January16 by whereabouts

RNI No.: DELENG/2014/59308

www.whereabouts.in

SATTE SPECIAL EDITION

Volume II Issue IV January 2016

Annual Subscription ` 660

In Conversation

Hanneli Slabber Country Manager South African Tourism Need to Know

MAINPAT Clarks Inn: The Hill Station of Hospitality

March of the

Chhattisgarh

century

Analysis

OUTLOOK FOR 2016-AVIATION Whereabouts

CHIANG RAI NEWS IN BRIEF

ASSOCIATION

NTO

HOSPITALITY

TECHNOLOGY

6 INTERNATIONAL 8DAY OF YOGA Special Feature Jal Mahotsav

Recommend to read

ASSOCIATION COVER STORY

Uttarakhand tourism professionals formed association

Recommend INDIAto read

ENCOURAGES TOURISM TO CONCENTRATE ANALYSIS ON THIS IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF TOURISM

OUTLOOK FOR 2016-AVIATION

OTOAI elects EC members for the term 2015-17 Recommend to read

13 16 Hanneli Slabber 18 TRANSPORT Nothing

Official About Itâ&#x20AC;Ś Baron Aviation launches BookMyCharters

Recommend

to read Rajasthan gears up to attract 50 million domestic & 2.5 million IN CONVERSATION foreign tourists by 2018

AVIATION

MoT AVIATION

27 30 OMAN 34 36

Yas Island aims to increase night stays; Consolidates presence in India Travelport's Student of the Year brings talented Recommend to read candidates to the industry

NEED TO KNOW

WHEREABOUTSMAINPAT

The Hill Station of Chhattisgarh

Country Manager Qatar Airways announces first A350 XWB route toRecommend USA to read

Recommend to read

TECHNOLOGY

Interglobe Technology Quotient The Leading launches Trip38 on Travelport MICE Destination NTO

ASSOCIATION

EXCLUSIVE

NTO

TRADE

Recommend

to read Jordan to promote diversity FACT & FIGURRS of the country through various platforms 10 Travel Myths You Need to Stop Believing Right Now

NTO

GNTO embarks upon tier II cities

Recommend to read

HOSPITALITY

We are not after the top-line; rather we are keener in building the business the sustainable way: Prakash Bang

ON THE COVER

Ministry of Culture Airbus unites businesses Year End Review 2015 in India under single company

Recommend to read

HOSPITALITY IN-CONVERSATION

MyClarks each assignment hasof Inn: March given me a new insight in to the century various aspects of hospitality business & industry nuances: Recommend to read Sudhir Sinha

WHEREABOUTS NEED TO KNOW

24NALANDA CHIANG RAI

team@whereabouts

Recommend Ancient Seat of Learning to read

Editor & Publisher

Marketing Executives

rajesh@whereabouts.in

Dheeraj Anand Regional Head-North &West

Managing Editor

Principal Advisor

Rajesh Tiwari

Mamta Tiwari

Anil Prakash

Editorial

Design

Jai Kishan Kaparwan Alvin

Sales & Marketing Solomon Sexena Country Head solomon@whereabouts.in

Mithlesh Kr Gupta

Accounts Prem Prakash Mishra

Legal Advisor Brijesh Tiwari

ON INTERNATIONAL THE COVER-ASHIANA CLARKS INN SHIMLA YOGA DAY

EDITOR’S NOTE

WHO SAID WHAT There was a time when we were striving hard to attract hotel owners and developers to work with us. Today by the grace of god, our relentless endeavour and services and the massive trust that our business partners and owners have placed in us, our portfolio is 65 hotels properties including about 35 hotels currently under operation. S N SRIVASTAVA PRESIDENT & CO FOUNDER CLARKS INN GROUP OF HOTELS

Dear Readers, I am extremely excited to share you that this edition of our magazine is based on investigative stories. Certainly - there are numerous stories that will start a new debate among our industry colleagues. Firstly, I entered in an exclusive conversation with the president of Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), where he expressed that the Ministry of Tourism should extend its criteria of dialogues while seeking suggestions and feedback from industry stakeholders. He feels that like inbound and domestic this (outbound) segment is equally important; and the government should support it for the betterment of tourism industry. To advocate his point, he gave many ideas (that you can read inside the story) how outbound tourism can support the growth of inbound tourism. Keen to know what do you think about it?

INFOTAINMENT TWITTER Centre for Aviation ‫@‏‬CAPA_Aviation Jan 10 Southeast Asia’s LCC fleet expands by 13% in 2015 as short haul capacity growth slows | http://ow.ly/WSwkY

WTTC ‫@‏‬WTTC 3 Dec 2015 Why culture shock is good for you: http://bit.ly/1HHMV7F (via @worktheworld)

Secondly, this edition features an investigative story on Clarks Inn Group of Hotels on completion of ten successful years in Indian Hospitality industry. You will be surprised to know how the home grown hotel management company has captured the growth with 65 hotel properties in just ten years, and very confident to touch the magical figure of 100 properties by end of 2016. We have given an extensive coverage to the story so that you can read in details. Hope to hear from you at rajesh@whereabouts.in Happy Reading!

Keep Visiting, Keep updating Just one click & enter into the world of information. All the latest from Travel Business be it Tourism, Aviation, Hotels, Technology, Cruise, OTA, Visa & much more... MANTRA MEDIA GROUP

Whereabouts_in

www.facebook.com/ pages/whereabouts

MAHOTSAV 12-21 Feb 2016 MADHYA PRADESH

LAND ACTIVITIES

JAL MAHOTSAV A Visual & Experiential Spectre of Art & Activities

ÂÂBullock Cart ÂÂVolley Ball ÂÂTug of War ÂÂCycling ÂÂKite Flying ÂÂAdventure Zone ÂÂCamp Fire WATER ACTIVITIES ÂÂWind Surfing ÂÂParasailing ÂÂWater Skiing ÂÂJet Skiing ÂÂBanana Ride ÂÂWater Zorbing ÂÂMotor Boat ÂÂCruise Boat ISLAND ACTIVITIES ÂÂWater Activities ÂÂBird Watching ÂÂTreasure Hunt ÂÂTrekking ÂÂNight Camping AIR ACTIVITIES ÂÂScale the heights of the sky and have an aerial view of the water below... ÂÂHot Air Ballooning ÂÂParasailing ÂÂPara Motoring ÂÂStar Gazing ADVENTURE ZONE ÂÂBurma Bridge ÂÂArtificial Climbing Wall ÂÂTyre Swing ÂÂNet Walk ÂÂRope Drill CRAFT BAZAAR ÂÂHandloom Centre ÂÂHandicraft ÂÂPot Making ÂÂLac Artist ÂÂHenna (Mehendi) Artist ÂÂExhibition on Simhastha & MP Tourism

6 January 2016

The picturesque backdrop entices one with the promise of fun, excitement and adventure. Come aboard with your friends or make it an opportunity to bring your family closer. Either way, with a melange of mesmerising events and heart thumping adventure, Jal Mahotsav is sure to leave an eternal impression on your heart.

he ten-day ‘Jal Mahotsav’ festival will be inaugurated on February 12, 2016 in Hanuwantiya at Indra Sagar Dam, one of Asia’s largest man-made water reservoir. The primary objective of this event is to spark the festivities that become a tradition across generations. This incredible and unique celebration will also serve to reinforce Madhya Pradesh as one of the most sought after travel and leisure destinations in India. To celebrate the river that makes Madhya Pradesh what it is today, a visual and experiential spectre of art and activities, Madhya Pradesh Tourism is initiating a truly unique and mega annual event ‘Jal Mahotsav’. In Sanskrit, Narmada means ‘The Giver of Pleasure’; and

the river Narmada truly lives up to its name. Originating in Amarkantak, the river is 1300km long and is also the longest East-West flowing river in India. The river is abode to the oldest known human fossils, world heritage sites and many important chapters in history. Earlier known as Rewa (which means a ‘new beginning’ in Sanskrit) and Mekalsuta, the river Narmada is now also popularly known as the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh. And this lifeline of the State is about to take a turn. Beginning on February, 12th 2016, this 10 day event will bring forward an opportunity to experience the colourful customs and rich traditions of the tribes that prevail on the banks of the river. Through local art, craft, folk music, dance and

cuisines, one will be able to experience the true local flavour of the state. For the adrenaline junkies, this will be one actionpacked joyride taking them from one thrilling adventure sport to another. And for the art nomads, on offer would be the cultural treat and enigma. So gear up for this truly distinct festivity of India! This yearly mega event around Madhya Pradesh’s water reservoir is about to begin. The event is steadily gaining form in the oasis of tranquility at Hanuwantiya in the Khandwa District. The surreal explosion of adventure sports and cultural extravaganza over the serene and ethereal landscape of Indira Sagar is perhaps the perfect juxtaposition reminding us to cherish life to the fullest.

Madhya Pradesh is all set to become India’s first state to organise ‘Jal Mahotsav’ or ‘Water Tourism’ next month with a view to attract more tourists to the state. It is said to bring forth an opportunity to experience the customs and traditions of Madhya Pradesh through art, craft, folk music, dance and cuisines. “It is a first-of-its-kind event going to be organised in Madhya Pradesh. The aim is to encourage more tourists to this destination. The mega event will be inaugurated by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan,” said Tanvi Sundriyal, Additional Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC). “MP tourism has taken this initiative to raise awareness about the importance of water through Jal Mahotsav, which is a mix of cultural performances and adventure activities taking place against the background of the Indira Sagar Dam,”said Om Vijay Choudhary, executive director, MPSTDC. (L-R) Tanvi Sundriyal, Additional Managing Director and Om Vijay Choudhary, Executive Director of Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation during a press conference.

Jal Mohatsav will host a number of activities such as local sightseeing, adventure sports, tug of war, volleyball, paragliding, treasure hunt, and more.

January 2016 7

ASSOCIATION

Uttarakhand tourism professionals formed association Uttarakhand Tourism Professionals Association (UTPA), has been formed with the objective to leverage the growth of tourism for the people of the state. Rajesh Tiwari

or last couple of years Uttarakhand has been in limelight for natural disaster like flood that affected tourism to the state badly. Due to the untiring efforts of the State Tourism Department the facilities for tourist have been restored, and tourism is back on track. However, a lot has to be done to leverage the growth of tourism in the state of Uttarakhand, probably that’s the reason the private stakeholders of the industry have come forward under one umbrella, will be known as-Uttarakhand Tourism Professional Association (UTPA). The main objective of UTPA would be promoting tourism of the state through various ways

such as creating new products, addressing the challenges in front of travel fraternity and educating travel professionals. “Despite having a vast potential of tourism the state is not getting its deserving shares, off course-the natural calamity has been the biggest challenge, but apart from adventure and religious, we have not been able to evolve other potential segments of tourism, and that is another reason for not getting the large chunk of travellers to the state” said Ravi Gusain, President, UTPA.

For further growth of tourism we need to highlight other facets of the state such as homestays, village tours, cycling track, wildlife etc. and we will work in this area. Also, we will come up with a knowledge paper about the tourist destinations of the state and work accordingly.

“The state is getting an impressive number of travellers for religious tourism but that is one of the segments, for further growth of tourism we need to highlight other facets of the state tourism such as homestays, village tours, cycling track, wildlife etc. and we will work in this area. Also, we will come up with a knowledge paper about the tourist destinations of the state and work accordingly,” he added.

members have already joined the association. “Membership is open for the individual professionals of the travel and hospitality who belongs to the state of Uttarakhand. The association will go pan India and invite the tourism professional promoting Uttarakhand.”

Elaborating on the member strength and criteria for new joining Gusain said almost 500

In order to involve the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Uttarakhand, Ministry

Ravi Gusain, President UTPA of Tourism and industry professionals the association aims to organise a Convention by end of the year 2016. Elaborating on the formation of this association Gusain said that almost six months back all likeminded people came together with the idea of having an association to focus on promotion of Uttarakhand tourism. With 15 members in core committee including 5 office bearers the registration process is in place and the association will be launched officially in next couple of months. Headquartered in New Delhi, the association will have its zonal office in Dehradun along with the chaptres across the country.

Subcontinent getting set to rival Africa as a safari destination WH Desk

ith safari tourism in India growing by up to 20 percent per year, the nature travel charity TOFTigers has published a new, free Good Wildlife Travel Guide to India and Nepal offering a wealth of sustainable wildlife holiday options. Tiger Park Directors and tourism entrepreneurs are increasingly learning from many of Africa’s best conservancies and tourism models with a range of newly launched initiatives, including

8 January 2016

new wildlife conservancies, putting the Indian subcontinent, originally known as the land of big game, back on the map as one of the world’s great destinations for safari goers. The Good Wildlife Travel Guide profiles 23 wildlife parks with over 200 ecorated accommodation options and nature-related travel companies, including prestigious International names such as Abercrombie and Kent, Cox and Kings, with other well respected Indian based

operations like Banyan Tours, IWX, Naturetrek and others. The Guide is designed to enable travellers’ to experience the Indian subcontinent’s incredible natural heritage, in the knowledge that they are helping to safeguard its future. “With tourism one of the Indian Prime Minister’s five stated economic tools to lift its country out of poverty, the quest for sustainable tourism has taken on a new urgency. It’s heartening to see India looking to some of the superb

Julian Mathews Chairman TOFTigers

community benefitting wildlife conservancies bordering parks in Kenya and other areas as new models of safari tourism. This gives real hope that safari-goers visits will stimulate protection and community support,” said Julian Mathews, Chairman, TOFTigers.

ASSOCIATION

Outbound causes Inbound

OTOAI President

The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) believes that its participation in dialogue with Ministry of Tourism along with the representatives of inbound and domestic segments can boost the number of inbound travellers to India. Rajesh Tiwari

his idea sets a ton for new debate whether the foreign spender can help in foreign exchange earning in any way? It may encourage our industry stakeholders to express their point of view into the matter. Elaborating more on the importance of the outbound tourism for the growth of inbound segment, Guldeep Singh, President Outbound Tour Operators Association of India says, “Tourism is a twoway traffic with three important segments domestic, inbound and outbound. Therefore, the outbound segment should be considered as the third pillar of tourism, and the government

should make it stronger for overall growth of this industry in India.” Elaborating more on this, Singh said, “If Ministry of Tourism makes us a part of its dialogues in policy making for branding and marketing activities; we can share our experience, as we work closely with national tourism offices, and well aware with the culture, interest and behavior of the foreign tourist.” He further said, “By doing so the government can educate the outbound tourism professionals about the new schemes and products of tourism. And we can share this information with outbound travellers so that they can talk about their country (as per ministry’s recommendations) while interacting with foreign people and encourage them to visit India.” The OTOAI President is very confident that both of the segments (outbound and inbound) can walk hand in hand in much easier way, and beyond this the outbound segment has the ability to strengthen the

presence of Incredible India in foreign countries in numerous ways, starting from branding of the country. “If we could provide them promotional materials (T-shirt, caps etc.) printed ‘Incredible India’ over it, the outbound travellers can be the brand ambassadors of Incredible India,” shares Singh. Safety and security of the tourist is talk of the town, so it attracts his attention too. Sharing some ideas how to make it better Singh suggests that the government of India should come with advisories. He informed that in many countries the crime rate is higher than India but due to the government’s intervene no private stakeholder is allowed to share its opinion in case of any misfortune. “There is need to set up a system that can send advisories to all associations and tourism bodies irrespective of their segment in case of any miss happening. It will help us to reply our customers in one voice that will send a positive message to our business partners,” concludes Singh.

Guldeep Singh President OTOAI

Tourism is a twoway traffic with three important segments domestic, inbound and outbound. Therefore, the outbound segment should be considered as the third pillar of tourism, and the government should make it stronger for overall growth of this industry in India.

IATA Joint Bank Guarantee approved The Joint Bank Guarantee scheme has finally got the nod after intense perusal since the past 2 years. The Joint Bank Guarantee Scheme is pioneered by TAAI for over 20 years. This scheme was of immense benefit to the membership which is well acknowledged by the Airlines as well. WH Desk

ursuant to the discontinuance of the Joint Bank Guarantee Scheme about 2 years ago, TAAI made presentations to the APJC. With

the support of TAFI and the Airline Members, it was during 2014 APJC meeting that the Joint Bank Guarantee Scheme was approved by APJC to be placed before PA Conference for its inclusion under the forms of ‘Financial Security’. Further, at the PA Conference held at San Diego during October 2014, both at the PAPGJC and at the PA Conference; presentations were made by TAAI to convince the PAPGJC & the PA Conference to include Joint Bank Guarantee as one of the options for agencies to offer as Financial Security

to IATA which it did and voted in favour of the Joint Bank Guarantee Scheme. The PA Conference resolution then suggested that the IATA Legal and APJC must review the draft agreement. Since some clauses in the draft agreement were not in line with our presentation to determine the member liability, both associations were keen to have this agreement amended. After extensive deliberations, it was concluded that the Joint Bank Guarantee Scheme be resent to PA Conference for their final approval with the proposed agreement. During November

2015, IATA rolled out a mail ballot to PA Conference for the final approval of the Joint Bank Guarantee Scheme. “We are the first country in the world to offer Joint Bank Guarantee Scheme to our members as an alternate mode of financial security to IATA. This historic accomplishment is a big success. A big step forward indeed as the President and his current team get ready to take on the task of fulfilling more expectations their members have from them,” said Sunil Kumar, President, TAAI.

January 2016 9

ANALYSIS

OUTLOOK FOR 2016-AVIATION There is a good news story that the airlines are expected to generate an average net profit margin of 5.1 percent in the year 2016, this was revealed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA,). According to Centre for Aviation (CAPA) the technology that is expected to have major impact on commercial aviation in 2016 will be pertaining to providing personalised services and processing of passengers. Also Amadeus provides a nutshell outlook for 2016 of the Indian Aviation Industry. Here are the excerpts. WH Desk

AIRLINES CONTINUE TO IMPROVE PROFITABILITY 5.1 PERCENT NET PROFIT MARGIN FOR 2016

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced its airline industry outlook for 2016 which sees an average net profit margin of 5.1 percent being generated with total net profits of $36.3 billion. IATA also announced a revision to its airline industry outlook for 2015 upwards to a net profit of $33 billion (4.6 percent net profit margin) from $29.3 billion forecast in June. “The airline industry is delivering solid financial and operational performance. Passengers are benefiting from greater value than ever—with competitive airfares and product investments. Environmental performance is improving. More people and businesses are being connected to more places than ever. Employment levels are rising. And finally our shareholders are beginning to enjoy normal returns on their investments,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO. In 2016 total passenger numbers are expected to rise to 3.8 billion traveling over some 54,000 routes. The strengthening industry performance is being driven by a combination of factors:

10 January 2016

ÂÂLower oil prices (forecast to be $55/barrel Brent in 2015 and averaging a lower $51/ barrel in 2016) are giving airline profits a boost; however this is strongly moderated in many markets by the appreciation of the US dollar ÂÂStrong demand for passenger travel (+6.7 percent growth in 2015 and +6.9 percent in 2016) is making up for disappointing cargo demand growth (+1.9 percent in 2015; strengthening to 3.0 percent in 2016). Weak cargo performance reflects sluggish growth in trade ÂÂStronger economic performance in some key economies (including a faster than expected recovery in the Eurozone) is outweighing the overall impact of slower growth in China and the downturn in the Brazilian economy. Global GDP growth is expected to improve to 2.7 percent in 2016 (up from 2.5 percent for 2015) ÂÂEfficiency gains by airlines are illustrated by record high load factors (80.6 percent in 2015, tapering slightly to 80.4 percent in 2016). Capacity is increasing and is expected to

move ahead of demand growth in 2016. Yields, however, continue to deteriorate amid stiff competition Profitability in Perspective In both 2015 and 2016 the industry’s return on capital (8.3 percent and 8.6 percent respectively) is expected to exceed the industry’s cost of capital (estimated to be just under 7.0 percent in 2015 and 2016 because of low bond yields). “This is an historic achievement for an industry that has been notorious for destroying capital throughout its history. But let’s keep that achievement in perspective. With net profit margins still in the 5 percent range there is little buffer. Achieving returns that barely exceed the cost of capital means that airlines are finally meeting the minimum expectations of their shareholders. For most other industries this is the norm and not the exception. And this is coming as expectations build that we are nearing the top of the business cycle. On average airlines will still make less than $10 per passenger carried. The industry’s profitability is better described as ‘fragile’ than ‘sustainable’,” said Tyler.

Tony Tyler Director General and CEO IATA

There are several indicators that improvements in airline profitability are likely to slow. The first is found in the cyclical nature of the airline business. Historically the airline industry profitability cycle is 8-9 years from peak to peak (or trough to trough). The low point of this cycle was 2009. The second is the anticipation of the economic impact of interest rates rising from current exceptionally low levels. And lastly, airlines will soon have realized the maximum positive impact of lower fuel prices with most of the higher-than-market hedges due to unwind in 2016.

ANALYSIS Year 2016 Will Continue The Main Trends From 2015 Revenues: Revenues are expected to rise by 0.9 percent to $717 billion in 2016. Industry revenues peaked in 2014 at $758 billion, then declined to $710 billion in 2015 with the impact of the strengthening of the US dollar on non-dollar revenues. The increase in revenues in 2016 is expected to be wholly due to the contribution of the passenger side of the business ($525 billion in 2015 rising to $533 billion in 2016). Cargo revenues are expected to decline

slightly to $50.8 billion (from $52.2 billion in 2015). Demand: The demand for passenger travel is expected to grow by 6.9 percent (similar to the 6.7 percent growth expected in 2015) with 3.8 billion passengers expected to travel in 2016. Passenger capacity is expected to grow slightly ahead of demand at 7.1 percent which is acceleration from the 5.5 percent capacity expansion in 2015. Demand for air cargo is

expected to accelerate in 2016 to 3.0 percent, ahead of the 1.9 percent growth in 2015. This is slightly ahead of GDP growth which is expected to average 2.7 percent in 2016. Prior to the Global Financial Crisis this pace of economic growth would have generated much faster international trade and air cargo growth, but that pattern of growth appears to have stopped as companies bring supply chains closer to home. In total,

the industry is expected to uplift 52.7 million tonnes of cargo in 2016. Yields: The cost of travel and shipping is expected to continue to decline with average yields for passengers falling 5 percent and cargo falling by 5.5 percent in 2016. The pace of decline is a deceleration from 2015 when cargo yields are expected to fall by 18.0 percent and passenger yields by 11.7 percent.

TECHNOLOGY ON PASSENGER PROCESSING AND PERSONALIZED SERVICES technology and are already helping its passengers buy tickets, check in, getting time alerts and access flight status.

GLOBAL TRENDS There is a lot going on technology front in the global civil aviation. Technology that is expected to have major impact on commercial aviation in 2016 will be pertaining to providing personalized services and processing of passengers. ÂÂAirports are planning to invest in mobile technology to help the passenger navigate through the airport with maps and directions, provide updates on wait times at security and local traffic issues, access lounges, make payments, etc. Next three years will see airports setting up beacons in key locations around the terminal to provide interactive information to the passengers like nearby in-store promotion and offers, lounges, retails, etc. ÂÂAnother technology which the airlines and airports are investing in is real time business intelligence. With so much of data available pertaining to passengers collected through websites, GDS, mobile apps, etc., the airlines and airports are willing to use BI tools to monitor passenger flow, manage disruption before

Manvi Hooda Manager CAPA

event, predict passenger buying pattern, recommend products, etc. ÂÂAirlines and Airports are also showing considerable interest in accessing IT resources fast and real time through cloud services, instead of building IT infrastructure on valuable space within the airport.

INDIAN PERSPECTIVE Technology has always been integral part of aviation. As adoption of advanced technology and its potential continues to accelerate, Indian Airlines and Airports have also started to adopt various technologies to bring efficiencies within the internal systems and improve overall customer experience. For example, check-in kiosks, web check in, mobile apps, flight status through text messages and apps have been introduced. Some of the recent developments are: ÂÂAir India has decided to move IT to cloud and is exploring the use of iPads on its flights to help the pilots and crew to

remove bulky cockpit manuals from the planes to reduce weight. ÂÂDelhi International Airport, T3, has the baggage handling system with advance security features that expedite sorting, screening, and any manual inspections when necessary. Many airlines now accept a mobile boarding pass on a passenger’s smartphone, eliminating the need to carry printed passes. ÂÂIn Dec 2015, Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport introduced e-boarding facility to domestic fliers which is first of its kind in India.

Based on inputs provided by Manvi Hooda, Manager at CAPA.

ÂÂIn a survey conducted by SITA, it was found that Airlines and Airports are investing more and more in mobile technology to provide personalized services to the passengers through apps. Airlines are ahead of airports in investing in mobile

January 2016 11

ANALYSIS INDIAN AVIATION INDUSTRY OVERVIEW OF 2015 & OUTLOOK FOR 2016

oised to become the world’s third largest travel market by 2026, the Indian aviation industry is on a high growth trajectory. The Indian aviation Industry is one of the five fastest growing aviation markets. With 150 million flyers daily, the industry is growing rapidly marking a year-to-date growth of 16.5%. Forecasting the growth trends for coming decade, experts foresee the industry growing at over 10 % annually, corresponding to double the average global growth rate.

The present year has been marked by some concrete initiatives such as the introduction of the E-visa scheme. The aviation market has also experienced a buoyant growth with Indigo receiving a successful listing and valuation of current domestic airlines increasing significantly. VIEWPOINT

Additionally, the recent initiatives by the government in the latest draft aviation policy to enhance regional connectivity and subsidise air travel on these routes along with the development of airports in Tier-I and Tier-II cities projects have been aimed at creating an enterprising and an optimistic view of the Industry. However, the industry still faces grave challenges in relation to aggressive price cuts, high interest payments, insufficient infrastructure and shortage of skilled and trained manpower that need addressing. Furthermore, the reduction in ATF prices and state tax reforms is yet to be experienced by airlines and passengers. While the Indian aviation industry is bound to experience continued growth in 2016, there are issues that still need to be addressed. The cost of air

he year 2015 witnessed a surge in supply of smartphone apps at travellers’ disposal, exploring everything from language translation apps to maps, carrentals, travel booking, and of course customised travel protection. This trend has surely reduced the constraints that hindered past generations of travellers. Technology has also helped companies offer better customer service. Travellers no longer have to deal with an automated message or being put on hold,as theirqueries or grievances are addressedmore promptly and keep them up-to-date on any travel news or trends. This year, we can look forward to augmented reality gadgets,

12 January 2016

transport is still high for nearly 40 per cent of the upwardly mobile middle class, a majority of the country’s population. In the light of the same, India would be only well placed to achieve its vision of becoming the third-largest aviation market by 2020 and the largest by 2030, with the right infrastructure, policies and relentless focus on quality, cost and passenger interest. TOURISM HIGHLIGHTS Rail will go high speed and cross-border A few years back, who would have anticipated that it would one day be possible to travel overland from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore in just 2.5 hours? The era of rail has arrived in this part of the world, with high speed projects zipping through the corridors of Asia – Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, India and China are all on the case. High speed rail is commonly viewed as delivering economic, environmental and social benefits. Airports as a destination

Dev Karvat Founder and CEO TrawellTag Cover-More India

wearable technology and robotics to create innovative travel solutions that will facilitate non-stop travel.

Imagine airports becoming destinations, not just stopovers. As demand for air travel increases, this might become reality sooner rather than later. We have already seen this with airports building their own hotel complexes in an effort to transform themselves from travel hubs into standalone destinations. Let’s see what they hold ready for travellers in 2016! The demise of seat-back entertainment After years of big investment, airlines have already started talking about the plan to toss seat-back entertainment and instead stream to travellers’ devices. Indeed, some airlines

Ankur Bhatia Executive Director Bird Group in other parts of the world have indicated they may do so as early as next year. It may be a bold move, passengers may end up with a better entertainment experience and a lower cost to the airline. All you need is a well charged device. Who will be game to make the first move in Asia Pacific? Robots take over traditional service roles While we saw small steps into this space in 2015 it hasn’t taken off – we think 2016 will be the year. Skynet, anyone? We are not talking about robots taking over the world, but we expect to see the use of artificial intelligence to bring about new levels of automation, while allowing “real” people to deliver a personalised service and that human touch. Managed travel 3.0 If technology is a creator of experience, then managed travel is most definitely an instrument of change. The corporate traveller is expecting more, and knows that technology can and should support a more connected experience within the boundaries of corporate policy. They know professional and personal can co-exist in business travel. Managed travel will make strides in 2016.

Based on inputs provided by Ankur Bhatia, Executive Director, Bird Group.

TRANSPORT CHARTER

Baron Aviation launches BookMyCharters WH Desk

ookMyCharters is a solution for air charter users, who are looking at an alternative to the offline model. Currently in an offline model customer gets limited choice of aircraft and it takes anywhere between 2 hours to 48 hours to generate a quote. With BookMyCharters , the customer can now book a private jet with in as much time and ease as he books a normal commercial airline ticket on line. BookMyCharters a globally scalable platform is geared to address the US$ 20 billion global opportunity. The platform is a substitute to high value private jet ownership and is disruptive to most popular current aircraft chartering options like fractional ownership and jet

card programs. The company endeavours to be a global player in the air charter market and reach out to mature markets like America and Europe and emerging markets like Africa in the coming years, either directly or by engaging partnerships with local players. “Behind the simple and user friendly customer interface is a robust proprietary technology platform that automates several manual processes and crunches multiple variables through our advanced algorithms to reduce the entire process of searching and quoting an aircraft to less than a minute”, said Rajeev Wadhwa, Chairman and CEO, Baron Aviation. The technology behind the platform is proprietary and patents for this innovation have been filed.

“BookMyCharters management believes that it will be able to migrate 30-40% of current air charter users to the platform within the first year of its operations. It also expects to grow the existing market by 30%, bringing in new customers especially from non metro cities and international travellers who can now book and pay online. “By launching BookMyCharters we want to corporatize the General Aviation industry in India by aggregating Aircraft inventory and consolidating customers and thus bringing in the highest level of professionalism and transparency in Air Charter industry.” said Rajeev Wadhwa. “The distinct advantage of our company vis-à-vis any other platform is that we are

AIRPORT

GVK MIAL wins Golden Peacock Award WH Desk

The Golden Peacock secretariat received 77 responses this year,

not just a lead generation platform but an end to end service fulfilment platform, with backend integrated with charter operators, and a team that is geared to deliver a world class experience to private jet charter users” Rajeev Wadhwa further added.

Qatar Airways unveils new campaign

VK Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), a joint venture between a GVK-led consortium and the Airports Authority of India, has been declared as the winner of the ‘Golden Peacock Award for Risk Management’ for the year 2015 by an awards jury under the Chairmanship of Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India. The award was presented at a specially organised presentation ceremony, the ‘Golden Peacock Awards Nite’, on December 18, 2015 at Hotel ITC Windsor Manor, Bengaluru in the presence of a distinguished gathering of business leaders during IOD’s National Convention on Risk Management, which was held at the same venue.

Rajeev Wadhwa Chairman and CEO Baron Aviation

of which 31 applications were shortlisted for final selection and only 12 were awarded after careful scrutiny through a three-tier assessment process managed by a group of Risk Management experts. The award was conferred on a company each from twelve different industry sectors. MIAL secured the honour in Transportation (Aviation). The

Golden Peacock award comes on the back of 38 other awards and accolades that MIAL has won in the year 2015 for the world-class and passenger-friendly facilities and services at the international airport, including the Pranaam GVK Guest Services, the GVK Lounge, the Airport Garden, the architecture and structural design of the terminal and other features.

atar Airways launched its new global brand campaign and tagline ‘Going Places Together’ recently in New York. Elaborating on the initiative, Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, said, “This campaign is all about the coming of age for this airline taking a life of its own with a future that blossoms into a treasure each and every day. It’s about going places – literally and figuratively. We value each journey we take with our guests on board, and the overall experience of going places together.” Drawing together a series of interconnected themes, the re-brand is a fresh and even more emotionally engaging direction for the airline, which has developed its messaging strategy to reflect its evolution as a brand and its global role as a leader in the airline industry.

January 2016 13

TRANSPORT

AAI launches NOCAS Version 2

India plans to auction seats to foreign airlines

NOC Application System (NOCAS) Version 2 was launched by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju in New Delhi on 30th December, 2015.

WH Desk

peaking on the occasion, the minister highlighted the importance of transparency in day to day functioning and applauded the action of AAI in this direction. AAI has been entrusted with the responsibility of issuance of ‘No Objection Certificate’ for height clearance for structures around the airports to achieve the objective of flight safety. Until now, procession of NOC cases involved time consuming manual calculations and verification process resulting in lead times of six weeks or more for the issue of NOC. NOCAS Version 2.0 has been developed by AAI’s in-house NOC team in close collaboration with NIIT with user friendly automated features. This version provides access to Urban and Town Planners as well as individual applicants, to verify status of NOC issued. Colour Coded Zoning Maps

P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju Minister of Civil Aviation Govt of India

(CZZM) are available for 12 major cities including the four metros. RN Choubey, Secretary, Civil Aviation mentioned that this is a praiseworthy step towards implementation of Prime Minister’s programme of ‘e-governance’ and ‘ease of doing business’ and shall be considered as a best gift to the nation on the occasion of New Year. RK Srivastava, Chairman, Airports Authority of India, complimented the team AAI in general and ANS Directorate in particular for working out such an innovative and useful tool in the public domain.

Greenfield airport at Bhiwadi WH Desk

overnment of India has granted site clearance to Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (DMICDC) for setting up of a Greenfield Airport for public use near Bhiwadi, District Alwar, Rajasthan on 18.11.2015.The timeline for construction and the budget

14 January 2016

of airport projects depends upon various factors such as land acquisition, availability of mandatory clearances, financial closure, etc. by the individual operator for which the details are submitted to Ministry of Civil Aviation during the ‘in-principle’ approval stage.

ndia could become the first country globally to ‘auction’ seats that foreign airlines want to operate to India. Earlier India used to grant seats to foreign airlines only after completing negotiations. The idea behind the move is that international airlines that have already exhausted their entitlement of seats they can operate to India will need to buy additional capacity through an auction, informed a senior official of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. At present, it is the Indian government and the foreign state from which the airline is operating that decides on allowing more flights. Currently these seats are given free of charge. The idea of having an auction is one of the proposals put

forward in the draft civil aviation policy which is currently being finalised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. One of the reasons behind this idea is that airlines from India are unable to operate to many of the countries with which India has exchanged air services bilateral agreements even as airlines from these countries have exhausted their quota of seats and are eager to expand their services to India. The Ministry is also hoping that the money collected from the auction of the seats can be utilised to promote regional air connectivity within the country, which is one of the key objectives of the draft civil aviation policy. The draft policy has suggested auctioning of seats for airlines which operate from countries which are within a 5,000 km from India.

IndiGo expands its domestic footprint with 24 new flights IndiGo is enhancing its customer experience in the domestic market with the launch of twenty four new flights connecting key cities within the country, at the start of this new year. WH Desk

ffective 07 January, 2016, IndiGo is launching twelve flights connecting Delhi to Trivandrum, Bengaluru to Vishakhapatnam, Bengaluru to Bhubaneshwar, Ahmedabad to Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar to Kolkata and Chennai to Trivandrum. With effect from January 14, 2016, IndiGo will launch its 6th daily non-stop flight between Chennai and Hyderabad. Additionally, IndiGo is also launching ten flights on January 15, 2016, connecting Bengaluru to Kolkata, Delhi to

Ahmedabad, Delhi to Bengaluru, Delhi to Kolkata and Hyderabad to Mumbai; With 671 daily flights connecting 39 destinations, these new flights will allow travellers to experience the matchless on-time performance IndiGo is synonymous with, thus further consolidating the airline’s position as the fastest growing airline in India. “We will continue to expand our network to meet the requirements of our business and leisure travellers wherever they demand it. We are determined to provide the best travel experience to everyone who flies with IndiGo, as we continue to offer them on-time, hassle free and an always affordable flying experience,” said Aditya Ghosh, President IndiGo.

IN CONVERSATION

In Conversation with

Hanneli Slabber With her great time in India as the Country Manager, Hanneli Slabber has acted like a brand ambassador for South African Tourism. Her in-depth knowledge of country’s beautiful landscape and the exceptionally sharp professional attitude brought in the right kind of packaging and attractive marketing campaigns that boosted the number of travellers to South Africa. A fantastic orator with phenomenal energy and super efficient trait, Hanneli has earned a place in this industry that is unmatched. In a very short span of time she has won numerous accolades from the Indian travel industry. ‘Most Influential Person 2014 (in the Travel Industry) and ‘Women Leadership Achievement Award 2014’ are the best titles among them. She unfolds a number of interesting facts of her professional and personal sides in an exclusive communication with Whereabouts. Here are the excerpts.

India is the one market where nothing is written in stone, where good ideas will be adopted with enthusiasm, regardless of what the rulebook says.

Fav4 DESTINATION: INDIA, I have always thought Lucknow to be the biggest gem in the crown - until I visited Srinagar. Today it is difficult for me to decide between the two... and as I am thinking about it, I remember the great holidays in Kerala, in Goa, in Leh... OVERSEAS: I love developing countries - I love the colour, the music, the different rhythm they seem to have vs the more developed tourism spots. CUISINES: I have an enormous love affair with food - I love all food, the spicier the better! Add to that Indian bread, kulfis - all the things that stay on your hips forever! HOTEL: Grootbos in South Africa, the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, the Shangri La in Hong Kong AIRLINES: I must admit, I don’t have a particular favourite here.

16 January 2016

IN CONVERSATION What are the latest initiatives or developments that you would like to share with us? We have seen huge developments in terms of product offering, as well as the way we operate in the Indian market. We have seen a lot of refinement in the ‘Made for India in South Africa’ campaign by South African products and service providers. In fact, they are so entrenched in the Indian market, that we are now getting ‘Made for Bangalore in South Africa’ and ‘Made for Kolkata in South Africa’ offerings from the various South African players in the market. We have over 60, 000 registered products in South Africa and our product offering resonates with our Indian travellers, one of the biggest complaints has always been ‘I wish we had more time’ - we cannot give them more time, but at least this way we can give our travellers the opportunity to do more. Also, we have had some challenges with airlift however the changes are either already implemented or coming soon! Our Indian guests, regardless of where in India they reside, now have a smooth, costeffective way of getting to South Africa. We have had a change in our visa regulations that also caused slight irritation the beginning of the year, but we are happy to report that we have not only managed to refine some regulations to make the application smoother exclusively for our Indian travellers, but we have also increased our staffing complement to ensure that processing time is as short as possible.

How has been the growth of South Africa Tourism in 2015? The 2015 has been a spectacular year for us. Working with the Indian trade has also reached new heights in terms of execution and depth of engagement. Our roadshow in 2015 was the biggest we have ever hosted in India with 65 South African products and over 1 000 Indian delegates. It has been hailed by all as incredibly important platform to not only cement existing relationships, but also to introduce new products and experiences. We have hosted another Learn SA roadshow in July/August with TAAI and have reached over 1700 Indian agents in a face to face situation.

Kindly throw some light on your plans and targets for the year 2016? We have big dreams for 2016 and are determined to pursue it. Our big billboard and television campaign is breaking in February and we have a huge surprise planned during the T20 World Cup. We have

done some really exciting co-promotions with the Proteas during their India tour. In 2016 we are going to see a lot of consolidation of what is considered leapof-faith ideas in 2015 - ideas that will be refined and professionally polished. We get an enormous amount of enquiries from new Indian companies that are offering or target segment specific, and this is a global trend, because it has been exciting for us to match them to like-minded companies in South Africa.

Being a long haul destination, (in active presence of short haul destinations in India) how challenging is promoting South Africa? Long haul destinations have the drawback of time and they costs more, so you need to be able to create huge value once people are in South Africa. We are fortunate that we have such value- 60 000 registered product, provide variety, something for every budget, etc. Also, Indian travellers are hugely benefitting from the strength of the Indian rupee against the South African Rand. The INR has strengthen around 20 percent against the ZAR over the last couple of years and the net result of that is that ground arrangements in South Africa has actually became cheaper. We have so much to offer in terms of number of activities and variety of experiences, that we have seen our Indian travellers capitalising on this hugely instead of pocketing the saving, electing to extend their stay in South Africa and doing more activities. There is so much to do, nobody want to miss out on the multiple possibilities of having a great experience. Are you planning any joint promotional activity with your national carrier or any other? We will work with any airline that will take people to South Africa. We have great relationships across the board and will always work with them to ensure the best for the travellers fare, connection times, etc.

How do you see the growth of South Africa Tourism in next couple of years? Working with the Indian trade has reached new heights in terms of execution and depth of engagement. We always ask for trade input and that has been great in terms of the effectiveness of our campaigns and training sessions. Our joint marketing agreements for trade continue to grow and the activities continue to be more interactive with a wider reach year after year.

tete-e-tete How has your Travel & Tourism journey been over the years? Especially your time spent in India? My five years in India can truly be termed the best years of my life. India has been particularly exciting because we managed to introduce a whole raft of new ideas and innovations into how we do business and the market was not only receptive, but interacted positively enabling us to be better and to do better. I often get asked in articles about expats in India, what is the key personality trait you need to look for when interviewing, and I always go back to the same line: employ people that understand how to hustle. India is the one market where nothing is written in stone, where good ideas will be adopted with enthusiasm, regardless of what the rulebook says. This is the market where you dream big - and your biggest dream, would still be smaller than what you can achieve.

How would you describe yourself? I love everything in excess - from food to the Proteas to life.

What were the key turning points of your professional side? One of the reasons that the South African government invests in tourism, is because it is the quickest way to create jobs. As a sector, we have more potential than any other economic cluster. Being able to work in an environment where you can help in creating jobs and contribute to the wellbeing of your fellow citizens have been incredibly rewarding. I cannot begin t0 list the people that have made me smarter on how to go about this, that have contributed to my thinking and have constantly inspired me to believe that we can do so much more.

Where have you travelled last/ recently with your family? We were incredibly fortunate to spend a holiday in Sri Lanka over this last December. It has been an incredible experience and will definitely go down as one of our best family holidays ever.

Do you have any favourite childhood travel memory? There are so many memories to choose from - annual Christmas holidays at the beach, winter holidays in Kruger National Park - and what I remember more is the people that I spent them with, rather than the actual destination.

January 2016 17

MoT

Ministry of Culture Year End Review 2015 We had a relook on the important initiatives and priority programmes launched by the Ministry of Culture Govt of India in the year 2015. These initiatives are expected to play a key role in the growth of tourism in India. Here are the excerpts.

proposed project was placed before the SFC, chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Culture in its meeting held on 14-12-2015. The Committee after due discussions / deliberations approved the same at a cost of Rs.180 crores. This project is likely to be accomplished in three years & nine months period.

WH Desk

3D PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE ARTEFACTS

SWACHH BHARAT – SWACHH SMARAK 25 ADARSH SMARAK

National Museum New Delhi has already digitized approximately 15,759 antiquities in 2D format and now with the new vision of the Ministry of Culture, a 3D digitization Pilot project has been initiated to take it to another level. Till 31st December, 2015 around 50 objects in 3D anaglyph shall be readily available.

All the 25 monuments will be conserved on project mode basis. ASI has already concluded an MoU with ONGC for providing these amenities at Taj Mahal at an estimate of Rs.20.75 crore. Similar MoUs will be concluded for 5 more monuments. ASI also proposed to conclude MoU with BHEL and NBCC for providing such monuments with these facilities. Five more monuments have been covered under Clean India campaign.

E-TICKETING OF ALL TICKETED MONUMENTS E-ticketing facility has been launched in coordination with Canara Bank with the aim of providing online booking facility for visitors. This facility has already been started at several monuments that include Taj Mahal in Agra and Humayun’s Tomb, Safdarjung Tomb, Tughlakabad Fort, Old Fort, Red Fort, Kotla Firozshah and JantarMantar in New Delhi. COMPENDIUM OF ARTISTS AND ARTISANS-CULTURAL MAPPING OF INDIA The mandate of Ministry of Culture to preserve, promote, explore and share India’s culture and heritage along with its ethos and values for the benefit of mankind. In pursuance of this vision, among others, Ministry of Culture has been administering a few finance-based schemes to identify, nurture hand-hold and train the upcoming and budding artistes on a sustained basis. NSD’S RE-DEVELOPMENT PROJECT The Committee, inter-alia, made various recommendations including Re-Development Project to provide NSD a new campus. The

NATIONAL VIRTUAL LIBRARY The National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) has been envisaged as the platform which would bring together all information generated in India and about India and make such information accessible to the citizens through user friendly search interfaces. A number of web based information services have been conceived to make best use of information technology. WEBSITE AND GAGAN BASED APP FOR NMA PERMISSIONS Gagan based App has been developed by ISRO in consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India which will enable the applicant to upload the location of the plot vis-a-vis the monument/site through geocoordinates in the ISRO BHUVAN Map. It will shortly be integrated with the web portal of NMA.

E GOVERNANCE A new website of the Ministry of Culture and Mobile App has been launched. The Ministry is also now available on following social and digital media platforms. Social Media Platforms ÂÂTwitter: https://twitter.com/ IndiaCultureGoi (6720 Followers) ÂÂFace book: https://www.facebook.com/ indiaculture.goi (9435 Likes) ÂÂYou Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ sanskritigoi(153 subscribers and 8000 views) ÂÂGroup on MyGov (https://mygov.in/group/ ministry-culture/)

ITDC

AIHTM focuses on job-oriented short/long term courses WH Desk

ddressing a gathering of government dignitaries, industry captains and international business delegations from China and Bangladesh at The Travel India 2016 conference Anup K Chatterji, GM-HRD, ITDC put emphasis on the need to meet the demand of skilled and trained manpower and to bridge the current skill gap in the hospitality sector. With an aim

18 January 2016

to introspect the implications of new set of policies adopted by Ministry of Tourism the two day conference and exposition on Travel and Tourism sector in India was organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) held at The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata, Speaking on the increasing demand for skilled manpower in the sector, Chatterji talked about ITDC’s effort to provide hospitality education to

students as well as certifying and upgrading skills of existing service providers. “Ashok Institute of Hospitality & Tourism Management (AIHTM), a hospitality training institute and the HRD division of India Tourism Development Corporation aims to work towards making a difference to the academic culture for the students by offering a globally competitive curriculum and infrastructure.”

He further added that, “Looking at the future requirement, AIHTM is focusing more on job-oriented short term and long term courses, with a recently launched three year degree course in Hospitality and Hotel Administration in affiliation with the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology.”

HOSPITALITY

Clarks Inn: March of the century With the addition of 21 hotels, the total tally reaches 65 hotels in 2015 as the company now eyes the magical figure of 100 hotel portfolio by the end of 2016 Rajesh Tiwari

ery few hotel companies in India have been able to leverage the potential of growth that the Indian market offers to hotel companies here. And this list significantly narrows when we consider home grown hotel companies and brands. In essence, there have been many start ups but few successes. However, it has been a different story for one company that flaunts its USP as ‘Inns that care’ attracting independent hotel owners, developers and potential investors to make a beeline to partner with the company and manage their properties. In business for ten year but with a legacy that pre-dates India’s independence, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels is the one name that has emerged as probably the biggest success story in India, particularly in the last few years. Formed in 2005 the hotel company today boasts of one of the biggest national footprints with no less than 65 hotels including an operational portfolio of 35 properties! “There was a time when we were striving hard to attract hotel owners and developers to work with us. Today by the grace of god, our relentless endeavour and services and the massive trust that our business partners and owners have placed in us, our portfolio is 65 hotels properties including about 35 hotels currently under operation. Last year was particularly significant for us as Clarks Inn Group of Hotels not

only witnessed a strong growth, both in terms of overall sign-ups and new operational properties added to the portfolio, but also in terms of our footprints extending to several new and strategic markets. We forayed in new markets like Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, where we have operational properties now,” said S N Srivastava, President & Co-founder, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels. Clarks Inn witnessed its biggest growth so far in 2015 as it signed and opened a total of 21 new properties last year with the total tally reaching 65. New Hotels opened and signed in 2015 include Ara, Buxor, Badami, Bhagalpur, Bijapur, Bhimtal, Dalhosie, Dehradun, Gangtok, Hampi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mussoorie, Nwa Shahar (Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar), Noida, Pathankot, Phagwara, Purnia, Rudrapur, Shimla, Vishakhapatnam. Of these, eight properties that include Badami, Bhimtal, Dalhousie, Dehradun, Gangtok, Jaipur, Shimla, Vishakhapatnam have become operational in 2015. Clarks Inn is now eyeing the magical 3-digit figure that it expects to reach by the end of 2016. So what has changed in the last few years? Srivastava says “A few years ago we would probably single out Uttar Pradesh for our significantly strong presence. But now it also includes Karnataka, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Delhi NCR, Himachal Pradesh, among others.” Very importantly, Srivastava points out that the company has continued to open new markets all across India where few have dared venture and have also brought new business to the

S N Srivastava, President & Co-founder, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels

There was a time when we were striving hard to attract hotel owners and developers to work with us. Today by the grace of god, our relentless endeavour and services and the massive trust that our business partners and owners have placed in us, our portfolio is 65 hotels properties including about 35 hotels currently under operation. NEW HOTELS OPENED AND SIGNED IN 2015: Ara, Buxor, Badami, Bhagalpur, Bijapur, Bhimtal, Dalhosie, Dehradun, Gangtok, Hampi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mussoorie, Nwa Shahar (Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar), Noida, Pathankot, Phagwara, Purnia, Rudrapur, Shimla, Vishakhapatnam OPERATIONAL PROPERTIES ADDED IN 2015: Badami, Bhimtal, Dalhousie, Dehradun, Gangtok, Jaipur, Shimla, Vishakhapatnam market paving way for others in the industry to follow in those markets. “Who would believe that in Bihar we have operational and signed up properties in places like Ara, Buxor, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Purnia and Sitamarhi. We are expecting to sign a couple of more properties in the state.

Similarly in Jharkhand we have a property in Deogarh and expecting our presence to expand soon to the state capital Ranchi and Dhanbad. In 2016 we have set our sight on the three digit figure. For us 2016 will mark the march of the century for the century,” said a confident Srivastava.

January 2016 19

HOSPITALITY

Clarks Inn Hotels’ Growing Clarks Inn, Badami Clarks Inn Badami became the fourth hotel property in the State of Karnataka with the others being located in Bengaluru, Hubli and Gadag. The 43-key Clarks Inn Badami is a vibrant business cum leisure hotel in the heart of Badami, a city popularly known for its rock cut caves and structural temples. The hotel is strategically located in the heart of the city with close proximity to the Badami caves, Agastya lake, Bootnath temple and Banashankari temple amongst many others prominent tourist landmarks.

JK Clarks Exotica, Dalhousie JK Clarks Exotica Dalhousie marked the debut of Clarks Inn Group of Hotels in the very picturesque hill state of Himachal Pradesh further strengthening company’s portfolio in leisure destinations. The property, perched beautifully on a hill slope offers some extraordinary and breathtaking view of the Himalayan ranges. Now one of Dalhousie’s hospitality landmarks, JK Clarks Exotica Dalhousie offers 35 spacious rooms including five suites and 30 Deluxe rooms and a host of other facilities including from a roof-top restaurant and bar to meeting spaces.

Lavanya Clarks Inn, Bhimtal Late last year the opening of Lavanya Clarks Inn at Bhimtal marked the further strengthening of Clarks In Group of Hotels growing portfolio in leisure destinations. Located near Nainital in the hill state of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 1370 meters, Lavanya Clarks Inn offers an amazing lake view featuring 25 luxurious rooms and suites, one banquet halls, Terrace Grill, Bridge a 40 cover multicuisine restaurant and Illusion a 40 covers resto-bar.

Imperial Clarks Inn, Dehradun Clarks Inn Group of Hotels has emerged as one of leading hotel companies in the hill state of Uttarakhand with a strong presence that included properties in Corbett, Bhimtal, Binsar, Haldwani, Haridwar. This presence has further strengthened now with the addition of Imperial Clarks Inn in the state capital Dehradun. The property offers spacious rooms equipped with all the modern day facilities required by the discerning business and leisure travelers. Clarks Inn’s signature all day multi-cuisine dinning ‘The Bridge’ and ‘Illusion’ – the bar are some of the other important additions to the hotel offerings.

20 January 2016

HOSPITALITY

National Footprint in 2015 Terrace Valley Clarks Inn, Gangtok Terrace Valley Clarks Inn marked another historic addition to the growing portfolio of Clarks Inn Group of Hotels. Historic because the property is not only the company’s first in the state of Sikkim but also in the undiscovered North-East of India. One of the most identified and a super deluxe luxury resort in the state capital Gangtok, the Terrace Valley Clarks Inn, with the mighty Kanchenjunga setting up as its backdrop in the distance, has Clarks Inn brand now flying high at the entrance of the country’s breathtakingly beautiful North-East. The hotel boasts of luxuriously furnished 53 oversized rooms across different categories.

Ashiana Clarks Inn Shimla Year 2015 was particularly significant for Clarks Inn Group of Hotels foray in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The company debuted in the state with its first property opening door in Dalhousie and that was soon followed with another addition in the state capital Shimla, the undisputed queen of the hills and India’s British era summer capital. Ashiana Clarks Inn Shimla, surrounded by the beautiful view of Shivalik Ranges, is located at Chotta Shimla. The hotel offers 27 well-furnished rooms and suites along with its signature multicuisine restaurant brand “The Bridge’ and ‘Illusion’ – the bar and host of other amenities pampering guests to hilt.

Clarks Inn Jaipur Openning of Clarks Inn Jaipur was another landmark last year with Clarks Inn Group of Hotels establishing presence in the capital of the desert state of Rajasthan. The historic city of Jaipur has long been on the wish list of the company that it realized in 2015. Clarks Inn Jaipur has 39 rooms including 3 Superior and 36 Deluxe rooms, complete with all the modern amenities to give utmost comfort to its valued guest. The restaurant ‘Bridge’ and the lounge bar ‘Illusion’ are sure to indulge travellers’ taste for local cuisine.

Rockdale Clarks Inn Suites Vishakhapatnam The year 2015 continued to be a landmark and one of the most unforgettable years month after month. Another red-letter day arrived when Clarks Inn Group of Hotels opened its first property in the southern India state of Andhra Pradesh in the coastal city of Vishakhapatnam. Rockdale Clarks Inn Suites Vishakhapatnam, is a vibrant business cum leisure hotel in the heart of the business capital of Andhra. The hotel offers 48 luxuriously appointed rooms, extensive meetings and banqueting facilities. The dining options include Terrace Grill, Delhi Diner - an 80 cover specialty restaurant and Delhi Galli – the Street Side Fast Food Shop.

January 2016 21

HOSPITALITY

Carlson Rezidor signs seven hotels in Jammu & Kashmir Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group signed an agreement with Mushtaq Group of Hotels to open seven properties comprising 817-rooms under the Radisson Blu, Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM brands, in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. WH Desk

he seven hotels will be located in the main gateway markets throughout the state and will position Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group as the largest international hotel operator in Jammu and Kashmir. The first hotel is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2016 in Srinagar. “This multiple-hotel portfolio deal underscores the rapid rate of Carlson Rezidor’s expansion and reinforces our leading position in India, a key market that we remain deeply committed to. We are pleased

to be forging a new partnership and will be employing our proven strategy of signing conversions as well as new builds to establish a strong brand presence efficiently and expediently,” said Thorsten Kirschke, President, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. Raj Rana, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group added, “With the signing of this portfolio, we will make inroads into the summer and winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as provide our Club Carlson members an international brand choice in high demand leisure driven markets such as Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg.” Across India, Carlson Rezidor has close to 120 hotels in operation and under development. Currently, the group’s footprint extends across

Crown-it partners exclusively with OYO Rooms The strategic alliance between Crown-it and OYO Rooms is aimed at providing the finest budget stays and cashbacks to Crown-it users by adding OYO Rooms’ selection to its ‘Hotel’ category. WH Desk

he latest partnership will allow Crown-it users to book discounted lodging across various cities, for both business and leisure trips. The API integration between Crown-it and OYO Rooms is set to simplify the entire process of searching, selection and booking a room. With nearly 500+ OYO properties going live with the launch of this integration, the company will bring added value to its users’ hotel reservations as well as increased convenience, right at their fingertips.

22 January 2016

Sameer Grover, Founder, Crown-it, said, “This partnership with OYO Rooms gives us a chance to add to our range of options in our Hotel category, and allows us to assist our users in their search for affordable, value-for-money hotel reservations. Given the popularity of OYO rooms, we are confident that our users will benefit from this association.” Abhineet Sawa, VP – Marketing, OYO Rooms said, “We are thrilled to bring OYO Rooms’ exciting value-proposition to Crown-it’s young and engaged user-base. Our standardized offerings priced affordably will enable Crown-it users to plan more journeys, get rewarded and discover the joy of travel with OYO Rooms.”

(L T0 R) K B Kachru, Mushtaq Chaya, Thorsten Kirschke and Raj Rana at the conference

45 Indian cities, including 14 state capitals. By 2020, Carlson Rezidor aims to have more than 170 hotels in operation and pipeline in India. The group’s growing brand portfolio in the country spans the mid-scale to upper upscale segments. In 2015, the hotel group signed 15 new agreements in India, indicative of the strength of its brands and relationships. “We are excited to tie up with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

We are a leading hospitality group with ownership across all major locations in Jammu & Kashmir. We have grown rapidly during the last decade and aim to continue this momentum. Our vision is to promote the state and make it a preferred tourist destination not only for travellers within the country but globally,” said Mushtaq Chaya, Chairman, Mushtaq Group of Hotels.

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts enters in Macau WH Desk

t. Regis Hotels & Resorts announced the muchawaited debut of The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central in Macau. The opening of this property marks the brand’s seventh hotel in Greater China, and will be followed by the unveiling of five new St. Regis hotels in 2016 in the world’s most coveted destinations, including Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi in Malaysia, the Maldives, Changsha in China and Cairo, Egypt. “There is an ever-increasing demand for luxury around the globe and Macau is no exception, especially with the recent proliferation of luxury brands in the market and a record number of visitors to the destination in 2015,” said Jim Petrus, Global

Brand Leader, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. “The original St. Regis hotel opened in New York City in 1904, and the debut of The St. Regis Macao marks the brand’s 36th property, following openings this year in Istanbul, Mumbai and Dubai.” Owned by Venetian Orient Limited, an affiliate of Sands China Ltd, the 400-room hotel is set to elevate Macau’s luxury hospitality landscape with its uncompromising experiences, signature butler service, exceptional culinary venues and grand design – all underpinned by the St. Regis brand’s legacy.

They being the accommodation specialist, we get the very best. - Travelguru.com | India

In case of a heart attack, who will you trust more? The general physician or the cardiologist? It’s only natural to depend more on the expertise of a specialist. The chances of the expert knowing more about the heart is pretty high.

15 036/quiksel.com

This fact holds true with wholesalers in the travel industry too. By offering every travel product under the sun, a wholesaler has to divide its resources across the board, leading to compromises. Thankfully, there are specialists in the travel trade too. roomsXML for instance. It does nothing else but accommodation. By focusing in just one area, we have no other option but to do things more efficiently – robust technology, de-duplicated inventory, dependable 24x7 global support and of course, competitive rates. roomsXML – the accommodation specialist.

January 2016 23

WHEREABOUTS

Chiang Rai which tends to be a little more laid back than its popular neighbour Chiang Mai, emerging as a popular tourist destination for the travellers from world across. The tourism has boomed in the city of Chiang Rai, where visitors come to explore the pristine natural beauty of the province and immerse themselves in the indigenous culture. The upcoming AT&RTCM conference will promote Chiang Rai as leading adventure and responsible tourism destination in Thailand. Explore more with this edition of Whereabouts. Compiled by WH Desk

hiang Rai is a land of outstanding natural beauty, where visitors looking to avoid the hordes can visit remote hill tribes, spot exotic wildlife, and check out the golden triangle where Thailand, Laos, and Burma come together. Chiang Rai had stayed off the tourist radar for many years, its people enjoying very leisurely development and mostly traditional, rural lifestyles. Until this day, entire clans live together in bamboo houses and each village has its own individual character. ACCOMMODATION The destination features a decent selection of accommodation, including backpacker lodging near the Mae Kok River, Thai-Chinese style hotels, up market hotels and resorts located along the riverside and in secluded compounds in the Chiang Rai countryside. As most attractions are accessible via daytrip, the majority of lodging is found in the town, though there are some home stays and other culturally friendly resorts located in and

24 January 2016

CHIANG RAI around hill tribe villages and other rural communities. ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES Today, Chiang Rai is a traveller’s paradise, endowed with abundant natural attractions and antiquities. Attractions range from ruins of ancient settlements and Buddhist shrines to magnificent mountain scenery and hill tribe villages. For those interested in the natural side of Chiang Rai, jungle trekking is a magical experience; explore the mountains of the north along various hiking trails, many of which access the villages of diverse hill tribes groups, many of whom maintain their traditional lifestyles. Chiang Rai is also a center for community development projects, helping rural villagers develop their attractions without adversely affecting their natural and cultural assets. As a relatively remote and somewhat undeveloped region, Chiang Rai features activities drawn from its natural beauty, including boat rides, trekking, river rafting, elephant riding, cycling, and visiting hill tribe villages. There are also a number of golf courses in the

vicinity, including one of the finest in Thailand, and both a zoo and an animal park that have some kids’ activities. WAT PHRA SING: Not far from the Chiang Rai town hall is Wat Phra Sing, a historic temple once home to the sacred Lannastyle (Lanna culture is a colorful combination of various elements brought together) Buddhist statue Phra Buddha Sihing, which is now in Chiang Mai. Nevertheless, Wat Phra Sing remains a temple worth visiting for its Lanna-style ordination hall featuring finest creations of Lanna craftmen.

Opening hours: Daily 8am-5pm WAT RONG KHUN: This bizarre-looking white temple located about five km south of

Chiang Rai city is the brainchild of Chiang Rai-born visual artist and painter Chalermchai Kositpipat. The temple is filled with Buddhist symbolisms, from its layout, architecture, all the way to the ornate reliefs and mirror decorations. You can only enter the ubosot (main chapel) from the front, via the narrow bridge that passes over a pool of upturned, beseeching hands representing suffering souls in hell. From here, there’s no turning back, as the only way is to ascend ‘heavenwards’ to through the pathway guarded over by demons to the ubosot. Inside, two Buddha images seem to be floating on a lotus pedestal, set against elaborately painted murals in various hues of gold and other colours.

KING MENGRAI THE GREAT MONUMENT: This life-size monument is dedicated to King Mengrai the Great founder of the Lanna Kingdom. He established the first capital in Chiang Saen (1262), before relocating it to the west bank of the Ping River in Chiang Mai (1296). Backed by three giant golden tungs (Lanna flags), the King’s monument is the first thing you see when approaching the city from the Highway number One. Here is a good place to take a rest or buy some souvenirs from the nearby crafts centre.

Location: Phaholyothin Road CHIANG RAI CLOCK TOWER: Built in 2008 to honour His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, the clock tower bears the signature style of Chalermchai Kositpipat, the artist who conceived and built the White Temple. Every evening, at 19:00, 20:00 and 21:00, the clock tower comes to life in a light-and-sound display. While it’s not exactly a must-see, it still draws quite a gathering of visitors and is an interesting addition to the city’s central landmark.

Location: At the junction of Phaholyothin, Jet Yod and Banpaprakan Roads. WAT KLANG WIENG: This is a must-see temple, for its striking architecture and ornate relief decorations. Located at the epicentre of Chiang Rai City, Wat Klang Wieng houses the original city pillar shrine as well as a spectacular temple complex built in a contemporary Lanna style. Built in 1432, the temple

boasts ornate grillwork, roof finials and gilded decorations on its vivid red façades – a peculiar colour for temples. It was not always so peculiar looking, however, as the temple underwent extensive renovation after a storm brought down several main structures in 1903, including the main chapel (ubosot) and assembly hall (wiharn).

Location: Corner of Rattanaket and Uttarakit Roads. FOOD & DRINK Chiang Rai features many excellent dining opportunities. While both Thai and international cuisine is available to visitors, it is the distinctive northern Thai cuisine that Chiang Rai is best known for. Northern Thai cuisine dishes that have been influenced by Thailand’s neighbours, Burma, Laos, and even China; including Khan Khanoon, served with sticky rice and Sai Ooa. The

epitome of northern Thai dining is a traditional Khan Toke dinner, which features a variety of dishes served on a small, round table. SHOPPING Many rural communities of Chiang Rai are engaged in either handicrafts production or agriculture. These goods are available both in the farflung villages where they are produced or grown and in the city itself. While it’s much easier to purchase such goods in town, there is something satisfying in meeting the people who produced your souvenir, and Chiang Rai is an outstanding opportunity for such an experience CHIANG RAI TO HOST AT&RTCM 2016 IN FEBRUARY The Tourism Authority of Thailand is reinforcing the readiness of Chiang Rai province to host the PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2016 (AT&RTCM 2016) during 17-19 February, 2016. The three-day niche event not only underpins TAT’s leadership position as a leading-edge organisation realising the importance of adventure travel and responsible tourism, but also showcases Chiang Rai as a top emerging destination for both thrill-seeking and socially aware travellers.

TRAVELLING HERE AIR: There are numerous international airlines throughout Thailand and both national and international carries service them. Thai Airways and Thai AirAsia have daily flights connecting Bangkok with Chiang Rai. ROAD: There are regular bus services from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal. The journey may take from 9 to 11 hours. From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, busses leave 12 times daily from Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal for the three hour, 182 kilometer ride. TRAIN: There is no direct train to Chiang Rai. Visitors must take a train to Lampang (9 hrs. from Bangkok) or Chiang Mai (11 hrs.) and then take a bus to Chiang Rai. CLIMATE: Cool Season 26°C, Hot Season 32°C, Rainy Season 28°C. CURRENCY: 1.8INR=1Thai Bhat VISA: Thailand’s offers sixmonth multiple-entry tourist visa (METV). The visa, costing INR 10,000 (5,000 baht) grants the traveller multiple entries during a 6-month period, for up to 60 days per entry.

NTO

Pan-European channel advertising of Bulgaria WH Desk

ulgaria launched a massive Pan-European Channel promotional campaign on Eurosport, Discovery Channel, Euronews and National Geographic Channel which has had an outreach of 442 million views from March till October 2015. This became clear from the campaign’s conclusive report which was presented on 7 December 2015. Bulgaria’s TV promotion on all four Pan-European channels was EU funded under Operational Programme ‘Regional Development’ 2007-2013. Apart from the wide-range prime time

broadcasting of the two video spots for Bulgaria, crews have also visited the country to shoot additional footage. The Eursport crew shot five live reports on the variety of sports that could be practiced in the country while National Geographic channel produced a video spot which focused on the natural assets and sites of Bulgaria. Image-making static and pre-roll banners were also published on the official websites of the Pan European channels. These four TV channels actually cover almost all of Europe which re-mains a major market for Bulgaria as well as countries from the Near East, Africa and Asia.

Monaco interacts with Indian trade partners WH Desk

n order to further educate the Indian travel trade, corporates about the tourist destinations of Monaco a delegation comprising of Monaco Government Tourist & Convention Bureau and private players interacted with Indian travel trade and corporate in Delhi and Mumbai recently. The objective of the event was to engage luxury travel agents, potential corporate, media and high-end consumers. Further highlighting diversified and high yield products of Monaco among the key industry representatives and consumers. Guy Antognelli, Deputy General Manager, Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority said, “India is an important market for us with a prominent increase in the tourist arrivals in dayvisitors, room-nights and MICE movements. India is ranked 2nd in the Asian market after Japan.”

26 January 2016

Elaborating on the roadshow he further said, “It gives us the platform to interact with the right mix of audience looking for newer holiday destinations. Monaco has everything what a well informed high end Indian traveller aspires for. The picturesque views, romantic abundance, and stupendous landscapes, it offers magnificent holiday options for the discerning Indian traveller.” The event saw a cross-section of top-line professionals gathered to emphasise new product development and experiences of Monaco. It was a platform to showcase the diversity and offerings to the consumers as well as luxury travel agents. The roadshow provided in-depth information on the destination. Monaco is continuously working to tap consumers directly through different mediums such as print, electronic and online.

TAT Director New Dehli honoured with Super Women award WH Desk

unjuanTongrut, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (New Delhi) has been honoured with the ‘Super Woman’ award by Radio One 94.3. She got this award in the tourism and hospitality sector for her outstanding efforts and achievements to promote Thailand as a great holiday destination for all type of travellers specially women. The Super Women Awards 2015 is a Fresh initiative of Radio Channel, Radio One 94.3, to recognise and acknowledge hard working, innovative and successful women in various fields. The award was announced and presented to 7 women in different roles on 22nd December 2015 in New Delhi.

The awardees included fashion designers, women in health care sector ,corporate , sports, environment & science to name a few. Upon receiving the award Tongrut said, “It is my great honor and privileged to be awarded the ‘Super Woman’ award. I am glad that our society recognises women’s role more and more now. Also the award came at the same time as TAT promotes ‘Women solo packages’ to Thailand, which made it all the more special.”

Las Vegas receives more than 42 million visitors in 2015 WH Desk

as Vegas continued its historic visitation growth, setting another new record by surpassing 42 million visitors for the first time. This breaks last year’s record of 41.1 million, which was the first time the destination had ever topped 40 million. Boosted by several new non-stop flights, increased convention attendance throughout the year, and several other factors, Las Vegas will surpass 42 million visitors by the end of the year. The previous record was set in 2014 with 41.1 million visitors. Official visitation numbers will be announced in early 2016. Tourism is the lifeblood of the Southern Nevada economy and the Las Vegas Valley generating more than $50 billion annually and supporting 366,000 local jobs, which represents 43

percent of employment within Clark County. “Las Vegas couldn’t have reached this achievement without the support of our resort partners and the dedicated workers who make the Las Vegas experience what it is,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, President & CEO, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). “Whether a first-time visitor or a returning Las Vegas enthusiast, the destination continues to astonish travelers from all over the world with luxury resort experiences, world-class dining and exciting entertainment,” she added.

NTO

Yas Island aims to increase night stays; consolidates presence in India Having registered a remarkable growth in terms of footfalls, Yas Island aims to increase night stays at the destination. Since India is the biggest source market the Island is all set to strengthen its presence here through expansion of partnership with travel companies, offering new packages and launch of media campaigns. Here are the excerpts of an exclusive conversation with Bruno Wiley, Vice President Sales, Farah Leisure. Rajesh Tiwari

s told by him, the 2015 has been another year with full of achievements for Yas Island whereas the Ferrari World has been the destination of choice once again. The major attractions on the island include Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Yas Links, Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Mall amongst others. Encouraged with the response, the Island is concentrating on increasing night stays to get more from this market. Recently, Yas Island has organised a roadshow in New Delhi along with the partner hotels that interacted with travel trade fraternity and offered them lucrative packages to promote the destination.“Along with increase in footfalls, more emphasis is being given on increasing night stays at the island. We have designed attractive packages that include activities with accommodation,” informed Wiley. The two night package offers unlimited access to the Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld to get indulged in host of activities. The newly designed packages will be promoted through partner companies in summer session from April to June. “Based on last year’s Kids for free offerthat worked very well, the combination of unlimited access to the park is expected to attract a large chunk of travellers in coming season,” added Wiley.

To achieve this target the Island keeps an eye on the large number of travellers visiting Dubai as well. Some of them come to Abu Dhabi for a day excursion at Yas Island especially at Ferrari World. “If we could encourage them to stay at the Island at least for one night, it will help in achieving our target. We are planning to have partners in Dubai to promote our product while selling packages for Dubai.” Knowing the fact that India is the big market, Yas Island is expanding its partnership base by adding more companies to work with. It has identified five major players; four of them are big online companies. “We already started working with two of them. We will continue our association with mid and small travel agents as an impressive chunk of business comes from them,” informed Wiley. Elaborating more on this he further added, “The whole things will we done in a planned manner. Firstly, we will define a product and decide the price; once it is done we will go for joint marketing and promotional activities with our partners. We will create good package and give them to sell.” Apart from the marketing campaigns running through print and electronic mediums, Bollywood is being concentrated to showcase the product for end users. Elaborating more on this Wiley said, “We are planning to appoint a brand ambassador for the Island, and are in conversation with the leading personalities. Also we are

Bruno Wiley Vice President Sales Farah Leisure

approaching film maker/producers to shoot their movies at our destination. It will help in showcasing our product to the end users. I am very optimistic by early 2016 we will close a deal,” informed Wiley. Along with seven hotels, a mall, waterpark, concert arena, marina, beach, links golf course and more than 100 café and restaurant options, Yas Island offers shopping, dining, entertainment and more. For business events including meetings, incentives conferences and exhibitions, Yas Island offers a wide range of venue options and in-house event management services. Launches New Ride Flying Aces Already boasting the world’s fastest roller coaster, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the home to the world’s steepest steel rollercoaster Flying Aces, featuring a starting hill inclined by 51 degrees and the world’s tallest loop of 52m (170ft). The new roller coaster experience is inspired by Italy’s ‘ace of aces’ Count Francesco Baracca, a famous Italian aviator of the 1900’s whose legendary Prancing Horse emblem was inherited by Enzo Ferrari. The bi-plane themed coaster is expected to attract thrill seekers from around the world to its gravity-defying loops and swoops.

January 2016 27

NTO

Out of the World – Australia’ culinary expedition

Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

WH Desk

hrough this show, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor will take his passion for food out of the conventional kitchen and share with his viewers his love for travel and adventure. Besides savoring the flavors of the country’s best culinary experiences, cooking with Australian ingredients and alongside Aussie chefs, he will be seen indulging in some best of Australia tourism experiences. These include climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, cuddling koalas, feeding kangaroos, attending the Melbourne Food and Wine festival, taking a helicopter ride over the 12 Apostles, blending wines at the Barossa Valley, visiting the natural haven of Kangaroo Island, shopping at the popular Salamanca Markets in Hobart and much more. In August 2014, Tourism Australia evolved its marketing campaign, ‘There’s Nothing like Australia’ to include a strong focus on exceptional food and wine experiences. In an effort

to convert the appetite for Australia as a travel destination into more visits, this campaign was based on the idea of Australia being the world’s greatest restaurant, ‘Restaurant Australia’. Talking about the show Chef Sanjeev Kapoor said, “The most interesting thing about food in Australia is that it’s blessed with remarkable produce from land and sea, combined with a climate that makes outdoor dining a pleasant reality nearly every day of the year. Food, wine and lifestyle are the articulation of Australian culture which lucidly defines its people”

Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager, India & Gulf, Tourism Australia said, “The show provides a further boost to our ‘Restaurant Australia’ campaign in India. Research shows that tourists are known to travel on their bellies and the show is a fantastic medium for us to influence the audience to travel and replicate the experiences they see on television for themselves on their next holiday.” Embark on an Australian culinary trail (started December 18th) on ‘Out of the World Australia’ every Friday at 9 PM on Food Food.

he Year of the Sheep will give way to the Year of the Snake soon according to the Lunar Calendar. The Chinese New Year in 2016 will be celebrated on 8th February, which is the first day of the Lunar Calendar. The world gets the wonderful opportunity to celebrate a New Year after the one that was just celebrated on 31st December.

Hong Kong at this time of the year is decorated in Red and Gold and the city’s adrenaline is on a high. This enormity with which this festival is celebrated in Asia’s World City is phenomenal. Residents and visitors can witness the spectacular extravaganza that the Chinese New Year brings to the city. This Chinese New Year will bring international performers for the Parade on the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui.

Israel to attract travellers from Bangalore Israel Ministry of Tourism organised their first roadshow in Bengaluru as the city has been identified as a key market for leisure and MICE for Israel. WH Desk

srael continues to be an emerging outbound destination among Indian travellers looking for new places to visit and new experiences. Israel is one of the top destinations of the world and has visitors from across the globe. The country witnessed a notable 12 percent increase in tourist arrivals from India in January to November 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014.

28 January 2016

Hassan Madah, Director, IMOT, said, “Bengaluru is one of the mature markets in South India, evidently witnessing an increase in leisure and MICE groups from the city. We endeavour to consolidate the Israel’s growing popularity in Bengaluru, as the city is a potential gateway market from South India.” “Israel has been continuously witnessing a significant growth from India. Israel offers a perfect holiday with diverse offerings for leisure as well MICE,” he added. Israel offers attractions like Dead Sea, Eilat for both water adventures and desert

activities.The city of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is showcasing a mix of historic and modern attractions clubbed with exciting nightlife. Other cities and regions like Haifa, Acre, Massada, Negev Desert, Mountains of Galilee, etc have some unique historic attractions, picturesque locations. Israel also has world class accommodations, undisputed attractions, adventurous activities and tranquil nature which suits the needs of both leisure and MICE groups. The vibrant country is an adept at meeting MICE needs with tailored hotels for business visitors, event halls, elaborate convention centers of all sizes,

Hassan Madah Director IMOT

exhibition halls, advanced multimedia equipment and capabilities, and the finest in communication equipment and advanced transportation.

January 2016 29

NEED TO KNOW

MAINPAT The Hill Station of Chhattisgarh WH Desk

ACCOMMODATION

Mainpat has sufficient accommodation suited for every pocket. There are budget hotels as well as resorts that fit every pocket. The forest department has a rest house for which permission has to be obtained from the local police office. There are restaurants in and around the picnic spots. The travel advisory to all visitors is that they should avoid travel at night.

ocated in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh, this small village is more or less popular because of the Tibetan Refugees living here for the last five decades. It was a group of 62 plateaus perched at 3781feet sea level. The settlement now consists of seven camps within a radius of 25kms, with an average distance of about five to six km from each other. The Camp Number One, is the central camp; the school, settlement office, co-operative society, workshop and health clinics are all located here only. The road climbed 30km from base of the hill through forests of Sal (a kind of tree). The area was home to the Yadavs and tribes like Manjhi, Manjhwar, Kanwar and Pahadi Korwa, and more recently Tibetans. There is a Tibetan settlement that offers an excellent opportunity for inter action with them.

30 January 2016

SAILA TOURIST RESORT: Managed by the government of Chhattisgarh, this resort is located 40km away from Ambikapur. With 22 Double Bed Room, lawn and garden the resort offers all basic facilities.

For Booking Contact Chhattisgarh Tourism: T- 1800 102 6415 MERCURY RESORTS & RESTAURANT: The privately owned resort offers Swiss tents with attached luxurious bathrooms and also a balcony with a wonderful view, where

guest will feel close to the nature and much relaxed & fresh.

For more information: T- 08889135777, 08085106333, E- mercuryresorts@gmail.com ACTIVITIES & TOURIST ATTRACTION Maipat is a haven for adventure lovers. People who have the thrill for adventure sports can have a choice of sports like Rock Climbing, Jungle Camp, River Crossing, Parasailing, Rappelling and Zorbing etc. TIBETAN MONASTERIES: There are many monasteries in Mainpat each allotted to one of the seven camps. Every family has to send one boy to the monastery at five years of age and girls a bit older. The monastery life used to be the only access to education and improved social status. The most famous Dhakpo Monastery is a Gelug monastery and unlike all other monasteries, this is small. TIGER POINT: A gateway to Mainpat, Tiger Point is one

St. Francis Xavier Church

The state of Chhattisgarh is renowned for its Buddhist heritage, tribal culture and wildlife; however few may be aware that it boasts a beautiful hill station too which is popular as ‘Mini Tibet’ or ‘Shimla of Chhattisgarh’. On a plateau with the area surrounded by jungles, Mainpat is said to be the best honey moon destination. The yet to be explored place has beautiful hill slopes, waterfalls and wildlife in its vicinity. Explore more with this edition of Whereabouts. of the best waterfalls in the area. Located in the heart of Mainpat near Camp Number Six Tiger Point is at a distance of about 10km from Mainpat busstand. The other waterfalls are Sarbhanja and Kings Waterfalls. The water falls from the height of about 160feet .Visitor can take the splendid view of tiger point from the bottom of the fall. The way to the fall is well constructed.

NEED TO KNOW The water falls step by step on eight gigantic stones which are the proof of its unusual beauty and make the mercury fall more special. It is situated nearly 11km from Mainpat bus stand.

JALJALI (Jumping Land): The place is a unique one. Jumping at this place, one can create an earthquake. Mehta Point and Pharphatia are good places to view the entire region. Also, the Camp Number Three is worth visiting. FISH FALLS: Located near Camp Number Six this beautiful waterfall is a must see. The place got its name from a particular kind of fish found here. PARPATIYA SUNSET POINT: This is the place where one can actually feel the beauty of sunset. This place is about 15km from Mainpat bus stand. There is an amazing view of big and deep rift in the land. MERCURY JAL PRAPAAT: This is the tallest as well as the most beautiful and an incredible

fall of Chhattisgarh. Its length is approximately 450feet. The milky water falls in total eight steps which makes its view incredible and splendid. Since it is located at places difficult to reach; the fall still stands wrapped in the lap of nature.

BHUTAHI JAL PRAPAAT: Bhutahi Jharna is the pleasing sight which seems like a moving snake. Moving water looks milky and makes a scary and frightening noise which makes it to be referred as Bhutahi Jharna. It is situated nearly 5km from Mainpat bus stand. TOURIST ATTRACTION AROUD MAINPAT

ÂÂGurughasi Das National Park ÂÂSemarsot Sanctuary ÂÂKudragarh ÂÂJogimara Caves ÂÂKapildhara Waterfall CUISINE Travellers can enjoy dishes like Thupka, Momos and Bamboo Rice and many more verity of Tibetan food. There are some Indian restaurants between Tibetan Camp Number One and Two. They sell Samosa, Bajiya, Balusai, rice and veggies etc.

ÂÂRamgarh Caves

GENERAL INFORMATION

ÂÂDipadih

Surguja district is located in the northern part of Chhattisgarh State of India. Borders of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh states are adjoining to the district. This district has over extension between south-eastern parts of Vindhyachal-Baghelkhand region of peninsular India.

ÂÂRakasganda

CLIMATE: The climate of district is characterised by a hot summer and well distributed rainfall during the monsoon season. BEST TIME TO VISIT: The best time to visit Mainpat is in the monsoon and in winter. REACHING HERE AIR: Nearest airport is Raipur (350km) which is connected to major cities. RAIL: Mainpat is 178kms from Raigarh which is a major station and the other smaller station is Ambikapur which is 80kms away. BUS: From Raipur airport go to bus stand and take any bus service to Ambikapur (340km). Thereafter take any taxy or bus to Mainpat. Contact for Information Chhattisgarh Tourism Board 2nd Floor, Udyog Bhavan, Ring Road No.1, Telibandha, Raipur- 492 006 T: +91 771 4224600 Toll Free No: 1800 102 6415

January 2016 31

NEED TO KNOW

International Kite Festival Production of kites and kite supplies can be seen on the streets of Ahmedabad beginning in November, to get ready for Uttarayan (14th January), and nowhere more so than in Patang Bazaar (kite market), the special one that appears in the old city. For the week preceding the festival, it is open 24 hours a day for all kite lovers to stock up for the festivities.

WH Desk

ince 1989, the city of Ahmedabad has hosted the International Kite Festival as part of the official celebration of Uttarayan, bringing master kite makers and flyers from all over the world to demonstrate their unique creations and wow the crowds with highly unusual kites. In past years, master kite makers from Malaysia have brought their Wau-Balang kites, llayang-llayang have come from Indonesia, kite innovators from the USA have arrived with giant banner kites, and Japanese Rokkaku fighting kites have shared the skies with Italian sculptural kites, Chinese flying dragons, and the latest high-tech modern wonders. A master kite maker and famous kite flyer Rasulbhai Rahimbhai of Ahmedabad trains of up to 500 kites on a single string have

come to be a classic attraction. Almost every known variety of kite can be seen in the skies over Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, from box kites to high-speed sport kites, from windsocs and spinsocs to handpainted artistic kites. The festival of Uttarayan is a uniquely Gujarati phenomenon, when the skies over most cities of the state fills with kites from before dawn until well after dark. The festival marks the days in the Hindu calendar when winter begins turning to summer, known as Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan. Kites of all shapes and sizes are flown, and the main competition is to battle nearby kite-flyers to cut their strings and bring down their kites. For this, people find their favoured kite-makers who prepare strong resilient kite bodies with springy bamboo frames and kite-paper stretched to exactly the right tension. Lastly, the kites are attached to a spool (or firkin) of manja, special kite-string coated with a mixture of glue and glass to be as sharp as possible for cutting strings of rival kites. WHEN: Uttarayan is celebrated every year on 14th January, known as Makar Sankranti in other parts of north India, and Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and continues to the next day (he 15th) . Date and Venue: 10th and 11th January, 2016 at Riverfront Ahmedabad.

WHERE: Uttarayan is celebrated across Gujarat, with major centers of kite-flying in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Nadiad, among others. The International Kite Festival is held in Ahmedabad. For information on how to get here for the festival, see the ‘Tourism Hubs’ pages of the official website of Gujarat Tourism for the place you want to fly your kites this year. WHO COMES: Visitors come from around India for the celebration, many Gujaratis who live outside the state choose this time to make their trip home, and international visitors have come from countless countries, including Japan, Italy, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, the USA, Malaysia, Singapore, France, China, and many more.

in India either through Muslim traders coming eastward through Persia or Buddhist pilgrims coming from China in search of sacred texts. Either way, they have a long history in the region. Over 1000 years ago, kites were mentioned in song by the composer Santnambe, and numerous classic miniature paintings of typical scenes in the area depict people flying kites. Since Gujarat is at the westernmost edge of India, it is one of the regions where Muslim and Hindu cultures have blended to a great degree in many aspects. Hence, the development of using kites, probably brought by Muslims, to celebrate Uttarayan, a Hindu festival. Still, no one knows exactly when this tradition began.

HISTORY OF KITES: Kites are believed to have first arrived HOSPITALITY

V Resorts makes payments hassle-free

Resorts has come out with a slew of payment options to make booking a vacation seamless. The company has a list of upscale properties in some picturesque locations such as Sattal, Ramgarh, Kullu, Sariska, Nashik etc, each designed to provide the

32 January 2016

traveler with the best holiday experience. Paytm Wallet - V Resorts has partnered with Paytm to provide a secure online payment option. All you have to do is call the customer care, select the destination and pay through Paytm wallet.

Cash pick-up service – People booking holidays from Delhi/ NCR can now avail a cash pick-up service. Call customer care and choose the holiday destination. IVR Payment – V Resorts understands nobody wants the

hassle of booking a vacation. And thus they have introduced a seam less payment option for those wanting to pay by phone. Just call the customer care and select your destination. Then enter the credit card details and the one-time password and your holiday will be booked.

TECHNOLOGY

Interglobe Technology Quotient launches Trip38 on Travelport Interglobe Technology Quotient (ITQ) the official distributor of Travelport in India and Sri Lanka announced the launch of Trip38 on Galileo platform. This advanced travel app will have real time access to travel content and branded ancillary services through this association WH Desk

rip38 is a mobile-first travel technology solutions provider aiming to redefine how consumers explore destination. The solutions work anywhere in the world as they provide real-time local content irrespective of how and where the booking is done. The launch of Trip38 on Galileo platform OTA

WH Desk

atra.com, one of India’s leading online travel portals has announced three new features to provide comprehensive travel solutions for all its customers. Commenting on the developments, Sharat Dhall, President, Yatra. com says, “At Yatra, we have always been at the forefront of technology innovation in the online travel space. Features like ‘Hold for Free’ and ‘As You Type, We Suggest’ are first in the Industry and are based on strong customer understanding and feedback. We believe that

34 January 2016

Highlighting the importance of this launch, Sandeep Dwivedi, Chief Commercial Officer, ITQ, said, “We are really excited about this collaboration as it marks a significant step for travellers making bookings on Galileo platform. Trip38 is one of its kind travel app that allows a traveller to access real time travel content. This will also allow users to avail various promotions and ancillary services on offer.” Niranjan Gupta, CEO at Trip38, further added, “Through this association Trip38 will have access to travel partners using

Sandeep Dwivedi Chief Commercial Officer ITQ

Galileo platform and provide them unmatched information. This app will immensely benefit the partners as it will allow them access to branded ancillary services.” ITQ is one of the leading providers of travel technology solutions to its customers

Niranjan Gupta CEO Trip38

helping them increase their productivity. With an extended network across more than 500 Indian cities and over 13,000 agency locations, InterGlobe Technology Quotient provides cutting-edge travel technology solutions with unmatched inventory options.

Yatra.com launches three exciting first - in industry features

The features - Hold For Free, Last Minute Hotel Deals and As You Type We Suggest search options have been introduced in an effort to ensure a seamless travel planning experience.

would mark a stupendous development in the travel world in terms of technological innovation and advancements.

the three new features which are being introduced today will go a long way to improve the ease with which travellers book hotels and flights on our site, and are in line with our endeavour to create a ‘best in class’ user experience”. Yatra.com has the largest inventory of hotels and other accommodations in India with over 40,000 stay options across 1100+ cities. With over nine years of presence in India, Yatra. com is a leading brand in the online travel category. Yatra.com today has stay options available for their customers across a wide price spectrum ranging from budget to luxury stays, covering the length and breadth of the country, from the metros to tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Yatra has always been dedicated to “Creating Happy Travellers” and looks at foreseeing trends

amongst consumers to help provide products that are best suited for the market thus helping maintain their position as a leading online travel portal in the country. The new features are enabled on all of Yatra’s mobile and web platforms. Details for every feature are stated as below; Hold For Free ÂÂOption to hold your international flight ticket for 72 hours at no cost valid till a limited time ÂÂNotification emailer if only a limited seats are left on the hold booking Last Minute Hotel Deals ÂÂSpecial offers and last minute deals for accommodation options ÂÂAlmost 50 percent off on same day hotel bookings

ÂÂAvailable only on the app As You Type, We Suggest ÂÂAllows you to enter free text & returns the right flight search results e.g. “Flights from Delhi to Bangalore for 10th Feb”. ÂÂInstant Completion suggest and Instant Autosuggest which takes into account spelling mistakes as well ÂÂAutosuggest provides results based on real time trends ÂÂAutomatically identifies the city of origin ÂÂAutomatically identifies nearest airports for Tier 3 cities that don’t have an airport ÂÂComplex queries like “ flights to Delhi onlast Sunday of the month” are also supported ÂÂAvailable only on flights currently

CRUISE

Royal Caribbean International launches the Royal Suite Class experience WH Desk

he Royal Suite Class will be available for sailings beginning May 2016 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasisand Quantum-class ships, Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas, as well as Harmony of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas when they debut in spring 2016. Designed for the most discerning guests, the Royal Suite Class promises an experience like no other, featuring a wide-range of benefits and amenities. The luxuriously-appointed

accommodations, personalised services and the Royal Genie, together make up the most indulgent and exciting luxury cruise holiday ever! With three service levels, Star Class, Sky Class and Sea Class, cruisers can choose the amenities and special touches according to specific preferences. The premium features of the Royal Suite Class experience include a Royal Genie, certified by the British Butler Institute to meet the guests’ every need; free VOOM, the fastest internet at sea; complimentary specialty dining; an ultimate beverage package; inclusive of gratuities; preferred seating at select onboard

venues, and upgraded room amenities. Royal Caribbean International is an award-winning global cruise brand with a 45-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry ‘firsts’ never before seen at sea. The cruise line

features an expansive and unmatched array of features and amenities only found on Royal Caribbean including, jaw-dropping, Broadway-style entertainment and industryacclaimed programming that appeals to families and adventurous vacationers alike.

EATING OUT

APPOINTMENT

PizzaExpress launches new menu exclusively with EazyDiner WH Desk

izzaExpress unveiled its new menu in association with EazyDiner at the PizzaExpress restaurant, Vasant Kunj. The new menu launch was done exclusively for the Eazydiner members, in presence of the renowned journalist and Founder of Eazydiner, Vir Sanghvi in an interactive, fun filled ‘Italian Evening’ at the brand’s restaurant in Vasant Kunj. The special new menu features an exquisite selection of starters, Risotto, Salads, Pizzas, Pasta and Desserts. The highlights from the new menu features the Cicheti, little dishes traditionally served in the hidden local bars of Venice. It also includes an all new 65 range of Pizzas, the classic Pizzas originally launched in 1965, now re launched with more twists. It has also added new flavoured dips to further

Frederic Saunier Global Head of Corporate IT Amadeus

heighten the flavours of the signature PizzaExpress Dough Balls, in addition to a separate alcohol menu featuring various new labels. Sanjay Nandrajog, CEO, PizzaExpress India, “The new menu is dedicated to the real Heroes of PizzaExpress, our Pizzaiolos. For past 50 years, our Pizzaiolos have been using the finest ingredients to make the most scrumptious pizzas that are loved by foodies across the world. We invite all the food lovers to come and experience

authentic Italian cuisine at our restaurants.” Ramit Bharti Mittal, Head of Strategy & Business Development, PizzaExpress India said, “Over the years PizzaExpress has set global benchmarks in serving authentic Italian pizzas to customers in a stylish ambience and we continue to deliver the same experience to Indian food connoisseurs. The new menu has been carefully handcrafted keeping in mind our 50th year Anniversary celebrations.”

madeus has appointed Frederic Saunier as Head of Corporate IT in Asia Pacific, reporting to Florian Tinnus, Global Head of Corporate IT. With APAC outpacing the rest of the world in terms of travel spend growth, Frederic will further increase Amadeus’ regional focus on the segment through direct sales and channel partners, with a portfolio of online solutions and bundled GDS offerings. Prior to his move to the region, Frederic has been part of the Amadeus family for a number of years.

January 2016 35

FACT & FIGURES

10 Travel Myths You Need to Stop Believing Right Now From jetlag to language barriers, these common misconceptions can get in the way of a good trip. As per the TripAdvisors report here are 10 myths about travel that you need to stop believing right now—for your own good. WH Desk

Jet Lag is Caused by Lack of Sleep Basically anything but lack of sleep is responsible for jet lag. Of course, jet lag affects everyone differently, but crossing time zones is the most prominent cause in disrupting your body’s internal clock. Dryness on the flight, cabin pressure, lack of fresh air, and certain foods and drinks all contribute to jet lag. If you’ve exercised, got a good night’s rest, aren’t hung-over, and stay relatively calm, you’ll feel better upon arrival. Group Travel Is Not ‘Authentic’ If you pick the right provider, the exact opposite is often true. Many small group tour companies offer unique experiences that practice volunteerism or sustainability and actually give back to the community. While these trips can sometimes be more expensive, it is a nice feeling knowing your dollars will go back to the communities that need it versus corrupt governments or wealthy corporations. It’s Not Safe to Travel Abroad While recent world events have sparked concern about international travel, especially to certain regions of the world, the chances of a terrorist attack occurring at your destination and during your travels are incredibly small. Now, as always, it’s important to continue exploring all that this amazing world has to offer. That said, it’s important to be prepared for any circumstance you may encounter. It’s Too Expensive Nothing annoys me more than when people say travel is too expensive. Sure, flights and hotel rooms can be costly, but there are alternatives if you truly want to make travel work. Try a budget airline for shorter distances, and consider shared accommodation platforms for overnight

36 January 2016

stays. Even if you don’t want to compromise luxury on flights and hotels, most major cities have an abundance of free and discounted activities. Student (and senior) travellers can also take advantage of special discounts. You Can Get By With Just English It’s true that many countries are very English-language-friendly, but never underestimate potential language barriers. You’ll gain more respect from locals if you can hold a basic conversation, ask for directions, and order off a menu in their native language. Especially if you’re going to rely on public transportation or rent a car, knowing a few foreign phrases is a necessity. Shared Accommodation Platforms Are Dangerous While the news tends to put a spotlight on Airbnb horror stories, the reality is these cases are very rare. As long as you’re smart about choosing a location and host, you’re unlikely to run into problems. Sure, the idea of staying in a stranger’s home may take a little getting used to, but Airbnbs and similar accommodations can be a great alternative to pricey hotels. Traveling Alone Is Not Safe Extra precautions need to be made when traveling solo, but the experience is usually only scary in the best and most rewarding

ways. If you’re nervous about completely going solo, sign up for a group trip; it’s a great way to meet people and still have a safety net. I Don’t Have Enough Time/It’s Not Worth If you haven’t used all of your vacation days yet this year (or at least plan to) then you are guilty of believing this myth. Most people are given vacation time, so use it! Yes, the preparation is sometimes tedious and timeconsuming, but once you step off the plane, check into a hotel, and see that amazing site, everything becomes worth it. You Don’t Need Travel Insurance I’ve heard too many horror stories of accidents, injuries, and cancelations to not invest in travel insurance. Many employers will even offer some sort of coverage, so double check your benefits before going out on your own. You Can’t Make Money While Travelling If you’re worried about cash and want to travel for a long period of time, there are dozens of ways to make money while travelling. Work holiday visas are widely available, although many of these will require a non-U.S. passport to be eligible. Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Singapore have these types of visas available for U.S. citizens aged 18-30 years old.

January 2016 37

APPOINTMENT & EVENTS DOMESTIC TRAVEL & TOURISM FAIR (TTF) January 08 - 10, 2016 Chennai, India SATTE January 29-31, 2016 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi INDIA TRAVEL MART (ITM) (Int’l Travel and Tourism Exhibition) February 06 - 08, 2016 Chandigarh, India

INTERNATIONAL Ritesh Sharma General Manager

Taj Falaknuma Palace Ritesh Sharma has been appointed the General Manager, Taj Falaknuma Palace. Ritesh started his career 15 years ago as Front Office Associate with Taj Coromandel, Chennai. He was later promoted as the Butler Operations Manager and formulated the ‘Butler Program’ for the hotel. He held the position of Operations Manager at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. He joined the Mumbai International Airport in 2008. In 2012, he returned to the Taj and was subsequently elevated as the Resident Manager of The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi.

Parmeet Singh Nayar

General Manager Shangri-La Eros New Delhi Parmeet Singh Nayar has been appointed the General Manager, Shangri-La Eros New Delhi. He will be responsible for the entire hotel’s operations as well as food and beverage refurbishment. Prior to joining Eros Hotel, he held the position of GM at the Hilton Worldwide and Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. He has also worked at Marriott Welcome Hotel, The Imperial Hotel, The Taj Mahal hotel and The Oberoi Hotel, New Delhi. His international stints include Global & Asia Pacific Carlson Rezidor conferences and hotels in Bahamas, Washington DC.

Philippe Zuber President & COO One&Only Resorts

FITUR Int’l Tourism Trade Fair January 20 -24, 2016 Madrid, Spain

Kerzner International Holdings has appointed Philippe Zuber as President and Chief Operating Officer for One&Only Resorts. In this role, Zuber will lead the strategic development of the One&Only brand, including continued operational success of all existing One&Only resorts. His appointment is strategically important as the company continues further enhancements across existing resorts in the collection and also moves forward with expansion plans for One&Only worldwide.

IBTM Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meeting Exhibition February 09-11, 2016 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates ITB Berlin March 09-13, 2016 Berlin, Germany

SUBSCRIBE NOW 12 Months ` 660 24 Months ` 1250 36 Months ` 1800

Name Address City

Postal Code

Phone Email Cheque / DD No.

Dated

Made Payble to Whereabouts Media For ` E-8/401, Nehru Vihar, Delhi -110094

38 January 2016

RNI No.: DELENG/2014/59308

www.whereabouts.in

SATTE SPECIAL EDITION

Volume II Issue IV January 2016

Annual Subscription ` 660

In Conversation

Hanneli Slabber Country Manager South African Tourism Need to Know

MAINPAT Clarks Inn: The Hill Station of Hospitality

March of the

Chhattisgarh

century

Analysis

OUTLOOK FOR 2016-AVIATION Whereabouts

CHIANG RAI NEWS IN BRIEF

ASSOCIATION

NTO

HOSPITALITY

TECHNOLOGY