Voyager's World May 2016 by Editor

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LUXURY AND BEYOND! MARKET STRATEGIES TO WOO THE RICH AND DISCERNING!

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Rediscovering a future from the ‘past’

he Kerala Tourism Department is leaving no stone unturned to revive and promote the ancient Spice Route, the pact for which was signed in 2014 with the UNESCO to embark upon a historic cooperation.

Another such recent development has been on the Silk Road programme front by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) which is a collaborative platform of 33 member states for sustainable tourism development along the historic Silk Road route. While India is not a member of this programme yet, the success of the ongoing Spice Route project is sure to help the ministry discover a prospective future from its ‘past’. In this, we have featured a lot of interviews in the online travel segment as well as India Outbound. We have luxury travel on the cover and interesting stories on the hospitality front. Happy Reading... Warm Regards

PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM

priyamvadha@voyagersworld.in

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Hospitality

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Interviews with hotels and feature stories

Cover Story Trends and developments in luxury travel

Online Travel

MICE Point Medical tourism, Heritage property, events

Top Appointments

Stories with startups and specific online service providers

Erratum: We regret the error caused in publishing the story in the 2015 December issue of Voyagers World titled ‘Asian destinations dominate Indian travellers’ bucket list on Page 38- featuring an infographic with Jammu & Kashmir truncated in the map.

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Industry Buzz

6>> Conrad Hotels & Resorts debuts in India with property in Pune

Thomas Cook launches 'Go Beyond' itineraries

onrad Hotels & Resorts brand launched in India with the opening of Conrad Pune. Located in the central business district, the property is managed by Hilton Worldwide and owned by Palm Grove Beach Hotels Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the K. Raheja Constructions Group.

homas Cook (India) Ltd.launched ‘Go Beyond’, a personalised international holiday option that includes special elements to provide unique and authentic international holiday experiences for Indian travellers who prefer taking the route less travelled. It has handpicked holidays with over 25 destinations like Switzerland, France, Germany, Spain, Croatia, Russia, Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Argentina; Africa, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. Examples of Go Beyond experiences are Italy’sOrvieto, an underground city made up of a labyrinth of caves, stairs and passageways; a rail journey across Switzerland’s terraced Lavaux Region’s vineyards, Picardy’s ‘floating gardens’, etc.

347.5% growth in tourists arrival in March 2016

total of 1,15,677 tourists arrived in March 2016 on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 25,851 during March 2015 registering a growth of 347.5%. Top 10 countries availing e-visa facilities last month were UK (27.74%), USA (13.41%), Russian Fed.(7.04%), France (6.55%), Germany (5.18%), China (4.49%), Canada (3.89%), Australia (3.79%), Spain (1.99%) and Ukraine (1.66%).

The hotel has 310 luxurious guest rooms including 20 suites offering the latest in-room technology. The ‘Intelligent Rooms’ sense the guest’s arrival and switch from energy saving mode to occupied. The Conrad Concierge mobile app gives travellers the ability to customise details of their hotel stay before, during, and after each visit via a smartphone or tablet.

VFS Global launches 'On Demand Mobile Visa' service for UK

I Genting Dream artwork unveiled

ream Cruises, the first-ever Asian luxury cruise line, today unveiled the artwork set to adorn Genting Dream, the cruise line’s inaugural ship purpose-built for the China and Asia cruise market. Conceived by Chinese pop-artist Jacky Tsai, the art piece entitled ‘Voyage of a Lover’s Dream’ envisages an ethereal and fantastical journey of love between a mermaid and an astronaut. London-based Tsai combines the essence of Chinese culture and the popular elements of western art in his unique hull art piece.

n partnership with UK Visas and Immigration, VFS Global launched the ‘On Demand Mobile Visa’ service for UK visa applicants in India. Through this, applicants located anywhere in India and applying for visas to the United Kingdom, can complete the visa application procedure and enrol biometric data within their homes or offices. The service can be delivered on request at the applicant’s residence, office, or any location of choice (subject to risk assessment). The service will be convenient and economical for large groups of people as group corporates, students, or film production units.

AP aims investments worth Rs.10,000 crores by 2020

ndhra Pradesh has set ambitious targets to attract investments worth Rs. 20,000 crores by the year 2029 as part of its efforts to fuel the growth of its tourism sector. The state has set a target of Rs.10,000 Cr investments by 2020. A shelf of district and theme based projects worth Rs. 36,000 have already been prepared and initiated. The year 2015-16 witnessed the tourism sector track investments worth Rs.12,000 crores from approximately 160 projects generating an employment potential of about 35,000. While projects worth Rs.1,500 crores have already been grounded, in 2015 the state saw a jump in the tourist footfalls to the tune of 30%, increasing from 93 million in 2014 to 122 million in 2015.

Kerala Tourism launches books for Kindle

erala Tourism now made its destinations available on Kindle to bring ‘God’s Own Country’ closer to online readers. In a first-of-its-kind by a state tourism board, five richly illustrated books on Kerala’s major tourism destinations are now available on Kindle. The five books, explaining the state’s history and nature, are Kerala and the Spice Routes, Silent Valley National Park, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Eravikulam National Park and Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. The books are products of months of research and contain pictures taken by top professionals.

Voyager’s World > April 2016

Industry Buzz

SKAL RAZZMATAZZ 2016 held at Bangalore

n order to raise funds for the club’s annual CSR activities, Skål, the professional organisation of tourism leaders around the world, organised ‘SKAL RAZZMATAZZ 2016’ at Shangri La Hotel, Bengaluru. The theme was AFTER RACE PARTY AT MONACO, showcasing the Glitzy Night Life, Lido Style Dancers, wide spread of Live Counters from each of the hotel’s speciality restaurants. As the dapper dressed members walked through the red carpet , they were given a chequered flag waive off into the hall. SKAL Comraderie was in full form as our SKAL National 1st VP – Mario Sequeira of Goa & SKAL International Mumbai President Carl Vaz flew in to be part of our club celebrations. MC Reena D’Souza kept the crowd entertained with Race & Skal World Congress Trivia questions & Celebrity DJ Vanshi kept the members on their heels. This annual SKAL Ball is a much awaited event amongst Skalleagues & their friends, our past events are a proof of that & each year its getting bigger & better. Part of the proceeds raised through Raffle Ticket sales will go to the CSR activities of the Club which is sponsorship of the Hotel Management education of a student from an economically poor background and support of an old age home.

Mercure Debuts in the Heart of Hyderabad AccorHotels today announced the opening of Mercure Hyderabad KCP, marking the group’s fourth property and its first midscale brand hotel in the iconic city. Located in the heart of Hyderabad’s shopping, historic and business district, it has 128 well-appointed rooms, three food and beverage outlets and five contemporary meeting and banquet spaces. Commenting on the hotel opening Kavitha Dutt Chitturi, Executive Director of KCP Limited said, “Hyderabad has witnessed rapid growth in the IT and Pharma sector in the recent past, with leading MNCs making a beeline to the city. This has resulted in an increase in the number of business travelers to the city. We are delighted to launch Mercure Hyderabad KCP with a promise of delivering the best quality product and services in the hospitality sector. Located in the heart of Hyderabad, the hotel offers a warm setting that is both modern and comfortable for guests whether on a business trip, holiday or a weekend break.”

Industry Buzz

8>> IndiGo enhances 16 flights from 7 April

MGTO organises promotional seminar

he Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) recently held a promotional seminar on ‘Quality Tourism Services Accreditation Scheme’ (QTSAS). This time, it not only targets the catering industry but also travel agencies, as part of its efforts to encourage the local travel trade and related sectors to continuously upgrade service quality. This year, some 45 restaurants have applied for the programme. The Accreditation Scheme for the travel industry will be announced at a later date. Public can obtain printed versions of the guide from MGTO’s Tourist Information centres or download them from its website.

Air India adds flights to enhance 'Connect India' programme

lliance Air, the subsidiary of Air India, introduced new flights on sectors Delhi-Jammu, BangaloreVijayawada and Kolkata-Agartala. The flights on the Bangalore–Vijayawada and Kolkata-Agartala sectors started operations from 1 April 2016. More flights were added to its existing Delhi-Jammu route starting 7 April, 2016. The flights on the BangaloreVijayawada-Bangalore and Kolkata-Agartala-Kolkata routes will operate with ATR 42-320 aircraft.

ixigo launches app discovery platform For train travellers

xigo launched an innovative app discovery platform that lets brands reach out to train travellers contextually and helps them discover apps and deals relevant to them. Over 20 brands including Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm, Freecharge, PepperTap, DineOut, BlaBlaCar, UrbanClap, Cleartrip, MakeMyTrip, Spicejet, TravelKhana and Twigly have signed up for ixigo’s app discovery platform to market their apps and deals to Indian train travellers.

Bangkok ranked second in world's most liked cities on Instagram

KTO launches 'Enjoy Mobile Korea' campaign

angkok, often referred to as the City of Angels, stands ahead of Rome, Milan, Paris, London

and other international favourites and the second to hit on Instagram. Airline transfer company Hoppa’s report on cities shared on photo-sharing platform Instagram, looked at 50,000 photos taken over a month in the world’s 50 most visited destinations, according to website www.brilliantmaps.com. Bangkok is second in terms of ‘liked’ photos with Los Angeles taking the first place.

Voyager’s World > April 2016

ffective 7 April 2016, IndiGo enhanced operations across India with the launch of 16 flights. It introduced operations on the Chennai-Guwahati route with its first non-stop flight starting 7 April, while also connecting Bangalore to Chennai, Bangalore to Guwahati and Delhi to Raipur with new flights, on the same day. Effective 9 April, the carrier enhanced operations between Delhi and Bangalore and Delhi and Ahmedabad with additional frequencies. From 12 April, 2016, it started operations with its first flight on the Chennai-Jaipur route as well as the Chennai-Lucknow (via Bangalore) route, while beginning new flights on the Bangalore-Lucknow and BangaloreChennai routes.

orea Tourism Organization (KTO) tied up with Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom for ‘Enjoy Mobile Korea’ campaign, which began on 15 March and is on until 31 December 2016. It provides abroad visitors to Korea with a free smartphone rental experience. For this, applications must be submitted at the KTO website. 250 people will be selected as winners every week. They will be offered free rental of a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (for five days use) that includes free data, voice calls, incoming calls (international outgoing calls excluded) and SMS messages. The phones have KTO’s pre-loaded Visit Korea App.

Govt allots land for Exhibition & Convention Centre in Dwarka

he Union Cabinet meeting gave its approval for transfer of land measuring 89.72 ha in Sector 25, Dwarka, New Delhi, free from all encumbrances, to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion for creation of a World class State-of-the-Art Exhibition-cum Convention Centre, comprising a host of independent and mutually beneficial facilities, in Dwarka, New Delhi at a nominal sum of INR 1/- within six weeks of the decision by the Cabinet. This is a special case so that directions can be granted to DDA under Section 21(1) of the DD Act, 1957 read along with Section 41(1) of the Act. Project structuring, initial expenses of non-PPP trunk infrastructure costs will be borne by the Government.

Over 17900 Calls received on free tourist helpline

he Tourism Ministry’s (MoT) 24x7 toll free tourist info/helpline- 1800111363 or short code 1363 received 17911 calls from tourists as on 20 March, since its launch on 8 February this year. This project is implemented by MoT through TATA BSS. The languages handled by the contact centres include 10 foreign languages besides English and Hindi, namely, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. This infoline service provides information relating to travel and tourism in India and assists the callers with advice on action to be taken during times of distress while travelling in India and if need be alert the concerned authorities.

Cover Story

9>>

luxury and beyond!

market strategies to woo the rich and discerning PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM

uxury travel is one of the most robust segments in the travel industry. Last year, the Ultimate Travelling Camp (TUTC) returned with the widely popular Chamba Camp at Thiksey, Ladakh. The mobile luxury camp was operational from June to September 2015, which is considered to be the most favourable time to enjoy Ladakh. With TUTC, people were offered to experience the heart of Ladakhi culture with a Traditional Ladakhi welcome upon arrival, a tour to the city of Leh with a Hi Tea in a traditional Ladakhi Home, a visit to the fabled monasteries of Thiksey and Hemis, a walk in the Thiksey Village or a cycling tour in the vicinity of Thiksey Monastery, a culinary class with our in house chef using Garden fresh ingredients and Blessed prayer flags by the Rimpoche (Chief Abbot of the Thiksey Monastery). The camp defined luxury in a new way with a brief tour around its camp site including a walk through itsOrganic Garden, In house activities like archery, croquet, and star gazing while at the camp site, a special outdoor dinner during the stay as well as Choice of one BBQ dinner.

adventure travel has become much more personal and broader. People are no longer looking at idling around a beach, irrespective of their age group. Some industry forecasters also predict that luxury travelers should

The Introduction of Space Travel

Space travel seems to be more and more closer than most people would like to believe. Virgin Galactic is one of the brands responsible for building space flights and this dream is currently in an advanced phase of flight testing. In fact, more than 500 people have already booked

Travel agent toils the land. Travel agent sows the seed. Travel agent nurtures the plant. But who plucks the fruit?

There are a number of millionaires and the number of affluent households in the US alone is expected to double within the next 6 years. Despite the headlines being made by China in the recent years, Japan, Europe and the US should still dominate the luxury travel segment, at least until the year 2020. Millennails are also growing in their importance to the travel industry, more so when it comes to international travel. This article tries to offer insights into the latest luxury travel trends as they happen.

Really speaking, it’s not the travel agent but their Affiliate Programme Owners (let's call them OTAs) that profit the most. Affiliates don’t realise that their shortterm view damage their long-term gains. By working on fixed commissions, you lose the ability to charge as per market dynamics. Worst, you expose your customers to OTAs. Moving forward, what would stop the big boys to gobble up your pie? Simply put, travel agents should use their expertise to build their own brand. Not somebody else’s. Reason why you should call roomsXML - the accommodation specialist exclusively for the travel trade, dedicated to help travel agents chart their own identity. Our alliance with some of the world's leading travel technology companies help you go online costeffectively and quick.

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Younger and more affluent travelers There has been a major growth in the number of travelers aged in the 20s and 40s. The market for luxury travel among 40 – 55 years has grown exponentially as well. Successful families in their 30s and 40s are now planning adventurous trips with their children so as to allow their kids to enjoy these experiences and not having to give up their own travel freedom either. According to Terrie Hansen, the Senior Vice President (Marketing) at Virtuoso,

begin to choose private vacation rentals over luxury hotels. The main reasons behind this trend are the local flavor as well as spacious and private options that such an arrangement has to offer.

roomsXML - because travel agents need to unleash their own power.

25-28 April 2016

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space flight. According to Reuters, space travel should bring in anything between $600 million to $1.6 billion in the first 10 years. “Living like a local” continues to be one of the most played out phrases in travel. However, for the luxury traveler, there is a new meaning to this phrase – especially when you consider the scale of private residences available for short-term stays. Countless startups offer luxury residences, from Inspirato to exclusive rental brokers, and many offer access to former private residences that have been converted to 5-star resorts The selfie-drone We all know how ubiquitous the selfie photo has become over the years, pairing a “been-there-done-that” self satisfaction for travellers with a sometimes downright narcissistic exhibitionism. Well it seems now that even the added perspective from beyond arms length offered by the “selfie stick” is not enough. As drones become small enough to fit in your pocket or even wear on your wrist, travellers are packing their bags with these sophisticated little devices to snap ever more extreme angles of themselves in ever more exotic destinations and scenes.

10>>

Referring again to those selfie photos intended to strike envy into the hearts of less mobile and less well travelled friends, apparently this type of one-upsmanship is simply not enough. Perhaps taking inspiration from the reality TV show, “The Amazing Race”, competitive travel is actually a thing now. How many apps and travel sites allow users to tally and compare the number of continents, countries and cities they have visited? There are even websites out there allowing users to compare and rank themselves as the self-professed “most traveled people”, and apparently it gets pretty cut-throat. Underwater tourism The recent emergence (or submergence?) of those fascinating aquarium-like hotels, such as the Poseidon Resorts, or the new Ithaa restaurant by Conrad in the Maldives are no laughing matter and are sure to make a, ahem, splash. However, an even more claustrophobic trend is gaining momentum in the high seas: voyages in submarines and other submersibles. A new easily operated personal submarine by Deep Flight promises to spur underwater tourism in the coming year and already holiday

rentals company Oliver’s Travels offer romantic overnight stays on board the “Lovers Deep”. Travel gadgetry and accessories Again, there are many legitimate developments in the arena of travel gadgets that are sure to shape the way in which people book and experience their vacations. Add new technologies such as the highly anticipated. Apple Watch and other “wearables” to expanding mobile phone functions and apps and reservations for everything from flights to restaurants are about to get quicker and easier. Technologies such as Google Glass may literally change the way people see new locations when on holiday. However, there are various other gadgets and travel tools that should probably never have been granted a patent. Take for instance the “ostrich pillow” that will allow users to nap anytime, anyplace by simply pulling the unseemly pillow over their heads. It looks more like the pumpkin-head pillow; but on the upside, you can avoid embarrassment because no one can really see your face. At Connections Luxury Abu Dhabi

last year, fuelled by the release of Amadeus’s 2015 Future Traveller Tribes Report – which reveals the six types of travellers shaping the future of luxury travel, Connections had produced the report Shaping the Future of Luxury Travel along with Amadeus to help the industry understand tomorrow’s traveller, their motivations and why personalised demands are becoming key to defining how we can all help the travel market build a more rewarding and connected journey. Connections Luxury in Abu Dhabi and Beijing brought together over 150 of the most influential buyers and suppliers to meet each other and discuss industry trends. Here is what the report says. In 2007, global technology firm Amadeus produced a thought provoking report entitled ‘Travel Tribes 2020’, writes Martin Ferguson. The goal was to try to understand how demographic, geographic and political trends were shaping consumer behaviour in relation to travel. The paper asked: - What would travellers of the future look like? - How would their needs change? - How would suppliers improve customer loyalty? - And how would technology

11>>

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Cover Story

enhance the customer experience? At the time the concept of customer personalisation was in its infancy, and companies were searching for a formula that would streamline the travel booking experience. Four distinct customer segments were identified: Active Seniors: aged 50 to 70 years old, they were forecast to be profligate customers; Global Clans: this group reflected the growth in global migration and the increasing volume of individuals and groups travelling internationally to visit family or friends; Cosmopolitan Commuters: young professionals living and working in different regions across the world, and taking advantage of falling travel costs and flexible work patterns; Global Executives: senior corporate officers with international interests booking premium products – and, perhaps not surprisingly, the most affluent of the four tribes. This year, Amadeus took its analysis of future travellers a few steps further. Traveller Tribes 2030 consists of two separate papers that together provide suppliers and intermediaries with a framework for advanced customer segmentation strategies. Understanding Tomorrow’s Traveller, published in April, identified six emerging traveller tribes:

Voyager’s World > April 2016

12>>

- Reward Hunters focus on self indulgent travel, often mixing luxury with self-improvement and personal health; - Obligation Meeters have their travel choices restricted by the need to meet certain predefined objectives, such as business trips or family obligations; - Cultural Purists use travel as an opportunity to be immersed in an unfamiliar culture; - Social Capital Seekers understand that to be well-travelled is an enviable personal quality; - Simplicity Searchers value ease and transparency above all else; - Ethical Travellers allow conscience to guide their travel choices. In September 2015, a group of business leaders and influencers from the global luxury travel sector were invited to debate the findings of the Amadeus reports at Travel Weekly Group’s Connections event at the Yas Viceroy hotel in Abu Dhabi. Without exception, participants agreed the luxury travel sector is served by a mature supplier and agency market that excels at delivering key fundamentals. The ability to inspire clients at the first stage of the traveller journey is seen

as a basic requirement. In an era when customer personalisation is a mainstream expectation, both agents and suppliers provide a sophisticated level of bespoke itineraries for high-end, and often demanding, consumers. This, of course, requires sharp client focus and the ability to nurture long-term relationships. The simple transactional booking process remains the bread and butter of the agency community. But, ultimately, the USP of all good suppliers is their ability to simplify the shopping and booking process. However, the consensus was that there remains scope for improvement. In light of the Amadeus reports’ findings, delegates believed understanding the tribes to which customers belong could be the difference between a one-off booking and repeat business. It augments their capacity to tailor packages. Furthermore, it would be the seller’s ability to go beyond the key fundamentals mentioned earlier that would add value to the customer experience. This could equate to a recommendation for a new restaurant, bar or theatre production – local knowledge accrued through supply chain partnerships, perhaps. Collaboration and data sharing - the

holy grail On an operational level, one of the biggest obstacles faced by the supply chain is its inability, in most cases, to share or disseminate customer data. Real value could be provided if the traveller needed only to provide personal details at the point of booking. Technology enabling the streamlining of this data is, almost without exception, the holy grail. Having access to it, from a supplier perspective, gives a clearer picture of the customer profile, and enhances the ability to give relevant services and communication at each stage of the traveller journey. It is the aggregation of knowledge and profiles that will, in the long term, raise the service level bar. Other, more fundamental improvements included staff training, product knowledge and internal communications. These may seem at first glance to be areas that travel suppliers should be acutely aware of already. However, as these are long-term, ongoing business issues, they are all-toooften eclipsed by the demands of servicing customers. The industry’s priorities do not stray too far from its desired areas of improvement. Knowledge is power. Technology is the foundation of any business and those with the strongest combination will prevail. And that, for the most

Cover Story

13>> part, is everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s priority. One might add the fact that customers and suppliers long for simplicity. The business of buying and selling travel was, once upon a time, a complex and manual affair. But software is the modern antidote for commercial complexity. That leaves more time to concentrate on the customers. Quality fulfilment is the only way business, and repeat business, can be won. Unrivalled service does, in many cases, generate much-soughtafter customer loyalty. Lesson 2: Customer retentionď &#x203A; saves the cost of marketing to acquire new customers. Challenges combine to create complexity So what are the contemporary challenges? According to our focus group, there are three areas: communication, supply chain technology integration and product knowledge. But these are not standalone issues. The intertwined nature of technology and business processes generates unavoidable complexities. Communication challenges exist within individual businesses. Many must improve the diffusion of knowledge from the top of an organisation to the bottom. But in relation to industry collaboration, and the common goal to better understand traveller tribes, businesses must get better at talking to each other. The supply chain, by its own admission, must buy in to data sharing, where the law allows for it. And this, by definition, requires integrated technology at the foundation. The communication approach, depending on its efficacy, has an acute impact on product knowledge, both on a fundamental level (knowing hotels, resorts and aircraft cabins) and when adding that unique, customer-specific value (the local knowledge that sets the seller apart from the competition). Back on the tech-front, suppliers and agents in the luxury sector are working hard to find a balance between technology adoption and face-toface consultation. New generations of travellers expect a certain level of control via automation, but many demand the high-touch service for which the luxury sector has always been known. Removing red tape and language barriers As luxury travel becomes increasingly experiential, opportunities abound in destinations perceived as difficult to enter and explore. VISAS Complicated visa processes and language challenges are barriers to

mass-market travel. But high-end consumers expect the luxury travel industry to facilitate the discovery of these more complex locations. Without exception, delegates agreed there is generally a void in the booking process that leaves clients to fend for themselves when procuring visas. Often required to apply in person, clients can find the visa application process both stressful and confusing. Information, communication and personal assistance were seen as key factors in filling this void. As well as having up-to-the-minute checklists of required documentation and payment formalities on hand, closer relationships between travel concierges, visa agencies and government departments need to be fostered. The offer of personalised assistance should be a given, while visa support ought to be provided in advance by travel facilitators such as airlines and hotels. There was also a view that embassies should be open to feedback and that biometric visa developments and third-party visas should be encouraged. Languages Tackling the language barrier that clients are likely to face was seen as a twofold process. Before departure, expectations need to be managed. Knowing the language limitations of a destination can encourage a client to take advantage of preparatory support provided by the travel facilitator. This could include language apps, accessible lists of useful phrases and digital translators. The second stage is on arrival, when multilingual guides, drivers and translators can enrich and smooth the travel experience. Collaborating with suppliers in the destination to encourage the independence of foreign travellers is also advisable. For example, digital, language selective restaurant menus, signs and information boards in multiple languages and multilingual staff all facilitate ease of communication. The industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity for change in the future will rely entirely upon its willingness to collaborate. Today it remains somewhat fragmented. For now, there is no globally recognised industry association or platform to lead the conversation. But the need exists. Until that is resolved, individuals must take it upon themselves to engage with their peers. A coherent approach to the future seems to be the only sensible way to improve the experience sold to travellers.

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Hospitality

14>>

roadhouse hostels beckon backpackers on a budget IRENE SUSAN EAPEN

Hostels are a popular type of accommodation for Indians who travel both within and outside the country, primarily due to a preference for budget stay option, say Uday Jhamb, CEO, Roadhouse Hostels.

“

It was our passion for backpacking that led to the setting up of Roadhouse Hostels,” says Uday Jhamb, the CEO of Roadhouse Hostels. Started by three friends who believed that backpackers needed decent comforts and a lively audience while they explored the

world, Roadhouse Hostels in Goa and Jaipur are personalized through amazing artworks and landscaping that would leave a lasting memory in the minds of travelers. “We offer dorms, private rooms and facilities that make the backpacking experience a memorable one. We offer free local experience as walks and cycle tours, recreational options like pool table, foosball and Playstation. We have a Swiss master chef who has been volunteering with us. We also provide free cooking lessons and ample stories,” adds Uday. Country-wide break-up In over 15 months of its operations, Roadhouse Hostels has hosted travellers from 49 countries. It gets huge numbers from Europe

and Australia, USA and India. Uday observes that youngsters in India have taken to backpacking for adventure, experience and inspiration. Marketing plans It has done campaigns in promoting the locations that it is operational in (Jaipur and Goa), such as promoting the still surviving hippie culture in Anjuna, Goa and promoting cycling across historic locations in Jaipur. “We believe in organic marketing, so we stress the most on word-of-mouth promotions. This also helped us maintain the travellers community at roadhouse. The ending fiscal year will give us a turnover of INR 20, 00,000 with Goa accounting for a year’s sale and Jaipur for four

months. In the coming year, we aim to achieve a turnover of more than two crore rupees in beds and food & beverage sales,” he said. Promotional activities Roadhouse Hostels aims to expand across India with five properties in the next one year. “We have launched the beta version of our 24/7 backpacker helpline. Based on the feedback that we have received, we will soon launch this service to the larger population. The helpline is a WhatsApp only service where travellers can write to us anytime of the day for any query/advice anywhere in India. In a span of few years, we see ourselves playing a major role in the Indian budget hospitality industry,” concludes Uday optimistically.

planet hollywood bets on goa’s repeat visitors for sustenance PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM

Anand Chatterjee, General Manager, Planet Hollywood Resort, Goa, talks about the property’s offerings and USP. of luxury however being in the same genre in design elements. Planet Hollywood takes one by surprise from the time one enters the resort. Its chic-modern-refreshing and calming through the vast lawns and gardens it’s nestled in. Rooms and suites are spread over 8 blocks. Each block represents a genre of Hollywood movie.

USP of the property The USP of Planet Hollywood Beach Resort, Goa includes many. I have been very disruptive in many aspects starting from the design and décor to little elements in service. One of its USPs is its design. Most hotels in Goa vary between different levels

Voyager’s World > April 2016

Trace the growth of the resort since its inception. We have grown month on month since we opened the hotel. We have reached operational break even in very early months by keeping the wastage of resources to bare minimum and keeping the rooms occupied. Planet Hollywood has 115 rooms. Every day, I cannot sell today’s room tomorrow. So keeping

the inventory moving has been the biggest reason of success in crossing the break-even soon. How does your property compete in a tourist destination that is saturated with resorts and hotels? Goa as a destination is growing. Goa has the highest repeat guest list. So being a new hotel, it has not been difficult to position ourselves as a fresh new offer. M.I.C.E facilities Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Goa offers many options to choose from when planning your meetings, conferences and life’s most memorable events. Cinema Paradiso is our themed ballroom with an area of 3425 square feet and can accommodate 300

guests in theatre style fully equip with inbuilt state of the art audiovisual equipment. Three smaller meeting rooms that can comfortably accommodate between 8 – 18 pax and out outdoor area called ‘Maximus’ plus a Sea Facing Lawn landscaped beautifully for outdoor events are also available. We have hosted many weddings. One of the strong points is our repertoire of menu selection. We have in-house Maharaj for Gujaati and Rajasthani food to Halwai to Chaat specialist to an experienced Japanese cook and not to speak of the Western, Oriental and North and South Indian cooks. This, in addition to a very flexible and trained team of in-house event curators, makes us a very unique choice.

Hospitality

15>>

Goût DE FRANCE 2016... serves best of france on a platter! T

he second edition of the gastronomic event ‘Gout de France’ or Good France was organised in India and the whole world on 21 March 2016. Just as the last year, this time too, the event saw 1500 chefs across five continents preparing gourmet French cuisine and in India, 52 restaurants were selected across the country by a committee of international chefs headed by Chef Alain Ducasse. Cuisine, being an inseparable part of the identity of the French, signifies culture, history and love for food and it would be right to say they ensure the aesthetics are in place right from choosing the ingredients and preparing the meal to presenting it. This was discernible when I savoured French cuisine at the Gout de France event on an invitation by The Lalit Ashok Bangalore on 21 March. The visually refreshing food was prepared using local ingredients and fresh seasonings to lend a truly

French flavour in a complementary French ambience. An Amuse Bouche was served before we began the dinner. It was a subtle dish of figs with oak matured balsamic, fennel and roasted smoked peppers. I chose white wine to go with the food. This was followed by an Entrée Froide or a cold starter made with beetroot and pomegranate molasses with radish sprouts and chevre. We took an instant liking to this dish and couldn’t stop raving about the slight creamy aftertaste that it left on our palates. The warm starters or Entrée Chaude consisted of duck cooked with red onion marmalade and white asparagus cooked with olive oil and Reggiano Crackle. The main course consisted of two non-vegetarian options and one vegetarian dish. The lamb cooked with Hasselback potato, Caponata and Balsamic Jus and the Chilean Seabass prepared with Plum Tomato Caviar, crispy leek and Saffron

Entrée Froide starter made with beetroot

PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM

Nage went well with the guests for their succulent textures that were enhanced by the flavours. The wild mushroom and winter truffle crepe left a flavourful taste on my palate. No French meal can be called complete without indulging in cheese and that is what we did with a platter of French cheese with crackers, homemade peach jam and frosted nuts. This was not heavy contrary to what one may feel after eating cheese. The icing on the cake was the Tra Di Noi. It was a fruity

dessert prepared with an orange apple marmalade, carbonated vanilla pod ice cream and petunia. In general, French gastronomy comes across as a very pleasing and soothing form of cooking with a lot of emphasis laid on ingredients like balsamic sauce, olive oil, asparagus and cheese. Gout de France gave me an idea on what to look forward to when trying to embark on and understand an authentic French food experience; an experience that certainly appealed to all my senses.

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Editor’s Pick

16>>

hotel bookings, new travel products drive travel preferences VW BUREAU

ccording to the latest Hotels. com™ Hotel Price Index™ (HPI™) report, short-haul destinations in Asia were preferred by Indian travellers in 2015. ‘Amazing Thailand’ was the most chosen destination amongst Indian travellers in 2015 with three places finding a prominent spot in the top 10. As opposed to 2014, the year 2015 had as many as 13 long weekends that influenced Indian traveller’s choices to opt for short-haul holiday destinations. Bangkok replaces ‘the Desert City’ Dubai by taking the top position as the most preferred international destination by Indian travellers in 2015. London remains the perennial favourite for Indians occupying 4th position and Singapore Malian continues to charm Indian travellers taking an enviable 3rd spot. The new entrant in the list includes Bali

Voyager’s World > April 2016

taking the 10th position making way for Phuket, Paris, Hong Kong and New York which occupied 9th, 8th, 7th and 6th position respectively. Kuala Lumpur which was ranked at 8th position in the 2014 slipped downwards thereby exiting the top 10 destinations for Indian travellers list altogether in 2015. Meanwhile Delhi and Mumbai, continued to occupy the top two spots, Hyderabad known as Hi-tech city switched places with Jaipur thereby bagging the 6th position as compared to last year. Destinations such as Goa, Bangalore and Chennai retained their 3rd, 4th and 5th positions respectively. A A highly industrialised city known for its textile industries, Ahmedabad also called ‘Manchester of the East’ replaced Agra known as the ‘Land of palaces’ making its way to the list ranking 10th on the list of most preferred domestic destinations for

Indian travellers. The United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO) has forecast the growth of the Indian market to reach 50 million outbound tourists by 2020 over the current 1.8 million. In 2010, many of the foreign national tourism boards had recorded a double digit growth in Indian national tourist arrivals under this segment with nations like Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong registering positive growth. India’s growing interest in organising meetings and incentives abroad have encouraged the tourism boards of various countries to devise interesting meeting concepts and offerings for the discerning Indian business traveller. In a report compiled by looking at the search trends for both domestic and international travel sector for the upcoming holiday season,

Google India today revealed that in domestic hotel industry, branded budget hotel chains are driving the growth of hotel bookings online. With over 300M Indians online and growing rapidly, hotel providers have been slow to catch on the digital bandwagon, with only 20% of total hotel inventory available online. Seizing this massive opportunity, several players including new and established players are focused on bringing quality budget accommodation online across the country. With the availability of this new inventory online, the report reveals that Internet users in the country are lapping up the budget hotels online which is evident in the growth of Google search queries. Branded budget hotel queries in India are growing at 179% YoY in comparison to just 36% YOY growth in generic budget hotel queries. The overall queries for ‘Accommodations’ as a

Editor’s Pick

17>> whole are growing at 37% YOY. Vikas Agnihotri, Director Sales, Google India, said, “Newer players in the segment have energised the travel vertical by unlocking a brand new inventory online. They have been quick to capitalise on the online demand with aggressive advertising spends in building their brands, which is leading to overall category growth for the Industry. We expect this segment to continue to see massive growth with leisure travel expected to pick up in the coming summer holiday season. As part of our own efforts to boost the sector, we’re sponsoring Great Indian Travel Festival which is currently live - to provide users a central destination for all the great holiday deals that are available online for the upcoming holiday season.” Further analysis of the type of queries for budget hotels category reveal strong preference for distinct brand queries i.e. users are going online looking for branded budget hotel chains. Budget hotel queries already account for 35% of total accommodation queries and a large share of 47% of search queries are for the brands providing budget hotel inventory online.

International air tickets growing at 43% YOY ● 18% of search queries are for International accommodation growing at 25% YOY ● 22% of search queries are for International holidays growing at 30% YOY Challenges According to a 2014 survey by Abacus, it identified some key trends that are anticipated to have an effect on business travel in the next few years. 97% of respondents have received

instructions to further tighten business travel policies. There is no relaxation of the rules in sight, despite the more favourable economic outlook acknowledged by all. 73% reported business clients implementing policies to decrease the number of business trips. Six in ten clients are extending economy class thresholds to reduce business class travel. 47% of travellers are also now encouraged to opt for lowerstar accommodation. 43% of respondents felt that their role had recently shifted more in favour of

business procurement. 73% of business clients have increased their preference to use low cost carriers. Other parameters in the policy include the flight time, booking channel, trip changes, etc. 73% of business travel companies have implemented a business booking tool (CBT). 64% of respondents agreed that a good number of travellers wants to deal with travel management companies and agencies, with 55% perceiving business travel itineraries to be too complex a task to undertake themselves.

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In terms of top destinations searched for accommodation during March to June period of 2015, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Delhi-NCR are the most searched destinations. Majority of these States capture business or work related travelers, indicating that leisure destinations will be the next growth driver for branded budget hotel category as today out of the top 50 domestic destination searched, only 30% of destinations represent leisure travel. With the growing demand for branded budget hotel, players are investing in creating a distinct brand positioning as budget hotel providers are likely to see faster growth compared to generic travel aggregators. As per industry estimates, the inventory in the budget hotel space is expected to grow further with both new and existing players expected to bring up to 10,000 new rooms online this year. In terms of outbound data (International) compiled basis Google search queries Between January to September 2015: ● 25% of search queries are for

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Editors Pick

19>> of service, with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Arriving on Timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; being their USP, then it stands to win hands down in terms of running full or almost full. Meals, water and other such add-ons have to be borne by the passenger. This kind of a policy is better than running a LCC and supplying a newspaper, a sandwich and a water bottle. Tiny supplementary costs can go a long way in adding to its overall cost. Business travel managers have implemented compound strategies in order to make sure the lowest reasonable fare is offered to the employee at the time of booking. Here is where policies such as a 7-Advance Purchase, business fare vs. retail fare, day trips and round trip fares are executed. With so many promotions happening every few months, these strategies ensure that the business does not lose out to the retail purchaser when it comes to negotiating bulk deals. Another hindrance faced by businesss while dealing with travel plans for their executives would be demanding and insistent travelers.

With increasing international travel and exposure to world class travel and accommodation standards, today travellers seek the best arrangements. Irrespective of the nature of the travel, work or the company policy, employees anticipate and desire a four or a five star hotel accommodation. Budget accommodation options remain at a secondary level. A business booking tool or an OTA usually facilitates the work. However, an inefficient and unproductive booking tool will not serve the process. One requires the complete booking options to find out the best and most ideal travel and hotel choices, that would not only fit in their budget but also be of a certain standard. India still has a very adoption rate for business travel technology in comparison to western markets. An exhaustive travel solution is the need of the hour to ensure the most effective delivery of travel services, be it a simple individual package or complex group itineraries, domestic or international. With

online booking tools offering user friendly booking ideas, people still tend to check with their travel concierge or a travel agent over the phone, simply with a need to understand technology by personal communication. While it was mentioned earlier that a single window booking system could alleviate booking hassles, what organizations look for are a comprehensive technology solution that covers all aspects of bookings. A solution that would be a one-stop site listing all the types of travel and hotel choices quickly, including ground transportation, is likely to be adopted by a business. Having said that, today the proliferation of smartphones in our personal and professional lives, have necessitated us, employees to be able to have more access to information. More so, when it comes to dissemination of travel information. While one may have travelled on a particular international airline once, with the booking done by a business, the regular emails and mailers on the flying miles that one

accumulates is sent to the end-user by the airline; again a resultant benefit of access to data. When he uses the same flight the next time, he can utilize these regular miles information to seek upgrades. Again the use of smartphones varies from person to person. Not all employees use a smarphone to communicate booking information. Some would much rather prefer the nitty-gritty of travel to be taken care of completely by the company and only the necessary information be communicated to them. Plus, there is the concern of international roaming charges when one is on foreign shores. In such cases, organizations must look out for those solutions that offer customized or personalized itineraries, like an exclusive app for travel to a particular country. This can help the concierge and the management to effectively be in touch with the executive who is travelling, in real time on their smartphones. For this, they require a cost-efficient, low-cost and secure mobile access platform.

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India Outbound

20>>

affable and safe portugal offers great value for money Portugal is a safe destination with affable people and interesting culture, in addition to offering great value for money, says Ricardo Ferreira, Business Manager, Osiris Travel. IRENE SUSAN EAPEN

“

Last year, we really witnessed a big increase in the number of queries for Portugal and Spain. The confirmation rate is not bigger as we need to promote more destinations

and we need to improve on the issue of the visas. By taking care of all this the number of queries will be increasing and the number of confirmations will increase,” begins Ricardo Ferreira, Business Manager of Osiris Travel, while talking about what would lure Indians to Portugal. “We have also seen an increase with FITs, honeymooners, fine drives, a combo of fine drives with private services, cultural groups, MICE and religious tours.” Figures We started with small numbers. Now we have confirmations that are

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Voyager’s World > April 2016

more than double and the queries increased more than double. Once our customers are happy they get back to the destination and the feedback has always been good as Portugal is a very safe destination, friendly people, the cultural part is interesting and value for money. Spain is a country of energy and the joy of living for all. Main segments For leisure groups in Portugal and Spain, we try to promote four destinations with full day trips; some of the leisure destinations in Portugal are Lisbon, Porto and the surroundings and the ones in Spain include Madrid, Andalusia region and Barcelona. The important part for groups is to combine the cultural part with some local entertainment. You can also have an experience of the Go Car. We launched an amphibious bus a year back which has been doing very well. Another thing that people demand is football camps in Spain like Barcelona, Madrid and in Portugal the interest is very strong because of the interest in Cristiano Ronaldo. We can offer football activities to go visit the stadium and the place where Cristiano Ronaldo spent his years, in the football academy and they can get trained. For honeymooners, the main activity is hot air ballooning and helicopter trip for Portugal in Porto and Lisbon, for honeymoons Sintra is a well-known destination nearby to Lisbon, Algarve in Portugal as well and Andalusia is famous as they have the cultural part and the beach resorts in Spain. We have sky diving and air ballooning at Alentejo region between Lisbon and Algarve. MICE tours are done for incentives, corporates for both Portugal and Spain. MICE activities are growing in Lisbon and its surroundings like Estoril. We suggest nice activities Go Car, traditional yellow tram, gala dinners in historical places like the ruins of former convent Convento Do Carmo in Lisbon, castle, vineyard cellar like Douro Valley for incentives a full day

trip, it is very famous for the Porto wine as a group can go by train then goes for lunch to a farm and then they can get back to Porto by boat. For religious tours we have three important places like Fatima is the shrine in Portugal and next year they will be celebrating the centenary. In Spain you have the very famous Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and Lourdes in France and Lizio. Night life is something which you should not miss especially in Spain with places like Ibiza, Barcelona, Madrid and in Lisbon you have good clubs like Lux Club and some neighbourhood areas in Lisbon like Cais Do Sodre which have a lot of restaurants, bars and two casinos in Portugal Casino Estoril and Casino Lisboa. We have shopping outlets with luxury brands and malls; people usually like very original things such as bags and jewellery made of cork. We have specific streets full of luxury brands such as Avenida Da Liberdade. Stay patterns Indians generally stay for a week up to 10 days to both Portugal and Spain. We expect a big growth this year once people get to know more about Portugal and Spain and expect a big boost for 2016. New initiatives We have launched a B2B platform on various themes like family sites , sports tours, arts, wine and gastronomy, unique experiences such as music festivals like Rock in Rio in July are organized every two years and NOS Alive is organized annually in Lisbon.We also have visits to wine growing regions. Marketing Plans “We are very active in social media and are part of ITB Barcelona, FITUR in Spain, WTM London and ITB Berlin. Our marketing plans include covering the Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities in India. We will have more events for the Indian market through training and more roadshows,” he concluded.

India Outbound

21>>

TAIWAN records 40,000 indian arrivals in 2015 IRENE SUSAN EAPEN

Arthur Hsieh, Director, Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Singapore, says over 40,000 Indian travellers visited the country last year, recording over 20% increase compared to the growth in 2014.

e received good response for the last one year as we had announced a group visa policy which is a MICE Incentive Plan for the Indian market in December 2015 with MICE-centric sample itineraries, special schemes and performances designed to attract MICE groups. We have introduced Group Visa which is free of cost for five or more pax to increase the MICE movement

to Taiwan. We received about over 40,000 Indian travellers last year with over 20% increase compared to the growth in 2014. In 2014, we worked very closely with Star Cruises we have seen lots of people traveling to Taiwan via Hong Kong. India is a very potential market for us as agencies are very eager to know about the Taiwan market. The Indian market will keep on growing over 20%. Travellers from India are families and honeymooners, while incentive tours are also growing, apart from adventure and rural tourism. MICE movement from India is still in the initial stage for us. We are expecting good numbers from incentives, leisure, adventure, rural and culinary tourism. Indians generally stay for five to six days on a trip to Taiwan.

Marketing Plans We have done advertisements on cabs in Mumbai, promotions in movie theatres, hoardings in Mumbai. We have more events coming up like workshops for the Indian market with the media and travel agents. We recently organised the Taiwan Expert Programme which was a great success as there have been 1000+ registrations mainly to educate the travel agents. We offer incentives for corporates that include MICE Incentive+ Group Visa + Subsidy on case to case basis. New Destinations Indians must visit Taipei city to visit the Taiwan 101 Tower. The Kenting beach area in the southern part of Taiwan offers a number of resorts and water sport activities. In the Central part of Taiwan, the Sun Moon

Lake is highly recommended. The Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village has a theme park highlighting the aboriginal tribes and showcasing the amusement equipment, facilities and cable car. One can explore the Northern part of Taiwan and Southern Part of Taiwan in six days. Solo travellers can go to the Eastern part of Taiwan to experience something different such as the Marble Valley at Taroko Gorge. People in Taiwan are very friendly and it is a safe place to visit with good value for money and beautiful scenery. Indians will love Taiwanese cuisine and hospitality. Campaigns We will have online campaigns for 2016 on social media as we regularly post infographics and interesting content about Taiwan.

ras al khaimah aims to attract one million indians by 2018 IRENE SUSAN EAPEN

Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, says, the destination witnesses 80% YoY growth in tourist arrivals from India. 80% year-on-year growth (YoY) in tourists from India,” says Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, while adding that the destination has been seeing a growing trend from Indian inbound tourism for short leisure stays and the wedding sector. “Our aim is to promote the full breadth of unique activities and events that can be enjoyed in Ras Al Khaimah, with a view to encourage Indian travellers to lengthen their stay in the destination.” Indian Market Ras Al Khaimah is a growing destination for Indian tourists and India is one of the prime markets aiding this growth. India is currently the fourth largest inbound market for Emirates, after Germany, Russia and the UK. “It has noticed an incredible

The Indian sub-continent is expected to be an important contributor to the Emirate’s vision to attract one million visitors by the end of 2018. Top Attractions Some of the main activities travellers prefer doing here are water activities

like scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing and water skiing. The Al Hamra Marina is an ideal destination for water sports lovers. The venue also hosts the Royal Yacht Club that organises water activities and competitions. Ras Al Khaimah has a choice of two 18-hole championship Golf courses, Al Hamra Golf Club and Tower Links Golf Club. The Bassata Desert Village offers visitors a wide variety of traditional Arabic activities including belly dancer, Egyptian Tanoura and falcon show. The Iceland Water Park is a family entertainment destination for people of all ages. The National Museum houses local ancient monuments and the Khatt Springs is renowned for curing a number of skin and rheumatic ailments. While nature lovers can go kayaking in the

mangroves, the slightly adventurous lot can experience traditional camel dances and desert safaris climbing sand dunes, often at a 45-degree angle. Promotional plans In 2016 and beyond, the Emirate’s Tourism Development Authority will focus on attracting Indians through relevant tourism products and services, events and tailored hotel products. “We are planning to come up with roadshows for our travel trade partners in Mumbai and Delhi to educate and update them about Ras Al Khaimah. We expect India to continue to be a top inbound market and remain a strong contributor to the growth of the emirate’s tourism sector,” Haitham concluded.

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India Outbound

22>>

EUROPE INCOMING LAUNCHES OFFICE IN INDIA, AIMS TO ACCELERATE SERVICES PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM

Against the backdrop of the new opening in India, Uma Somia, Managing Director, Europe Incoming London dwells at length about how the Indian travellers’ preference has evolved over the years.

stablished in 1978, Europe Incoming, a leading provider of hotels, European tours and ground services to the travel trade, recently opened its India sales office in Mumbai in March. The demand for Europe Incoming’s services from India has grown steadily for the past 20 years, making it one of the most important market segments contributing to Europe Incoming’s business. “It has taken us 20 years to launch a sales office in India; however these years that we have serviced the Indian market will contribute immensely towards the success of the new office. We have built a brand and now we are intending to market this brand throughout India,” says Uma Somia, Managing Director, Europe Incoming London. She observes that the Indian travellers’ preference to Europe has evolved in multiple ways. “First and foremost, travelling to Europe is no longer a lifetime dream and multiple trips are taken to Europe nowadays. Groups and FITS prefer to select one or two destinations and explore these in depth rather than wishing to cover 10 countries in 10 days. Naturally, the group tours market is still very active in multi city tours but FITS and small leisure groups and MICE prefer mono or dual destinations. We have seen an increase in demand for the newer unexplored destinations in Europe, like Eastern Europe, especially Hungary and Poland. There is also an increase in demand for destinations like Portugal. There is a keen interest in exploring the local culture and local cuisine (where Indian food is no longer a pre requisite). FIT guests

Voyager’s World > April 2016

and MICE groups are now opting for higher category branded properties which are centrally located. There is an increasing demand for self drive for FITS around Europe.” MICE products offered for incentive and events segment. The MICE segment has been growing for the past six years and the size of the MICE movement groups vary considerably. All MICE movements are tailor made to the specific needs of each client but generally they involve 3/5 night stay in a 4-5 star hotel centrally located, one full day conference and then a gala dinner. Ever increasingly, there is a demand for team building activities. Europe Incoming London has operated MICE movements throughout multiple European cities; London has proven to be a very popular destination, last year and this year. Currently, it has two MICE movements in London Aditya Birla by Fountainhead, FIMDA by SOTC and in May again, it has Asian Paints also by SOTC. The activities which are chosen by these clients include team building activities such as dragon boat racing in Windsor, or Helicopter rides as an example. The corporate is always looking for innovate ways to incentivise their clients and employees and the farewell dinner and the location is always a highlight. In December 2015, it operated a large incentive in Paris for Amway with 2300 passengers and 150 of the elite began their trip

with a three-night stay in Cote de Azur (Nice) and their gala dinner was at the Prince Rainers Private Car Museum. It was the first time ever that a group from India had held an event at that venue. In addition to providing land arrangements for MICE groups for the past two years, Europe Incoming has been handling the event segment for MICE groups too; this includes anything from themed events, décor, light and sound, providing backdrops, entertainment, corporate gifts and this can be provided in any European destination. Wedding groups from India “We have handled a couple of wedding groups to Europe. The most popular destination is Switzerland and as these were from large well known industrialists, there were approx. 350 guests.” How familiar are local vendors and suppliers in Europe with requests from Indians? “I believe that during the past five years, the local vendors have really begun to understand the requests of Indian clients and are adapting to their needs. A great example is that most of the multinational hotel chains have GSOS in India as they the understand the rapidity of the growth from this market and things like providing Indian meals in hotels which was unheard of previously is now very common. The challenge that local suppliers face from the

Indian market is that it is highly price sensitive, very last minute and constantly changing needs from the clients.” Top source markets from India “Mumbai is our top source market providing close to 60% of business for Europe Incoming from India, followed by Delhi which provides 20% and then the rest of India is close to 20%. The first time leisure traveller generally tends to opt for a pan-European group escorted tour of between 10/14 nights, MICE groups tend to choose Mono or dual destinations and the FIT traveller again chooses dual destinations for their trips to Europe.” Sustaining amidst competition Uma believes that India has a huge potential and that there is enough business for everyone who wants to work in this market. Europe Incoming has been in India for 20 years and has always provided a steady reliable service at competitive rates. “The emphasis is on service and we are next to none on this factor. The office in India has been set up to provide our clients easy access to our team members and working in the same time zone speeds up many factors and sometimes gives us a competitive edge. We also would like to explore and be accessible to the Tier 2 and 3 cities which generally still tend to book via the major metros like Mumbai and Delhi,” she concluded.

Incredible India

23>>

ministry of tourism felicitates pat farmer for ‘spirit of india’ run PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

‘Spirit of India Run’ was aimed at cementing relations between India and Australia; encourage tourism and personal relationships to create awareness of India as a ‘Must Experience’ destination.

he Ministry of Tourism felicitated Patrick Farmer, Ultra Marathon Runner and former Member of Australian Parliament and his Team at a function in New Delhi on 1 April upon the successful completion of the 4600 Km. The ‘Spirit of India Run’ took place from Kanyakumari to Srinagar in 64 days. Pat is a multiple world record holder for endurance running and has run from the North Pole to the South Pole, and across Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, the Middle East and North America. He has served eight years as a Member of Australia’s Parliament, with three years as Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Science and Training. He has raised millions of dollars for worthy causes during his 20-year running career. Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, M/o Tourism,

Tania Farmer, wife of Pat, Chris Elstoft, Dy. High Commissioner of Australia in India, Aswani Lohani, CMD, Air India, Umang Narula, CMD, ITDC and senior officers were present. Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, M/o Tourism described Patrick Farmer as the ‘Brand Ambassador of Incredible India in Australia’ as he has widely travelled India during his 4600 km long ‘Spirit of India Run’ from Kanyakumari to Srinagar. His run will inspire people in Australia to visit India and mutual relations between India and Australia in the tourism sector will be strengthened. He also said that the Festival of India in Australia would be held this year to boost tourism in India. Pat’s ‘Spirit of India Run’ was aimed at cementing relations between India

and Australia; encouraging tourism and personal relationships with a view to creating awareness of India as a ‘Must Experience’ destination for travellers from Australia; and supporting causes and charity which in the current endeavour is to raise funds for “Educating girl child in India.” The Spirit of India Run was

flagged off on 26 January 2016 in Kanyakumari. On this run, he traversed through the States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, UP, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Pat ran on an average 80 km per day to complete the distance of 4600 km. in a short span of 64 days.

mot signs mou with esoi for developing sustainable tourism PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

Through this MoU it is expected that sustainable and responsible tourism would take the forefront in the Ministry’s action plan.

he Ministry of Tourism, Government of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ecotourism Society of India (ESOI) to take its commitments to Responsible and Sustainable tourism to the next level. In accordance, Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, M/o Tourism and Steve Borgia, Honorary President, Ecotourism Society of India signed the MOU in the presence of Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism on 15 March in New Delhi. The Ministry of Tourism and the Ecotourism Society of India started the process a couple of years ago when they formulated and published the STCI (Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India) and carried it to

the grass root level through series of advocacy workshops. Through this MOU, it is expected that sustainable tourism and Responsible Tourism will take the forefront and achieve the commitments of the Ministry’s action plan. The Ecotourism Society of India (ESOI) was established in 2008 at the behest of the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) as a non-profit organization to promote environmentally responsible and sustainable practices in the tourism industry across the country. This national body was formed by a group of eminent professionals from the tourism industry, Government, Parliament and environmentalists& onservationists. In this context, ESOI

will prepare a 10-year Road Map for advocacy and certification under the Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India. The Road Map will be based on regional workshops held with relevant stakeholders across the country. ESOI, through stakeholder consultations will formulate criteria

and classification guidelines for certification for the accommodation and tour/travel operators within the STCI guidelines and later develop standards for destinations which will also be in sync with the internationally accepted Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

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Online Travel

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savvi: aiming to guide travellers the digital way IRENE SUSAN EAPEN

Available only on iOS, the Savvi app aims to replace the physical, print travel guide and provide free information for travellers. says its Founder Alex Grosvenor. iOS app, fueled by an adventurous Savvi travel community, providing endless expansion into the everevolving, exponentially growing young travel market.

ix years ago just before selling the print-focused company at a loss of over 50%, Judy Slayter, an ex-CEO of Lonely Planet, had said, “We should have moved much more aggressively into a digital space where travellers could engage, interact, and write their own travel guides.” Six years later, Savvi is finally doing this, beginning with an

Alex Grosvenor, Founder, Savvi says that the app is for a community of travellers seeking the savviest destinations for eating the savviest foods, sleeping in the savviest places and doing the savviest activities. “The main focus of Savvi is to replace the physical, print travel guide and provide free information for travellers. Traveller knowledge and connectivity are the building blocks of the Savvi community. As per UNWTO findings, by 2030, the world will see 1.8 billion international travellers. We think this number should be bigger with a platform to exchange free, location-based,

accurate travel information, Savvi hopes to encourage a more dynamic travel community.” Available only on iOS app for use with iPhone and iPad, the app has hundreds of registered users across five continents. Its Facebook page and website are only for the promotion of the iOS app. Savvi in India Savvi has registered users in both Bangalore and Mumbai. “We are expecting the app usage to grow in other places like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Goa. We seek to engage primarily with young millennial travellers aged 16-34,” Alex says. Estimates by the UNWTO for 2013-2014 show that international tourist arrivals in India increased by 11% to almost eight million. The 1.6 million of the international travellers fall within the

Savvi target demographic of young millennial travellers. Initiatives for 2016 Savvi hopes to gain more traction amongst flashpackers in India and Southeast Asia by the end of 2016. It expects this continued growth to allow it to invest in iOS app updates and hopes to launch the Android version in future. Savvi is expected to acquire a few hundred users per month before the end of 2016. Savvi is open to any and all partnerships that will help it to grow and expand its community. More users will lead to more peergenerated content and a better experience for travellers. Savvi is using social media to encourage informed travellers and promote the usage of its mobile app in every corner of the world.

POSTFRIDAYS.COM BETS ON INDIA’S UNDER-TAPPED ACTIVITIES MARKET IRENE SUSAN EAPEN

Aiming to provide instant booking experiences for leisure activities, PostFridays.com aims to tap the activities market in India which is estimated at over USD 10 billion, says its Co-Founder Prateek Mittal. USD 10 billion, with categories like adventure and sports, food, nightlife, art, culture and heritage. In India, this is currently in the emerging phase as it is a highly fragmented market with a majority of direct activity providers being offline; but more people are becoming aware of such an option,” says Prateek Mittal, Co-Founder of PostFridays.com.

ostFridays.com is a platform for leisure experiences and activities in India that allows users to instantly book activities. “Our vision is to get people to enjoy these experiences just like going for a movie or a pub in major cities. The experience and activities market for India is over

Voyager’s World > April 2016

Expected growth for 2016 Prateek observes that Indians are shifting towards experiential holidays due to western influence and are looking at more personalized experiences. It has witnessed a steady increase in people going for niche and activity-led vacations like sports, food, wellness or heritage. “The growth rate of 20% to 40% in different categories indicates that

the size is going to grow rapidly over next five to 10 years. We are currently focusing on MumbaiPune belt with adventure activities covering the Maharashtra region.” Main Tours PostFridays.com has offerings across all the categories that include inbound, domestic travellers as well as locals. “We are channeling mostly towards DINK (Double Income No Kids) couples to Family with Kids segment.” Even in the higher paying inbound segment, there is a surge in number of family travellers to India and the female travellers now form 41% of the inbound traffic as compared to 30% five years back. The kids form 10-15% of the inbound traffic.

Marketing plans PostFridays.com focuses on digital communication medium for marketing via social media channel as well as TripAdvisor to websites for more discerning users such as Quora. For inbound, it relies mostly on its B2B tie-ups with DMCs and other tour operators in the form of add-on sales. It has two major developments in the next few months with the launch of alpha and beta versions of PostFridays’ app and the penetration of families-withkids segment. Our Android app is ready and the alpha version will be released to Google Play Store. “Over the next one year, we plan to expand into two major clusters of NCR and the Bangalore-Hyderabad belt along with extending the Mumbai cluster to cover Goa,” he signs off.

Online Travel

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your local cousin URGES TRAVELLERS TO EXPERIENCE A PLACE THE LOCAL WAY IRENE SUSAN EAPEN

Travelling like a local is more the way to travel in emerging economies such as India, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America, says Kunal Jain, Co-Founder, Your Local Cousin. It aims to make travellers take tips from the locals on what they love to do and explore the place.

our Local Cousin helps people travel smarter by connecting them with vetted local experts who create recommendations based on one’s interests. Kunal Jain, CoFounder, Your Local Cousin, says people must travel like a local in emerging economies like India, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America where the local residents still follow their age old customs, traditions and lifestyle.

“Your Local Cousin has been well received globally as our ‘local cousins’ provide real time and authentic travel advice that is customized to the traveller’s travel style and interest. We believe our service is ideal for FITs and small groups. Our platform is not for travellers and locals to meet in person; rather it is only for giving customized advice.” “Our clients are mostly people who are well travelled and look at experiencing more than just the top 10 major attractions during their vacation,” says Kunal. “In the past, our clients have mostly included couples, solo female travellers, business travellers and families

with kids. We also have a lot of expats moving to a new country or city contacting our locals for advice on how to set up a bank account, where to rent property, schools for their kids and safety matters.” Main markets and growth Your Local Cousin has over 700 locals in 80 countries. Its strong points are in Europe, USA, India and South East Asia. It is keen to add new cities every week in India and abroad. It is expecting its growth to triple this year as it is close to finalizing key partnerships with global travel companies, cruise liners and DMCs. Social media campaigns Its campaigns for this year include a photo contest to be launched mainly to invite its users to submit and tag

VADODARA NAGPUR VIZAG AMRITSAR COIMBATORE

: : : : :

them in their vacation photos, videos on its social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. It launched an ongoing campaign last year wherein the local cousins attend travel events and trade fairs in their cities. It also launched a campaign this month to invite travel bloggers to submit a story for its blog. Marketing Plans “We have focused mostly on wordof-mouth promotion from people who have used our service and on our social and alumni networks to spread the word. In the future we will re-launch our blog with a lot of user generated content from our locals, travellers and travel bloggers. We plan to launch an app this year and are also planning to get our users engaged by doing various social media campaigns and contests.”

19, 20, 21 August 2016 14, 15, 16 October 2016 4, 5, 6 November 2016 16, 17, 18 December 2016 20, 21, 22 January 2017

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Online Travel

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REZLIVE.COM STRENGTHENS PITCH IN MIDDLE EAST PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM

Jaal Shah, Group Managing Director – Travel Designer Group, Founder – RezLive.com, talks about the company’s expansion plans and its growth in the Middle East market. a very important market for us from the overall growth perspective. We have been taking the calculative steps as per the market dynamics and are seeing positive signs for further growth in the region and looking to expand our reach with more people on board to take care of the operation and sales from Dubai Office.

RezLive’s plans for the Middle East Market Our Middle East market expansion and penetration has been very consistent from the day we entered the Middle East market in 2008. We have always received very good response and support from the local travel trade. As a result of which it’s

There are quite a few good features we are coming up with, which we will offer to the local travel trade in order to enhance their booking experience with us and help them in increasing their business through us. This year also we will be exhibiting in ATM and would look forward to meeting our travel partners and further strengthen our long lasting relationship.

What is the demand for your online reservation system in the Middle East? RezLive.com has always been the No:1 choice of our local travel partners and they have been making bookings through the same and receiving exceptional post booking services. Furthermore, post the launch of the new system, we have seen consistent growth in our business and this has actually resulted with the increase in demand for the system and the kind of inventory, services and rates we provide to our travel partners. New plans/products/solutions for this year This year we have extended the reach of Designer Packages, our B2B offline outbound product

and put in place a local team in Dubai, which will be taking care of all the inbound queries related to UAE region and help clients with best quotes. There are few other products in development stage and we will orient the travel trade about the same at the right time. Growth in India Growth story of India is exceptional and making good contribution to the overall global numbers and with the size of the sales team increasing day by day to reach out to the travel partners in Tier2 and 3 Cities, we have very high hopes for the future. India as a market will play a very vital role for us and we are giving equal importance to the same as we don’t want to miss out on the opportunities it has to offer to us.

explara forecasts big business from b2b segment IRENE SUSAN EAPEN

Mohanram P V, Sr. Vice President – Sales of Explara, shares inputs on what the company provides along with new initiatives and marketing plans for this year.

xplara is primarily a do-it-yourself ticketing platform to discover events and activities in a city or beyond. “When it comes to the travel vertical, we have blanketed all aspects of travel,” says Mohanram P V, Sr. Vice President – Sales of Explara, while elaborating on

Voyager’s World > April 2016

the platform’s services. “Some of our verticals are entertainment like performances, celebrations and theatre shows; biz and tech vertical is related to B2B training workshops, trade shows and expos; sports and fitness vertical for all in a range of fitness activities and F&B vertical. The alumni and campus vertical gives one the opportunity to enjoy college fests; the active and outdoor vertical offers options for adventures.” It has blogs on solo travel, college reunion destinations, ultra marathon venues and Himalayan treks. One of its blogs on alternative places across Asia and Europe went viral and received more than five

lakh hits in less than two weeks. Growth in the travel segment “Being nascent in both B2B and B2C segments, our B2C segment is focused on unique experiences. Some of them are curated and on the B2B segment, we see big business happening especially in the outdoor adventure. We have seen monthly growth happening in the B2B area. We launched segments like food, adventure and travel in 2015 and received 5% growth from July 2015 to March 2016 and expect them to record a 10% - 15% growth in 2017. ” Initiatives and marketing plans It launched a mobile app recently for exploration, event creation

and buying tickets and over 20% business was received through the mobile app. Presently engaging in outdoor travel, the platform is also looking at partnering with people who offer exclusive, curated travel and outdoor experiences. Being operational in 21 countries like USA, Europe, Singapore, Southeast Asia and Middle East, Explara has seen positive response from India, USA, Europe and South Africa and hopes to be global in the future. “We hope our readers can get exposed to information which is unknown to them, and thereby choose their interest in the activities and locations,” concluded Mohanram.

Online Travel

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TripAdvisor claims $478 billion boost to travel economy from reviews COURTESY: TNOOZ.COM

FICCI and RezNext recently launched a knowledge paper on the technology landscape for the travel and hospitality industry.

ripAdvisor says during 2014 it influenced $478 billion worth of travel spend in the sector, equating to some 352 million room nights. Furthermore, additional travel expenditure generated by TripAdvisor is estimated to be in the region of $64 billion over the same period. The study by Oxford Economics found that 1.9 million jobs globally were “sustained by the travel spending” coming out of consumers using TripAdvisor for recommendations. All these eye-watering numbers have led TripAdvisor to claim that it accounts for almost 11% of the global online travel market. The estimated $64 billion spend “would not have taken place without TripAdvisor”, the company says, with a number of elements influenced, such as extended length of stay. Other findings are: - Driving general interest to destinations – the number of trips taken to a destination increases as content (photos, reviews, listings, information) is added to TripAdvisor. - Hospitality standards – feedback given from travellers helps product owners to identify where improvements should be made to a service. - Levelling the playing field – reviews and other content benefits independent businesses as they have an ability to compete on a brand-neutral platform.

Airlines’ Lead Over Online Travel Agencies Stalling VW BUREAU

A report by PhocusWright shows how airline websites have had an edge over owning majority of online air bookings over agencies.

irline websites have managed major gains over online travel agencies (OTAs) in the last few years, and now account for about three quarters of online bookings. But their share will remain unchanged for the next three years. A new report from Phocuswright, provides a detailed overview of travel distribution in the U.S., with analysis of trends in market share, technological innovation and consumer behavior. According to Phocuswright’s U.S. Airlines: At Cruising Altitude, online air bookings – including desktop, mobile, direct and intermediated – continue to grow slightly faster than air overall. “While it appeared that airlines’ website growth was unstoppable, they actually have maxed out their online direct booking gains for the time being,”

says Phocuswright’s senior research analyst, Maggie Rauch. “Airlines have optimized their advantage selling ancillaries such as extra legroom and checked bags, and now it’s the OTAs’ turn to grow airline revenue based on new merchandising capabilities.” Airlines own the majority of online air bookings through their websites and apps, but have not been able to add to their lead over OTAs. Still, airlines’ direct channel strength gives them more leverage than ever. It’s not out of the question for U.S. carriers to follow Lufthansa’s example of charging a fee for intermediated bookings in the near future. It remains to be seen if they will develop the technical readiness and commercial resolve necessary to take the plunge.

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Travel Trends

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sotc launches essential kit for greater comfort during travel Daniel D’souza, Head Sales, India and NRI Markets, SOTC Travel, talks about the recently launched Holiday Essential Kit in a telephonic interview. PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM their own tour managers.

OTC had recently launched the Holiday Essential Kit comprising all the little essentials that make for a safe and comfortable holiday which would provide our customers greater comfort while on a holiday. This family kit has been designed based on extensive research and also after speaking to many of SOTC’s well-travelled customers and

“We have put together a holiday kit of all the essential items that a customer must take along on his holiday. This family kit has been designed based on extensive research and also after speaking to many of our well-travelled customers and our very own experienced tour managers. This is a first of its kind in the holiday space and we believe it will add great value to our customers and help them have a comfortable and enjoyable holiday,” said Daniel D’Souza, Head Sales, India and NRI Markets, SOTC Travel. When customers travel abroad, we do a lot of tours with many families and older people on our packages. We thought why not offer them everything under one roof. That is

how we launched the Kit with 21 items. It is an all-inclusive kit that a customer would need to take on a holiday such as compressor socks, ear plug(regular), comfort band, eye mask, money belt, selfie stick, adapter, baggage strap, neck pillow, foldable bag, power bank, ponchos, etc. “In a long Europe trip for 18 to 19 days, the older lot tend to get cramps. Compressor socks come in handy then. Those who have travel sickness can wear the comfort band on the wrist to keep off sickness.” SOTC gives the Holiday Essential Kit as an option to customers at the time of booking packages and many of them buy it, Daniel says. It is also offered at a special price on online shopping sites like Flipkart and Amazon. Since people are

hard pressed for time and Indians, especially, plan their holidays at short notice, nobody has time to do research as to what one might need for travel. “We spoke to a lot of tour managers and our customers. We recently organised an initiative called ‘Co-Created’ across Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Rajkot, Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata. It gave a chance to our valuable customers to be a part of their holiday creation process. They told us what to include or change in packages. Such campaigns and paying keen attention to the evolving needs of the customer have helped SOTC meet competition well, says Daniel, while concluding that even the legacy of the brand and their ability to continuously differentiate have made them succeed.

apps galore to assist women travellers VW BUREAU

The number of women frequently travelling on work or otherwise has led to the rise of many apps designed to cater to their needs and safety.

ver the past few years the status of women in India has been subject to many great changes. With the decline in their status in ancient times to the promotion of equal rights in India has been very powerful. From managing work as well as home at the same time, women has now started travelling alone which is a sign of being more independent. Here are five apps for travelling women :1. Myles: a self driven car rental company which was started in 2013, and has a fleet strength of about 1,000 cars, is currently clocking between 10,000-12,000 car rentals per month, and has a presence in about 22 cities across the country. Its available on the app

Voyager’s World > April 2016

based platform too. Just a click away from your smartphone you can get a self driven car to explore anything in this world. 2. GoIbibo: Goibibo enables users to buy air tickets, bus tickets, book holidays and car rentals. It is also a leading app available across mobile operating systems: iOS, Android and Windows. 3. Revv: An app that gets you a Car on Rent that you can drive yourself & that too at your doorstep. Revv is the easiest & most convenient option for all the ladies out there who want to get back home from office or vice-versa without keeping your safety at sake. To top it all, Revv also offers hourly rentals with unlimited kilometres. So, one can

get a car at their doorstep without much hassles. 4. Ecorentacar - If you are a solo traveler and looking for chauffeur driven car then ECO Rent a car would be perfect. ECO established in 1996. A professional car rental and ground transportation company has offices in 9 cities with its services spread across 79 cities pan India. The company functions with a whopping 2500 vehicles across all categories. 5. Jugnoo: Jugnoo, a Chandigarh based company, was established in 2014. It is a mobile app offering one of the largest networks of autorickshaws in India. It has more than 5000 autos empaneled under the brand at present. Founded by Samar

Singla and Chinmay Agarwal, the company is targeting the students, working professionals, and masses that are dependent on public transport for their daily conveyance.

cim global organises international healthcare tourism congress The inaugural edition was organised in Bangalore on 18 and 19 March to bring together various stakeholders of the healthcare industry to discuss challenges in the sector. ROHIT HANGAL

IM Global delivered yet another masterpiece & ensured its dominance by accomplishing the first edition of the International Healthcare Tourism Congress on 18 -19 March, 2016 hosted at The Lalit Ashok Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Healthcare Tourism sector is growing aggressively but still remains slightly unorganised. H ence it is time for the stake holders to come together and organise this sector in a way that each and every one reaps its benefits. With good hospital infrastructure, excellent doctors, good industry support, improving government policies, it is time India markets itself to the optimum. The Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Karnataka Shri UT Khader inaugurated the congress & graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The next two days, the congress witnessed an excellent insightful feast with renowned doctors, industry’s top executives and decision makers delivering talks on topics like Embracing Health Innovation - India’s strength on Health tourism, Telemedicine, Oncology, Organ Transplant, Dentistry, etc.

The IHTC was a noted knowledge platform of international standard Healthcare and Tourism in India with an objective to bring together India’s top executives/ decision makers from the Health, healthcare and tourism industry, innovative solution providers and stalwarts to discuss on acute technological issues and business challenges currently faced in the Healthcare Sector in the country. It, therefore, provided maximum inputs of practical knowledge among Medical Tourism Agencies (MTAs), Tourism experts and Medical Marketing heads, addressing sessions on the latest and most recent developments. The IHTC was more than just a Healthcare Tourism conference. It was a dynamic forum packed with Thought Leadership sessions over a period of two days. By creating a platform and by bringing in all the stakeholders of the Healthcare Tourism Sector under one roof, Anitha Niranjan, the Executive Director of CIMGlobal wanted to encourage the strength of the industry just as much. International Healthcare Tourism Congress have successfully acquired

attention and support from both State and Central Government as the topics of the congress were well sorted as per the industry needs. Few of the topic for this congress were as follows like Embracing Health Innovation - India’s strength on Health tourism, Telemedicine, Oncology, Organ Transplant, Dentistry, etc. Anitha Niranjan did a splendid job by creating a platform to bring all these stakeholders of the Healthcare Tourism industry under one roof. This international congress was a milestone in terms of encouraging the strength of the industry. The team’s (including the Expert Committee) meticulous planning, eye for detail & patience is indeed praiseworthy and is a value add to our capabilities in executing a flawless event that won accolades from all sections. The conference presented an ecosystem for doctors and top executives to share their work, build new connections and explore collaboration & featured accomplished speakers who are thinkers and thought leaders that shape the course of health tourism industry. The next edition

of International Healthcare Tourism Congress shall be announced soon. The event offered an opportunity to interact with leaders in Health tourism industry, both local and global partnerships. This will be a platform for Pharma companies, hospitals, Health Tourism Agents, Insurance Companies, Health Technology Manufactures, Wellness and hospitality Industry and healthcare investors to meet & associate. IHTC 2016 was successful in planning and designing the congress around the MTA’s and the Industry prerequisites. Healthcare tourism in India is the next crown jewel that could shape the future of India’s economy . The government also estimates that the growth of health-related services will be more than 5 percent for the next 10 years and that should further attract more such visitors. Major corporations such as Tata, Fortis, Max, Wockhardt, and Apollo Hospitals have made significant investments in setting up modern hospitals and tourism-related services to cater to the new brand of visitors from abroad.

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ajit bhawan offers ambitious mice facilities, eyes wedding market PRIYAMVADHA BALARAM

Ajay Upadhyay, General Manager Ajit Bhawan, talks about the heritage property in Jodhpur owned by Indian fashion designer- Raghavendra Rathore and his brother- Suryaveer Singh Rathore .

MICE facilities offered at Ajit Bhawan Nestled in the luxurious Ajit Bhawan Jodhpur, the banquet lawn is synonymous to a princely state lawn with remarkable settings replete with ornate plants and royal Rajputana artefacts. Well appointed with modern amenities to meet all the requirements, the Banquet lawn at Ajit Bhawan Jodhpur is a beautiful venue that can comfortably accommodate up to 400-500 guests for social and business events. The Jodhpur Café, with its minimalistic interiors have accommodated CXO meetings in the past, making it an ideal venue for meetings and conferences. AV facilities can be provided on request.

Voyager’s World > April 2016

To indulge in a signature royal wedding experience of Rajasthan is a dream for many. At Ajit Bhawan this dream comes alive at perfectly designed venues across the 7-acre property. The lush green gardens, filigreed interiors, immaculately carved columns and beautiful fountains together create a wonderful setting for a fairytale wedding. Each aspect of the special day, whether it is the flawless service or the gourmet food is meticulously planned and executed for an unforgettable celebration. Revel in the surroundings which were once exclusively meant for erstwhile Prince and Princesses of Rajasthan. Meeting competition An imposing blend of luxury and impressive heritage, Ajit Bhawan stands as an epitome of selfindulgent and upscale hospitality in Jodhpur. Built in 1927 exclusively for the Maharadhiraj Sir Ajit Singhji, the younger brother of Maharaja Shri Umaid Singhji of erstwhile Jodhpur State, Ajit Bhawan decades later was opened as the Pioneer Heritage Hotel of India by his son and daughter-in-law- late Maharaja Swaroop Singhji and Rani Usha Devi respectively. Traditionally designed by celebrated designer Raghavendra Rathore, each room is a work of

art and represents Rajasthan’s rich, cultural ancestry, while the operational aspects of the hotel are overseen by his brother, Suryaveer Rathore, ensuring impeccable service levels and a premium product offering is maintained. In this magnanimous spread of 20,500 sq. meters, the legacy of Royal Rajputana and its imperial lifestyle is elegantly shared with those who fancy Rajasthan as a perfect destination to experience supreme luxuries of the gorgeous era. Current occupancy levels, revenue from ARRs vs. F&B, etc. Occupancy levels in Jodhpur vary between 30% and 80% for offseason and high-season, producing an overall healthy occupancy of 45% to 50%. We see an average room rate (ARR) of INR 5,000 – INR 6,000 for the lean season, whereas during the high season an ARR of INR 10,000 – INR 12,000 can be maintained. F&B revenue plays a crucial role in contributing to the overall revenue. Ratio of revenues between room and F&B is 55:45. Importance to promote restaurants to leverage on the local market Among the many experiences

guests can indulge in during their stay at Ajit Bhawan, The Royal Dining experience is one which is exclusively designed for the discerning guests who are looking to experience the regal lifestyle of the nobility and introduce the palate to the local cuisine. Commence the evening with a cocktail hour at the Maharaja’s Palace in their Private Dining Room. The PDR is bedecked with beautiful relics and family heirlooms, each worthy of a story in itself. The cocktail hour is followed by dinner at the traditional Rajasthani restaurant, Dhani which is known for its authentic local food and the rustic village-like ambience. Introduce the taste buds to Ker Sangri, a local and prized specialty of the region, and dishes like Gatte Ki Sabzi, Jungli Murgi, etc. Is there an oversupply of inventory in Rajasthan? Jaipur and Udaipur have reasonable supply of hotels rooms throughout the year with a wide range of hotels operating in these cities to cater to the different segments. Jodhpur, on the other hand has a short supply of luxury hotels. Ajit Bhawan gets its peak season between October and March. November, December and February are high demanding months with 100% occupancy levels.

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IAAPI Amusement Expo 2016 achieves mega success VW BUREAU

he 16th edition of Amusement Expo concluded successfully from 3 - 5 March 2016 in Mumbai. The Indian Association of Amusement Parks & Industries (IAAPI) played host to the event on sourcing of equipments of amusement, leisure and entertainment industry. The event was supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (Incredible India) and Chhattisgarh as the Partner State promoting its capital city of Naya Raipur as an amusement and entertainment hub. The expo started with a fantastic performance, followed by speech

of IAAPI’s President – Ajay Sarin and the Guest of Honour - Darrell Metzger, Past Chairman, IAAPA, who started his career at Disneyland in California and for the last two decades served on a number of high profile roles in amusement and leisure industry in Asia and the Middle East. He said, “I was very impressed with the professional presentation and preparation for the entire show. It is obvious that the association has many dedicated members who are convinced that IAAPI will play an important role in the long term

growth of the Indian Amusement Industry.” The B2B exhibition attracted over 3000 business visitors comprising owners, directors, CEOs, senior managers from amusement and theme parks, water parks and family entertainment centres (FECs) along with leading real estate and mall developers, resort and hotel chains, architects and government officials from the tourism department. The exhibition was spread across 8000 sq m and had participation from 107 exhibitors from 21 countries. The event witnessed the participation of

exhibitors from Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Philippines, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, UAE, UK and USA. This year, leading companies showcased product and services from more than 100 categories from around the world which included amusement and theme park rides, FEC games, skill and adventure games, all terrain vehicles, architectural and design services, 3D animation, electronics, etc.

Nomination For Asia Pacific MICE Awards Is Open VW BUREAU

ICE Asia Pacific Exhibition will take place on 21st-22nd of September at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Following the inaugural Asia Pacific MICE Awards Ceremony last year, Asia Pacific MICE Awards 2016 nomination is open today. The awards recognise excellence within the Events Industry and acknowledge those who are paying a defining role in supporting, growing and moving the industry forwards. All companies entering will receive branding and advertising as a result. By entering for an Award the nominees will receive exposure of their award entry and involvement in the event industry to the panel. All winners will be presented with a prestigious trophy and will have the opportunity to give an acceptance speech to the international audience

Voyager’s World > April 2016

of hundreds of event professionals and they will be able to cement their position as industry leaders. A panel of 15 leading event professionals and organisers from throughout the Asia Pacific region are chosen to be the judges for the awards. The judging panel for 2015 consisted of Roger Simons, Group Sustainability Manager of MCI Group, Professor David L. Jones Ph.D, Professor and Program Director of Hospitality Business, Singapore Institute of Technology, Mr. Stuart Bailey, General Manager of Diversified Communications Hong Kong, Mr. Kim Waddoup, CEO of Moscow MI CE International Forum, Mr. Peter Stewart, Global President of International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), Ms. Leanne Constantino, Managing Director of Forum Group Events, Ms. Linda P Gaunt, CEO of Meetings &

Events Australia, Orly Ballesteros, Board of Director of Tourism Congress of Philippines, Ms. Sue Toomey, Director - Events &Conference Asia Pacific, The Economist, Mr. Prasant Saha, Chairman of CIM Global, Ms. Esther Smith, Managing Director Singapore, IQPC, Mr. Simon Mellor, President - Middle East & Asia, DMG Events and Mr. Paul Wan, Managing

Director - Singapore, UBM Asia. Four Awards categories are open for nomination now—Event Technology, Event Venue, Travel Soluation & Provider and Event Organiser in which Event Technology categories are newly lauched this year as its role in MICE industry is getting more and more essential.

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asia pacific agents are managing more travel for corporates VW BUREAU

A recent report by Sabre Corporation revealed seven trends emerging within the Asia Pacific region’s corporate travel management sector.

he ever - frequent corporate traveller boards and alights flights and checks in and out of hotels in a rapidly and dynamically changing industry, struggling to keep pace with technology and other trends that strive to make business and travel easier for him. The sliding rupee, rising fuel costs, soaring ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) prices, user development fee at airports, excess baggage, hotel loyalty programmes, flying miles and other ancillary costs. The forecast for travel prices for the year 2014 had shown that India was expected to hit a growth rate of 6.0% while China is anticipated to be the leader in terms of growth at 8.0% projections. The prediction said more Asian carriers were likely to join traditional alliances and long haul low cost carriers will also be emerging trends. Asia Pacific cities have the highest occupancy rates in the world for the year 2015. The law of supply and demand will create interesting dynamics in India and China. In India, the excess construction of global chains has created too much

supply, exceeding the demand, thereby creating opportunities for buyers for negotiations. China will continue to experience a surplus of new supply from global chains and emerging brands for Chinese travellers but demand is expected to keep pace. Meetings and Events Projections The strongest overall growth will take place in Asia Pacific, with both group sizes and daily attendees sizes anticipated to increase. The demand will remain strong though supply vs. demand will vary according to the country. Ground transportation projections for 2014 In 2014, Carlson Wagonlit Travel studies had found that car rental prices will increase modestly though options are limited by local restrictions in some locations that prevent foreign visitors from driving without a local driver’s license. In those countries, such as China, car rental is typically chauffeured by local drivers. China’s continually developing high speed rail infrastructure will garner strong

interest from travel buyers in 2014, who are increasingly interested in using this option instead of air travel where applicable. Challenges Corporate travel in Asia Pacific is on an accelerated trajectory with unprecedented demand. Those in the front-line, the region’s corporate travel management companies and online travel brands servicing the corporate accounts are therefore on an equally exciting journey of their own. Every year Sabre polls this specialist community to give voice to their experiences and assess the path ahead. This year’s results have been surprising again, compiled from the submissions of over 100 corporate travel agents of various types, located across 15 key markets in Asia Pacific. Sabre has collated the findings into seven top trends, many of which are inter-linked. Wherever possible, respondents’ own words are used to explain each one, though anonymously, given the commercial insights and personal views shared. Collectively, they point to a very different client-servicing and content model emerging in

Asia Pacific, enabled by the latest innovation in corporate travel technology. The findings are summarized below: 1. Premium Economy, boarding now Tightening budgets around duty travel for the region’s many discerning corporate travellers has been made much easier with the advent of the relatively new Premium Economy class of travel. For the dozen (and counting) full service carriers based in the region now offering Premium Economy, it is also proving a powerful stimulant to corporate demand. Despite the relatively limited provision, Premium Economy bookings have increased by more than 10% among onefifth of the corporate travel agents surveyed and they look set to climb further and faster. Travellers familiar with the Premium Economy seats are requesting a switch to its airlines, when offered flights with other carriers. Almost a quarter (23%) of respondents has been asked to change clients’ regular Economy bookings to Premium Economy seats. Agents based in Hong Kong and New Zealand are asked the most often,

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according to the poll. Taiwan and the Philippines are close behind on demand, with Singapore catching up now that its national carrier has introduced a Premium Economy service. In the Lion City, 20% of respondents have been asked to change bookings in favour of a Premium Economy providing carrier. Powering the trend further are travellers attempting to stretch the terms of their corporate travel policy to allow Premium Economy within a broadened ‘economy’ category. A quarter (24%) of respondents reported this type of request, as part of the “tendency to demand more than what is permitted by policy.” Premium Economy is also attracting movement from other classes as well. While half (51%) had observed or managed downgrades from Business Class to Economy to reduce cost, 41% had also seen moves half-way down the plane, taking Premium seats instead. Australia and New Zealand respondents meet demand for this option the most often. “We are so far from everywhere that the costs of international travel are high which means they [clients] are always looking for cost cuts on travel.” Pacific agents are followed by their counterparts in Hong Kong

Voyager’s World > April 2016

and Thailand, with almost half of Singapore agents also experiencing Business to Premium Economy downgrade requests. For corporate travel management companies, all these scenarios are a positive form of compromise. Premium Economy has provided them with another lever to adjust their client’s travel budget, without significant loss of comfort for their travellers. 2. Ancillary expenses under tighter control The common policy directive to book the ‘lowest available fare’ was causing difficulty for many agents last year, in that they needed to consider the low cost carriers (LCCs) over the full service options on many of their routes. “Every ticket should be bought at the cheapest rate.” Those transactions have filtered through on Sabre systems, with a significant boost to LCC business. The technology company has the largest portfolio of LCCs available within the Asia Pacific region. This year, the mandate appears to have relaxed, with the focus more on ancillary expenses. Almost a third of respondents now control reimbursable ancillary costs (paid baggage, pre-assigned seating, meals and lounge access), compared to one in five last year. Additionally, a quarter of them are

currently extending their clients’ travel policies to cover ‘secondary spend’. The result is that life has been made easier for the pressured agency, caught in the middle. Three quarters (72%) reported that they found reconciling the lowest available fare with travel policies challenging last year. However, only 6 in 10 now struggle. “We must balance the travellers with the corporations’ needs.” Having LCC content alongside full service airlines on one system helps, but questions remain around commission: “We need to find a way to better sell ancillaries and make money doing so.” 3. Addressing the root cause of off policy ‘rogue’ booking The prevalence of web-enabled mobile devices in Asia Pacific, together with the race to develop tempting travel apps have created a fertile environment for ‘rogue’ (off-policy) travel bookings to grow. However, this year, the region’s corporate travel management companies and their clients have recovered the initiative and are beginning to stamp these transactions out. The difference in 2015 is the choice of policy enforcement strategy. While past surveys have seen agents extend the scope of their travel policies in

an attempt to channel more of the off-policy demand, the focus has shifted this year to the source of the problem. Most of these rogue transactions take place whilst travellers are away and they want to change their travel plans. This is precisely the time when over a third (36%) of agents struggle to maintain control. Conversely, only a quarter find it hard to keep travellers on policy at the earlier planning stage. Practitioners are therefore investing in better pre-trip planning and stronger itinerary management. This is an area where travel agent technology has a powerful role to play. Agents now have the profiling tools to pick the exact products that their travellers want, with the broader airline choices to align with their schedule. Travellers are more motivated to cooperate, when the itinerary is the closest match to their personal preferences and plans. The Sabre survey this year also revealed how loyalty programmes are interfering with policy compliant choices. Almost half of respondents had experienced off-policy bookings motivated by the attractive travellers’ rewards. The profiling needs to pick up more on the use of these schemes. 4. Deploying mobile assets

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Respondents to the survey reported that their clients are welcoming mobile itinerary management apps in much greater numbers this year. The reason is that when travel plans are mirrored on the traveller’s mobile device, compliance rises and off-policy or ‘rogue’ bookings fall. 68% have clients deploying these apps, incorporating policy compliant content, with a further 18% confirming their intention to follow. Many also see mobile tools as an area for further improvement. 44% pointed at the need for better mobile apps to assist travellers, compared to just a third last year. Not all the apps are, however, the same and it has become a source of growing competitive pressure for the different corporate travel agency brands. One example of a managed traveller app is TripCase, used for over 30 million itineraries last year. Travellers use TripCase to check and share their itinerary, making changes through their appointed travel management company. The client, agent and traveller are then continuously aligned. An interesting connection was made by one respondent who sees mobile tools as a means to underpin their duty of care. They associate better mobile tracking with the ability to communicate

and mitigate potential disruption to travel, ultimately protecting the traveller. Another linked the request for “safety measures” more to their global or regional accounts. 5. Differentiating with data analytics Better use of booking data is now the highest rated priority among the region’s corporate travel management practitioners. Almost half (46%) see data analytics as a new differentiator and want the business intelligence both for their clients and themselves. This statistic compares to just 29% last year, when access to data factored below the delivery of mobile tools and need for more LCC inventory. The reason is personalization: 44% share the view that customizing their agency’s response according to the traveller’s profile will become a much more important requirement in the short-term. The same number of respondents correlated better use of data with greater policy compliance. This is an area where more detail will be captured in the Sabre survey next year. “Clients expect more travel analysis and assistance to enforce travel policy - and [provide] duty of care support.” Separately, a third of respondents believe data will be key to giving travellers’ more autonomy

in the future, to book their preferred travel options independently. This assumes use of corporate online booking tools. However, the majority remain convinced that for now Asia Pacific’s “high-touch” travellers will continue to want the personal interaction and service in arranging their travel plans. One commented that Asia Pacific clients “tend to expect everything to be completed on their behalf, at minimal or no cost.” Another wrote that their travellers “prefer dealing with an actual service provider over selfservice.” 6. A new model of client servicing The experience of corporate travel management companies this year has been of a greater reliance on their services, rather than less. “Asia Pacific corporate clients are still very much dependent on TMCs for their travel needs versus other parts of the world.” Clients are becoming “more cost conscious and more demanding.” “Corporates are more comfortable getting all services (air ticket, hotel reservation, transfer, meals, conference, event enrolment, event management, visa assistance, tour packages, car reserve, train, bus, ferry ticket) under one roof. We have to move to online-based travel

agency with all these facilities in the next 3- 5 years.” Respondents in India framed the changes in two ways: that a ‘concierge’ style client servicing model will emerge; and that they have a new role in content management. “The role of the TMC, apart from booking travel, will be more of a concierge service.” “In future, the TMC will obtain content from all sites on one platform for the corporations to choose the best.” The desire to consolidate multiple sources of content in one place, for the agency and client to more readily shop for the optimum pricing at any given time may also possibly be linked to the observation that “suppliers tend to divide and conquer” with different fares and rates set according to the commercial context. Deeper searches, however, require access to a larger and more inclusive B2B2C marketplace for travel, together with a model that provides for opaque and transparent client servicing fees. 7. End-to-end Respondents’ hope is that technology will continue to cut costs and drive productivity gains, both for themselves and their clients short-term.

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FESTIVALS OF 12- 17 April

he April Fair is held from 12 till 17 April the most popular and international fiestas of Serville along with music, food and the local version of flamenco dancing. During this fair a thousand casetas or tents are installed in the fairground area as the second home of the city’s inhabitants, a place where people come together to have fun and share experiences until the early hours throughout the fair, people wear typical Andalusian dress.

April Fair, Andalusia- Spain

22 April-1 May

he Bay Area National Dance Week starts from April 22nd till May 1st with over 200 organizations and more than 20,000 participants which is one of the largest local offshoots of the National Dance Week festivities. This annual event includes free classes, workshops, film screenings and performances in styles from ballet to belly dance. The Bay Area National Dance Week will mark its 18th year in 2016 as one dance features 700 dancers performing in Union Square.

Bay Area National Dance Week, San Francisco, USA

15 April- 1 May

21 May

he Bluff Oyster Festival in Southland, on New Zealand’s southern tip, mainly celebrates the Bluff Oyster harvest from the cold southern oceans which is one of the most loved food festivals attracting the locals and visitors with a variety of dishes, live entertainment, shucking competitions and the Bluff Oyster Sack fashion show. The entertainment is also oyster-related piping in the oyster, to oyster opening, eating competitions and oyster sack creativity awards.

Bluff Oyster Festival, Southland-New Zealand Voyager’s World > April 2016

he Munich Spring Festival or the Münchner Frühlingsfest event happens from 15 April to 1 May in the Northern part of Theresienwiese, on the Oktoberfest grounds with two large beer halls, a beer garden and more than 100 other attractions creating the unique atmosphere. The beer halls include Bayernland tent the Augustiner beer and Hippodrom the Spaten beer as well as the Munich White Beer Garden, the Bayernland tent offers you different bands playing music.

Munich Spring Festival

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THE WORLD 25 May - 2 June, 2016

he International Light Festival or light in Jerusalem starts from 25 May till June which will make the old city of Jerusalem look magnificent with backdrop for lighting installations, exhibits and tours. This celebration of light presents spectacular 3-D light exhibits, artistic sculptures and structures, massive light stars and impressive video mapping projections on the Old City’s buildings and walls. The 7th International light festival is a week-long festival that will attract 250,000 visitors.

International Light Festival, Jerusalem, Israel

8-23 April, 2016

he Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts starts from 8-23 April taking place across the venues of Kimmel Center’s campus. A 15 days celebration of art and community, the event showcases local and international performances with more than 60 events across genres and art forms. The PIFA is booked by Article 13-grand -scale, fire and sand installation that tells us the story of immigrants around the world along with the celebration of PIFA Street Fair.

Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, USA (PIFA)

22 April - 12 June, 2016 21 May, 2016

he San Francisco International Beer Festival is held on 21 May the oldest beer festival on the West coast where you could sample more than 300 incredible beers from some of the best craft brewers in the world as well as a variety of offerings from some of San Francisco’s best restaurants. The 33rd annual San Francisco International Beer Festival. The Beer Fest is a great bonding experience for the community to stays out late nights.

he Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square is held from 22nd April to 12th June in the Northeast United States a celebration of light and culture that features artisans from China and the Philadelphia region for seven weeks with illuminated displays of giant flowers, a three-story pagoda, a huge Chinese dragon. The Chinese performances include acrobatics, face-changing, and traditional Chinese dance and music. People will enjoy daily performances, culinary exploration, crafts by working artists.

Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival San Francisco, USA www.voyagersworld.in

Travel Events

CSTF 2016 throws bash in mumbai

The CSTF group did an event in Cafe Infinito BKC, Mumbai where Nijhawan Group, Star Cruises along with Ark Travels and Macau Tourism sponsored a night of glitterati in the theme of Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day and Moulin Rouge. VW BUREAU

Travel Events

otr world 2016 sees extraordinary response from travel trade VW BUREAU

he Outbound Travel Roadshow (OTR) - World commenced on 18 March in New Delhi and was followed by roadshows in Ahmedabad and Mumbai until 22 March respectively The one-of-a-kind roadshow offered

a unique B2B meeting format with travel agents and tour operators. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exhibitors included travel delegation from countries including Canada, Croatia, Dubai, Mauritius, South America, South East Asia, Turkey, United States of America as

well as Global Hotel Chains, Cruise Liners and Airlines, all under one roof. OTR - World in New Delhi took place at The Claridges, Abdul Kalam Road. The Ahmedabad edition was held

on 19 March at The Crowne Plaza, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway. OTR - World Mumbai was held on 22 March at Novotel Mumbai, Juhu. The participants were extremely happy with the response from the travel trade in the three cities.

Flight Talk

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india on its way to become third largest aviation market VW BUREAU

Low oil prices and proactive government policies provide the right push, say findings in a report by FICCIKPMG at the recent civil aviation exposition in Hyderabad.

ith 81 million trips, India’s domestic aviation market grew at over 20.3% during Jan-Dec 2015 - the highest growth rate recorded in the world. India is well on its way to become the third largest aviation market by 2020 says the FICCI-KPMG ‘India Aviation Report 2016’, launched on 17 March at the civil aviation exposition in Hyderabad. The report suggests that aspects such as increasing disposable incomes, fall in prices of Aircraft Turbine Fuel (ATF), increase in tourism, visa reforms, etc. have placed India in a unique position. This is bringing the country closer to achieving its vision of becoming the largest aviation market by 2030. The civil aviation sector is hugely susceptible to oil price volatility, economic cycles, natural disasters, epidemics and political upheavals. According to the report, the Indian civil aviation industry has exhibited tremendous resilience to the global economic slowdown and ranks ninth in the global civil aviation market. This is attributed largely to the growing economy,

Voyager’s World > April 2016

increased competition among airlines, especially among low cost carriers, modern airports, greater use of technology, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and increased emphasis on regional connectivity. The report highlights that the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP 2016) is likely to provide a significant fillip to the industry. The various fiscal and monetary incentives, liberal policies focused on ‘ease of doing business’ and enhanced push for regional and global connectivity are extremely positive. Steps taken to revive and operationalise around 160 airports in India, if chosen carefully, will improve air connectivity to regional and remote areas. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in the sector will get substantial support from the state in terms of financing, concessional land allotment, tax holidays and other incentives. According to Harshavardhan Neotia, President, FICCI, “Enormous growth in domestic passenger traffic, substantial strengthening through Government initiatives, decrease

in global crude oil prices and airlines showing profits indicates a significantly positive transformation for the Indian civil aviation market. The close partnership between the government and the industry in ongoing and future projects will further improve regional connectivity. I am certain that the sector will take complete advantage of the positive momentum and help sustain the growth” Amber Dubey, Partner and India Head of Aerospace and Defence, KPMG said, “The positive impact of NCAP 2016, rise in disposable incomes and the fall in ATF prices are likely to help India leapfrog into the top three of the world. One hopes that the government can match domestic ATF prices with global levels for a three year experimental period. MRO is likely to see a huge revival if the service tax is zero-rated. Growth of aviation and tourism can create a huge multiplier in terms of GDP growth and jobs.” The report strongly suggests that in order to ensure high-geared growth,

it is imperative to broaden the base of domestic flyers through greater air connectivity in Tier 2/3 cities. Many Indian states have taken positive initiatives, largely in the field of development of airports, reduction in sales tax rates on ATF and direct subsidy to airlines for improvement of connectivity. The government and industry are engaged closely in addressing the various opportunities and challenges in the aviation sector; and that’s a welcome sign. The collaboration needs to be strengthened and institutionalised. With positive macro-economic factors, low ATF prices and industryfriendly government policies, India is well placed to achieve its vision of becoming the third largest aviation market by 2020 and the largest by 2030. Key growth drivers The FICCI - KPMG report says that the Civil aviation sector is vulnerable to economic cycles, oil price volatility, natural disasters, epidemics and political upheavals. The Indian civil

Flight Talk

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aviation industry has managed to exhibit resilience to the recent global economic slowdown. Some of the key developments during the last decade, which aided the growth of the Indian aviation, include the following: a) Domestic ‘open-skies policy’, which allowed several new carriers to enter the market b) Arrival of Low Cost Carriers (LCC) in India with the launch of Air Deccan, and, subsequently by Spicejet, IndiGo and Go Air c) Airport modernization planscombined with encouragement of greenfield airport development d) Liberalization of the international sector with private players permitted to operate overseas, albeit with the 5/20 restriction i.e. 5years of domestic operation and a fleet of 20 aircraft. e) Greater access of foreign carriers and opening up of international routes at regional airports f) Increased foreign direct investment limits for airlines and other sub-sectors of the industrylike airports, air cargo, ground handling etc. Government Initiatives India would require over 250 brownfield and greenfield airports by 2020. The government is actively involving the private sector in the construction of airports via PPP with substantial state support in terms of financing, concessional land allotment, tax holidays and other incentives. The government plans to revive and operationalise around 160 airports in India to improve regional and remote air connectivity. The Government of India, in its draft civil aviation policy released for inputs from stakeholders, has proposed raising Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in domestic

airlines from the current 49 per cent to above 50 per cent in future should India go for complete open skies. Other reforms include tax incentives for airlines, incentives for travellers to fly to small towns at affordable rates, and easing the norms for domestic carriers to operate abroad. The Government of India has decided to provide Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports to Changi Group for Operations & Maintenance. New airports on PPP mode would be coming up in Navi Mumbai, Mopa in Goa, Bhogapuram near Vizag, Dholera in Gujarat. Low cost no-frillsairports are expected in Singrauli, Nellore, Kurnool etc. In order to enhance air travel penetration, India will need a business friendly policy environment, more airport, more aircraft, supporting infrastructure, finance and human resources. The subsequent chapters highlight the market dynamics, opportunities, challenges and the key enablers for different sub-sectors of the Indian civil aviation industry. India is the ninth largest civil aviation market and is predicted to become the third largest by the year 2020. This undoubtedly calls for considering investment projects and inviting foreign investors. As the present government is set to announce the new aviation policy shortly and take long overdue assessments and decisions, we can expect the future strategy to involve improved connectivity and more affordability in domestic air travel. Meanwhile Modi Government’s Make In India national programme seeks to facilitate investments and innovations across various sectors including aviation. As far as aviation is concerned, it leverages on the facts like• Total passenger traffic stood at

163.06 Million during 2013. India is one of the least penetrated air markets in the world with 0.04 trips per capita per annum as compared to 0.3 in China and more than 2 in the USA. • Indian carriers plan to increase their fleet size to reach 800 aircrafts by 2020. • The Indian aviation sector is likely to see investments totalling USD 12.1 Billion during 2012-17; USD 9.3 Billion is expected to come from the private sector. As regards the investments, 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is permitted for Greenfield airport projects under the automatic route. Regional air connectivity policy offers attractive incentives in the form of exemption of landing, parking and navigation fees to airlines operating at designated airports in non-metro areas. Up to 74% FDI is permitted for existing airport projects under the automatic route, above 74% and up to 100% permitted under government approval route. Up to 49% FDI is permitted in domestic scheduled passenger airlines under the automatic route. 100% permitted for NRIs. Up to 49% FDI under the automatic route is permitted in Non-Scheduled Air Transport Service. FDI above 49% and up to 74% is permitted under Government approval route. 100% FDI permitted for NRIs. Up to 100% FDI is permitted in helicopter services and seaplanes under the automatic route. Up to 49% FDI is permitted in ground handling services under the automatic route. FDI above 49% and up to 74% is permitted under government approval route. 100% FDI permitted for NRIs. Up to 100% FDI is permitted in maintenance and repair organizations; flying training

institutes; and technical training institutes under the automatic route. It may be noted that the investments are subject to relevant regulations, approvals from DGCA and security and other conditions. Foreign airlines are also, henceforth, allowed to invest in the capital of Indian companies, operating scheduled and non-scheduled Air Transport Services, up to the limit of 49% of their paid-up capital. Investments will be subject to government route. The Airports Authority of India is responsible for developing, financing, operating, and maintaining all public sector airports. The reason for so many setbacks in investments is because the Indian government lacks aviation expertise. “We have so much potential in our own country that is waiting to be explored. The opportunity need not be offered on a platter to the Gulf or other nations to invest. Foreign carriers have mastered the art of manipulating more seat capacity in the Indian sector. But this can materialize only when the operational costs are lowered and an environment conducive for profitability is created. While the Indian aviation history has been a solid saga of misses (read: no hits), India’s air traffic has grown exponentially, for foreign carriers. They are not for Indians. We have not been successful in creating a global hub for any airline all these years. In order for the aviation industry in India to establish a conducive and strong environment to attract investments, it is imperative that the airlines ensure that the capacity and demand are not mismatched, along with bringing down the cost of operations and most important of all, a very forceful infrastructure must be in place for the industry.

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Happenings

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TTAA agents experience Mayfair Lagoon fam tour

Third International Polo Tournament held at Anandpur Sahib

ayfair hotels, in association with the Tours & Travels Association of Andhra (TTAA) and IndiGo Airlines, had organised a familiarization trip to Mayfair Lagoon in Bhubabeswar. Agents from different parts of Andhra Pradesh were taken on the Fam tour to experience the Mayfair hotels. The agents were received by the Executive Director Souvagya Mohapatra. Welcoming the agents, Mohapatra said that they were very happy to host the agents from Andhra Pradesh.

Sichuan Tourism holds gala event in Delhi

Cultural Evening was held at DLF Place, Saket in Delhi on 9th April, 2016 post the conference held by Sichuan Tourism Administration on 7th April in the capital. The cultural evening, which was attended by guests and dignitaries from China and India, showcased the art and cultural performances by artists from China.The performances at the cultural evening brought alive the rich culture and tradition enjoyed by various ethnic groups of China. Wang Ning, Executive Vice Governor, Sichuan and Song Ming, Deputy Director General, Sichuan Tourism Administration along with the Chinese delegation visited Delhi to share future tourism plans and explore association opportunities with India to boost tourism. The traditions, local customs and culture of Sichuan are celebrated in forms of various art performances which include Sichuan opera, the oldest form of Chinese opera characterized by face-changing, fire-spitting and other stunts; tea art performances; puppet shows; lamp rolling, etc.

he third edition of the International Polo Tournament ‘Sodhi Kishan Singh Memorial Polo Cup’ was held from 21 -23 March at the Sodhi Gurbachan Singh (SGS) Khalsa Senior Secondary School in Sri Anandpur Sahib during Holla Mohalla festival. The first day’s matches were fought with Royal Punjab Polo (India), Gillcrest Homes (UK) and Hawaii Polo Team (USA) and were declared joint winners in the round robin league.The final round robin match was won by Royal Punjab Polo team over Hawaii Polo Team. The tournament was held under the patronage of Madan Mohan Mittal, Cabinet Minister of Punjab Government and Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, MP from Anandpur constituency.

Maharashtra Tour Operators Association experiences Israel

he outbound tour operators of the Maharashtra Tour Operators Association visited Israel on an invitation by the Israel Ministry of Tourism this month for the first time. In the past, the operators had marketed Israel during the famous AgriTech exhibition, which is held in Tel Aviv once every three years. Through this familiarization tour the operators experienced a vast array of activities including leisure driven events, Tel Aviv’s beaches, nightlife and shopping, Mediterranean cuisine, Jaffa Port, the historical site of Jerusalem, the resort city of Eilat on the shores of the Red Sea. The tour operators also enjoyed activities like floating in the Dead Sea,visited the historical site of Masada, cruises on both the Mediterranean and Red Sea, as well as a jeep safari in the rugged Negev desert.

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Switzerland Tourism launches 'Grand Tour of Switzerland' promotion

witzerland Tourism recently organized an event with the presence of representatives from Lucerne Tourism, Lake Lucerne Navigation and Mt.Pilatus highlighting the launch of two promotional campaigns in attracting visitors from Bengaluru to travel to Switzerland in the summer season. The Grand Tour of Switzerland is a 1,600 km road-trip where the travellers can embark on this tour from different places like Lucerne, Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lugano. The Grand Tour of Switzerland allows you to discover different facets of Switzerland as per your own preference. This campaign received a good response and been a successful promotion over the summer, with many tourists exploring Switzerland by car and is also perfect for the upcoming summer holidays. The second campaign is the ‘Grand Train Tour of Switzerland.’ as Indians love train travel and are among the largest users of the Swiss Travel Pass, the tour includes the train routes like the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express and the GoldenPass. Ritu Sharma, Deputy Director, Switzerland Tourism India, said, “South India is rapidly becoming the strongest market for escorted coach operators and all the largest tour operators are now getting almost 60% of their coach tour business from the south. The ‘Grand Tour of Switzerland’ and ‘Grand Train Tour of Switzerland’ will whisk tourists from Bengaluru on a picturesque journey through some of the most strikingly beautiful parts of Switzerland.”

Promote Iceland organizes three-city roadshow in India

romote Iceland recently organised a three- city roadshow in India namely Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai to increase tourist footfalls from India. Iceland received over 1000 tourists from India last year. Promote Iceland’s strategy is to target the premium travellers from India as the destination is not for ‘budget’ travellers. The multi-city roadshows was conducted by Blue Square Consultants with an attendance of over 250 travel agents from India. The delegation included representation from companies like Gray Line, Iceland Air, Iceland Europe Travel, Tripical, Gudmundur Jonasson Travel, Iceland Travel and Terra Nova Iceland.

South African Tourism Minister visits India

Dandeli named India's favourite wildlife destination

“We have had constructive discussions with the tourism trade on how to meet the growing demand for our destination. The response from the trade about the destination has been positive and they have appreciated our presence in the country,” said Minister Hanekom. “

Holiday IQ announced their first-ever better holiday awards to recognise the best in Indian travel and tourism Industry. The award ceremony was held at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mansingh Road in New Delhi.

outh African Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom visited India recently to engage with the travel and tourism trade in the country.The visit was part of South African Tourism’s roadshow to boost tourism from key source markets.The Minister’s visit was part of South African Tourism’s roadshow to boost tourism from key source markets.

andeli in Uttara Karnataka was conferred as India’s favorite wildlife destination during HolidayIQ’s Better Holiday Awards. S.A Hussain, Chairman, KSTDC received the prestigious award on behalf of the state. For the first time a holiday destination in Karnataka has been awarded by people’s choice and not decided by jury. Tourists rated the place based on hospitality, affordability, connectivity, activities and location.

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Travel Trends

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Indians globally most active at 30,000 ft: expedia VW BUREAU

xpedia recently released the results of the Expedia Passenger Preferences Index, which includes amenities for which customers would prioritize on flights of different length, how they prefer to pass the time, their opinions on baggage fees and packing, and which passenger behaviours they found most frustrating.

China and Mexico (35%) • 51% listen to music, 39% read a book /magazine / newspaper, 32% surf Internet when Wi-Fi is available, 32% watch TV shows / movies available on board, 20% play games on phone/mobile, 15% watch TV shows / movies that they carry, 7% spend time doing puzzles / games, 6% work on board

It highlights that three-quarters (74%) of travellers will pay for added comfort on a short haul flight, but this jumps to 89% on long or extralong haul flights. Travelers from Mexico (98%), India (97%), Thailand and China (96%) are the most likely to pay for added comfort on long haul flights. India (20%) leads in playing games on a phone or mobile device while flying.

Flight Essentials! •India in top 3 countries to choose water (59%), music player (32%), computer (29%), healthy snacks (21%), e-reader (17%), earplugs (13%) •Indians in bottom 3 to feel the need for extra jacket or sweater (7%), mints and/or gum (6%), nonalcoholic beverages (8%) and overthe-counter medication (2%) •Alcoholic beverages is preferred by only 9% Indians •Ready to pay extra on short (18%), medium (18%), long (22%), extralong (28%) haul flight •Indians are foodies; 44% Indians feel a meal to be important while 21% prefer healthy snacks and 8% indulge in snacks •Willing to pay extra for a full meal on short (40%), medium (48%), long (57%), extra-long (62%) haul flight •Willing to pay extra for a snack on short (36%), medium (32%), long (36%), extra-long (38%) haul flight •Willing to pay extra for a nonalcoholic beverage on short (16%), medium (19%), long (21%), extralong (23%) haul flight •We can’t live without our gadgets; mobile device (54%), headphones

“According to Expedia Passenger Preferences Index, a massive 74% of travellers will pay for added comfort on a short haul flight, and the number further jumps to 89% on long or extra-long haul flights. Indians lead globally in paying extra for a window seat (34%) or an aisle seat (10%), for a snack (36%) and a non-alcoholic beverage (16%) on board a short-haul flight. For 84% Indians, comfort is more important than style while travelling by air” said Manmeet Ahluwalia, Marketing Head, Expedia India.

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Indians globally most active @ 30,000 ft •Only 32% Indians sleep while on a flight- lowest globally, followed by

(36%), game player (7%) •Willing to pay extra for high speed wi-fi on short (45%), medium (51%), long (53%), extra-long (54%) haul flight •Willing to pay extra for basic speed wi-fi on short (14%), medium (11%), long (13%), extra-long (13%) haul flight •We love to read- magazines / newspapers (32%), e-reader (17%), physical books (11%) •Other essentials are prescription medication (4%), pen & paper (8%), eye cover (6%), neck pillow (11%), blankets (13%) India at #3 globally to •Pack less to ensure things fit in a carry-on (74%), led by Taiwan & China (78%) •Avoid checking bags so that they don’t have to wait in line at the baggage check before boarding flight (62%), led by China (70%) & Malaysia (63%) • Check bags regardless of situation (68%), led by Germany (77%) & Mexico (74%) •56% often over-pack and if that means checking a bag, they are ok with it •53% Indians don’t mind paying extra to check a bag •Indians avoid checking bags because of the fee (53%), to skip waiting at baggage carousel (59%), out of fear that their bags will get lost (46%) •A trip < Week: 50% prefer to checkin luggage while only 18% Indians prefer a backpack •Carry-on size suitcase to be

checked (30%), carry-on size suitcase on the plane (32%), 2 suitcases/pieces of luggage, with at least one needing to be checked (7%) • A trip > Week: 74% prefer to checkin luggage while only 8% backpack •84% Indians prefer comfort over style when choosing what to wear •Indians are ok to pay extra for upgrades to first or business class on short (26%), medium (25%), long (31%), extra-long (32%) haul flight •Window Seat: short (34%), medium (31%), long (34%), extra-long (39%) haul flight •Aisle Seat: short (10%), medium (14%), long (15%), extra-long (16%) haul flight •Seat with extra legroom: short (32%), medium (39%), long (50%), extra-long (53%) haul flight •Wider Seat: short (23%), medium (33%), long (41%), extra-long (49%) haul flight •Indians like to save time in transit, willing to pay extra for •Priority baggage unloading: short (18%), medium (23%), long (28%), extra-long (29%) haul flight o Priority /advanced boarding: short (15%), medium (15%), long (22%), extra-long (21%) haul flight • Indians have the highest tolerance globally for the Inattentive Parents (24%), Aromatic Passenger (21%) and Rear Seat Kicker (18%) •India leads globally with 22% saying they have gotten into an argument with a fellow passenger followed Mexico (19%) & the USA (14%).

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Voyager’s World > April 2016

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Top Appointments

45>> Dipak Deva

Dhananjay Kumar

Managing Director, Travel Corporation India

General Manager, The Suryaa, New Delhi

homas Cook India has appointed Dipak Deva as Managing Director of Travel Corporation India. He has to his credit an experience of over 26 years in the inbound travel business. Prior to this, he had served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - India & South Asia, Sita (Thomas Cook India Group).

hananjay Kumar has been appointed as the General Manager of The Suryaa, New Delhi. He brings with him an experience of over 20 years in the hospitality industry with various brands like Radisson Blu Hotel Chennai, Hilton Chennai, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts and Shangri - La’s - Eros Hotel, New Delhi.

Joydeep Ghosh

Jonathon Sinclair Neal

Director Sales and Marketing, Mövenpick Hotel & Spa, Bangalore

Chief Executive Officer, AAE Travel

övenpick Hotel and Spa, Bangalore has appointed Joydeep Ghosh as the Director of Sales and Marketing. He has over 20 years of experience in Hospitality, FMCG, Mall Management and Marketing. He has worked with various hotels like Habtoor Hotels, Dubai, Movenpick Hotels and Resorts, Warwick International and Accor Hotels.

onathon Sinclair Neal has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of AAE Travel. He will be based in Singapore. Prior to this new assignment, Jonathon was the Chief Financial Officer of AAE Travel, handling all aspects of finance as well as corporate strategy and business analytics.

Subhabrata Roy

Simon Fiquet

General Manager, Four Points by Sheraton Navi Mumbai

General Manager, SEA & India, Expedia

xpedia has appointed Simon Fiquet as the General Manager - South East Asia & India. He brings with him a versatile experience in the travel industry. Prior to this, he headed the APAC team for Google Travel. He has also worked in various Sales positions in Europe for Google and consultant for Mars&Co.

ubhabrata Roy has been appointed as the new General Manager of Four Points by Sheraton Navi Mumbai,Vashi. He brings with him an experience of 16 years in the hospitality industry having worked with some of the brands like the Taj Group of Hotels,Keys Hotels, Oakwood and Accor Hotels Group.

Kabir Mehra

Rohan Kulkarni

General Manager, Eastin Residences Vadodara

Sales Manager, Trafalgar - India

bsolute Hotel Services India has appointed Kabir Mehra as the General Manager of Eastin Residences Vadodara. Prior to joining Absolute Hotel Services, he had worked as the Rooms Division Manager with the Royal Orchid Central, Bangalore. He has been associated with brands like Accor and Ginger Hotels.

ohan Kulkarni has been appointed as Sales Manager for Trafalgar in India. He has previously worked with organisations like SOTC Kuoni and Thomas Cook India amongst others. With more than five years of experience, his new role will entail servicing and engaging the travel trade partners and grow the brand.

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NETWORKING ISTHE THE NETWORKING IS KE KEY Y April 2016

May 2016

June 2016

July 2016

August 2016

April2016 22, 23, 24 Himachal Travel Mart Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

T R A V E L

25, 26, 27, 28 Arabian Travel Market Dubai

May 2016

June 2016

30 April 1, 2, 3 May

3, 4, 5

Outbound Travel Roadshow Dubai, Kuwait, Doha

Kilifair Moshi,Tanzania

24, 25, 26, 27

15, 16, 17

Next Travel Trade Exchange Mexico

ibtm america Nashville, USA

18, 19, 20

16, 17, 18, 19

WTM Connect Asia Penang, Malaysia

ITE Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

23, 24, 25

9, 10, 11, 12

WTM Connect China Hainan Island, China

Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA) COEX, Seoul, South Korea

July 2016

August 2016

16, 17, 18, 19, 20 GBTA Convention 2016 Denver, USA

5, 6, 7

21, 22

India International Travel Mart Bangalore

Global Panorama Showcase Kolkata

19, 20, 21

28, 29

Holiday Expo Vadodara

Global Panorama Showcase Chandigarh

23, 24, 25

29, 30, 31

India International Travel Mart Mumbai

India International Travel Mart Chennai

M A R T