be going to. It is a call for discussion and debate. Serving as a contribution to business planning and futureminded Incentive Travel; to programme design and sustainable trip delivery. Its contents include a Preface by SITE President, Aoife Delaney and chapters titled - Quo Vadis Incentive Travel? - The Business Case - Core Trends – Relevant Branches – Corporate Goals - Millennials & Generation Y - Dietary Requirements - Corporate Social Responsibility - Sustainable Incentive Travel – Storytelling - Networking - Trade Fair Etiquette - Digital Detox - Slowing Down - Ethics - Perfect Fam Trips - and Tips for Destinations.

“INCENTIVE TRAVEL for a New World”

ES. What's your background in Incentive Travel?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. I have been working in the Incentive Travel sector since 1990 – firstly developing and promoting Ireland as a destination for quality incentive travel and meetings - and since 1998 as a MICE and Tourism Marketing Consultant for a wide variety of international destinations, suppliers, and tour companies seeking a sustainable foothold in the German-speaking and international markets.

ES. Which are some of the most memorable projects you've done in your career?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. I was instrumental in achieving for my home country Ireland and for the UK County of Kent strong profiles and key positions in the German business tourism, group travel and leisure tourism markets.

ES. Major milestones achieved so far include:

Dr. Patrick Patridge. Member of the German Castles Association since 1988. Ÿ SITE Member since 1990. Ÿ Past-President SITE Germany. Ÿ Helping to establish my home city of Dublin as a MICE and group travel destination for the German outbound

market. Ÿ SITE Kevin Forde Spirit Award 2010. Ÿ Group Travel Editors Award 2013 for promoting Coach

Travel to the UK. Ÿ SITE Jane E. Schuldt Master Motivator Award 2017.

ES. How has the Incentive Travel industry changed in the last 5 to 10 years?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. Incentive Travel programmes pre-Covid (ITII - Incentive Travel Industry Index 2019) were primarily structured around cultural and group dining experiences, team building and luxury. A programme was designed as a win / win for qualifiers who received an exceptional travel experience - and corporate client sponsor, who got a better-connected workforce. When compared with the ITII 2020, however, a new and more purposeful incentive travel model is seen to be emerging. Luxury and cultural experiences remain in the Top 4 rankings, but group dining and team building are replaced by Corporate Social Responsibility and Wellness. The rise of CSR highlights changing priorities post-Covid as corporations continue to favour travel as part of their reward and recognition programmes, placing emphasis on the intrinsic joy of travel and putting qualifiers centre-stage. Building programmes around rejuvenation, destination discovery and delight, interspersed with concepts of responsible travel and giving back to communities. Our immediate task as Incentive Travel specialists is to identify operative, research, tactical and strategic goals in both traditional and future growth sectors, and to devise offerings that will dovetail with, satisfy and complement these.

ES. Can you tell us about some recent Incentive events that you have attended?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. The last events I attended pre-Covid were SITE Germany receptions for SITE members and friends at ITB Berlin and at IMEX Frankfurt. The last incentives I accompanied were trips for Middle Eastern automotive distributors to Frankfurt am Main and a conclave for European medical surgeons in the ancient Roman city of Mainz on the majestic River Rhine.

ES. What would be your key advice to emerging Incentive Travel destinations?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. Excellent trip delivery, friendly and warm hospitality goes without saying. When promoting Incentive Travel, however, it is important for destinations to deliver fully thought-through concepts with transparent and detailed cost breakdowns - the latter considered vital for corporate financial controllers, compliance and procurement departments.

Heike Mahmoud (Hamburg Convention Centre), Dr. Patrick Patridge and SITE Past-President Annamaria Rufni

In view of tighter and / or shrinking events budgets in many industrial and commercial branches, the primary challenge for destinations and suppliers is to deliver targeted, safe, highquality, value for money and top-notch proposals with flexible options on moderate budgets. i.e., Incentive Travel that not only satisfies client requirements, but which also generates authentic, memorable, and personalised experiences, and a demand for future activity - whether these are full-scale dealer incentives or corporate meetings and retreats with an “Incentive Travel” touch. Develop an “Incentive Travel Business Case” for why companies and organisations should hold their events in your destination and join SITE (members in some 90 countries worldwide) and study SITE Crystal Award Winner programmes. These are a tremendous source of inspiration and encouragement.

ES. How would you make a layman understand what Incentive Travel is?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. Incentive Travel is a special tool that uses an exceptional travel experience to motivate, recognise and / or reward individuals for exemplary levels of engagement, performance, and achievement in support of either organisational, scientific, climate, environment or societal goals. Incentive Travel in the company of colleagues or customers is a special, complex, and emotional journey. The Incentive Travel story is an inspired narrative that is curated for the mind but felt with the heart. It is not something which can be purchased ready-to-wear from a travel agency. It is either couture - or tailor-made by an Incentive Travel professional.

ES. As former president of SITE Germany, tell us about initiatives taken and accomplishments made during your tenure? Dr. Patrick Patridge. Establishing an active SITE Chapter in Germany that is some 31 years in existence. Highlights to this day include the SITE European Conference 1994 in Munich and the SITE EMEA Forum 2012 in Berlin, together with our popular SITE Germany networking events and annual receptions at ITB Berlin (since 1994) and at IMEX Frankfurt (since 2004), to which your readers are most welcome to attend.

ES. In your opinion, what makes a good Incentive Travel organiser?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. Content, creativity, understanding of client objectives and goals, and value for money within a set budget per participant are what - at the end of the day - decide for a particular Incentive Travel organiser. Companies and organisations who wish to produce, direct and stage customised Incentive Travel programmes (i.e., unique travel experiences which cannot be bought from a tour operator online or over a travel agent's counter and which in the main are self-financing) require expert local advice and experienced partners with bestpractice ideas, collaborative networking, and trip delivery skills.

ES. What are the key challenges surrounding the MICE industry? What is it that you have learned from the pandemic?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. The Covid crisis and its caesura have had traumatic impacts on the worlds of work and travel. It is imperative, therefore, for all engaged in the MICE industry to carefully consider how we can recuperate, re-connect, re-boot and thrive by becoming active, relevant and prosperous once again. Reviving Incentive Travel by creating purposeful, memorable, and motivating experiences for our unpredictable times. And moving on from there to define anew moments that may still be pivotal for personal, business, CSR and scientific success. And not only for "Traditional Qualifiers" from branches such as Finance & Insurance, Automotive, Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Electronics. But also, for "System-Relevant Beneficiaries" from sectors such as Health Care & Nursing, Food & Retail, Community Care, Public Transport, Logistics, Child-Minding, Schooling & Training, Civil Defence & Emergency Services. And for future, sustainability-oriented sectors such as biomedicine, life

SITE Past-President Patrick Delaney pictured with Dr. Patrick Patridge in March 2019 in Berlin

SITE EMEA Forum CSR "Urban Gardening in Berlin“ refreshment break. Dr. Patrick Patridge pictured at SITE Germany Reception for SITE Members & Friends at IMEX Frankfurt 2019

sciences, mechanical engineering, cybersecurity, mobility, energy, and aerospace. Generating emotional experiences that rise above post-Covid routines, making trip participants feel included, recognised, rewarded, happy and healthy once again. Corona Virus - together with Climate Crisis - in the words of Irish Nobel Prize-winning poet, William Butler Yeats, means that: "All changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born."

ES. Some current trends in Incentive Travel?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. Trends that remain relevant to all involved in our industry include: Ÿ Planners still wish to be kept informed about changes, future planning and destination developments post-Covid. Ÿ Reliable and speedy air access with MICE terms and conditions from key international airports will remain essential due to shorter programme duration and increased time constraints. Ÿ Tips for "hip" and "unusual" venues, affordable hotels with a personal touch (health and compliance regulations), and "in" pubs and restaurants to highlight the “attractiveness”, "uniqueness" and "saleability" of an Incentive Travel destination. Ÿ Fiscally compliant events, individual travel experiences and vocational training are increasingly in demand. Ÿ Immersive sightseeing, shopping, culture, music festivals and iconic sporting events will remain popular, paired with visits to technical facilities, factory production units and university research departments. Ÿ Topped off by informal get-togethers in suitably themed settings where, e.g., researchers, developers, distributors, and sales forces come together to talk shop. Ÿ Individual and small group incentives closer to qualifiers' homes in the interim that feature wellness, outdoor activities and include partners and family members. These will kick-start our industry before it returns to more complex, and larger-scale international group travel events.

ES. What are your projections for 2021 and ahead? Dr. Patrick Patridge. Incentive Travel is a global management tool that can assist post-Covid, because it is a tried-and-trusted catalyst that uses exceptional travel experiences as a context to engage, motivate and/or recognise people for increased levels of personal commitment and extraordinary performance and achievement - irrespective of whatever they do or wherever they work. Whether they be traditional “Qualifiers” or system-relevant “Beneficiaries”. Incentive Travel is a fascinating instrument that may also be employed to tackle many scientific, economic, organisational, health, climate and ecological challenges - given expert planning, an ethical approach, clear communications, professional organisation, and memorable trip delivery. Indeed, Incentive Travel has proven over the past half-century that it can quite imaginatively and robustly adapt to changing circumstances and expanding global geographies. The Incentive Travel sector will remain a significant vehicle for both live and hybrid events post-Covid because it remains one of the most cost-effective, successful, and enjoyable options for inspiring and connecting people from all over the world. Changes only happen when we ourselves drive them onwards. So, let's get our personal and collective thinking caps on, and move forward with confidence and certainty, remembering always that we are not alone.

ES. Tell us about any upcoming book that you are planning to write?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. I plan to write a new book about “Marketing Communication and Presentation Skills” – an exciting journey through the fascinating worlds of contemporary corporate and personal communications.

ES. We know you love writing. What are your other interests?

Dr. Patrick Patridge. History, Geography, Archaeology, Medieval Castles, Photography, Hillwalking, Current Affairs, Literature, Cooking and Travel.