Voyager's World August 2014

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hotel projects. The Railways is not chugging too far behind either!

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others.

Assistant Editor Irene Susan Eapen irene@voyagersworld.in

Sub-editor Priyadharshini S priya.s@voyagersworld.in

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Tina Joseph Email: tinajoseph@voyagersworld.in Mobile: +91-9940620565

Operations Executive Selvarajramaswamy operations@voyagersworld.in

T

he Ministry of Tourism has been unleashing a spate of initiatives, proposals, budget allocations and studies for new

airports, upgrading infrastructure in tourist spots and also for

Stations will soon be seen with a makeover with Wi-Fi, escalators, cleaner trains, new routes, luxury trains, improved facilities among

The current period seems to be that of a branding exercise; with brand ‘Incredible India’ undergoing overhaul sessions on various fronts, on one hand and a leading domestic airline intending to dis-

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continue one of its units on the other, international carriers are no

Rohith Pinto info@voyagersworld.in

Circulation Executive

exception. Two debacles by the same carrier, one having gone into

Shyam Vishaak circulation@voyagersworld.in

obscurity and the other shot down, have resulted in the airline con-

Published By Surinder Hakhu sanjay@voyagersworld.in & Rohit Hangal rohit@voyagersworld.in

templating a brand exercise to mitigate the tragic drifts associated with it. Attempts to change ourselves are the first steps towards pushing the past into the lesser depths of public memory.

This month, we have green MICE trends as the cover with international convention centres adopting viable measures to reduce the burden on the environment. We also have interviews with top

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Industry Buzz

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Cover Story

officials from major state tourism boards in the country and an interesting destination story on Thailand.

Warm Regards

Green MICE trends

18 Destination Exploring breathtaking places and attractions in Thailand

24India Outbound

New initiatives by Seychelles, Dubai Tourism and Bhutan for India Market

PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM

priyamvadha@voyagersworld.in Cover Credit: Melbourne Convention Centre Destination Photo Credit: Irene Susan Eapen STB Photo Credit: Priyadharshini S

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Voyager’s World > August 2014

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www.voyagersworld.in

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Voyager’s World > August 2014

Industry Buzz

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Flydubai to have five weekly flights to Mumbai, Delhi

F

lydubai has announced direct flights operating five times a week between Dubai and Mumbai with effect from 28 October 2014, also increasing the frequency to Delhi with five weekly flights.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at Flydubai, said, “India and the United Arab Emirates have enjoyed close historic relations and have been dynamic trade partners. We are excited to contribute further to additional growth in the travel and trade segments with the launch of our flights to Mumbai. We remain committed to serving the market with affordable and reliable travel options.”

Jyoti Kapur named President of Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India

T

he ADTOI appointed Jyoti Kapur as its new President, Sanjay Aggarwal as the Vice President, Anurag Aggarwal as General Secretary and Rajesh Arya as Treasurer.

The panel led by Jyoti Kapur opposite Rajesh Mudgil secured all positions except for the Executive Committee member’s position. Other Executive Committee members include Arvind Khanna, Dileep Gupta, Debashis Dey, Gaurav Chawla, Jatinder Singh, Kamal Gandhi, Vishal Bhatia and Rajiv Arora.

Gujarat Tourism to support private tour operators

T

he Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) will facilitate private tour operators from across the country, wherein they can now register themselves with Gujarat Tourism as certified operators. Further to this, TCGL will also offer facility of online booking of private hotels that will be registered with it. Apart from TCGL’s resorts, tourists will also have the option of booking private hotels at any destination across the state, through its website. Prominent tour operators and hoteliers from Gir, Dwarka, Kutch, Junagadh, Saputara etc. were present at the Travel Meet organized

by Gujarat Tourism.

Travel agents experience Goa familiarization trip

India-Victoria to set up joint forum of tour operators

T

he Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Shripad Yesso Naik and the Minister for Arts, Women’s Affairs and Consumer Affairs for the Australian State of Victoria Heidi Victoria held a bilateral meeting to discuss ways to boost cultural and tourism relations between the two sides. They agreed to constitute a Joint Forum of tour operators to encourage and increase of people-topeople contact and to expedite the signing of MoU between them.

More laurels for 'Malaysia Truly Asia' video

A

irAsia India, in association with Goa Marriot Resort and Spa, organized a Familiarization trip for travel agents of Bangalore on 4 August, 2014.

T

ourism Malaysia’s video ‘Malaysia Truly Asia – The Essence of Asia’ won the 2014 PATA Gold Award for best ‘Promotional Travel Video’ under the Marketing Media category. It is the fourth award bagged by Tourism Malaysia since the video was made public in January 2014. It showcases Malaysia’s beautiful rainforest, islands, beaches and other attractions such as food and culture, featuring the voice of popular Malaysian songstress Yuna.

Voyager’s World > August 2014

"Vivaha in Amazing Thailand: The Best Dream Wedding Destination�

Underwater Wedding, one of its kind in Trang, Southern Thailand Tourism Authority of Thailand New Delhi Office: B - 9/1A, (GF) Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057 Tel: 91-11-46741111, 41663567-9 | Fax: 91-11-41663570 Email: tatdel@tat.or.th | www.facebook.com/tat.new delhi Tourism Authority of Thailand Mumbai Office: 45 Free Press House, 4th Floor, 215 Free Press Journal Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021 | Tel: 91-22-22042727-8 Fax: 91-22-22042729 | Email: tatmumbai@tat.or.th www.facebook.com/tat.mumbai

Facebook.com/Tourismauthorityofthailandindia Twitter.com/ThaiAmazesYou

Industry Buzz

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Bahrain rolls out e-visa for Indian residents

T

he Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) has rolled out electronic visas for residents of India, along with 35 other countries with effect from October 2014. These can be obtained ahead of travel to Bahrain through online application process.

From 2015 residents of India can avail multiple entry visas and extend period of stay for up to three months under the new visa system. The visa policy aims at creating easy access to emigrants to easily travel in and out. Indians make up the largest expatriate population in Bahrain with more than 300,000 residing in the Kingdom.

redBus app helps find closest drop points

r

edBus.in updated its android application with a new feature called ‘dropping point’ which will help finding the closest dropping point in an unaccustomed place.

Users will be able to see the route the bus had taken in the last couple of journeys between the two cities and also recommend a dropping point based on the destination chosen by the customer. The feature also allows the user to save his final destination.

Upon searching for your destination (shown in green) it will tell you where you should ideally get off and how far you are from the closest dropping point. You can navigate to your destination or even save this in your phone which can be edited later on in case your destination has changed.

Travel Designer Group's Group MD wins award

Air Mauritius wins 4-Star by SKYTRAX

A

ir Mauritius won the 4-Star professional quality rating by SKYTRAX at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre in Mauritius. The award was presented to Air Mauritius Chairman, Appalsamy (Dass) Thomas and the CEO, André Viljoen by Edward Plaisted, Chairman of Skytrax.

It also plans to replace its existing long haul fleet of A340-300 with six Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

90-days for hotel project applications

T

T

ravel Designer Group’s, Group Managing Director Jaal Shah received ‘CEO of the Year - Online Travel Agent – B2B Wholesaler’ award from Chess Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand at an event hosted by Brands Academy in held at Hotel Ramada, Mumbai. “We’ve achieved a lot over the past decade, but I’m even more excited about our future because the best is yet to come for Travel Designer Group,” said Jaal.

Voyager’s World > August 2014

he Public Service Delivery System (PSDS) launched by the Ministry of Tourism enables applicants seeking approval FOR HOTEL projects, classification/re-classification and related services to track the progress of their applications online on a real time basis. The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture & Tourism Shripad Yesso Naik said: “The Ministry endeavours to communicate the final decision on such applications, which are received complete in all respects, within 90 days of receipt. “

Telengana tourism projects prioritized

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ourism Minister Shripad Yesso Naik mentioned the prioritized projects, detailed in the list enclosed as Annexure on the basis of prioritization meeting held in January 2014. The list of projects prioritized for the state government of Andhra Pradesh (Erstwhile) for 2014-15 are: Mega Circuits like Warangal and Kondapalli, development of destinations as Nagarjunasagar, Durgam Cheruvu Lake Hyderabad, Heritage Theme Park in Hyderabad, Sound & Light Show and area development in Srikalahasti, Khammam Fort, etc.

Spice trails

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kerala tourISm layS new proJeCtS ahead VW BUREAU

T

he Kerala Tourism Secretary Suman Billa and Shigeru Aoyagi, UNESCO Director in India signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which seeks to promote and protect the ancient Spice Route heritage. A P Anilkumar, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Govt of Kerala, and K M Chandrasekhar, Vice Chairman, Kerala State Planning Board presided the meeting.

actors Nadia Moidu and Cuckoo Parameshwaran, chaired the event.

Kerala also reached a spectacular milestone this week when the number of its fans on Facebook hit the one million mark. Kerala Tourism is the first tourism board in the country to have more than one million fans on its hugely popular Facebook page.

Kerala Tourism also has dedicated

Facebook pages in French and German languages, which specifically cater to the needs of the French and German-speaking audiences across the world. Over the past few years, French and German-speaking audiences have proven to be key groups as far as Kerala Tourism is concerned.

For the purpose of promoting knowledge and awareness about Ayurveda,

Kerala launched two Facebook pages – Kerala: Home of Ayurveda and Kerala: Heimat des Ayurveda -- in English and German respectively. With 1.2 lakh fans, the Facebook page on Ayurveda in English is the most comprehensive Facebook page in the country on the medicinal system. The German Ayurveda Facebook page has a healthy chunk of fans that are primarily based in the German-speaking regions of the world.

“The Spice Route project is a new milestone in the growth of tourism in Kerala. It is a revival of the ancient spice route that connected 31 countries,” said Anilkumar. “For the project to be successful, it needs the support from all those countries. That is why we have sought the cooperation of UNESCO”, he added.

Another highlight of the agreement is promoting academic exchange, intercultural dialogue and joint heritage conservation projects on a shared heritage development initiative among the Spice Route countries located in Asia, Far East, Africa and Europe.

The areas which will be part of the Spice Route development initiative include several villages and urban areas under Ernakaulam and Thrissur districts.

The heritage projects around Muziris are expected to be new addition to the tourist destinations in Kerala. The second edition of the biennale beginning in December is expected to bring in thousands of domestic and international tourists to the region.

The 2014 edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale was hosted by KBF in association with CGH Earth. Following the event, Kerala tourism department proposed to transform Kochi into the ‘Art Capital’ of India.

Suman Billa, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, said the department will effectively become the “Brand Ambassador” of the second edition of the Biennale which begins in December this year.

M G Rajamanikyam, Ernakulam District Collector, Padmabhushan Ghulammohammed Sheikh, Former RAW Chief Hormis Tharakan, Biennale 2014 Curator and Artistic Director Jitish Kallat, State Planning Board member G Vijayaraghavan, Artist Dayanita Singh, Writer N S Madhavan,

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Cover Story

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exploring eco-friendly meeting and conference trends

From a re-usable pen to prudent use of china or paper as against plastic disposables, a rising number of meeting venues seem to be sensible to environment.

© Maritim Hotel, Bonn

PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM

s the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE) industry grows steadily as a bankable segment for the travel trade industry across the globe, the concept of a green or environment-friendly meeting arrangement is something to reckon with.

A green meeting concept is one that, as the name, suggests, takes its environmental parameters quite seriously so as to ensure minimal adverse effects on the environment.

The Maritim Hotel Bonn with the sustainability certification ‘Green Globe’ by the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC) was excellent. Some popular environmentfriendly initiatives adopted by the property include reusable desk pads, FSC-certified ** Meeting blocks and ecologically degradable pens; suitable projector, a screen, a flipchart and a whiteboard; two soft drinks (eg Bionade® 0.33l or 0.5l mineral water); fair trade coffee, tea, smoothies and vegetable sticks with chive cream cheese and seasonal fruits from predominantly regional growers to break in the morning; three-course menu or

Voyager’s World > August 2014

lunch buffet with primarily regionally oriented natural products, etc.

The Green Globe Standard consists of 41 criteria and 337 indicators.

Each certified meeting venue is independently audited by a third-party on-site and it also insists on mandatory annual re-certification. Green Globe Certification provides certification, training & education, and marketing services over 90 countries worldwide. Based in Los Angeles, California and with representations in Mexico, South America, Middle East, the Caribbean, Europe as well as Asia/Pacific, Green Globe Certification provides certification for the sustainable operations and management of travel and tourism companies and their related supplier businesses. Green Globe Certification also maintains a global network of independent auditors who provide third party inspection and validation.

Efficient waste management, better ways of recycling resources, transport and other facilities are planned well with practical solutions to reduce the burden on the surrounds.

A lot of convention centres in the USA and Europe are now sporting a

© Moscone Center, San Francisco

A

‘green’ on their names.

The idea of green meetings has gone from emerging trend to industry standard during the past several years. Hotel recycling programmes, water stations and linen re-use are becoming commonplace mechanisms for making meetings more environmentally-sustainable.

These are all welcome changes in San Francisco. After years of com-

mitment to recycling programmes Moscone’s alternative energy initiatives like solar panels and greenhouse gas reduction has reached a point of critical mass. A number of planners holding events at Moscone Center are engaged in sustainability planning for their events. Such efforts are making a big difference for planners’ bottom lines and the environment.

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Cover Story

© Las Vegas Convention Centre

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October 2012 (the first West Coast convention center to do so). SFO’s Terminal 2 was the first airport terminal to achieve LEED Gold. And the city is home to dozens of hotels that are LEED or Green Seal certified.

©Cashman Centre, Las Vegas

Cabs Care: San Francisco is home to the nation’s largest population of eco-friendly taxis. 57 percent of the city’s fleet are either hybrids or powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), a change that’s equivalent to taking 4,700 cars off the road each year.

been a major incentive for improving sustainability. For example, KPMG’s Climate

Change

&

Sustainabil-

ity Summit, the 2012 IMEX Green Meetings Award Winner for small/ medium-sized meetings, reported saving $37,000 by finding paperless solutions to invitations and meet-

Small Steps Add Up: As for the post show clean-up, green stickers are for recyclables like unused print collateral and blue stickers are for re-usable or leftover items (office supplies, furniture, pens, knapsacks) that can be donated to local non-profits. This helps keep nearly two million pounds of materials out of landfills each year.

ing collateral. They saved another $10,000 switching from water bottles to a water station.

Voyager’s World > August 2014

LEED-ership: The Moscone Center achieved LEED Gold Certification in

Waste Not: The city’s three-stream waste disposal (trash, recycling and compost) has contributed to a significant waste reduction effort over the past several years. For example, 36 percent of waste at SFO is now being composted rather than ending up in landfills.

Solar Power: The solar power installation atop Moscone Center reduces 34,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year (the equivalent of taking 7,000 cars off the road). AT&T Park recently became the first major league baseball stadium to install solar panels. The park’s scoreboard now

uses 78 percent less energy than the original.

Pennsylvania Convention Center: The Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) is an important part of Philadelphia’s commercial and cultural landscape, bringing visitors and convention attendees to the city from all parts of the world for conferences, exhibitions, and other events. It incorporates ambitious green initiatives that address air quality, waste minimization, energy efficiency, water conservation, and procurement.

Low Environmental Impact Cleaning Policy: The PCC uses cleaning chemicals that are green seal certified and equipment that helps to contribute to the United States Green Building Council leadership in energy and environmental design program for existing buildings rating system. This policy reduces the exposure of building occupants to potentially hazardous chemical, biological, and particulate contaminants.

Fewer materials are being used overall, and the equipment designed to remove pollutants uses less chemicals and reduced water usage.

Cover Story

17>> Waste Reduction/Recycling: The PCC recycles paper, aluminum, glass bottles and jars, plastic containers, and metal. Cardboard is compacted and recycled from the exhibitions show floor. Containers for recyclables are placed throughout the building. In fiscal year 2007 the PCC recycled 189 tons of waste helping to reduce the impact on the environment.

Aramark/SFS: The exclusive food and beverage provider at the Pennsylvania Convention Center contributes too.

Sustainable Cutlery, Cups, and Plates: ARAMARK uses multiple products that are cost-effective as well as sustainable. Greenwaves, Eco-Products, and EATware provide full product lines of 100% decomposable and biodegradable materials. All lines conform to FDA requirements and are made from 100% Bamboo, corn starch, paper, and other natural fibers.

Culinary Recommendations: Many of ARAMARK’s cooking recipes call for organically grown vegetables and fruits that are purchased from local purveyors. In addition, ARAMARK uses three lists named “Best Choic-

es”, “Good Alternatives” and “Avoid” when recommending fish entrees.

In recent years, Las Vegas Conventions and Visitors Authority has focused its efforts on becoming more environmentally conscious. From energy efficiency and water conservation to recycling and implementing greener practices, Las Vegas is doing its part to contribute to the sustainability of the planet.

It focuses on initiatives that improve efficiency and conservation directly related to future energy consumption. Targeted tactics include converting to more energy-efficient lighting, motion sensors to control lighting levels in unoccupied rooms, and temperature sensors to turn off air conditioning or heating in empty meeting rooms and exhibit halls.

In tandem with industry trends, customer expectations, and social responsibility, the organization has made significant inroads toward improving its role in sustainable operations, environmental impacts, and energy conservation.

Las Vegas Convention Centre The Las Vegas Convention Center

is a member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise Program with a primary objective of diverting recyclable materials away from landfills. The Las Vegas Convention Center currently averages a 65 percent recycling rate for all shows, recovering on average 431 tons of cardboard, 302 tons of plastic, 132 tons of carpet padding, 173 tons of mixed paper, 130 tons of various metals and 205 tons of wood annually. Environmentally-friendly cleaning products have replaced over 30,000 gallons of traditional chemicals.

In 2012, the Las Vegas Convention Center received AIPC Gold Certification from the International Association of Convention Centers for environmental responsibility amongst other parameters.

Cashman Centre Cashman Center has recently achieved a 65 percent annual recycling rate and, through a revised landscaping plan of grass reduction, has conserved over six million gallons of water over the past two years. Cashman Center diverted over 22 tons of recyclable materials from the landfill over the past year.

World Market Center Las Vegas World Market Centre prioritizes environmentally conscious decisions in its business operations. World Market Center is currently in line to become the largest on-site recycling center in Southern Nevada, by recycling more than 70 percent of all refuse generated from the giant home furnishings complex. In one six-week period, World Market Center recycled a total of 136 tons of cardboard alone, 24 tons of Styrofoam and 106 tons of plastic.

While enough has been said, argued and pondered upon about the need to be more environmentally-responsible, incorporating such measures in especially huge conferences and meetings can be, with a far-sighted approach, measured up to smaller groups of meetings, eventually trickling down to day-to-day routine as all of these add to the load on the ecosystem.

From a re-usable pen to prudent use of china or paper as against plastic disposables, the economies of large production of these add-ons for meetings can be expanded for the everyday custom in the long run.

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Destination

Š The Grand Palace, Bangkok

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IRENE SUSAN EAPEN

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he Tourism Authority of Thailand jointly with Thai Airways recently organized a FAM trip for five days to visit the beautiful province of Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin and the city of Bangkok. Thai Airways has always been close to my heart especially with their impeccable service and hospitable nature that relaxes you for a short nap with a smile with Thai music. For me it is an experience to cherish to travel in Thai Airways. One has to spend more days to rewind your Thailand experience whether it is Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin and the city of Bangkok.

We started our journey to the west of Thailand into the beautiful province of Kanchanaburi which is about 4 to 5 hrs from Bangkok. The first thing

Voyager’s World > August 2014

that we noticed was the beautiful lamp posts of fishes, elephants and the Thai designs this clearly shows that there is lots of history in Kanchanaburi. It is mesmerizing to see the whole province with beautiful lamp posts. Kanchanaburi is located across the two rivers the the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai passing through the main river Mae Klong. It is also known as the sleeping province.

We headed to the Kanchanaburi War Cementery or Don Rak where 6.982 allied prisoners of war is buried. The cemetery was very neatly kept and has demarked space for the British, Dutch and Australia. After that we pass through the Burma Thailand route to explore the Erawan Waterfalls, the waterfall is located in the

Erawan National Park. It is the 12th national park that covers an area of 550 sq kms. One of the main attractions of the Erawan waterfalls is the emerald green ponds. The waterfall is of 7 tiers, marvelous scenery with lots of greenery around. One can rent bicycles and even use a motorbike to explore the Erawan Waterfalls.You can also take a lovely walk through the Bamboo forest. After the second level you are not allowed to carry food and beverages. It is a beautiful feeling to walk through the Erawan Waterfalls area and a lovely place to click photographs. It is also a great place to swim as each waterfall is running through the pond.

Our next visit was to the stunning bridge, the bridge on the river Kwai

in the Myanmar Border. It was during World War II the railway line was constructed from Thailand to Burma.

It is one of the main attractions in Kanchanaburi. Apart from the wooden part of the bridge there is an iron bridge that exists as the second part of the construction. One can cross the bridge through the steel plated walkway. The bridge on river Kwai became famous through the movie directed by David Lean and the movie was shot during the Second World War based on a fiction. The film received seven Oscar awards.

The bridge on river Kwai also gained fame through various books. The natural scenery around the bridge is one sight one should not miss when you visit the bridge on river Kwai.The Bridge is surrounded with a Float-

Destination

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Thailand:

Vibrant land of smiles!

The history, Thai food and Thai music all remains close to my heart in Thailand

house hotel and the Felix River Kwai Resort. We stayed over at the Felix River Kwai Resort a four star resort, adjacent to the bridge on river Kwai.

The resort offers 255 rooms and suites while each room has a private balcony. The other facilities include two large swimming pools, two tennis courts, sauna, spa and fitness centre. The rooms are categorized into Royal Suite, Deluxe River Side Room, Grande Deluxe River Side Room and Supreme Garden Room. The Pailin Convention centre is a famous venue for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions in Kanchanaburi that offers 14 meeting rooms with a capacity of 1000 seats.

Our voyage next day started a historical place in Kanchanburi the hellfire

pass and its museum .The museum houses the artifacts of men who worked and died. The hellfire pass is also known by the Japanese name as the Konyu cutting, the railway cutting on the former death railway which was built with forced labour during the Second World War. The pass has a long history of the loss of prisoner’s life and the scene of the prisoners laboring in the night by the torch light is more of being in hell. The hellfire pass is one of the longest railway and the history about the suffering of prisoners on the Burma Thailand Railway.

After getting to listen to the oral histories it is a feeling of bitterness or sadness to walk down the hellfire pass and you automatically tend to stop at every nook and corner to realize the brutality that happened to this place

with the number of prisoners dead and survived at the hellfire pass. We then headed to a simple and a beautiful restaurant Rom Mai Chai Kao that served us the sumptuous Tom Mein soup, Satey grills, Banana frills, Noodles with some tomato sauce, I must say I enjoyed tasting the various sea food dishes and rice with some fish sauce that turned out to be my favorite meal in my journey through out Thailand.

Our next expedition was with a sense of excitement of getting into the Watt Pa Lang Ta Boa or the tiger temple.

This temple is a Theravada Buddhist monastery and a sanctuary for wild animals where the tigers are being rescued from being poached. There are about 140 tigers and 7 cubs in

this monastery, the monks and volunteers take care of the tigers. It is a different sight to see the tigers lazing around in the temple. We have been advised not to wear any bright colors like red, pink or florescent colors So that the tiger is not motivated to attack anyone. The ladies have to be fully dressed as the temple has monks residing and taking care of the tigers. The entry fee is only 400 Baht per person. One can take photographs with a tiger in a close distance and also take a stroll with the tiger.

You can also get to see some horn bills, wild boar and deers. Besides this there are a number of activities lined up in the tiger temple where one can fed the tigers and cubs. After my visit to the tiger temple I realize tigers can be best friends forever although

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Destination

© Erawan Waterfalls, Kanchanaburi

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© The Reclining Buddha, Bangkok

magnificent swimming pools and a beautiful beach. The other facilities include fitness center and the Devarana Spa.

I was very scared. For a minute I realized they could be my best friends and forgot that I was scared of them.

It was exciting to see one of the volunteer who was part of the volunteer programme for a few months at the temple playing with the cubs. I enjoyed my experience with the tigers in Kanchanburi and look forward to make my next visit to spend more time with my best friends in Kanchanburi. Kanchanaburi being my favourite place, history can be experienced and not described in words.

Voyager’s World > August 2014

After a long day at Kanchanburi we travelled to the most interesting attraction of Thailand the Hua Hin. The Hua Hin located in Prachup Khiri Khan Province and the pristine crystal blue colour beach with rocky cliffs around the beach which is about 4 to 5hrs from Kanchanburi to Hua Hin. We stayed over at the beautiful property of Dusit Thani Hua Hin. The Dusit Thani Hua Hin is a very well designed classic Thai Royal Heritage with a beach.The hotel offers 296 rooms with private balconies. The hotel has a lily pond, tropical gardens and two

Our venture into the Monsoon Valley Wines, the wines are made from the grapes grown at the Hua Hin Hills Vineyard. The wine tasting session gave us an exposure to the different wines produced in the Hua Hin Hills Vineyard. We started our tasting session with the premium range of wines like the Chenin Blanc Medicin Sweet which is a bright yellow coloured wine with flavours of honey, peach and apricot, this wine can be stored for 2 yrs. The Columbard is also a premium range of wine which is a light straw yellow coloured wine with aromas of apple, floral and gooseberry that can be matured for 2yrs, personally this wine has an acquired taste and personally my favourite wine in the Monsoon Valley Wines. It is one of the fast moving wines in the Monsoon Valley and good to be consumed during summer. The White Shiraz or Shiraz Rose is a blush pink coloured wine with flavours of red fruits, wild strawberry and cracked pepper is a good wine for consumption on a daily basis which is also a premium range wine. The Shiraz is a dark coloured red purple wine with aromas of spicy red berries, cherry, coffee chocolate and dried fruits with a ma-

turity of 7 to 8 yrs. If you are wine drinker you must try this wine. Some of the flagship range wine includes the sparkling wine made from the traditional Champenoise from the best barrels and a blend of Colombard and Chenin Blanc with a maturity of 1 year. The sparkling Brut Blanc de Blancs is also a flagship wine which is a golden yellow coloured wine with flavours of walnuts,apple and pineapple which can be stored up to 4yrs, this wine is used for all celebrations.

The sparkling Extra Sec Rose is an intense pink coloured wine with the fresh flavours of strawberries and black current, the wine can be matured for 4 yrs. It is a perfect drink for summer season.Besides the wine tasting session you can also go for a vineyard tour and an elephant ride through the vineyard, don’t forget to grab another glass of wine in the Sala Bar or in the Bistro.

The Hua Hin Railway station is another attraction with a beautiful building which was earlier used as a royal pavilion and has an old steam engine kept around the railway premises. The railway station has trains services to Bangkok and other parts of Thailand. The Venezia shopping complex is one of the major attractions in Hua Hin with the number of brands to shop clothes, shoes and of course some interesting jewellery.

Destination

© Hua HIn Hills Vineyard

© The Tiger Temple, Kanchanaburi

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The Venezia offers a mini zoo and 3D museums, the gondola ride is a must to try to feel the fun and joy of enjoying a ride. The 3D art gallery is an excellent sight in Venezia and something that one should not miss. The Venezia is also a good place to hang around with friends or for a chit chat with a cup of coffee and some pastries. After all this we stopped over for an interesting lunch at Baan Itsara restaurant right next to a beach where we got to taste the crab dish, fried rice and of course the coconut ice cream which was delicious. We

then got into the Nicha Health Spa and Massage where some of us got a reflexology and Thai massage. On the second last day of our trip we headed to explore the Pranburi Forest Park that conserves the mangrove forest.

One can go on exploring this place through a natural trail into the dense mangrove forest on the lovely wooden board walks. The mangrove forest offers inspiring scenery for one to click photographs or even feel the nature.

Our journey so far was interesting and we headed into the beautiful

city of Bangkok. Bangkok is divided by the Chao Phraya River and the Thonburi in the west. As we enter into Bangkok, the first thing that surprised me is the suspended bridge the Rama VIII Bridge, a cable bridge that crosses the Chao Phraya River.

An asymmetrical designed bridge with a single pylon that is in inverted Y shape. For some reason I found the bridge the most important attraction of Bangkok. We then walked on to the very famous attraction the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace consists of the royal residence and the throne halls.

The Grand Palace covers an area of 218,000 sqm and surrounded by 4 walls which is 1900 meters in length.

The Emerald Buddha is another attraction kept on a golden traditional Thai style throne in the ordination hall, Emerald Buddha is curved with a green jade since then it is called the Emerald Buddha.The walls of the ordination hall are decorated with the mural paintings. The paintings depict the lord Buddha’s life and behind the walls you can find some Thai proverbs.

After we explored the Grand Palace, we then entered into the premises of the Wat Phao a Buddhist temple in Phra District also known as the reclining Buddha. The reclining Buddha is 15m high and 43m long with the right arm supporting the head of the Bud-

dha. The feet of the Buddha indicates 108 auspicious symbols like flowers, dancers, white elephants and tigers and alter accessories. One can get an excellent view of the gold plated Buddha from each side in the temple.

It is one place one has to visit often and also noticed 108 bronze bowls in the corridor. It is believed that people dropping coins in these bowls will bring them good fortune.

The Chao Phraya Princess Cruise on boat IV added excitement for a dinner cruise which is a two hour journey where one could get marvelous night vistas of the royal grand palace, Wat Pra Krew, Wat Arun and the Rama VIII Bridge. The Chao Phraya Princess Cruise is run by the Tristar management with 4 more cruises. Each cruise offers unique features and can accommodate 480 passengers while the front part of the vessel is used as a dance floor. The cruise served food ranging from Thai to International cuisine.One can enjoy dinner along with the saxophonists and singers.

We stayed over at the Dream Hotel Bangkok a boutique hotel part of the Wyndham Group and latest addition of the VIkram Chatwal Hotels that offers 195 guest rooms and suites in 6 categories with a five star experience located in the Sukhumvit. The Dream Hotel Bangkok features a blue light therapy light for a deep sleep,

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Destination

© Hellfire Pass, Kanchanaburi

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thousands of smiley-faced balloons will symbolize that Thailand is always ready to welcome tourists to the kingdom with friendly Thai smiles.”

© Venezia Shopping Complex, Hua Hin

“The Festival aims to effectively communicate a feeling that everything is back to normal and that the national atmosphere is back to its usual vibrant, fun-loving self. This will help restore visitors’ confidence and bring them back to the “Land of Smiles,” He added.

the light beneath the bed looks like as if we are floating on a cloud.

The Rituals spa at the Dream Hotel Bangkok gave me relief from The Thai Herbal Massage that offers a treatment with hot herbs compress in stemmed hot and rolled over the body, this massage is done after a full-body, pressure point Thai massage and the hot herbal compress is pressed over the entire body in order to soothe muscles and increase blood circulation.

Street Festival on 25 – 26 July, 2014 on the theme Colour Your Life with Happiness with two main events, – Happiness Music and Happiness Street with a number of well-known performers of modern and Thai folk songs such as, Da Endorphine, Palmy, Potato, Modern Dog, Ying Lee, Takkatan Cholada, Arpaporn Nakornsawan.

The entire Ratchaprasong area was alive with colourful parades, great shopping, fashion shows, concerts and culinary delights.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand organized a Thailand Happiness

Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of TAT said, “The spectacular release of

Voyager’s World > August 2014

The trip ended with a wonderful dinner that served us an array of sea food to mention a few tiger prawns, clams and crabs at the Crystal Grill on the 76th floor of the Baiyoke Sky Hotel the tallest luxury hotel that features Bangkok’s dazzling city. Apart from the panoramic view one can also enjoy a glass of wine at the roof top bar on the 83rd floor that gives you a stunning view of the city of Bangkok.

Food The Thai cuisine is more of rice made dishes and seafood, the common ingredients includes coconut milk and grated coconut. Lemon grass is a welcome drink served most often in Thailand. Some of the dishes served at Dusit Thani Hua Hin are the Kratong Tong is sweet corn and Tofu in pastry cup. The Chor Muang

is steamed rice filled with mock barbeque pork. The Toon Hed Saveoy is clear soup with Tofu and Chinese cabbage. The Choo Chee Sam Sahai is thick curry with Tofu, pumpkin and sweet potato. The Phad Tua Wan is the stir fried sugar snap peas and the Phad Kaha Hongkong is stir fried Chinese broccoli. The Phad Poi Sien is the stir fried mixed vegetable with glass noodles. The Khao Suy is steamed rice and the Khao Niew Mamuang is sweetened glutinous rice with mango.

The nightlife in Bangkok is something that one should venture into the streets of Khaosan. It was an amazing experience for me to listen to a live band performing in the streets of Khosan with all my favorite tracks being played. The nightlife is very lively as people love to enjoy all night especially in Bangkok. It was just wonderful to travel through the tuk tuk after a lovely night out in Bangkok. The city of Bangkok leaves me behind with lots of memories, as our guide Chevvy from Absolute Fantastic Holidays said smile and come back to explore Thailand. My journey to this lovely city is on again as i will be eager to discover new experiences on my next visit. So get ready to take a long vacation from the hustle and bustle of your daily life into the wilderness of Thailand.

Flight Talk

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Tigerair signs strategic distribution partnership with Cleartrip Cleartrip customers get special fares.

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he Tigerair expands its distribution presence in India by signing a strategic partnership with Cleartrip.

The Tigerair operates total 37 weekly flights to Singapore from six Indian destinations. The airline also connects to Bali, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Perth, Taipei via Singapore, the gateway to amazing destinations in Asia Pacific. Cleartrip will have direct access to Tigerair’s booking engine with state of the art API technology for seamless availability of inventory across Tigerair network.

Tigerair has announced special fares with limited sales period exclusively

for Cleartrip customers starting at INR 5499 to celebrate this partnership. The passengers can avail this offer through Cleartrip’s website www.cleartrip.com for travel to Singapore for flights departing from any of the five Indian cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Tiruchirappalli. The passengers can avail this special offer from 05th August 2014 to 17th August 2014, for travel any time from 28th August2014 to12th December 2014.

Robert Yang- Commercial Director, Tigerair said, “We are proud to partner with one of the leading online travel portal, which offers its

customers a complete range of services - from booking of Tigerair flight tickets, purchase of ancillary products, hotel bookings, providing many valued travel options for the Indian consumer. Finding partners that compliment what we do to benefit our customers, has been our constant endeavour. Cleartrip is known for creating seamless travel experiences and through this partnership we are confident that Tigerair will be able to reach out to a large section of Indian diaspora.”

Samyukth Sridharan, President and Chief Operating Officer, Cleartrip said, “We are delighted to partner

with Tigerair, an airline that has in just six years of its inception of operations in India, established itself as one of the most affordable options to fly to Singapore and within Asia Pacific. Cleartrip is synonymous with creating simple and clutter-free booking experiences supported by a market–leading approach to technology though our desktop site and award-winning mobile apps. And through this partnership with Tigerair, we are confident that we will support Tigerair’s on-going strategy to achieve sustainable competitive advantage, by offering greater choice and convenience to their customers in India.”

Jet signs codeshare pact with Vietnam Airlines VW BUREAU

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he codeshare will provide more choice for guests between India and Vietnam, with convenient connections over the international gateways of Singapore and Bangkok

.

Under the codeshare arrangement, Jet Airways will place its marketing code on Vietnam Airlines’ flights from Bangkok and Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. In turn, Vietnam Airlines will place its market-

ing code on Jet Airways’ services between Bangkok and Mumbai/Delhi, from Singapore to Mumbai/Delhi and Chennai. The codeshare flights are on sale from 1st August, 2014, for travel starting from 4th August, 2014.

With the commencement of Jet Airways’ Ho Chi Minh City service, effective 05 November, 2014, Vietnam Airlines will place its market-

ing code on Jet Airways’ Bangkok / Ho Chi Minh route, as per the codeshare agreement.

According to Gaurang Shetty, Senior Vice President – Commercial, Jet Airways: “This new partnership between Jet Airways and Vietnam Airlines illustrates our Group’s strategic positioning that continuously strengthens our offer between India and the rest of the world by devel-

oping our network. We are delighted to announce a codeshare partnership with Vietnam Airlines as it will further strengthen the international reach of both airlines and provide increased benefits to all our guests.

We are confident that this partnership will further increase the demand for business and tourist travel between India and Vietnam.”

“We are delighted to conclude a codeshare-agreement with Jet Air-

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Flight Talk

Ministry proposes plans to upgrade airports PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

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ihar is all set to enhance air connectivity after Minister of State for Civil Aviation G. M. Siddeshwara proposed three new low-cost airports at Muzaffarpur, Raxaul and Gaya while Gaya will be operational custom airport, Raxaul will be a non-operational airport.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has planned for extension of runway at Jaipur and Jodhpur Airports.

An expansion of Integrated Terminal Building along with the construction of cargo complex and hangar are also under the plan.

The Minister brought 18 tourist destinations under Air Services Agreement with Sri Lanka including Patna, Lucknow, Guwahati, Gaya, Varanasi, Bhubneshwar, Khajuraho, Aurangabad, Goa, Jaipur, Port Blair, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram, Calicut, Amritsar, Vishakapatnam, Ahmedabad and Tiruchi. The existing bilateral agree-

ment between India and Sri Lanka, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai and Pune are available as points of calls for the designated carriers of Sri Lanka.

The operation of services on international sector depends on the air services agreement between the countries and is based on principles of sovereignty of nations, nationality of carriers and reciprocity in terms of commercial opportunity for the airlines of each side. While the Indian carriers are free to mount services from any point in India including Bhopal to international destinations available under bilateral agreements, foreign airlines can operate only on designated point of call available under bilateral agreement.

The Minister also informed plans to develop Jharsuguda Airport for oper-

ations of A320 type of aircraft. A MoU has been signed between State Government of Odisha and AAI on 30 July this year for acquisition and handing over of additional land and development of Jharsuguda Airport.

A team from Airports Authority of India inspected Jharsuguda, Berhampur and Jeypore airports and observed

that the Jharsuguda (AAI airport) can be developed for operations of A-320 type of aircraft whereas Berhampur (State Government airport) can be developed for ATR-72-500 for which additional 267 acres of land is required. Jeypore (State Government airport) can be developed for ATR-72500 for which additional 253 acres of land is required.

India Outbound

Seychelles deepens tourism ties with India VW BUREAU

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delegation from Seychelles tourism and business community recently visited New Delhi and Mumbai to position Seychelles as a perfect holiday destination for Indian Holidaymakers and deepen the tourism ties. The delegation led by the Honourable Minister of Tourism and Culture Alain St. Ange joined by some dignitaries including Sherin Naiken, CEO, Seychelles Tourism Board, Rose-Marie Hoareau, Director of Marketing, Seychelles Tourism Board and other officials from aviation and national carrier Air Seychelles to meet key officials in India. The Hon. Minister Alain St. Ange met his India counterpart Shripad Yesso Naik to discuss tourism cooperation between the two countries.

this cooperation and made key announcements. The India-Seychelles association goes a long way with the Seychellois citizens having a historic Indian connection. This camaraderie has a renewed focus and is set to gain further momentum as the national carrier Air Seychelles will commence direct flights between India and Seychelles in the near future. These multiple flights in a week will cover the distance in and around four hours. He stressed upon India’s significance as a potential market for Seychelles Tourism Board and presented the vision to deepen the core of this co-operation over the next five years with a view to position Seychelles as an exotic and all-inclusive destination to target Indian travellers.

The Hon. Minister during the press conference in Mumbai on 6th August 2014 highlighted various aspects of

The Hon. Minister through his address showcased how the association is expected to further boost this travel

Voyager’s World > August 2014

trade between the two countries. With increased awareness as a result of targeted initiatives by the Seychelles Tourism Board, India’s travel trade community will be able to place Seychelles high on the destination list for targeted Indian travellers. The Q1 of 2014 has seen a 15% growth as compared to the Q1 of 2013 and they expect this upward trend to continue across 2014 and 2015.

Besides the flow of Indian tourists to Seychelles, Indian filmmakers also have a great opportunity to gain access to the stunning and unexplored filming locations of the exotic islands. An association with filmmakers is in turn going to be beneficial for positioning Seychelles as a complete holiday destination for Indian travellers.

The global tourism industry is experiencing winds of change. As the east-

ern world gains a higher prominence on the global travel scenario, locations like Seychelles that offer a wide array of travel experiences for aspirational travellers are at the forefront. Specifically strengthening upon the significance of the Indian market for Seychelles Tourism Board, Hon. Minister Alain St. Ange commented, “India’s outbound tourism potential is unparallel and we are here to claim a share of this growing market. Our interaction with the Indian travel trade community and linking them to their counterparts from Seychelles reinforced their confidence that we are committed to develop India as a strong tourist source market.”

Alongside this strategic visit, a first ever Seychelles Road show was held in New Delhi and Mumbai where tourism trade partners of India met Seychelles tourism operators to kick start a seamless

India Outbound

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Carl Vaz, Chairman & CEO, Charson Advisory Services Pvt Ltd talks about the Indian inbound market to Dubai.

Top demands by luxury travellers from India There are different types of luxury travellers within the luxury market profile like Single and Independent travellers (FIT/SIT) that can be female or male travellers, upmarket family leisure travellers, etc. The FITs prefer a mix of leisure and activity with a liking for quality resorts, luxury hotels on the Palm Island, Business Bay Area, Al Maha, etc. They like experiencing adventure activities like sky diving over the Palm Islands, indulging in high-end spas, golf, scuba diving, etc.

Upmarket luxury family travellers usually look at the quality of accommodation, family activities in Jumeirah, Atlantis the Palm, swim with dolphins, interacting with penguins at Ski Dubai, scuba diving with sharks, and so on.

These travellers not only come from metros but also Tier 2 and 3 cities. Tier 2 clients consist of businessmen and industrialists as well as wealthy families

Voyager’s World > August 2014

© Dubai Stall at IITM Bangalore

© Dubai Stall at IITM Chennai

© Dubai Stall at IITM Chennai

© Dubai Stall at IITM Chennai

DUBAI ACHIEVES 888,838 Indian

from the farming sector while metros bring in professionals, doctors, lawyers, corporates, etc.

Inbound MICE groups from India MICE business to Dubai has been growing at a very healthy pace from the country. Last year, Dubai welcomed 888,838 visitors from India from January – December, 2013 who stayed in Dubai’s hotels and hotel apartments.

These figures include FIT, leisure groups, MICE and corporates. They, however, do not include the VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) and transit travellers. The share of MICE comprises almost 25% of the total figure. India is the No.2 market for us globally, after Saudi Arabia and will remain so in the top three positions.

Towards Tourism Vision 2020 On an operational level in India, we enacted several promotions in 2014.

For the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), we partnered with several tour operators through ‘Trade Co-ops’ during January and February. From June to September, we entered into several trade co-ops for the ‘Summer is Dubai’ campaign, targeting the family segment. The bookings were really good during June and during the Eid holidays so also for the month of August.

Apart from this, the niche segment has been focused upon with highlights on the Emirates Literature Festival, Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai World Cup, Dubai Food Fest, Dubai Tennis Open, etc. laying emphasis on the average, young adventure travellers, Double Income No Kids (DINKs), individuals, etc.

For the forthcoming festival season from October to December, we are launching promotional activities to draw Indians for family events, music fests, etc.

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India Outbound

© DTCM participants at the Dubai Stall at IITM Bangalore

arrivals in 2013

Dubai Tourism participated in the Chennai and Bangalore editions of India International Travel Mart 2014 in a big way. As part of a big delegation of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), here’s what some of the co-participants had to share with Voyager’s World about the latest offers for India.

SABIR SHAIKH, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CLOVER TRAVEL & TOURISM L.L.C, DUBAI

We are completely B2B and we operate all over India and abroad. Clover offers a one-stop shop for inbound tourism. Our USP can be classified into premium and luxury markets. Our five-star clients prefer private transfers, exclusive yachts, desert safaris and helicopter rides.

Our top markets are West and North India. Yet, we have a lot to explore in the South market. Dubai is a proven destination with world-class content from two-star to seven-star accommodation facilities. We focus on quality products and deal primarily with High Net-worth Individuals (HNI), niche and premium segments.

SANDEEP BUDHIRAJA, MANAGER TOURS, DISCOVERY TRAVEL L.L.C, DUBAI

We are part of the RP Group of Companies with around 80,000 employees. We own many hotels in Dubai and deal primarily with top quality B2B agents who work for FITs and MICE. We also have our own fleet of transport for transfers.

The customer flow for us has been a good mix of groups from Delhi, Chennai, Indore, Bhopal and Bangalore. We have not visited Tier 2 cities yet but we do plan to tap this segment. We are promoting Miracle Garden and the Atmosphere Lounge in the Burj Khalifa. For a price of 250 dirhams, one can avail of food and drinks at the lounge after 4 pm. We also have private yachts, sea planes, sky diving and helicopter rides. FITs normally want to experience Ski Dubai, water parks and dinner cruises in the Marina.

Maximum bookings have come during the summer season. This year, especially, is a bumper time for Dubai. We had 15 groups in May and 10 groups in June and five to six groups during Ramadan. All these may be attributed to the new attractions and the almost 50% dip in the hotel prices in summer.

Some of the new markets for us would be Rajasthan, Nagpur and Indore in India and internationally, we are looking at Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Turkey, etc.

DILIP KUMAR, COUNTRY HEAD, RIKKS GROUP OF COMPANIES

Ours is a 15-year old company based in Dubai and working with Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has given us a good exposure and working platform. We have our own fleet, cruise, camps, yachts and catering services in Dubai and also have branches in Hong Kong, Kenya and Brazil. In India, Gujarat is our core market so also the Delhi NCR, Punjab and South India. 3n/4D itineraries are very popular among Indians with many opting for dhow cruise, safari, half-day city tours, etc. Apart from these, we can also recommend the Dubai Shopping Festival, which is a little costlier.

The top three demands by Indian travellers that we have observed often include vegetarian food with some of them also ensuring that they are not served camel meat; there are also requests to experience the 124th floor on Burj Khalifa and watching belly dance on the Jumeirah Palm.

KULWANT SINGH, MANAGING DIRECTOR, LAMA GROUP L.L.C

We offer various packages depending on the budget of the traveller. Dubai continues to be an attractive destination for wealthy Indian travellers. Many of them spend heavily on expensive holiday experiences that include stay in luxurious five-star hotels, private villas or beachfront properties; unforgettable dining experiences in Armani, Burj Al Arab and other five-star properties. Many Indians are also drawn to the large discount sales during the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) with its tax-free incentives and wide availability and accessibility to renowned international brands. I believe that the GCC remains the top market contributor especially in Dubai.

Indian tourist demands prompt action and timely service to queries especially if they are first-timers. Top demands include very early check-in and an extremely late checkout time; private car for tours and transfers; specific cars (Mercedes, BMW, and other high end vehicles), porter and meet-and-greet services at the airport.

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India Outbound

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STB and WIT held India Travel Executive Forum VW BUREAU

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he Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Web In Travel (WIT) jointly organized the India Travel Executive Forum at the Taj West End in Bangalore on July 10, 2014.

The India Travel Executive Forum focused on the theme ‘Deconstructing the India Story’, followed by discussion between Mohit Gupta, Chief Business Officer of MakeMyTrip, Animesh Kumar, Head of Marketing and Alliances of Yatra, Subramanya Sharma, Chief Marketing Officer of Cleartrip and a session by Vikram Malhi, Managing Director of Expedia Asia. Madhavan Menon, Managing Director of Thomas Cook and Ashwini Kakkar, Executive Vice Chairman of Mercury Travels participated in the programme.The panel discussion showcased the changes in the Indian OTA’s, the transition of consumers from offline to online and the mobile app creating traffic depending on the

market and on the destination.

Some of the new players such as ixigo and start-ups including Mygola, Trip38 and SavvyMob and start-up teams from Singapore including Voyagin, Be My Guest and Travelogy joined the discussion talking about their journey and future plans down the lane.

“The entrepreneurial and innovative spirit is strong in India. This rings true in the travel space, where increasing digitization is disrupting the travel decision and planning process, working with WIT to bring key insights from Singapore’s TravelRave to India would enable the travel ecosystem to plug into latest trends in travel technology, entrepreneurship and innovation across Asia,” said Chang Chee Pey, Executive Director, South Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe, Singapore Tourism Board.

STB expects positive growth for 2014!

Chee Pey Chang, Executive Director – South Asia, Middle East and Africa, Singpore Tourism Board says India is one of their top five performing markets for the last five years in terms of international visitor arrivals and tourism.

IRENE SUSAN EAPEN tions with travel partners Kuoni India, Thomas Cook, Mercury Travels and Make My Trip.

The Business travellers are growing more than the leisure travellers and are a huge market for us, especially in the age group of early 40s. In summer, we have the Universal Studios and Gardens by the Bay activities like iFly,Megazip, Luge,etc. with a wide variety of dining and shopping.

Growth of Indian Market India is one of our top five performing markets in the last five years with regards to international visitor arrivals and tourism. 199,000 tourists from India travelled to Singapore in the first quarter of 2014. 933,553 tourists from India visited the nation between Jan-Dec 2013 (an increase of 4.3% from 2012). We have also ensured that first timers get free access to attractions and have a memorable holiday in Singapore through close collabora-

Voyager’s World > August 2014

Upcoming Events STB annually hosts TravelRave and ITB Asia for the travel trade. The TravelRave is an annual platform for leaders in the travel and hospitality industry to exchange insights and celebrate the achievements of Asian tourism in a week-long festival. This year, it is scheduled to be held from 27-31 October.

TheFormula 1 is also gearing up to organize their event from 19 - 21 September at Marina Bay Street Circuit.

We are also focusing on sports like the

BNP Paribas WTA Finals 2014 for the top singles and doubles to be held from 17-26 October 2014.The WTA Finals will be hosted at the Singapore Sports Hub (SSH).

Campaigns We have organized a leisure campaign for Thomas Cook, Kuoni and Yatra for three years featuring Singapore as a leisure destination. In 2013, we received 9.3 lakhs Indian travellers with a growth of 4.3% growth last year. The Promotional Singapore Holiday campaign started in 2011 focusing on Sentosa.

Singapore offers a theme on wildlife encounter on their third phase of marketing campaign ’Singapore -The Holiday You Take Home With You’ started in October 2013. The new offerings are River Safari, Marine Life Park comprising S.E.A. Aquarium™, Adventure Cove Waterpark™ and Dolphin Island™ inviting visitors to ‘Leave curious, return in-

spired’ with a collection of unique wildlife and marine-themed attractions.

The latest phase of STB’s marketing campaign invites visitors to ‘Leave as Mum and Dad and Return as Superhero’ with the city’s collection of thrilling adventures for the entire family.

STB invites parents to reconnect with their kids on a fun-filled holiday to Singapore.

Expected growth 2014 We have seen a growth of 16.3 - 16.8 million total visitor arrivals this year.

STB is expecting an optimistic growth not only from metros but also from the Tier II and III markets. In recent years, we have seen growth in cities as Ahmedabad, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi and Coimbatore significantly contributing to outbound travel.

Trends The business travellers and MICE travellers tend to spend more than others.

India Outbound

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India remains top market for Bhutan with 60,000 annual arrivals Clad in Bhutan’s traditional dress ‘Gho’, Thinley Wangdi, Marketing Officer, Marketing & Promotion Division, Tourism Council of Bhutan, says India remains a major market with around 60,000 Indians visiting Bhutan annually PRIYADHARSHINI.S either side as they land in a runway not even appearing when you are 1000 feet from the ground. It is worth mentioning that only a handful of pilots are allowed to land at the airport. Drukair and Tashi Air (also known as Bhutan Airlines) are the two airline services in Bhutan. Drukair has direct flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Bodhgaya, Guwahati, Bagdogra and Kolkata to Paro.

Bhutan is unique from the rest Druk Yul, as the natives refer to their homeland, is sandwiched between the peaks of the Himalayas. The Paro International airport is one of the scariest airports in the world where flights dodge the mountains and houses on

It is not necessary for Indian nationals to have a passport. Permits can be obtained upon the arrival to the airport as visitors from India are considered as regional visitors. The three land entry points - Sarpang, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar in Bhutan are well connected with public transport services.

One cannot pinpoint the best time

to visit Bhutan as the place abounds with vivid flora and fauna in spring and summer. Autumn splashes the landscapes bright and gold, the time when more tourists arrive. Winter would be the best time to capture the mountains. Bhutan celebrates festivals the year-round, Tschus being the most famous of them all.

Exploring the landscapes Apart from being a heritage site, Bhutan has enough opportunities for trekking, bird watching, flower tours, butterfly tours, etc. Thimpu is a nice place to shop, shopping being confined to traditional handicrafts and indigenous sectors. Taktsang Monastery, popularly known as the Tiger’s Nest here is located on the cliffs of the Paro valley and holds immense religious significance.

Then, there are ‘dzongs’, the pride of Bhutanese architecture; dzongs are forts of yore that serve as administrative centres today. Phunakha Dzong is considered the most beautiful dzong.

Lifestyle in Bhutan The Buddhist way of living sets Bhutan apart fom the rest of the world. It’s just fresh air, no malls, no fast food chains; the Bhutanese live miles away from the modern world. Monuments and heritage sights add to our rich culture.

One can also see a lot of farming activities here; the natives still use traditional equipment for routine work. The buildings are uniform with similar architecture. The tallest building has six storeys and there are no traffic signals in the entire city which add to why Bhutan is a happy place to live.

egypt tourism to enhance relationship with travel trade

We are over optimistic now that the situation is better in Egypt. We are on the right track and we are getting a lot of investment from Europe and America, says Adel El Masry Director of Egyptian Tourism Office in India PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM Familiarization trips will be increased, with special emphasis laid on the inclusion of new tour operators in the same.

Plans for India market Egypt Tourism is planning to support tour operators in a big way. It has planned to increase the budget to encourage its suppliers by way of a joint campaign and also push them to undertake their training programmes.

“We also intend to raise the budget for our media campaigns in print, outdoor as well as online media and in airports.

The online campaigns will begin in September this year. We will also take B2C and B2B media for familiarization trips for them to get a first-hand experience on how safe and stable the situation is there. MICE, honeymoon, diving, wellness and religious destinations will be highlighted for the trade media,” said Adel El Masry Director of Egyptian Tourism Office in India.

The tourism board is also planning to enhance its tie-ups with the airlines like EgyptAir, Kuwait Airways, Emirates,

Etihad Airways and Air Arabia.

As for promotional activities, the NTO will organize a five-city roadshow in Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi, Chennai and Pune, while also aiming to increase its presence in other cities like Hyderabad and Ahmedabad by participating in shows like India International Travel Mart (IITM), Outbound Travel Mart (OTM), etc.

From 1 October this year, EgyptAir will introduce three flights from Delhi and the tourism board is deliberating on bringing about Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) for Indians. “Those who apply through our Embassy in Delhi or Mumbai can get the visa at the airport,” said Adel.

After 25 January, 2011, there was a dip of 20% in the Indian arrivals. Egypt

had received more than 14 million arrivals before the revolution in 2011.

From India, we received around one lakh arrivals before and lost more than 30% of the arrivals after the uprising.

“We support the travel trade through joint campaigns, online promotions, fun trips and also financially. We are aiming to rope in tour operators and new media and promote the country in new cities.”

While stressing on the stable situation in the country, Adel added that new destinations, new itineraries like Sharm-el-Sheikh, Alexandria, Nile cruise, white sandy beaches, places of spiritual importance, meetings and exhibition venues, exotic honeymoon locations, etc. will be extensively promoted this season.

www.voyagersworld.in

30>>

Telangana

TSTDC organizes roadshow in Bangalore VW BUREAU

T

he Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) recently organized a roadshow in Bangalore with an aim to highlight on the tourist places.

The Telangana state enjoys a varied cultural diversity with enchanting verve of tradition. The state has many interesting places to visit. This is the land of literature, glowing history and unending vibes of synonymy. The cuisine of the state is to be given the total credit as it contains south Indian, Muglai and Persian recipes on the platter. The red hot flavors of Telangana tickle your taste buds. No one can forget the taste of mouth watering hot piping Hyderabadi biryani. And they are many sweets, hots, pickles along with the tasty street foods.

The vibrant tradition flows in the state of Telangana in the celebration of local festivals like Batukamma,Bonalu and Sammaka Saaralamma Jathara.

The Telangana houses a brunch of religions and people too share the sense of common brotherhood making it a sustainable society.The state

is a year round visiting place with not many extremities in the climate. Hyderabad which is now the joint capital for both the states of Telangana and Andra Pradesh is the most happening city with a strong historic background.

The iconic Charminar stands as a token of the glorious past of the city.

The Golconda fort takes your breath away with its vastness and beauty.

Not to miss the other wonderful hill top structure, Taramathi, Baradari, situated at a stone throw distance from the fort of Golconda. The Persian style garden gives you the air of freshness and tranquility.

Telangana has many temples situated in every nook and corner, let the state stand high in terms of religious tourism. The Bhandrachalam Sri Rama Temple situated along the banks of Godavari is one of the main devotional places. The Basara Saraswathi temple is another gemstone in the throne of the state religious importance. This place named for its picturesque locations all around.

With two major rivers Godavari and Krishna flowing through the state, it

has beautiful water bodies and lakes which offer pleasant time to the visitors. The Hussain sagar in Hyderabad, Ramappa Lake, Pakhal Lake and Lankavaram Lake takes a chance to give you all the scenic beauty.

The state has rich forest area and diverse flora and fauna giving abundant possibility for Eco tourism. The state has a considerable area of reserved forests and many Sanctuaries which safeguard the rare animal species. The Telangana is indeed a natural beauty and has enchanting mysticism that has to be explored.The state is well connected by air, rail and roadways from all the parts of India.

Sumeet Singh, Jt.Managing Director, Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation at the roadshow spoke about the new initiatives taken up recently such as adventure tourism activities at Bhongir Fort, Jannaram Eco Project destination and other package tours like road cum rail and road cum cruise, temple packages.

The TSTDC has introduced new package tours to fit the specific needs of tourists. The tour is designed taking

into consideration the requirement of the tourists and TSTDC helps plan the entire itinerary providing a seamless tour experience.

The TSTDC owns a considerable size of the transport fleet 63 which includes high end Volvo and Mercedes benz coaches, a/c and non a/c coaches. The fleet will be deployed for conducting regular and on demand packages. TSTDC added two more features to its pride by introducing caravan vehicle and the latest model of innova vehicles, and it is worthwhile to inform that it is the first tourism corporation to introduce caravan vehicle in southern tourism industry.

TSTDC have a chain of Haritha Hotels which are spread across the state of Telangana at all major tourist destinations with a size of 33 hotels which includes wayside amenities on major national highways,TSTDC is organizing adventure clubs at Bhongir Fort for rock climbing activities and trekking, adventure jeep ride into the forest at Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Jannaram in Adilabad District.

Telangana emerges as a TOURIST destination!

Sumeet Singh, Joint Managing Director, Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation says Telangana is well connected, cosmopolitan that offers something for everybody.

IRENE SUSAN EAPEN to introduce caravan vehicle in southern tourism industry. Some of the scenic beauty of Telangana includes the two major rivers Godavari and Krishna.

The most famous lakes the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad,Ramappa Lake, Pakhal Lake and Lankavaram Lake.

New projects Some of our new projects are Jannaram, Nizamabad, Medak fort, Warangal fort with sound and light show.

Telangana as a destination Telangana is a new and young state with rich culture and heritage. There are temples at every corner of the state like Bhadrachalam Sri Rama temple on the banks of the Godavari and Basara Saraswathi temple, religious tourism has been growing tremendously in Telangana, adventure tourism activities in Bhongir fort, Jannaram Eco project destination. We have 50 hotel units

Voyager’s World > August 2014

like the golden heritage resort in the Medak Fort. The Haritha Plaza hotel is a new resort in Laknavanam.

sort on the highway. We will be organizing sound and light show at Elgandal Fort in Karimnagar.

Promotional Plans We have now 20 projects in the pipeline and Kadam lake resort, Ali Sagar resort in Vemulawada. Telangana celebrates local festivals like Batukamma, Bonalu and Sammakka Saaralamma Jathara. We are planning to build a re-

New destinations The Ali Sagar is the new destination being promoted and Ananthagiri is a trekking spot. We launched the caravan around October 2nd last year which is being promoted in Ananthagiri. Telangana is the first tourism corporation

Expected Growth for 2014 The market is growing with 10% in 2014. We are expecting a growth of 15 to 20% from second quarter 2014 to March 2015.

Trends We have observed that people have started taking up package tours customized for 10 to 15 people.

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Incredible India

West Bengal ‘roars’ aloud at iitm chennai and Bangalore 2014 The Tourism Board, represented by a large delegation, participated in a big way in the travel exhibitions.

PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM

W

est Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) participated in the 74th and 75th editions of India International Travel Mart (IITM) in Chennai and Bangalore from 11 - 13 July and 18 - 20 July, 2014 respectively. The Chennai event took place at the Chennai Trade Centre while IITM Bangalore took place at KTPO Whitefield.

There was a large delegation from the tourism board at both the exhibitions. The delegation was led by Mr. Surajit Bose, WBCS (Exe), Joint Director of Tourism & O.S.D & Ex-officio Deputy Secretary, Government of West Bengal, Mr. Amlan Jyoti Saha, Asst. Director of Tourism, Publicity Cell, Department of Tourism, Govt. of West Bengal; Mr. Animesh Bhattacharya, WBCS (Executive), General Manager (Operations) and Mr. Asok Kumar Ghosh, W.B.A & AS, General Manager (F&A).

The stalls wore a grand look, standing tall and illustrating the rich Bengal heritage and culture. With green shades, huge images of Ma Durga overlooked the top of the stall, typically representing what vibrant and colourful Bengal has always been known for. The stall in Bangalore had huge arches and arworks of different places in West Bengal like Bushnupur and Murshidabad, demonstrating a welcoming setting. The exhibitors showcased several tourism products of West Bengal right from heritage, culture and wildlife to cuisine, history, beaches, hill stations and river cruises. They include Rabindranath Tagore’s Shantiniketan, Sunderban Mangrove Retreat, Malda in North Bengal, the quaint town of Kurseong near Darjeeling, beach resorts like Digha, Mandarmoni, Junput and Shankarpur, Dooars at the foothills of the Himalayas and of course, Darjeeling among other attractions.

West Bengal Stall in IITM Chennai 2014

West Bengal stall in IITM Bangalore 2014

‘Beautiful bengal’ meets travel trade The tourism board received huge response from the travel trade during its roadshows in Chennai, Bangalore

W

est Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) organized a two-city roadshow in Chennai and Bangalore on 11 July, 2014 and 18 July, 2014 respectively. The events were organized in the wake of the tourism board’s participation in the recently concluded IITM Chennai and Bangalore 2014.

The roadshow in Chennai was held at the Ambassador Pallava Hotel. Mr. Surajit Bose, WBCS (Exe), Joint Director of Tourism & O.S.D & Ex-officio Deputy Secretary, Government of West Bengal, led the presentation on the state’s various facets of tourism.

The delegation also comprised other senior people from WBTDC like Mr. Amlan Jyoti Saha, Asst. Director of Tourism, Publicity Cell, Department of Tourism, Govt. of West Bengal; Mr. Animesh Bhattacharya, WBCS (Executive), General Manager (Operations) and Mr. Asok Kumar Ghosh, W.B.A & AS, General Manager (F&A).

Commenting on West Bengal’s tour-

ism aspects, Mr. Surajit Bose said: “Our state offers an assorted mix of attractions to the discerning travellers and the experiences are exclusive to different parts of the state and different times of the year.”

West Bengal Roadshow in Chennai

The Bangalore event was held at the Chancery Pavilion Hotel. It was a tremendous success with more than 100 people from the travel trade attending the event.

Some of the travel agents and tour operators who attended included Apna Holidays, Starline Travels Ltd, Atlas Hoppers, Go India Tours & Holidays, International School of Business & Research, Swaroop Tours, Leisure Travel & Tourism, Travcon Travels (P) Ltd, Royal Holidays, Indo Asia Tours, Air Pushkar Tours (India) Pvt Ltd, Sam Leisure Tours, Vivid Reflections, TravelBuzz India LLP, Riya the Travel Expert, J M Mehta Travel & Tour Co. Pvt. Ltd, AUM Tours & Travel Links, Grand Heritage Vacations, Trans Oceanic Travels Pvt. Ltd, etc.

West Bengal Roadshow in Bangalore

www.voyagersworld.in

32>>

Incredible India

goa: for many reasons and seasons

Gavin Dias, Deputy General Manager- Hotels & Marketing, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), talks of the latest marketing activities to promote the state as a 365-day destination.

PRIYADHARSHINI S ing the monsoon. The department is working on infrastructure projects like streamlining parking facilities, constructing public toilets, safety and cleanliness measures, regulating policing and ensuring that the shacks abide by the rules laid by GTDC, etc.

W

ith the ongoing monsoons, we are promoting the state as a ‘monsoon destination’, followed by the wedding carnival this month to showcase Goa as a wedding destination. Goa is more beautiful in the monsoons owing to the fresh flora and fauna. There are a lot of adventure activities like white water rafting, kayaking, mountain trails, etc. dur-

Trends GTDC has framed new guidelines in order to issue permissions to conduct tourism related events. They aim to simplify and encourage people to organize events all through the year.

Although the guidelines have not yet been made official, they aim to streamline everything and are sure to make the state an impeccable destination in terms of tourism and business.

The state has already reached its potential to draw tourists to beaches

and water sports. Of late, we are trying to promote religious tourism focusing on the architectural beauty of churches and temples. Besides, the Ayurveda spa centres here are attracting more family visitors.

Future plans We will position Goa in a way so as to appeal to all segments and promote the state’s varied attractions including eco treks, wildlife sanctuaries, etc. GTDC is trying to create new avenues to tap the high-end segment and, in turn, help increase the revenue for hospitality sectors.

Upcoming events A party with Reggae music and celebration is Goa Tourism’s genre. Our most important fest of this year would be that of the Feast of Saint Francis Xavier which marks its decennial year on 3 December. The celebrations

usually start from 22 November and go on till 4 January every year. We expect over 50 lakh tourists during this period. Besides the fests that happen on a month-to-month basis, the International Film Festival is scheduled for the last week of November, followed

by Christmas festivities and later the Shigmo Fest in March.

MICE segment MICE market has been doing exceedingly well for the past few years. Most of the four and five star properties are thriving on this segment. The corporates indulging in MICE activities have augmented as they find the weather and atmosphere very conducive.

Moreover, hoteliers are well versed with the requirements of the investors. The Grand Hyatt and Vivanta by Taj are few of the unique venues that encourage MICE events.

Chhattisgarh aims to be a world class destination!

Santosh Misra, MD, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB), says Chhattisgarh is witnessing a large number of tourist footfalls this year.

IRENE SUSAN EAPEN

Tourist inflow to Chhattisgarh The current season has been quite responsive as Chhattisgarh has witnessed a large number of tourist footfalls. Until May, more than 1.2 crores domestic and 4000 foreign tourists have come to visit the state. In 2013, tourist inflow to Chhattisgarh was 2.2 crores, which we expect to raise exponentially up to three crores in the current financial year.

Voyager’s World > August 2014

Promotional plans We are in the process of introducing a various activities to promote tourism on a larger scale and aim to make Chhattisgarh a world-class tourism destination. The state is being promoted as a monsoon destination with the landscapes and the floral wealth providing a visual delight to the tourists during the rains. We have three national parks and 11 wildlife sanctuaries; Barnawapara, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, Kanger Valley National Park, Bhoramdeo Wildlife Sanctuary, Udanti & Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, Tamorpingala Reserve, Badalkhol – Semarsot Wildlife are some of the major wildlife areas being promoted.

Segments We have plans to promote adventure activities as rock-climbing, gliding, hiking, hot air ballooning and other sports to attract adventure enthusiasts. Few

trekking routes are being created in the forests. We have water-based tourism along with the niche segments of caving, camping and caravan tourism for foreigners. We have included the USPs of tribal and anthropological heritages so that tourists can indulge in adventure activities.Besides, we have plans to entice film production companies and we are participating in the upcoming International Film Festival in Goa to tap Bollywood.

New products We are promoting Sirpur- KodarRaipur- Tandula mega eco-tourist circuit on a greater scale. Gangrel Dam is being highlighted for recreational and water based activities are lined up at Gangrel, Kodar and Tandula, Hasdeo Bango Dam, Khutaghat Dam, Khudia Dam, apart from camping activities at Mainpat.

Frequent travellers We are undertaking various initiatives including social media to attract frequent travellers.We have plans to boost connectivity between Raipur and major tourist attractions in the state.

Eco-sustainable tourism Most of our tourism policies are focused on eco-sustainable tourism and we seek to achieve huge tourist inflow with optimum utilization of resources.

We intend to incorporate sustainable tourism with adventure activities.

Upcoming programmes The curtain raiser on Bastar Dussera, the longest running festival in the country, will start from 15 to 30 September 2014 in Dilli Haat. The other programmes are Sirpur National Dance, Music festival, Bhoramdeo festival, etc.

ABOUT

World Travel Market, Senior Director, Simon Press previews WTM 2014.

1

What’s new for WTM 2014?

WTM 2014 will be the best yet as World Travel Market celebrates its 35th event. This will be marked by extended opening hours to facilitate even more business deals.

This year, the event will stay open for an extra two hours to 8pm on the Wednesday evening, giving exhibitors the opportunity to host WTM 35th event celebrations on their stands.

The four days will again play host, for the second year running to, The Travel Tech Show at WTM and A Taste of ILTM at WTM, both contributing to the overall business conducted.

2

How much business can exhibitors expect to conduct?

WTM 2013 facilitated more than £2.2 billion in industry deals – with Asian, Pacific & Indian Ocean and Indian exhibitors agreeing contracts worth £264 million. This year we expect even more business will be conducted by all exhibitors, including those from India. One of the best ways for exhibitors to meet new buyers and sign deals is the WTM Speed Networking, which takes place on Monday and Thursday mornings.

3

What will the event programme look like at WTM 2014?

This year sees the introduction of a Spa and Wellness Programme to the highly successful events programme. There will be more than 100 sessions covering a range of topics including aviation, cruise, social media, and responsible tourism.

WTM 2013 Events Programme has an attendance of more than 16,000 – a 9.5% increase on WTM 2012.

4

Which exhibitors should we look out for?

VISITFLANDERS - WTM’s Premier Partner - is commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Great War. Brand USA has increased its presence as part of its aim to hit 100m international visitors.

5

Where can Indian buyers and visitors register for WTM 2014?

Visit www.wtmlondon.com/register

4,903 exhibitors

WTM Means business ®

3 – 6 November 2014 ExCeL London

Register now

wtmlondon.com Official Media Partner

Official Partner

MORE THAN PARTICIPANTS

The World Travel Market® and WTM® trademarks are owned and protected by Reed Elsevier Properties SA and Reed Exhibitions Limited uses such trademarks under license.

34>>

mICe point

tCeB unVeIlS new deStInatIonS for IndIan mICe groupS The MICE segment is growing faster than the outbound market in Thailand with 20% of growth annually, says

Supawan Teerarat, Vice President, Strategic & Business Development, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) VW BUREAU

TCEB organizes buyer-seller session in Bangalore There were over 30 sellers who took part in the TCEB India Roadshow in the city on 21 July, 2014 such as Bangkok Airways, Centara Grand, Travelz Unlimited, Royal Cliff Hotel Group, etc.

Growth of Indian Market The Indian MICE market has been steadily increasing for the past three years. India stands within the top five positions as for MICE arrivals in Thailand. In 2013 the number of MICE travellers from India exceeded over a lakh.

The repeat ratios of visitors to Thailand for MICE would be 70% and the majority is from India. Having said that we had faced a dip during the ban on Indian

MICE arrival in Q1, but the situation became normal once the curfew was lifted in May. We ensured proper communication with the travellers so as to not face any cancellations; but we encountered postponements of the arrival.

Trends We would like to showcase Chiang Mai which is right now the emerging city and is becoming more popular with Myan-

mar as it is well connected and accessible by road. Khon Kaen in the Northeast is another emerging MICE destination.

The Virgin beach, Krabi, Koh Samui are flourishing; however Bangkok still tops because of the metropolitan and shopping appeal.

The new Thailand Connect campaign showcases our MICE strengths. This roadshow marks the largest size of del-

egation that has ever come to Bangalore (150 delegates).

Segments We look forward to support business beyond Bangkok and Pattaya. TCEBsupports with fast track visa services and financial subsidies for F&B. The support we offer depends on the revenue we get from our investors; also given their profile, tier of investment, destinations, a corporate’s budget, etc.

SIngapore aImS to Be the top ConVentIon CIty In aSIa!

Andrew Phua , Director – Exhibitions & Conferences Group, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), says business travel and MICE are a booming market with the number of business visitors having touched 2.6 million in 2013.

IRENE SUSAN EAPEN International Water Week, CleanEnviro Summit, Broadcast & Communication in June, Singapore Design Week and International Furniture Design in March, Singapore Air Show in February. The market is very positive with 3.5 million visitors in 2013 as we had Travel Rave, Asia Travel Media Summit, ITB Asia and WIT conference.

Growth of Indian Market Incentive is one of our big markets; we have organized exhibitions and conferences for urban solutions, urban planning between March and Aprilthe World City Summit, Singapore

Voyager’s World > August 2014

The Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau (SECB) is a group of the STB that champions the business events industry in Singapore. The Business Travel and Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (BTMICE) sector was a key contributor for Singapore tourism from January to September 2013 with the number of business visitors having increased to 2.6 million,

an increase of 6% in 2012. Prime venues are Marina Bay Sands, Suntex City and Singapore Expo Mexatria.

Singapore Accolades Singapore received the top country award for weddings given by the Union of International Association (UIA). It won the Top Convention City in Asia for the 12th consecutive year, by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in 2013. Singapore’s record of 175 ICCA events in 2013 was a 16.7% increase from 150 in 2012.

Promotional Programmes Through our incentive programme, In Singapore Incentives & Rewards (INSPIRE) launched in August 2013, we provide tailored, value-added experi-

ences to the evolving Indian business traveller and we will focus on building leadership platforms to engage them and position Singapore as a global business hub in Asia. There is also SMAPS, Singapore MICE advantage programme started in 2013 organized

by STB and Changi Airport Group to appeal to MICE visitors.

Trends As people are coming to Singapore for more than an event, we have collated complementary events at the same time. People are also looking into conferences to listen to solutions and insights. Business travellers are twice more than a leisure traveller. Singapore is a destination to extend one’s stay mixing business with pleasure.

35>>

MICE Point

Incentive groups prefer flexible venues Clients are increasingly favour a themed venue for their business meetings, says Karen Bolinger, Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Convention Bureau VW BUREAU How are the meetings organised in your city’s various meeting centres? What are the unique features that your meeting venues have unlike other competitors with regard to your venue?

When organising a business event in Melbourne, the Melbourne Convention Bureau is the first point of contact. We connect clients with Melbourne’s leading business event suppliers to facilitate the delivery of conferences, meetings and incentive travel reward programs in the city.

Whether you’re holding a large scale convention for more than 5000 delegates or a small meeting for 20, Melbourne has a venue to suit every meeting, convention, exhibition or special event requirement.

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is the pinnacle of the city’s business events infrastructure and is the largest convention and exhibition venue in the Southern Hemisphere.

MCEC connects people with adaptable spaces, leading technology, and creative food and wine. It offers a multi-purpose Plenary, 52 meeting rooms and Exhibition Centre that stretches half a kilometre.

Melbourne has Australia’s highest concentration of conference facilities in the city centre. This city’s 197,000 square metres of conference space and over 15,000 accommodation rooms are all conveniently in walking distance of each other.

What is a sample itinerary that you would recommend for an incentive travel group?

For first timers, I would recommend an “iconic Melbourne and regional Victoria” program. The itinerary would begin in the city and include a trip up to the Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing platform, the Eureka Tower.

The program would then venture to regional Victoria’s Phillip Island where delegates can watch the famous Little Penguins waddle up the beach, followed by a trip to Ballarat’s living gold mining museum, Sovereign Hill.

For sports fans, there’s no better place to visit than the sporting and major events capital of Australia during the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Australian Open Tennis Championships or the country’s cricket season. Corporate and incentive groups can be treated to VIP hospitality while watching one of the world’s most exciting sports events or recreate these experiences outside of the events themselves.

For those who love food as much as Melburnians do, I would highly recommend a foodies tour designed by the team behind the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Restaurants are specifically handpicked by the team and groups are given exclusive access to those that don’t usually take bookings. Personal meetings and workshops can also be arranged with some of Melbourne’s top chefs.

The Melbourne Convention Bureau can facilitate all of these programmes, only possible in Melbourne, through working with its membership base.

What are the top three requests made by your clients for holding meetings?

We have found that corporate and incentive groups often request unique venues that are creative, flexible and can cater to a themed function.

In Melbourne and regional Victoria, we have a number of venues that can transform their spaces into a range of themes with ease. For example, the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground was recently used by the largest Indian incentive group ever hosted in Australia, the Amway India Leadership Seminar for 4000 delegates.

MCB secured private access for the group to enjoy a gala dinner at the Ground where they played a cricket match on the hallowed turf, listened to a motivational speech by Australian cricketing great Adam Gilchrist and danced the night away to an Indian Bollywood performer. This type of admittance to the MCG for corporate groups during the Austral-

ian cricket season was previously unheard of.

What are the kinds of events that you have hosted so far and when is the peak business season for you?

The typical incentive peak season is over summer in January and February, however Melbourne can expertly reward incentive travel and corporate groups at any time of year. We are finding that a growing number of groups are coming throughout the year to incorporate one of Melbourne’s many major events into their programme or even replicate these event experiences at a different time of year.

In April 2014 for example, Prudential Life Insurance Company rewarded

560 of its agents from Hong Kong with an incentive programme in Melbourne. The highlight of the three-day itinerary was a day at the races at Flemington Racecourse facilitated by the Victoria Racing Club where Prudential sponsored a title race and replicated the Melbourne Cup experience.

Also in the month of April, Shin Kong Life Insurance from Taiwan visited Phillip Island in regional Victoria.

Shin Kong’s 1145 delegates planted 22,000 native Poa Tussock grasses which provide significant conservation gains for the region. This was the largest hands-on conservation activity ever facilitated for an incentive group in Victoria.

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www.voyagersworld.in

36>>

Hospitality

green leaves: need for good quality accommodations in tier 2 cities VW BUREAU

G

reen Leave Inc, hotel and resort management company, is on an expansion spree having signed up four projects in the past four months other than the exisitng hotels - two properties additional in Chennai. Sotheren residency a 102 room hotels with two food and beverage outlets and 4 banquet hall and the second one a Luxury Resort on the out skirts of chennai named Southern Mermaid.

In addition to that They have also signed up with a 35 room hotel in Shimoga opening for public on Ugadhi ,A well located hotel in heart of shimoga town also has two restaurants and a banquet hall and another upconing Hotel in Bangalore. Green leaves is also making a strong presence felt in two tier cities where there is a derath for quality Food and accomodation About Green Leaves Inc. Green Leaves is one of its kind Hotel and resort Management company

that not only manages and markets your hotel or resort in a very proffessional way,it also gives you a edge over other management companies through its distintive eco freindly practices.Their methods imply turn key A to Z from the Scarch of the project to the finish and the operations.,a team of deticated pofessionals that include architects and interior decorators, The tools that they work on are Professional service standards ,staff,satisfied customers,quality assurance ,systems.operations and procedures which ensure stramlines operations of the hotel other than manpower taining ,Finanacial managment and accounts’ Green Leaves is headed by K,Muthu krishna who has more than 22 years of experience in the Industry having worked with major chainsis passionate about managing Hotels and resorts and making sucess stories.

Bangalore welcomes Hilton at EGL The hotel offers 247 studios and suites as well as two meeting halls with a capacity adding to 180.

VW BUREAU

H

ilton Bangalore Embassy GolfLinks opened in the city with 247 studios and suites on 8 August, 2014. The upscale full-service hotel is located within the Embassy GolfLinks Business Park, the hub of many Fortune 500 companies.

Each guestroom is purpose-built to meet needs of the guests, both business travellers and long-stay guests with living, dining and work areas and fully-equipped kitchenette.

Daniel Welk, Vice President, Operations-India, Hilton Worldwide, said: “Location is key to the success of any hospitality venture. As for this property, it is too early to tell if the leisure market in Bangalore will prove a significant contributor to our business as compared to business guests.

With new airlines coming in to the market and the city being a corporate hub, we see a good volume of business from the corporate segment.

Hilton is active in the market and we

Voyager’s World > August 2014

aim to leverage on the concept of ‘Staycations’ as the market of going to a hotel during the weekend is yet to be explored. Our ‘Be a weekender’ campaign has seen fair success.

Having said that, we will ensure that attracting the leisure market is an integral part of all our communication strategy.”

The hotel offers 24-hour business services as well as fully-equipped conference and board rooms. The two meeting halls have a capacity of 90 persons each and they can be further divided into smaller halls. The hotel also has a temperature-controlled swimming pool, gym, spa and a kids’ play area. “ The team here is focused upon ensuring that not only are our guests comfortable but their every stay with us is memorable,” said Vikas Sharma, General Manager, Hilton Bangalore Embassy GolfLinks.

37>>

Hospitality

barbeque nation brings TRUNK ROAD HistorY ON a platter!

VW BUREAU

B

arbecue Nation celebrated the ‘Grand Trunk Road Food Festival’ recently across all its outlets in the country. Serving some of the delicacies that were part of the regions falling under the ancient Grand Trunk Road (from Bangladesh to Kabul in Afghanistan), the food festival had an ambience of a native Indian dhaba with the staff clad in desi clothes and the props lending a rustic mood to the setting at the Indiranagar outlet in Bangalore.

“We travelled to remote villages and towns in West Bengal and Punjab to trace olden cuisines. ‘Ghanne ki ras ka kheer’ is a sweet made from condensed sugarcane juice while Murshidabadi Biryani was cooked with eggs and potatoes,” said Vijay Anand Bakshi, Head - Culinary Operations, Barbecue Nation.

Some of the vegetarian starters included Anari Aloo, Bhuna Chaat and Peshawari Bharwan Mushroom.

Chapli Kebab, Murgh Bano Tawa Ke-

bab, Kasundi Chingri and Tala Gosht were some of the starters in the nonvegetarian section. The succulent mushrooms, cooked using cinnamon and a hint of herbs, had us asking for a second helping.

The Fish Amritsari is a delicious Punjabi starter with ‘ajwain’ as its key ingredient; Chapli Kebab, the special recipe on the menu, comes all the way from Kabul.

The non-vegetarian main course offered our all-time favourite Chingri Malai Curry, which is a treat for sea food lovers and the Mughlai Murshidabadi Chicken Biriyani. We savoured the ancient Mughal spices in every mouthful of chunks of potatoes and layers of chicken.

The vegetarian fare consisted of Jinga Posto, Dal Khyber, Afghani Pulao, Kosha Patol Bharwan and Khatte Aloo. The dishes were prepared using mild spices dominated by the use of mustard and saffron. The Jinga

Posto was a yummy dish prepared with ridge gourd and a paste of poppy seeds while the Khatte Aloo emanated subtle flavours bursting into a tangy taste. The Afghani Pulao was a surprise in the main course platter, having expected it to be filled with dry fruits. The sweetness, however, was well mixed in the aromas of the rice and the spices, thereby neither disappointing the sweet-lovers nor the spice-lovers.

As for the desserts, Chitrakoot and Ghanne ki ras ka Kheer gave us an

impression of the desserts that delighted the people in those days.

Chitrakoot, a square-shaped sweet from Bengal, was the highlight of the whole meal with khoya, cardamom and sugar unleashing their magic on the taste buds while Ghanne ki ras ka Kheer left a warm feeling on the palate.

On the whole, the festival managed to capture the food preparation techniques and fond flavours of a geographical stretch spanning nearly 2500 km.

National Council for Hotel Management ties up with LHC PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

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he National Council for Hotel Management (NCHM), under the Ministry of Tourism signed an agreement with the Lausanne Hospitality Consultancy (LHC), Switzerland for upgrading syllabus, faculty and infrastructure at its affiliated institutes. The Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Shripad Yesso Naik announced that the new framework would be rolled out from the 2015-16 academic session. He said, the tie-up has come about at the most opportune time when the government anticipates a huge economic turnaround by optimal tapping of its tourism potential.

The Minister said: “Synchronised efforts of NCHM and LHC are expected to make Indian hospitality education relevant and acceptable in a global milieu, while meeting at the same time, the requirements of the Indian Industry especially for manning dif-

ferent managerial levels.”

The tie-up is part of a holistic vision of skilling the workforce at every level, from the base skill level to the highest managerial one. He said, through this tie-up the Ministry is imparting further momentum to its flagship scheme namely Hunar Se Rozgar Tak by not only targeting young persons on a much larger scale but also diversifying the trades covered. The Hunar Se Rozgar Tak scheme, which essentially intends to mainstream those who for some reasons dropped out educationally has been very well received. Since its inception in 2009, over 1.31 Lakh persons have been trained. He said that the government thus not only creating opportunities for skill development but also opportunities for its continuance up-gradation.

The NCHMCT-LHC tie-up will set the

pace and standard of hospitality education in the country. It provides for updating of curriculum contents and of teaching skills through training at the swiss Institutes. The teacher so train will train other in a cascading model. Presently 51 Institutes of Hotel Management under the aegis of the NCHMCT will participate under this improvement programme.

The NCHM has the largest number of affiliated Hotel Management Institutes while LHC is a leading global hospitality consultancy that is part of the famous Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, ranked as the world’s best hospitality management school. Switzerland remains the worldwide leader in international hospitality management education.

The visiting LHC team after detailed study has advised strengthening of key areas that involve curriculum, infra-

structure, faculty development, student life and learning, academic administration, health and safety at institutes.

The recommendations focus on shift to strengthen management, business attitude and entrepreneurship in the curriculum. The built-in internship would be in area of specialization and involve project based assessment. Upgrading of laboratories, wi-fi and digital campus and extended library hours have been suggested for quality improvement.

For a meaningful classroom contact, an annual training programme for faculty would be drawn. There would be content development and its validation before delivery in classrooms by faculty.

In the new approach, high importance has been given to health and safety of people, infrastructure, data, foodstuff and belongings so as to inculcate these values early in development of professional personalities of its scholars.

www.voyagersworld.in

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Technology

TRAVEL AGENT IS STILL ‘REAL-TIME’ IN THIS VIRTUAL AGE

Swaminathan Vedaranyam, CEO, Via.com, talks about the company and the market without ruling out the role of the indispensable travel agent.

PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM by way of a common content based on one agency model. There are similar payment options, self-service options (which is of utmost importance) and decision making was made easy.

More than 3000 corporates are using our platform. We encourage everyone to use our screen. This is so because any escalations can be built based on the policies that they may have.

Group bookings The journey so far Our model continues to grow primarily through word-of-mouth, though we use social media also as there is a large percentage of people who look us up there. As a business vertical, we opened corporate travel model two years ago and we have seen that there is a huge amount of synergy between business travel and corporate travel

We have a huge MICE team of about 100-150 people that works on group bookings, particularly MICE. Via.com is not daunted by numbers today. Our agents are also having huge groups.

We have experienced fantastic results as a result of recent campaigns

by NTOs like German National Tourist Office (GNTO) and France.

Top demands We have observed a lot of demand for content and payment solutions.

People look for real-time content on prices, availability of rooms, seats, etc. and through our system, they get to see airline and hotel market rates as they are. Our payment-making option is as seamless as possible as we have different mechanisms in terms of compliances, cost-cutting, etc. There is also a need for gaining access to things that are part of the travel – cars, visas, events, MICE and so on. The initial thrust we got was from all the metros and we plan to enter smaller markets in the country by next year.

We have empowered our agents with a number of tools. Be it our agents from Madurai or Bhopal, they are encouraged to give the right pricing for customers searching on B2C

websites. For them to liaise with their customers we have built a marketing platform for them to do their own mailers and Facebook updates.

The road ahead We are getting 10,000 new customers every year and our agent network is only thriving. In India, the domestic point-to-point ticketing has increased drastically. Online travel is tapering off in the USA and Europe actually. This is because people prefer writing cheques for big ticket purchases as there is a lack of confidence in that. For someone who would want to rent a car to Mount Abu, they still prefer going to the agent.

As for international travel, 90% of the people still need help offline. Online modes can do significant poaching in places like Hyderabad, Chennai or Chandigarh. The rest of the world would love to search the internet but will still see if they can get the deal locally.

NFC is expected to drive future travel technology Anand Prakash Shukla, CEO, Provab Technosoft Pvt. Ltd. talks about the trends and demands for travel technology in the Indian market, during a recent interview.

PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM We are bringing a cross-platform to meet the needs of a travel agents.

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rovab was founded in 2003. We understand that travel trends are changing very rapidly, having observed the market closely 10 years back until now. Hence, we decided to take optimization to the next level.

Voyager’s World > August 2014

Preferred solutions Our top three solutions are the online hotel reservation system, airline reservation system and bus booking system. The online hotel reservation system is a combination of xml and has both global inventory as well as local inventory. As for the airline solution, there are travel agents who are IATA certified and there are those who aren’t. The top agents are going for IDS or Galileo. Apart from this our bus bookings system is in good demand in India while our cruise solution is popular in Europe.

We have witnessed a growth of

250%-300% mainly due to mobile apps and travel technology. Our peak booking seasons are during Ramzan, Christmas and New Year. We get a huge chunk of our business from the Middle East and India. Our clients in Middle East know that the cost of technology is different in the USA and in India. Between every Friday to Sunday, bookings made by our Algerian clients reach $150,000 to $200,000 in the MENA region. However, some of the challenges that we face in the MENA region include that of the distance. It is difficult for our clients to cater to the 100% requirements of the end consumers because of long distances. The other challenge is that of cultural differences. Hence, we have deputed a few associates in

each country to resolve issues arising out of language and culture differences.

Future When OTAs like MakeMyTrip came, people thought that was the end of travel agents. Yet, people still go to local travel agents for their trips. Another trend that we plan to embrace is that of Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC is gaining popularity in France for bus ticketing purposes wherein a credit card payment processor approval is needed to complete the transaction. Though we are long way from this in India, Bangalore market has been observed to be quite responsive to travel technology trends.

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WTM London

WTM 2014 wields the spotlight on women and travel

World Travel Market 2014 is hosting two new seminar sessions looking at the relationship between women and the travel and tourism sector.

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orld Travel MARKET 2014 is hosting two new seminar sessions looking at the relationship between women and the travel and tourism sector.

Held as part of WTM’s Women in Travel programme, the two sessions cover very different issues; with one focusing on successful women travel entrepreneurs and the other addressing how the travel industry can play a role in enhancing the lives and future of women around the globe.

The Women in Travel programme kicks off on 4 November with successful female business owners sharing tips and discussing their individual career paths in Secrets of Successful Female Trav-Preneurs.

Speakers including Julia Feuell, founder and Managing Director of

New Frontiers and OTT travel training, Mandy Nickerson, MD Hexagon Travel, and Sarah Johnson, Managing Director of PR company Lotus UK, will discuss what it takes to be a female entrepreneur in a male dominated sector, obstacles, advantages and work-life balance issues.

Julia Feuell said: “Female entrepreneurs need a lot of determination and dedication. Running a business is like gardening. You always have to plant seeds for flowers to grow and to pull up weeds. You can never ignore nor forget it! You must now and again remember to admire it! The audience can expect lots of tips and advice on how to succeed as a woman in the travel industry.”

On 5 November, at 12.30, representatives from charity organisations and distinguished travel industry

women will take part in ‘Women, Human Rights and the Travel Industry – Helping or Hindering the Future of Women?’

The issues will be discussed by a panel of speakers including Tricia Barnett, Director of Equality in Tourism; Gavin Bate, Founder of Adventure Alternative, and Nora Russell, Fundraising and Development Manager at

Women for Women International.

World Travel MARKET, Senior Director, Simon Press said: “I am delighted to be able to launch the new Women in Travel programme. Women make the majority of the workforce in the industry, although senior positions are mainly taken up by men. The Secrets of Successful Female Trav-Preneurs session will give women vital tips to help them set up on their own.”

social media giants ROPED IN FOR Keynote sessions AT WTM 2014 VW BUREAU

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wo of the biggest social media brands - Buzzfeed and Twitter - are already confirmed as keynote speakers at World Travel MARKET 2014, the leading global event for the travel industry.

Both companies are presenting as part of WTM Travel Perspective programme which will concentrate on social media and digital content as part of the standalone Travel Tech Show at WTM’s event programme.

Buzzfeed launched in 2006 and describes itself as ‘the media company for the social age’. It is at the vanguard of new business models for online publishing, combining news reporting, produced by in-house journalists, with entertainment and celebrity content sourced from its community of readers.

It is also leading the way in ‘social advertising’ generating revenues from advertising which is intended to be shared, disrupting traditional online advertising models.

Buzzfeed will be represented by Will Hayward, Vice President of Advertising (Europe). The presentation - 27 things you really need to know about Buzzfeed and content MARKETING - will look at successful social advertising campaigns it has run with travel companies and destinations.

The keynote takes place on 4 Novembe. Twitter has confirmed that it will be presenting the keynote the following day. Twitter will concentrate specifically on examples of how its UK and Ireland team is working with the travel and tourism sector. The keynote will delve into the concept of ‘second screening’

- the phenomenon of people watching TV at the same time as using Twitter on a separate device - and how travel companies can increase awareness and bookings as a result.

Travel Technology Show at WTM, Sales Manager, Jo Marshall said: “Securing two of the biggest names in social media and content MARKETING so early

in our planning is a testament to how important the Travel Technology Show at WTM has become over the past few years.

“Furthermore, it also confirms that travel and tourism is the most important vertical for social media and that WTM is the place for the business conversations to take place.”

www.voyagersworld.in

events

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IItm 2014: ChennaI and Bangalore Snapshot of IITM Bangalore

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phere Travelmedia & Exhibitions Pvt. Limited recently concluded the 74th and 75th editions of the India International Travel Mart (IITM) in Chennai and Bangalore respectively.

The Chennai edition of IITM was organized from 11 – 13 July, 2014 at the Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam. This year, the event drew more than 150 participants from seven countries and over 15 Indian states. The event drew more than 575 trade visitors from the travel industry and over 8900 general public during the three days.

The Bangalore edition of IITM took place from 18 – 20 July, 2014 at the Karnataka Trade Promotion Organization (KTPO), Whitefield. This year, more than 670 trade visitors and over 11,200 general public visited the event over the three days.

Voyager’s World > August 2014

Having had several noteworthy participants as part of its credentials over the years, IITM Bangalore 2014 had brought in newly-formed state Telengana this year. The state drew attention to sightseeing places in and around Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar and a number of historical monuments, beaches, etc. in the state.

Both the events showcased a variety of destinations from various spheres ranging from pilgrimages, adventures, beaches, hills, culture and heritage and so on.

The exhibitions brought together several players from the travel industry such as State Tourism Boards, National Tourism Organizations (NTOs), hotels and resorts, DMCs, tour operators, travel agents and face-toface with buyers from the industry

for shared networking and business opportunities. There were large delegations of travel partners and tour operators for both the events from many countries like Thailand, Dubai Tourism, Malaysia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Nepal, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bhutan, Switzerland and Maldives.

Takemytravel.com, which was the official online partner for both IITM Chennai and Bangalore, supports travel agents in a big way through its services. It is also taking part in the Mumbai edition of IITM from 11 -13 September 2014.

As for the national players, the Indian states that took part in the event were Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Pu-

ducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telengana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

Besides the big players from the national and international tourism boards, Clarks Exotica Resort & Spa, Minerva Grand, Hotel Chennai Le Palace, Welcom Heritage Panjim Inn, Bogmallo Beach Resort, Flamingo Transworld Pvt. Ltd., Blessings Tours & Travels, Royal Resorts Goa, MakeMyTrip.com, Southern Travels Pvt. Ltd, TakeMyTravel.com, Eagleton Marketing, Plaza Premium Lounge Bangalore, Royal Resorts, World Tours, Best Western Premier La Marvella, etc. were among the other industry stakeholders who participated in IITM Chennai and Bangalore.

At IITM Bangalore 2014, some of the awardees on the international exhibitor front include Sri Lanka Tourism for

events

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ConClude wIth reSoundIng SuCCeSS! Snapshot of IITM Chennai

the ‘Best Decorated Stand – International’; Dubai Tourism for ‘Business Destination of the Year’; Oman Tourism for the ‘Destination Marketing Campaign of the Year- International’; Thailand Tourism for the ‘Best Overall Presentation – International’ and Air India for the Long Standing Support – International.

On the domestic front, Karnataka won the ‘Host State’ Award; Goa Tourism was named the ‘Wedding Destination of the Year’; Uttarakhand Tourism was named the ‘Adventure Tourism Destination of the Year’, West Bengal Tourism won the ‘Best Destination Promotion’, Telengana Tourism won the ‘Emerging Destination – National’ and Gujarat Tourism won the ‘Heritage Destination of the Year’.

Commenting on the event, Sanjay Hakhu, Director, Sphere TravelMedia

said: “With the rupee climbing steadily, the optimistic business environment and growing hospitality industry render India as one of the most promising and productive countries on the travel trade front, including both leisure and business travel. The visitor profile comprised a superb mix of B2B & B2C people and the event had more than 12000 visitors over the three days.”

marketing their products.”

exhibition like IITM.”

Apart from the face-to-face meetings and business opportunities there were other interesting activities at the stalls like magic shows by Telengana Tourism, kick boxing by Tourism Authority of Thailand, folk dances by Gujarat Tourism and Telengana Tourism, etc. Visitors availed of unique holiday packages and lucky draws.

Pradhyuman Detha, Assistant Tourist officer, Government of Rajasthan, Department of Tourism Rajasthan, said, “IITM 2014 responses were much higher than the previous year in regards to the number buyers, and trade visitors. We are quite happy with the sales this year”.

Rohit Hangal, Director, Sphere Travelmedia, added: “With the present ongoing recession International Arrivals in India have dropped and ‘IITM’ provides the right impetus to the Indian domestic tourism industry. The participants from the states of Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Lakshadweep, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and many more destinations will be seen aggressively

Surajit Bose, WBCS (Exe), Joint Director of Tourism & O.S.D & Ex-officio Deputy Secretary, Government of West Bengal: “Participating in an exhibition like India International Travel Mart gives exhibitors a golden opportunity to showcase their products and offerings on a wide platform. West Bengal has so much to show to the discerning traveller and what better way to showcase the state’s multifaceted tourism appeal than a huge

Gavin Dias, Deputy General Manager-Hotels & Marketing, Goa Tourism Development Corporation, said:”Goa Tourism is looking forward to participate in the forthcoming IITM events as the responses and feedback from the public were good.”.

Adel El Masry, Director Egyptian Tourism Office in India, said, “IITM is a wonderful occasion to promote our destination and the responses were too good from B2B and B2C as well.”

www.voyagersworld.in

Top View

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The Billboard Effect... Revisited Hotels are able to increase their direct booking rates, simply by being listed on OTA sites, says Jean Francois Mourier of Revpar Guru while sharing his views on the billboard effect VW BUREAU

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he billboard effect shows that hotels are able to increase their direct booking rates, simply by being listed on OTA sites. Chris Anderson of Cornell University conducted two studies one in 2009 and a more indepth study in 2011 to determine whether the billboard effect was, in fact, an actual end result of a property being listed on OTA(s). Both stud-

ies showed that the being listed on OTAs did have a substantial effect on property’s direct booking rates thereby proving the validity of the billboard effect. The recent Tnooz article examined the results of these two studies and then offered commentary from various industry experts, who disagreed that the billboard effect was as prominent as it was previously. Some

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rate charged for all bookings originating through these channels. Hotels feel like they are being ripped off and that acquisition costs have skyrocketed too high (considering the comparable growth of revenues).

I think that one of the biggest issues that most hotels and experts have with the OTAs is the high commission

However, I believe that is a mistaken viewpoint to have. Just like back in the day when tour operator brochures were a necessary marketing medium for hotels, so are the OTAs today. In the recent past, tour operators would typically charge between 25 to 40% commission on each booking initiated through their brochures/advertising. Considering that OTAs charge commissions as low as 15% and even the most expensive ones rarely charge more than 35%, the OTAs are a much more affordable way to secure a much greater number of potential bookings.

It is a commonly understood fact that today’s consumers use OTAs to research and book hotels for their upcoming trips. OTAs do create significant visibility for your property to potential guests and will generate increases in both OTA and direct bookings. Online bookings are made and paid in real-time, 24/7. Today, if a hotel is not listed on OTAs, they are losing out on bookings and will find it hard (if not, downright impossible) to be as financially successful as possible.

12th Januar

At its core, I believe that the billboard effect is a very real effect experienced by hotels that list their properties on OTAs. While I firmly believe it is a necessity, simply being listed on OTAs is not enough to maximize the billboard effect that your property experiences. In reality, how much of an impact the billboard effect can have on your direct bookings is determined based on your actual revenue management strategy.

Fe bru ar y

Voyager’s World > August 2014

even went so far as to argue that the same effect could be achieved through other online sites (i.e. car rental sites, etc.), making the billboard effect negligible and diminishing the value of being listed on OTAs.

2015

Your property should never rely only on OTAs to generate bookings. Hotels should always be combining distribution via OTAs as well as direct sales (both online and via phone). To ensure that your property is maximizing the billboard effect, all of your property’s online rates should be controlled by a sophisticated, automated, realtime revenue management system.

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IBTM India

Strong Line-up confirmed for this year’s IBTM India in chennai

IBTM India 2013 was a proven success, with only weeks to go IBTM India 2014 is shaping up to top last year’s show and facilitate IBTM India in becoming a leader in the India MICE industry.

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BTM India is the key one-to-one invitation-only event for India’s inbound, outbound and domestic incentives, business travel and meetings industry, which is set to take place at the 5-star ITC Grand Chola Hotel, Chennai from 3 – 5 September 2014. The second edition of this highly targeted, table-top event will bring together buyers and exhibitors from India and across the globe, provide business building networking opportunities and high quality education.

The launch of IBTM India in 2013 was praised by both exhibitors and Hosted Buyers as being an “excellent new forum for business, networking and knowledge.” The event provided an integrated platform for buyers and suppliers in the MICE and Business Travel sectors to come together and build business, share knowledge and network over 2.5 days. By introducing a group of Indian and international exhibitors to top level decision makers from the region and all corners of the world, it is clear that IBTM India successfully facilitated in building relationships, contacts and business.

Tailored to meet the needs of India’s MICE industry – inbound, outbound and domestic business – IBTM India has already demonstrated not only a cost effective solution, but has delivered a high return on investment for exhibitors. Building on last year’s successful launch event in Mumbai, IBTM India has now established itself as a key event in the meetings industry calendar in India.

IBTM India 2014 is providing Indian and international suppliers, including Hotels and Venues, National/

State Tourism Organisations and Convention Bureaux, Travel Management Companies, Destination Management Companies, Event Management Companies, Professional Conference Organisers, Airlines, Technology, Business Travel and MICE related suppliers, the opportunity to showcase their products and services in the exclusive table-top environment to an Indian and international audience of up to 100 Hosted Buyers attending from associations, major corporate organisations and third party MICE agencies, all of whom will have proven purchasing power and guaranteed business to place in India and globally.

The key theme to IBTM India, as at all IBTM Global Events is to build business opportunities and network.

However, education will also play an integral role of the IBTM India 2014 and we are delighted to announce Simerjeet Singh, Founder and Director of Cutting Edge Learning Systems, as the keynote speaker at this year’s show. In his interactive session ‘Accelerating Growth’, he will share strategic tools, which will enable the audience to accelerate their personal and organisational growth. Participants will learn to understand what has changed in the current business scenario, how to remain competitive and the mind-set adaptation required to succeed in the ever-changing environment.

Simerjeet Singh is a global business and motivational speaker, certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner and Personal Performance Coach. He has over eight years of global business manage-

ment experience with FT 500 companies in Asia, Middle East, America, Europe and Australia. His ability to energise and invigorate the audience with his eloquent communication style distinguishes him.

IBTM India 2014 will aim to exceed the expectations of its stakeholders not just in 2014 but in future years.

The show now has a proven track record in delivering an ideal platform for high value, pre-scheduled faceto-face meetings between a selected number of exhibitors and top-level buyers. 2,496 pre-scheduled appointments were conducted at IBTM India 2013, and we expect this to increase to up to 3200 this year.

By creating a dedicated programme incorporating great business opportunities, networking events and an unparalleled interactive education in the IBTM India Forum for and about the region, including the launch of the India Meetings and Events Industry Report, carried out and presented

by M&IT, expectations are to continuously provide a high quality event for all exhibitors and Hosted Buyers alike.

Beyond this, IBTM India has partnered with ITC Grand Chola luxury five-star hotel as the venue and host for IBTM India 2014. The hotel benefits from being located near the airport with ample meeting space as well as having a large number of rooms to ensure that we can facilitate an easy stay for all our attendees, and have a successful event.

In addition, a new exclusive offering for a select few Hosted Buyers will be

our IBTM India post-event tour. We have created this event to offer meeting planners from all sectors the opportunity to explore different regions and familiarise themselves with the range and potential of India’s escalating MICE destinations.

Finally, India holds enormous potential for the MICE industry with a projected GDP growth of over 8% within the next 5 years. IBTM India sets out to support the development of India’s inbound, outbound and domestic MICE industry through its interactive knowledge forum, pre-scheduled appointments and networking functions. The launch edition, hosted in Mumbai, was a huge success. This year IBTM India ongoing drive and determination to support the development of the meetings industry market in India, we have chosen to move the show to another up and coming MICE destination Chennai.

Chennai is a real attraction for the international meetings industry and the ever increasing Chennai is one of the top rated business cities and listed as number 26 in The New York Times ‘52 places to go in 2014’ ranking. Furthermore, it is the fifth most populous city in India as well as one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

According to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the city is estimated to grow to a $100–billion economy, almost 2.5 times its present size, by the year 2025. With favourable government policies, Chennai currently boasts of vast advancement in the automobile, banking and healthcare industries.

www.voyagersworld.in

Festival Watch

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Festivals of 2nd day of Eid al Fitr - 6 September, 2014

30 July - 31 Aug 2014

Salalah Tourism Festival Sultanate of Oman

ONE PIECE docks Hong Kong

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18 - 19 August, 2014

30 - 31 August, 2014

Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, California

Bigfoot Festival, Willow Creek California

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ome August and Salalah Tourism Festival will add to the festivities in the Sultanate of Oman. Beginning from the second day of Eid al Fitr, the official festival will continue till 6th September, 2014. It is during this time when Salalah in the governorate of Dhofar receives rains prompting tourists from all around the world to visit the region to enjoy the unique cool weather. The festival is also popularly known as ‘Khareef Festival’ as Khareef means monsoon. Technology, food, crafts, fashion and cultural events are there at the festival.

he World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay celebrates its bountiful fall harvest and autumn splendor with a special display of gigantically ginormous, heavyweight champion pumpkins. Watch three stages of smashing entertainment, non-stop live music, and the Great Pumpkin Parade. Dare to experience the bone-chilling Haunted House or instead enjoy harvest-inspired crafts, homestyle foods, and expert pumpkin carver Farmer Mike sculpting a monster pumpkin into a oneof-a-kind masterpiece.

Voyager’s World > August 2014

his Summer, the ONE PIECE sails to Hong Kong. floor atrium from 30 July until 31 Aug 2014. 11 meters in height “Thousand Sunny” will dock at the Open piazza to welcome you on board. 20 lovely Chopperman will transform to Superman, will sure melt your hearts, waiting for your warm big hugs. Stepping into 2nd floor atrium, you will find the “Going Merry”, 8 meter height sailing in the mid-air. All the main characters such as Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, Brook and Franky will pose with their most iconic style waiting.

illow Creek, the Bigfoot capital of the world, hosts the largest celebration of the prehistoric man-ape each Labor Day weekend.

The annual event attracts visitors from all over the world to learn about this legendary creature. It was here that the term Bigfoot was coined in 1958. Nine years later, the famous Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film footage was shot nearby. The event promises a parade, food & craft booths, oyster feed, BBQ, logging contests, petting zoo, kids bike race, lawn mower race, and disc golf.

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Festival Watch

the World 07 September, 2014

20 September - 05 October, 2014

Onam Kerala

Oktoberfest Munich, Germany

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Celebrated for 10 days, the festivities comprise beautiful flower carpets, ‘Sadya’ or traditional lunch, snake boat races, ‘Puli Kali’ and Onappottan, Thrikkaakarayappan, Thumbi thullal, Onavillu, etc.

There is a wide range of entertainment besides beer like carousels, merry-go-rounds and shooting and throwing galleries. There are beer tents and several kiosks that sell sweets, ice cream, non-alcoholic beverages and souvenirs.

17 October - 09 November, 2014

07 September, 2014

Sun Moon Lake Festival Taiwan

Regata Storica Venice

nam is Kerala’s harvest festival celebrated in the Malayalam month Chingam, from end of August to beginning of September.

It marks the Vamana incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the homecoming of King Mahabali. People put flower mats in front of their houses, to welcome King Mahabali.

he world renowned Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival held in Munich in Germany every year, starting last late September to first week of October. Enormous quantities of Oktoberfest beer are consumed then and tourists can also enjoy several traditional, tasty dishes.

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It is full of music performances, orchestra, dance, cinema like the Sun Moon Lake Music Festival, Taiwan Mobile Concert, Taiwan Cycling Festival, National Day Celebration Concert, Movies in Concert, etc.

Several Venetian rowing boats with rowers and the locals in period costumes parade on the waters to commemorate the welcome. There is also a competition involving several coloured boats and people setting about in the lagoon of Venice.

he Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan’s Nantou County hosts the grand fireworks and music festival annually as part of its tourist carnival activities. The reflection of brilliant bursts of color and fiery trails of light on the still calm of the lake’s crystalline surface leaves visitors with unforgettable memories of the area and its beauty.

he Regata Storica or Historical Regatta is a spectacular sporting event that takes place along the Grand Canal in Venice to mark the welcoming of Caterina Cornaro, wife of the King of Cyprus in the 15th century.

www.voyagersworld.in

association

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taaI CommendS CenVat CredIt of SerVICe tax and other InItIatIVeS

The availing of CENVAT Credit of service tax by tour operators and rent-a-cab operators has brought in cheer to the industry, observes the association.

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ith the new budget 2014 rolling out a number of initiatives to lend an impetus to the tourism industry in the country, the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) welcomed the initiatives, especially the availing of CENVAT Credit of Service Tax paid by rent-a-cab operators and tour operators.

Harmandeep Singh Anand, Hon. Secretary General, TAAI, says: “TAAI is happy that one of its important representations made to the Joint Secretary, TRU II, Ministry of Finance on 15th May, 2014 and subsequently to the Finance Minster on 26th June 2014 has borne fruit that of availment of CENVAT Credit of service tax paid by rent - a- cab operators and tour operators. TAAI is confident that other points raised by TAAI will get recognition by the Ministry in time to come, specially the request

Voyager’s World > August 2014

pertaining to Air Travel Agents bringing in service tax under the ambit of Reversed Charge Mechanism.”

Further to the budget changes, given below is how the service tax policies will come to play for the sector.

- Services provided by a tour operator to a foreign tourist in relation to a tour conducted wholly outside India is exempted from service tax. However, no such exemption is available for services of outbound tour provided to Indian tourist. [Effective from 11th July, 2014]

CENVAT credit of service tax charged by another operator, even after taking the abatement. In no other cases is the Cenvat credit available. [Effective from 1st October, 2014]

- A Tour Operator can take CENVAT credit of service tax charged by another tour operator, even after taking the abatement. In no other cases the CENVAT credit is available.

[Effective from 1st October, 2014] - A Rent-a-cab Operator can take

- Rent-a-cab Operator (Only Individuals or HUFs or a Partnership Firms), who is not taking abatement and is providing rent-a-cab services to body corporate, other than another operator, has to charge service tax on 50% of the value of services. [Ef-

fective from 11th July, 2014] The association had also organized its 6th Managing Committee at Fairmont Jaipur from 22nd to 24th July, 2014. During this meeting highlighted several matters of the Association and passed resolutions that follow: TAAI to launch Preferred Partner Programme, to organise Educational Destination Workshops (EDW) and to take steps to regulate the industry.

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Happenings Mumbai travel trade sensitized on 'Bed & Breakfast' scheme

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s part of the 100 Days Plan, India Tourism - Mumbai, along with Maharashtra Tourism organized a sensitization workshop to promote the ‘Incredible India Bed and Breakfast / Homestay Establishments’ Scheme on 5 August, 2014 at the Ambassador in Churchgate.

The workshop was aimed to sensitize the people to come forward and offer their extra rooms to tourists which will help meet the shortage of hotel rooms in the country. It was attended by the travel trade and hotel associations, tourist guides and already running ‘Bed and Breakfast’ owners.

Germany roadshow receives huge response from Delhi trade

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he Germany India Pool roadshow, which recently happened in New Delhi, received an excellent response from the travel trade, further aiding in interactions with the trade on the best selling practices for the destination. The event focused on latest updates, highlights and attractions for Indian travellers. Partners part of the roadshow included Maritime Hotels, Lufthansa, Cologne Tourism, Baden-Baden Tourism, Stuttgart Tourism. Roadshows scheduled this year are in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Kochi.

Railways to add services in pilgrim circuits

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ourist trains offering package tours covering special pilgrim circuits like Devi Circuit, Jyotirling Circuit, Jain Circuit, Christian Circuit, Muslim/Sufi Circuit, Sikh Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Famous Temple Circuit etc. have been announced in the Railway Budget 2014-15. Luxury tourist trains, Buddhist special train and Bharat Darshan trains also cover a number of religious and historic tourist places. Indrail Passes as well as Foreign Tourist Quota in some important trains are available to foreign tourists. The Indian Railways will run six more trains connecting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to various destinations in the near future.

Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli builds new brand image

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he Tourism Ministry of India launched a new brand image for Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli in order to promote them as a tourist destination. Built around the tagline of ‘Small is Big’, the logo encapsulates the core appeal of the Union Territories – while they are small dots on the map, they have so much more to offer throughculture, heritage, wild life, architecture and natural wonders.

A special publication titled ‘Vision 2020 - Dadra & Nagar Haveli’ was released which showcases various landmark, the investment and planned completion dates of project plans. The projects include water front development and establishment of state museums, a sports complex at Saily with 40,000 seat cricket stadium, an international standard Olympic pool as well as facilities for football, hockey, volleyball, table tennis and archery.

www.voyagersworld.in

Happenings

48>> Star Cruises offers I-Day itineraries

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tar Cruises will celebrate Independence Day across Asia in August, with an onboard colourful celebration, showcasing Asia’s rich heritage, culture and amazing culinary flavours. The countries that mark their independence next month are Singapore (9 Aug), India (15 Aug), Indonesia (17 Aug) and Malaysia (31 Aug). During this month-long celebration onboard, Star Cruises will introduce a series of specially created itineraries and activities. The cruise’ chefs will craft Asian menus celebrating the flavours of Singapore, India, Indonesia and Malaysia during its Independence Day Celebration Theme Night Buffet, which is available every weekend.

18 countries show up at Skal Asia Congress

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KAL International organized its Asia Area Congress from 06 – 08 June, 2014 with delegates from 18 countries at the Nusa Dua Beach Resort & Spa. Eight delegates from India included Amarjit Lidder, President- SKAL, India; Jason Samuel- International Counselor India & Director Asia Area; Saravanan- Director Asia Area; Arun Raghavan-National Secretary India; Sheema Vohra- President, SKAL International Delhi; Charles Bonnifacio - President, SKAL International Goa; Vijay Mohan Raj- President, SKAL International Hyderabad; Dilip Borawake - SKAL Member. s

Japan allows multiple entry visas for Indians

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he Government of Japan began issuing multiple entry visas for short term stay to nationals of India (ordinary passport holders) from 3 July, 2014.

The multiple entry visas will be issued not only at the Japanese diplomatic missions in India but also at all the Japanese embassies and Consulate Generals overseas. The eligibility criteria require that the applicants fulfill certain conditions and have an ordinary Machine-Readable passport (MRP) in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. The period of stay would be for 15 days and the validity will be up to three years.

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The decision was taken following the announcement by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when he visited India this January that the Government of Japan would introduce multiple entry visas based on the fact that the enhancement of people to people exchanges is important to broaden relations between both the countries.

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Top Appointments

49>>

T.P. Sreejith

Antony Page

General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Agra

General Manager, JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi

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ntony Page has been appointed as the General Manager of JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi. He joined Marriott in 2005 at Sydney Harbour Marriott, worked in Melbourne Marriott Hotel and Singapore Marriott. He has also worked with Spotless services group, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Center, Starwood Hotels, Stafford, London, etc.

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.P. Sreejith is the new General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Agra. With 15 years of experience in hospitality, he had worked with Hilton Goa-Arpora and with Hilton Worldwide and Double Tree by Hilton in New Delhi and Noida, IHG, Taj Group, Shangri-La, etc. In his new role, he would be responsible for the overall operations of the property.

Ananya Sinha

Abhishek Sahai

Sales & Marketing Director, JW Marriott New Delhi

General Manager, Leela Palace Udaipur

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he Leela Palace, Udaipur has appointed Abhishek Sahai as the General Manager.

He joined the Leela Group in 2010. Bringing in over 14 years of experience in core hotel operations, he has worked with The Oberoi and The Leela. Prior to this new assignment, Abhishek was associated with the Leela Mumbai as the Rooms Division Manager.

nanya Sinha has been appointed as the Sales & Marketing Director at JW Marriott New Delhi. With 15 years of experience she had worked with Taj Palace New Delhi, Vivanta

by Taj President Mumbai and Taj Exotica Goa previously. In her new role, Ananya will be responsible for business development, strategic planning, brand management etc.

M.C Kavitha

Ratna Mehta

Marketing Manager, South Operations, Tourism Malaysia

Marketing Manager, Mumbai Operations, Tourism Malaysia

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.C Kavitha is the new Marketing Manager for South operations for Tourism Malaysia. With 17 years of experience in the travel arena she has worked with Air Sahara, Sri Lankan Airlines, Qatar Airways and Jet Air Group.

In her new role, she will responsible for driving numbers through food and cultural promotions, exhibitions and training workshops.

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atna Mehta has been appointed as the new Marketing Manager for Mumbai operations of Tourism Malaysia. In her new role she will look after marketing and promotionactivities with a focus on Indian market. Herexperience in travel trade includes developing SOPs to quality control tools and she has worked with some of the leading companies.

Amit Prakash

Indira Banerjee

Director of Sales, Westin Pune Koregaon Park

Regional Sales & Marketing Director, Claridges Hotels and Resorts

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mit Prakash has joined Westin Pune Koregaon Park as the Director of Sales. He joined the Starwood group in 2012 and prior to this new role, he was with Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, Oberoi Grand, ITC Hotels, Regus and Hilton. In this role, Amit will be responsible for driving the overall sales and business development of the organization.

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I

ndira Banerjee has been appointed as the Regional Sales and marketing Director, The Claridges Hotels and Resorts. Prior to this, she held senior management positions with Sujan Luxury Hotels Group, Aman Resorts etc., In her new role, Indira shall leverage her knowledge and experience to meet the sales and revenue goals for the group.

Nikhil Sharma

Abhijit Nath

Chief Operating Officer, Red Fox Hotels

General Manager, Nirwana Hometel Jaipur

he Lemon Tree Hotel Company has designated Nikhil Sharma as the Chief Operating Officer of Red Fox Hotels. He has worked with Lemon Tree Hotel Gurgaon, Taj Group of Hotels, Delhi and Udaipur, Marriot in Mumbai and Intercontinental in Srinagar and Delhi. In the new role, Nikhil will work to strengthen the brand across the country.

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arovar Hotels appointed Abhijit Nath as general manager of Nirwana Hometel in Jaipur. With over 15 years of experience in operations management, strategic planning, business development, etc. he was earlier the general manager of Ambrosia Sarovar Portico in Haridwar. In his new role, Abhijit will manage the running of the property.

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events Calendar

50>>

networkIng IS the key August2014

November2014

8, 9, 10

3, 4, 5, 6

Holiday Expo Vadodara, Gujarat

World Travel Market London

23, 24

7, 8, 9

Holiday Expo Vishaakapatanam

India Association Congress Jaipur

21, 22, 23

India International Travel Mart Pune 23-24 AUGUST, 2014 FAIRMONT, JAIPUR

September2014 RAJASTHAN, INDIA

www.indiaassociationcongress.com

www.indiassociationcongress.com

3, 4, 5

IBTM India ITC Grand Chola, Chennai

28, 29, 30

India International Travel Mart Hyderabad

18, 19, 20

eibtm Barcelona, Spain

5, 6, 7

India International Travel Mart Gurgaon, Delhi

11, 12, 13

India International Travel Mart Mumbai

18, 19, 20

Kerala Travel Mart Kochi

December2014 1, 2, 3, 4

ILTM-International Luxury Travel Market Cannes, France

30 Sep 1 & 2 Oct IT&CM Asia Bangkok

October2014

9, 10, 11

Luxury Travel Expo Las Vegas,USA

January2015

1, 2, 3

Ukraine International Travel Market Ukraine

16, 17, 18

India International Travel Mart kochi

3, 4, 5

Holiday Expo Nagpur, Maharashtra

23, 24, 25 Holiday Expo Coimbatore

27, 28, 29, 30

International Golf Travel Mart Villa Erba, Lake Como, Italy

29, 30, 31 ITB Asia Singapore

Voyager’s World > August 2014

12 - 20

Outbound Travel Roadshow Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore Ahmedabad & Delhi