Express Travelworld (Vol.11, No.10) November, 2016

EDITOR’S NOTE

Learning begins at home

I

ndia truly has a unique story to share in its tourism space. The thumb rule is to travel with an open mind, even as an Indian.

Whether it's a road trip, a rail journey or a flight, there are things that can both shock and pleasantly surprise you at the same time. My recent train travel experience from Mumbai to Udaipur in the AC Two Tier, was a bit disappointing. I wonder whether to place all the blame on the Indian Railways or share the same with my fellow citizens as well. The good part is, India is boosting its infrastructure facilities, with improved highway connectivity, express roads, state-of-the-art airports and new railway routes with focus on tourism. However, amidst all this, there is something that is a cause of serious concern - that of civic sense and tourism discipline.

Interestingly, inter state surface transport, be it road or rail, especially in the premium category comes at a price, which is almost close to air travel. Hence for the price you may, one expects certain basic standard facilities to make the journey pleasant.

India is being steadily perceived as an expensive travel destination, which was further reiter-

HEAD OFFICE MUMBAI EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD® The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division 2nd Floor, Express Tower, Nariman Point Mumbai- 400 021 Board line: 022- 67440000 Ext. 527 Branch Offices NEW DELHI Prabhas Jha The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division Express Building, B-1/B Sector 10 Noida 201 301 Dist.Gautam Budh nagar (U.P.) India.

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Mobile: +91 9899707440 BANGALORE Mathen Mathew The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division 502, 5th Floor, Devatha Plaza, Residency road, Bangalore- 560025 Mobile: +91 9840826366

“The Indian domestic travellers’movement is only going to increase over the years and to preserve the sanctity of the India story,it is time they became more responsible”

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ated by seasoned tourist guides and transport service providers, who in a way get the first hand pulse of the season. My interactions with a few of them, highlighted the fact that business has seen a dip this season, especially with respect to foreign tourist arrivals. On the other hand, there has been an increase in domestic movements, which again must be considered together with my previous concern of responsible and disciplined tourism.

The Indian domestic travellers’ movement is only going to increase over the years and to preserve the sanctity of the India story, it is time they became more responsible.

Though change is moving at a snail’s pace, probably triggered by the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, this movement needs to be taken up in all seriousness, over and above infrastructure development. From Lakshadweep to Arunachal Pradesh, tourism leaders are speaking earnestly about responsible and sustainable tourism.

Homestay facility providers in the country (the subject of our cover story) too have understood the need for the same. It finally boils down to us all to travel with discipline.

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REEMA LOKESH Editor editorial.etw@expressindia.com

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CONTENTS MANAGEMENT Vol 11 No 10 NOVEMBER 2016 Pages 40

26

Chairman of the Board

Viveck Goenka Sr Vice President - BPD

Neil Viegas Editor

Reema Lokesh* Assistant Editor

INVITING INVESTMENTS TO THE HEART OF INDIA COMPLETING ITS THIRD YEAR, MADHYA PRADESH TRAVEL MART 2016 FOCUSED ON INVITING INVESTMENTS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR THE TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN THE STATE

Steena Joy Sr. Associate Editor

Sudipta Dev CONTENT TEAM Kolkata

Joy Roy Choudhury New Delhi

Saloni Bhatia DESIGN National Design Editor

Bivash Barua Assistant Art Director

Pravin Temble Senior Artist

Ratilal Ladani, Kiran Parker SCHEDULING & COORDINATION

Ashish Anchan Photo Editor

Sandeep Patil MARKETING Regional Heads

Harit Mohanty - East & West Prabhas Jha - North Marketing Team

Debnarayan Dutta Ajanta Sengupta Mathen Mathew CIRCULATION

Mohan Varadakar

RETURN OF

EDGE

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THE HOMESTAY

TOMORROW BEGINS NOW THE 63RD TAAI ANNUAL CONVENTION HELD AT ABU DHABI HIGHLIGHTED THE FAST GROWING TRAVEL TRENDS IN THE INDUSTRY WHILE LAYING FOCUS ON HOW AGENTS CAN TAP ON NEW OPPORTUNITIES. IT ALSO SHOWCASED THE EMIRATE AS THE CULTURAL HUB OF THE MIDDLE EAST, BLENDING HISTORY WITH MODERN EXPERIENTIAL OFFERINGS

The lack of 290,000 rooms in the country has led the tourism industry to shift to the old norms of hospitality of staying with acquaintances. With state tourism boards promoting the growth of homestays across destinations and partnering with private players to market them, this segment is seeing a well awaited revival (22-25)

PRODUCTION General Manager

B R Tipnis Manager

Bhadresh Valia

MARKETS

LIFE

Express TravelWorld® POSTAL REGD. NO. MCS/163/2016 – 18 RNI Reg. No.MAHENG/2005/15993 Printed by The Indian Express (P) Ltd.

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LAKSHADWEEP SEEKS LOW VOLUME HIGH VALUE TOURISM

and published by Ms Vaidehi Thakar on behalf of The Indian Express Press, Plot

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1.4 MILLION INDIANS INTERESTED IN VISITING CANADA IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS

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No. EL-208, TTC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai - 400710 and Published from Express Towers, 2nd Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400021.

P03 : EDITOR’S NOTE

(Editorial & Administrative Offices: Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021)

P35 : APPOINTMENTS

IRELAND AIMS AT 30,000 INDIAN TOURIST ARRIVALS

BY END OF 2017

34 TAKING SUSTAINABILITY FORWARD GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CONFERENCE 2016 BOUGHT TOGETHER GLOBAL THOUGHT LEADERS TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE MOVEMENT

P36 : WEEKEND Copyright © 2016 The Indian Express (P) Ltd. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. *Responsible for selection of news under PRB Act

IN THE NEWS

Arunachal gears up to welcome the discerning domestic traveller Reema Lokesh Mumbai TUCKED AWAY in the far eastern zone of India, the state of Auranchal Pradesh (AP) seems to have decided to take up the cause of tourism development and promotion under the leadership of its secretary tourism, Dr Joram Beda, rather seriously. The state has identified and appointed actor John Abraham as its brand ambassador. The state is steadily building its tourism infrastructure, however it is clear in its vision that it is ready to welcome primarily the discerning traveller as responsible and sustainable tourism is its primary priority. It does not want to make a mistake when it comes to the point of carrying capacity. The state is set to focus on the Indian domestic traveller and connect with the right trade partners who will promote the destination effectively.

In an exclusive with Express TravelWorld, Dr Joram Beda, secretary to the Government of AP, department of Planning, Tourism and IPR, stated, "Tourism is an impor-

tant sector for our state and it is undoubtedly an effective engine of growth. It is a modern concept and though we have started now, we feel it is a good beginning. The Trans-Auranchal highway is coming up in a big way. New growth sectors are emerging. We are strengthening out infrastructure across services from aviation to railways."

The state is also hoping to attract the right investors for its tourism development. It is preparing itself to be seen at relevant tourism marts and investor meets. From hospitality investment to other tourism support entities, the state is seeking to receive investments across various segments of tourism. Speaking about identifying John Abraham as the

state's face, Dr Beda, mentioned,"John is the perfect choice as his persona goes well with what the state has to convey."

As the brand ambassador of the state, John Abraham, in an exclusive interaction, expressed himself, by saying, "The North East of India is what the new India is about.

The focus is going to be on the

North East. It is the gateway to the South East of Asia and it is the cultural hub of India. It has the best sporting talent in the country, especially in the game of football. I would like to say that India does not end at West Bengal, and there so much more beyond that. I am very honoured to be the face of the state and for me it's a perfect brand fit."

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IN THE NEWS

FCM's acquisition of TTG to strengthen its leisure business Sudipta Dev Mumbai THE RECENT announcement

by FCM Travel Solutions regarding the acquisition of the `750 crore Travel Tours Group (TTG), positions the company as a `3000 crore enterprise.

FCM Travel Solutions, the India division of leading global travel company, the Australiaheadquartered Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) has been operating in India since three decades. “We have a long-term commitment to growth in India.

The acquisition of TTG

Rakshit Desai

strengthens our product portfolio and gives us a stronger national footprint,” said Rakshit Desai, managing director, FCM Travel Solutions.

Pointing out that FCM Travel Solutions is currently the second largest corporate travel management company in India, Desai stated, “This partnership propels us into the top three players in all the core travel segments we operate in, as well as the second largest leisure travel player by volume.”

He revealed that the partnership will help FCM's leisure business become significantly

larger. “Travel Tours Group has a strong presence in South India, which will bolster our distribution strength in this market. The acquisition also enables us to enter new leisure segments like wholesale,” mentioned Desai.

Elaborating on the integration planned, in terms of operations and human resources, Desai stated, “The businesses will start realising strategic benefits within a 12 month period. Both the organisations will combine to form a strong talent pool of 1,600 travel professionals across 44 locations in 16 cities.

We will be bringing together synergies of both businesses with the intent to enhance efficiency and productivity.”

Being a part of a global conglomerate brings many benefits to the customers in India.

“Spread over 90 countries, FCM Travel Solutions brings the buying power of our global network to enable our India businesses offer significant savings to customers,” said Desai, adding that the brand promise assures a consistent consumer experience across markets as global best practices are integrated across regions.

'WOMEN ARE TRAVELLING IN CURATED GROUPS' From sabbatical seekers to single women travellers to biking gangs, Shefali Walia, founder, Wetravelsolo shares how curated travel events are offering real life social networking opportunities to people sharing common interests

By Sudipta Dev What is the brand strategy of Wetravelsolo ?

Wetravelsolo.com is a real life social networking platform that is transforming stranger networking from online to offline. It is a hybrid model of an 'online and real life social networking', 'common interest network', 'solo experience aggregation' and 'community hub'. For users, it is an ad free as well as a subscription free platform.

Which are the niche special interest groups you are targeting?

Wetravelsolo is curating niche interest based trips, activities and events to con-

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nect these like minded solos in real life. These include: solo weekend buddies, sabbatical cravers, globetrotters, biking gangs, trekkers clans, road trippers, adventure maniacs, cycling clubs, food trails, sports clubs, nearby solo activities. These interest based trips, activities and events range from two hours to 20 days.

Have you observed any interesting trends in terms of traveller profile or preference?

The solos on our platform include : singles and forever alones (those who are stuck in digital way of meeting new

online friend seekers; passionate travellers; unusual interest holders; separated ones/ broken hearts.

Shefali Walia

people and find it challenging to meet like minded solos in real life); corporate slaves;

What is the percentage of single women travellers ?

Surprisingly, more than half. Women have taken this healthy new way of travelling whenever they want in curated groups of like minded people very well. There are many first time solo travellers coming back with life changing stories.

What defines your service differentiation ?

Our platform is transforming stranger networking

from online to offline. There is a strong value proposition for solos – they can find likeminded people who become their real friends, BFFs, love interests, mentors, hangout buddies, companions or business partners. Such connects are long lasting and create a stickiness to the platform, ensuring high percentage of repeat customers.

Your key medium of promotion ?

Wetravelsolo is a social brand. Social being one of the channels of promotions. We are associated with many affiliates as well as offline channels.

IN THE NEWS

‘DESTINATION AND ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITYIS ATTHE CORE OFKERALA’S TOURISM POLICY’ In an exclusive interaction with Express TravelWorld, Dr Venu V, principal secretary, Kerala Tourism, outlines his vision for the state in his second stint with Kerala's department of tourism

By Steena Joy What is your vision for Kerala Tourism?

The vision and mandate for Kerala Tourism is to ensure the growth of Kerala as an internationally acclaimed yet sustainable destination for all seasons with an increased market share and enhanced brand visibility At present, our key priority is to consolidate the remarkable growth that Kerala has achieved in the tourism sector and to sustain the impressive growth in international and domestic arrivals with a number of carefully developed and executed initiatives.

All efforts to promote tourism in the state will be in keeping with the planned, comprehensive and sustainable approach adopted by the department in the state and will revolve around Responsible Tourism.

Do you think Responsible Tourism (RT) is the way forward? What are the new RT initiatives/destinations being planned in the state?

Destination and environment sustainability is at the core of Kerala’s tourism policy.

We have consistently been emphasising our commitment to practising Responsible Tourism. RT was piloted in four destinations – Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady and Wayanad – and extended to Kumbalangi in Ernakulam and Bekal in Kasaragod district.

RT hinges on the availabil-

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ity of natural resources, skilled manpower, supportive entrepreneurial community, strong local-self-governments, civil-society organisations, multitude of micro enterprises, streams of professionals and academicians, responsible media and responsive tourism industry. The presence of all these make Kerala an ideal setting to implement and practise it.

Wayanad has evolved as a role model with its winning the National Tourism Award. Your comments.

The National Award is a fitting recognition of both the pioneering efforts Kerala Tourism has played in bringing the RT initiative to fruition and proof-positive that the innovative and emulative practice of RT is the way forward.

In Wayanad district, the implementation area of RT regions has included few Panchayats, which together form the Wayanad cluster. A particularly salient feature of the RT initiative in Wayanad is that traditional tribal communities form a large per cent of the district’s population. The implementation of RT has transformed its economy through intensive participation of the local tribes and helped these communities preserve their way of life.

The liquor ban in the state has played havoc with tourist numbers especially

MICE movements. There is talk of the government rolling back the ban.

The Kerala Tourism Trade Survey 2016, conducted by Kerala Tourism, looked into trends in tourist arrivals and the state’s growth as a destination for MICE business, based on feedback from owners and managers of hotels and resorts, and tour operators.

It was the first trade survey conducted by this department, undertaken after we noticed reports in the media about negative trends in the tourism sector. Many of those reports indicated that the industry is going through a rough phase due to the excise policy, stiff competition. We wanted proof. The survey indicated a correlation between the excise policy and tourism growth. The Kerala Government is mooting solutions.

Under the regional connectivity plan of the Modi government, which destinations in the state will have new airports?

We already have three international-standard airports in Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.

Tourism to the Malabar region will increase once the greenfield international airport in Kannur is commissioned. For a small state like Kerala, this is more than enough. At present, it is much more important to develop additional international

and domestic flight connections at these airports.

What is Kerala’s roadmap as a cruise hub?

We are committed to make Kerala a leading cruise destination on the western Indian coast that offers services and tourism products of the highest international standards.

Major cruise lines like Queen Elizabeth, Cunard Lines, Royal Caribbean Lines, Aida Cruises, Costa Cruises, among others, call at Cochin Port.

With plans to further develop its extensive coastline, the state is looking to entice more cruise lines and ships to make Kerala a port of call. As well, the Kerala Government will soon initiate cruise ship travel between Kochi and Kozhikode.

How does Kerala plan to increase its presence in the international markets?

Other than the traditional European markets like the Middle East, UK, Germany, France, among others, we are looking at new highly lucrative outbound tourist markets like China, Japan and Australia.

We also plan to organise road shows in Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Melbourne, Dublin, Stockholm, Munich, Lyon, Rome, Prague, Budapest, Barcelona, St. Petersburg and Kiev, among others.

Any new posts on Kerala’s Social Media strategy?

Kerala Tourism, which has

Dr Venu V

more than 1.2 million fans on Facebook, is a pioneer in cross-platform campaigns to spread word on state destinations. In July, we won a national tourism award for the ‘Most Innovative use of Information Technology’ – Social Media/Mobile App. The Tourism Department’s website, one of the most popular such websites in the world, has won several national and international tourism awards.

The latest in a string of innovative marketing initiatives, the first-of-its-kind ‘A Kerala Holiday a day’ offer gives users of Kerala Tourism’s scaled-up ‘Go Kerala’ app the chance to bid to win a vacation in the state every day over the contest’s duration. The app has already been downloaded more than 30,000 times and several premium vacation packages have been won by users at throwaway prices.

IN THE NEWS

Lakshadweep seeks low volume high value tourism Reema Lokesh Mumbai WHEN LAKSHADWEEP tourism under the leadership of Dr Tariq Thomas, secretary tourism, Administration of UT of Lakshadweep and Jatin Goyal, director (tourism), Administration of UT of Lakshadweep, set foot into India's leading metros to promote island tourism hotspot, they were clear in their vision that they intend to address an audience that was in sync with the practice of responsible and sustainable tourism.

The island has a fragile ecosystem and is focusing on the low volume and and high value trav-

eller. Speaking about the unique elements of the island, Dr Thomas, in an exclusive with Express TravelWorld interestingly described the place as, "A rainforest under the sea." He added, "The island is quite difficult to identify on the map, but has a wealth of nature and vibrancy especially in its sea life.

The underwater experience is world class and hence we would be glad to receive the high value Indian traveller who has a certain sense of responsibility to the environment and their surroundings. For those living on the island, respecting the environment and nature is rather mandatory and not an option.

We are in the process of improving the infrastructure across the islands." The tourism board is presently focused on promoting the Bangaram island and is working closely with the right partners to bring in appropriate

audience. it may be noted here that CGH Earth group was the first to venture into Bangaram, which the government is aiming to revive again.

According to the officers, each island has its own

uniqueness and there is a concrete master plan to development few islands for tourism development. Goyal said, "We are focused on the issue of carrying capacity and for us it is not about mass tourism at all.

For those who are truly looking at getting away from the metro madness, then the Lakshadweep islands are rather definite. It is nature in all its glory."

The state is all set to promote the island with some offers. Better facilities an additional immigration check point will be added to help tourists with respect to the over all experience.

Hornbill Festival receives positive response from European visitors Joy Roy Choudhury Kolkata NAGALAND has not been able to attract a sizeable number of domestic tourists since it was set up as a state of the Indian Union in the 60s. Insurgency problems in the 90s, lack of proper tourism infrastructure like hotels and road connectivity and negative perception of the state among the travel trade are the main bottlenecks for the growth and promotion of tourism in this state. But the present government has taken up a massive exercise to rectify the situation.

Speaking to Express TravelWorld, P Angami, additional director, Department of Tourism, Government of Naga-

land said, "Today Nagaland is one of the safest places in the country and the problem of insurgency is now a closed chapter." One of the biggest assets of Nagaland is its people, the state is home to 16 major tribes along with other sub-tribes.

There is one festival or another

every other month. "Song and dance are a part of all their festivities. We are marketing these festivals in a big way to lure tourists to the state," Angami said.

One of the important festivals is the 10-day long Hornbill Festival, which is celebrated

annually in the first week of December. "The rich tribal culture of Nagaland is displayed during this festival. Tourists attending the festival can get knowledge about the customs, food habits, art forms, artifacts, sports and tribal dances of Nagas. It is the biggest festival of the state and tourists from the country and abroad attend it.

We have received an overwhelming response from foreign visitors. Several tourists from Europe have already booked their stay for the festival, almost two-three months back," he added. The festival is hosted at a specially designed bamboo-structured complex known as Naga Heritage Village, set up by the state government at Kisama, near Kohima.

The Heritage Complex also houses a World War II Museum, Bamboo Heritage Hall, Bamboo Pavilion, Kids Carnival, Horti-Scape, Food Court, stadium for hosting live concerts, beauty pageant, fashion shows, etc.

To create proper tourism infrastructure in the state, the tourism department is also urging potential entrepreneurs to invest in setting up tourism infrastructure like luxury hotels in Kohima, ropeways, amusement parks etc. "We would extend all possible help and cooperation to the potential investors," Angami added.

The state is an ideal place for trekking, mountain sports, jungle camping and offers attractive investment opportunities.

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IN THE NEWS

1.4 million Indians interested in visiting Canada in the next two years Saloni Bhatia New Delhi DESTINATION CANADA has recorded an increase of 10.2 per cent Indian tourist arrivals from January to August, 2016, in comparison to the same period last year. The country expects further growth with the launch of new daily flights to Vancouver and Toronto by Air Canada. On his recent trip to India, Ruper Peters, regional managing director, Europe, Australia and India, Destination Canada informed, “There has been consistent growth in the India market. The month of August

Ruper Peters

alone witnessed an increase of 17.7 per cent of tourist arrivals

as compared to last year with 10.2 per cent overall growth in 2016. India ranks seventh on the tourist arrivals chart and is an attractive market for Canada. We plan to exceed 200,000 Indian visitors and account to double digit growth next year.”

Speaking to Express TravelWorld about the introduction of the new Vancouver flight, he mentioned, “The Vancouver flight will open many new destinations in the west and north coast as people will now be able to explore more.

There are many new products like sea plane rides, ski resorts, polar bear sightings, Northern

Lights viewing among many others. These destination will be more accessible to tourists due to the direct flight. As a destination it will offer various kinds of soft adventure activities for travellers.”

When asked about the trending MICE travel around the world, he remarked, “Though MICE is an important aspect of travel, presently we are not actively promoting it. Since majority of people travelling to Canada are students and their families, we will be focusing on the pure holiday segment and attracting the high end leisure travellers.”

The Experience Canada event witnessed participation of around 3500 travel agents.

The cab promotions will run through next month and Destination Canada will soon be launching a campaign with the lifestyle brand Aldo over their 36 stores in India. Alongside, it will also run radio and social media ads.

"An Indian’s average stay is around two weeks and spend varies from 1,400 to 1,550 CAD, which excludes airfare, food and shopping. While our major traffic comes from Delhi and Mumbai, we plan to extend our reach to Tier II and Tier III cities soon," added Peters.

Japan Tourism to open its Delhi office by March 2017 Saloni Bhatia New Delhi JAPAN TOURISM Agency will roll out an office in Delhi by the end of the fiscal year 2016, as announced by Kuniharu Ebina, senior vice commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency, at the first ever India- Japan Tourism Meet organised by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce (FICCI) at The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi.

Announcing the development, Ebina said, “The office will be a regional centre to promote the attractions of Japan, so that more Indians are interested in travelling to the country. We are here to plan and discuss current undertakings and measures to improve and expand tourism exchanges.” Addressing the gathering at the inauguration, Dr Mahesh Sharma, minister of state, ministry of tourism,

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stated, “The two countries have shared historical ties dating back to the sixth century and it is time we bring them together through tourism. The Buddhist Circuit in India should attract Japanese tourists once they are more aware about the destinations.”

Speaking about the tourism potential of the two countries, Jyotsna Suri, past president, FICCI, mentioned, “Japan is the 10th largest source market for India in terms of inbound tourist arrivals and there were about 2.07 lakh tourists from Japan who visited India in 2015. Both the countries hold immense potential and the conference will enable the delegates to understand the respective markets.”

Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India said that there is great opportunity for both governments and tourism industry to get together under one roof and to discuss the ex-

pansion of bilateral travel and tourism relations. "The new networks that will be built among the participants will create new opportunities," he added.

Suman Billa, joint secretary, ministry of tourism, remarked, “Given India and Japan’s economic ties, the share of

tourism between the two nations is miniscule and there is scope to improve the numbers.

A marginal rise in the number of tourists visiting the Buddhist Circuit alone could enable Indian to earn US$ 6-8 billion every year.”

This was followed by a panel

discussion chaired by the key stakeholders from both the countries who brought up issues like awareness among the tourists, ease in visa norms and mutually creating opportunities for growth of tourism. There were various B2B meetings held on the second day of the meet.

IN THE NEWS

Ireland aims at 30,000 Indian tourist arrivals by end of 2017

Scandinavian countries eye 10% growth from India market by end of 2017 Saloni Bhatia New Delhi

Saloni Bhatia New Delhi TOURISM IRELAND recently concluded its India Sales Mission in New Delhi, focused on workshops, presentations and networking events to link ties between Ireland Tourism and Indian travel trade. Niall Gibbons, chief executive, Tourism Ireland, informed, “In 2015, Ireland witnessed 27,500 Indian tourist arrivals and there already has been a 20 per cent increase in the visa applications this year. The Asian market contributes to about seven per cent of tourism in the country, but we are looking at India as a major market.

We are aiming at reaching 30,000 Indian tourist arrivals by the end of 2017 and will also be making some investment in marketing initiatives to promote the country. We are keen on hosting familiarisation trips and Bollywood movies in the near future.”

When asked about whether the country will be benefited post Brexit, Gibbon opined, “About 40 per cent of our arrivals are from the UK and the continuation of the British Irish Visa Scheme has benefited us in a big way.” The British Irish Visa Scheme allows for travel to and around Ireland and the UK on a single visa. The recently launched scheme allows visitors from In-

dia to travel freely within Ireland and the UK using either an Irish or UK visa.

Talking about the MICE market, Gibbon added, “The Irish MICE market accounts to about 600 billion Euros and we are keen on tapping the right audience from India as well.

We have already had a chance to host some big company delegations in the past and look forward to more such opportunities.”

Tara Kerry, business development trade engagement manager, Fáilte Ireland, National Tourism Development Authority, mentioned, “We are also looking at promoting the west coast along with the main city of Dublin.”

SCANDINAVIAN travel trade partners – 25 of them – including national tourist boards, regional tourist boards along with delegates from attractions, cruise and voyage companies and DMCs recently hosted an event for the Indian travel trade in New Delhi. The Scandinavian countries comprising of Sweden, Denmark and Norway currently see India as a major source of travellers from the Asia market.

Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Mohit Batra, India representative, Scandinavian Tourist Board, informed, “Last year with the addition of an Emirates flight to Oslo, Norway witnessed 35 per cent growth in Indian tourist arrivals.

While some part of Scandinavia has seen about 30 per cent growth already, we are looking at an overall growth of about 10 per cent by the end of the year. While the average length of stay of an Indian travellers is 10 nights, it is divided between Denmark, Copenhagen and Stockholm.”

Commenting on the MICE market, Batra added, “All the three capitals are very popular with their

MICE facilities. Copenhagen and Stockholm offer some unique destinations with easy accessibility.

They have already been rated as some of the best MICE destinations across the world.”

Sweden witnessed 158,000 Indian tourist arrivals in 2015. This represents the number of commercial room nights which puts India as its second biggest market in Asia.

There also has been an increase of around 15 per cent over the previous year, but Sweden had a weak month in July. Lotta Thiringer, regional director, growth and development markets, Visit Sweden, stated, “We are hoping the numbers would pick up soon. While 40 per cent of visitors are business travellers, others look for soft adventure or explorations.”

Lotta Anderson, marketing manager, Visit Stockholm, said, “There was over 15 per cent growth of overnight stays from India in Stockholm in 2015, which includes a strong growth of Indian and Swedish business travel, but also Indian leisure travel. India is showing great potential from the Asia market and we are looking at a decent growth in the near future.”

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IN THE NEWS

Trafalgar doubles Indian traveller base for premium guided tours Sudipta Dev Mumbai A GLOBAL LEADER in premium guided vacations, Trafalgar, recently introduced new itineraries for Asia, including India. Targeted at the HNI segment, the company has witnessed an increasing demand from the India market for destinations like East Europe, Iberian region, Croatia, Iceland, Scandinavia, Russia, Japan and New Zealand.

“We have seen very good growth for Trafalgar from the India market in last couple of years, our consumer base has more than doubled which has helped us grow our team size and also increase investments. Given the superior quality of our product and the huge range that we offer around the world, we are certain that this trend will continue as we move forward,” said Sanjay Temkar, director of sales - India, Trafalgar.

Sanjay Temkar

Trafalgar's exclusive insider experiences resonate well with the new age Indian traveller.

“They want to see the real destination with the experts to get a sense of wonder and discovery.

The fact that our guided holidays offer unrivalled service with all details meticulously planned for a perfect, stressfree trip is loved by them,” he stated, pointing out that their

Indian guests enjoy travelling and making friends with copassengers from all around the globe.

The tours are suitable for HNI travellers, offering all comforts and a mix of four star and five star hotels. “India continues to give us substantially much higher volumes on our premium product than the CostSaver option that we of-

fer,” he informed.

An interesting new trend as far as Indian travellers are concerned is that there is a segment of guests who are planning their holiday almost six-eight months in advance.

“This is such a good trend given the deals available for early birds and also the longtime taken to process certain visas,” said Temkar, informing

that the guests are increasingly preferring more regional specific or one country detailed itineraries over the rushed multi country trips.

According to Temkar the forward bookings for 2017 are looking good. “We feel the pent up demand from latter half of 2016 will make 2017 a good year for our industry,” he mentioned.

Tirun launches virtual tour app for Royal Caribbean Saloni Bhatia New Delhi TIRUN TRAVEL Marketing, which represents Royal Caribbean Cruises in India, has launched a mobile application which allows users to take a virtual tour of the cruise. The app offers virtual tours of the Royal Caribbean ships, including walkthroughs of staterooms, line decks and other prominent places. Tirun Travel Marketing has a portfolio of three cruise brands including Royal Caribbean

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International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.

Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Varun Chadha, COO, Tirun Travel Marketing, informed, “We as a service provider need to innovate in order to engage with the market. Cruise tourism is finally picking momentum in the India market and this is the right time to infuse technology in giving people a glimpse of cruise experience.

The app enables a viewer to take a virtual tour of the cruise and have a better un-

Cruise tourism is finally picking momentum in the India market and this is the right time to infuse technology in giving people a glimpse of cruise experience derstanding of the experience. It is open for travel agents as well as customers who could use the informa-

tion before booking a cruise.”

The app is expected to enable agents to understand the industry better and approach

the customer in the right manner.

Talking about the initiatives by the government to promote cruise tourism, Chadha opined, “There has been a lot of interest from the central as well as state governments to promote cruise tourism. The tourism secretary has already mentioned the commercial ports to be built and investments to be made. But one Royal cruise has a capacity of 2,000 people and we should see if the local economy can sustain that.”

IN THE NEWS

Explora to represent Jordan DMC,Zawaya Travel & Tourism

French tourism suppliers thank Indian buyers for support during crisis Reema Lokesh Mumbai WHEN FRANCE went through its share of crisis, tourism especially to Paris as compared to other parts of France was dampened. However, the suppliers who were in India recently at the Atout France three-city roadshow in Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi, had praise for the India market and the buyers. Sharing a common sentiment, Barbara Breheret, India representative of Auvergne Rhone-Alpes, said, “I am proud of the India market and especially the buyers' reaction to the terror crisis. We thank them for their support and for standing by us and the region in general.” Henri de Roccaserra, founder Corsica Napoleonica, was also upbeat about this market and was

keen to work closely with trade partners here. From Bollywood to MICE, from high end niche leisure options to the regular stops in Paris, France had a mix bag of products to offer at the annual India showcase.

The event witnessed participation of 29 French-Indian delegates representing a collection of tourism offerings in France. The delegates comprised of a mix of established partners and new entrants in the form of newer regions making a foray into the market. The workshop also included opportunities for hosted buyers from outstation cities to interact with the visiting delegates. A grand soirée held in Mumbai unveiled Atout France's objective of showcasing its pôles de excellence or areas of expertise one of them being nightlife in

France.

Addressing the gathering, Sheetal Munshaw, director, Atout France India, announced that Indian arrival figures to France touched the 5,00,000 mark in 2015. Munshaw also emphasised the growing influence of Bollywood and its positive impact on tourism. She also announced the launch of a first ever Massive Online Programme for the French travel industry enabling them to better understand the India market and in turn better serving the Indian traveller. Optimising on France's popularity as a wedding destination, a destination wedding guide was released this summer in France to better acquaint the French travel and hospitality industry with the nuances of planning the Big Fat Indian Wedding.

Reema Lokesh Mumbai THE INDIAN tourism business environment is getting competitive and finding one's niche in this vibrant business set up is the need of the hour. India has been one of the most prominent and promising outbound tourism market and hence it comes as no surprise that B2B players in the global space are looking at reliable partners to represent them in this mega tourism market. Latest in the representation space is Mumbai based company titled Explora. The company is the brainchild of Karishma Bijlani Kazi, CEO, Explora. Its first client is a Jordan DMC called Zawaya Travel & Tourism.

Speaking about the business initiative, Kazi said, "Explora is a refreshing and innovative travel public relations company. We offer an empirical, PR and marketing options for luxury hospitality, wishing expansion in the India market.

In today's aggressive market place, we want our travel partners to stand out from the competition. To do this, we provide a robust custommade service designed to meet individual needs, with the aim of creating strong brand awareness and more importantly, increase financial return."

Ghaleb Saloum, GM, Zawaya Travel & Tourism, added stated, "Jordan's natural attributes, from the haunting, primeval starkness of

Wadi Rum to the lively centre of urban Amman; from the majestic ruins of bygone civilisations to the timeless splendour of the Dead Sea, are all unveiled as unique destination offerings. The options for incentive experiences are endless in Jordan, and Zawaya Travel &Tourism handles all aspects of organising events." According to his observations, incentive travel is one of the fastest growing segments within India’s outbound MICE movement thus

Incentive travel is one of the fastest growing segments in outbound MICE the company has seen opportunity in providing a selection of customised, value-added experiences that cater to the tastes of this important market.

Saloum added, "We have partnered with Explora to help us generate ideas, or develop content and design our engagement activity; we will also be able to share their skills and knowledge to ensure our activity is a success.

Explora can also help us develop relationships with different travel trade partners.”

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IN THE NEWS

TAFI's new logo spells out a new wave coupled with change Reema Lokesh Mumbai THE TEAM AT the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) felt the time has come to embrace change in the new business environment wholeheartedly and to exemplify that they took the decision to start with the organisation’s symbol itself. TAFI redesigned its logo to bring in a fresh wave of zest and a vision that is all about adapting to the future with a broad perspective. Speaking about the new change, Praveen Chugh,

president, TAFI, in an exclusive with Express TravelWorld, stated, “The new TAFI logo reflects our motive and the arrow clearly indicates our firm resolve to move ahead. It also denotes that we, as an organisation, are smooth in our working and functioning for the benefit of our members. It also reflects the wide network of offices and representations we have across India. We are all united and ready to move forward adapting to the changes of the present business environment.”

TAFI aims to focus primarily on skills development, education and technology for the

future growth and benefit of the industry. The decision to change the logo was unanimous

when 40 members of the managing committee team met together in Alibaug, Maharashta for a two-day brain storming session few months ago.

Pradeep Lulla, VP, TAFI, said, "If you view our logo, it is to give a neo look to the old logo. It's changed after five years. The different shades of blue gives a subtle blend to the sky and the sea which we sell. Our vision is encompassed in the caption 'Moving Ahead' which is to move progessively and collectively to our benefit."

MTOApushes to place Kolhapur strongly on the tourism map Reema Lokesh Mumbai THE MAHARASHTRA Tour Organisers’ Association (MTOA) with the support of Kolhapur Hotel Association, recently took part in an extensive familiarisation tour to Kolhapur and surrounding areas, with an objective to enhance the prominence of the region as a tourism destination. Sudhir Patil, president, MTOA stated that the association has taken many initiatives over the past few years to promote varied destinations in Maharashtra and encourage service providers to connect with the right partners through effective networking. MTOA is committed towards helping the

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service providers by sharing new ideas from time to time.

Under the leadership of the president of the association, private service providers have received a platform to represent themselves at the MTDC stalls during various exhibitions. “Now this has become a regular practice and more and more private hotels and service providers are taking advantage of this scheme and are trying to market their products through the exhibitions at very nominal cost. Kolhapur Hotel Association has also taken part in various such tourism events,” he mentioned.

Suggestions by MTOA include the following steps for promoting Kolhapur on the tourism map of Maharashtra

and India: Setting up of Kolhapur Tourism Board with seven members from private indus-

try and four from the government; annual budget – `10 cr; marketing and promotional ac-

tivities; manage proper signage at tourist places as well as for hotels; information display boards at the sightseeing places with maps; printed promotion material freely available to all tourists; list of guides; development of an interactive website; plan for the promotion on social media; participation in exhibitions; road shows and presentations in specific markets such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat; TV commercials; film shooting promotion; development of MICE facilities; incentives to tour operators who promote the destination; database of tourists visiting Kolhapur; offer discount coupons for shopping in Kolhapur after registering online or offline.

IN THE NEWS

IMG World is latest adventure park in Dubai Saloni Bhatia Abu Dhabi

Gujarat Tourism focuses on festivals to increase tourist numbers Steena Joy Ahmedabad GUJARAT TOURISM is focusing on festivals and events to bring in the tourists. The 10-daylong carnival of Navaratri which ended in October, attracts a lot of international tourists. This year's Navaratri Mahotsav which was held at the GMDC Grounds in Ahmedabad was opened by Vijay Rupani, chief minister of Gujarat. Nitin Patel, deputy chief minister of Gujarat; Ganpatsinh Vasava, minister of tourism and Kamlesh Patel, chairman, Gujarat Tourism, were also present.

Kamlesh Patel said that event based tourism attractions like Navaratri Mahotsav, Rann Utsav, International Kite Festival were garnering a lot of international attention. He stated, “Taking these events to the international level was Prime Minister Modi’s idea. The Navaratri Mahotsav had a lot of new additions this year like a Food Court, stalls and Theme Pavilions.”

Ambassadors of nearly 20 countries were present at the inauguration. There are nearly 16,000 Navaratri mandals in the city alone and they are expected to earn more than `100 crore in revenues. The state expects eight to 12 lakh tourists to visit during the festival.

Speaking to the media, S Haider, secretary, Gujarat Tourism, said, “In Gujarat we celebrate Navaratri with a lot of devotion and festivity. Interestingly, the 10 day dance festival has also carved a niche for itself all over the world.”

He added that the state had a

very investor friendly tourism policy with capital and interest subsidies and a lot of incentives.

“Our focus is on multi-faceted development - heritage, spiritual, eco tourism, wildlife, healthcare and cruises. We want to promote sustainable and inclusive growth. Environmentally sustainable tourism will give a boost to the local economy and job generation. During Vibrant Gujarat, 125 projects were registered online with a `5,000 crore investment potential. Many of these are on ground already, many have been already implemented,” he said.

ADDING TO the list of adventure offerings in Dubai is IMG Worlds of Adventure. The park consisting of four adventure zones opened in August this year. IMG is the largest indoor theme park in Dubai offering numerous options for a traveller to indulge in. The adventure zones are divided into Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley and IMG Boulevard, each offering a unique experience. There are theme rides as well as restaurants.

Children can also get a chance to meet Marvel and Cartoon Network characters through the meet and greets. Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Marlou Tancio, sales, travel trade, IMG Worlds of Adventure, informed, “India is our top market as maximum number of travellers visiting the park are Indians. We have some unique offerings that are perfect for people coming with families looking for adventure.

There are various options for visitors like movies, rides, live shows, dining and shopping.”

The park spans over 1.5 million sq equaling 29 football fields. It has 29 food and beverage outlets and 25 retail outlets. The IMG Boulevard consists of five restaurants offering cuisines from all

Marlou Tancio

around the world. The Samosa House, a casual Indian dining restaurant offers street food from across India.

In addition, the park also has a 12 screen Novo Cinema multiplex that includes an IMAX screen and two VIP theaters.

Talking about reaching out to the India market, Tancio added, “We do regular roadshows with Lama Tours in India. It is a growing market and we surely look to increase the numbers. The park is well equipped to host private parties and corporate events as well.”

Recently, adding to the thrill of adventure, a haunted hotel was included at the park to offer one of a kind experience to guests. In case of families visiting the park, there is also an open glass aquarium ride.

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HOTEL TALK

Leading Hotels of the World plans long term for India market Sudipta Dev Mumbai LEADING HOTELS of the World (LHW) has one of the world's largest collection of luxury properties with 375 hotels in 75 countries. Almost 95 per cent of the properties are independent hotels, including many iconic ones that are destinations on their own. With offices in Mumbai and Delhi, LHW has long term plans for India as a source market. “The India market has been growing 25 per cent year-on-year. The appetite from this market has grown for the unique experiences that our hotels offer,” said Philip Ho,

senior VP, Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia Pacific, LHW. Pointing out that India is an important market for LHW, he mentioned, “We are investing in the business to grow in the next 50 years.”

The popular hotels for the India market range from those at the usual destinations like London, Paris, New York, Milan Rome, Florence and Switzerland, to new places trending well like Croatia, Prague, Marrakesh, Vienna, Barcelona and Miami. Almost 80 per cent of the business in India comes through travel agents. “The Indian travel agents have supported us well over the years.

Philip Ho

The guests being billionaires and multi-millionaires have their own favourite travel

agency. It is not just about hotel booking, they look for bespoke experiences. We help the agencies to create those,” mentioned Ho, adding that the marketing efforts will be expanded to Tier II markets.

Leading Hotels of the World has incubated many luxury hotel brands over the last 88 years. “When they grew from single properties to multiple properties quite naturally they had their own structure to support themselves and left the family,” stated Ho, reminding that LHW has been known for its independent, luxury hotels, and remains that way.

Earlier Taj Luxury Hotels

and Oberoi Group were a part of LHW, currently there are no properties in India. “If there are Indian developers and hoteliers who want to create their own iconic and legendary hotels for the next many generations, we will be here to support them. They will know where to find us. We are in discussions all the time,” said Ho, revealing that they are in talks with a developer in Mumbai.

Many of the hotels have been part of LHW for generations, e.g. Baur au Lac in Zurich, where the Nobel Peace Prize was conceptualised, is popular with Indian clientele.

India 2nd biggest APAC market for Hotelbeds Mohit Rathod Mumbai HOTELBEDS, a global distributor of accommodation and ancillary products, which recently completed 10 years of business presence in India, has identified the country as its second most important market in Asia Pacific. The Asia Pacific region is the fastest growing in terms of business for Hotelbeds. The company has marked an average growth of over 35 per cent annually, for the last 10 years in India.

Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Sam Turner, sales director, Hotelbeds, said, "India is a powerhouse in terms

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of travel industry and economic growth. The India market is growing more quickly than other markets. We have hundreds of clients in the India market; we are covering majority of the large players in the country.

Alongside the 35 per cent growth we have witnessed, we also see plenty of opportunities to continue the growth."

Nikhil Jain, sales director – South Asia, Hotelbeds revealed that leisure forms the largest part of Hotelbeds' business, accounting for around 95 per cent share. In terms of future expansion, the company has identified technology as the biggest growth area; it plans to leverage upon data and speed. Turner

L to R: Nikhil Jain, Andy Tan and Sam Turner

elaborated, "We are investing a lot in technology. The demography of the India market include young people, hence it is essential to invest in technology. We are leveraging upon the data

that we have; we witness 20 billion searches every year. Speed and data, specifically, are very important factors in technological advancement. We are making sure that we invest

in infrastructure that develops these two." Hotelbeds started operating in India with around 40,000 accommodation products, and has now witnessed its growth to around 100,000. However, the company has oberved growth in demand for ancillary products, alongside accommodations. Turner indicated that Hotelbeds is also focusing on ancillary product offerings.

Turner added, "A major trend in the India market is that costumers are buying more ancillary products. So now we understand the key destinations such as Dubai and Thailand, which are very popular among Indians, and we sell actvities in those destinations."

HOTEL TALK

AccorHotels debuts ibis Styles in India; plans to tap domestic leisure segment

HeyBnB bets big on shared accommodation market space in India Sudipta Dev Mumbai

Mohit Rathod Calangute ACCORHOTELS has marked the debut of its mid-market brand ibis Styles in the India market with the launch of ibis Styles Goa Calangute. The 197-room property is situated a few minutes away from the Calangute Beach, which is renowned for tourism activities. Owned by InterGlobe Hotels, a joint venture between InterGlobe Enterprises and AccorHotels, the property aims to tap the leisure segment, particularly families, through a separate rooms wing dedicated to families and arrangements for kids activities.

Speaking on the launch, JB Singh, president and CEO, InterGlobe Hotels, said, “Goa is an important market for us.

The tourism industry of Goa

has been witnessing growth over the years and has been contributing significantly to Goa’s economy. This hotel was a much needed project that we wanted to set up in Goa.” Singh indicated that the hotel will focus on domestic tourism, due to the seasonal nature of foreign tourist arrivals in Goa. The hotel’s two wings, Casa and Saal, offer 60 and 137 rooms respectively, each measuring 23 sq m. The hotel also features a 2,200-squarefeet meetings facility. However, ibis Styles is specifically aimed at the leisure market; and AccorHotels plans to grow in the corporate segment through its ibis brand.

Nikheel Shirodkar, general manager, ibis Styles Goa Calangute, stated, “ibis Styles Goa Calangute offers a blend of Portuguese architecture

and Goa’s local influences.

Through the concept of a separate wing for families, we want to place ourselves as the preferred hotel among families visiting Goa. We are going to introduce various new activities such as virtual reality cricket game.”

Revealing expansion plans in India, Jean-Michel Casse, senior vice president, operations, AccorHotels India, said that Accor will have five more openings under the ibis brand by the end of this year and 10 openings in 2017. He said, “The domestic market in India is very strong and Goa is a sustained market for us to tap this tourism area. We have been focusing more on the corporate market through ibis, but now we plan to develop our leisure business through the debut of ibis Styles Goa Calangute.”

HEYBNB (HeyBednBreakfast), is an online short stay accommodation marketplace for hosts who want to make available their extra room for travellers. The Singapore-headquartered company operating in 11 countries and 40 cities, entered the India market with presence in cities like New Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa and Cochin. “In India, we want to launch across all major cities and resort areas for our guests. Over a period of time, we will expand our international listings based on the travel patterns of the market,” said Kenny Blatt, co-founder, HeyBnb, adding that their strategy is to target all major cities in India as well as the top 20 resort destinations in the country.

“We aim to reach all the major Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities in India by the end of 2016,” he stated. The company aims to be one of the top 10 players in the world in shared accommodation space.

HeyBnB is focusing on pilgrimage destinations, forest and hill stations in India. “We will also scheme out accommodations / listings in the top requested destinations based on our market research,” said Blatt. He believes this is the

Kenny Blatt

appropriate time to be at the hospitality forefront in India and help shape the lodging experiences of travellers. “While we create unique local experiences by offering multiple choices for accommodations, our goal is to be a one-stop destination for transient travel,” mentioned Blatt.

The brand USP of HeyBnB, according to Blatt, is the commitment to provide its guests a unique hospitality experience and its hosts with total transparency and accountability.

The targeted segment are transient guests looking for accommodations in India and across the world. “We will support our guest with 24/7 customer service and a helpline to assist them with any query regarding the accommodation or destination. Our payment process is 100 per cent secure ensuring clarity to both our guest and host on every level,” he assured.

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HOTEL TALK

'Airport hotels cater to a wide spectrum of travellers' Ravi Khubchandani, general manager, Novotel Hyderabad Airport speaks about the unique features of an airport hotel and the future of hospitality business in this region

By Reema Lokesh What according to you is the primary highlights and USP of the property and what is it that you would like to convey to your clientele regarding the same?

Novotel Hyderabad Airport is a versatile hotel in Hyderabad with the right infrastructure, location and professional expertise to cater to every requirement including MICE, weddings, automobile display and launches, transit stays, airline crew requirements and leisurely family getaways! We have an inventory of over 300 rooms complemented with multiple banquets, open air venues and state of the art leisure and recreational facilities in a very green and welcoming surrounding. Our property is just five minutes away from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad.

Keeping your previous experience in view in other cities of India, what are the distinct patterns of demand in this region?

Hyderabad has a higher proportion of MICE business and it truly lives up to its reputation of being the conventions capital of the country. Evidently, MICE is one of the strongest growing segments for Hyderabad’s hospitality and tourism industry, earning substantial revenues over the last year and directly benefitting the local economy. A significant percentage of a hotel’s revenue is generated from hosting MICE events, and catering to the F&B requirements from it. Over the years, the city

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has experienced double digit growth increase in inbound air traffic, with the Hyderabad International Airport recognised as the sixth busiest airport in the country and third busiest in Southern India. With the improving commercial sentiment in the city, the industry is witnessing improved traction in business travels and this should continue consistently. The presence of global conglomerates and local businesses is expected to rise in the near future. The improving investor sentiment is expected to improve both the demand and supply in the city, with the demand hopefully being substantial to outpace the inventory growth.

How different are airport hotels visa-a-vis city hotels?

Airport hotels are generally more agile and flexible to be able to better cater to the short lead transit business and sudden influx of guests. Globally, airport hotels have been the travellers’ favourite choice for years; with the rising traffic woes in every city the preference for airport hotels is constantly on the rise.

Airport hotels are also very unique and dependable from a security standpoint.

The airport hotel market has changed immeasurably in recent years. In contrast to the sterile airport hotels of old, these newer properties exude the local culture, beauty and style throughout their design. They acknowledge that they are providing the traveller's first experience of a country. From room furnishings,

to artwork, and even panoramic views or plane spotting advantages, the new airport hotel design immediately reminds the traveller of which country they are visiting. Rooms are of a high quality with an emphasis on comfort, and noise levels associated with the airport are minimised through effective sound proofing.

Airport hotels offer excellent facilities for travellers who need to work, including in-room high speed Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, business and conference facilities and ambient lobbies. Travellers working for multinational companies can meet face-to-face with peers or clients based in the city where they are transiting, away from the bustle of the airport terminal. Leisure facilities also abound in these properties, allowing travellers to dine in relaxed settings, work out at the gym or enjoy a massage.

Is there a certain focus to market and promote airport hotels?

Airport hotels cater to a very wide spectrum of travellers and best support the ever rising aviation travels. Therefore, it won’t be surprising to see the investor sentiment skewing more towards airport hotels. It is also important to note that airport properties, especially major brands, want to grow up and become bona fide meeting destinations like popular convention properties in major cities.

Therefore, the focus is also on promoting them as preferred MICE destinations, often by up-

grading and adding flexible meeting spaces.

What are the average ARRs in the city and where would you place your hotel on that scale?

The city operates with a wide ARR spectrum with reputed hotels ranging from approximately `3000 to `8000. Being an international five-star of great repute, we operate in the premium rate band of the city.

How unique are the F&B demands in the region?

The F&B scenario in Hyderabad is now maturing and is growing beyond the popular traditional options. Guests today are relatively more aware and welcoming of newer tastes and dining experiences. Further, being an international airport hotel, we have a strong mix of both international and domestic travellers checking in and out at all times; we therefore offer an elaborate array of both traditional and innovative culinary creations round the clock.

Any specific training and development programmes for staff engagement?

We engage our teams at all levels of hierarchy with industry’s leading learning and development opportunities. Living up to our reputation of being one of the finest employers globally, we create an environment that is extremely conducive for all team members to perform and continuously evolve as better professionals. AccorHotels is growing at a very fast pace in India and

our philosophy of developing a strong internal talent pool for our upcoming hotels further fuels our passion to develop exceptional hoteliers for the future.

What is your personal vision for the property and the change you would like to bring about during your tenure?

The hotel has been well established and my endeavour will be to take the performance further by exceeding our guests’ current expectations and establish the hotel as the first choice for MICE, weddings, business and leisure stays. Further, with curated events, food festivals and family activities, I would like to see more of our local Hyderabad patrons visiting the hotel more frequently for experiential outings.

Your message for the future hospitality workforce?

The hospitality industry is growing at an exponential pace and it is going to present all professionals with some unprecedented opportunities; there couldn’t have been a better time to become a part of this vibrant industry. Hospitality, perhaps more than some other industries, calls for a fair amount of discipline, flexibility and agility in the formative years; the industry however offers considerably more opportunities to excel professionally. To be successful, I would encourage the young professionals foraying into the industry to work and learn with a great sense of pride and passion for hospitality.

HOTEL TALK

Sheraton Grand GHM debuts the Chedi Macao bets big brand in India with on MICE from The Chedi Mumbai India ETW Staff Mumbai

Sudipta Dev Mumbai SHERATON GRAND Macao Hotel and St Regis Macao have a strong focus on the Indian market, targeting both business and leisure travellers. “We have seen some great growth from the Indian MICE market. The MICE market from India makes up about 8 per cent of our MICE business, majority of which goes to Sheraton,” said Daniella Tonetto, GM of sales & marketing, St Regis Macao and Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central. Pointing out that last year Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) reported about 170,000 inbound Indian travellers into Macao, which is about 1 per cent increase from the year before, Tonetto added, “If we do our own internal forecasts for both hotels we can see a spike in Indian travellers.”

Within the Sands Cotai Central in Macao the properties include - Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Conrad and St Regis; The Venetian across the road and the recently opened The Parisian. “St Regis opened last December and completed Sands Cotai Central, it is the fourth tower within the complex and offers a more discreet, personalised luxury experience, within the Sands Cotai Central,” mentioned Tonetto, reminding that they will continue to remain committed to the Indian market. Both properties are connected on the ground level (podium) and also on the meeting floor (Level 5). “You can be staying at St Regis and if you

Daniella Tonetto

want a bigger ballroom space, you have an easy connection to Sheraton meeting space, and vice versa,” she informed.

Apart from MICE, Macao witnesses from India family travellers and multi-generational travellers. Tonetto believes that now that all the integrated resorts are complete, the properties will see an increased length of stay, because there are a lot of activities in Macao.

The new facilities with family experiences were promoted at a recent roadshow in Mumbai.

Sheraton Grand has a new theatre which will house The Monkey King. “The 1600 seat theatre will have daily performances. It will be a permanent show,” said Tonetto. There is also a new gaming centre in Sands Cotai Central targeted at the teenage market, called Planet J. The Kungfu Panda Academy package is an attractive option for guests with children till February 2017.

GENERAL HOTEL Management (GHM) has joined hands with real estate company Rajesh LifeSpaces to debut The Chedi brand in India, in Mumbai. The signing of the management agreement follows on the heels of the strategic partnership for deepening Singapore-India relations.

Hans R Jenni, director and president of GHM, expressed his optimism for the project. He said, “We have always wanted to plant a GHM flag in India and being able to establish The Chedi brand in the thriving city of Mumbai is an honour as well as a challenging opportunity my team and I are eager to face.”

The Chedi Mumbai is situated in proximity to the Powai region, an area where infrastructure developments, connectivity and social groundwork have laid the foundation for the growth of a diverse expatriate community. The development is expected to be an emerging hub for work and leisure outside of South Mumbai and will house a new convention and exhibition centre, an art auditorium, cultural plaza, residences and offices. The Chedi Mumbai is also close to both the domestic and international airports, and is supported by a comprehensive network of highways and roads.

Rajesh Patel, managing director, Rajesh Life-

Spaces, said, “Our collaboration with GHM is a union of resources that will maximise the potential for this hotel. The GHM team is not only providing hotel management expertise.

Their concept for The Chedi Mumbai is one that will metamorphosise the current landscape and create a new buzz for lifestyle and quality dining in general.”

The announcement of The Chedi Mumbai marks the third development project by GHM this year.

The hotel management company responsible for conceptualising and creating exclusive resorts, including The Nam Hai Hoi

An, The Chedi Muscat in Oman and The Chedi Andermatt in Switzerland, had previously shared its plans on The Chedi Luštica Bay in Montenegro as well as a new venture into the mid-market segment with Tin Hotels.

The Chedi Mumbai offers 316 guestrooms, five restaurants, meeting facilities, and spa and wellness facility.

Jenni added, “The food and beverage offerings will set The Chedi Mumbai apart from the rest of the competition as it is the demand for quality gastronomy will drive locals, expatriates and travellers to this new culinary utopia.”

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IN THE NEWS

FAITH requests 6% GST rating for tourism, hospitality ETW Staff Mumbai IN ITS LATEST set of interactions with GST commissionerate, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH) has made a specific request for six per cent GST rating, as the lowest slab for the tourism and hospitality industry.

The services sector is being considered for 18 per cent and 12 per cent, but considering that a lot of tourism sub-

FAITH has been running a campaign with policy makers at central and state governments to position Indian tourism on the lowest GST rate, which is expected to double the pan-India employment and GDP output resulting from tourism

sectors in India are on abated rates currently and that worldwide tourism industry average indirect rates are between six to nine per cent, FAITH believes it is important to communicate the requirement for the lowest slab of six per cent for the industry.

Additionally, FAITH has sounded the GST commissioner on the issue with respect to presumptive rates, and there is a likelihood that it will be considered positively. It has also sounded on

export service status under section 2(44)c and has been informed that the place of provision of supply of service may being relooked at in the second draft of GST law.

Over the past four months, FAITH has been running a campaign with policy makers at central and state governments to position Indian tourism on the lowest GST rate, which is expected to double the pan-India employment and GDP output resulting from tourism.

FICCI sets up online trav-tech committee to give fillip to net-based travel ETW Staff Mumbai FEDERATION OF INDIAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has instituted the Online Travel and Technology Committee under the aegis of its existing Tourism Committee in wake of growing internet-based travel and online travel companies.

The Online Travel and Technology Committee has been formed due to the rapid penetration of internet and mobile, which has transformed the

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way travel industry operates and how travellers book and consume travel related products.

The chamber has recognised the changing travel market dynamics and the role of online travel and technology towards shaping the future travel booking, consumption and distribution trends. It understands the drivers towards these trends in-terms of internet penetration, usage of smart phones and simplification of transactional supported payment mechanism.

The committee will be led

by Dhruv Shringi, co-founder and CEO, Yatra Online and comprise key stakeholders of online travel companies including MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip and various other stakeholders and knowledge partners from the online travel segment.

Dr A Didar Singh, secretary general, FICCI, said, “The committee has been formed for outlining the roadmap for a robust regulatory policy for the online travel industry and also to encourage innovation in travel and tourism sector.�

The chamber has recognised the changing travel market dynamics and the role of online travel and technology towards shaping the future travel booking, consumption and distribution trends

IN THE NEWS

'We have received a phenomenal response’ Neeraj Khandelwal, founder & partner, In The Box Space, talks about the unique concept of using shipping containers for hospitality and restaurant projects

By Sudipta Dev What kind of accommodation option can In the Box Space provide for the hospitality sector ? Targeted at which segment ?

We have been targeting mainly budget and threefour star hotels for various styles of accommodation, which includes resort style rooms to single rooms. By thinking out of the box and creatively, structurally, we can do a lot with these boxes or by using a combination of conventional building methods and boxes depending on the customer’s requirements. We are also working on the portable hotel concept, wherein hoteliers can shift the rooms to different destinations as per business demand.

What kind of response have you got from the hospitality sector ? Any hospitality projects in the pipeline ?

It has only been six months since we started In the Box Space and we have received a phenomenal response already from the hospitality sector. We are in touch with some of the leading names in this sector and already in talks to provide a wide range of solutions – from making a kitchen to a complete room out of these boxes. We have even proposed to make a complete hotel using shipping containers.

How can these accommodation units provide a unique tourism experience ?

We have used all these containers as site offices and temporary structures, but living out of these is relatively new in India. People

shifted to more like storytelling – there is a main theme, a character that is portraying story that is how we incorporate the idea “Each Box Has Not One, But Many Stories To Tell”

Neeraj Khandelwal

like change and talk about it all the time, especially the young generation, In the Box Space looks to provide that change. Design has now

These structures would be apt for which Indian (getaway) destinations ?

India is a country with many getaway destinations and smaller cities/towns are becoming extremely popular with the youth – so providing quick and affordable housing/accommodation for this age group is a vast market opportunity. Furthermore, often permission to build is not granted by the local bod-

ies and this is a perfect place to use this shipping container construction.

Which segment of F&B sector do you foresee this concept becoming popular ?

Although the concept can be used across various segments in F&B, we have already received a lot of interest from leading fast food companies for making restaurants. With the restaurant business becoming so competitive over the last couple of years in India, especially due to the heavy taxes that are to be paid, the industry is seeing a great shift by cutting costs, this includes online platforms for

delivery services and also food trucks. In the Box Space is looking to be the next trend offering a competitive alternative method without comprising on the design and feel of a place.

What are the cost advantages of putting up these structures ?

If planned well, these structures can save a lot of cost – upto 40 per cent and a lot of time. It is ideal for spaces, which are timebound and businesses in the hospitality sector since revenue generation starts faster as building time is cut down significantly.

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cover story)

Vagator Villa, Guesthouser.com

22 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD November 2016

(

THE MAIN FOCUS

RETURN OFTHE HOMESTAY The lack of 290,000 rooms in the country has led the tourism industry to shift to the old norms of hospitality of staying with acquaintances. With state tourism boards promoting the growth of homestays across destinations and partnering with private players to market them, this segment is seeing a well awaited revival

BY SALONI BHATIA

T

he ministry of tourism's scheme for approval and registration of bed and breakfast and homestay establishments in the country is in many ways redefining the hospitality segment. A homestay offers the opportunity for a cultural exchange that enhances a traveller's experience in a new country. The concept, which is voluntary in nature, has successfully penetrated in Tier II and Tier III cities in India as home owners are listing their properties on multiple online portals and partnering with the state governments.

The industry trends have changed as travel agents now prefer to book homestays than the conventional hotels for the trav-

ellers. MoT realises the potential of the market and had listed specific guidelines for the owners to follow. But the success of online platforms has changed the ball game altogether. The expanse of listings on these portals has given travellers the opportunity to pick a house of their choice and experience a city beyond rigid itineraries.

One of the growing platforms in the space is the Bangaluru based Stayzilla.com with more than 55,000 stay options across 4,500 towns in the country. The platform connects travellers and home owners for a unique stay experience and has already tied up with five state tourism boards to promote the concept. Ankit Rastogi, vice president, marketplace, Stayzilla, informs, “We have already signed MoUs with the governments of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and are in the

process of partnering with more. We have connected with 8,000 homestays across 100 odd destinations including small villages in pristine destinations.”

Room crunch situation During every long weekend the places around the city are packed and the hoteliers who do not entertain last minute bookings. “Stayzilla made a conscious effort to look into the room crunch situation as supply becomes a big constraint for tourism in the country. Building of hotels take time and investment while creating a homestay becomes an economy enabler,” mentions Rastogi.

Hemendra Lal Shah, who owns a three bedroom homestay in Darjeeling, associated with Stayzilla a year ago. He says, “I listed with the company about a year ago and the overall experience has been quite encouraging. It has been wonderful meeting different

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cover story) Balunda Homestay, Udaipur

“The classification system for home stays has also been re-modified in tune with RT principles” Dr Venu Principal secretary, Kerala Tourism

“One must look into the room crunch situation as supply becomes a big constraint in our country” Anit Rastogi Vice president, marketplace, Stayzilla

“ The rules of economy apply to these homestays and when one sees a neighbour making money then eventually they are enticed to be a part of the scheme” Navjyot P S Randhawa Director - tourism, culture affairs, archaeology, museums and archives, Punjab

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people from various parts of the world and getting a chance to host them as our guests. I personally go and collect them from nearby areas so they don't have trouble finding the place. There is home cooked food in the morning and comfortable spaces like the lounge and open garden to enjoy the serenity of the place.” Shah's Eza homestay is one of the 142 homestays listed in Darjeeling.

Shah is a retired bank official who recently installed Wi-Fi for his guests and also plans to open a basic gym facility along with parking space for his future guests. He adds, “It is important to make constant upgrades in order to cater to the new guests.”

The government's involvement Punjab state tourism recently tied up with Stayzilla to promote and create awareness for homestays in the region.

This is the fourth state to tie up with the online homestay aggregator to market its homestay properties collec-

tively. Navjyot P S Randhawa, director - tourism, culture affairs, archaeology, museums and archives, Punjab states, “We should have signed this contract much earlier but the state was not ready for it. There were comparatively no homestays back then but now we are growing at a 30 per cent rate every year. The brand is already doing promotions with its marketing plans in place and will continue to participate in internationals shows together.”

The rules of economy apply to these homestays and when one sees a neighbour making money then eventually they are enticed to be a part of the scheme. “However, the best promotion is done through word of mouth and has been the most beneficial,” informs Randhawa. Matched with farmstays and tourist huts the state now has about 100 homestays to offer.

State governments are also taking initiatives to make sure responsible tourism

reaches various destinations.

Kerala Tourism is setting up a Responsible Tourism (RT) classification system for all accommodation units in the state. Dr Venu, principal secretary, Kerala Tourism, informs, “We intend to take Responsible Tourism to more destinations given the success of this participatory approach model, where the local communities are included as stakeholders and empowered economically through tourism activity that focuses on both cultural and ecological conservation. As a part of the sustainability initiative, we have put in place an RT classification system for accommodation units and are bringing all hotels and resorts under this.

The classification system for home stays has also been re-modified in tune with RT principles.”

It is important to retain the credibility of a host as there are certain security perceptions in the mind of travellers. Every homestay owner undergoes checks by

either the state tourism boards or private companies listing them. The ministry has also laid down certain guidelines to be followed by the homestay owners. Under the Incredible India Bed and Breakfast and Homestay Scheme, facilities are to be categorised as Silver and Gold. The regional classification committee then inspects the place based on the facilities and services offered. Once the standards are cleared then the place is offered as a homestay under the scheme. But according to the scheme, the establishment will be given only in those cases where the owner /promoter of the establishment along with his /her family is physically residing in the same establishment and letting out minimum one room and maximum six rooms (12 beds). There is no provision to grant financial assistance under the scheme for approval and registration of Incredible India Bed and Breakfast /Homestay Establishments of MoT.

( Active platforms Guesthouser, started in the year 2000, was one of the initial companies to start listing homestays in India. The brand has now successfully penetrated into 2,200 cities majorly across Tier II and Tier III locations with a growing international presence. Dhruv Sharma, co-founder, Guesthouser.com, comments, “There was a massive parallel supply created next to the hotels in every city, but the only issue was of their activeness and visibility. We are the only company in India that have gone this deep with their supply reach in Tier II and Tier III cities where these homestays are of actual importance.

By creating a supply in this manner one can easily contribute to the regional economy.”

Searching and evaluating a place is one of the most difficult tasks as the platform is blamed post a bad review. To avoid such situations, it is essential to follow a rigorous process of checking. Sharma adds, “We have a dedicated team who look for places available. This is followed by the business development team doing its research and justify if it is worth a listing.

Then the photography team takes over to click some pictures which can help list the properties and give a complete outlook to the guest.

But, in order to maintain a dedicated relationship with the hosts we have an in-house team who make regular calls to the owners so they are updated with the small changes that can improve their listings. Through the penetration of smartphone technology, hosts are also looking at an opportunity to be available online and that is where we help them.”

brand. “We also promote a host based on their occupation and make it a comfortable stay for the guests in case they wish to indulge in conversations with the hosts. It becomes important to connect the people of interest together so they have a pleasant stay,” adds Rastogi.

In a country like India, where some places do not have proper internet connection, it becomes difficult to stay connected. He mentions, “We have the mobile app which is the only one in the country to keep you connected offline as well. In case you enter a remote area with no internet connection , you shall still be able to get information through SMS.” Elaborating on building owner relations, Sharma states, “We have good relations with the hosts in terms of technology immersions.

The Host Immersion team talks to the hosts to update their calendars and use the app to improve the experience. The education curve is still a bit steep in the country and we are slowly moving forward to enabling more people

The local connect N S Rathore, owner, Balunda House, runs a private homestay in the city of Udaipur. The five bedroom property is a gold category homestay verified under the Ministry of Tourism Homestay scheme.

Talking about why he planned to make his home a homestay, he says, “I had built the property but was unable to maintain it since it has some traditional antiques and furniture, so I decided to turn it into a homestay 15 years ago. We host around 100-150 domestic and international guests every year.”

“While the online portals help in promoting the place, they often misquote the price which lands the owner into a problem. The concept has

Indians are still hesitant to the concept while Europeans are keen on living in homestays.

This is why major travel agents are now shifting their base to homestay accommodations

Enabling a host Stayzilla organises a seminar at the regional level in order to make the owner aware about the platform and then there are continuous efforts to market the destination by the

to adopt technology. Importance of educating a host is that it helps them to understand the changes on the platform. Once they improve their listing, they are able to attract more customers. In fact, some of the guests even extend to make renovations in their houses before season time to attract the travellers.”

Padmini Haveli

been in Rajasthan over the years, but they are not being properly sold. Indians are still hesitant to the concept while Europeans are keen on living in homestays. This is the main reason why major travel agents are now shifting their base to homestay accommodations than hotel rooms. It is also important to have a member of the family living at the property as mentioned under the MoT scheme,” adds Rathor.

The Padmini Haveli in the Chittorgarh Palace is run

by Parvati and Sudhir Sukhwal. Opened in 2012, the six room property is already registered in the silver category under the MoT scheme by the government.

Parvati informs, “The property views that overlook the temples and palaces attract major clients. We are already listed in a French guidebook, which is considered as the Bible for international travel along with TripAdvisor. The majority of guests are international, coming from Canada, Belgium and French speaking countries.” As hosts, they are well versed with French and English and also take their guests on local tours.

Eric David, owner, of Zina Cottages, has converted his 50 year old property to a five bedroom homestay near Munnar. The property is 2.5 km from the main city and enjoys pristine views of a tea plantation. The cottage also has a strong online presence with listings across portals like Guesthouser, Lonely Planet and Kerela Tourism.

On his association with Guesthouser, Eric states, “I listed with the portal about 1.5 years ago and have seen wonderful results. Majority of the bookings are domestic travellers who make booking in advance. Since the cottage is the only property exactly in the middle of the plantation, the guests enjoy a quiet time when on vacation here.”

Guests can also go for tea plantation tours.

THE MAIN FOCUS

“There was a massive parallel supply created next to the hotels in every city but the only issue was of their activeness and visibility” Dhruv Sharma Founder, Guesthouser.com

“While the online portals help in promoting the place, they often misquote the price which lands the owner into a problem” N S Rathore Owner, Balunda House

“Majority of our guests come from Canada, Belgium and French speaking countries” Parvati & Sudhir Sukhwal Owners, Padmini Haveli

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IN FOCUS

Inviting investments to the Heart of India Completing its third year, Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart 2016 focused on inviting investments from the private sector for the tourism and hospitality industry in the state

By Mohit Rathod

T

he significance of the tourism and hospitality industry in economic growth has been widely recognised by various state governments.

Whilst acknowledging the industry's contribution in terms of creation of employment, generating revenues, improving the state's national and global image and more, public sector undertakings have been actively welcoming stakeholders from the private sector, in order to attract investments and facilitate better infrastructure, which eventually result in higher tourist footfalls.

In the wake of the existing environment of the tourism industry, the recently held Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart 2016 shed light on the importance of private sector investments and the PPP model. The travel trade show, which marked its third edition this year, was held in the state capital Bhopal, at Hotel Lake View Ashok, from October 15 to 16 and saw participation of 28 countries, 175 domestic buyers, 70 international buyers and over 50 exhibitors. The event was inaugurated by Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state tourism minister Surendra Patwa and officials of Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC), including Tapan Bhowmik,

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chairman; Hari Ranjan Rao, tourism secretary and managing director, MPSTDC and Tanvi Sundriyal, additional managing director, among other dignitaries.

Addressing the inaugural gathering, Chouhan revealed the state government’s plan to develop Madhya Pradesh as India’s eco tourism and adventure tourism hub. He indi-

cated this will be done by attracting investments from the private sector. Chauhan said, “Madhya Pradesh is a unique state and has potential across diverse avenues. The state has been growing at a rate of over 10 per cent for the last eight years. We have identified tourism as one of the major industries in the state and want to put the private sector

ahead to develop tourism here.”

The central government has granted `275 crore to Madhya Pradesh for developing tourism. The state received about eight crore tourist arrivals last year. “MP has gone forward a lot and investors have realised this and are planning to invest in the state’s tourism opportunities.

We are working on various avenues to ensure sustainable development of tourism in the state,” commented Patwa.

Focal point The state is leveraging upon factors such as political and financial stability, pricing parity and process reforms to attract tourism and hospitality players to provide a fillip to

IN FOCUS

tion to the state’s tourism offerings.” MPSTDC is also strengthening its efforts to market the state as a destination in international markets, as the authority has hosted a significant number of international partners and media representatives in the past.

Industry speak

MPSTDC is also strengthening its efforts to market the state as a destination in international markets the industry. Rao mentioned about the recently introduced tourism policy of Madhya Pradesh, terming it “investorfriendly.” In terms of MICE offerings, MPSTDC will be converting the renowned Minto Hall into a heritage convention centre.

Rao added, “Private sector has been contributing a lot to the growth of tourism and infrastructure in the state. Water tourism is the recent addi-

Bharat Malkani, president, Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), opined, "Madhya Pradesh is highly innovative and proactive and has been taking pro-industry initiatives. As a hotelier, I have never seen any government as proactive as Madhya Pradesh government.

The chief minister's presence at the event and the formation of a special cabinet shows the government's good intent to become one of the top destinations. I am very impressed and I can see many investments flowing into the state."

In his interaction with Patwa, Malkani suggested a model, wherein there is a single-window clearancesfor all projects. He also indicated the importance of leveraging the vast presence of lakes in the state, as a tourism product.

One of the possibilities, Malkani suggested, was the idea of seaplane operations, whilst adopting a industryfriendly tax structure.

Asheesh Choudary, president, India Buggy, commented, "The trade show was well organised. There was a lot of improvement compared to last year. Madhya Pradesh has a lot of potential and such

events will help boost tourism in the state."

Whilst the state tourism stakeholders lauded MPSTDC's activeness in developing tourism in the state, some also felt that the government needed to do it more efficiently, particularly in wildlife tourism, which is one of the core marketing elements for tourism in MP. Shivang Patel, director, Camp Ananya, stated, "This was the first time we participated here and I found it amazing. I look forward to participating in all the coming editions of MP Travel Mart. This is a good place to meet the right people from the industry. Tiger is the pride of the state and we, along with the authorities, must ensure that they are protected and wildlife and ecotourism is promoted.

However, there is a lack of open platform discussions. As part of the industry, we have our own problems and I urge the government to facilitate more discussions where we can place our hurdles, and work in co-ordination with the authorities to find a viable solution."

Alongside the trade show, the first day also witnessed MP State Tourism Awards, which rewarded 39 top performers in the industry across 22 categories such as Best Tour Operator, Best Tourist Transport Operator, Best Adventure Tour Operator, Best Hotel Chain, Best Heritage Hotel, Best Homestay, Best Responsible Tourism Project, Best Chef, among others.

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DESTINATION OUTBOUND

Ireland's Lakelands landscape Ireland has a story to share across its scenic routes. From the limericks to the landscape, there is a lot to experience from the outskirts to the centre. The Lakelands of Ireland is an interesting new region of discovery for the discerning Indian traveller that travel agents need to highlight in their tour itineraries

By Reema Lokesh

A

journey into the heart of Ireland in the Lakelands region transports you to a place that reflects tranquility. The drive from Dublin airport into the central part of Ireland passes through a green palate.

The trip to the Lakelands region by its very nature cannot be done quickly. The region is best experienced on a slow pace, from a leisurely stroll at the magnificent Birr Castle to a serene leisurely cruise along Lough Derg on the Shannon, especially when you can captain your own cruiser. The region, does take you off the beaten track, allowing to discover some of the byways of Ireland, with plenty of hidden gems to be discovered. Failte Ireland representative, Antoinette Reilly and Guide Martin Kelly, gave an insight into the region that is yet to be discovered by the Indian discerning traveller. The taste of the region commenced with a splendid experience at the Birr Castle. It was heartwarming to

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pleasant experience. It serves a wide range of dishes with specials daily on the blackboard soups with freshly baked brown bread, fresh fish, oysters, mussels, steaks, Irish stew and more.

The Shannon River journey

meet the present era owners of the castle who spoke fondly of India and were keen to welcome guests from the country. The castle is a perfect place for some exclusive events, especially weddings. The gardens of Birr Castle and the newly revamped Science Centre showcase amazing feats of science and engineering as well as rare trees and flowers.

The Parsons family invite you to explore one of the most extraordinary places in Ireland. Created

over generations, it is an environmental and scientific time capsule. Birr Castle was a hub of scientific discovery and innovation.

From Birr Castle, it is pleasant to take a trip to Killaloe on the banks of Lough Derg. The Lakeside Hotel in Killaloe on the shores of Lough Derg is a pleasant boutique hotel, along the Shannon river. An evening Irish dinner at the riverside Goosers Bar & Restaurant is a

A trip on the Shannon River with the Silverline Cruiser is a must do. Depart Killaloe to take a leisurely cruise along the shores of Lough Derg. It passes through some interesting sites like the Co Clare via Holy Island which was once a monastic settlement founded by St Colum around 520AD. Do look out for the White Tailed Eagle on the way to Mount Shannon. Its considered to be a lucky sight. Visitors hire a cruiser and set sail on one of the finest waterways in Europe with Silver Line Cruisers, as the unspoilt River Shannon meanders through the beautiful Irish countryside, past historic towns offering the best in Irish hospitality. Silver Line, Ireland’s longest established

family run Shannon cruising company, has been in the business for over 40 years. With the location advantage, which is right in the heart of Ireland on the River Shannon, the modern, luxurious fleet of two to 12 berth charter cruisers, offer the opportunity of a holiday experience that is truly unique. Silver Line Cruisers offer a wide variety of breaks, from three nights or longer mini-breaks to weekly, 10 -14 day hire or extended vacations from any day of the week. Captaining your own cruiser requires no licence in Ireland, and the company also provides with full training. It is amazing to captain your own cruiser, and the good part is there is absolutely no traffic.

From cruising to glamping The region takes you to another interesting experience called Glamping, at the Pod Umna Village. A family operated and owned space, this place has some special experiences. If you

DESTINATION OUTBOUND

haven’t experienced it yet, ‘Glamping’ is a great way to go camping. You stay in ‘Pods’, not tents. So there’s no canvas.

There are no poles or tent pegs, no damp or draughts. Just all the fun of camping, without the hardship of camping. Whether you’re an experienced ‘Glamper’ or ‘Podder’ or you’re brand new to it, a visit to this place is special. The pods are set in a treelined village landscape. On-site facilities include toilets, hot showers, drying room, meeting rooms, play room and workshops. There’s a kitchen and dining room if guests want to selfcater. The proprietors also offer groups meals on-site as part of group packages or can recommend local restaurants and cafés if they would to dine out.

was known, was the most feared and hated institution ever established in the country. For history lovers there is more to offer in the region. Take an interactive guided tour of Athlone Castle which was first built in the 13th century as a timber fort, the castle evolved into a bold, defensive building. If in Athlone, stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel. Moving on from Athlone, you can stop by at Clonamacnois. Take a guided tour of Clonamacnoise Monastic Site - this Early Christian site founded by St Ciarán in the mid-6th century on the eastern bank of the River Shannon includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches (10th -13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of Early Christian grave slabs in Western Europe.

History and more For those who are interested in some bitter stories of the Irish Workhouse, then the region also has a ventre in the town. The workhouse or “poor house” as it

From history to art Once you move out of Clonmacnoise for nearby Ballinahown Craft Village in the heart of Ireland, this award-winning

Eco-Craft village forges a unique platform for craft and design, while utilising the distinctive natural resources, environment and talents of the midlands. Stop by at the Celtic Roots Studio, and meet the owner Helen Conneely and try your hand at making your own piece of bog wood sculpture! Conneely is renowned for carving stunning sculptures and jewellery made from authentic Irish bog wood.

Have lunch in Ballinahown Tea Rooms and savour the traditional ambience of the Tea Rooms. For some adventure, take a trip to the Lough Boora Sculpture Park and get on your bike and discover all that Lough Boora has to offer – take a guided tour of their red route and see bogland in its natural state and explore some of the park’s sculptures.

And finally for some soul searching check into the Wineport Lodge, some some stunning of both the sunset and sunrise.

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SPOTLIGHT

UPSCALE SERENITY Located in a serene lane of Koregaon Park, Marriott Suites Pune is the first in India, and the sixth in the world. Subhash Sinha, GM, Marriott Suites Pune talks about the many unique features of the property that attract both long stay expatriate guests and short stay weekend visitors from neighbouring cities

By Sudipta Dev

T

he upscale neighbourhood of Koregaon Park in Pune recently acquired a signature of luxury with India's very first Marriott Suites. Formerly an Oakwood property, the world's sixth Marriott Suites is in a quite, green residential area, which is perfect for its significant number of long staying guests, many among whom are expatriates.

This is the sixth Marriott Suites in the world. The other destinations include Dubai and Chicago. The property has 199 expansive suites with living room, separate bed rooms; all are equipped with kitchenettes, high-end entertainment options, washer /dryer, and other facilities. The suites range from one to three bedrooms, which are perfect for large families. “Our property attracts both long stay and short stay guests. It is a unique concept and different from Marriott Executive Apartments, which is for long staying guests, and has just one restaurant for in-house guests only,” says Subhash Sinha, GM, Marriott Suites Pune, adding that the property is a proper hotel with two F&B outlets, a lounge, etc.

The property has many unique features with activity options for guests, including a tennis court, a squash court, a games room, a high-end gym, and other facilities of a five star property. “All this adds to the need of the customer. The ratio of long stay and regular guests is almost 50:50. Many of them are Americans, Italians and Germans. They comprise from upper management to mid management. Some of them are with

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families too,” informs Sinha. The resident board lists the various activities for guests. Every weekend there are cycle tours, heritage walks, village tours (farm visits). The property has also collaborated with Bullet bike clubs.

“It is about getting to know the guests and focus on fitness and well being,” asserts Sinha.

The hotel also attracts a lot of weekend crowd, mostly people from neighbouring cities travelling to Pune. “Our occupancy is equally good on a weekend as well as weekday, informs Sinha, adding with pride that the property is known for its quality of food. This is not surprising being a well known former chef, having worked as the executive chef of JW Marriott Pune, Courtyard by Marriott Pune Hingewadi as executive chef, and before that with JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu as executive sous chef. Sinha was recognised with Award for Culinary Excellence (ACE) in 2012 and Global Chef of the Year in 2013, Marriott brand. He believes the passion as a chef he carries in his new position too. “I

still feel I am in the learning curve and I enjoy it. That curve should not stop for an individual.

My goal prompted me that I should open a big hotel with multiple F&B outlets and take it to the pinnacle of success, which I did at JW Marriott Pune. I achieved whatever I wanted to as a chef and then decided to move to a new position,” he explains.

F&B focus In terms of F&B, Senses restaurant serves breakfast/ lunch/dinner and midnight buffets (on weekends). The 24-hour restaurant has an identity of its own in the area, with its unique theme – the elements of water, fire lit at night, live kitchens which titillates the senses.

“The quality of food draws its loyal clientele. It is popular for birthdays, special day celebrations and anniversaries, etc,” points out Sinha, adding that it also draws corporate clients.

Bistro is an Italian-Mediterranean bistro. Apart from the neighbourhood, people staying at nearby hotels also frequent it.

“This part of Pune is well populated with expats staying in standalone properties. Bistro has also got a deli, with a lot of merchandise. You can also order whatever you want; all the things are available in the kitchen. Some of the expats struggle to get particular ingredients, which they can get here,” mentions Sinha. There are plans to further enhance and upgrade the facilities at this outlet, and position it as a deli in daytime and bistro at night.

Then there is Oak Lounge, a popular lounge which transforms into a nightclub. “It is very popular and best in terms of revenue generation,” says Sinha, affirming that all the three F&B outlets have their own brand identities in the market. There is a double digit growth in F&B. There are also plans for more chefs coming in at both restaurants and unique festivals at the lounge.

Marriott standards The owner of the property is Panchshil Realty. Future plans

include upgradation and refurbishment of the rooms.

Being a brownfield property that has been converted, it has all Marriott standards. “Marriott is into standardised products and amenities. From bedding standards to linen to bathroom amenities, all are as per Marriott standards,” states Sinha. A much bigger spa is coming up by December this year.

On being asked if the transition was a challenge, he informs that the hotel was not closed for the transition. “We had our task force coming from different Marriott hotels. The old team was retrained and refocused; the idea was not to get a fresh batch of people. It took us about three months, though training is a continuous process,” he states, adding that he is blessed with a great team. “They have the enthusiasm and hunger to learn, that is what is needed. We are all learning and growing,” he affirms.

The property has been a high ranker on Tripadvisor for sometime. “We get great reviews from guests, they love being here. On our part, it is humble service more than anything else. This is is appreciated by everyone,” states Sinha.

The average occupancy is 82 to 83 per cent. Talking about the promotional and marketing strategy, Sinha reminds that Marriott has 33 hotels across India, “We have an effective marketing communications team. I don't think visibility is a problem. All our hotels promote each other. Our sales is also like that, e.g our Bengaluru sales guy can sell this hotel. That is why Marriott is such a successful hotel company. ”

MICE

The ‘new’ New York City NYC & Company highlights MICE at IMEX America

D

uring IMEX America in Las Vegas, NYC & Company, New York City’s destination marketing organisation, showcased the “new” New York City to an influential audience of meeting planners from around the globe. As a meeting destination, NYC offers various hotel options, meeting spaces and venues, incentives and infrastructure upgrades.

“New York City is one of the world’s most desired and anticipated places for meeting planners looking to create dynamic meetings that stand out from the ordinary. With new and developing neighbourhoods, expanding hotel inventory, worldclass venues and event spaces, the ‘new’ New York City guarantees an unforgettable experience in one of the world’s most welcoming destinations,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO, NYC & Company.

Jerry Cito, SVP – convention development, NYC & Company, commented, “We invite meeting planners and delegates to meet where they want to be and see how having a meeting in New York City is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Whether it’s an iconic moment atop the Empire State Building or a team-build-

ing experience in Central Park, these and other only-in-NYC moments await those who choose to make it NYC.” Leading the growth of new venues is this year’s announcement by Governor Cuomo’s office of the Javits Center expansion, which will add more than 1.2 million sq ft of event space in the coming years, including the largest ballroom in the Northeast at 60,000 sq ft.

In 2015 a record 6.1 million meeting and convention delegates visited the city’s five boroughs. In addition, NYC has the most active hotel pipeline in the country, with more than 110,000 hotel rooms throughout the five boroughs and 135,000 total hotel rooms expected by the end of

2019. Since January 2016, there have been more than 17 hotel openings, adding over 4,100 hotel rooms.

To support the city’s expanded meeting and convention offerings, there have been several new and upcoming infrastructure improvements. The 34th St/Hudson Yards subway station opened across from the Javits Center in September 2015, connecting delegates to Times Square and beyond via the Seven Subway line.

The World Trade Center Transportation Hub, completed this past May, connects delegates in Lower Manhattan to 11 subway lines and trains to New Jersey via Path. By the end of December 2016, the Second Av-

enue Subway line extension is expected to open on Manhattan’s east side, while Citywide Ferry Service will provide delegates access to venues around 21 landings throughout the five boroughs by 2018. Late last month, Governor Cuomo unveiled the latest renderings for the redevelopment of Penn Station, expected to be modernised and expanded by the end of 2020.

In addition, LaGuardia Airport broke ground this summer on a comprehensive redesign into a single main terminal and is expected to be rebuilt by 2022, complete with an AirTrain link to Manhattan. Free wireless internet access throughout the city has also been expanded.

NYC & Company members represented at IMEX America this year include 1 Hotels, Access New York Metro, Alicart Restaurant Group, Alliance for Downtown New York, Briggs Inc, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, Convene, Fourth Wall Events, Gansevoort Hotel Group, Golden Touch Transportation, Hornblower Cruises & Events, Hotel Edison, InterContinental New York Barclay, The Lexington New York City, New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, The New York Pass, Park Central Hotel, The Pierre a Taj Hotel New York, The Ride, Rockefeller Center, The Roosevelt Hotel NYC, Row NYC, Shackman Associates New York and Yotel New York.

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EVENT ROUNDUP

Tomorrow Begins Now The 63rd TAAI Annual Convention held at Abu Dhabi highlighted the fast growing travel trends in the industry while laying focus on how agents can tap on new opportunities. It also showcased the emirate as the cultural hub of the Middle East, blending history with modern experiential offerings

By Saloni Bhatia

T

he Indian Travel Congress 2016 organised by Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) from October 1416, 2016 was held in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE to showcase the city to its members and build on new opportunities. The 63rd Convention & Exhibition of TAAI was held at the famous Emirates Palace Hotel. The three day event witnessed participation from more than 700 delegates with active involvement of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA). The convention themed 'Tomorrow Begins Now' focused on the emerging opportunities in the world of tourism and how the travel trade can prepare for the challenges ahead. The inauguration ceremony was held at the prestigious Emirates Palace in the presence of key people from the Abu Dhabi tourism fraternity and Indian travel trade industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Kumar, president, TAAI, stated, “Abu Dhabi is a great tourism destination and we are happy to introduce it to the world. The aura, glamour and richness of the city makes it an ideal destination in the Middle East and through this event we plan to build more tourism between both the countries.”

Addressing the gathering, Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general, TCA, mentioned,

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“India is an important market for our country as it is the largest overseas source for hotel guests. In the first half of this year, we have already received 152,000 tourists which represents a 20 per cent year on year increase from the India market. Indian guests account

for seven per cent of hotel stays with an average of 3.4 hotel room nights, which is slightly longer than their average stay in the emirates. There is enormous potential in tourism as we are connected to 15 different cities in India through 300 flights a week.”

Abu Dhabi has myriad tourism offerings from the old to the modern. From a world of adventure at Ferrari World in Yas Island, a sustainable tourism experience in Masdaar City, to the art hub at Saadiyat Island and a cultural experience in Al Ain. “There is a lot to explore in the emirate from the luxurious environs of the Emirates Palace and the Corniche area to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Al Ain and the west region where the desert meets the sea. There is more to come as new attractions come alive at Yas Island and Saadiyat Island. Our destinations are unique to meet the

needs of Indian travellers,” Ghobash added.

Speaking on the occasion, Bejan Dinshaw, country manager for India, TCA, stated, “Our association with TAAI unleashes the true potential for Abu Dhabi. This event gives tremendous exposure to travel agents pan India as the local tourism stakeholders are also paying attention to the India market now. It is time to realise what a new destination like Abu Dhabi has to offer in terms of experiential tourism.”

The gala night on the opening day also saw some key industry people receive awards.

Zubin Karkaria, CEO, VFS

EVENT ROUNDUP

Global India and Dev Karvat, managing director, Trawelltag were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the industry.

Sham Nijhawan, chairman, Nijhawan group was given the Lifetime Achievement honour.

Rising above the routine The business sessions were kept well in line with the theme of the event. The opening address by Ashwini Kakkar, past president, TAAI and director, Mercury Travels presented some valuable facts for the audience to ponder upon. He remarked, “Innovation is taking root in the industry and companies are rising with a bigger market share. With US$ 10 billion being spent on online travel, 12 per cent of which is spent

by Indians, the country will soon account for one third of travel across the world.” He quoted the example of AirBnB, a brand which is valued at US$ 26 billion, equaling the value of the IHG and Hilton brands put together.

This was followed by a panel discussion on the growth and impact of global tourism.

Dhananjay Saliankar, regional manager, Starwood shared that it is important to stay connected with the audience through new technology. “Guest acquisition is still challenging but we plan to retain people through the SPG loyalty programme. Growth is restrictive as the market is highly competitive and changing with the demanding customers,” he said. Shaji Thomas, director, Ras al

Khaimah Tourism Board, stated that 50 million tourists will be travelling out of India by 2020 and it is important to keep offering them new experiences. He mentioned that in 2017, the Jabal Jais peak in Ras al Khaimah would have the longest viewing deck at 1700 metres.

Another panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities in aviation was chaired by Ihab Sorial, president, Oman Air; Pankaj Srivastava, director - commercial, Air India; Sanjay Kumar, chief commercial officer, IndiGo; Praveen Iyer, vice president, commercial, India, Jet Airways and Neerja Bhatia, vice president, India and Indian sub continent, Etihad Airways. The panel unified on the view that more needed to be done to promote connectivity between India and the world.

The second day started with a keynote address by Kapil Kaul, CEO, Centre of Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA) on the 'riding wave of opportunities' in aviation. Kaul clearly stated, “The size of growth in the industry has been remarkable in the last 40 years but we might have a capacity crunch soon seeing the numbers. We need to think beyond, have the knowledge of the industry and be prepared for the future. Only better infrastructure and good connectivity can make the Make in India dream possible.”

Ankush Nijhawan, Nijhawan group, who spoke on 'Where's the Opportunity?' remarked that with the dramatic shift of travel bookings online, agents

need to quickly adapt to changes. He added, “We need to leverage on customer strength and bring tech into play for growth in business.”

Revealing a new destination Abu Dhabi has lots to offer through its MICE facilities, golf tourism, cultural hubs, entertainment centres and the biggest malls. Jasper Hyseus, director of sales, Le Meridien, made a presentation on the various golf tourism facilities in the emirate. He mentioned, “MICE, weddings and golf are potential markets for Indian travellers to explore in Abu Dhabi. In 2017, there will be a 12 per cent increase in the number of rooms in order to cater to more tourists.”

The farewell gala dinner was held at Ferrari World on Yas Island, which is one of the most visited destinations by Indian visitors to Abu Dhabi.

Yochabel Dunstan, head of sales, Farah Experiences, informed, “India as a market has shown immense growth and we have opened some special restaurants catering to the Indian palate. We are also in talks to host an Indian wedding since Ferrari World is a unique destination in itself.”

Alongside the convention was the ITTE – India Travel Trade Expo offering an excellent B2B opportunity to the visiting delegates to connect with suppliers. The exhibition saw participation from both the local as well as international tourism stakeholders.

With inputs from Steena Joy

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CONSERVATION

TAKING SUSTAINABILITYFORWARD Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2016 bought together global thought leaders to help strengthen the movement

T

he Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2016 in Suwon, Republic of Korea, which concluded in October was attended by 400 participants coming from more than 20 countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and North America. This includes many Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) members and the GSTC Board members.

The conference brought direct engagement with global thought-leaders to strengthen the global sustainable tourism movement while clarifying GSTC’s unique role as an accreditation body for standards of sustainable tourism.

The opening ceremony was greeted by the governor of Gyeonggi Province, Nam Kyung-Pil, and mayor of Suwon City, Yeom Tae-Young, as well as greetings by ASEAN-

34 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD November 2016

Korea Centre secretary general, Ambassador Kim YoungSun, and GSTC chair, Luigi Cabrini. Opening remarks were given by UNWTO director of sustainable development of tourism, Dr Dirk Glaesser, who explained the UNWTO framework for sustainable tourism based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At the opening ceremony, GSTC officially announced the recognition of the Sustainable City Tourism Standards for Korea, created by Suwon City. These standards will first be applied to Suwon’s policies and practices, after which Suwon will make them available to other cities within the Republic of Korea.

Randy Durband, CEO, GSTC gave an overview of the GSTC and the four themes of the conference: Marketing Sustainable Tourism, Sustainable MICE, Sustainable City

Tourism, and Cultural Tourism.

Beginning with the Marketing Sustainable Tourism theme, participants learned from University of Surrey Professor Dr Xavier Font how to mainstream and communicating sustainable tourism.

TUI group sustainability director, Jane Ashton shared how TUI Group communicates sustainability to its 20 million customers worldwide.

WWF travel, tourism and conservation director, Jim Sano, explained the partnership between WWF and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCL) to make RCL’s supply chain more sustainable. This includes a formal endorsement by RCL of the GSTC framework and a commitment to require all suppliers of their land tour operations gain certification by a GSTC approved or accredited certifying body by the

end of 2019.

The Sustainable MICE & City Tourism theme was keynoted and moderated by MCI regional sustainability director, Roger Simons, exploring the characteristics of sustainable MICE destinations and key trends of sustainable MICE cities.

Participants also heard from high level speakers and thought leaders including André Russ, vice president sales EarthCheck; Hannah Jamieson, general manager of external relations - Business Events Sydney; Jens Thraenhart, executive director Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office; Li Tienen, general manager - CSCA; Lv Yuzhen, director of Tourism Management Office - Mt Huangshan Administrative Committee; Muhamad Daud, culture and tourism unit head - ASEANKorea Centre; Nichapa Yoswee, director of MICE ca-

pabilities development TCEB; Noor Ahmad Hamid, regional director APAC and International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA); Rod Hillman, CEO Ecotourism Australia; Willem Niemeijer, CEO - Yaana Ventures; and many more.

The learning, networking and inspiration gained from the discussions, motivated participants to move sustainability forward. “The conference exceeded my expectations. Well done GSTC, Gyeonggi Tourism Organisation and those involved. On behalf of ICCA, we are more than happy to be part of this inaugural conference and happy to be involved again in the future,” said Hamid.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2016 was hosted by Gyeonggi Province and Suwon City, with Gyeonggi Tourism Organisation as the organiser.

MOVEMENTS Contiki Contiki has recently appointed JONATHAN PHUA as the sales manager for Contiki Asia.

In his new role, Phua will support Contiki’s Asia team based in Singapore headed by director of Sales and Marketing, Sam Morrah, to expand sales and market growth for the region. He has a strong experience in brand management that will help Contiki to expand its footprint in the region and help the partners to promote the unique itineraries. Contiki has added several new itineraries, which offer savvy young travellers the opportunity to see Europe in an entirely new way.

Sabre Travel Network ALFRED DE CÁRDENAS has been appointed as chief commercial officer of Sabre Travel Network.

With more than 28 years of commercial strategy, operations and executive management experience, De Cárdenas will be responsible for leading global sales, sales operations and business development initiatives. De Cárdenas gained expertise in international commercial and service operations working for the telecommunications firm Nortel Networks, as senior vice-president of global operations with expat assignments in Israel, Brazil and Colombia.

Boeing Boeing has appointed IHSSANE MOUNIR as vice president of sales and marketing, commercial airplanes.

Mounir has held several leadership positions within Boeing's sales organisation, mostly recently as vice president of sales for Northeast Asia. He previously served as vice president of marketing, sales strategy and operations, responsible for developing and implementing cross-regional strategies for commercial airplanes. Prior to that assignment, he was the

vice president of sales for Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean. He also served in sales leadership roles in Europe, Central Asia and Africa.

Munich Airport Munich Airport has appointed ANDREA GEBBEKEN as managing director. Originally from Germany, Gebbeken has extensive experience in aviation and logistics, including the post of sole managing director of Tirana Airport in Albania.

Gebbeken joins Munich Airport after serving as the head of north German operations for DB Station and Service AG, the services arm of the German railways. In that role, Gebbeken was responsible for more than 700 employees and the safe and profitable operation of 560 train stations.

Pandaw River Cruises Pandaw, an operator of luxury small ship river cruises on the Mekong River has made new appointments. MARCO ROSA, Pandaw's new vice president sales and marketing, has held senior positions in the high-end experiential travel industry stretching back over 20 years.

Sven Zika, sales and marketing manager, started with Pandaw in Cambodia in early 2013 and relocated to the UK in 2014. After two years in London he rejoined the team back in Phnom Penh in October 2016. Steven Dobbins has been appointed as sales manager for North America and Central Europe.

Volga-Dnepr Volga-Dnepr has promoted ROBERT VAN DE WEG to senior vice president of sales and marketing. In his new role, Robert assumes commercial responsibility for both the group’s scheduled cargo operations and charter businesses, namely AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Volga-Dnepr Airlines and Atran Airlines. The three airlines operate a combined fleet of 16 Boeing 747, 12 An-124-100,

five IL-76TD-90VD and three 737-400 freighters. He joined AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) in May 2014 as a senior vice president of marketing and sales and has played a significant role in its subsequent year-on-year growth in Europe, Russia, North America and Asia Pacific.

Air Asia GUY SEBASTIAN, an Australian musician, has become AirAsia's ambassador for Australia. Sebastian was born in Malaysia before arriving in Australia at the age of six. Over the course of his career, he has received 25 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) nominations including Single of the Year, Highest Selling Album, Best Male Artist and Best Pop Artist. Sebastian will promote AirAsia’s brand, help create some engaging content as well as showcase some of his favourite Asian destinations.

Phocuswright Phocuswright recently announced the appointment of SIMON LEHMANN as the company's president.

Lehmann brings to Phocuswright 25 years of strategic and operating experience, expertise in travel and technology, and a passion for moving the industry forward. As president, he will build on the strength of Phocuswright's premier research and events to foster growth and expand the company's global reach.

Lehmann most recently served as CEO of Biketec AG and Interhome AG. He has also held executive roles at

Africa; and vice president, development, Luxury Hotels, Asia Pacific. In their new roles, they will report to Gaurav Bhushan, AccorHotels’ global chief development officer. These appointments aim to align the development team to the new global organisation, following the acquisition of FRHI and the creation of the luxury division headed by Chris Cahill.

Silversea Cruises Silversea Cruises has appointed ROBERTO MARTINOLI as chief executive officer. Martinoli, board member of Silversea since 2013, becomes CEO after an extensive, and successful career in the cruise and shipping industry. Based in the company’s headquarters in Monaco, Martinol will report directly to Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, executive chairman of Silversea Cruises.

W Goa TJ JOULAK has been recently appointed as the general manager for W Goa, located on Vagator beach in Goa. In his new role, Joulak will be in charge of overseeing W Goa’s strategy and daily operations. Joulak has worked with the W Hotels across the world since 2002 and will be now leading the team in Goa. He began his journey with Starwood in 2002 after opening the Iberostar, in Hammamet in Tunisia. Since

Swissport and Hotelplan Group. He was a board member of Inntopia, HomeAway and Travel ch.

TJ Joulak

then, he has worked with a few Starwood hotels, by opening four hotels over the past 15 years, namely Sheraton Hotel & Towers Tunis, W Doha in Qatar, W Istanbul in Turkey, and W Bali in Indonesia, then recently running the W Taipei since 2014.

Greg Doman

AccorHotels GREG DOMAN, FRANCOIS BAUDIN and LAURE MORVAN have been respectively appointed as senior vice president, development, North and Central America, Luxury Hotels Americas & Residential; SVP, development, Luxury Hotels Europe Middle East and

Francois Baudin

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weekend

E V E N T S

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi has launched the implementation of the Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI) in association with Ecotourism Society of India (ESOI), in New Delhi

INDO-US TIES US Consulate, in coordination with US-India Investors Forum, Vusacom and US Commercial Section recently organised a "power lunch" at the US Consul General Tom Vaida's residence

GROOMING PROFESSIONALS GAA SpeedJet Aviation recently tied up with INDUSTRY MEETS Skal International Club of Mumbai 144 held its 60th Annual

Jet Airways to provide on-ground training to its students

General Meeting at The Westend Hotel in Mumbai, wherein the new office bearers were announced

SWACCH BHARAT Northern regional office of the ministry of tourism,

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT Zubin Karkaria, CEO, VFS Global and Kuoni

Government of India recently organised a Swacch Bharat campaign at New Delhi Railway Station

Group (second from right), receiving the 'Award of Distinction' from Sunil Kumar, president, TAAI (third from left) at the TAAI Convention in Abu Dhabi

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weekend

E V E N T S

FUTURE LEADERS Thomas Cook India education and training vertical, Centre of Learning, recently felicitated 270 students of the 2015-2016 batch at its fifth Convocation Ceremony held at the Indian Merchants Chamber, Mumbai

DEVELOPING EFFICIENCY The International Air Transport Association (IATA)

EXPANDING SEAPORT BUSINESS Piyush Tiwari, DCM, ITDC (left) inaugurating the duty free shop at Kakinada Deep Water Seaport, Andhra Pradesh

JOURNEY OF LIGHTS Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA), in collaboration with the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA), recently launched a Diwali-themed train

GOLDEN JUBILEE The ASEAN Promotional Chapter for Tourism (APCT) – India

TOURISM AFFAIRS The Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Right Honourable

recently organised a together in New Delhi to launch the VISIT ASEAN @ 50 celebrations

John Key MP received a warm welcome from Tourism New Zealand’s brand ambassador, Sidharth Malhotra at an event in New Delhi

and Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) have signed an MoU to enhance cooperation in various areas of airport operations

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November 2016

REGD.WITH RNI NO. MAHENG/2005/15993,POSTAL REGD. NO. MCS/163/2016 – 18,PUBLISHED ON 11TH EVERY MONTH, POSTED ON 12TH,13TH,14TH OF EVERY MONTH, POSTED AT MUMBAI PATRIKA CHANNEL SORTING OFFICE,MUMBAI – 400001.