Express Travelworld (Vol.13, No.2) March, 2018

EDITOR’S NOTE

New age awakening

I

ndia as we know it does two things to most travellers (especially our inbound guests), it either shocks you or pleasantly surprises you. There is certainly an intangible element of warmth and wonder but also an underlying feeling of doubt and dilemma.

I constantly wonder if we have got our act in place in terms of positioning India's tourism wealth rightly and respectfully. The best of brand campaigns may fall short if our house is not in order.

From hygiene to hotel accommodation facilities, security concerns to seasonal tourism perception, there are few lessons we need to learn and unlearn.

The typical Delhi-Agra-Jaipur circuit is no doubt here to stay, but we need to look beyond it and with urgency.

Experts feel, India attracts mostly two types of travellers from the international circuit, one the backpackers and the other are the 60 plus travellers who explore the places of India and other typical spots. The time has come to attract the 40 plus travellers and the family tourists, who

“The time has come to attract the 40 plus travellers and the family tourists,who are bypassing India to visit other destinations both in the SAARC and the ASEAN belts”

are bypassing India to visit other destinations both in the SAARC and the ASEAN belts.

We need to get India right in their eyes as a truly value proposition in the tourism space. India is considered as an expensive long haul destination for important source markets.

It's time the government puts tourism on its priority list and gives it the much needed respect and status, as it is no rocket science that it is one of the leading employment generators and revenue earners.

Brand India needs a refreshed awakening in the new age of tourism. From tech support to people's mindsets, it cannot work in isolation or in a piecemeal format. From monuments to mountains we have it all, all we need it do is step out in style along with our substance in terms of infrastructure, security and hygiene soundly in place.

REEMA LOKESH Editor editorial.etw@expressindia.com

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

3

March 2018

CONTENTS SPOTLIGHT Vol 13 No 2 March 2018 Pages 40

22

Chairman of the Board

Viveck Goenka Sr Vice President - BPD

Neil Viegas Editor

Reema Lokesh* Assistant Editor

Steena Joy Sr. Associate Editor

Sudipta Dev CONTENT TEAM Mumbai

YOUR KEYS TO THE ANDAMAN There are few quality hotels in the Andaman, the latest entrant being Keys Select Hotel Aqua Green, Port Blair

Tanuvi Joe New Delhi

Shivasheesh Srivastava DESIGN National Design Editor

Bivash Barua Assistant Art Director

Pravin Temble

TREND

Chief Designer

Prasad Tate Senior Designer

Rekha Bisht Graphics Designer

32

Gauri Deorukhkar Senior Artists

Ratilal Ladani, Rajesh Jadhav DIGITAL TEAM Head of Internet

Viraj Mehta Web Developer

Dhaval Das SCHEDULING & COORDINATION

Santosh Lokare Photo Editor

Sandeep Patil MARKETING Regional Heads

India is home to several iconic treasures, from the Taj Mahal to the mighty Himalayas. But how does Brand India appeal to the generational markets? Express TravelWorld spoke to industry associations and DMCs to learn their strategies to sell India to the new age traveller

Harit Mohanty - East & West Prabhas Jha - North

(24-28)

Marketing Team

Debnarayan Dutta Ajanta Sengupta

MARKETS

LIFE

CIRCULATION

Mohan Varadakar

5

PRODUCTION General Manager

B R Tipnis Manager

Bhadresh Valia Cover image courtesy: India Tourism Express TravelWorld® POSTAL REGD. NO. MCS/163/2016 – 18 RNI Reg. No.MAHENG/2005/15993 Printed by The Indian Express (P) Ltd. and published by Ms Vaidehi Thakar on behalf of The Indian Express Press, Plot No. EL-208, TTC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai 400710 and Published from Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400021.

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

WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR 2018?

We present here the American Express 2018 Global Meetings and Events Forecast for the Asia Pacific region

THE SUNLUX COLLECTION PLANS TO TAP INTO INDIA MARKET

6

GARDEN TOURISM FESTIVAL ORGANISED IN DELHI

7

INTERVIEW WITH FRANZ T FESTL, DIRECTOR, BAVARIAN SOUL HOSPITALITY

35

P03 : EDITOR’S NOTE SKILLS-2-JOBS IN AVIATION Government of India launches the first Aviation Multi Skill Development Centre

P36 : MOVEMENTS P38 : WEEKEND

HEAD OFFICE MUMBAI EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD® The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division 1st 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.

Board line: 0120-6651500.

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

HYDERABAD The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division 6-3-885/7/B, Ground Floor, VV Mansion, Somaji Guda, Hyderabad – 500 082 KOLKATA Ajanta Sengupta The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division JL No. 29&30, NH-6, Mouza- Prasastha & Ankurhati, Vill & PO- Ankurhati P.S.- Domjur (Nr.Ankurhati Check Bus Stop), Dist.

Howrah- 711 409, Mobile: +91 9831182580 Email id: ajanta.sengupta@expressindia.com KOCHI The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Ground Floor, Sankoorikal Building, Kaloor – Kadavanthra Road Kaloor, Kochi – 682 017

COIMBATORE The Indian Express (P) Ltd. No. 205-B, 2nd Floor, Vivekanand Road, Opp. Rajarathinam Hospital Ram Nagar, Coimbatore- 641 009 AHMEDABAD Nirav Mistry The Indian Express (P) Ltd. 3rd Floor, Sambhav House, Near Judges Bunglows, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad - 380 015 Mobile: +91 9586424033 JAIPUR Prabhas Jha The Indian Express (P) Ltd. S2,J-40, Shyam GHP Enclave, Krishna Marg, C-Scheme, Jaipur - 302 001 Mobile: +91 9899707440

Important: Whilst care is taken prior to acceptance of advertising copy,it is not possible to verify its contents.The Indian Express (P) Limited cannot be held responsible for such contents, nor for any loss or damages incurred as a result of transactions with companies, associations or individuals advertising in its newspapers or publications.We therefore recommend that readers make necessary inquiries before sending any monies or entering into any agreements with advertisers or otherwise acting on an advertisement in any manner whatsoever.

Copyright © 2017 The Indian Express (P) Limited. 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

The SunLux Collection plans to tap into India market Tanuvi Joe Mumbai The SunLux Hotel Collection

by Sun International has plans to tap the India market.

The SunLux Collection is a luxury hotel chain located in South Africa. Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Sherene Allaman, vice president, International Sales & Marketing, said, “The SunLux Collection stands out from the rest not just for its magnificent beauty but more importantly for the services

we provide to our guests. The guests that come stay here are and will always be our first priority. This is the very service I want to offer to the Indian market and for me, India is my second home. By promoting the SunLux Collection here, we plan to get more and more Indians to South Africa.”

Speaking further on how the SunLux Collection will cater to Indian guests, Allaman says, “For example, we know how much the food matters to Indians and we have customised special

menus for them. We also want to cater to the Jain community and for this, the guests can get their very own chefs to the hotels. When it comes to promotion, we are looking at three main important cities; Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad. Apart from this, I also have a marketing team that specifically caters to two-tier and three-tier cities.”

The Table Bay with its 329 Rooms including 18 Suites stands as a graceful gateway to the abundant wonders of South Africa's Western Cape

Province and the latest addition to the exclusive SunLux Collection is the Boardwalk which is one of the top fivestar hotels in Port Elizabeth.

The other hotels from the SunLux Collection include The Palace of the Lost City which is one of the top fivestar hotels in South Africa and the crown jewel of The Sunlux Collection and also The Maslow with its 281 rooms including 23 suites which is renowned for offering premier four-star Sandton accommodation for business travellers. The total

room nights received at all Sun International properties collectively from the Indian market for 2017 is 21, 366.

Capitalising on this number, Allaman asserts, “This number not just includes family travellers but also the MICE market. Through aggressive marketing and online strategies, we look to increase this number by double this year. The main chord we want to touch upon is that guests are not coming to a five star hotel but rather they're coming to their home.”

Amigo strengthens its digital position Reema Lokesh Mumbai AMIGO is enhancing its presence in the online space through Amigo Travels Online (ATO), featuring user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design which is dedicated to provide the best possible experience when using websites on all kinds of devices including mobile.

The key features include multiple products, accommodation, apartments, RailEurope – point-to-point and passes, sight seeing, transfers, attractions, hop-on hop-off, Swiss peaks, minimum steps for quick booking among others. In terms of security and privacy control, ATO doesn’t use and share customer details.

It also features an accounting system with integration of credit limit and credit cards.

Travel agents can have multiple users linked to the same master account. This can be an ideal tool for having individual accounts for each em-

ployee and monitor their sales/performance. Shefali Gupta, director, Amigo, said, “Our dedicated and experienced sales staff is primed to listen to our client’s every request and tailor the best possible itinerary at the quickest turnaround. Our goal for our clients is not just maximising revenue, but also expanding their customer base and consequently their business, leading to long-term sustainable growth. Trust, reliability and quality is our credo and customer-satisfaction is a way of life at Amigo.”

Amigo represents international players such as Rail Europe, Gullivers’ Travel Associates (GTA), Travco, HotelBeds, Tourico, Swiss Mountain Peaks & Excursions, cruises across the world and more.“With Amigo, you have access to 450,000 hotels and 30,000 cities across the world. From exotic locations and spas to business hotels and conference solutions, Amigo will tailor hotel bookings to fit every budget

Shefali Gupta and Vivek Gupta

and specification. Through our long relationship of over 18 years with trusted hotels and travel suppliers, we contract at competitive rates enabling our customers to book significantly discounted accommodation at some of the best hotels worldwide,” Gupta commented.

In 2009, it won Rail Europe Award for Valued Partner for stellar promotion of Rail Europe in India, followed by Rail Europe Award for Best Per-

formance in 2010.“The Indian leisure traveller today has a long, complex hotel booking journey with low brand loyalty, Amigo is going to change that. The introduction of ATO and great technology and its steady plan of giving the travel market tools to help them concentrate on sales and customers rather then spending time on bookings and operations. The future of the travel industry is full of opportunities,” she stated. Gupta

added that globally, hotel bookings are going online, however India is still early on this adoption curve.

“The Indian consumer is rapidly going digital. By 2020, nearly half of all Indian urban consumers will be digitally influenced. The Indian leisure traveller today has a long, complex hotel booking journey with low brand loyalty.

Amigo is going to change that.

We outline a four-point agenda: Leverage the digital medium across touch points and channels in the consumer’s booking journey, offer end-to-end curated travel solutions tailored to the consumer, reimagine the role of advocacy to make it personalised and predictive, build technology-enabled system with capabilities for travel agents towards their ease of business,” she said.

“Breaking the traditional barriers of brick and motar offices with cutting edge technology would be the road ahead at ATO,” added Vivek Gupta, founder, Amigo.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

5

March 2018

IN THE NEWS

Garden Tourism Festival organised in Delhi Shivasheesh Srivastava New Delhi WITH AN OBJECTIVE to create awareness about the environment and making Delhi a clean and green city, a threeday 'Garden Tourism Festival' was organised by Delhi Tourism in association with Government of Delhi at Garden of Five Senses on February 16, 2018. This year, the city celebrated its 31st Garden Tourism Festival that was inaugurated

by Manish Sisodia, deputy chief minister, minister of tourism, Govt of Delhi.

Based on the theme 'Grow Garden: Save Delhi', the threeday extravaganza focused upon participants displaying their creativity and awareness with respect to gardening. It also marked the importance of gardening and its role in our lives with respect to various health and environmental benefits.

Sisodia said, “Over these years this theme based event has become a valuable medium to promote a greener city. With the help from professionals at the festival, one can learn how to transform small spaces into beautiful gardens.” He further added, “Garden of Five Senses is the jewel of Delhi and apart from being a beautiful park, the space is designed to stimulate one’s sensory nerves. I request everyone to visit this park and experience the unique initiative that has been brought forward by the government.”

The 22 acres of the venue was teeming with a variety of terrariums, floral animals, potted plants, foliage, medicinal herbal plants, hanging baskets along with many exotic floral plants. Garden Bazaar was one of the main highlights where different varieties of flowers and plants and gardening accessories were available for

purchase. Apart from the floral exhibition, various cultural events and activities like magic show, live performances, lectures, food stalls and spot painting competition remained a major attraction for the visitors.

Different competitions were organised in 30 categories such as potted plants, dahlia, hanging baskets, foliage plants, cactus and succulents, aromatic/herbal and medicinal plants, bonsai plants of different specifications, bougainvil-

lea, floral animal, tray garden, theme garden, annual cut flowers in earthen vases, vegetables flower decoration, flower arrangement and roses.

Horticulture departments of NDMC, EDMC, DJB, DDA, SDMC, Northern Railways, Manav Racha University and many others were the major participants and their exhibits were evaluated by the judges from respective horticulture areas.

Over the past three decades, this festival has encompassed leading nurseries, horticulture and floriculture societies, and suppliers of horticulture equipment, seeds, and fertilisers.

The three-day fest witnessed events like Zumba workshops, bagpiper band, street play, storytelling, mixed tape band, gazal events and the fest concluded with prize distributions.

India an important market for Desaru Coast,Malaysia Tanuvi Joe Mumbai THE DESARU Coast Island is Malaysia’s first integrated destination resort and one of Malaysia’s upcoming tourism developments. Situated on the south eastern region of Malaysia in Johor, the Desaru coast is spread over 3,900 acres and has a stretch of 17 km unspoilt beachfront.

Philip Whittaker, CEO, Integrated Theme Parks and his excellency, Zainal Azlan Mohd Nadzir, consul general of Malaysia in Mumbai, addressed the event. Whittaker said, “I'm very proud to get this project to India and we're looking forward to doing business here. We have launched an exclusive theme and water park at the resort. We have amazing packages and deals for families as well as couples.

Mumbai and Delhi are the

6

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

March 2018

Philip Whittaker

main cities we're looking at to promote this project, but we will set up shop even in twotier cities.”

The 1900 acre project has four international hotels within the vicinity of the resort like The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, Anantara

Desaru Coast Resort & Villas and Aman Resort & Villas, with a view of the South China Sea. Visitors can enjoy 17 different slides, a mix of wet and dry rides and even enjoy surfing at the largest wave pool in Southeast Asia. Bike riding and other adventure sports are also available.

Whittaker further stated, “We will soon launch Bollywood theme parks to cater as much as we can to the Indian audience. Along with having a lovely sea view, the resort offers a wide range of spas and boutiques where you can pamper yourself. You can also enjoy a good sport at the mas-

sive golf parks in the resort.”

The Els Club Desaru Coast has two Championship golf courses; Ocean Course, a 27hole course and Valley Course, an 18-hole course. There is a clubhouse, and casual dining restaurants along with The Els Performance Gold Academy.

IN THE NEWS

'OUR BRAND STRATEGYIS TO TRAVEL WITH THE ERDINGER HUT AROUND INDIA' Erdinger Hut is a modular pop up curated by the Bavarian Soul, an Indian event and hospitality company. Franz T Festl, director, Bavarian Soul Hospitality, highlights how he is offering a taste of true Bavarian culture to his customers in this country

By Sudipta Dev What is the brand strategy of Bavarian Soul Hospitality for the Indian market ?

As this hut can be set up anywhere within a day or two, our brand strategy is to travel with the hut around India, take it to different cities, like Bangalore, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and others to curate festivals with the hut as the centre of attraction. One can also rent out the hut for weddings, corporate events, private parties, etc.

What is the nature of your collaboration with Erdinger, with special reference to this market ?

Erdinger is the world's most famous wheat beer and in India, since many years it has been the only foreign/imported beer brand on tap.

Bavarian Soul has teamed up with Erdinger to further market the brand through the Erdinger Hut and create a stronger bond between the two cultures. Erdinger invested in the hut and this is a collaboration between Erdinger and Bavarian Soul in order to increase Erdinger's presence and market in India.

What are your unique F&B offerings and what has been the response in India ?

With Sofitel, we’ve created a proper German food menu in order to complement the authenticity of the hut. India, especially Mumbai is getting more adventurous when it comes to food, so we

also want to work with established event companies by renting out the hut to them and using their already established customer base and set up to promote the hut setup.

In cities like Mumbai where space is a constraint, where can Erdinger Huette be put up?

There are multiple options. The hut itself only needs 33x33 ft as space, with the beer garden its 60x60 ft.

There are a number of places where you can set the hut up. The options are numerous. Whether it’s an open ground, at the beach, or in a mall's courtyard, a private land, farmhouse, Alibaug on the beach, etc.

STATEMENT ABOUT OWNERSHIP AND OTHER PARTICULARS OF EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD, MUMBAI, AS REQUIRED UNDER RULE 8 OF THE REGISTRATION OF NEWSPAPERS (CENTRAL) RULES, 1956 FORM - IV (SEE RULE 8) Franz Festl

are trying to give them a proper German experience, not only with the setup but with beer and authentic German food as well.

How do you foresee Erdinger Huette becoming popular in parties ?

My aim is to showcase the hut as an event structure that doesn’t necessarily always need to be German with an ‘Oktoberfest’ set up or feel but can be decorated and used in any way or form to the customer's liking.

Are you also targeting the corporate segment for this ?

Absolutely! We are trying to get into the corporate sector via other event companies by offering them the hut to present to their customers. We don’t want to be another event company doing events on our own. We

1. Place of Publication 2. Periodicity of its publication 3. Printer's Name Whether citizen of India Address 4. Publisher's Name Whether citizen of India Address 5. Editor's name Whether citizen of India Address 6. Name and address of individuals who own the newspaper AND Shareholders holding more than One per cent of the total capital

: Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400 021 : MONTHLY : Ms. Vaidehi Thakar : Yes : Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400 021 : Ms. Vaidehi Thakar : Yes : Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400 021 : Ms. Reema Lokesh : Yes : Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400 021 : The Indian Express (P) Ltd Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021 : Indian Express Holdings & Entp Private Limited Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021 : Mr. Viveck Goenka & Mr. Anant Goenka Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021 : Mr. Shekhar Gupta & Mrs. Neelam Jolly C-6/53, Safdarjung Development Area New Delhi 110 016

I, Vaidehi Thakar, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true and to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date : 1/3/2018

sd/Vaidehi Thakar Publisher

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

7

March 2018

IN THE NEWS

South African Tourism trade delegation to India defines targets for 2018 Tanuvi Joe Mumbai SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM (SAT) began 2018 with the 15th edition of its biggest travel trade initiative in India. SAT’s roadshow travelled to five Indian cities; Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi and Ahmedabad in February. The participation and scale is a reflection of the strong consumer demand witnessed from India which, is currently the eighth largest international source market for SAT. The roadshow was addressed by two spokespersonsHanneli Slabber, regional general manager, Asia /Australasia /Middle East, SAT and Alpa Jani, acting hub-head, Middle East /India/South East Asia,

Alpa Jani

SAT. Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Jani said, “India is a very important market for us and that's why we have held the roadshow in five different cities. To further boost

the arrivals of Indian tourists into South Africa, we had a two day event in Mumbai. The first day was open to all, but the second day is open to only those called by invites. This is to establish meaningful connections with Indian tours and operators, hoteliers as well as the media to achieve our desired results.

Speaking directly to these suppliers will help us to better understand the needs of the Indian travellers. “ For the period of Jan 2017 to September 2017, MICE contributed 32.8 per cent of total Indian arrivals into SA, leisure holidays made up 26.8 per cent while business travellers made up 16.4 per cent and VFR was at 16 per cent. Mary Harrop, director, Bill Harrop's Original Bal-

loon Safaris said, “We run a fleet of six large hot air balloons. The balloons can carry between two and eighteen passengers each.

We arrange for romantic balloon flights for two or a corporate adventure for 146 people.

We hope to see a huge amount of people come be a part of this. “ Another significant observation was the rise in millennial Indian travellers to South Africa.

In the first quarter for 2017, nearly 35 per cent of the Indian visitor base comprised of 35 year olds while, for the second quarter of the year, this pie grew to 46.

A spokesperson from Mirchee, a destination management company emphasised further on the different travel segments. “ We have 50 per cent

Indian clients and 50 per cent clients globally. From incentive travel to high end groups to associations, we provide our services to clients from all segments.

We also focus on student travel as we believe that travelling at a young age can be a great learning experience for them. We have also branched out into weddings as we know that's a huge market for Indian consumers. From white weddings to having it in a vineyard, we provide a range of options”, she said.

In 2017, Mumbai contributed 37 per cent to the overall Indian arrivals to South Africa while Delhi was at 22 per cent, Gujarat at 11 per cent, Bengaluru at 8 per cent and West Bengal at 7 per cent.

TATlaunches its new marketing concept in India Shivasheesh Srivastava Mumbai MOVING ahead with an aim to promote quality tourism, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched its new marketing concept 'Open to the New Shades of Amazing Thailand' at a launch event held at Hotel JW Marriott Aerocity, New Delhi on February 22, 2018. Yuthasak Supasorn, governor, TAT-Thailand, along with Thai tourism team headed the event.

Shedding light on TAT's 'Open to the new Shades of Amazing Thailand' concept, Tanes Petsuwan, deputy governor for marketing communication, TAT said, “This concept is about allowing the visitors to open themselves to each and every experience and explore diverse options of tourist attractions in Thailand. This communication campaign will introduce

8

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

March 2018

new products to visitors, and highlight the charm of well-known destinations through creativity and engagement activities. Attracting firsttime visitors and increase the frequency of visits of routine tourist will be our main aim. Visiting tourists will have options of exploring new perspectives in existing attractions or to indulge

and discover new tourist attractions.”Tanes also enumerated broad categories of tourism products that Indian tourists will get to enjoy in the categories of gastronomy, nature and beaches, art and craft, and Thai culture and way of life.

A bit of Thailand was on display at the function. In the stalls that were set up at the venue,

one could see Thailand's art, food, and travel and hospitality culture.

Targeting specific segments of customers such as luxury travellers, weddings and honeymooners, female travellers and families, university students and newly working women, TAT seeks to convert this concept into profitable emoluments. TAT offices in Mumbai and New Delhi are working with partners and tour operators towards the same. Supasorn elaborated that they are also targeting a new wave of visitors from secondary cities in India. Given its phenomenal population, India is seen as potent major source of visitors for Thailand in the ensuing years.

While briefing the media persons before the event Supasorn laid a special emphasis on how India is emerging as a major source of tourists for the coun-

try. He said, “India is now one of our top ten sources of visitor arrivals, a member of a small club of countries that generate more than one million visitors a year.”

Citing tourist arrival data he explained, “In 2017, Thailand recorded 1.41 million visitor arrivals from India, up by 18 percent over 2016, generating an estimated 120 billion Rupees (62.40 billion baht) in tourism income.

We are targeting a revenue growth of 12 percent for Indian market in 2018.”

Indian tourists are now exploring more places and are not limited to a fixed spots like earlier. He futher commented, “More and more Indian travellers are diversifying beyond their traditional spots of Bangkok and Pattaya, and exploring Chiang Rai, Rayong, Trat, Hua Hin and Samut Songkram”.

KERALA SPECIAL

'KERALEEYAAYURVEDA SAMAJAM FOLLOWS THE ASHTAVAIDYA TRADITION IN AYURVEDA' The Keraleeya Ayurveda Samajam is known globally as a health sanctorium.

M Muraleedharan Nair, president, Keraleeya Ayurveda Samajam speaks about the various activities in the centre and the upcoming programmes to promote this branch of science.

By Tanuvi Joe You have started a learning centre as well as an academic, research and information centre. What is the goal and aim of these centres?

We have even started an Ayurveda Medical College par excellence in 2007 (Poomulli Neelakandan Namboodiripad Memorial Ayurveda Medical College). Through these centres, we aim to promote Ayurveda as the main stream in medicine and mould students to be the excellent physicians of tomorrow by incorporating knowledge of Indian sciences along with their syllabus. We are also planning to open one pharmacy, nursing, Nutrition & Dietetics College in Ayurveda.

You also have a speciality clinic and provide special treatment for autism. Any more treatments and facilites that you conduct or plan to in the future?

We have set up the Sri Sarada Samajam Centre for Autism. We provide the best professional care for Autistic children and counselling for parents. Along with this, we have a diabetes speciality OPD – consisting of an expert panel of Ashtavaidyas, Diabetologists and Ayurvedic physicians, named Mehavichinthanam. From pre-conceptional care, ophthalmology and mental

M Muraleedharan Nair

disorders, we have experts for each of these areas.

The centre participates in various campaigns like the annual autism walks, etc.

What is the purpose behind such campaigns ?

We conduct regular seminars and awareness programmes on autism. Setting up of the association of Autistic children and parents has been really effective. It is meant to provide support and understanding not just to the children but also to their parents. Along with this, we conduct time to time research to find different preparations that can help reduce the symptoms and improve the well-being of the kids.

Opening more centres will definitely help us to reach out to more people. We have begun to extend our wings to fly high by starting clinics in metro cities. In the near future, we will be looking overseas as well How do you plan to extend your reach to other metropolitan cities of India?

Opening more centres will definitely help us to reach out to more people. We have begun to extend our wings to fly high by starting clinics in metro cities.

In the near future, we will be looking at life style disorders.

Why should Kerala be promoted as an Ayurvedic capital of the world?

Authentic Ayurveda is practised in Kerala. Ashtavaidya tradition is the backbone of Ayurveda. Kerala being a progressive state with high health indices, still follows traditional practices which were proposed

by Ashtavaidyas who were prominent in eight branches of Ayurveda. Keraleeya Ayurveda Samajam follows the Ashtavaidya tradition in Ayurveda.

And because of this very traditional approach, we have clients from all over the world coming to Kerala for treatments.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

9

March 2018

KERALA SPECIAL

'WE WANTTO REVIVE THE CONCEPTOF HOME-BASED AYURVEDA' Wellness tourism is the next big thing and Kerala-based The Travel Planners is at the forefront to bring back traditional Ayurveda. Anish Kumar P K, CEO, The Travel Planners, elucidates on the way forward for India tourism and plans for International Yoga Day in June

By Steena Joy What are the trends driving the tourism market in India?

Wellness tourism is the next big wave. Leisure movement is showing some decline but wellness is really picking up. A wellness tour operator in Germany was saying that the interest in wellness tourism to Kerala especially for Ayurveda is on the rise. People who have undergone treatment in Sri Lanka and also in Kerala say that you cannot compare or benchmark the experience in Kerala which is very authentic. In Kerala, our therapists are well trained and our centres are also accredited by the Government, classified as Green Leaf or Silver Leaf. So there is a general perception that the Ayurveda centres in Kerala are authentic and genuine. There have been some spurious operators but the classification has helped the market grow.

What niche products is Travel Planners working on?

We plan to revive the concept of home based Ayurveda where only four to five rooms are used. Earlier Ayurveda was home-based and customised, we are trying to bring that back. Traditional Ayurveda doctors could investigate by just holding the pulse or hand of the patient. We want to bring that skill back. We have identified a few doctors who are basically traditional doctors or vaidyas. We have a goose-

10

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

March 2018

Anish Kumar P K

berry tank for bathing after the treatment – a pure authentic concept along with bits of naturopathy and confined to say maximum of ten people. We also have daily yoga for healthy living.

What are your plans as president of Association of Tourism Trade Organisations (ATTOI)?

As ATTOI president, we are planning a big Yoga event approved by AYUSH on International Yoga Day in June this year where many international yoga experts are participating. We have a lot of dolmens in Kerala called muniyara in the local language. These are pre historic caves on top of mountains in Munnar where yogics or sages used to meditate. So 5,000 years ago, these were actually meditation centres.

If you go there, you can feel the positive aura. Our plan is

to connect these meditation centres internationally through this event. We have already shown these caves to AYUSH officials and they have approved.

Recently there has been a lot of negative brand imaging of India due to security reasons?

Yes, sadly India tourism has suffered a lot because of this negative image of India as far as security is concerned. ATTOI recently launched Kerala’s first complete, dedicated travel portal that is multi-lingual, www.tourismnewslive.com.

The aim is to give positive news and brand image for the whole country.

How can tourism leverage on digital marketing as a business strategy?

It is unfortunate that there are a lot of internet

users in India but Indian tourism websites don't figure in the first ten of any tourism search worldwide. Recently, ATTOI ran a Tweet campaign about school memories in Malayalam which started trending on the web and was a huge success. We then suggested to Kerala Tourism to run a similar campaign in Malayalam called Devathinde Swatham Naadu (God's Own Country) using Malayalam hashtag, which soon started trending.

So if our state tourism boards run such campaigns linking it to the Incredible India website, it will drive traffic to their tourism websites. Another suggestion is to invite celebrities with lots of social media following, to our destinations and they can recommend it. India needs to do social media marketing like Maldives and Singapore.

Kerala has recently formed a digital marketing committee and I am a member of this committee.

Five tour operators are part of this committee whose main aim is to develop digital marketing strategies.

Tell us about your unique TTP app?

The TPP app is available on Android as well as IOS. People who book tours with us are given all the info on this app - from their travel documents to who is travelling with them, driver's mobile number and also alerts like flight delays, restaurants nearby, toilets, weather info, etc. We have reviews about hotels and customers can even review the driver. We are pleasantly surprised to know that this app is being downloaded even in China, so we can use this app to help us get a foothold in that huge market.

KERALA SPECIAL

‘THE ESSENCE AND SOULOFOUR RESORTS ARE THE ANCIENTMEDICALSCIENCE OF AYURVEDAAND THE ARTOFYOGA’ Baby Mathew, chairman and managing director, Somatheeram Ayurveda group speaks on the wellness scenario in Kerala and elucidates on Somatheeram's USP

By Steena Joy What is the current scenario among Ayurveda resorts in Kerala?

There are many Ayurvedic resorts in Kerala as the moist humid climate of God's Own Country and the abundant supply of medicinal plants and herbs here are very conducive for Ayurveda. Not only can you rejuvenate your body, but medical tourists can club the treatments with a wonderful vacation. However, it is important to choose the right resort for treatment as there are many spurious treatment centres that have cropped up all over the state. Tourists should look out for the Kerala government's Olive Leaf and Green Leaf accreditations when making their choice. The objective of this classification is to assist inbound travellers in knowing the ingredients of various Ayurvedic treatments and also to streamline and standardise the industry's offerings. Green Leaf certified Somatheeram is one of Kerala's top Ayurvedic resorts that are well managed, and have an excellent range of properly administered Ayurvedic treatments.

What is Somatheeram's USP? Somatheeram Ayurveda Group Resorts in Kerala, founded in 1985, are internationally renowned for the conscious efforts taken towards the overall health of humanity, social responsibility, eco-

tal of Somatheeram Ayurveda Group has again bagged the prestigious National Tourism Award 2015-16 for the 'Best Ayurvedic Wellness Centre'.

This is the third time we have won this award.

Baby Mathew

How is the cuisine at Somatheeram curated for Ayurveda guests?

The Ayurvedic menu at Somatheeram consists of over 250 different varieties of purely vegetarian dishes developed respecting the authentic Ayurveda. After the detailed consultation with the patient, our doctors prepare a

menu based on their close predominance and health trouble, like vata, pitta, kapha. The special diet is offered to all patients as per their diagnosis. Personalised food is prepared at the kitchen as per the doctor’s advice. We provide only pure organic vegetable food to our patients.

As president of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society, what is the vision for KTM 2018?

As a president of KTM, the Society had adopted the comprehensive 9-point charter, ‘Agenda 9’ during KTM 2016,

which calls for measures to tackle waste management, promote organic farming, efficient use of energy and extensive use of local produce and products.

Other key areas in the checklist are rain-water harvesting, reducing the use of plastics, and improving greenery. The latest edition will focus on the Charter’s implementation, aiming to make Kerala a sustainable destination. We also aim at exhibiting new Kerala products to the world. Sellers can take part in hundreds of productive business meets. KTM is an ideal platform to bring various buyers under one roof.

friendly concept and environmental preservation. The essence and soul of the resorts are the ancient medical science of Ayurveda and the art of Yoga. It is our pleasure to show the world the amazing benefits of Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation that grants a healthy and prosperous life.

The resorts are located at the superb locations near beaches, backwaters and evergreen forests in Kerala - Somatheeram Ayurveda Resort and Manaltheeram Ayurveda Beach Village at Chowara Beach, south of Kovalam; Soma Palmshore on Kovalam Beach; Soma Kerala Palace Lake resort in Chempu, Kochi – Kumarakom Road; Soma Birds Lagoon in Thattakadu, Kochi and Soma Houseboats in Alappuzha.

Somatheeram Research Institute and Ayurveda Hospi-

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

11

March 2018

KERALA SPECIAL

'OUR NEXTPROJECTWILLBE COMING UP IN KOZHIKODE' A five-star luxury Ayurveda and spa resort harmoniously set in the heart of Wayanad, Vythiri Village Resort is spread over 22 acres of lush greenery and is very popular as a MICE destination. N K Mohamed, CMD, Vythiri Village Resort speaks about the hospitality scene in this North Kerala district and future plans for the brand

By Steena Joy What is the unique selling point of Vythiri Village Resort?

Our’s is a eco friendly and boutique resort. The resort aims to nurture the luxurious demand of its precious guests while being close to nature.

The resort aims to nurture the luxurious demand of its precious guests while being close to nature

How did the name Vythiri come about?

Vythiri (vazhithiri) means junction (tripole) connecting Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

How is the hospitality scene in Wayanad?

There are a lot of

12

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

March 2018

N K Mohamed

traditional/tribal cultural activities and a lot of sight seeing places in Wayanad to entertain guests. And also our 100 per cent dedicated staff to serve them.

by ample banquet facilities, a spacious lobby, adequate pre function areas and an unbelievable parking space for 600 vehicles and also other subsidiary halls.

What about the meetings and conferences facilities at Vythiri Village?

We have a very hi-tech convention facility with a seating capacity of 1500 pax.

The world class convention centre at Vythiri Village has one of south India’s largest video walls consisting of 36 LCD panels.

All the conferencing and meetings are well supported

Has the number of tourist arrivals shown a growth?

As far as we are concerned, there has been a 50 per cent growth in tourist arrivals.

Any future plans for expansion or any new resort in a new location in Kerala?

Yes, our next project will be coming up in Kozhikode in the near future.

KERALA SPECIAL

'KOLLAM IS NOWFASTEMERGING AS A MICE AND WEDDING DESTINATION' The MICE tourism market is growing rapidly in Kollam and The Quilon Beach Hotel & Convention Centre in Kollam, Kerala is tapping on this increasing growth.

Renjith Sreekumar, director, The Quilon Beach Hotel & Convention Centre discusses the hospitality scene in Kollam and the facilities they provide to support this growth.

By Steena Joy What are some of the unique selling points of Quilon Beach Resort?

Some of the main highlights of the resort are the sea facing rooms with a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea, the ethnic Wine & Dine restaurant-Kuttanadu, the rooftop executive lounge and the large convention centre with around 1200 seating capacity. We also have premium and executive suite rooms that offer a premium view of the Arabian Sea and The Spice Route. The honeymoon suite on the other hand comes with an elegant circular bed and hedonistic bathroom with all the modern amenities to make a couple’s stay the most cherished one.

How is the hospitality scene in Kollam? Has the number of tourist arrivals showing a growth especially with Kerala Tourism promoting North Kerala?

The Quilon Beach Hotel & Convention Centre is the first five star deluxe hotel in Kollam, Kerala. It was established in the year 2004 by my father Er K Sreekumar with the vision of developing MICE Tourism in Kerala.

During that time, Kerala tourism did mainly focus on leisure tourism segment and Kollam was a very underdeveloped city with less priority to tourism. Realising the importance and potential of MICE Tourism in Kerala, he did come up with the idea of

Renjith Sreekumar

developing a five star hotel with a convention Centre facility in Kollam, Kerala.

Though the idea was seen as a high investment risk by many experts but it did revolutionise MICE in Kollam and Kerala. Many new convention centers and hotels were established in a short span of time. Kollam did host many major MICE events in a short span of time. Consistent and restless effort from us did pave way for infrastructure and tourism development in Kollam. As a result of it the Sea Port in Kollam was established by the state government and Kollam was declared as a tourism destination. Development of MICE tourism in Kollam has created thousands of jobs in a short span of few years. It has also contributed in large to the economy. We have been marketing Kollam as a

destination for the past 10 years in all major traveltrade fairs in India and abroad and we have seen a major increase in the flow of tourists.

What about the meetings and conferences facilities at Quilon Beach Resort?

The corporates love conferencing by the beach with world-class infrastructure offered by The Quilon Beach Hotel & Convention Centre. Kollam is now fast emerging as a

MICE and Wedding Destination. The Concept of MICE and Royal Weddings were first introduced to Kollam by The Quilon Beach Hotel. We haveVenadu which is an ideal place for friends and relatives for casual and informal kind of receptions and cocktails. The venue can perfectly hold up to 70 guests at one time. For meetings, there is Kollam, the board room which is an ideal luxury choice for meeting organisers who look for world class meeting rooms for their

meetings which can hold up to 15 members.

Any future plans for expansion or any new resort in a new location in Kerala?

The company plans to expand and venture into smart budget hotels in major cities. Destinations in India will have more demand for the same in the near future.

We also wish to focus more on the MICE and corporate segments of the tourism market.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

13

March 2018

KERALA SPECIAL

'THE HINDUSTAN RETREATCENTRE IS VARKALA'S NEWESTAND ONLY RETREATCENTRE' Keeping up with the latest technology is not the only stone to be unturned for the tourism industry and the Hindustan Beach Retreat understands this by setting up shop at Varkala, an untapped region. K P Anil Kumar, partner, Hindustan Beach Retreat stresses on the importance for the right kind of marketing for Kerala and what's next for the Ayurvedic capital of India

By Tanuvi Joe Can you tell me the purpose behind establishing the Hindustan Retreat Centre?

Along with the surreal backwaters of Kerala, the vast expanse of hills and virgin beaches around Kerala should be promoted to the travellers. Only recently the region of Wayanad has been marketed to travellers worldwide. Even Varkala is an underappreciated region.

That's why we have started the only retreat centre here.

The Hindustan Retreat Centre is Varkala's newest travel destination and we aim to provide the best hospitality in the industry. We want to meet international standards of service and quality to set a mark in the tourism industry of Kerala.

In what way can the digital age be useful for the tourism industry and are you planning to establish any similar products in the future ?

Technology is very important when it comes to the new age traveller. Catering to the generational markets requires us to develop products that can make their travel easier and convenient. We are also looking at ways to make transfer of funds quicker giving our travellers access to their funds

14

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

March 2018

when on a vacation.

Are you a part of any association or club ? What is your role and how do you contribute to the same?

We are a part of The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) that is a bridge be-

tween the Indian hospitality industry and international associations. Through various activities like research, training and education, the FHRAI is committed to the progress of the Industry.

How does the tourism industry attract domestic as

well as international travellers to the untapped regions?

Almost 90 percent of the area is promoted by the government of Kerala. Through various roadshows and travel trade fests conducted in destinations all over the world, the untapped regions are

brought into focus. Travel agents, hotels and industry experts are invited for these roadshows to discuss the scope of these regions, the needs of the place and what measures can be taken to make the regions appealing to the domestic as well as international travellers.

KERALA SPECIAL

‘THE DESTINATION TRAVELHUB IS FOR TRAVELLERS WHO WANT MEANINGFULEXPERIENCES’ The tourism industry is growing at a rapid pace and it’s almost impossible to keep up with the evolving trends. Riyaz U C, managing director, Spiceland Holidays stresses on the importance of constant innovation and how the digital age is changing the face of the tourism industry.

By Tanuvi Joe In what way does your customised tour packages benefit the different regions of India as well as the tourism revenue of those regions?

Spiceland Holidays helps hotels/resorts to increase the volume to segments which we cater to. Our nationwide as well as international marketing teams promote these areas to travel agents and in turn revenue is generated. We also promote sustainable tourism, medical tourism, wedding tourism and many more such type of tourism related promotions.

In what way does the Destination Travel Hub and the Tourist Facilitation Centre you’ve recently opened serve the tourism industry?

The Destination Travel Hub is for travellers who want meaningful and memorable experiences at the best deals with the convenience of a personal concierge service. Our clients include individuals, couples and groups.

We personally design custom-tailored itinerary packages curated with the client’s budget and preferences in mind as well as offer tried-and-tested recommendations when it comes to accommodations, hot food

16

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

March 2018

Riyaz U C

spots and activities. The Tourist Facilitation Centre on the other hand is to facilitate tourism officials and tourism board members to come down and conduct meetings and to interact with various board members for tourism promotion in domestic and international segments.

Are you planning to establish similar centres in the future?

We do have plans to establish similar centres based on the spots where there is scope for the same. Even niche products will definitely be there - like cruises or short stay destinations or packages with attractive rates.

How is the digital age proving to be useful for the tourism industry?

There is no doubt that the travel and tourism industry is more competitive than ever, and firms are quickly discovering that digital technology lies at the heart of the tourism experience.

The travel industry also has the option of other digital

mediums that offer unique benefits over websites, such as tablet applications. These apps - whether they are on iPad, Android, Windows or BlackBerry - offer tourism companies global distribution. And with the tablet market increasing daily, travel bookings on these devices are increasing.

You have also participated in the 'India with a Difference' campaign.

How did that help the industry?

These kind of ventures explore and explain some unusual destinations, upcoming destinations and destinations which the traveller has not yet discovered.

IN THE NEWS

Yas Islands unveils expansion of assets to India market Janhavi Laud Mumbai YAS ISLAND, also known as the Middle East's family entertainment and leisure destination, home to the United Arab Emirates' mega water park celebrates its 10th anniversary year in 2018. Yas Island presented its portfolio of experiences and attractions to the Indian travel market, while providing a 'sneak peek’ of what’s in store for visitors in 2018 as well as upcoming projects for the year 2022.

While speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Mohammed Al Zaabi, chief executive officer, Miral Asset Management said, “Connectivity is key for Yas Islands. We are creating a seamlessly connected, 'wallless' destination. Yas Island is developing itself to be the best family and fun destination while promoting, sustainable tourism to research, rescue, rehabilitate and return to the environment, creating awareness about the depleting marine life.”

Al Zaabi further added, “Our agenda is to increase traffic to the region. Travellers from India are among the top three nationalities amongst

Mohammed Al Zaabi

China, India and Russia, visiting Yas Island and second largest nationality that visits Abu Dhabi.” The island also celebrates Diwali as a part of its annual festivities. The package starts from `10,000 a night, for two adults and a child, inclusive of entry to the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Ferrari branded theme park offering entertainment experience through a mix of

37 Ferrari inspired rides and attractions.

Furthermore, Al Zaabi confirmed that a new theme park and a unique activity destination are on track to launch this year; Warner Bros World, Abu Dhabi, with 90 per cent construction completed, will open its doors this summer; and CLYMB, a sports and entertainment facility, with the widest flight chamber ever and

the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall. Those who visit the flight chamber will be able to simulate the experience of skydiving within a width of 9.7 metres, making it the world's widest. Along with the existing Yas Viceroy Hotel and various three, four and five-star hotels, Al Zaabi established that by the year 2019, the AED 12 billion Yas Island development will also include two new hotel

complexes including Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Resort, a 641-room family resort. The hotel will be proximal to SeaWorld, Abu Dhabi which will open in the year 2022 as the first SeaWorld outside the United States of America, without orcas. At a later stage, an arena with the capacity of 18,000 will serve purpose to sporting events as well as concerts.

From conference venues to gala event facilities, as well as management services for MICE events, Yas Island aspires to combine business with pleasure, allowing travellers not only from India, but from around the world, to have a holistic experience.

New Lufthansa campaign lets you discover places virtually ETW Staff Mumbai THE NEW LUFTHANSA campaign #SayYesToTheWorld invites you to say 'yes' to the world and discover exciting destinations virtually.

The augmented reality installation of 'Open Seats' makes this experience possible where participants will be

seated on Premium Economy seats and captured by sensors and cameras. On a sevensquare-meter screen, they will then find themselves - just like in the TV spot - as visitors at a spectacular destination.

In India, China or the USA, they can interact in real time with a mix of animated 3D elements, actors and real-world environment to playfully dis-

cover the destination. This experience is made possible by a sophisticated combination of skeleton tracking and depth detection, which interprets the participants' movements and triggers corresponding reactions in extended reality.

The travel experiences range from a spontaneous jam session in New York to a kung fu lesson with Chinese Shaolin

monks. Benita Struve, head of marketing communications said, “Open Seats is not only the translation of #SayYesToTheWorld into an interactive experience but also underlines our claim to understand marketing technology. This is not as an end in itself, but as a vehicle for enthusiasm and unique experiences.”

From February 22, people can go on a virtual journey and experience the installation developed by Lufthansa lead agency Kolle Rebbe and mixed reality expert 3spin at Main-Taunus-Zentrum near Frankfurt and Munich Airport. A world tour of the Open Seats with a stop in New York is planned at a later stage.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

17

March 2018

IN THE NEWS

Banyan Tree Samui introduces special smartphones for guests ETW Staff Mumbai BANYAN TREE SAMUI, a luxurious 88-villa beachfront resort on one of Thailand’s most compelling island destinations, is now offering its guests a Portier smartphone along with the room keys at check in. An initiative that got underway on December 16, the mobile phone allows the guests to make free and unrestricted international telephone calls and surf 4G Internet. It also offers its guests the access to a host of resort features including restaurant menus, daily activities, and tips for sightseeing around the island of Koh Samui.

The Portier smartphone is user-friendly and delivers all of its features in English, Russian, Chinese, German or French.

Banyan Tree Samui strongly feels that the innovation will offer its guests a great level of security and comfort.

Remko Kroesen, general manager, Banyan Tree Samui said, “I am delighted to see exciting evolutions at Banyan Tree Samui. The devices will allow the guests to remain connected with family and dear ones at any point of time. We always aim at enhancing the stay experiences of our guests with ultimate com-

18

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

March 2018

fort and security.” Kroesen says the most popular feature of the smartphone at the resort is the 'Villa Host' function.

Each guest is assigned a Villa Host – a personal butler-cumconcierge – who will contact them ahead of arrival to take requests and lay the groundwork for their vacation. Banyan Tree Samui has about 10 Villa Hosts on call at any point of time– that’s one per eight or nine villas when fully occupied. The Villa Host assists the guests to run through the Portier’s features when they check in. It is a very easy-to-operate device allowing the guests to make calls and click pictures and share with dear ones. The guests can also

call the 'Villa Host' for room service, housekeeping, hire a car, or even just ask for translations or local advice.

While most upscale hotels offers robust Wi-Fi networks that enable communication between a guest’s own phone and the wider world, Banyan Tree Samui’s smartphones enable connectivity through Wi-Fi hotspots no matter where a guest travels on the island.

“You could be in a coconut plantation or watching the sunset from a beach, and you can still take a picture and send it home,” said executive assistant manager Haruethai Maneerat.

The hotspot works in tandem with the GPS and provides

a safety net for guests who might get lost. To give an example- one couple hired a car to drive around Koh Samui but soon got into a bump with a local driver. Not speaking Thai and not knowing where they were, the guests called their Villa Host on their smartphone.

She was able to track them via the GPS and drive with the resort handyman to the scene of the accident, where she sorted out everything on the spot.

All the hotel information is downloaded onto the smartphone - menus for each of Banyan Tree Samui’s three restaurants, spa treatments, speedboat tours and daily kids’ club activities. It also features

novel ideas such as a nature trail around the rolling 38-acre property, where guests can use their phones to identify some of the resident flora and fauna – birds of paradise, rubber plants, MacArthur palms, kingfishers, a white-breasted sea eagle that soars over the resort every day just before sunset and the occasional passing monitor lizard.

“Our delivery to the guests must always be exemplary.

From the limousine service at the airport to the moment they check out, it’s those extra personal touches that people remember," Kroesen added. Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with private infinity pool, start from US$ 750 per night.

IN THE NEWS

AccorHotels rebrands Dona Sylvia Resort to Novotel ETW Staff Mumbai ACCORHOTELS LAUNCHED its latest Novotel in partnership with the Alcon Victor Group and its fourth property in the mushrooming Goa market. AccorHotels has rebranded the globally known Dona Sylvia Resort to Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort. Situated in south Goa, the resort features 181 well-appointed and spacious rooms, villas & suites on the Arabian Sea coastline.

Varun Albuquerque, director, Alcon Victor Group paid tribute to the acumen and craftsmanship of the late Charles Correa who had originally conceptualised and designed the resort. He said, “Dona Sylvia Resort has always resonated with old-world charm and new-world luxury, creating an authentic Goan ambience along with its perfect location on Cavelossim Beach.

Varun Albuquerque, Vishal Khosla and Jean-Michel Cassé

Today through the rebranding of the property, as a Novotel Resort, we look forward to offering an international standard product to our guests.”

Also present on the occasion was Jean-Michel Cassé, chief operating officer, India & South Asia, AccorHotels. He shared, “The rebranding of Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort strengthens AccorHotels' presence in the Indian market. With 17 Novotels in the country, we believe this brand is particularly well targeted for the mod-

ern Indian traveller and international guests. Novotel is the world's most recognised hotel brand that offers modern easy living hotels and resorts located in major international cities, business districts and tourist destinations. We are delighted to partner with the Alcon Victor Group and look forward to bringing our expertise in hospitality to this relationship.”

The property provides a glimpse into the rich traditional Portuguese culture through a mix of contemporary and local

heritage architecture, built like a small luxury village in itself.

The resort also offers an eclectic range of dining options like Seagull, Kebabs & Kurries, Mama Mia along with Amalia & Tia Maria, the poolside and lobby bars. Appreciating the needs of today’s travellers, Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort features two dedicated conference rooms with a capacity to serve about 200 guests. The resort also offers two Seaside Lawns by the beautiful white sands of Cavelossim Beach.

Said Vishal Khosla, general manager, Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort, '”We seek to offer solace to the #hashtag tired traveler, offering a place where the incessant mobile phone ring can be forgotten and activities indulged in that bring back fun and laughter, making it into a style of living.

At Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort we aim to host a complete getaway package, where guests can come and enjoy the simple but luxurious pleasures of a resort.”

17 Bangkok restaurants get Michelin stars in the first Michelin Guide Bangkok ETW Staff Mumbai MICHELIN HAS recently unveiled the first selection for the Michelin Guide Bangkok, which features a total of 98 restaurants. This selection highlights how the city embraces international dining without abandoning its own heritage and authentic cuisine - which draws millions of visitors worldwide.

Michael Ellis, international director in charge of the Michelin Guides, said, “We are proud to launch this first selection of the Michelin guide dedicated to Bangkok, highlighting the richness of the city’s gastronomy.

Our inspectors were thrilled to find a local culinary scene with an amazing vibrancy, myriad new restaurants, an astonish-

ing variety of wonderful street food, but also Thai cuisine served in different forms.”

Three restaurants obtain two stars in the Michelin Guide Bangkok 2018: Gaggan, where the chef-owner Gaggan Anand takes Indian cuisine to a level rarely seen, and one that has a truly unique signature. His artful dishes are original and creative, with a wonderful blend of textures, flavours and delicate spices.

Le Normandie, located in The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, also gains two stars. Opened in 1958, the restaurant offers a sophisticated French cuisine based on superb ingredients, refined techniques, and well executed combinations of flavours and textures. Also awarded two stars, Mezzaluna is perched on the 65th floor of the Lebua Ho-

tel, and the chef and his team deliver European delights with Japanese precision in five- and seven-course set menus.

The first selection of the Michelin Guide Bangkok also award 14 restaurants one star, highlighting the quality of local cuisine, as seven of these one star restaurants offer Thai cuisine prepared by local Thai chefs, like Chim by Siam Wisdom, where the chef revisits traditional Thai recipes to create dishes that strike a balance between the old and the new, and between Thai and foreign influences; Bo.lan; Saneh Jaan, a restaurant offering Thai dishes which are a mix of classics and hard-to-find recipes like kaengranjuan, a hot and spicy soup.

Innovative modern Thai cuisine is also well represented

in Bangkok with Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin, where the chef respects traditional Thai flavours and ingredients but transforms them to produce something truly creative and original.

Of particular interest, one street food vendor also obtains one star: Jay Fai, where the owner-chef insists on staying at the tiny open kitchen with her homemade charcoal stoves, continuing what her father started 70 years ago, making crab omelettes, crab curries and dry congee.

International cuisine is also recognised in the Michelin Guide Bangkok 2018 with establishments awarded one star such as Ginza Sushi ichi, a sushi restaurant where ingredients are delivered straight from markets in Tokyo every 24 hours, or Sühring, where

brothers Mathias and Thomas Sühring deliver their very own style of modern German cooking that is sometimes playful, sometimes classic and always prepared with care.

L’Atelier de JoëlRobuchon, J’AIME by Jean-Michel Lorrain, Elements and Savelberg, both gain a star in this first selection, with these restaurants serving French contemporary cuisine.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

19

March 2018

IN THE NEWS

‘Being a part of Jumeirah Group gives us a close relationship with the industry’ A part of the Jumeirah Group, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management attracts students from 53 countries. Marianne Saulwick, director of industry liaison and professional development at the institution, highlights its unique positioning in the world of hospitality management education

By Sudipta Dev

Please give a brief background of Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management.

Also, what have been your most significant milestones over the years?

The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management is a higher learning institution focused on enabling the next generation of business leaders through top quality hospitality management education. 15 years after its founding, the academy has become one of the top 10 best hospitality management schools in the world.

How is the institution positioned as a leading hotel school in the region?

20 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD March 2018

Our purposefully small size provides our students with a personalised learning experience. Our prime location in Dubai puts us on the new frontier of hospitality. Being a part of Jumeirah Group gives us a close relationship with the industry.

Our academic association with Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne makes our curriculum among the best in the world.

What is the profile of the students - are they mostly from GCC countries or other nations also?

Our student body is composed of 53 different nationalities coming from all corners of the world. Because we are in

Marianne Saulwick

Dubai, our student body comes from all over the GCC, Asia and Europe which are destinations that are at a relatively short flight.

What are the programmes offered - for undergraduates, postgraduates, and continuing education programmes for professionals ?

We offer a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration in International Hospitality Management which are the main degrees available to students. Furthermore, we offer short courses for individuals and working professionals who would like to broaden their skills and expand their knowledge. Our Executive Certificate programme targets working professionals who are keen to keep pace with hospitality innovation.

What are the placement facilities for students?

We have a dedicated career service and corporate relations department that takes care of putting students in contact with our industry partners to obtain internships and jobs after graduation. Our current job placement rate is 96 per cent within six months of graduation.

Future plans of the institution - any expansion plans ?

To continue being the hospitality management school of the Middle East and setting new standards in education.

IN THE NEWS

The first edition of Namaste USA was held in Mumbai and New Delhi ETW Staff Mumbai INDIAN TOUR OPERATORS and travel agents in Mumbai and New Delhi attended the first edition of 'Namaste USA' on February 05 and February 07, 2018. Namaste USA is the newly introduced business-tobusiness (B2B) networking platform created by Brand USA, for their destination partners.

A total of 10 companies, including Brand USA, participated this year. They met up and presented their products, including conducting business deals with eminent trade buyers in Mumbai and Delhi. Additionally two evening networking dinners were organised in Mumbai and Delhi. In Mumbai a preview of Brand USA’s new big-screen movie, America’s Musical Journey, was also shown to the

L to R: Karan S Anand, head of relationship Cox & Kings(India), Edgard D Kagan, consul general US consulate, Mumbai and Sheema Vohra, managing director, Brand USA

B2B session at Namaste USA held in Mumbai

guests. In New Delhi the evening included an exclusive screening of 'America Wild: National Parks

sumer media, followed by networking cocktails and dinner.

The first edition of Namaste

Adventure' at the new IMAX theatre for senior travel trade professionals, and trade and con-

USA was very well received as a pre-summer destination business forum in the India Market.

Second edition of Abu Dhabi week to kick off in India ETW Staff Mumbai FOLLOWING GREAT SUCCESS in Delhi and Mumbai in 2017, the second edition of 'Abu Dhabi Week' is all set to be hosted in India. The event has been curated by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, the body that promotes tourism and cultural heritage of the Emirate.

Taking place in Kochi and Kolkata for the first time, the dual-city exhibition will start onFebruary 16, 2018, with a grand, three-day affair at Kochi. The Kolkata edition will commence on February 23, 2018. Positioning Abu Dhabi as the destination for vacations, leisure travel, and weddings, Abu Dhabi Week will offer an experiential mix

of culture, art, entertainment, and sports to the attendees. It will showcase the wonders of Abu Dhabi and take them on a virtual tour of the city.

While 3D maps of Abu Dhabi will paint a picture of the city’s urban landscape, attendees will also have a chance to win trip packages to Abu Dhabi. From adventure sports and culinary delicacies of the region, and the art and literary marvels of the Island city, you can experience it all at Abu Dhabi Week 2018.

In order to outshine last year’s debut show, this edition will offer a wide variety of interactive experiences including life-like encounters of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Desert Safari, and a glimpse of the Louvre Abu Dhabi. For the first time visitors will be able

to get their hands on a Ferrari and adding to that, Abu Dhabi Week will also present a live recreation of the Al Ain Palace and the Al Dhafra Region, replete with sand, Bedouin tents, safari jeeps and traditional Arabic seating and lighting. The three-day event will be graced by the presence of official dignitaries, who will brief the visitors on some of the recent developments at the emirate.

The event will also feature contests and competitions to engage the visitors. They will have a chance to win a range of prizes such as staycation packages in Abu Dhabi, rides in Ferraris, and more. Food stalls offering authentic Abu Dhabi cuisine, musical performances by various artistes, a kids’ area high-

lighting a host of activities, live paintings, and a selfie booth with the UAE skyline, are only some of the highlights of the event.

Speaking about the Abu Dhabi Week, Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director, Promotions and Overseas Offices, Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, said, “Owing to the growing levels of disposable income in the hands of Indian travellers, we believe that India is a crucial market with a potential to expand the tourism inflow in Abu Dhabi.

It therefore becomes imperative to educate people about everything that Abu Dhabi has to offer, and re-shape notions regarding its cost heaviness. The Abu Dhabi Week strives to amplify not only the splendour of Abu Dhabi but

also highlight its pocketfriendliness in terms of family vacations, solo travels, film shoots, trade and business, and destination weddings, among others.”

In 2008-13, India emerged as one of the biggest trade partners of the UAE with bilateral trade between the two countries exceeding US $75 billion. In this regard, tourism has been a silent force fostering the relations between the two regions and has stimulated both economies. Abu Dhabi welcomed 320,000 Indian hotel guests last year with a year on year increase of 11 per cent. Etihad Airways and Jet Airways operate 282 flights a week, from 13 Indian destinations, witnessing an average length of stay of 2.7 nights.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

21

March 2018

SPOTLIGHT

YOUR KEYS TO THE ANDAMAN That Andaman is a prized possession and a tourism jewel is an understatement and Port Blair as its capital is a place that articulates India's history and eco tourism wealth in many ways. There are few quality hotels in the region, the latest entrant being Keys Select Hotel Aqua Green, Port Blair, a stone's throw from the Port Blair airport

By Reema Lokesh

22 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD March 2018

I

was rather shocked on my recent work trip to the Island jewel of India, Andaman, that there are Indians who still feel one needs a passport to enter the Andaman region. The shock did not stop there. I was further informed by a local at the Keys Select Hotel Aqua Green, Port Blair, that there are people who feel Andaman Express (an Indian railway network) brings people to the island region by rail. Is it our education, lack of awareness of just general pure ignorance, I wonder. For me a two day work trip, planted me in the heart of history and heroism, the Cellular Jail, where the walls still echo the undeterred spirit of grit and glory, only if

Chintan Shah

we care to listen. We need to wake up to the power of domestic tourism and speak to the citizens on both facts and fables, that keeps the intriguing and inspiring nature of the country alive. It is hospitality ventures

like the Keys Hotels, that go beyond just playing the traditional role of accommodation suppliers, but also double up and serve as ambassadors of tourism in these powerful tourism hotspots.

Chintan Shah, cluster headsales (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana & Andaman & Nicobar ) - Keys Hotels, has been with the property since its inception and has only praise for the locals and the region. From staff training to managing the property keeping in view the high standards of sustainable tourism, he feels the property is a perfect spot for both general tourists - groups and FITs and also for the MICE business. The strategic location, which is at a

SPOTLIGHT

A FOOD JOURNEY BY CHEF MANISH KUSUSMWAL A ndaman and Nicobar Islands is a melting point of Indian culture. This is even reflected in the food and cuisine of the local people of these islands. The finest of Indian cuisine is as rich and diverse as its civilisation.

Andaman’s cuisine is heavily influenced by all the cultures that came into contact with the region. Like many other aspects of Andaman culture, the influence of Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh religions in traditional food is very strong. For generations, people of south India have migrated and settled in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They also carried their food habits and cuisine to these islands.

South Indian food is revered and loved around the country and beyond it. The unique flavours, the tangy twist, the sweet infusions and the plethora of vegetables used in any recipe is a head turner for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. But, it is also considered criminal to group all south Indian food under one broad banner. At Keys the daily breakfast has an array of South Indian dishes, from idlis, vada, dosa, uttapam and upma. In South India there are countless types of milagai podi one can make and we have four most popular ones on our buffet every day.

In Kerala’s history, spices have always played an integral part. Their food is an example of the very same and they have offerings for people from all over the world and have

stone’s throw distance from Veer Savarkar International Airport, makes travelling hassle-free.

The hotel's 48 spacious rooms, with modern amenities, complimentary breakfast and quality room service, works as a perfect stay option when in Port Blair.

The property is also rightly placed close to major tourist at-

tractions, such as the Cellular Jail, Japanese Bunkers, Fisheries Museum, Anthropological Museum, Samudrika Marine Museum, Carbyns Cove Beach, and Science City, all within an eight kilometre radius. For those who wish to explore more, the property provides its guests with travel facilities and guided

trips to Jolly Buoy (21 km), Ross Island (5 km), ChidiyaTapu (22 km), New Wandoor Beach (23 km) and Andaman and Nicobar Jetty (4 km), which are easily accessible by road. Spacious room size of over 270sq ft, the place promises to give its visitors and guests a comfort experience.

For food lovers, the hotel

everything a foodie could ask for prepared with that special Kerala taste to it. The cuisine here caters to vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Appams from Kerala is also regularly served as a part of the buffet along with Kerala curries.

Most of the vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes of these regions have a generous use of spices and coconuts. The final tempering with oil, mustard seeds, curry leaves, red chillies and urad dhal is almost the same for most of the dishes. Bengali cuisine is known for its subtle (yet sometimes fiery) flavours, and its spread of confectioneries and desserts. It also has the only traditionally developed multicourse tradition from the subcontinent that is analogous in structure to the modern style of French cuisine, with food served course-wise rather than all at once.

Macher jhol and panch phoran chorchori are the most commonly known dishes from this region. Use of mustard oil is a must in all food preparations. With an in house Bengali chef we try to produce some of the best recipes from the region for our guests.

Sea foods are the main cuisine of Andamanese. So Andaman is the paradise of sea food lovers. Lobsters, crabs, prawns and a variety of fish are found here, that can be prepared in choice of preparations, South Indian, Bengali style curry, Oriental or Continental by our trained chefs in all cuisines. There is plenty of delicious vegetarian food as well.

and the region promises to offer some island specialties especially those who have a liking for seafood. Step into Cascades, to experience some well crafted dishes.

Chef Manish Kususmwal, corporate head chef, Keys Hotels, has handpicked some interesting ingredients sourced locally and along

with his in-house team of locals, introduces you to flavours that are unique to the region. The detox drink and health mix, which is readily available in the lobby area is highly recommended. It works well on your system and gets you all set for your walk to explore a stunning region of India.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

23

March 2018

cover )

24 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD March 2018

(

THE MAIN FOCUS

Reema Lokesh spoke to industry thought leaders to understand further the apt strategies to project Brand India rightly to the new age traveller

The much needed tourism fillip Brand India needs a refreshed awakening in the new age of tourism as we have it all from monuments to mountains. Speaking about the the kind of reform the tourism industry needs, Peter Kerkar, group CEO, Cox & Kings said, “We need to have good highquality hotels in the two, three and four-star category hotels starting at a price point of under `1,000. Second, air travel within India is also expensive and it is not as cheap as the LCCs that operate in Europe and finally, hygiene is a very critical element when India has to promote itself. India has everything going for itwith attractions across the spectrum.

However, the infrastructure does not support mass tourism in India.”

Rakshit Desai, MD, FCM, India, is emphatic in his thoughts on Brand India. He says, “It is time the government and the nation gets serious about tourism and Brand India as a priority sector with a concrete strategy, going beyond promises. India should strongly promote itself as an all-seasons destination and not restrict itself only for the four months period of November to February. We have the monsoons and other natural facets like the mountains that can be projected, both for the domestic and the inbound sector. Further, India attracts primarily two types of travellers globally one, the backpackers and the other who are the in the 60 plus bracket. They choose select places and go to regions, which are tried and tested. We need to start building products to attract the 40 plus family traveller, who are exploring and experiencing more and are dynamic travellers.”

Commenting further on this, Rajeev Kohli, joint managing director, Creative Travel states, “Our tourism adminis-

trators need to take a close and careful look at the global chains of distribution and sale of India as a tourism product.

I think there is a disconnect in this area. Our policies for supporting foreign tour operators are antiquated and our marketing spend overseas is not aligned to the needs of the local markets.”

Highlighting India's potential as an dynamic tourism destination, Captain Swadesh Kumar, president of ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators Association of India) says, “I think India needs to do quality publicity and shift its focus from existing monuments towards promotion of natural beauty and natural heritage sites. Changes are a must and you can just rely on existing heritage monuments for a tourism boost. India is home to diverse natural heritage so the ministry should think of promoting it in every possible way.”

Articulating further Desai mentions, “We first get our

house in order, before putting out attractive images of India, both natural and man-made.

From visitor experience at airports, to the seamless visa on arrival procedures, from accommodation infrastructure, with quality budget accommodation to safety and security concerns, we need to build a strong comprehensive plan to project Brand India rightly and respectfully.” Anil Kumar Rai, COO, domestic, inbound and online partnership, Club 7 Holidays believes that Brand India needs mid range quality accommodation facilities to attract the family traveller.

“Women safety and general security concerns needs to be addressed, with the support of added government machinery.

Trained and sensitive tourism police and personnel need to be deployed at the right tourism spots, with multilingual staff especially at points of entry, namely airports, etc.

Quality tourist information

zones need to be placed at strategic locations across the country.” Apart from suggesting that we need to build more hotels, restaurants in places of interest with international facilities, Vinayakk Laud, CEO & partner, Vinayakk Holidays talks about a new facet of promoting waterway systems like in Europe where many countries and cities are well connected by sea or rivers. He also stresses on promoting India as a safe tourism hotspot.

Bringing in the government perspective, Neela Lad, regional director (Western & Central region), India Tourism stresses on how the Government of India, ministry of tourism is trying to create world class infrastructure by supporting the state governments by way of funding for development of tourism infrastructure and for its publicity and promotion. Two flagship schemes of the ministry of tourism namely SWADESH

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

25

March 2018

cover ) “When our products compete on an international platform it should be made attractive to foreign tourists” Peter Kerkar, group CEO, Cox & Kings

“I think India needs to do quality publicity” Capt Swadesh Kumar, president of ATOAI

“While we have the Incredible India umbrella, each state must also come forward and push it’s uniqueness” Himmat Anand, founder, Tree of Life & Resorts

26 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD March 2018

and PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) are being implemented across India for the same. Crores of rupees have been sanctioned and released to the state governments/ Union Territories for developing thematic circuits under SWADESH and improving infrastructure in pilgrim cities under PRASAD. “At the same time, the ministry is creating enabling environment for foreign tourists for smooth facilitation for visit to India by introducing e-visa categories for

business, medical, cruise, tourist, etc. This is in addition to already introduced visa on arrival facility for nationals of 163 countries. Both the above facilities have been a great success and has shown steady growth in arrival figures,” she further adds.

Digital age and tourism The tech revolution has been a boon for the new age traveller. The needs of the new age traveller differs from that of the conventional one. Always on the lookout for something

exciting, new age tech initiatives provide an ideal platform that fulfills these travellers’ needs and provides them with the right facilities. Kerkar, believes that virtual reality (VR) and social media are the two most powerful tools to promote and showcase India well at a minimal investment. Gour Kanjilal, executive director, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) shares, “Internet users are growing, e-commerce market, Facebook users, travel companies are beginning to use social media as the main com-

munication driver, virtual walking tours, audio lovers, mobile apps, online, e-management of institutions linked to tourism so technology is the game changer and all these initiatives are catalysts for new age tourism prosperity.”

The new age travellers are not waiting for their family to plan a vacation, rather they take matters in their own hands and set out to discover the world. Even though the way we travel has changed a lot in the past years, the zeal and passion is just the same. In this

( forward, convincing them of choosing India as their holiday destination.” Also, highlighting the importance of tech initiatives, Om Prakash, director, InOrbit Tours says, “India needs to change with fast growing tourism facilities and new age tech initiatives. Such initiatives can save the precious time of the tourists and encourage them to travel more. New age technology can encourage their itinerary planning and online booking of their requirements during their travel.” Anand also feels, that the kind and quality reportage on both media and social media can either make or break the brand image of a destination and he feels the Indian media in general has been over zealous in projecting sensitive issues with insensitivity, hence causing panic especially amidst the international clientele.

Creating niche areas of promotion

competitive digital world, it is crucial for the tourism industry to take advantage. According to Himmat Anand, founder, Tree of Life & Resorts, “India being as large as it is, I believe it is impossible for one brand or one initiative to do justice to it.

So while we have the Incredible India umbrella, which anyway needs to be re-invented after over a decade of being there, each state must also come forward and push it’s uniqueness.

Technology can go a long way in reaching out to the end consumer, which really is the way

Targeting specific segments and areas can be a good insight for boosting tourism. Emphasising the need for segmentation and customer targeting, Kerkar believes that there are many niches that we should focus on namely medical tourism, adventure tourism, responsible tourism, glamping, and tours for the differentlyabled. Once these niches are identified, one can reach out to the target market and promote it effectively. Identifying niche products is a dynamic process.

Lad discusses how the ministry of tourism has taken the initiative of identifying, diversifying, developing and promoting niche products of the country.

“The ministry of tourism has constituted committees for the promotion of golf tourism and medical & wellness tourism.

Guidelines have also been formulated by the ministry to support golf, polo, medical and wellness tourism. Accordingly, the niche products that have been identified by MoT for development and promotion are cruise, adventure, medical, wellness, golf, polo, MICE, ecotourism, film tourism and sustainable tourism,” she adds.

Kumar remarks, “The natural heritage needs to be targeted.

We need to adopt different strategies and paths because if we continue going on the same path, we will get the same results. Talking of adventure tourism, it is not just confined to trekking, adventure in Himalayas and rivers and rapids.”

ATOAI has decided to shift its focus from the Himalayas to non-Himalayan areas. Places like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh are home to a natural forest cover and coastline so these are the places that need to be focussed upon. This is a much-needed shift for adventure tourism. Amidst many niches, Kohli picks up three, namely incentives & meetings, adventure and culinary journeys. These are three distinct and high value segments that will also work to fill in gaps in our low season.

Responsibility: The Govt and private sector The Government of India has taken up several initiatives and schemes to uphold the spirit of tourists and tourism like launching of Incredible India 2.0 campaign, organising Paryatan Parv in 31 states and Union Territories (UTs) resulting in improvement of India's ranking in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), 2017 which has jumped 25 places up as compared to 2013. Lad says, “The government has always played a role of catalyst and will continue to do so. Handholding the state governments and private sector is one of the major priorities of the government. By doing so the ministry has already achieved desired results of increase in domestic tourists visits and foreign tourists arrivals to India.” She further adds how the MoT has been carefully planning its global publicity and promotional strategy backed by reports and findings.

“Country/ region specific branding, targeted B2B promotions, interactions with industry at every possible international forum is being adopted by the ministry through its publicity division and supplemented by its foreign offices across the globe. Most importantly strong and aggressive

THE MAIN FOCUS

use of social media in all its promotions and publicity is being undertaken by the ministry,” she remarks.

There has been an increase in Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during the period January-November 2017 to 90.01 lakh with a growth of 15.6 per cent over same period of the previous year, compared to FTAs of 77.83 lakh with a growth of 9.4 per cent in January- November, 2016 over January- November, 2015. Also, during the period in 2017, 14.57 lakh foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa in comparison to 9.17 lakh during January-November 2016, witnessing a growth of 58.8 percent. 'Adopt A Heritage' project has also been launched under which heritage sites are being offered for adoption by the public sector, private sector and individuals to become ‘Monument Mitras’ for developing amenities and facilities at heritage sites.

'Incredible India 2.0' campaign was also launched by MoT to promote niche tourism products like Heritage Tourism, Adventure Tourism, Cruise Tourism, Rural Tourism, Wellness & Medical Tourism, MICE, Golf etc.

Sharing the private sector viewpoint, Kerkar, points out that the government should provide infrastructure and a conducive atmosphere to the private sector. The tax structure should be reasonable and he strongly feels a punitive tax on luxury will defeat the purpose. It will make India unaffordable compared to the competition. “When our products compete on an international platform, it should be made attractive to foreign tourists and create a level playing field for Indian investments. What the government considers luxury here in many cases would be a standard norm overseas,” emphasises Kerkar.“The government along with private tourism industry should make sure to incorporate three fundamental components namely natural surroundings, activities, and local participation when putting in efforts to boost tourism. Also, the government should take up initiatives to educate tourists and tourism associ-

“New age technology can encourage itinerary planning” Om Prakash director, InOrbit Tours

“We must promote waterway systems like in Europe where many countries and cities are well connected by sea or rivers” Vinayakk Laud CEO & partner, Vinayakk Holidays

“Our tourism administrators need to take a close at the chains of distribution and sale of India as a tourism product” Rajeev Kohli joint managing director, Creative Travel

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

27

March 2018

cover ) “It is time the government and the nation gets serious about tourism and Brand India as a priority sector ” Rakshit Desai MD, FCM, India

“Women safety and general security concerns needs to be addressed” Anil Kumar Rai COO-domestic, inbound & online partnership, Club 7 Holidays

ations regarding the ethics and conduct they need to follow when visiting a place. The government should also encourage tour operators and associations to provide tourist friendly packages to facilitate longer duration of stays,” informs Kumar.

Anand further contributes to this, “As with all sectors, the government should be the facilitator and the private sector the executor. Let us look at the very successful Kerala Travel Mart – ideal example of a successful state-private sector association. Why should the government run Air India and ITDC Hotels ? Why should the overseas India Tourist Office be run by bureaucrats who have little or no knowledge of tourism? Time has come to create a Tourism Council which should be made up of industry stalwarts with a full time COO, be independent in its functioning and run on funding and broad guidelines provided by the government.”

“The government must not burden the inbound visitor with taxes. Also work to improve infrastructure, road, railway.

Must improve Tourism Development Corporations all over India and also appoint people from tourism field in the government department to see whether the work is done in proper manner,” adds Laud. Expressing his views further, Desai, says, “India also needs to genuinely present itself as value for money destination for the long haul source market, which considers India as expensive as of today. We need industry stakeholders offering India to the world to have a re-haul in their mindsets as well. Finally, its time we first get our house in order, before putting out attractive images of India both natural and man-made.”

The way forward

“Technology is the game changer” Gour Kanjilal executive director, IATO

28 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD March 2018

India is still ranked 40th globally at the World Economic Forum 2017 while the WTTC ranked it the seventh largest tourism economy in the world.

From the north-western deserts, the prestigious Himalayan range from the north all the way to the north-east,

the backwaters in the south to the mangroves in the Sundarban, India is home to 35 World Heritage Sites, which are recognised by UNESCO. Agreeing on this, Kerkar says, “We have a huge potential and though we have achieved many milestones with the government giving special emphasis on tourism we need to do more to realise our potential.

Tourism is one industry that fosters inclusive growth and if everyone plays their part then we will definitely record impressive numbers going forward.”Kumar states how on their recommendation, Government of India has declared the year 2018 as The Year of Adventure Tourism. “We still need to revamp our publicity and advertising policies and focus on natural heritage and not on monuments and temples.

“Handholding the state governments and private sector is one of the major priorities of the government” Neela Lad regional director (Western & Central region) India Tourism

Since natural heritage is a fragile area, its preservation needs more resources and effort and therefore policies should be drafted accordingly.

The government needs to put lots of public information and advertising campaigns to change the perception of tourist coming to India in search of adventure”, he said.

Kohli states, “We truly need to get all stakeholders together in a room and talk as mature adults leaving our egos and positions outside the door. Unfortunately that does not happen as there are far too many minds that are narrow minded and selfish. That is a fact. But we have to work together and there is nothing we cannot achieve.”

(Inputs from Tanuvi Joe and Shivasheesh Srivastava )

DESTINATION OUTBOUND

Bahrain: The heart of Dilmun It’s not just for its pearling legacy that Bahrain has been called Pearl of the Gulf. It is also because the island country was, and continues to be an important trading hub due to its strategic location. But what attracts and stays with first time visitors to this land of Dilmun (Bahrain’s ancient name) is its people - warm, hospitable and welcoming, a quality lovingly captured in the Bahrain tourism authority's new tagline - Ours. Yours

By Steena Joy

OURS YOURS According to Yousef Mohammed AlKhan, director, tourism marketing & promotion, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (BTEA),“For Bahrain's new tourism branding, we asked a London agency to work on something that would showcase Bahrain as a warm country, welcoming people from all over the world.That’s how the tagline 'Bahrain - Ours.Yours' came about.The ‘B’in Bahrain is written in a heart shape, representing the heart of the Gulf.And we have used cursive handwriting to give the logo a personal touch.We want to tell people that whatever is Ours, is Yours. So our country is your country.We wanted to show people that Bahrain is a very open and very welcoming nation.”

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

29

March 2018

DESTINATION OUTBOUND

T

he newest Wyndham in Manama – the Wyndham Grand Manama – with its uniquely shaped cylindrical tower epitomises all that Bahrain stands for: an amalgam of modern and traditional, business and leisure, warmth and welcoming. Its floor to ceiling windows offer breathtaking views of Bahrain Bay, a constant reminder of the country's tryst with the sea since the ancient ages.

In the Bronze Age, while India cradled the Indus Valley Civilisation, Bahrain was home to the Dilmun Civilisation. Due to its strategic location along the sea trade routes linking Mesopotamia with the Indus Valley Civilisation, Dilmun was able to develop into one of the greatest entrepots of trade in the ancient world. Circular seals from Dilmun have been found in both Indus Valley and

30 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD March 2018

Mesopotamia, evidence that trade occurred between these three civilisations. Legend tells us that nearly 5,000 years ago, Gilgamesh, the main character in the epic of Gilgamesh, landed in Dilmun in search of eternal life and he found the white flower of eternity, the pearl.

The Pearling Trail For more than 2000 years, Bahrain's pearling industry has unearthed some of the best natural pearls in the world. In the past, pearl divers spent months away from home at sea. They were lowered on weighted ropes and remained underwater for over a minute with nothing but a nose peg to control their breathing. Even today, Bahraini natural pearls are considered the finest in the world sourced from over 400 sq miles of oyster beds that flourish in the warm, shallow waters of the island kingdom.

World renowned jewellery

designer Jacques Cartier, visited Bahrain in 1911 and from then on, the house of Cartier has had enduring business ties with Bahrain, ensuring a steady flow of quality pearls to its workshops in Paris. Bahrain continues to keep this heritage alive and visitors can indulge in pearl diving excursions, snorkelling for oysters and fishing activities. And if you find a pearl whilst diving, it’s yours to keep - reiterating the fact that putting their guests first has become second nature for Bahrainis.

Bahrain’s pearling legacy has also been beautifully preserved in the Pearling Trail in Muhurraq, the country's ancient capital. The trail covers beautifully restored houses like the Muharraq Coffee House, Kurar House (the art of embroidery with golden thread), Zayed House for Bahrain's press heritage and the Sheikh Ebrahim Cultural Centre. The Pearling Trail became

the second Bahraini inclusion after Bahrain Fort on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2012.

Of mosques and forts A 16th-century Portuguese structure, the Bahrain Fort or Qal’at Al Bahrain is surrounded by excavated ruins of a Dilmun settlement. About 25 per cent of the site has been excavated, revealing structures of different types: residential, public, com-

mercial, religious and military.

The Light & Sound Show at the fort is a must-see activity, transcending visitors to the legends of the Dilmun Civilisation.

Another must see is Bahrain’s largest place of worship and among one of the largest mosques in the world the Al-Fateh Mosque. It was built under the patronage of the late Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa in 1987 and was named after Ahmed Al Fateh, who was

DESTINATION OUTBOUND

CHECK OUT designed by German architect Hermann Tilke, the same architect who designed the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.The Grand Prix Track has held nine of the 10 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Marassi Al Bahrain, the Kingdom’s unique waterfront project situated in Diyar Al Muharraq has a clean two-kilometre beach, and lot of dining options.

For an exciting off-road thrill, the Land Rover Experience at BIC is the first of its kind in the Middle East,.The unique setting offers 3.5 kilometers of varying terrains such as sand, rock, hill and water landscapes.An amazing team building exercise.

Manama Souq

Block 338 in Adliya

Al Jasra Visit the Bait Al-Jasra (Al Jasra House), a traditional-style house built in 1907 by Shaikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa and famous for being the birthplace of Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Emir of Bahrain until 1999.

From the traditional mosaic glass lamps, spices and halwa to gold and trinkets, the souq is where tourists can pick a bit of Bahrain to take home.

A local handicraft centre was launched here in 1990 to preserve the arts and crafts of Al Jasra village such as woodworks, basket weaving, pottery, musical instruments, cloth weaving, etc.

Haji's Cafe

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) Located in the heart of the Sakhir desert, the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) was initiated by the Crown Prince, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa for the 2004 Grand Prix, the first ever Formula One race held in the Middle East which world champion Michael Schumacher won.The circuit was

Located in the heart of Adliya, Block 338 is a charming pedestrian area where restaurants jostle with art galleries like Al Riwaq Art Gallery and small boutique shops.

Marassi Al Bahrain As far as gastronomic experiences are concerned, breakfast at Haji's Cafe is a must.

Haji's Cafe has served Bahrainis since 1950.

Even today like in earlier times, the cafe opens at 5 am to cater to Bahrain's huge migrant worker community from various neighbouring countries including India.

the founder of Bahrain in the 18th century. The mosque accommodates up to 7000 worshippers and has the largest fiberglass dome in the world.

The walls of the mosque are beautifully ornamented with Kufic calligraphy. A three-and-ahalf-tonne Swarovski crystal chandelier from Austria hangs in the main hall; the 952 handblown glass lamps inside the mosque that look like pearls for obvious reasons, are from France. The marble flooring is from Italy while the doors are

made of teak wood from India.

From 9 am to 4 pm, tours are conducted in a variety of languages including English, French, Filipino, Russian and many other languages.

Manama: A cultural and financial hub Bahrain's vibrant capital city Manama (meaning a place of rest in Arabic) is a cultural and financial hub. It is home to one of the first museums in the Gulf, the Bahrain National Museum. Designed by a Danish firm, it

opened in 1988. As you enter the courtyard, contemporary sculptures against the white facade makes for a striking contrast.

The museum houses many historical artefacts, from ancient burial mounds of Dilmun to a

1932 Buick that belonged to the late ruler Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Adjacent to the National Museum can be seen the Art Centre and Cultural Hall, both of which host temporary exhibitions and concerts throughout the year. A new addition to this cultural compound is the recently inaugurated Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage.

In the heart of the financial district in Manama, you cannot miss the iconic Bahrain World Trade Center (also called Bahrain WTC or BWTC). The

WTC's 787 ft high twin towers, built in 2008 by architectural firm Atkins, is the first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbines into its design.

Another attraction is the 25 km-long King Fahd Causeway links the Kingdom of Bahrain with the Eastern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Crossing the Gulf of Bahrain, the causeway which starts in Saudi Arabia and extends up to Al-Jasra, west of Manama in Bahrain, has increased tourist footfall from Saudi Arabia.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

31

March 2018

TRENDS

WHAT'S ON THE AGENDAFOR 2018?

For the American Express 2018 Global Meetings and Events Forecast, more than 600 meetings and events professionals from around the world completed surveys about their expectations for the meetings and events industry looking ahead to 2018.

We present here the meetings and events forecast for the Asia Pacific region Meetings Activity and Characteristics Stable numbers Meetings activity is expected to remain stable in 2018 within Asia Pacific, with small decreases of 0.8 per cent to 1.2 per cent in numbers of senior leadership and board meetings as well as advisory and incentive meetings.

China and Hong Kong reflect the broader regional numbers, while Singapore stands out with predicted decreases of 1.4 per cent to 2.2 per cent for most meeting types.

Sales and marketing meetings comprise the greatest portion of expected meetings activity in the region at 20 per cent, with even higher numbers in

32 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD March 2018

SURVEY RESULTS

Meetings Activity by Type

Percent of total meetings ASIA PACIFIC

AUSTRALIA

CHINA/HONG KONG

SINGAPORE

Sales/Marketing

20%

27%

20%

18%

Training

16%

12%

18%

14%

Internal Team Meeting

13%

13%

12%

12%

9%

5%

13%

5%

Conference/Tradeshow

17%

16%

13%

32%

Senior Leadership Board Meeting

13%

11%

16%

10%

7%

16%

4%

5%

10%

4%

12%

9%

Product Launch

Advisory Incentives

(Source: American Express Meetings & Events Asia Pacific Survey, August 2017)

Meetings Activity Levels

2018 vs. 2017 ASIA PACIFIC

AUSTRALIA

CHINA/HONG KONG

SINGAPORE

Sales/Marketing

–

–

–

-1.4%

Training

–

–

–

-1.7%

Internal Team Meeting

–

0.5%

–

-2.0%

Product Launch

–

–

–

-1.7%

Conference/Tradeshow

–

–

–

–

-0.8%

–

-0.8%

-1.4%

Advisory

-1.1%

–

-1.6%

-2.2%

Incentives

-1.2%

-0.9%

-0.7%

-2.2%

–

Indicates no significant change.

Senior Leadership Board Meeting

(Source: American Express Meetings & Events Asia Pacific Survey, August 2017)

Number of Attendees

2018 vs. 2017 ASIA PACIFIC

AUSTRALIA

CHINA/HONG KONG

SINGAPORE

0.7%

2.4%

0.5%

–

Training

–

–

0.6%

-0.7%

Internal Team Meeting

–

1.1%

–

-0.9%

1.0%

2.2%

1.4%

–

–

1.3%

–

0.6%

-0.6%

0.8%

-0.9%

-1.3%

–

1.4%

–

-1.1%

-0.7%

1.5%

-0.7%

-2.3%

–

Indicates no significant change.

Sales/Marketing

Product Launch Conference/Tradeshow Senior Leadership Board Meeting Advisory Incentives

(Source: American Express Meetings & Events Asia Pacific Survey, August 2017)

TRENDS Australia at 27 per cent. Product launches, advisory meetings, and incentives happen less frequently across the region, with incentives comprising 4 per cent of meetings activity in Australia and advisory meetings at 4 per cent in China and Hong Kong and 5 per cent in Singapore. While conferences and tradeshows are predicted to account for less than 20 per cent of meetings activity in the region, they represent onethird of planned activity in Singapore.

Meeting size Half of the meeting types are expected to remain stable in terms of number of attendees in Asia Pacific. Sales and marketing meetings are expected to increase slightly in size, with respondents in Australia suggesting that this increase might be as big as 2.4 per cent. Respondents expect that all meeting types, except training meetings, in Australia will grow in size in 2018, while most meetings types in Singapore are expected to be smaller.

Holding steady Meeting length is predicted to remain essentially unchanged throughout the region overall.

Respondents in China do, however, anticipate minor increases in the length of training meetings and product launches. In line with predicted attendee declines in the country, Singapore is expected to see small decreases of less than one per cent in days per meeting for several meeting types as well.

Meetings Budgets and Planning Budget Predictions suggest that meeting spend in Asia Pacific will decrease by one per cent . Within the region, Singapore may see the largest decreases of up to 3.7 per cent; Australia is the exception with expected budget increases of 1.9 per cent. With hotel rates expected to increase this is likely to create pressure on individual event budgets.

Spend visibility and cutting costs One planner in the region explains that while cutting costs is a

priority for clients, it is often difficult to achieve comprehensive visibility on spending. She suggests that, “Meeting spend is definitely decreasing in the region but tracking spend can often be challenging. Price per person is something everyone wants to cut but in terms of what the meeting is trying to accomplish this might not be the best route. Planning an alternative meeting or combining two meetings into one might the most effective choice.

The first step, however, is to get that visibility into spend”.

Relatively flat Cost per attendee is expected to remain relatively flat in 2018 across the region. Within the region there is a marked difference, however, between Australia and Singapore. While respondents in Australia expect cost per attendee to increase by nearly one per cent for half of meeting types, and up to 3 per cent for incentives, respondents in Singapore expect cost per attendee to decrease across all meeting types, from 2.4 per cent for conferences and tradeshows up to 4 per cent for incentive meetings.

Product launches, conferences and tradeshows, and senior leadership and board meetings are expected to have the higher costs per attendee in the region. According to respondents, cost per attendee in China and Hong Kong tend to be higher across all meeting types than cost per attendee in Australia and Singapore. Expected cost per attendee in Singapore is lower across most meeting types than cost per attendee in other countries.

Preferred spending When asked where they would cut costs in meeting budgets and still maintain the customer experience, one-third of respondents reflect those in other regions in suggesting offsite optional activities as the first to be cut. 13 percent each suggest that reducing the number of nights and room drops would be their first choice.

When asked if overall meetings budget increased 10 per cent where they would make changes, one-fifth of respondents suggest that the preferred area of invest-

SURVEY RESULTS

Cost Area Cut First in Meeting Budget (and still maintain customer experience) ASIA PACIFIC

Number of nights

13%

Registration site

2%

Ground transportation

3%

Communication

0%

Off site evening events

11%

Off site optional activities

32%

Audio visual

5%

Food/beverage

3%

Onsite travel staff

11%

Room drops

13%

Use of Destination Management Company (DMC)

8%

(Source: American Express Meetings & Events Asia Pacific Survey, August 2017)

Preferred Area of Investment (if overall meetings budget increased 10%) ASIA PACIFIC

Increase number of meetings

22%

Increase number of attendees at meetings

21%

Increase number of days for meetings

6%

Increase activities

10%

Increase F&B budget

5%

Cover additional travel costs for attendees (air, transfers, upgrades, etc.)

8%

Increase budget for meeting content and production

29%

Other

0%

(Source: American Express Meetings & Events Asia Pacific Survey, August 2017)

ment would be to increase the number of meetings and another fifth selected number of attendees at meetings. Nearly onethird stated that they would increase the budget for meeting content and production. These priorities reflect the emphasis we are seeing globally on more attendee-focused meetings with enhanced value.

Meeting Location Large cities lead. Unlike other

regions, nearly all respondents in Asia Pacific indicate that the primary locations for meetings are large cities. Only 3 per cent identified second-tier city locations as primary for meetings. One survey respondent in Australia suggests that while large cities continue to be top of the list, there may be a need to look beyond them going forward. She explains, “I foresee availability as a challenge in the next 3-5 years. In the past there were clear peak

and off-peak periods; now there is consistently high capacity through the entire year”.

The top cities The top 10 cities in Asia Pacific based on meetings and events activity remain largely the same as last year, with Bangkok moving into third and pushing Kuala Lumpur into fourth. Mumbai makes an entrance on the list this year in ninth position, taking Beijing’s place

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

33

March 2018

TRENDS Location choice is complex One planner in Australia explains that clients look at destinations outside of Asia Pacific but they are often uneconomical. She states, “In the past we’ve looked mainly at countries in Asia. We are increasingly seeing a desire to go beyond the region, more for smaller meetings and incentive meetings. Attractive destinations out of Australia include South Africa, a few locations in the US, Italy and France. But those destinations are often unattainable from the Australia region, especially for larger meetings”. She and others indicate that location choices are always complex. One planner in Hong Kong explains that location choices are very much tied to corporate policy, whether in regard to spend, preferred suppliers, or duty of care. He felt, “Clients are being more conscious about the locations they are choosing and paying close attention to how specific locations fit with their meetings policies”.

Pricing Trends Increasing rates. Respondents suggest that 2018 group hotel rates will increase slightly by 1.4 per cent across the region. Those in Australia expect increases up to 5.7 per cent, setting Australia apart across the region.

Property types. As with other regions, meetings professionals point to the growing range of possibilities to meet the increasing demand for unique venues. One survey respondent points out that 'new options for non-traditional venues allow for greater flexibility and creativity in planning meetings and events'.

The Asia Pacific region stands out once again as a more frequent user of luxury properties. One planner in the region speaks to this: “The growing trend is unique venues and high end luxury properties, often with all suites. And meeting owners are more and more considering a range of venues to satisfy the desire for something different”.

Partnership and negotiation Meeting planners in the region indicate that a growing

34 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD March 2018

SURVEY RESULTS

Primary Locations for Meetings

2018 vs. 2017 ASIA PACIFIC

Large city locations

97%

Second-tier city locations

3%

Other

0%

(Source: American Express Meetings & Events Asia Pacific Survey, August 2017)

Top 10 Asia Pacific Cities based on Meetings/Events Activity 1. Singapore 2. Sydney, Australia 3. Bangkok, Thailand 4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 5. Hong Kong 6. Shanghai, China 7. Melbourne, Australia 8. Tokyo, Japan 9. Mumbai, India 10. Seoul, South Korea (Source: Cvent, 2017)

trend toward building relationships among planners, suppliers, and owners is a positive develop-

ment going forward. One explains, “It is exciting to see new relationships with suppliers in

the region and being able to play a greater role in terms of negotiation for our clients”.

Courtesy: American Express Meetings & Events

TRAINING

Skills-2-Jobs in aviation Ministries of civil aviation and skill development & entrepreneurship of the Government of India launch a first-of-its-kind, Aviation Multi Skill Development Centre at the Chandigarh old airport terminal building

A

first-of-its-kind Aviation Multi Skill Development Centre (MSDC) supported

by Airports Authority of India (AAI) was inaugurated in Chandigarh recently by Union minister of civil aviation, P Ashok Gajapathi Raju. The Centre has been set up in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and is supported by the Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council (AASSC) of India.

Speaking on the occasion, Raju said, “This Centre which will train about 2,400 youth and women in eight aviation job roles over the next three years has already received a very enthusiastic response. I would like to see many more such Centres for aviation skill development to be set up across the country.”

Demand for aviation skilled personnel has been rising commensurately with the boom in the civil aviation sector witnessed in the last 3-4 years.

More than 900 new aircraft are expected to be inducted by Indian scheduled airlines in the coming few years. Air connectivity for both passenger transport and air freight is increasing, with new air routes and operationalisation of unserved or underserved airports through the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme. MRO and ground-handling demands for skilled personnel are also rising in tandem.

Recognising this demand and to bolster the Skill India Mission, the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) and the ministry of skill development & entrepreneurship (MSDE) have collaborated to launch this Aviation MSDC at the Chandigarh old airport termi-

nal building. With an outlay of `5.25 cr, this project is a unique CSR initiative of the AAI. NSDC, the implementing agency of MSDE, in collaboration with the Bird Education Society for Travel & Tourism (BESTT) will undertake the training programmes. The course curriculum and assessments of the training have been designed by AASSC in accordance with the National Skill Qualification Framework.

Located at Chandigarh’s old Airport Terminal building, this Centre will leverage AAI’s existing infrastructure, which has been converted to offer training in modern aviation courses

as well as upskilling programmes to empower underprivileged youth and women in particular. The Centre is equipped with modern training infrastructure to supplement an industry-relevant course curriculum. Upon successful completion of the skill training, the candidates will be certified

by NSDC through the AASSC. The training provider - Bird Education Society for Travel & Tourism has been mandated to ensure job placement in the aviation and allied fields for at least 70 per cent of the successfully trained students.

Speaking at the launch, Radha Bhatia, chairperson,

Bird Group (the parent organisation for Bird Education Society for Travel and Tourism) said, “We take pride to be inaugurating India’s first ‘Aviation Multi Skill Development Centre’ here in Chandigarh.

India is among the fastestgrowing aviation markets globally and aims to become the third largest market by 2025. The rapidly growing sector requires highly skilled manpower and we believe that the centre is a positive move in this direction. Knowledge sharing and skill up-gradation are Bird Academy’s focus areas and through our partnership with NSDC, we are glad

to help bridge the employability gap by creating a specialised and skilled workforce within the aviation and aerospace sector.”

Additionally, Manish Kumar, MD & CEO, NSDC expressed, “NSDC is building long term partnerships to extend the reach of skill training across sectors and geographies. This world-class skill development centre is geared towards providing cutting-edge training facilities and making skill training aspirational for the youth. This initiative will facilitate availability of industryready workforce for aviation and aerospace sector.”

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

35

March 2018

MOVEMENTS TravelClick DEBANJAN KUNDU has been appointed as director of Sales - India for TravelClick. He brings with him a cumulative experience of more than 15 years in hotel Sales & Marketing. His astute business acumen along with TravelClick’s repertoire of services will help hotels to maximise profitability.

In his last role as the director of Sales & Marketing of The RitzNeesha Mohapatra

Debanjan Kundu

Carlton, Bangalore, Kundu successfully drove revenue of the luxury brand’s first and only hotel in the Indian subcontinent which he had joined from Sheraton Grand, Bangalore. He has also worked in different capacities with Westin Hyderabad and The Oberoi Grand.

He started his career with food and beverage operations as a corporate trainee at Hyatt Regency, Kolkata. Kundu is a gold medalist from IHM Kolkata and has won many accolades for his leadership including FHRAI Young Hotel Sales and Marketing manager and Hotelier India – sales person of the Year. He has a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Wales, Lampeter.

Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway further strengthens its management portfolio by appointing Neesha Mohapatra as director of Human Resources. Having worked with some of the renowned names in the hospitality indus-

36

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

March 2018

try, Mohapatra comes with an impressive track record of over two decades in the Human Resource domain. In her new role she will promote the desired work culture around the core values of the organisation by creating human resource culture as a strategic and supportive business partner. She will focus on formulating human resource and talent development policies, conceptualising, designing and setting up of appropriate systems, which could be productively incorporated into the organisational climate in alignment with the organisations goal and targets.

IndiGo IndiGo, India’s passenger airline is pleased to announce the appointment of WOLFGANG PROCK-SCHAUER as the chief operating officer, subject to regulatory approvals. An accomplished industry leader with more than three decades of experience in civil aviation, Prock-Schauer has held senior leadership positions with leading airlines across Europe and Asia. In his role, he will be responsible for operational aspects of IndiGo such as Flight Operations, Maintenance and Engineering and Inflight Services directly as well as Airport Operations and Operations Control Centre. He will be reporting to Aditya Ghosh, president and whole time director, IndiGo. Prock-Schauer is a graduate from the University of Economics, Vienna. He is an experienced international executive having a total professional experience of over 36 years.

IndiGo is also pleased to an-

nounce yet another addition to its leadership team with appointment of RAJAGOPALAN RAGHAVAN as the senior vice president of the Human Resource department. Raghavan is joining from April 1 and brings with him not only deep functional expertise in the area of human resources and talent management but also learnings of best practices from world class companies. In addition to HR, he will be also responsible for the administration function and will also oversee ifly – IndiGo’s learning academy.

Raghavan earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from University of Madras and Master’s in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations at Madras School of Social Work. He is currently with Amazon heading its Human Resources and supporting the launch of several businesses and technology development centers in the country.

Following this, he headed the Company’s Project Management Team, for the last two years, and has been responsible for successfully executing several strategic projects for the Thomas Cook India Group.

Varma has completed his Executive Management Program from IIM Calcutta and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel management from IHM, Trivandrum.

Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort & Spa, Goa

Thomas Cook(India), India’s integrated travel and travel related financial services company, has announced the appointment of DEEPESH VARMA as head of Sales and Relationship Management for its Foreign Exchange business, based in Mumbai. Varma brings with him 15 years of robust experience across multiple lines of businesses and functions. He has been associated with Thomas Cook India for about five years, commencing with the E-Business team, where his primary role was to set up call centre opportunities.

Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort & Spa, Goa welcomes ALBERT REBELLO as its new general manager. An established leader in the hospitality industry, Rebello brings more than 35 years of hotel experience to the resort perched atop the ramparts of the 17th century Portuguese coastal fort. In his new role, he will be responsible for the continued success of the hotel, overseeing the day-to-day operations and providing exceptional guest service at one of India’s most luxurious holiday destinations.

He has undertaken a number of different assignments through his 35 years at Taj, notable among which were his appointments as the general manager of five hotels namely Taj Residency Indore, The Gateway Hotel, Manjarun, The Gateway Hotel, Vishakhapatnam; The Gateway Hotel, Bangalore and The Gateway Hotel Hinjawadi Pune. Being an avid golfer, Rebello makes sure that he takes time out of his busy

Deepesh Varma

Albert Rebello

Thomas Cook

schedule to play a round of golf every day. He enjoys hiking, a hobby which he undertakes whenever time permits and also loves spending time with his family.

Hyatt Place Goa/Candolim With over 10 years’ of experience in Hospitality Sales and Business Development, SUNISHCHAL PARASNIS has joined Hyatt Place Goa/Candolim as the director of Sales & Marketing. He has vast knowledge of Goa’s hospitality business and its trends.

At Hyatt Place Goa/Candolim, he is responsible for the sales and marketing process to ensure competitive positioning of the hotel through strategic

Sunishchal Parasnis

agendas, planning sales and distribution strategies in relevant domestic and international markets as well as identifying valuable emerging markets. Parasnis started his career with Sarovar Hotels & Resorts and then moved to Hyatt Hotels in the year 2007. His first assignment at Hyatt was with Grand Hyatt Mumbai as sales executive. He then quickly moved up the ladder to associate director of Sales, and then joined Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa as the director of Sales, a position he held before joining Hyatt Place Goa/Candolim. His strengths lie in strategic planning analysis and implementation, foreseeing market trends, retention and acquisition, customer relationship management, talent acquisition and training, coaching and mentoring.

MOVEMENTS JW Marriott Jaipur Resort & Spa SARAH RAINA has been appointed as the director of Sales & Marketing at the JW Marriott Jaipur Resort & Spa. Raina is a seasoned hotelier with over a decade of experience in various roles across prestigious hospitality brands.

Her last held position was of director of Sales at the Grand Hyatt Goa. She started her career

Sarah Raina

as a management trainee with Marriott in 2004. Given her exceptional performance and indepth understanding of sales, Raina was promoted to the position of assistant sales manager in 2007 and subsequently, she was promoted to her new role as the cluster sales manager, Marriott India in 2009. Her strong business acumen and excellent interpersonal skills, enabled her to successfully essay her last role as the director of Sales, Grand Hyatt Goa. At the JW Marriott Jaipur Resort & Spa, her core responsibility will be to maximise the resort’s revenue from various market segments and work with the team to conceptualise and implement innovative sales and marketing strategies. In the days to come, she will also work towards positioning the resort as one of the most luxurious destinations in Rajasthan.

Vikas Sharma

ager. With over twenty years of versatile experience, Sharma is known as a strategic business leader in the industry. Before joining Sheraton Hotel Hyderabad Gachibowli, he was the director of Operations at The RitzCarlton Bangalore. He started his career at The Oberoi, Cecil, where he was largely responsible in assisting the F&B department. Post this, he was associated with the Trident Hotels for a period of four years, where he started as an F&B Supervisor and went on to become a Food & Beverage manager. He was also the F&B manager for The Leela Palaces & Resorts, Wildflower Hall, The Oberoi Group of Hotels. It was with the experience of just a little over a decade that he became the director of F&B at Four Seasons, Mumbai.

Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris announced new appointments at its hotels in Pune.

SUJU KRISHNAN will take charge of Vivanta by Taj – Blue Diamond, Pune. He is a Taj loyalist, having spent 24 years with the company. His journey with

Jayanta Das

JAYANTA DAS is the general manager at The Gateway Hotel Hinjawadi Pune. Das moves to Pune from his role as the general manager at the Taj Kumarakom Resort & Spa, Kerala where the hotel under his leadership won two National Tourism Awards. He began his career with the Taj in 1993 at Taj Bengal, Kolkata. He studied Hotel Management from The Indian Institute of Business Management, Patna. He also has a bachelor of Arts degree from the Tripura University. In his spare time, Das enjoys listening to classical and non-classical music and reading non-fiction books. His hobbies also include travelling to exotic destinations.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bengaluru

Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel Gachibowli Sheraton Hotel Hyderabad Gachibowli is glad to announce the appointment of VIKAS SHARMA as the general man-

the Taj began in 1994 when he joined the organisation in Front Office as part of the Taj Graduate Training Programme at Taj Bengal, Kolkata. After working across roles and cities, Suju’s first general manager posting was at The Gateway Hotel Fatehabad Road Agra. Prior to Pune, he was the general manager of The Gateway Hotel Marine Drive Ernakulam. A law graduate from Bangalore University, Krishnan is passionate about the Taj brand and believes in leading his team by example. He enjoys Indian and Western classical music, reading and most outdoor activities.

Suju Krishnan

The newly opened Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bengaluru welcomes VARUN KAMRA as the director of Sales & Marketing. With an experience of over 14 years in the hospitality in-

Varun Kamra

Dimitris Manikis

dustry, Kamra has worked with brands like The Park, Hilton, Blooms hotel and InterContinental Hotels Group. At Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bengaluru Racecourse his role would be to ensure smooth operations of revenue, sales and marketing. His responsibilities will involve leading & motivating the team to achieve the sales targets for the property & the group, along with being actively involved in strategising & planning of marketing initiatives. Prior to joining Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bengaluru Racecourse, Kamra worked as the director of Sales and Corporate Development at Blooms Hotel Group. He started his career as a sales executive with IHG in 2003 and his hard work and passion helped him work his way up to become the director of Sales with Hilton Garden Inn in 2011.

quality and technology solutions as well as loyalty, sales and marketing. A 27-year veteran of RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange with more than 4,300 affiliated resorts in nearly 110 countries, Manikis possesses deep knowledge of the hospitality industry, an extensive network and strong relationships with developers and customers across the EMEA region.

Vivanta by Taj Rebak Island, Langkawi

Wyndham Hotel Group Wyndham Hotel Group, the hospitality giant with a global portfolio of more than 8,400 hotels, announced the appointment of DIMITRIS MANIKIS to the role of president and managing director for Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA). He will be based at the company’s London offices. Manikis will be responsible for the development of all of Wyndham Hotel Group’s brands in the EMEA region as well as maximising the performance of all new and existing franchise and managed hotels. He will focus on driving the strategic objectives of Wyndham Hotel Group including

Ravi Nischal

Vivanta by Taj - Rebak Island, Langkawi announces RAVI NISCHAL as the hotel’s new general manager. After beginning his career with renowned hospitality chains, Nischal became a part of the Taj family in the year 2004, when he joined the organisation as the director of Catering Sales at the flagship hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.He loves exploring new places and calls himself a travel buff. Apart from his exploratory spirit he also likes to run marathons and has competed in several half marathons including the Mumbai Marathon.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

37

March 2018

weekend

E V E N T S

TRAVEL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Corporate Traveller, the SME arm/wing of FCM Travel Solutions was awarded as the 'Travel Business of the Year' by Small Business Awards 2018 in the travel management category.

RUNWAY TO RUNWAY Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab

RENEWAL OF MOU WITH JAPAN Maharashtra Government renews the

TOAST AT INDIA'S WINE FESTIVAL Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, (MTDC), in association with Nashik Valley Wine Cluster, has announced the commencement of the India Grape Harvest, Wine Festival.

Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Wakayama Prefectural Japan (WPJ) for five years.

DINING THE MACAO WAY Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dog, came alive as Macao Government Tourism Office(MGTO) collaborated with top pan-Asian restaurant PaPaYa to showcase a specially curated Chinese New Year menu.

38

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

March 2018

Emirates showcased its hospitality at LakmĂŠ Fashion Week in Mumbai as part of an ongoing partnership as the preferred airline of the global fashion industry.

AROUND THE GLOBE IN 52 HOURS AND 34 MINUTES Etihad Airways has honoured its high flying executive Andrew Fisher following his record-breaking feat of travelling around the globe in the fastest time.

2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIATM

Sports 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.

Travel to Russia with Cutting Edge for the ultimate football fan experience

Cutting Edge Events Pvt. Ltd. is appointed as Exclusive Sales Agent of MATCH Hospitality in India for the sale of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Official Hospitality Programme.

BOOK NOW Contact: +91 22 30205903 / 04 Mobile : +91 9920752826 CuttingESports

Email: sales@cutting-edge.in Web: www.cutting-edge.in

cuttingedge_sports

CuttingESports