June18 by whereabouts

RNI No.: DELENG/2014/59308

Volume IV Issue IX June 2018

Price Per Copy ` 100

IATO’s 2018 election result, was there a

Time for

ON THE COVER : CLOUD SHROUDED MOUNTAINS OF MEGHALAYA

surprise?

GITB to fly

free?

Season’s Most

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CONTENTS Editor Rajesh Tiwari rajesh@whereabouts.in +91 9818525672

Correspondents Jai Kishan Kaparwan Nisha Awasthi whereabouts.in@gmail.com

Art Director

TOP NEWS

UDAN Scheme made a difference to Rajasthan The state of Rajasthan is aiming to be connected with Kochi via Goa. Rajesh Tiwari

Vasundhara Raje Chief Minister Govt of Rajasthan

DAN one of the ambitious schemes in the aviation sector launched by the Central Government has made a lot of difference for the State of Rajasthan, as informed by the Chief Minister of the state Vasundhara Raje.

Hugely benefited by the scheme, the air connectivity has been improved between many cities of Rajasthan, and various cities of neighbouring states. “We want to thank the Central Government for open sky policy that has made a lot of difference to us. Because of its ambitious scheme – UDAN, we have been connected in various different ways. Apart from connecting our own cities like Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Udaipur, the state has got connected from

Jaipur to Agra – which is a long pending demand, and Jaipur to Varanasi,” informed the Chief Minister. Rajasthan is now one of the states which have been connected straight to Agra. However, the state, now is aiming to be linked with Kochi via Goa. “Because after this connectivity we will be able to cover almost every region of the country,” she added. The state of Rajasthan has been pioneer in starting intra-state connectivity. “We used Supreme Airlines working with Rajasthan government to connect us additionally to Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jaiselmer – which is also now connected by UDAN. And even today we have continued with that service. We

Apart from connecting our own cities like Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Udaipur, the state has got connected from Jaipur to Agra and Varanasi have connected Ranthambhor as well as Kota to make a seamless travel between the tourist destinations of our state,” she informed. Supreme Airlines is an Indian charter airline based in Jaipur. It operates chartered flights in the state of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Better connectivity & airfare to play a key role in growth of tourism in Kashmir The department of tourism plans to make a push for more connectivity and better airfare to enhance the growth of tourism in the state. Rajesh Tiwari

part from changing the false perception that Kashmir is not a safe place for tourist, the department of tourism needs to work on better connectivity and airfares to encourage more travellers to visit Kashmir, feels Sarmad Hafeez IAS, Secretary Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir. There are certain concerns such as frequency and timings of the flights that the department of tourism has brought in the notice of Ministry of Civil Aviation. “The Ministry has been very forthcoming and well responded to our concerns. Certain measures like extending arrival of flights at Srinagar airport till late night will be greatly benefited to the tourism of Jammu & Kashmir.”

Sarmad Hafeez IAS Secretary J& K Tourism

Srinagar airport is widely connected with many cities of the country like Lucknow, Pune, Kolkata, Bengaluru and New Delhi etc. through via or direct flight. “However, by adding more cities, if the number of direct flights can be improved it will save time and generate more traffic and business to the state of J&K with immediate effect,” added Sarmad Hafeez.

Apart from this, the state required a better connectivity among the three regions – Jammu, Kashmir and Leh. As he informed, Leh is a very important region for tourism in J&K despite that there is only one weekly flight from Srinagar to Leh which is hindering the growth of tourism in this part of the Kashmir. Kashmir receive a lot of foreign tourist from Canade, New Zealand, Israel and Russia during winters who comes to indulge in adventure activities like skiing and gondola ride in Gulmarg. “However, we feel there is a lot more to be done because Kashmir is known as the destination where a lot of European used to come for a month long stay in the valley. We have huge numbers coming from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, even the Middle East and Singapore and we are focusing on these areas also,” added Hafeez. In an attempt to attract more foreign tourist J&K Tourism is organizing roadshows in different countries. “We had conducted a roadshow in Bangladesh recently. Also, we have proposed to go to Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore to create more awareness about Kashmir and attract more travellers from this part of the world. However, air connectivity from these countries to Srinagar will be hugely benefited for the tourism in J&K,” informed Hafeez. Apart from this, engaging with travel bodies and media to change the perception that Kashmir is not a safe place for tourist is is high on agenda. “Lot of the people has mental blocks against coming to Kashmir because of the false negativity and propaganda. We believe that the latest annual convention of TAAI (the state hosted in the month of March) will help in defeating some of those false perceptions as there a large number of delegates came from across the world and they had a first- hand experience,” he concludes.

June 2018 7

VIEW POINT

IATO’s 2018 election result, was there a surprise? An interesting election, do 2018 outcome will have a bearing on the new team that will be elected in 2020. Too early to tell, but the new team certainly looks like two team merged into one at the moment. Shayan Mallick

ociety for Incentives Travel Excellence (SITE) is an international body of tour operators, specialising in incentives travel. SITE presence is spread across 92 odd countries with membership base of over 2000 global tourism stakeholders. The Chicago, Illinois, based body wields tremendous reputation internationally. It usually gives its President one year term at the top. It found Rajeev Kohli, Joint Managing Director of Creative Travel India and SITE’s Immediate Past President, good enough for two consecutive terms (2016 and 2017) at the top. Surprisingly, in Kohli’s own backyard at the recent election for the new team to lead the 36 year-old Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), it’s members thought otherwise, or at least that’s what it looked like. Elections, be it of a trade body or in mainstream politics, often spring surprises; and not to forget the backroom parlours, the old guards trying to remain firmly entrenched, suspense surrounding who is actually supporting whom and like STIC Travels’ Subhash Goyal, IATO’s longest serving President who has also often played the kingmaker puts it “everything is fair in love and war,” only makes an election more interesting to report. The 2018 IATO election was no different. It sprang many surprises, especially for the most anticipated contests between Kohli and Trivandram, Kerala, headquartered Air Travel Enterprises’ EM Najeeb for the post of Sr. Vice President. Four of the six office bearers were already elected unopposed, but two were not and both lost despite being widely expected to win. The other highly anticipated contest was between the incumbent Amaresh Tiwari

8 June 2018

With Returning Officer Akshay Kumar (center, 2nd row) the newly elected team of IATO of Delhi based AT & Seasons Vacations Travel who was seeking a re-election against the formidable IATO veteran Rajesh Mudgill of Delhi based Planet India Travels for the important post of Honorary Secretary. Mudgill was part of the IATO team led by Vijay Thakur for two terms during 2007-2011. Of the four elections that have taken place since, Mudgill fought in three losing two before the doughty veteran making a comeback to team IATO in the recent election. However, the biggest surprise was Kohli’s loss against Najeeb, a seasoned veteran from Kerala and somebody who has contributed immensely to Kerala Tourism being the founder President to the immensely successful Kerala Travel Mart. Besides heading several trade bodies in the state, Najeeb has been one of Kerala’s most active tourism campaigners and probably the biggest tourism industry face from the state in the last 15-20 years. Kohli’s biodata is also as impressive or probably even better given his experience in leading powerful international trade body like SITE. Nevertheless, although by a small margin, Kohli’s loss was particularly surprising given that IATO has historically opted to choose team comprising of office bearers mostly from Delhi region. Besides, in the last six years that Kohli was in IATO, first four years as Vice President and the last term as Sr. Vice President, he had engaged hard with the members as well as seen as somebody who was sincere in his efforts, shown courage in highlighting issues and concerns to top government

officials without beating about the bush, a trait often on display at key industry events when private sector is seen sharing platform with ministers and bureaucrats in the government. Besides, not just in India, Kohli is also one of the top international faces in the global tourism arena and his highly respected for his leadership and industry insights all over the world. Anyway, now its two teams combined that has fought each other over the last four elections are in the house at the moment. How will that augur for IATO and members is yet to be seen.

Whose victory? It was interesting speaking to some of the IATO members on the election day and picking their mind. But this one question put to me that I really found interesting was, “So who won?” Clearly, I was being challenged to look beyond the obvious. Well of course Najeeb and Mudgill won, meaning Kohli and Tiwari lost, and lost despite Goyal’s support. In the last over 23 years nobody has wielded as much clout over IATO and its members as Goyal has. A testimony to that is the fact that Goyal is today IATO’s longest serving President with 14 years spent as the president of the association between 1995 and 2018. While the remaining years he was IATO’s Immediate Past President. So it was as much a loss to the canny Goyal also, or was it? Two years down the line, in 2020, a likely scenario could be Goyal throwing his hat in the arena once again after Pronab Sarkar has presided over two consecutive terms.

VIEW POINT That presents us with some very interesting scenario. Albeit unwittingly, it (Kohli’s loss) may actually be a Goyal’s victory in case he decides to comeback make a to lead IATO two years from now. And this is quite likely if Goyal doesn’t get a bigger industry responsibility, say that of the Chairman of the tourism industry federation FAITH, a post that ITC’s Executive Director Nakul Anand has held since the body was formed about six years ago. With Najeeb serving his first term (2018-2020) as Sr. Vice President, it would likely be easy for Goyal to be re-elected as IATO President, in case he decides to contest for the top post once again and say he happens to face Najeeb as his main contender. If this happens in 2020, Goyal’s win is guaranteed. However, if Kohli were to be reelected as the Sr. Vice President in the recent election, it was only a matter of time before he was contesting for the top post in 2020. And if pitted against Goyal, Kohli could have made for a more compelling choice for the IATO members for the top post. It would have been an election probably as interesting as the one contested between team Goyal and team Arjun Sharma, the then Managing Director of Le Passage to India, in 2011. But that said, to me, Kohli continues to be one of the formidable contenders for IATO President post in 2020, but as a lesser threat to Goyal in 2020 in case both of them throw their hats in the ring. And to that extent some say it (Kohli’s loss) might as well have been Goyal’s victory too. Anyway, coming back to the recent IATO election, we can only know so much in case it was “everything is fair in love and war” kind of situation too like Goyal had alluded. The win margin was small and ten votes influenced here and there could have done it for either of the two.

RDTM to strengthen Rajasthan Tourism Scheduled on July 20-22 at B M Birla Auditorium in Jaipur, the event is eyeing 200 domestic buyers from across India and the same number of exhibitors from Rajasthan Shayan Mallick

ajasthan’s first domestic travel mart, Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart (RDTM), is happening on July 20-22. The event is particularly significant in many aspects. Unlike the rest of India, the GDP contribution of tourism to Rajasthan’s economy is at a robust over 16 per cent. However the state still doesn’t have an equitable distribution of tourists throughout the state. According to one estimate the state capital Jaipur and surrounding gets the lion share of overall tourists coming to Rajasthan, which is in stark contrast to the fact that Rajasthan is spread over a staggering 3.42 lakh square kilometres, has a plenty of destinations and is also the largest state in India by area. Tourism is key to Rajasthan, a state endowed with endless potential, and driving this sector is the domestic tourism. According to WTTC data, India’s tourism figures are predominantly generated by domestic travel, which accounted for 88 per cent of the sector’s contribution to the national GDP in 2016, whereas tourism receipt through foreign

tourists only represented 12 per cent. Rajasthan received about 46 million visitors overall last year recording a growth of over 10.5 per cent over the previous year. However, the share of foreign tourist is in the region of 1.6 million at the moment. According to Gyan Prakash, General Secretary of FHTR and an ex-FICCI whose experience in conceptualising and executing a successful travel show goes deep because of his close involvement in shaping up GITB (Great India Travel Bazaar) right from its first edition in 2007, “Domestic tourism is the future and this cannot be ignored. And there is a continuous effort that is required and at a much larger scale. And the effort needs to be very focussed. You see there is vulnerability in inbound tourism because of some unpredictable incidents in your country or for one or the other reason. At the same time Rajasthan has a diverse product portfolio, from heritage, adventure, wildlife, leisure, eco, rural to MICE, leisure, bleisure, events and so on that can engage every segment of traveller. However, the hotels are doing a 65 per cent occupancy and that means not only is there a huge opportunity to grow tourism in the state but also bring more stability to the state’s tourism economy by growing and strengthening the domestic tourism market.” The forthcoming Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart on July 20-22 will not only put

Gyan Prakash General Secretary FHTR

the ‘domestic tourism’ in the spotlight but is also an opportunity for the suppliers and destinations, beyond the ones popular and in business, to be to be counted. And what makes it an even more anticipated event is the fact that the event is being driven by the private tourism sector of the state represented by the industry bodies from the state like Hotel & Restaurant Association of Rajasthan (HRAR), Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA), Rajasthan association of Tour Operators (RATO) who have all united under the aegis of a consortium led by Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR) that is organising the event with support from Ministry of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan. Prakash informed that the first edition will have about 200 odd suppliers from across the state as well as about the same number of domestic buyers. The event is being organised by FHTR and is being supported by Ministry of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan. “The agreement that has been signed between FHTR and Government of Rajasthan is basically of handholding not just for this year but continuously, but at this moment for this year. But we are looking forward to… naturally… go beyond.”

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10 June 2018

VIEW POINT

Time for GITB to fly free? The Jaipur Literature Festival started with the government support has a life on its own, similarly the World Music Festival (Udaipur) created a buzz with the support of the government; now has established on its own. So, ten years down the line, is it the time for the Great Indian Travel Bazaar to make a niche of it? Rajesh Tiwari

ounded in 2006 and produced by Teamwork Arts from 2008 the Jaipur Literature Festival is described as the ‘greatest literary show on Earth. The past decade has seen it transforming into a global literary phenomenon having hosted nearly 2000 speakers and welcoming over a million booklovers from across the globe. In 2014, the JLF spread its wings beyond the borders of India with an annual summer event in London. In 2015, it headed across the pond to Boulder, Colorado where it hosts a similar event every September.

However, as the show now celebrated its landmark 10th edition, there are industry voices who want the show to grow in rank and profile. The number of foreign buyers have remained in the region of 250-300 for the past many years, and so has the number of exhibitors. And there are stakeholders who believe that the show needs to grow its buyers’ number.

So, having a large number of supporters – Hotel Chains or Individual Properties, DMC’s, Tourism Boards and Travel Companies, especially ten years down the line is it the time for GITB to create a niche of it? While speaking at the inaugural session of 10th edition of The Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB), Chief Minister of the state Vasundhara Raje stated that the role of government is just to support the initiative – taken by the industry stakeholders, up to an extent, and set them free to have their own identity without government labeling.

The role of government is just to support the initiative – taken by the industry stakeholders, up to an extent, and set them free to have their own identity without government labeling. Vasundhara Raje

Similarly, the World Music Festival (Also known as Udaipur World Music Festival) is an annual event, conducted every year in February. A festival of immense size and scale features diverse music from different continents and regions. Music lovers belonging to all kinds of background participate in this festival. After three editions the festival has created its own place in this segment. On the other side, the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (popularly known as GITB), has definitely emerged as one of India’s premier event for the suppliers like hotels, destinations and DMCs among others, to showcase their products and attractiveness to some very influential travel trade buyers from important international source markets.

While addressing the gathering at GITB, the chief minister explained how several tourism related events initiated by industry stakeholders, got government support at the initial stage but created their own brand awareness today. “The festivals that have been established with the government support few years ago have actually taken life themselves. The Jaipur Literature Festival – this is so popular nowadays; doesn’t require Rajasthan government anymore; and that is the joy about it. Because, we want the festivals not to be labeled with the government but something that the government of Rajasthan has supported, and then allow to fly free.” The Chief Minister of the state feels that it is important now to bring more people who understand tourism and who have a

fair idea, what that tourism should be. “If the government can partner with people like that to create the buzz that is required, I believe that in its own way, it will be setting tourism free in our state,” believes Vasundhara Raje. It seems that the government aims to allow its people to use their imagination and create travel events or festivals that are going to be international affairs, and not just government. As the chief minister informed, the government of Rajasthan has partnered with exceptional people to do different things to attract the attention of the discerning travellers. While the government of Rajasthan seems to support the private initiatives up to an extent; the FICCI and Department of Tourism (Rajasthan) have extended their MoU till 2024 after completing the 10 successful years.

June 2018 11

NTO

Indian arrivals grow at 7% amidst declining arrivals from KSA and the UK Shayan Mallick

ndia is Dubai’s biggest tourism source market today. Last year Dubai received about 2 million Indian visitors for the first time keeping India significantly ahead of second-placed Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that contributed a little over 1.5 million visitors or third placed the UK that delivered close to 1.3 million visitors in 2017. However, as the overall visitor arrivals to Dubai grew by 6.2 per cent in 2017, arrivals from India had grown by a robust 15 per cent last year. In the 2018, Dubai has posted a 2 per cent increase in the first quarter (Jan-March) over the same period last year registering a total of record 4.7 million international overnights tourists. Indian arrivals have grown at a steady 7 per cent for the Q1 2018 to deliver 617,000 visitors to Dubai. Whereas, the other two top markets, second placed Saudi Arabia has declined by 1 per cent and the third placed the UK has generated 8 per cent less visitation in the first quarter. As part of its Vision 2020, Dubai has outlined a strategic roadmap that seeks to diversify Dubai’s tourism source markets that is aimed at helping the emirate receive 20 million foreign tourist by 2020. Dubai Tourism’s effort has resulted in Russia now emerging as its fourth largest tourism source market according Q1 2018 figure.

Russia has delivered a stellar 106 per cent growth in Q1 2018 over the same period last year generating 259,000 visitors to Dubai helped by visa-on-arrival that Dubai is offering to Russian citizen currently. Meanwhile arrivals from fifth placed China has grown by 12 per cent in Q1 2018 over the same period last year, generating a robust 258,000 Chinese visitors to Dubai, helped again by visa-onarrival that Dubai is currently offering to citizens of China.

Taiwan conducted Workshop and B2B session in Bengaluru WH Desk

ollowed by the participation at the Taiwan Expo 2018 – held from May 17 - 19 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau conducted a workshop and B2B session recently in Bengaluru at The Ritz- Carlton hotel. The objective of the workshop was to educate the key agents of the Bengaluru about Taiwan and the products it has to offer for both the Leisure and MICE segment, and update their knowledge about the country, the USP’s of the destination, exchange rate, visas and the how it caters to different segments of the Indian travellers. The workshop was focused on a B2B sessions where the invited agents got an opportunity to meet and discuss the Taiwan products directly with the suppliers who were present at the event Hyatt Hotels, Thai Airline and Cruise Professionals. The B2B session was followed by the TTB Director, Singapore Office, Dr. Trust Lin addressing the gathering and sharing a general presentation on Taiwan. He spoke about the various aspects of the destination including outdoor activities, environment of Taiwan, sea side and the bay area, festivals, shopping and night life of Taiwan. The highlight of the event was to make the agents aware of the fact that Taiwan offers ‘Easy visa on arrival for Indians’. The applicant must possess a valid or expired (for 10 years or less) Visa issued

12 June 2018

by the countries of Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, any of the Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, or the United States.

Dr Trust Lin (middle), Director, TTB, Singapore Office along with TTB Officials

Taiwan Tourism has received a great response from Bengaluru and the local agents who are looking at co-op activities and joint promotions to drive destination sales. With liberalized visa policies, Taiwan will become a must-visit destination from India in general and Bengaluru in particular. The Taiwan Expo 2018 in India took the country’s business community by storm. Taiwan Tourism Bureau also participated in this exhibition to promote the country as an ideal destination for travel. The exhibition had 8 themed pavilions, Meet Taiwan, Taiwan EV Alliance, Taiwan Food Processing Machinery, Taiwan Green Products, Taiwan Healthcare, Taiwan Tourism, Taiwan Excellence and Taiwan Smart City, which was beneficial for Indian industry as well as consumers.

NTO

Head to Macao to witness the international dragon boat races 2018

Thailand named as the host country for 2018 IIFA Awards

WH Desk

Bollywood bigwigs Shahid Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan, Dia Mirza, Ranbir Kapoor and Karan Johar at the conference WH Desk

ragon boat activity, voluntarily organised by the community, promotes the development of sports and tourism activities. Since pre-1979 era, the activity has been promoted as an annual international dragon boat race. Athletic teams from different countries are invited to Macao to participate in this sports event enriched with traditional features.

he Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announce that Thailand has been named as the host country for the 19th International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA Awards), which is scheduled to be held in Bangkok from 22-24 June, 2018. This makes the second time the Thai capital plays host to the biggest celebration of Indian cinema, having hosted the 9th IIFA Awards on 8 June, 2008.

Dragon boat teams from Hong Kong, Japan, the U.S., the Philippines, China, Thailand, Singapore, Korea, Australia and Europe frequently participate in the races. Macao International Dragon Boat Races will be held from the 16th to 18th of June at Nam Van Lake Nautical Center.

Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said: “India is one of Thailand’s important sources of visitor markets. Being named as the host country for the glitzy and glamorous IIFA Awards for the second time reiterates Thailand’s positioning as the preferred destination among Indian travellers.”

Since the founding of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Macao International Dragon Boat Races have been jointly organised by the Sports Bureau and Macao China Dragon Boat Association. While dragon boating is a widely popular festive activity in Macao during the Dragon Boat Festival, the Macao International Dragon Boat Races have grown to become an important sports event in the territory.

Wizcraft International, the producers and creators of the IIFA, made the official announcement at a press conference held in New Delhi on 17 May, 2018. Making the appearances to confirm Bangkok as the host city for this June’s star-studded weekend included Bollywood bigwigs Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar, Dia Mirza, Shahid Kapoor and Kartik Aaryan.

Think Strawberries to represent Sharjah Tourism in India WH Desk

hink Strawberries has been appointed as the Sales, Marketing, PR & Media Office in India for Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority to develop the consumer and trade markets for India. The objective will be to increase length of overnight stays in Sharjah and to promote it as a complete tourism destination in the Middle East. Amit Kishore, Co-founder, Think Strawberries, said: “The 2018 has been a terrific start for us. We are thrilled with the successful acquisition of marquee accounts, which demonstrates that Think Strawberries is future ready and recognized by some of the finest, global brands.” One of the leading travel representation companies in India and Middle East – Think Strawberries already represents countries like Taiwan and Jordan in India. The company has added a number of accounts to its profile in a very short span of time. Tourism products such as Disneyland® Paris, Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, Tourismo De Portugal and Majid Al

Amit Kishore, (Second from left) Co-founder, Think Strawberries, with the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority officials at ATM Dubai 2018 Futtaim Group (Ski Dubai, iFly Dubai and Orbi Dubai) are among them. In addition to this, Visit Orlando and Cocoon Maldives have signed on with Think Strawberries for Representation in both India and UAE.

June 2018 13

NTO

Vivid Sydney visitors encouraged to explore more of NSW’s sights WH Desk

ivid Sydney, with its spectacular kaleidoscope of colours, incredible Vivid Music acts and engaging Vivid Ideas programmes attracted 2.33 million visitors last year, and travellers can make the most of their Festival visit this year by spending some extra time exploring NSW in winter. From stunning national parks and historic towns, to fabulous food and wine trails, wonderful whale watching, super snowfields and outstanding Outback adventures, there is something for everyone in NSW. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said Vivid Sydney was an opportunity to showcase not only Sydney, but the entire State. “Last year, nearly 38,000 visitors to Vivid Sydney chose to extend their stay in NSW and travel beyond the fringes of Sydney, staying more than 94,000 nights and injecting over $16 million into the State’s regional economy,” Marshall added.

Jamaica launches ‘Join Me In Jamaica’ marketing campaign WH Desk

he Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) launched its Join Me In Jamaica digital marketing campaign. The campaign is a series of 90-second videos featuring local Jamaican celebrities and friends of Jamaica sharing unique stories about the love for their profession, and their homeland and what makes it a great place to visit. As part of the JTB’s effort to capitalize on the power of social media, the video series is being used as a means of attracting and engaging potential visitors and to further grow its social media following.

“The Join Me in Jamaica campaign was created with today’s savvy traveller in mind as purchasing decisions as to where one will vacation are often made after a series of online searches. These short videos will serve to entice visitors to come experience our destination and our greatest asset, our people,” said Donovan White, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. During the first phase of the campaign, a total of eight videos were produced covering a variety of interests and passion points highlighting Jamaican music, cuisine and attractions. Each video was created using the unscripted responses from each celebrity as narrative and accompanied by the spectacular visuals related to their natural surroundings. The featured celebrities are Tessanne Chin, Chef Martin Maginley, Konshens, Edgar, Rousseau Sisters,Ras Natango, Alton Bedward, and Bruce Croxon.

14 June 2018

“For those who come for Vivid Sydney, we encourage them to make the most of their trip by staying on for a memorable holiday in Australia’s most geographically diverse State. Exciting experiences awaits beyond the city limits and Winter is the ideal time to experience many of them.” Some of the many destinations and activities on offer in NSW includes; Blue Mountains, Snowy Mountains , NSW Food and Wine Trails, Country NSW, Outback NSW, North of Sydney , South of Sydney and Lord Howe Island. Vivid Sydney is the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas and now the largest event in Australia. For 23 days - from 25 May to 16 June 2018 – the event places a spotlight on Sydney and reinforces its position as the home of light, creativity, cutting edge music, engaging conversations and the exchange of new ideas.

Ocean Park Hong Kong presents Summer Carnimal WH Desk

cean Park Hong Kong will soon be launching its brand new summer celebration, Summer Carnimal (Carnival + Animal), which will go from 30 June to 2 September. Over a hundred international level elite performers from all over the world will present the biggest ever carnival at Ocean Park, including two different animal-themed grand parades during both the day and night, with tailor-made fine costumes and exquisite giant animal puppets being displayed for the first time. Additionally, amazing shows will be staged every hour – authentic Caribbean cultural shows that demonstrate superb stunts; various traditional Brazilian acts that are both unique and exciting such as dynamic drum performances; and professional synchronised swimming performances to a national team standard. To get guests in the summer mood, a DJ party and vocal band performance at Aqua City Lagoon will also be staged. A group of 50 elite performers from overseas will participate in grand parades during both day and night at Ocean Park this summer, presenting a whole new Caribbean Summer Parade and Caribbean Summer Night Parade. Every afternoon, the international performers will dress up in fine costumes with three main themes – marine life, wildlife and birds. In addition, Ocean Park Summer Carnimal will be staging plenty of other amazing shows and performances during the daytime.

June 2018 15

AVIATION

Vistara creates India’s first Robot designed to assist customers at airports WH Desk

istara has created a unique robot using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that can assist customers, address their queries and entertain them. Named ‘RADA’, the robot is aimed at helping the airline offer a seamless experience and an ‘intuitively thoughtful’ on-ground service to its customers, keeping with the changing consumer behaviour. During its initial stage, RADA will be placed at Vistara’s Signature Lounge at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3 from July 5, 2018 to assist customers using the lounge before they board their flights. ‘RADA’ will be further developed over a period of time in terms of functionality and features for future use cases, after gauging customer feedback. At present, the robot can scan boarding passes and further provide information on the terminal, departure gates, weather conditions of destination city, real time flight

status as well as information about Vistara’s products and services. It greets customers and interacts with them using basic hand movements, and is capable of moving around in the lounge on predefined pathways. Additionally, it can engage with kids and adults alike by playing games and other multimedia content such as songs and videos. Commenting on the introduction of ‘RADA’, Vistara’s Chief Executive Officer, LeslieThng said, “Innovation is one of the core values engrained in the DNA of Vistara’s culture, which we have fostered within the organization in many ways. RADA is a manifestation of this endeavour. “With RADA, we aim to change the way people interact and fly with an airline. We will be developing ‘RADA’ based on customer feedback and equipping it with the most effective features in the time to come. Our steadfast focus remains to be on delighting customers across all touchpoints,

and we’re confident that ‘RADA’ will help us take the ‘new feeling’ to the next level,” he added. Explaining what sparked the idea behind ‘RADA’, Vistara’s Chief Information and Innovation Officer, Ravinder Pal Singh, “Vistara is an organization that encourages its employees to look beyond boundaries and leverage the talent and skills of such employees. Therefore, we thought of inventing a robot that can help us enhance customer experience by gradually taking over the routine, mundane tasks.

Mumbai Airport creates record, handles1003 flight movements

Ethiopian takes delivery of 100th Aircraft in active service

WH Desk

umbai airport handled 1003 takeoffs and landings breaking its own record of handling 988 flight movements in a day. It is the highest traffic in a single day at any airport in India

till date.

Aquintessence of operational excellence, the Mumbai airport is in the league of the busiest single-runway airports around the world, handling over 1000 flights per day. Due to heavy rainfall the aircrafts were diverted to the nearby airports and were later were accommodated immediately as the rains stopped, which lead to increase in the flight movements. GVK MIAL’s efforts have constantly been focused towards placing CSIA amongst the world’s best airports. The evolution brought through CSIA with respect to services, functionality and operations personifies into a dynamic travel companion that its stakeholders cherish having on their side. CSIA has continually made efforts in rendering travel to and from Mumbai as the most desirable and enriching experience.

16 June 2018

WH Desk thiopian Airlines has taken delivery of its 100th aircraft, Boeing 787 Dreamliner on June 6, 2018. As part of Ethiopian Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, the new aircraft has ferried medical equipment from the Seattle-based NGO, Direct Relief, to St Paulos Hospital in Addis Ababa. The shipment includes surgical stools and other medical supplies to be used for both teaching and patient care.

Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam, said: “It is an immense honor for all of us at Ethiopian to reach the milestone of 100 aircraft. This milestone is a continuation of our historical aviation leadership role in Africa and a testimony of the successful implementation of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth plan, Vision 2025.” “We will continue to connect more and more Africans with their fellow citizens of the continent and with their brothers and sisters in the rest of the world to make life better every single day,” he added. Ethiopian was the first to avail jet service in the continent back in 1962, and operated the first African B767 in 1984, the first African B777-200LR in 2010, the first African B787-800 Dreamliner and B777200 freighter in 2012 and the first African A350 in 2016 and the first African B787-9 aircraft in 2017.

AVIATION

Etihad to launch new service to Barcelona WH Desk

tihad Airways has announced the introduction of a new scheduled service linking Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, and Barcelona, Spain, effective 21 November 2018. The

Peter Baumgartner Chief Executive Officer Etihad Airways

route will initially be operated five times a week by a twoclass Airbus A330-200 before becoming a daily operation from 31 March 2019. Barcelona will become the second city in Spain served by Etihad Airways, complementing the airline’s existing daily service to the capital Madrid. The new link will provide business and leisure travellers with convenient timings to travel between Abu Dhabi and Barcelona, also providing seamless onward connections through Abu Dhabi to major cities in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Korea and Australia. Peter Baumgartner, Chief Executive Officer Etihad Airways, said: “As one of the largest unserved markets from

our Abu Dhabi base, Barcelona - a hub of culture, commerce, tourism, education, fashion and science, has witnessed a significant increase in travel demand from the emirate, and from across our wider network. “We are confident it will prove very popular with UAE and Barcelona-based customers, allowing us to extend our acclaimed inflight service, hospitality and flair to this vibrant Mediterranean city, and to build on the flourishing cultural and commercial ties between the UAE and Spain.” The new service is being launched in time for the start of the 2018 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Middle East’s largest sporting event, held from 23-25 November at the capital’s 5.55 kilometre Yas Marina Circuit.

Trade between the UAE and the Catalonia region has enjoyed significant growth in recent years, with food, chemicals, motor vehicles, energy and pharmaceuticals being the main industrial sectors. Etihad Airways operates an extensive codeshare partnership with Air Europa (UX), on the Spanish airline’s scheduled services from Madrid to Barcelona and 18 other major European cities.

Jet Airways to connect Mumbai & IndiGo adds Tuticorin; fares Manchester from winter 2018

starting INR 2999

WH Desk

This new service is the first nonstop service connecting India, via its economic capital with Manchester, the 3rd largest city in the UK. Jet Airways will deploy its wide body A330-200 with 254 seating for the service, which will operate for four days every week including Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

IndiGo with its 10th ATR aircraft will operate three daily non-stop flights between Chennai and Tuticorin. The low cost carrier will also operate a second daily non-stop flights between Chennai and Calicut. These new flights will be operational effective July 26, 2018.

et Airways has announced that the beginning 05th November 2018, it will launch its first non-stop service between Mumbai and Manchester, thus further strengthening its connect to the United Kingdom (UK).

The launch of this new service will provide seamless connectivity to several domestic destinations to and from India which include Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bhuj, Bhopal, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Coimbatore, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Indore, Aurangabad, Jaipur, Chennai, Nagpur, Rajkot, Raipur, Udaipur, via the airline’s HUB, Mumbai. Similarly, quick connections to beyond points on Jet Airways’ international network

urther spreading its wings under the UDAN scheme through ATR operations

IndiGo, has added Tuticorin to its network. A city of over 411,000 population in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, Tuticorin, will be the 53rd destination on IndiGo’s network.

such as Bangkok, Colombo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dhaka and Kathmandu, will now be available. The new service will complement the carrier’s existing thrice daily, non-stop services between Mumbai – London Heathrow, and a daily service between Delhi – London Heathrow. Vinay Dube, Chief Executive Officer, Jet Airways said: “The new service will bring Manchester into our global network, reinforcing our footprint as well as expanding the choice of connectivity to/from the United Kingdom for our guests with the 4 day/ week, non-stop service.”

Sanjay Kumar, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said, “Just like Hubli, Tuticorin is a key market for IndiGo and is fast gaining prominence as a crucial industrial hub.” “With rising business and tourism stemming from the southern cities, IndiGo is determined to provide the best travel experience to all those who wish to fly to these destinations. We are providing affordable fares on these new routes for 6E travellers,” added Sanjay.

June 2018 17

HOSPITALITY

Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas awarded the Guinness World Record For the Wish Park achieving the largest display of pinwheels WH Desk

he Wish Park was created at Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi in December 2017 and ran until February 2018. It’s aim to inspire and embrace happiness and positivity and to realize Saadiyat islands literal translation, as Happiness Island. Every guest, visitor and employee at the Hotel were invited to write their wish on their own pearl lustre pinwheel

to be placed in the Wish Park and to be a part of the Guinness World Record breaking attempt for the largest pinwheel display in the world. Launching the Wish Park on the central lawn of the hotel, enabled an easily accessible space for participation and could be viewed from every part of the hotel. For some wanting to participate, but unable to travel their wishes were sent by email to include on pinwheels and plant and record them in the Wish Park. The timing of the Wish Park was designed to embrace all cultures, nationalities and

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts completes Spin-Off from Wyndham Worldwide WH Desk

yndham Hotels & Resorts has announced the completion of its spin-off from Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, which has been renamed Wyndham Destinations, Inc. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is the world’s largest hotel franchisor and

Geoff Ballotti Chief Executive Officer Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

18 June 2018

a leading provider of hotel management services, with a portfolio of 20 well-recognised lodging brands and nearly 9,000 franchised hotels in more than 80 countries. “We are thrilled to begin a new era in which we will continue to build upon our powerful asset-light and fee-based business model that is driven by an exceptional portfolio of market-leading economy and midscale brands,” said Geoff Ballotti, Chief Executive Officer of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “As the world’s largest hotel franchisor with a proven ability to create value through acquisitions and organic growth, we will focus on strengthening our industry-leading loyalty and technology platforms to drive more direct distribution to our owners and franchisees at a lower cost, while serving everyday travellers exceptionally well,”

ages with the employees, guests, clients, international visitors and Abu Dhabi and UAE residents who celebrate and make new year wishes for, positivity, future dreams and aspirations. December through February, the pinwheel wishes were gathered, marking the New Years’ holidays in December, Russian Old New Year in January and on the Eve of Chinese Lunar New Year on Thursday, February 15, 2018, the hotel completed a recorded count of 2,222 wish pinwheels which broke the previous world record, completed in Nov 2017 in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong.

Speaking on the occasion, Janet Abrahams, Director of Sales & Marketing, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi said: “ It has been an unforgettable experience with so many happy moments we shared with every Wish Pinwheel we received and it has brought us closer to our community, both here in Abu Dhabi and with the many international guests who visited during the Wish Park.”

Lords Hotels & Resorts receives TripAdvisor certificate of excellence WH Desk

ords Hotels & Resorts has been honoured by TripAdvisor with the Certificate of Excellence, 2018. TripAdvisor has identified fifteen of Lords Hotels & Resorts’ hotels and four of its restaurants for consistently delivering great service. The Certificate of Excellence is rewarded to establishments that have received great reviews consistently by taking into account the quality, quantity and the latest reviews submitted by travellers. “TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is benchmark recognition that a hotel qualifies for based on consistent, positive guest reviews. To be recognized for quality by one of the world’s largest traveller community is quite an acknowledgement and we wish to thank our patrons for their support. It encourages us to continue offering our guests True Value stays

through exhilarating hospitality experiences at budget friendly tariffs,” says P R Bansal, Chief Operating Officer, Lords Hotels & Resorts. Lrds Plaza – Ankleshwar, PL Palace Lords Inn – Agra, Top 3 Lords Resort – Bhavnagar, Mirage Lords Inn – Kathmandu, Goradia’s Lords Inn – Shirdi, Aakar Lords Inn – Saputara, Patang Lords Eco Inn – Saputara, Dwarkadish Lords Eco Inn – Dwarka, Jagarati Lords Inn –Jaipur, Lords Inn – Jammu, Lords Eco Inn – Porbander, Lords Inn – Jodhpur Forest, Lords Resort – Sasan Gir, Vishal Lords Inn Gir Forest, Sasan Gir and Revival Lords Inn – Vadodara are the hotels properties that received the certificate. While the restaurants that received the certificates are Lords Plaza, Surat – Blue Coriander and The Lime Tree, Dwarkadish Lords Eco Inn, Dwarka – Blue Coriander and Jaipur – Blue Coriander.

HOSPITALITY

Emaar Hospitality presents special packages for the season WH Desk

maar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure subsidiary of Emaar Properties, is offering unrivalled hospitality experiences this summer with highly competitive rates specially tailored for the season at its three distinctive hotel brands until September 30, 2018. Guests are invited to beat the heat and enjoy the perfect blend of entertainment, relaxation and dining experiences across Dubai. The special summer rates can be availed through rewarding hotel stays at Emaar Hospitality Group’s premium luxury brand Address Hotels + Resorts, upscale lifestyle Vida Hotels and Resorts, and contemporary midscale Rove Hotels. At both Address Hotels + Resorts and Vida Hotels and Resorts, guests can stay one

Ginger forays into Jhansi with the signing of a new hotel WH Desk

ocated exactly opposite the railway station, Ginger Jhansi is a convenient option for travellers visiting the historic city of Jhansi for business or leisure. The hotel will have 76 rooms, an all day dining and a meeting room. The hotel is a greenfield development and is slated to open by late2020. This will be Ginger’s first hotel in Jhansi. Jhansi was selected among 98 cities for the smart city initiative by Government of India. The Ginger portfolio has 45 operating hotels and 8 hotels in the pipeline. Deepika Rao, Managing Director& Chief Executive Officer, Ginger said, “This will be the first branded hotel in the city.” Ginger is a part of Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) brandscape. IHCL has five hotels in the state of Uttar Pradesh – The Gateway Hotel Fatehabad Road Agra; Vivanta and Ginger in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow; Taj Nadesar Palace Varanasi and The Gateway Ganges Varanasi.

night for free, for every two nights booked. Awe-inspiring participating hotels include Address Boulevard attached to The Dubai Mall, the world’s most-visited and largest retail destination. For a ‘no frills’ stay but perfect for the modern traveller who enjoys the best Dubai has to offer, Rove Hotels guarantees a great stay at a number of inter-connected locations across the city, perfect for exploring and at great value. Guests can take advantage of rates starting from just AED 198 a night across five properties located around the city. Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Our summer experiences are perfect for families and couples seeking to enjoy the very best of Dubai and crave memorable experiences from Emaar Hospitality Group’s world-

class properties. The campaign has been planned to meet the lifestyle aspirations of both overseas travellers and Dubai-based residents and will significantly contribute to the city’s globally popular tourism sector during the summer months.” Adding a further benefit and ideal for families and couples staying at Address Hotels + Resorts, Vida Hotels and Resorts, and Rove Hotels, ‘Live It Up’ offers two packages to accompany any stay exclusively and only available for purchase at the hotel reception of participating Emaar Hospitality Group hotels.

Shangri-la’s - Eros unveils new refurbished rooms and suites WH Desk

hangri-La’s - Eros Hotel, New Delhi presents the new age luxury for the modern travellers. With the recent refurbishment, the guestrooms and suites have been accentuated with luxurious amenities and a chic and classy ambience in hues of silver dove grey and muted beige colors for a splendid, relaxing experience. The revamp unveils the spectacular Horizon Club Lounge located on the 19th floor of the hotel, offering views of the bustling New Delhi and the most iconic landmarks of the city, including India Gate, Lotus Temple and Jantar Mantar. The jewel in the crown – The Presidential Suite, spread over 2345 sq. ft. area, offering expansive living spaces, chic furnishings, stunning views, and a private deep-soaking Jacuzzi redefines luxury living in the heart of the capital. The suite features 2 expansive bed rooms with en-suite bathrooms and a walk in-closet, separate living room with dining area, guest washroom and a kitchenette for those looking for nothing but the best. Savour the mystical Yunnan cuisine along with Cantonese and Sichuan at the ShangriLa brand’s 39th signature restaurant Shang

Palace. One can indulge in authentic Italian experience at Sorrento, certified with the Golden Q from Ospitalita’ Italiana. If you’re in the mood for taking a culinary trip around the world, visit Tamra - the multi-cuisine dining restaurant offering the ‘world on your platter’ concept. Enjoy the robust flavours of Indian street food, packed in a plush, luxurious setting at Mister Chai. Commence your evening sipping oursignature barrel-aged cocktails at the Italian bar Grappa. Relax and rejuvenate in the tranquil waters of the swimming pool or take a breath and unwind at CHI, The Spa, the signature spa brand for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, making it’s mark around the world in more than 44 countries.

June 2018 19

HOSPITALITY

Marriott @ 100, India’s largest hotel chain US and China to have achieved this milestone. With around six thousand five hundred hotels in its kitty globally, Marriott’s accelerated growth in India has been aided by it’s worldwide acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts that already had one of the widest footprint in India amongst the international hotel chains operating in the country.

To add 15 hotels to its operational portfolio this year Shayan Mallick

arriott International recently opened its 100th property in India. Its latest addition is Sheraton Grand in the southern city of Bengaluru. With annual global sales revenues of $17 billion, Marriott has now emerged the largest hotel chain in India in terms of room numbers with more than 22,000 keys in operation across different parts of the country. Speaking at the opening of Sheraton Grand in Bengaluru,

Arne Sorenson President & CEO Marriott International

Arne Sorenson, President and CEO of Marriott International, said that India is Marriott’s third most strategic market after the

Sorenson also pointed that Marriott has opened 15 hotel properties in India last year and will add the same number of properties to its operational kitty this year as well. The hotel chain also boast of a robust development pipeline n India

with as many as 50 hotels at various stages of development that will join Marriott’s operational portfolio as soon as they are ready. While pointing at the opportunity for growth that Marriott sees in the Indian market, Sorenson said that of the average 70 per cent occupancy that Marriott’s India properties are doing, 60 per cent of it comes from domestic bookings. He said that the growth in india’s robust economy could be more shinning if simplifies bureaucratic norms and low taxes were to be introduced.

VITS Luxury Hotels unveils ‘VITS Mango Blossom Gurugram’ WH Desk

onveniently situated in the heart of Millennium City Gurugram the hotel infuses a perfect blend of sophistication and functionality. Well-connected through railways, road and air to all major cities the hotel offers ease of travel and transit to all the corporate travellers.

Announcing the launch, Chandrakant Shetty, CEO¸ VITS Luxury Business Hotels says, “We are extremely upbeat on the exponential growth prospects in Gurugram that has fueled demand of upscale midmarket hotels in this region.” “The city has seen steady growth in inflow of business travelers in the last two decades but there is still acute shortage of upscale mid-market hotel rooms. We are extremely delighted to bridge this gap with the launch of our first property in Gurugram. We believe VITS Mango Blossom with its strategic location, imposing décor, banqueting and host of hospitality will appeal to both

20 June 2018

leisure and business tourists,” he added. The well-furnished accommodation blends contemporary design with unmatched comfort. The 37 guest rooms comprising of Deluxe rooms and Superior rooms presents a blissful corporate sojourn with impeccable amenities. The rooms are true portrayal of elegance and grandeur that impart an exhilarating experience to the occupants.

VITS Mango Blossom, Gurugram offers a stunning array of facilities that include multicuisine restaurants, Excusive Bar, Travel desk, business centre, 24 hours room service, conference room and banquet hall. The hotel also features a wide variety of lifestyle activities including full equipped fitness center and Spa offering massage therapies, sauna, steam and ayurvedic therapies. All the guest rooms are fully air conditioned and replete with contemporary elements, Wi-Fi

connectivity, LED TV, Wardrobes, Tea- coffee maker, mini fridge and safety lockers. Guests can relish magnificent culinary journey that spans diverse gastronomic options at Dalchini, the Spiced Multicuisine restaurant serving continental, oriental along with various regional Indian cuisines. The hotel houses a pure vegetarian restaurant, ‘Kamats’ that serves mouth watering delicacies in South Indian, Punjabi and Mughalai flavours. Utmost care has been taken to ensure that food &

beverages at the hotel matches the discerning needs of the guests that ranges from an energizing breakfast, a sprightly cup of drink to sumptuous lunch and dinners. VITS Mango Blossom Gurugram adds some zing to your business travel with our state-of-theart conference and banquet hall. The indoor banquet can accommodate 50 guests while the lush green outdoor lawn can host events for 100 guests. Banquet hall offers a grand celebration, hassle-free event experience for all professional and business milestones.

June 2018 21

GOVERNMENT

Kerala rolls out #ComeOut And Play campaign WH Desk

ollowing its robust promotional campaign, Kerala Tourism has recently kick-started ‘#Come Out and Play’ campaign to attract travellers from all corners of the world to the state during monsoon. The department is to accord prominence to its monsoon tourism campaigns considering the possibility of attracting more travellers who would wish to enjoy the rains in the state.

Highlighting the campaign, P Bala Kiran, Director of Kerala Tourism said, “The state offers the vacationers a chance to rediscover nature, rekindle relationships, and reconnect with life by indulging into various activities such as trekking, ayurvedic massage, river rafting and numerous more.”

P Bala Kiran Director Kerala Tourism

“The state had hosted a total of 6,142,190 tourist arrivals during monsoon season i.e. June-October 2017 with an increase of 506,623 travellers as compared to 5,635,567 tourist arrivals during monsoon season in 2016”, he further added. The main objective of the campaign is to divest

vacationers of their ‘career selves’, their ‘formal adultness’ and their preoccupation with devices, careers and the routine of everyday life. The campaign idea mainly focuses on ‘Play’ in the context of families and in-turn it reconnects the families. Based on this idea a television, print/OOH campaign has been developed. With this ambitious campaign, Kerala Tourism aims to target tourists from the potential domestic markets, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi &NCR, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal. Kerala Tourism has also been inviting travel enthusiasts to participate in #Come Out and Play challenge. Willing participants would need to engage in any outdoor activity like hopping on one leg, slow cycling and crossing a log bridge and post the same on social media with #Come Out and Play. Lucky winners would be rewarded fabulous Come Out and Play merchandise. Kerala had garnered Rs 8392.11-crore revenues from the 10,91870 foreign tourists who visited Kerala last year. Over the past few years, Kerala had received around 70,000 of Saudi tourists during the monsoon season. Tourists from Arab countries visit Kerala to experience the rains, ayurveda, medical treatments and to spend their vacations. The department has further expanded the promotion activities by way of Mall Branding and Taxi Branding in these regions. In the East Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia, promotional activities including Out of Home and Airport Mall Branding have also been done.

Himachal Govt launches helicopter taxi service from Shimla to Chandigarh WH Desk

n an attempt to promote Heli-tourism between two state capitals of Shiimla and Chandigarh, the Government of Himachal Pradesh and Pawan Hans have launched a Heli-taxi service between these two cities today.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur flagged off the ShimlaChandigarh heli taxi service from the Jubbarhatti Airport near the hill station. “The Queen of Hills, being one of the leading travel destinations, would now be connected through heli taxi service from Chandigarh. We would try to connect other cities

of the state through the service in future,” said Thakur. He further said that the service would give a boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UDAN scheme and his vision of giving common man a chance to fly. Along with that, it would certainly give a boost to Himachal’s tourism prospects. Members of the tourism industry are elated as they are hopeful that highend tourists, especially foreigners and business travellers, will prefer to visit the state capital and its nearby destinations by flights. The 113-km journey between the two cities usually takes over three hours by car, over four hours by bus and over

22 June 2018

five hours by train. The service has been launched to specially cater to the people of Himachal, Punjab and Haryana. The heli taxi service would also be useful for people who want to go to the Queen of Hills but don’t want to take bus or train. The Pawan Hans chopper will provide the services every Monday and Friday in the beginning. The chopper will have 20 seats and the minimum fare for one passenger will be Rs 2,999. It will be a twenty-minute morning flight between the two destinations. The chopper will take off from Shimla at 8 am and reach Chandigarh at 8.20 am. For passengers planning their journey from Chandigarh to Shimla, the flight will take off at 9 am from Chandigarh airport and reach Shimla at 9.20 am.

GOVERNMENT

Ministry of Tourism formulates guidelines for Adventure Tourism WH Desk

he Minister of State for Tourism (I/C), K. J. Alphons launched the Guidelines by the Government of India on Adventure Tourism in New Delhi. These guidelines on Safety and Quality Norms for Adventure Tourism in India have been formulated along with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) in an effort to make adventure sports safer. The Tourism Minister said India has immense potential for adventure tourism ranging from the Himalayas to the coastal regions. K. J. Alphons said that these guidelines are a beginning to building adventure tourism in India and extended whole support to all stakeholders for developing this niche sector so as to tap the whole potential offered. The minister also added that for India to be a well sought after destination, the facilities and support staff should be developed to global standards. Speaking at the event, Secretary Tourism, Rashmi Verma said that the guidelines have been formulated in consultation with all stakeholders like State Governments, Tour operators and now they need to be adopted so that India could be an internationally acclaimed adventure tourism destination. ATOAI President, Swadesh Kumar extended his gratitude to the Ministry and other stakeholders in bringing out the guidelines document and added that the association is keen to bring all the stakeholders involved into the organised sector. The aim of this initiative is to help adventure tour operators understand and execute safety guidelines in a better manner. These

K. J. Alphons, Minister for Tourism along with (L to R) Suman Billa, Jt. Sec. Tourism, Rashmi Verma, Secretary Tourism and Swadesh Kumar, President, ATOAI at the conference guidelines cover land, air and water based activities which include mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, paragliding, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling, river rafting and many other sports. The guidelines have been framed for 15 Land Based, 7 Air Based and 7 Water Based activities which cover the entire gamut of Adventure Tourism available in India and that the guidelines codify the Standard Operating Procedures and instructions for Risk Mitigation and Emergencies as well as provide for details like Safety precautions, training required, insurance, etc. The information given covers some major areas such as the role of a guide, important equipment required, inspections and maintenance process, operating instructions, risk mitigation, medical safety etc. Detailed guidelines covered in the document focus on safety from every possible angle.

Indore & Bhopal become top 2 cleanest cities WH Desk

its title and have been proven that Madhya Pradesh is a star state in cleanliness.

ndore and Bhopal have been ranked first and second position respectively in the category of cleanest cities in India, announced on 16th May 2018 under the Swachh Sarvekshan 2018 for the second consecutive year. This survey has been conducted in around 4200 cities all over India. The survey aimed at assessing all the municipal cities in the country for their progress on the government’s flagship Swachh Bharat Mission that was announced by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri. While most metropolitan Indian cities are laden with an acrid odor, wreck and litter, growing towns like Indore and Bhopal have managed to retain

Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan also congratulated and thanked residents for their efforts in keeping the city clean. He said, “I am extremely happy, drawing inspiration from the PM and we are running Swachh Bharat Abhiyan across state. I congratulate & thank all residents; it is due to their efforts that we have achieved such targets and hope to continue the same.” Last year eight cities of Madhya Pradesh were among top 25 clean cities of India. This year the state has claimed that they have achieved the 100% target of door to door garbage collection in area under urban bodies to become the first state in India. In Indore, the waste is collected in 3 bins format – wet waste, dry waste and domestic hazardous waste that include medical waste and sanitary waste. The collection of the waste is done on daily basis from household and on the same day, it is treated effectively. On the other hand Madhya Pradesh government have established centralized unit in major cities for treating wet waste and many decentralized channels for decomposing the waste within the area. Indore and Bhopal have set a benchmark for all other cities of India in order to maintain cleanness and provide a pollution free environment for the residents.

June 2018 23

TRADE

Amadeus launches Airport Common Use Service for India WH Desk

madeus introduced the ‘Airport Common Use Service’ (ACUS) to key stakeholders in the Indian aviation industry at India’s first Common Use Roundtable, an event hosted by Amadeus and Bird Group. Fast and easy to implement, with ACUS and an internet connection (e.g. Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G mobile telecommunications), passenger processing services can be easily extended to include off-airport locations such as hotels, exhibitions, convention centers, train stations and cruise liners.

ACUS can be used on any device including laptops and relocatable devices. The adoption of ACUS will allow airports to eliminate costly on-site systems, lowering their operational expenses and minimizing their environmental impact. Airlines will also be able to reduce costs owing to centralized connectivity to airports and simplified passenger processing with offering new-generation, multiple choice, enhanced check-in services to its passengers. Sarah Samuel, Head of

Cox & Kings launches Self-Drive 365 WH Desk

elf-Drive 365 powered by Cox & Kings is a selfdrive holiday specialist in India that brings impeccable road journeys for enthusiasts from around the world. With some fascinating destinations, experiences, facilities and an assortment of cars and bikes, Self-Drive 365 ensures a 24 x 7 support crew for uninterrupted journeys. For those who love to explore their dream destinations at their own pace with their favourite motorbikes or cars, the selfdrive brand offers a seamless support system of its competent and well trained support crew. Explorers can choose from its multiple thematic experiences including adventure, leisure,

wildlife, food, culture and history. The new segment aims to encourage travellers to discover and be a one-stop road trip planner while offering a wide array of road-trips within India and across the globe. With some cherry-picked destinations, experiences, facilities and an assortment of cars and bikes. Powered by Cox & Kings, the Self-Drive 365 brand will ensure a 24 x 7 support crew that will never throw a spanner in the works of a road-trip be it in any part of the world. Speaking at the launch, Debolin Sen, Business Head, Self-Drive 365 said: “With a highly experienced expert panel, round-the-clock assistance, hassle-free paperwork and series of thematic routes, Self-Drive 365 is set to be the pioneer of self-drive tours in the country.” Karan Anand, Head, Relationships, Cox & Kings said: “Through this unique offering, we wish to ensure, our travellers don’t miss the important part of local exploration.”

24 June 2018

Airport IT, Asia Pacific of Amadeus says, “The rapid growth of passengers traveling in India means airports are under a lot pressure. Now more than ever, they need to think differently to provide the service expected by consumers.” “The airport industry has advanced tremendously from the days of dedicated airline check-in desks towards a much more flexible and shared environment. Globally, we are now seeing airports ready to embrace change in order to maximise commercial and operational performance,” she added.

Sarah Samuel Head of Airport IT, Asia Pacific Amadeus

Rajesh Suri, EVP, Business Development, Bird Group shared “Airports and airlines around the world are looking at how new technologies and solutions can improve passenger experience and operations throughout the airport.’

Snapdeal launches travel store WH Desk

napdeal has set-up a travel store that helps buyers with travel necessities at affordable prices. The newly launched store consists of products across categories like hiking, luggage, entertainment, travel accessories, road trip, toiletries and clothing for travel. Following are the highlights of the latest online store: Luggage & Accessories: Grab travel pillows, eye masks, earplugs in different colours and patterns at Rs.229, Rs.159 and Rs.259 respectively. The classy yet simple luggage bags and travel duffels start from Rs. 999. Go Hiking: Hiking boots and active wear (both men & women) available at just upto 70% off. First time hikers especially must not forget to purchase the hiking tents starting from Rs. 399. Its also wise to carry headlamps available at a starting price of Rs. 220, rucksacks which start

fromRs. 899 and sleeping bags under Rs. 1999. Entertainment: You can opt for DSLRs at a discount of up to 20% off. For music, you can undoubtedly go for Bluetooth speakers which are available at upto 50% off and if you want to avoid any hindrance in your entertainment, you can buy some rechargeable batteries under Rs. 999 and the bestselling power banks at upto 70% off. Road Trip: The online store has also got you sorted for the things that you would need for your road trip. You can get a tracking compass and GPS device starting from Rs. 239. Dress up: Upgrade your travel wardrobe with upto 70% off on casual shirts & jackets, upto 80% off on sweaters, minimum 60% off on boots, flip-flops starting from Rs.189 and printed t-shirts under Rs.699 for men. The ladies can pick some trendy must have tops and beachwear starting from Rs. 299. There is an upto 80% off on jackets, blazers and dresses.

TRADE

How India’s millennial business travellers are changing corporate travel WH Desk

illennial1 business travellers in India are driving an evolution in corporate travel by demanding both cutting-edge digital support throughout their trips and on-demand advice from human consultants, according to an independent global study commissioned by Travelport, the leading Travel Commerce Platform. The research, which surveyed 11,000 travellers in 19 countries who took at least one return flight in the last year, revealed that:

Half (47%) of India’s millennial business travellers now count being unable to access booking information across their devices 24/7 as one of their biggest gripes, compared to two fifths (40%) of Gen X2 travellers and one third (35%) baby boomers3. Three fifths (56%) say they get frustrated when companies don’t use data analytics to provide highly personalized travel recommendations based on their past preferences, compared to two fifths of both Gen X (43%) and

Sandeep Dwivedi Chief Operating Officer ITQ

baby boomer (41%) travellers. Two fifths (43%) say not being able to get expert advice from human consultants during the booking process is a major pain point. Millennials escalating thirst for ‘bleisure’ – itineraries combining both business and leisure – is also driving change. Three quarters (72%), for example, now regularly extend their business trips by a few days so they can see local attractions, almost twice as many as baby boomers (44%). To satisfy their ‘bleisure’ needs, most of India’s

millennial business travellers are now doing their own research before finalizing their travel plans. Among the most common tools used to build their perfect itinerary are review sites (used by 95%) and general travel advice sites (used by 92%). Looking through videos and photos posted by travel brands on social media (83%) is also typical for India’s digitallyadvanced millennials, as is using voice search technology (76%). If required to book a trip themselves, the majority of India’s millennial business travellers do so online through their desktop or laptop (59%). However, half say they now book business travel online through their smartphone (47%), twice as many as baby boomers (20%), and one third say they do so using their tablet (32%). While on business trips, on average, India’s millennial business travellers use 20 different categories of apps. Of these, map and banking apps are among the most popular (used by 93% of India’s millennial business travelers), along with instant

messaging and video tools (both 91%). High results for social media (92%), destination guide (86%) and travel review (84%) apps further support that it is not all business for the Indiabased business traveller. Commenting on the same, Sandeep Dwivedi, Chief Operating Officer, InterGlobe Technology Quotient, said, “The findings demonstrate the digital shift among Indian business travellers before and during their journeys. And the necessity of $7.6 trillion global travel and hospitality industry to adapt continually to provide responsive, relevant and timely services for customers. “More importantly, in an age where Gen X and Millennials are increasingly becoming tech savvy, they want relevant and timely content at their fingertips, at the very moment, from the time they search to their return from the trip. As a technology company and a world leader in digital and mobile capabilities, we aim to make the experience of selling, buying and managing travel continually better,” he added.

Virat Kohli now at Madame Tussauds Delhi WH Desk

ndian Cricket Team’s Captain Virat Kohli’s figure was unveiled at Madame Tussauds Delhi. Kohli will join other sports sensations in his signature batting pose in the interactive zone. Virat’s figure has been crafted from over 200 measurements and photographs taken during the sitting session. Fans will see Virat in his dynamic pose wearing the Indian cricket team jersey, ready to strike. This pose symbolises the achievements of Virat as an international cricket

icon and will now win the hearts of his fans visiting the attraction. Speaking on the occasion, Anshul Jain, General Manager and Director, Merlin Entertainments India Pvt. Ltd. said, “India has massive craze for cricket and cricketers. Virat Kohli is today’s cricket star and has a huge fan following across the globe. The growing love for him amongst his fans made him an obvious choice for Madame Tussauds Delhi.” “We are certain that his figure will add new charm to the sports zone. We shall keep introducing

more exciting additions in the future to keep our visitors entertained,” he added. Madame Tussauds Delhi is world’s most famous wax attraction that opened in the outer circle of Connaught Place, New Delhi. With a grand launch in December, the attraction opened its door for families to interact with their favourite celebrities and icons. The attraction has announced a special offer of 50 % off on tickets, which can be booked at https://www.madametussauds. com/delhi/en.

June 2018 25

TRADE

Avis India launches international chauffeur drive service WH Desk

vis India has announced the launch of its International Chauffeur Drive service in the Indian market. Aimed at business, corporate, and leisure travellers, the newly-launched service further consolidates the Avis brand promise of delivering an unmatched international experience by enabling on-demand chauffeur-driven car hire solutions in over 110 countries across EMEA, APAC, USA & Canada for its Indian customers. The company will provide chauffeurdriven car rental solutions across multiple categories such as economy, first class, business, economy vans, and luxury vans for airport transfers and point-to-point travel, and will also allow customers to book cars on an hourly basis.

Right now the service is available from the website www.avis.co.in under the international category (https://www.avis. co.in/chauffeur-drive-international.aspx) and in a month’s time it will be available on the company’s Mobile APP. As part of the introductory offer, Avis will also provide a 30% discount on every International Chauffeur Drive booking for the first 30 days. Speaking on the launch of the International Chauffeur Drive service, Sunil Gupta, Managing Director & CEO, Avis India, said: “The launch of our latest service offering furthers this brand proposition by providing our Indian customers with the international ground transportation solutions most suited to their specific requirements.” “We are confident that our emphasis on blending global systems with an

With Intel powered laptops, stay connected on your journeys WH Desk

The Media Buddy: The Lenovo Yoga 520 (14), powered by 8th generation Intel Core i3 processor is ideal for entertainment. This stylish 2-in-1 entertainment powerhouse has enough battery to binge-watch your favorite movies or series. With up to a Full HD (14”) IPS touch screen display, you’ll be able to watch movies and browse the web in vivid detail from nearly every angle—whether you’re lounging on the couch, or travelling in a train. The Versatile One: The Dell Inspiron 15 5570 is suitable for someone who likes to multitask. Equipped with 8th Generation Intel

26 June 2018

Avis India will provide instant booking confirmation to customers opting for its International Chauffeur Drive service and will also communicate the chauffeur details 24 hours in advance. The pricing for car rentals booked through the service will also be inclusive of all additional charges, including parking tolls and taxes. GOVERNMENT

India sets tourist arrival target of 2% by 2025 WH Desk

hether you are a busy work traveller, or an entertainment loving traveller en route vacation, here is a list of Intel powered laptops known for their battery life, graphics, and storage, for modern nomads like you. The Classy Work Companion: Powered by 7th Generation Intel Core i3 processor, the HP Pavilion x360 – 14-ba077tu is a great 2-in-1 laptop choice that strikes a balance between performance and battery life to ensure that you don’t miss out on anything even when you’re on the road. A durable 360-degree geared hinge with sophisticated design adds more to the style factor.

understanding of local needs will enable us to further consolidate our market leadership position in India, while also elevating the end-user experience through better transparency, passenger comfort, and technology,” he added.

C Core i5 processor and upto 2TB HDD, the Inspiron 15 lets you do multitasking like a pro. The backlit smooth keyboard and roomy trackpad will ensure seamless work flow, no matter where you are travelling.

urrently hovering at just over 0.71 per cent, Ministry of Tourist, Government of India, has set a target to increase India’s current share of Foreign Tourist Arrival (FTA) to 1 per cent by 2020 and by 2025, the department has set sight to corner 2 per cent share of foreign tourist travellers. In 2016, India’s share of FTA stood at 0.71 per cent and when combined with the arrivals figures of Non-resident Indians, the arrival share stood at 1.18 per cent.

The Too Much-To-Do Partner: Mobile and portable, the Acer Swift 3 powered by Intel Core i3-7130 processor can be called your productivity partner. The Swift 3 with its long battery life, dual-storage design, and compact size, makes all-day computing possible. It’s a combination of speed, efficiency and power all in one device.

Ministry of Tourism has two flagship schemes – Swadesh Darshan – Integrated Development of Theme Based Tourist Circuits, and PRASHAD – Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive, for creation of tourism infrastructure, generating pro-tourism culture in the people.

The Always ‘On-The-Go’ Champion: The stylish Asus ZenBook UX430UA is a powerful machine when it comes to work. Powered by Intel Core i5 7200U processor, the laptop is equipped with ASUS Eye Care technology for up to 30% blue-light reduction and the lightweight design makes it easy to carry in your bag when travelling for work.

Besides, MOT has also launched Social Awareness Media Campaigns with the objective of sensitising stakeholders in the tourism industry as well as the general public about the importance of good conduct and behaviour towards tourists and reinforce the spirit of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’.

June 2018 27

DESTINATION

Season’s Most Exciting Monsoon Destinations Taking a trip in Monsoon is the most pleasant experience.The picturesque beauty, meadows, long stretch of forests, woods slopes, mighty rocks, bowers, creeks and slopes charms the travellers during this season. So we thought to explore season’s most exciting monsoon destinations in this issue of Whereabouts. Explore more… WH Desk

Andaman & Nicobar Islands Monsoon season is recommended for visit to Andaman & Nicobar Islands as tourist can have more options both indoors and outdoors. The lush green vegetation and scenic beauty of the islands are more predominant in monsoon. Monsoons (May to August) and Post Monsoons (September to November) accompany medium to heavy rain falls. Hoteliers in Andamans offer attractive discounts during monsoon seasons. Winters (December to February) are not chilly and ideal for sightseeing. For those who want to enjoy boating, swimming, snorkeling, sightseeing all 12 months is season. North Indians find relief from burning heat and chilling winter if they visit the island from May/June/July and in December/January. Season for nature lovers is May to December when forest is lush green and waterfalls are at their prime. Divers can enjoy the best during December to April and bird watchers during winter times. Port Blair is the capital of the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Port Blair is the gateway to the pristine islands. Port Blair is also an Island town offering water based activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, sea-cruises, and glimpses of the history and culture of the region. The Aberdeen Bazaar forms the centre of the town. Most of the restaurants and hotels are around this area. Main tourist attractions in Port Blair includes; Cellular Jail –National Memorial, Ross Island, Anthropological Museum, Fisheries Museum, Samudrika (Naval Marine Museum), Zoological Survey of India Museum and Kalapani Museum. Havelock Island is a picturesque natural paradise with beautiful white sandy beaches, rich coral reefs and lush green forest. It is one

28 June 2018

DESTINATION

of the populated islands in the Andaman group with an area of 113 sq. km. and is located 39 km of north-east of Port Blair. This island, with beautiful sandy beaches fringed with green canopy of the rainfed forests beckons everyone to enjoy the frolic and fun at the azure sea. Tourist attractions in Havelock Island includes; Radhanagar Beach, Vijaynagar Beach, Elephant Beach, and Kalapather Beach. With unexplored coral reefs, brilliant bio-diversity, white sandy beaches and tropical forest and vegetation, Neil Island is one of the hot tourist spots in the Andamans. Neil Island is known as the ‘vegetable bowl’ of the Andamans. The settlers named the beaches after mythical characters of the epic Ramayana (Bharatpur, Laxmanpur, Sitapur, Ramnagar etc.) The island, with its very relaxed vibes and long, deserted beaches is a place to chill out after the bustle of Havelock. The widest part of the island is about 5 km in length. You can walk the whole island in about two hours. Tourist attractions in Neil Island includes; Neil Kendra, Lakshmanpur Beach - I & II, Bharatpur Beach, Sitapur Beach, Natural Rock Formation and Sir Hugh Rose Island.

Getting Here: Air: Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair has direct daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore including some flights from Visakhapatnam on certain days. Flights from Kolkata & Chennai take roughly 2 hours while the one from Delhi & Mumbai takes 5 hours. Sea Port: Haddo Wharf Port, Port Blair in the main sea port. Regular passenger ship services are available to Port Blair from Chennai, Vizag & Kolkata. There are usually 3-4 sailings every month and the tentative sailing schedule can be found here. Ship voyage takes about 60-70 hours.

Agumbe Agumbe is a tiny village in the Shimoga district of the Malnad region in Karnataka. Also known as The Cherrapunji of the South, Agumbe pioneers in rainforest conservation programmes, trekking and tourism. Taking a trip to Agumbe is a pleasant experience; it has picturesque beauty and is ideal for trekking. Agumbe is in Malnad and is covered with lowland rain forests. Hiking and trekking through the hills gives a glimpse of the hills and beautiful waterfalls that flow through the dense jungles. Agumbe is a secret treasure hidden in the hills. Malgudi Days, the famous serial based on R.K.Narayan’s novel was shot in Agumbe. Only a ten minutes walk from the town, the Sunset Point is the highest peak in the Western Ghats. Located on the Udupi-Agumbe road, a beautiful sunset can be caught over the Arabian Sea. Gopala Krishna Temple: The Gopala Krishna Temple attracts many tourists year after year. This 14th-century temple is of prominent importance in Agumbe. Because of the heavy rainfall, Agumbe has various waterfalls located close to one another. They provide a picturesque and breathtaking view of the hills. The tenth highest waterfall in India is the Barkana Falls. It is at 850 feet in height and 259 meters above the sea level. You will find the Barkana viewpoint on the way to the falls. It will give a magnificent view of the dense jungle. The Kunchikal Falls is 1493 feet in height and is one of the highest waterfalls in India. The waterfall is formed from the River Varahi. Jogigundi Falls is a small waterfall located near the village Agumbe and is filled with water most of the time. It is one of the most preferred locations for trekking. Onake Abbi Falls – located at 400 feet, the falls can be reached after a trek of 5 kms from the rainforest. Once you reach the top, it is possible to get a complete view of the waterfall.

June 2018 29

DESTINATION Getting Here: Air: The nearest airport is Mangalore at a distance of 100kms. Rail: The nearest railway station is Udupi which is at a distance of 55kms from the place. Road: There are buses plying from major cities such as Shimoga and Mangalore.

Munnar has a legacy of its own when it comes to the origins and evolution of tea plantations. This Tea Museum houses artifacts, photographs and machineries; all of which have a story to tell about the origins and growth of tea plantations in Munnar.

Getting there Air: Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport.

Munnar

Rail: Nearest Railway Station is Aluva which is about 108kms and Angamali, about 109kms from the place.

This hill station was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picturesque towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make Munnar a popular resort town. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji. This flower which bathes the hills in blue once in every twelve years, will bloom in the year 2018. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which towers over 2,695 m. Anamudi is an ideal spot for trekking.

Road: Aluva - Munnar Road, about 108 km.

Kodaikanal Kodaikanal is rightly called as the princess of hill stations and some call it as the gift of the forest too. In Kodaiikanal – the meadows, long stretch of forests, woods slopes, mighty rocks, bowers, creeks and slopes charms the tourists. Apart from the climate and the scenic beauty, Kodaikanal is famous for the Kurinji – flowers that blossom once in twelve years. This hill station offers a host of activities such as cycling, horse riding, boating, trekking or engage in many other mode of entertainment. Tourism department of Tamil Nadu has planned to add 40 boats to the Boat Club and also to lay good roads to different locations within and multi storied parking lots and so on.

Recreation Activities Cycling: Cycles are available on hire for adults and children, to all categories of visitors respectively, to go around the lake. Pony Ride: Pony ride is a fascination for both children and adults is available too. Boating: Extensive boating facilities are available at the Lake. Angling: Angling is permitted; tourist can contact Inspector of Fisheries at Kodaikanal. One of the main attractions near Munnar is the Eravikulam National Park. This park is famous for its endangered inhabitant – the Nilgiri Tahr. Spread over an area of 97 sq. km., this park is also home to several species of rare butterflies, animals and birds. A great place for trekking, the park offers a magnificent view of the tea plantations caressed by blankets of mists. Located inside the Eravikulam National Park is the Anamudi Peak. This is the highest peak in South India, standing at a height of over 2700 m. Treks to the peak are allowed with permission from the Forest and Wildlife authorities at Eravikulam. Situated at a height of 1700 m above sea level, Mattupetty is known for its storage masonry dam and the beautiful lake, which offers pleasurable boat rides, enabling one to enjoy the surrounding hills and landscape. Pallivasal, located at about 3kms from Chithirapuram in Munnar is the venue of the first hydro-electric project in Kerala. It is a place of immense scenic beauty and is often favoured by visitors as a picnic spot. Near Munnar Town lie Chinnakanal & Anayirangal waterfalls, popularly known as the Power House Waterfalls, which cascade down a steep rock 2000 m above sea level. The spot is enriched with a scenic view of the Western Ghat ranges. Top Station, which is about 32 km from Munnar is at a height of 1700 m above sea level. It is the highest point on the MunnarKodaikanal road. Travellers to Munnar make it a point to visit Top Station to enjoy the panoramic view it offers of the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. It is among the prime spots in Munnar to enjoy the Neelakurinji flowers blooming over a vast area.

30 June 2018

Golf Club: The Kodaikanal Golf Club, Pambarpuram Village is located 5 Kms from the Lake. Temporary membership is available on daily basis to use the Golf Course. For the use of other services like trolley, there will be separate charges for the same.

Getting Here: Air: Nearest airports to Kodaikanal are Madurai 120kms, Tiruchirapalli 200Kms and Coimbatore 170kms. Rail: Kodai Road Railway Station 80kms and Palani Railway Station 64 kms, are the nearest railhead. Road: Kodaikanal is connected by road with all-important towns. Regular bus services are available from Kodaikkanal to Madurai, Palani, Kodaikanal Road, Theni, Dinidigul, Thiruchirapalli, Kumili, Erode, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli.

DESTINATION Cherapunji

Mussoorie

Cherrapunji in Meghalaya is one of the wettest places on the planet and the only place in India to receive rain throughout the year. The town of Cherrapunji is nestled in the East Khasi Hills about 50kms southwest of the state’s capital, Shillong. Cherrapunji, also known as Sohra or Churra, means ‘the land of oranges’. An amazing variety of rare orchids, ferns, and moss convert each pocket into a botanist’s paradise. Cherrapunji produces the best quality of oranges as well as pineapples. In fact, Cherrapunji oranges are the ancestors of the famous Nagpuri oranges in the Central India.

Mussoorie, Queen of the Hills, located 290 km north of New Delhi, is among the most popular hill stations of the country. It is a captivating paradise for leisure travellers and honeymooners. A perfect summer resort and a major educational and cultural centre, has been rolled into one hub. Located on a 15kms long horseshoe ridge with the grand Himalayas as a backdrop, the colonial hill resort of Mussoorie spreads across at a height of 2,005.5 m above sea level. From this vantage point, Mussoorie offers superb scenic view of peaks of the Himalayas in western Garhwal. Mussoorie boasts of some of the most spectacular views of the Himalayas. Hill ridges, irregular in shape and partly wooded, form layer after layer to the horizon, where snow capped mountain peaks are visible as though you can touch them. From West to East, the mighty peaks of Bandar Poonch, Srikantha, the Gangotri group and the Chaukhamba present a mesmerizing panorama. Offering breath-taking views of the Garhwal Himalayas, Kempty Falls, Gun Hills and many more – it is a perfect weekend getaway. Grab a paddle and go for a boat ride with your family at Mussoorie lake. A time-out from your fast-paced city life can happen at Shedup Choepelling Temple, perfect for meditation and getting in touch you are your inner self.

The home of enterprising Khasi clans, Cherrapunji’s place in the Guinness Book of Records is not its only claim to fame. Along with falls lesser in height but no less alluring, the spectacular, cascading 1,035-ft-high Mawsmai Falls-the fourth highest in India-lie just a few kilometers beyond Cherrapunji. Close by is situated a fascinating labyrinth of underground passages beneath age-old caves-a veritable dream for amateur explorers. Elsewhere around Cherrapunji, Khasi monoliths (stones in memory of their ancestors) lie dotted around-a vague reminder of the forests of Bastar. Amidst all the surprises of Cherrapunji, perhaps the most abiding is the startling realization that the wettest place on earth where it rains every month also has an amazing amount of warm sunshine. When the clouds drift away, there are a series of memorable views, and one can see as far as Bangladesh. Orchids blooming a few feet away form a patch devoid of vegetation. Dense woods interspersed by rocky, cliffs furrowed by erosion.

Getting Here:

Mussoorie overlooks the majestic Doon valley to its south and the impressive Himalayas up north. The mountains beckon climbers, trekkers and adventure sport enthusiasts. Trekkers begin their journey into the popular trekking area of Har Ki Dun with its snowscapes and verdant-forested slopes from Mussoorie. The holy River Ganga is visible from one end of the ridge and Yamuna from the other, a stretch of around 20kms in all, from Cloud’s end in the west to Jabarkhet in the east.

Getting Here: Air: The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which lies approximately 54 kilometres away, and offers daily connectivity with New Delhi. Train: There are numerous trains connecting New Delhi with Dehradun, such as the Shatabdi Express, the Mussoorie Express and the Nizamuddin AC Special. Road: Mussoorie is well-linked with a network of bus services, which includes private tour operators as well as state transport corporations.

Air: Guwahati airport is the nearest major airport to Cherrapunji which is located 181 km from the city. Also, the Umroi Airport 91 kms) from Shillong is the nearest airport to Cherrapunji. However, the airport receives flights from Kolkata only and that too, with very low frequency. Rail: Guwahati is the nearest railhead to Cherrapunji. Although it lies at a distance of 181 km from this region, bus service or taxis can be availed from the railway station. Guwahati railway station is well connected to the entire country and regular trains carry passengers to and fro. Road: Buses for Cherrapunji leave from the Sohra Bus Stand in the Bara Bazaar area of Shillong.

June 2018 31

EXCLUSIVE FEATURE

Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train

In the footsteps of Lord Buddha WH Desk

he Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train, a special tourist trail launched by India Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited, is a comfortable safe and hassle free tour on the Buddhist Circuit covering important places connected with the life of Gautama Buddha. India, the cradle of spirituality, the birthplace of several religious and sects, beckons visitors from across the world in search of inner peace. Buddhism, which is originated in India sometime in 6th BCE has spread throughout the world. Gautama Buddha gained

Itinerary Day 1/Saturday: Depart from Delhi (Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station in the afternoon) for Gaya. Dinner on-board. Day 2/Sunday: On board breakfast. Arrive Gaya in the morning and proceed to Bodhgaya. Check-in at the hotel. After lunch, day free for own activities. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Day 3/Monday: After breakfast depart from Gaya to Rajgir & Nalanda. Lunch and sight seeing in the afternoon. Depart for Varanasi in the evening. Dinner on-board. Day 4/Tuesday: Arrive in Varanasi in the morning. After breakfast visit Sarnath. After lunch visit the Ganges for the evening Aarti. Depart for Gorakhpur in the evening. Dinner on-board. Day 5/Wednesday: Arrive Gorakhpur in the morning. After breakfast in the hotel proceed to Lumbini (Nepal). Lunch at hotel, visit Mayadevi Temple. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Lumbini.

enlightenment, preached his first sermon and propagated his message of universal compassion to the world in India. The package includes train journey, hotel accommodation at selected destinations, road transportation in 2x2 AC busses, tour guide all meal and monument entry fee. The train was awarded National Tourism Award by the Ministry of Tourism government of India in 2009.

Day 6/Thursday: Breakfast at hotel, proceed to Kushinagar to visit Mahaparinirvan and other temples. After lunch and sightseeing of Kushinagar proceed to Gorakhpur railway station. Depart from Gorakhpur for Gonda in the evening. Dinner on-board. Day 7/Friday: Arrive Gonda in the morning. After breakfast visit Sravasti. After lunch depart from Gonda for Agra in the evening, dinner on-board. Day 8/Saturday: Breakfast on board. Arrive Agra in the morning. Visit Taj Mahal. Depart from Agra for Delhi in the afternoon. Lunch on-board. Arrive Delhi in the evening.

32 June 2018

June 2018 33

DESTINATION

Visit Oman and experience the incredible journey of

turtles

f you think it is too hot to travel in the summer, then head to Ras Al Jinz in Sur which is a short three hour drive from Muscat city. The temperature is cooler by 15 to 20 degrees and makes the perfect setting for spotting these marvelous reptiles.

The Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve in South Ash-Sharqiyah Governorate is popular for its green turtle habitat is significantly located within the region surrounded by the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Oman is the only place where visitors can closely witness the process of nesting sea turtles without disturbing their natural surroundings. The best time to witness this natural phenomenon is either late at night or early morning with guided tours of up to 25 people in a group by the seashore. To preserve conservation efforts, Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy restricts the use of artificial light like mobile phones or torch that could disturb the turtlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; natural environment. There are turtle rangers at the beach and only once the turtles have begun laying their eggs- 200-300 or more at a time, tourists are allowed to walk towards them. It is an out of the ordinary activity to witness the mother turtle creating a pit, laying eggs as well as baby turtles running around at the seashore.

34 June 2018

Oman is home to four different types of turtles; green, olive ridley, hawksbill and loggerhead. One must also visit the Museum of the Scientific Centre in Ras Al Jinz that is equipped with the latest technology for information about various types of turtles and their life cycle. According to official statistics, 41,244 tourists visited the turtle nesting site at the Ras Al Jinz turtle reserve in Ras Al Hadd state in Wilayat of Sur in 2017, where the percentage of foreign tourists was 76 per cent, equivalent to 31,412 tourists. The rate of growth in the number of visitors to Ras Al Jinz turtles reserve was 37 per cent in the past seven years, with the total number increasing from 30,002 visitors in 2010 to 41,244 visitors in 2017.

HOSPITALITY

Palladium Hotel Group appoints Blue Square Consultants as India Representative WH Desk

alladium Hotel Group, a leading Spanish hotel chain has appointed Mumbai-based Blue Square Consultants (BSC) as its representative in India. Palladium Hotel Group is an internationally renowned Spanish hotel chain with 50 diverse properties located across Spain, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Sicily (Italy) and Brazil. As Palladium Hotel Group’s representative in India, Blue Square Consultants will conceptualize, implement and promote PR and sales strategies for three of their Spanish properties in India - Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife and Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel in Spain. Commenting on the appointment, Sergio Zertuche, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Palladium Hotel Group said, “India is turning into a strong outbound market in

the world and is ranked among our top 20. Ibiza is among the popular places visited by Indians which is also known for its vibrant music scene and eagerly-awaited concerts every season while Canary Islands is a new destination that Indians are exploring in Spain. We are excited to partner with Blue Square Consultants as it is a highly reputed organization with a strong foothold across different cities in India. Owing to their successful track record, we are confident that their expertise will help us gain greater visibility in the Indian market and we look forward to welcoming more Indians to our hotels on their holiday to Spain.” Lubaina Sheerazi, COO, Blue Square Consultants added, “We are delighted to represent three of Palladium Hotel Group’s finest hotels in Spain and are excited to drive results for them in the India market. Spain has always been an aspirational destination for Indians and with Palladium

Hotel Group’s attractive offerings we aim to target families, experiential travelers, honeymooners and music aficionados.” Disclosing her strategy for the brand, she added, “Our predominant plan is to get the trade allied and on board through trainings, participation in trade fairs/exhibitions and conducting FAMs for travel trade and media to experience the properties first hand. We are confident of building a strong presence for Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife and Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel in the Indian market.” NTO

Israel reduces visa fee to INR 1,100 WH Desk

WH Desk

n an effort to encourage more Indian travellers to visit Israel, the country has reduced its visa fee to INR 1,100 from its previous INR 1,700 charge for Indian citizens. VFS Global currently offers visa processing services for Israeli visas in the cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Centres will soon open in Hyderabad and Kolkata to service the residents in these cities, who will not be required to send their documents to the Consulates in Mumbai and Bengaluru or the Embassy in New Delhi. The revised application fee is on the B2 visa category, where a visit to Israel is for purposes including business, meeting or conference or tourism.

Hassan Madah Director Israel MoT-India & Philippines

The Great Australian Airfare Sale 4.0 is here

Commenting on the initiatives, Hassan Madah, Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism - India & Philippines said, “With the ease in visa norms and Fast Track visa processing incorporated earlier this year, we have seen an increase in travel and I am confident that the revised visa fees will help grow these numbers. Besides this, we are working towards e-visa processing as well as easing the group visa process.”

In February this year, Fast Track visa processing was introduced through VFS Global. In December last year, relaxed visa documentation was brought in for applicants who have availed visas of Schengen countries, US, Canada, Australia or Israel and have completed their travel to these countries.

s part of an initiative that puts the interests of the consumer at its core while giving airlines an opportunity to collectively build load factors in a progressively competitive aviation space, Tourism Australia has brought together eight full service and low-cost airlines to offer discounted fares to Australia as part of the pioneering ‘Great Australian Airfare Sale’. Featuring Scoot, Air Asia, Air India, Jet Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways, the booking period for the ‘Great Australian Sale’ is valid until 21 June 2018, with travel validity up to 30 June 2019. The ‘Sale’will be amplified by Tourism Australia’s Key Distribution Partners and leading online travel agents like MakeMyTrip, GoIbibo, Yatra and Cleartrip. Customers can also avail attractive discounts and cashback offers on MakeMyTrip and GoIbibo. Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager, India and Gulf, Tourism Australia said: “The campaign is an industry-first initiative that has brought together eight airlines to offer Indian travellers a compelling reason to travel to Australia at unbelievable airfares. It serves a dual objective of securing early bookings to Australia and filling airline seats during out-of-peak times.” In December 2017, Australia achieved its Tourism 2020 strategic goal of over 300,000 arrivals from India, three years ahead of target. India is currently the 8th largest inbound market, with 318,100 tourists visiting Australia during the year ended March 2018.

June 2018 35

FACT & FIGURES

Stable Euro lures Indian India Heritage travellers to European Countries Tourism Conclave Survey reveals that more than 58 per cent people plan to travel internationally despite the rupee depreciating against the USD WH Desk

survey by Yatra.com brought forth the high spirits of Indian travellers despite the depreciating rupee against US dollar. The survey showed that more than 58 per cent of respondents remain unaffected by the dip in the rupee and continue to pursue their holiday plans. Looking beyond the US Dollar exchange rate, the stable Euro is attracting Indian travellers. Europe (42%) has emerged as a destination of choice, closely followed by South East Asian countries, including, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia (30%). The strengthening of the US dollar against Indian rupee has also adversely impacted America as a choice of destination for vacation. However, 51.5 per cent respondents are optimistic for the rupee to rise to plan their holiday. A fascinating fact that cropped up was that around 51 per cent of the respondents are looking to compromise on shopping followed by air travel in terms of looking at budget carriers in order to cut cost and manage their budgets for their holidays.

This survey clearly showcased how holidays and travel have become a priority amongst Indians. A whopping 48.5 per cent said that the fall in rupee does not matter and that they would go on a holiday anyway. When asked whether they would travel within India instead of International, 26 per cent said yes, while 32 per cent said it will depend on the overall expense of the trip. Sharat Dhall, COO (B2C), Yatra.com, commented: “Travellers who will plan their holidays at a short notice are more likely to be impacted by the depreciating rupee. While cost cutting is evident, travellers would like to travel to destinations where the rupee has been stable. Given the fluctuation in rupee value, we can also expect an increase in domestic travel. ” Exploring newer destinations and travelling emerged as a favourite activity with almost 51 per cent of travellers planning to spend most of their money on it.

Key Highlights: More than 64% respondents said they invest primarily in travel Over 58% respondents are unaffected by rupee depreciation and are still eager to travel Internationally Only 32% people will evaluate expenses before choosing a domestic destination vs an international destination

Europe is one of the most preferred destination while opting for International travel this year Rupee depreciation hasn’t led to travelers shortening their trips as over 70% respondents still stick to the initial number of days of vacation planned by them 72% respondents said that they will not shorten the duration of your trip because of the dip in the rupee 49% respondents are planning to go on a holiday for 5-10 days Respondents up to 30% are willing to spend between Rs.25,000-Rs.50,000 per person Over 25% respondents are planning to spend Rs.1,000-Rs. 2,500 per night on accommodation and more than 60% will not compromise on the same due to value depreciation The preferred accommodation for 50% respondents is budget hotels in comparison to luxury hotels, homestays, etc.

HOSPITALITY

Radisson Blu Faridabad offers Staycation Packages WH Desk

ith the summer season set in, Radisson Blu Faridabad, announces weekend ‘Staycation Package’ to help guests cool down with family and friends in the lap of luxury. So, get ready to make memories with your loved ones with the gracious hospitality and unmatched services at Radisson Blu Faridabad. Available from July 01, 2018, the ‘Staycation Package’ is priced at INR 5,499 (plus taxes) per night on twin sharing basis. The package offers early check-in and late check-out along with beer at their bar, and a scrumptious breakfast at their multi cuisine restaurant Broadway. Additionally the package includes credit points worth INR 1,000 which can be

36 June 2018

redeemed at their Pan Asian restaurant House of Soy, Cove The Bar or Tattva Spa against any service.

Available from August 01, 2018, the ‘Staycation Package’ is priced at INR 8,000 per night inclusive of all taxes. The exclusive package includes everything one would need to make their staycation a relaxing and a memorable one. Beer at Cove The Bar and a lavish breakfast buffet along with an additional meal at Broadway, which features an extensive International buffet with a wide range of delicacies and à la carte selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The package also offers a tranquil spa treatment at Tattva Spa for one adult and 25% off on the second and an additional 15% discount on F&B

Designed to welcome modern and savvy travellers, Radisson Blu Faridabad is a place where guests can be at their best and experience total renewal. The hotel houses 124 contemporary rooms including 6 suites and an array of culinary experiences complemented by a heavenly spa and a swimming pool. For reservations, call the hotel’s dedicated team at +91 129 2666 000

FACT & FIGURES

The 21% Indian travellers face language barriers during their travel WH Desk

ooking.com has conducted research across more than 20,500 global travellers in 28 countries to uncover the barriers and anxieties which prevent people from making the most of every trip and reveal how they can move to a state of truly limitless travel. The research highlights that 21% Indian travellers faced language barriers during their recent travel exposing surprising gaps between their travel ambitions and reality.

Technology is the key to travelling limitlessly, however, even with technology at hand, more than eight in ten travellers have made travel mistakes (83%) which includes: Misunderstanding directions and getting lost (33%) Mispronouncing a word in the local language (23%) Misunderstanding what was ordered in a restaurant (28%) Nevertheless, there is a strong desire to be a limitless traveller, with two in five Indian

travellers aspiring to be one (40%) – over three quarters want to make the most of every travel experience and travel with no regrets (84%). In a unique collaboration Booking.com has teamed up with ili, the world’s fastest offline translation device, designed to help travellers discover something new and translate simple phases, it allows you to ask questions at a shop, meet locals at a bar, thanks to it’s easy to use, on-the-fly translation. Currently available only in the US, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, has already been used by over 50,000 travellers around the world.

The one-way device is available in the following languages: English (input) to Spanish, Mandarin, and Japanese Mandarin (input) to Japanese and English Japanese (input) to Korean, Mandarin, and English Korean (input) to Japanese Overcoming travel trepidations

Great accommodation options would help Indian travellers overcome anxieties about travelling, with 50% agreeing. Positive reviews from other travellers (41%), being able to ask questions in the local language (30%), and being able to order their favorite food (36%) would also help. Over half also say technology frequently helps them find local insights when abroad (71%). According to Vikas Bhola, Head for the Indian Sub-Continent, Booking.com, “As an extension of this, we wanted to further explore and celebrate what makes travelers tick, what could potentially hold them back and continue to support them in overcoming these barriers.”

PATA elects new executive board WH Desk

he Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is has announced the election of Dr. Chris Bottrill, Director, International and Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at Capilano University in North Vancouver, Canada as Chairman of the Association’s Executive Board. He replaces Sarah Mathews, Head of Destination Marketing APAC – TripAdvisor, Hong Kong SAR, who was elected Chairman in May 2017 and remains a member of the Executive Board as Immediate Past Chairperson. “PATA is an organisation growing from strength to strength, and we are poised to play an ever-increasing role as a body representing governments, industry, and education in the fastest area of tourism growth on our planet. The task ahead for us is to embrace change, move fast, engage more, align strategically, and lead within the context of global sustainability goals. It is a

INTERNATIONAL

privilege to play a small part as Chair in this important period of time for our industry and our association,” said Dr. Bottrill. Furthermore, Dato Haji Azizan Noordin was elected as the new Vice Chairperson, while Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes was elected Secretary/Treasurer. Dato’ Haji Azizan Noordin was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) to oversee its operation and management with 3 strategic thrusts of tourism, investment and community development. Peter Semone, President & Founder Destination Human Capital Ltd, Ireland and Mr. Soon-Hwa Wong, CEO - Asia Tourism Consulting Pte, Ltd, Singapore have been appointed to the Executive Board as nonvoting members. Abdulla Ghiyas, President - Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) and PATA Face of the Future 2018, joins the PATA Executive Board

as a non-voting member and observer for a one-year term at the invitation of the PATA Chairman. During the PATA Annual Summit 2018 in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Korea (ROK), PATA also elected a new Executive Board comprising Dato Haji Azizan Noordin, Chief Executive Officer - Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Malaysia, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Bill Calderwood, Jon Nathan Denight, Shahid Hamid, Luzi Matzig, Benjamin Liao, Deepak Raj Joshi and Mohamed Sallauddin H.J. Mat Sah.

June 2018 37

APPOINTMENT

Gaurav Singh General Manager JW Marriott Kolkata

Swatantra Gautam Executive Chef Azaya Beach Resort Goa

Anil Swain Director of Revenue The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat

In his current role, Gaurav will oversee all aspects of operational management and will be responsible for enhancing the productivity and guest satisfaction and implement strategic initiatives for the hotel. Additionally, he will also administer the portfolio of hotels in Bangladesh.

With over 16 years of experience in the hospitality sector, Gautam has been a culinary pioneer who has set remarkable food and beverage benchmarks in the country. Prior to joining Azaya, he worked in the capacity of Corporate Executive Chef Name at DDG Hospitality (a unit of My Bar Delhi) where he was responsible for the entire kitchen operations, curating the entire menu and managing vendors.

A Sales and Revenue management professional, Anil Swain is armed with over 12 years of experience in sales management with Luxury Hotels. He holds the position of Director of Revenue at The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat, and will be in-charge of the negotiations, pricing and budgeting exercise on the basis of market and demand analysis for the Property.

Having gained substantial experience in a career span of close to two decades, Gaurav Singh brings with him a wealth of knowledge in hotel management, administration and operations. Gaurav completed his graduation in Hotel Management from WGHSA, Manipal and holds a Diploma in Hotel Management from WMI, Gurgaon as well.

He has also worked with Welgrow Hotels Concepts Pvt Ltd. in similar capacity, taking care of specialty restaurants like Kylin (Pan Asian) and Sartoria (Italian).Â

He obtained a Diploma in Hotel Management from Coromandal Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology, Vishakhapatnam and followed it up with a Certificate Course on Revenue Management from American Hotel and Lodging Association via distance learning.

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Volume IV Issue IX June 2018

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