V0L 13 NO. 12 PAGES 40
January 2019, `50
EDITOR’S NOTE
Responsibly meaningful travel
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onscious, connected and curated are the words that is defining travel now and in the near future. Amidst all the pomp and show, there are weddings planners that are catering to demands for eco friendly weddings. Resorts and hotels are also catering to the demands for farm to fork, rustic and rural holidays, giving rise to a redefined concept in the accommodation space. Luxury homestays are making steady inroads and local is getting more focal. Slow tourism will be fast in demand and the traveller is predicted to move away from crowd to calm, from rush to rejuvenation, from extravagance to experiential. The choice of travel will also witness change. Self drive holidays at one’s own pace will gain momentum and off season travel demands may surprise the stake holders. Our articulate thought leaders and Game Changers in this issue have interestingly shared views in our cover story that reiterate the above observations. From the car rental space, in terms of how car booking preferences will change, to the hospitality sector of offering experiences, to the tour operator who needs to be way ahead of the knowledge curve to tourism boards which have to
“ Slow tourism will be fast in demand and the traveller is predicted to move away from crowd to calm,from rush to rejuvenation,from extravagance to experiential”
offer the visitors a soulful experience, these are stories which are eye openers. This month also witnesses action on the pilgrim tourism front. Twelve crore expected visitors, `2,900 crore investment, 30 km periphery area done up with amenities and visitor facilities and around 3200 hectares assigned for the core mela, the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019 in Uttar Pradesh is pitched to be a mega showstopper. Hopefully the promise of a seamless travel experience should unfold at the mega gathering. Pilgrim tourism also witnessed some more action with respect to the Bihar tourism circuit. Buddhonomics was an interesting aspect being discussed at the convention, wherein one needs to look at pilgrim tourism with a difference. It’s not about just catering to pilgrims but to provide the trails of Buddha to any traveller who wishes to visit for the sheer experience. The writing is all the more clear - Meaningful and responsible travel will be trending and this tribe will only increase with time. REEMA LOKESH Editor editorial.etw@expressindia.com
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CONTENTS EVENT ROUND UP Vol 13 No 12 January 2019 Pages 40
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Chairman of the Board Viveck Goenka
Sr. Vice President - BPD Neil Viegas
BUDDHONOMICS AND MORE: ABTO'S CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF SERENE SYNERGIES
Asst. Vice President - BPD Harit Mohanty
Editor Reema Lokesh*
IN FOCUS
Assistant Editor Steena Joy
32
DESIGN Assistant Art Director Pravin Temble
WOMEN GAME CHANGERS
Chief Designer Prasad Tate Senior Designer Rekha Bisht Graphics Designer Gauri Deorukhkar Senior Artist Ratilal Ladani DIGITAL TEAM Head of Internet
(19-28)
MARKETS
SPOTLIGHT
Viraj Mehta SCHEDULING & COORDINATION Arvind Mane
THE CHALLENGE OF CYBER PREVENTION IN AVIATION Heightened focus on cybersecurity drives investment by aviation to US$ 3.9 billion in 2018
Industry thought leaders across tourism specialisations share their views with Reema Lokesh on what will be the future trends in their field of work
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SANITATION AND SECURITY TAKES PRIORITY AT TECH SAVVY KUMBH 2019
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DESARU COAST, MALAYSIA APPOINTS ‘KNACK’ MARKETING AS ITS REPRESENTATIVE IN INDIA
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ENABLE TRAVEL PARTNERS WITH EZY MOV TO MAKE GOA BARRIER-FREE
THAILAND-BASED LCC NOKSCOOT FORAYS INTO INDIA
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VIETNAM TO HOST 38TH ASEAN TOURISM FORUM 2019 IN HA LONG
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SMILE DRIVE PAYS DIVIDENDS IN NORTH MALABAR TOURISM
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QATAR AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES ITS ACQUISITION OF FIVE PER CENT OF CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES
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RUSSIA VISA APPLICATION CENTRES LAUNCHED IN 4 CITIES IN INDIA
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WHAT WILL BE TRENDING IN 2019
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Photo Editor Sandeep Patil MARKETING Prabhas Jha Debnarayan Dutta CIRCULATION Mohan Varadakar PRODUCTION
TRAVEL TRENDS 2019 Cox & Kings unveils trends that are set to define travel in 2019
General Manager B R Tipnis Manager Bhadresh Valia
Express TravelWorld® POSTAL REGD. NO. MCS/163/2019 – 21
SUSTAINABILITY
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P04 : EDITOR’S NOTE P36 : MOVEMENTS
Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021)
A CARBON NEUTRAL WORLD BY 2050 UN Climate Change and WTTC highlight role of travel and tourism in attaining this goal
P37 : WEEKEND
Copyright © 2018 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
Sanitation and security takes priority at tech savvy Kumbh 2019 Reema Lokesh Mumbai TWELVE CRORE expected visitors, `2,900 crore investment, 30 km periphery area done up with amenities and visitor facilities and around 3200 hectares assigned for the core mela, the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019 starting January 15 in Uttar Pradesh is pitched to be a mega showstopper. Sanjay Kumar, special secretary - urban development, Government of Uttar Pradesh, in an exclusive with Express TravelWorld stated that, “Sanitation and security takes utmost priority at the Kumbh this year. It is unlike any in the past and it has many firsts. It is the first highly tech savvy Kumbh, connected on the digital platform, from security systems and services, to visitor information and facilitation and more.” He further informed that ambassadors from around 71 countries visited the region in December to get the first hand feel of what is expected in terms of services to the 10 lakh estimated foreign nationals. From the previous 34,000 public sanitation facilities to around 1,22,000 public sanitation facilities, the forthcoming Mela promises to offer a seamless and tourist friendly experience to its
visitors. The government has also put into place around 20,000 premium tent accommodation facilities in the tent city, which is being set up for the first time in the region. The hospitality industry along with the local homestay owners will all contribute in terms of services to the visitors. The entire Mela is being executed via a PPP model, with local tour operators and travel agents being part of the promotional plan. 20,000 police officers, CCTV cameras and also nonuniform support staff will be deployed for the safety of tourists. Allahabad airport has also been recently upgraded with a new terminal to cater to the incoming arrivals. From setting up of mobile ATMs, to aerial security, to road widening and other infrastructure development work, this Kumbh has invested in giving its visitors quality service, added Kumar. He added that the Mela Adhikari, Vijay Kiran Anand, has been on the project since the last three months to get things going on ground, as the work can begin on site only after the monsoons end and the water dries up. It calls for some pathbreaking work to be done in record time. Highlighting details of Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019 urban de-
velopment minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said, “This event is organised at four places in the country. The event held at Prayagraj itself is a subject of attraction and curiosity for the country and the world. UNESCO has included Kumbh in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has joined hands with the Government of Uttar Pradesh in promoting one of its kind event ‘Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019.’ Sunil Khanna, past chairman – CII Maharashtra State Council and president and managing director Vertiv, said, “CII is proud to be associated with one of the kind events which showcases Indian traditions and is of historical and
mythological relevance.” Khanna also spoken about aviation connectivity. Prayagraj has been connected through air route to the country's several main cities like Bengaluru, Indore, Nagpur, Patna, etc. A heliport is also being set up here and arrangements are being made to provide the facility of helicopter joy rides to tourists. To ensure representation of every cultural discipline of the country in Kumbh arrangements are being made for 30 thematic gates, over 200 cultural programmes of high quality, laser show on cultural topics, food court, vending zone, exhibitions and tourist walk. Facade lighting is also being done at prominent places. To showcase Indian culture, 'Kala Gram' and
'Sanskriti Gram' are also being set up. However, tour operators and travel agents are still skeptical on what will unfold and whether plans will be effectively executed during those critical days. Tour operators who were invited to work as partners feel that few logistical issues need to be looked at rather closely, namely moving from the tent city to the ‘Shahi Snan' areas, where pilgrims and visitors gather in large numbers. This is also a photographer’s delight. They also feel that there needs to be flexibility in the arrangements rather than tight schedules. Voicing her opinion, Shibani Ahuja Kapoor, founder, Wander Globe, says, “Though the government is making efforts to improve the Kumbh experience, we still have a long way to go in terms of putting out the PPP synergies effectively. The entire approach with the tour operators has been rather last minute. Few logistical issues need to be looked into, namely the travel from the tents to the main zone (Shahi Snan), food facilities, etc. The international traveller, which we also cater to is looking for a seamless experience and we hope this Kumbh can offer the same. A last minute approach with the tour operators is not a prudent move.”
ISRO to set up Space Galleries and Museums ETW Staff Mumbai THE ISRO has plans to set up Space Galleries in various locations in the country. The Space Galleries are expected to disseminate the knowledge about space science and technology.. The galleries will consist of interactive methods/ models describing the principles of space science and technology. Initially,
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Space Galleries are planned to be established at Birla Science
Centre at Hyderabad, Nehru Science Centre at Mumbai and
National Science Centre at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. In ad-
dition to this, ISRO has taken initiatives to establish Space Galleries in all the national museums/science centres (under Ministry of Culture) across the country in a phased manner. In addition to the Space Galleries, ISRO is planning to establish Knowledge Centres, mobile exhibitions, competitions amongst students and various talks/ lectures on space science/ technology related aspects.
IN THE NEWS
Thailand-based LCC NokScoot forays into India
ETW Staff Mumbai NOKSCOOT, a Thailand-based low-cost carrier (LCC), marked its entry into India with launch of its first non-stop flight connecting New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport and Bangkok Don Muang International Airport from December 19, 2018. NokScoot, a joint venture LCC between Scoot, 100 per cent owned by Singapore Airlines, and Thailand’s Nok Air, also announced a special promotional one-way Economy class fare starting from `7,200, inclusive of taxes and surcharges. While there are already a few airlines operating on the DelhiBangkok route, NokScoot projects that the growing demand for leisure and business travel between the two cities, can support the big capacity it is inject-
This route marks our first ever service to South Asia, after services to Tokyo and Osaka in 2018 ing onto the route. Passengers travelling between these two great cities will soon be able to experience the deferential hassle-free service and on-time performance of NokScoot. Giam Ming TOH, deputy CEO of NokScoot, said, “We are very proud to announce NokScoot’s inaugural service from Delhi to Bangkok. This route marks our first ever service
to South Asia and follows the launch of services to Tokyo Narita in June 2018 and Osaka Kansai in October 2018.” Toh added that NokScoot believes these flights will appeal to both leisure and business travellers travelling between Delhi, the fourth most populous urban area in the world, and Bangkok. Delhi, as the biggest air hub in India, is also very convenient for those making connections to and from most domestic destinations around India. “Following the launch of the Delhi service, NokScoot plans to further spread its wings in India with another destination in the first half of 2019,” he added. From its Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport base, NokScoot operates regular flights to Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenyang, Tianjin and Xi’an in China, Taipei in Taiwan, as well as Tokyo and Osaka in Japan.
Siris Capital and Evergreen to buyTravelport for US$4.4 billion ETW Staff Mumbai TRAVELPORT has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Siris Capital Group and Evergreen Coast Capital Corp., in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately US$ 4.4 billion. Evergreen is the private equity affiliate of Elliott Management Corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, Siris and Evergreen will acquire all the outstanding common shares of Travelport for US$ 15.75 per share in cash. The Board of Directors of Travelport unanimously approved the agreement and recommended that shareholders vote in favor of the transaction. Elliott and its affiliates have agreed to vote the common shares owned by them in favour of the transaction. Frank Baker, co-founder of Siris Capital, said, “Travelport has an impressive track record of developing and bringing to market best-inclass distribution capabilities, technology services, innovative payment solutions and other value-add digital tools for the global travel industry. We have been impressed by the company’s industry-leading GDS technology platform, which supports mission-critical transactions for both travel providers and agents. At the same time, Travelport is redefining the travel payments industry through eNett, a disruptive and fastgrowing leader in secure, virtual travel payments. Siris looks forward to partnering with the company’s management team and Evergreen in this next phase of Travelport’s evolution and growth as a private company.”
The proposed transaction is currently expected to close in the second quarter of 2019 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Travelport shareholders and receipt of required regulatory approvals. The transaction is not subject to any financing condition. Upon the completion of the transaction, Travelport will become a privately held company and Travelport common shares will no longer be listed on any public market. Travelport’s headquarters will remain in Langley, UK. Gordon Wilson, president and CEO of Travelport, said, “Travelport welcomes this proposed transaction with Siris and Evergreen, who are specialist technology platform investors. Throughout the process, Siris and Evergreen have demonstrated their deep technology expertise together with a strong commitment to the success of our customers, employees and partners. We will continue to develop and invest in our platform to serve the changing needs of our customers in the travel industry. It is very much business as usual at Travelport and we look forward to this new era in the company’s development.” Travelport says it can still actively solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties during a "go-shop" period from the date of the agreement through 23 January 2019. Travelport will then have the right to terminate the agreement to enter into a superior proposal subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement.
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IN THE NEWS
Vietnam to host 38th ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019 in Ha Long ETW Staff Mumbai VIETNAM will host the 38th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Ha Long, a part of the country which is rapidly expanding its already impressive tourism offerings with a new airport and improved infrastructure. Some 1,500 delegates will attend the ATF 2019, comprising of ministerial, NTO, official meeting delegates, as well as TRAVEX suppliers from across all 10 ASEAN member states, international buyers and media. ATF TRAVEX, the largest and most diverse annual showcase of ASEAN suppliers, will feature travel industry exhibitors from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, looking to connect with the hosted buyers and me-
dia representatives from around the world. The three-day ATF TRAVEX 2019, which takes place January 16-18, will aggregate 75 official sessions with Vietnam organising a programme packed with numerous social activities including pre and post-show tours, the opening ceremony, welcome reception and dinner, a golf tournament and a farewell party for delegates. Minister of culture, sports and tourism of Vietnam, H E Nguyen Ngoc Thien, said, “The people of Quang Ninh province are ready to welcome delegates and guests. We are honoured to host ATF and look forward to inviting all visitors to experience the natural beauty and warmth of our people. We are ready to embrace all ASEAN states to drive connectivity and sustainable tourism to Vietnam and the region as one.”
Jet Airways announces codeshare with flynas ETW Staff Mumbai JET AIRWAYS, India’s premier full service, international airline, and ‘flynas’, Saudi Arabia’s first budget airline, have entered into an extensive codeshare partnership to enhance connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia. As part of the agreement, Jet Airways will place its marketing code ‘9W’ on flynas flights between the gateway cities of Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh, thus providing its guests travelling from India the ability to travel in to Saudi Arabia via one point and depart from another. Jet Airways will also be placing its
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Bander Al-Mohanna
code via Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh to the Saudi Arabian cities of Medina which is the holiest city in Islam, as
well as port city of Gizan, the agriculturally rich city of Gassim, the unofficial summer capital city of Taif and the popular tourist destination Abha, thus extending our reach into Saudi Arabia. In turn, flynas will be able to offer its guests access in to India by placing its marketing code ‘XY’ on Jet Airways’ international flights connecting Jeddah to Mumbai, Riyadh to Mumbai and Delhi as well as Dammam to Mumbai and Delhi. In addition to these international routes, flynas will also place its marketing code on certain destinations on the Jet Airways domestic network, via Mumbai to Delhi, Kochi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Lucknow as well as via Delhi
to Bengaluru, Lucknow, Chennai, and Kochi. Marnix Fruitema, executive vice president - commercial, Jet Airways, said, “Saudi Arabia is the second largest international travel market to/from India with almost 6 million passengers travelling between both countries annually for religious tourism, business as well as leisure. Our codeshare agreement with flynas reflects our continuing commitment to offer our guests the best possible connections to more and more destinations around the world and we are delighted to partner with flynas to offer guests of both the airlines wider network access and a seamless
travel experience across the networks of both carriers. flynas’ CEO, Bander AlMohanna stated, “This partnership is an important step in-line with flynas’ expansion and development strategy. Through such agreements we aim to offer a continually improved service to our passengers by adding more travel routes and expanding our reach regionally and internationally, in particular to key markets such as India. We are certain this partnership will support our efforts and enable us to upscale the quality and convenience required to meet and even surpass our passengers’ demands and expectations.”
IN THE NEWS
Desaru Coast, Malaysia AirAsia India appoints ‘Knack’Marketing announces as its representative in India Mumbai as its next destination ETW Staff Mumbai
ETW Staff Mumbai DESARU COAST, Malaysia has appointed ‘Knack’ Marketing its sales representative in India. The appointment of ‘Knack’ Marketing will support Desaru Coast in building brand awareness, execute ongoing PR, implementing trade programmes, providing packaging solutions to the partners in India and increasing the number of visitors from the Indian market to Malaysia. Desaru Coast is a premium integrated destination resort and one of Malaysia’s most anticipated new tourism developments. It offers a premium experience for everyone from families and couples to business travellers and golf enthusiasts. The location of Desaru Coast is perfectly situated on the southern gateway to Malaysia, with ease of access for both domestic and international travellers. The resort is anchored by four world class hotels and resorts namely, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas and One & Only Desaru Coast
for premium travellers and a Conference Centre fitted with modern facilities. Featuring a perfect blend of business and pleasure, it also offers a 27-hole and 18-hole championship golf course with a supreme view of the coastline, a themed water park for family’s keen for an invigorating splash of adventure and a retail village with a wide range of offerings. Getting there is easy, just 1 hour 30 minutes’ drive from Singapore, or a 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive from Johor Bahru among other options. Also accessible by sea via the Changi Ferry Terminal, Singapore a 30-minute ferry ride followed by a 30-minute drive to Desaru Coast. TARH’s Chief Commercial Officer Philip Whittaker added “We are looking forward to this partnership with Knack Marketing and are confident that together, we can strategically position Desaru Coast as the brand that will elevate the tourism industry in Malaysia.” Medha Sampat, of Knack Marketing added “We are very excited about this new collaboration with Desaru Coast. This is a carefully planned development to woo the tourism sector. The
easy accessibility, massive infrastructure with its beautiful beach consists of stays in luxury accommodations, its extravagant conferencing facilities, state of the art theme park, stunning golf course, bundled with amazing gourmet options makes it a perfect getaway for the Indian traveller” Desaru Coast is a premium integrated destination resort and one of Malaysia’s most anticipated new tourism developments creating a unique blend of globally renowned hotels and resorts, a Conference Centre, a 27hole and 18-hole golf course, a themed water park and a retail village. It provides the perfect escape for the discerning leisure and business travelers alike. Located on the south-eastern region of the country, in the state of Johor, Desaru Coast spans over 3,900 acres along a pristine 17 km unspoiled beachfront, that faces eastwards over the clear ocean waters. The destination is easily accessible via road, air and sea, and is expected to welcome a wave of new travelers to its shores, attracted by its array of fun activities, renowned hotel brands and the unique Desaru Coast lifestyle.
AIRASIA INDIA has announced that it will be flying to Mumbai starting January 2019. Mumbai is one of the key markets for every airline with Mumbai airport being the second largest in India. AirAsia India will connect Mumbai to Bengaluru, and this significant business announcement is a testimony to its commitment to making everyone fly and offer affordable means of flying. AirAsia India recently increased frequency of flights between Bengaluru and Kolkata, operating early morning from January 12, 2019. It also started the sale of BengaluruGuwahati flights (via Kolkata) in the evening, commencing on January
15, 2019. Speaking about the development, Sunil Bhaskaran, MD & CEO, AirAsia India, said, “We are pleased to make the much awaited announcement of adding Mumbai to our network. This is a great way to end 2018, and in line with our ultimate vision is to focus on revolutionising air travel in the markets that we operate in. We’re also happy to welcome our 20th Airbus A320 aircraft to our fleet.” Guests can book their flights on www.airasia.com or the AirAsia Mobile App and avail fares from as low as INR 1599 for flights connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai. AirAsia India currently has a fleet of 19 aircraft covering 21 interesting destinations across the country.
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IN THE NEWS
SMiLE drive pays dividends in North Malabar tourism ETW Staff Mumbai AN INNOVATIVE destination development drive is drawing more foreign tourists to Kerala’s northernmost districts of Kannur and Kasaragod, largely benefiting local communities. The project, Small and Medium Industries Leveraging Experiential Tourism (SMiLE), has so far created 93 entrepreneurs offering homestays, resorts, houseboats and other tourism services, a press release said. They played host to 4,488 foreigners, mostly Europeans, so far and the authorities expect that the new year would bring more cheer to them. SMiLE had targeted 25 per cent foreign tourists arrivals in 2018 in the destination, but it already crossed 72 per cent in North Malabar; 199 per cent in Kasaragod district and 44 per cent in Kannur district, the release added. Not only its beaches, backwaters and hill stations but folk and martial arts, traditional systems of healing and newly introduced watersports also attract visitors.
“The region has some unique attractions, and the SMiLE entrepreneurs introduced some exciting products adding value to it. Some were so thrilled that they extended their holidays, thanks to their hosts who had undergone training under the SMiLE in leveraging experiential tourism. In the process, they were inventing new products attractive to the visitors,” said T K Manzoor, managing director of the state-run Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC) spearheading the campaign. One of the attractions in Kasaragod was Suranga, the unique water harvesting system of a horizontal tunnel in the laterite hills existing in the region for years for drinking water and irrigation. In Kannur, the holidaymakers are taken through the rich mangroves ardently preserved by the environmental activists, and performance of Theyyam, the dancing gods of north Malabar. Now there are facilities for accommodating 400 tourists a day under the SMiLE, spread across the two
districts. The BRDC helps them not only in developing the facilities but marketing globally. Early this month, BRDC brought some 40 tour operators from across India and introduced them to the SMiLE entrepreneurs and their products. Excited by the unique experience, they filmed them and posted it on social media. Many of the tourism facilities they visited, some run by women en-
trepreneurs, are in remote villages. Some of their video stories are attracting a lot of visitors, and there’s a spurt in enquiries since. BRDC has also launched a virtual tour guide mobile app, SMiLE VTG for the holidaymakers to create their itinerary and book destinations of choice. “Despite having so many attractions, the tourists were so far turning away from the region. That trend is chang-
ing. The sector will see more activities with better air connectivity. We link these entrepreneurs, who have become real ambassadors of the regions unique culture and cuisine, to tour operators, and the growth so far was exponential. It also creates a lot of jobs,” Manzoor said. Some tour operators even suggest that Kerala should replicate the model across the state, he added.
MICE: Bangkok ranks second in Asia on Global Destination Sustainability Index ETW Staff Mumbai BANGKOK, Thailand came second on the list of Asian destinations in the latest Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index. The GDS-Index, a Scandinavian initiative and the first sustainability ranking for event destinations worldwide, is a collaborative partnership between
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International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), European Cities Marketing, IMEX and the MCI Group. According to the index, the top five Asian cities with highest overall scores are Kyoto (Japan), Bangkok (Thailand), Goyang (South Korea), Sapporo (Japan), and Dubai (United Arab Emirates) respectively. Bangkok ranked second in Asia and 21st in
the world according to the GDS-Index. The ranking was measured across four key areas including city environmental strategy and infrastructure (14 topics); city social sustainability performance (4 topics); industry supplier support (8 topics); and Convention Bureau (CVB) strategy and initiatives (12 topics). Chiruit Isarangkun Na
Ayuthaya, president of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organisation) or TCEB, said, “Given the fact that international MICE travellers increasingly focus on sustainability while the GDSIndex aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, therefore, this ranking certainly benefits both MICE industry and Thailand at
the same time.” According to ICCA and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, Thailand currently ranks fifth in Asia for international conventions and seventh in Asia for international exhibitions. Both indexes spotlighted Thailand as the number one destination for conventions and exhibitions among ASEAN countries.
IN THE NEWS
Qatar Airways announces its acquisition of five per cent of China Southern Airlines ETW Staff Mumbai QATAR AIRWAYS has recently completed an on-market purchase of certain A shares and H shares of China Southern Airlines Company (China Southern Airlines), resulting in our aggregate holding of approximately 5.00 per cent of the total issued share capital of China Southern Airlines. This is part of the airline’s strategy to invest in strongest airlines around the world and continue enhancing operations and network connectivity. Qatar Airways’ chairman, H E Ali Shareef Al Emadi said, “Qatar Airways regards our shareholding in China Southern Airlines as an important part of
our strategic investment in the largest airline in one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets.” Qatar Airways’ Group chief executive H E Akbar Al Baker added, “China Southern Airlines is one of the most prestigious airlines in the Chinese domestic market and an important market player in the world, with massive potential for cooperation in the future. Given the complementary strengths and resources of each of China Southern Airlines and Qatar Airways, there are opportunities for us to work together and build a long term relationship in ways that would bring benefits to customers of both airlines. The investment is a clear demonstra-
tion of Qatar Airways’ continued commitment to connecting travellers across all corners of the world in a way that is meaningful and convenient. Qatar Airways very much looks forward to the opportunity to deepen our working relationship with this great airline and further enhance the travel opportunities across the globe.” This investment further supports the airline’s investment strategy which already includes its 20 percent investment in International Airlines Group, its 10 per cent investment in LATAM Airlines Group, its 49 per cent investment in Air Italy and its 9.99 per cent investment in Cathay Pacific.
Ajman Media City Free Zone forum concludes in Mumbai
ETW Staff Mumbai THE THIRD investment forum of Ajman Media City Free Zone concluded in Mumbai, India recently with potential investors, business consultants and chartered accountants meeting the senior delegation of Ajman Media City Free Zone. UAE. H E Mahmoud Khalil Al Hashemi, CEO of Ajman Media City Free Zone concluded his one week visit to India along with key senior management delegation from Ajman Media City Free Zone, UAE. The trade delegation focused on efforts to grow India’s investments in UAE. Ajman Media City Free Zone, the new investment destination in the Emirate of Ajman, has emerged as one of the strongest free zone entity, offering flexible and innovative business setups to global entrepreneurs in the media, digital and entertainment sector. Within few months of launch, Ajman Media City Free Zone (AMCFZ), is supporting the local economy of Ajman and UAE by attracting new companies, and active trade interests from chambers, trade organisations and
investment hubs from key markets. Trade missions have been a critical part of the AMCFZ agenda as the India visit comes close to a similar trade visit to Russia. Khalil Al Hashemi emphasised on the vision of AMCFZ management who is committed to support investment in the fields of media and provide the ground for the growth of companies and development on the basis of instilling a culture of innovation and emphasizes the leadership’s understanding of the role in supporting the local economy. With key policies, AMCFZ has become successful in lowering the cost of doing business in the UAE and making it a very attractive global centre for business owners. India business community has shown strong interest and appreciation for the investor friendly initiatives offered by the AMCFZ as the delegation had met over 200 plus business advisors, investors and companies through the road show series. The Mumbai forum is the last in the series of 2018 trade road shows by AMCFZ, which has met potential investors and trade bodies in Chennai and New Delhi earlier in this week.
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IN THE NEWS
Enable Travel partners with Ezy Mov to make Goa barrier-free ETW Staff Mumbai WITH AN AIM to make Goa a fully accessible destination and address different mobility issues of tourists, Enable Travel, has partnered with Ezy Mov, India’s first wheelchair taxi service, to provide accessible guided tours in the state. Debolin Sen, head, Enable Travel; Shama Noorani, Enable Travel expert, along with Bennet D’cunha, co-founder and CEO of Ezy Mov announced their partnership in their first joint effort to make travel barrier-free in Goa. Speaking about the partnership,Sen said, “Goa serves as one of the most popular and preferred travel destinations in India for both domestic and international tourists. However, due to lack of transport facilities available, people with mobility issues including elderly travellers are unable to experience a destination in its broadest sense. To ensure barrierfree travel and enhance transportation within a destination, we have partnered with Ezy Mov who are experienced
to address this need. We are very proud to be continuing our commitment to make travel easy and hassle-free in India and working with likeminded partners to create an inclusive and accessible travel environment.” Speaking on the partnership, D’cunha said, “Our mission is to position India as the leading country with regards to accessible tourism. What better place to start the journey than Goa - the premier holiday destination of our country. Moreover, the public infrastructure in Goa currently is more accessible than compared to other states. Ezy Mov and Enable Travel are the first movers in the accessible transportation and travel space in our country. Hence, we share the common vision of providing world-class end to end accessible assistance to our esteemed customers travelling from all over the world into India and Goa in particular. The coming together of both these companies will give the much-needed fillip & boost to the accessible tourism market in India. This service will also be available for
the local population to meet their healthcare and social needs.” Since its launch in March 2017, Enable Travel, powered by Cox & Kings has hosted attractive curated holiday experiences for the disabled (wheelchair, blind, deaf and speech impairment) as well as for senior citizens. The brand is today present across 220 + destinations domestic and interna-
tional included. Enable Travel’s award-winning campaign #CanDo has successfully inspired many disabled and ablebodied to change their mindsets and bring about a positive impact on disability. It has been carrying out various activations across cities with ‘Travel Tales’ and ‘Enable Experiences’, events which have been organised to encourage the disabled to come out of their
homes and bring alive the community that doesn’t get the chance to meet so often to converge and share their travel stories and life experiences with the world. The travel brand has been working with various travel providers, hotels, transport companies and disabled experts to create a seamless travel experience for people with disabilities as well as for senior citizens.
Jerusalem leads world tourism cities in annual growth, according to report by Euromonitor International ETW Staff Mumbai ACCORDING to a recent ranking report titled ‘Top 100 City Destinations 2018’ released by global market research company Euromonitor International, Jerusalem will lead all global tourism cities in annual growth for inbound visitors, making the Israeli city one of the world’s most popular travel destinations of 2018. Growth in Jerusalem is set to accelerate 38 per cent to 4.8 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2018, according to the report, and this after a 32 per cent growth in 2017. It should be noted that the 2018 data is an estimated arrivals figure based on part-year data.
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IN THE NEWS
Russia Visa Application India-MyanmarCentres launched In Thailand trilateral highway 4 cities in India ETW Staff Mumbai RESIDENTS of India can now apply for visas to Russia at VFS Global Visa Application Centres opened for the Embassy of the Russian Federation. The new centres will cater to the growing needs of outbound travellers to Russia, and increase accessibility to, and convenience of, visa services. With Russia emerging as a popular destination approximately 55,000 travellers visit Russia from India each year – the application process through the new centres will prove to be smoother and more streamlined. The centre in New Delhi was inaugurated by Nikolay Rishatovich Kudashev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of India, in a ceremony held recently. During the ceremony, Kudashev stated, “It is indeed a matter of great satisfaction for me to be present here with the personnel of VFS Global and the Russian Embassy to inaugurate the new Russian Visa Application Centre. It looks very impressive, very advanced and it perfectly fits into the new substance of our bilateral ties as well as our global co-operation. As you would surely know our relationship is a relationship of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. It carries political, economic, cultural and humanitarian content, but after all and finally, it is all about people; it is all about people to people connection, making this enormous relationship going. And
ETW Staff Mumbai
this person to person connection will not be possible without such a simple thing as visa. So in a way, the visa is the key to the strategic nature of our bilateral ties, and this key is in the clever hands of the people of VFS Global. I hope this visa application centre will make a real contribution to the growing strategic connection between our countries and our people.” Speaking about the development, Vinay Malhotra, regional group chief operating
officer - Middle East, South Asia & China, said, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with the Russian Government to the Indian subcontinent with the opening of these visa application centres in four cities in India. The network of Russia Visa Application Centres serves the needs of the ever-increasing numbers of travellers to Russia from this region and we are confident it will deliver services that exceed the expectations of the applicants.”
THE 1360 KM long IndiaMyanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is an initiative pertaining to India, Myanmar and Thailand. India is undertaking construction of two sections of the Trilateral Highway in Myanmar namely, construction of 120.74 km Kalewa-Yagyi road section, and construction of 69 bridges along with the approach road on the 149.70 km Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section. The work on both these sections was awarded on Engineering, Procurement and Construction mode in May 2018 for Kalewa-Yagyi section and November 2017 for the TKK section. The scheduled time for completion of both the projects is three years from the date of commencement at the project site by the executing agency. The funds released by this ministry is `188.32 crore out of the approved cost of `1459.29 crore for the Kalewa-Yagyi road sec-
The scheduled time for completion of both the projects is three years tion and `4.84 crore out of the approved cost of `371.58 crore for the 69 bridges along with approach road on the TamuKyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section. Both the projects are being funded by Government of India under grant assistance to the Government of Myanmar. A Motor Vehicles Agreement along with protocols for regulating and facilitating movement of cargo and passenger vehicular traffic is under intergovernmental negotiations between India, Myanmar and Thailand.
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IN THE NEWS
What will be trending in 2019 Yatra.com’s synopsis of the year that was and the year ahead ETW Staff Mumbai THE INDIAN travel industry has been growing at an exponential rate at the backdrop of burgeoning socio economic disposition and evolved preferences of customers. Fuelled by government initiatives like UDAN and digitalisation reaching nooks and corners of the subcontinent, India has been motivated to travel a lot this year. The much awaited HR mail with the holiday calendar in the first week, marks a beginning of planning for the year. Families plan their long vacations and festive visits to book way ahead in time. However, the trend of millennials and the corporate crowd making last minute decisions to escape and make most of their long weekends continued through the year. With the destinations getting commercialised by the hour, the younger and the more adventurous lot are moving to unexplored and off beat destinations. Travel has become more about rejuvenation, adventure, fulfilment, learning new skills and ‘being more of who you are’ than just ticking off places and flopping in the sun. Travel has now become a priority in the decision-making process of how they want to spend their disposable income. The trend can also be attributed to the first generation of digital nomads who would put envy-worthy Instagram and Facebook feeds with picture-perfect photographs and inspire more and more people to travel, creating a snowball effect. Taking frequent breaks and shorter vacations, they are just looking for a reason to give in to their wanderlust – be it a weekend break, destination wedding, baby-mooning or a second honeymoon. An interesting observation to note here
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is that the travelers across the world are not hesitant to stay in a stranger’s house. For a cost effective and indulgent trip, homestays have become quite popular. Although we have seen an inclination towards budget hotels, we cannot ignore the fact that there is high level of interest for luxury travel and properties, encouraged by the macro economic conditions. Needless to say, whether budget or luxury, all travellers want is to weave a tapestry of experiences while travelling. With travel becoming more experiential than functional, brands are personalising their offerings as per customer preferences. Basis their buying patterns brands push relevant offers to their target segment, recommend options for their stay, etc. Big data, cloud technology and personalisation is having a profound positive impact on the travel industry as it offers customer insights that were hitherto not available pre-
viously. With this new information, businesses are in a better position to provide customised service, enhance customer satisfaction, and increase operational efficiency and at the same time help companies gain competitive advantage. To sum up, while some of the trends in the travel space prevailed, there has been persistent changes in the travellers preference and studying those, some of the on looking trends for the next year could be:
Green Travel More and more travellers are increasingly ‘going green’ in their travel choices while keeping the needs of the environment in mind.
Food Tours In 2018 culinary travel ruled the trends, and keeping along with that theme brings 2019’s big food-related travel trend: foodie tours. Almost every big
city provides at least one Foodie Tour, from Savannah’s Southern Charm Sidewalk Tours to Brooklyn Chocolate Tour.
nities to deliver a more personalised experience and this trend will only grow in the years ahead.
Internet of Things (IoT) Family Travel When you’re on the go with a crew in tow, experiences are clearly the best option. But instead of the usual Disney World or all-inclusive beach getaway for groups, families are being much more adventurous.
Instagram’s Enticement One area that will remain hot next year is Instagram. The social media platform continues to take the industry by storm, making “insta-tourism” as much a part of global travel as passports. Younger explorers are making entire trip plans based on photogenic spots captured on Instagram.
Personalisation Big data and machine-based learning both provide opportu-
Another digital trend in the travel industry is ‘The Internet of Things’ which refers to the use of internet capabilities within everyday devices, allowing them to send and receive data. This is extremely useful within the tourism industry, because it can be deployed to automatically reduce costs and improve the experience for customers, without the need for human interjection.
Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR) In the current day and age where technology is the big bet of the day, consumers are spoilt for choices and are increasingly looking of this intervention even in their travel choices.
IN THE NEWS
Bhopal was venue of AdventureNEXT’s Asia debut ETW Staff Mumbai THE INTERNATIONAL event specialised in adventure travel, AdventureNEXT, made its Asia debut from December 4 -5, 2018 at the new international convention centre – Minto Hall in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. It focused on adventure tourism by combining marketplace (Chowk Bazar), meetings, networking opportunities, inspirational speakers and educational sessions together for national attendees as well as overseas delegations. The successful convention attracted nearly 200 attendees including global buyers, international/national media representatives, sellers and office bearers of the ATOAI,
hotels, hospitality and tour operators who came to expand their knowledge spectrum and itinerary offerings. To grace the event, Suman Billa, joint secretary, ministry of tourism; Swadesh Kumar, president of ATOAI and Akshay Kumar- chairman of AdventureNEXT committee were also present. Speaking on the occasion, Hari Ranjan Rao (IAS), principal secretary, tourism and managing director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board said, “Madhya Pradesh is truly honoured and privileged for being the ever first host of AdventureNEXT in Asia. We thank ATTA and all the respected international buyers, felicitators, media and national delegates who came together to make this event a grand success. The
AdventureNEXT not only brought together the networking sessions but it also gave a unique definition to the hidden treasures of adventure tourism in India. With this we focus to promote the adventure travel aspect with full pace in Madhya Pradesh as well”. Speaking on the same, Shannon Stowell, CEO, ATTA said, “We were honoured and proud to present the world AdventureNEXT with MP Tourism. The extraordinary variety of adventure travel Madhya Pradesh preserves is worth experiencing. AdventureNEXT captured India’s religious heritage, mythological, historical, wildlife, and beautiful architectural spots clubbed with physical activities and journals for the attendees. This is just the beginning, ATTA
also plans to introduce more tours which are adventure driven panning across the unexplored exploratory destinations of India.” The two days long event encapsulated the theme “Pulse of Tomorrow” indulging delegates to explore future-driven business opportunities from Madhya Pradesh, the heart of incredible India. The indulgent agenda featured trending topics such as economics of wildlife tourism and immersive technology while the educational workshops like traditional Gond Art show kept attendees engaged. For the prestigious event, the cultural programmes included performances of popular Indian dances - Bharat Natyam, Mohini Attam and tribal folk dances. Madhya Pradesh also
organised pre and post familiarisation trips to various destinations. Established in 1990, ATTA is widely recognised as a vital leadership voice and partner for the adventure travel industry. The association’s constituency of more than 1,300 member organisations in 100 countries is made up of tour operators, tourism boards, specialty agents, and accommodations all sharing a vested interest in the sustainable development of adventure tourism. With specialised expertise in research, events, education, media, and promotion, the ATTA’s business services and events division, Adventure 360, delivers a portfolio of strategic solutions and robust ecosystem of global events.
Akshay Kumar (chairman, AdventureNEXT committee), Jack Finifrock (regional director ATTA), Shannon Stowell (CEO, ATTA), Suman Billa (joint secretary, ministry of tourism, Government of India), Hari Ranjan Rao (IAS) (principal secretary tourism and managing director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board) and Captain Swadesh Kumar, (president, ATOAI)
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IN THE NEWS
IATA launches platform for airlines to share turbulence data
ETW Staff Mumbai IATA has launched Turbulence Aware, a data resource to help airlines avoid turbulence when planning routes tactically in-flight.Turbulence Aware is designed to augment an airline’s ability to forecast and avoid turbulence by pooling and sharing (in real time) turbulence data generated by participating airlines. Today airlines rely upon pilot reports and weather advisories to mitigate the impact of turbulence on their operations. These tools, while effective, have limitations due to the fragmentation of the data sources, inconsistencies in the level and quality of information available, and the locational imprecision and the subjectivity of the observations. For example, there is no standardised scale for the severity of turbulence that a pilot may report other than a light, moderate or severe scale, which becomes very subjective among differentsized aircraft and pilot experience.
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Turbulence Aware improves on the industry’s capabilities by collecting data from multiple contributing airlines, followed by a rigorous quality control. Then the data is consolidated into a single, anonymised, objective source database which is accessible to participants. Turbulence Aware data is turned into actionable information when fed into an airline’s dispatch or airborne alerting systems. The result is a global, real-time, detailed and objective information for pilots and operations professionals to manage turbulence. “Turbulence Aware is a great example of the potential for digital transformation in the airline industry. The airline industry has always cooperated on safety - its number one priority. Big data is now turbocharging what we can achieve. In the case of Turbulence Aware, the more precise forecasting of turbulence will provide a real improvement for passengers, whose journeys will be even safer and more comfortable,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s
director general and CEO. Turbulence Aware is already generating significant interest among airlines. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Aer Lingus have signed contracts; Delta is already contributing their data to the programme. “IATA’s collaborative approach to creating Turbulence Aware with open source data means that airlines will have access to data to better mitigate turbulence. Using Turbulence Aware in conjunction with Delta’s proprietary Flight Weather Viewer app is expected to build on the significant reductions we’ve seen already to both turbulence-related crew injuries and carbon emissions year-over-year,” said Jim Graham, Delta’s senior vice president of Flight Operations. The first operational version of the platform will be developed by end of 2018. Operational trials will run throughout 2019, with ongoing feedback collection from participating airlines. The final product will be launched in early 2020.
Promotion of North East Indian tribal culture ETW Staff Mumbai AN AMOUNT of `23.50 crore has been sanctioned for construction of a Regional Convention Centre at the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) Complex, Dimapur. Out of an amount of `13.00 crore released to NEZCC, `5.72 crore has been spent towards construction of the convention centre. Under Tagore Cultural Complex Scheme, from 2013 till date, an amount of `41.65 crore has been allocated and `22.50 crore spent for construction of Tagore cultural complexes at Chedema, Aboi, and Dimapur in Nagaland and at Raga and Upper Subansiri District in Arunachal Pradesh. The government has set up Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram during 2016-17 and 2018-19, which, inter alia, function as a body of knowledge and research and preservation of tribal art and culture. From 2014-15 till date, `86.18 crore have been provided to the TRIs in North East Region to carry out various activities viz. research studies, evaluation studies, organisation of training/seminar/workshop, organisation of tribal festivals, baseline
The government has set up Tribal Research Institutes in Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram survey, publications, documentaries/documentation, organization of exchange visits etc., catering to promotion of tribal culture. In addition, North Eastern Council also provided funds for projects aimed towards promotion of the cultural heritage in the North Eastern Region, including for allotment of land for construction of cultural and information centre in Delhi. New projects are considered based on proposals received as per the extant guidelines, within the overall availability of resources.
IN THE NEWS
HELP! WHEN YOU NEED ITTHE MOST… Being alone in a foreign country, Mrs. Agrawal was highly worried about financial liabilities. Language barriers further added to her woes. TrawellTag CoverMore endeavored to address all her concerns promptly by providing regular updates about her husband's health, liaising with the local medical team, and facilitating end-to-
Subhash Agrawal
MANY ORGANISATIONS gift all-expenses paid trips to their business associates, as a token of performance or gratitude. Subhash Chandra Agrawal was awarded one such trip, and embarked on a vacation to Thailand along with his wife. While in Pattaya, Agrawal complained of uneasiness and breathing issues. Worried and scared for his health, an anxious Mrs. Agrawal approached the trip organisers, Cox & Kings, for help. Being the travel assistance and insurance partner, TrawellTag Cover-More was informed immediately. The global emergency assistance team of TrawellTag CoverMore swung into action, arranging for Agrawal's first line treatment at Pattaya and subsequently transferring him to one of Thailand's leading hospitals in Bangkok for treating the diagnosed pneumonia.
end financial assistance along with language assistance. On being declared fit to travel, Mr & Mrs Agrawal returned to India, thankful for travelling with the TrawellTag Cover-More's global assistance and insurance. We don't want to just meet your expectations; we want to repeatedly exceed them!
“Our heartfelt gratitude towards TrawellTag CoverMore's global assistance team for their unwavering support during my brotherin-law's medical emergency abroad.” - A relative of Subhash Chandra Agrawal (TrawellTag Cover-More Happy Customer)
“Throughout our 15 years+ partnership with TrawellTag Cover-More, the team has always stepped in to support our customers and ensure their complete satisfaction.” Ravi Menon, Sr. Vice President, Head – Foreign Exchange & Insurance, Cox & Kings India
Indian Railways unveils swanky new train for IRCTC Buddhist circuit ETW Staff Mumbai INDIAN RAILWAYS famous Buddhist circuit tourist route has got an all new swanky train. Manufactured by the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, the special LHB (Linke-Hofmann-Busch) rake is painted in colours of beige and brown. Said to be developed on the lines of the luxurious Maharaja Express train, the new Buddhist circuit tourist train has several passenger friendly amenities. The new train for IRCTC Buddhist circuit has been customised as per the special needs of tourists. The new Buddhist circuit train has unique features such as personalised digital lockers, venetian windows, modular bio-vacuum toilets, shower rooms and separate pantry for vegetarian and non-vegetarian passengers. According to ICF, the new rake has been designed and developed in a short period of only 6 months. The 12coach train has four First AC coaches, two Second AC coaches, two dining cars, two power cars, one Third AC coach for staff and one pantry car. According to RCF officials, the coach factory has modified the Second AC coaches, dining car, power car, Third AC coach and pantry car on specific demands of IRCTC. On the exterior, the new IRCTC Buddhist circuit train has an anti-graffiti vinyl wrapping. The exterior also depicts various monuments and symbols
as a tribute to the rich heritage and culture of India. The train has CCTV cameras, an advanced fire detection and suppression system, passenger announcement system etc. The First AC and Second AC coaches meant for passengers also have shower rooms and modular fittings in the toilets such as touchless tap, soap dispenser and hand dryer. The Second AC coach has a comfortable Sofa with adjustable reading lights. While the First AC coach can accommodate 24 passengers, the Second AC coach has a capacity of 30. The dining car, with teakwood finish glass top tables has electrically-operated venetian blind windows and stainless steel partition frames. It can seat up to 64 passengers. The serving area has new equipment such as programmable coffee vending machine, microwave oven, wine chiller, Baine marie for serving hot food, automatic dish washer and plate dispensers. The pantry car has electric hot plate, deep fat friers, combi ovens, deep freezers, salamandar, dough-making machine, ice-cream chest freeze, under counter freezers, RO water dispenser etc. The Buddhist circuit train by IRCTC covers destinations related to Lord Buddha such as Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Varanasi, Lumbini, Kushinagar and Sravasti. The tourist train is aimed at attracting tourists from countries like Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, China as well.
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NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Fairfield by Marriott Taichung T
aiwan’s first Fairfield by Marriott hotel has opened in Taichung. Owned by one of the leading real estate developers in central Taiwan, Eslite Real Estate Agency Co and managed by Marriott International, Fairfield by Marriott Taichung is located within close proximity to Taichung’s transportation hub, including the Taiwan HighSpeed Rail Taichung Station, Taichung International Airport and the National Highway Taichung Interchange. In addition, Fairfield by Marriott Taichung offers guests fast and convenient accesses to popular local attractions, such as National Taichung Theater, Lihpao Outlet Mall and Houfeng Bikeway. Fairfield by Marriott Taichung features 131 guestrooms, a restaurant, 24/7 fitness center and a snack shop in the lobby.
The Hotel Indigo Manchester – Victoria Station I
nterContinental Hotels Group has expanded its rapidly growing Hotel Indigo, brand to Manchester, England.The Hotel Indigo Manchester - Victoria Station is adjacent to Exchange Square, one of the city’s most popular shopping districts. The hotel features 187 rooms, with design inspired by Manchester’s rich and colourful history. The exterior of the hotel is a beautifully restored Grade II listed building, featuring an eye-catching contemporary tower, providing views of the city’s skyline. The hotel’s three room designs combine Manchester’s industrial past with modern luxury and style. Raw materials feature throughout the hotel, such as bare brick walls in the reception, complemented by iron pulleys and rope connecting to lights which have bespoke weaved baskets as shades. The hotel will feature a restaurant and bar, Mamucium, headed by award-winning Mancunian chef Andrew Green. Named after the Roman fort that was the birthplace of modern Manchester, the 120-seat restaurant will serve a menu of classic, locally sourced food, topped off with a Northern spin. The venue’s centrepiece will be a stunning, silestone and brass bar area. There will also be a cosy café, M Café, within the restored building.
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Andaz Dubai La Mer H
yatt has entered into a management agreement with wasl Asset Management Group, one of the largest real estate development and management companies in Dubai, for the development of an Andaz-branded hotel at La Mer - a vibrant lifestyle district in the coastal area of Jumeirah. Expected to open in 2020, the property will become the first Andaz-branded hotel in Dubai and the second Andaz hotel in the United Arab Emirates, after the Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi. Andaz Dubai La Mer will feature 156 rooms and suites, two restaurants and a rooftop bar and pool area. Meeting facilities, available to guests and locals, will encompass two residential-style studio rooms.
cover )
WOMEN GAME CHANGERS Industry thought leaders across tourism specialisations share their views with Reema Lokesh on what will be the future trends in their field of work
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cover ) SHOBHAMOHAN FOUNDER PARTNER @RARE INDIA Game changer thought: Experiences will take over ! ‘meaning is truly the new luxury’ Plans for 2019? We are trying to find a balance between online and offline selling without compromising on the essence of the experience and story-telling. There is a lot of competition in the small boutique space just now and we are working very hard to rephrase and tell our stories which are by far more genuine than many of the boutique hotels out there. The community angle to the RARE community of hotels is something that is now becoming a part of the global sustainable travel agent, we plan to work on this more efficiently to take the message out. These two are from a marketing point of view which we are focussing on. Lastly our sales force is being streamlined and trained to facilitate efficient sales.
“I believe people are your best investments and I am against having women organisations, because I believe tourism is a collective cause and we are in it together” What will be the primary game changer for the next five years in your work domain? Travel from booking to delivery and execution has to become a personal and enjoyable experience. Even large inventory and group hotels are revisiting their delivery to engage their guest both visually and through service and activity. Art installations, arty and design spaces, fabric and people, colours, contrasts and fragrances are taking over from the neat and sterile spaces of yore. Attitude training and genuine expressions are replacing the usual lip-stretches and chewinggum smiles. Experiences will take over ! People will forget what they pay but now how you make them feel. Businesses are beginning to invest in EQ all around, from their employee programs to delivery – ‘meaning is truly the new luxury’.
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What is the USP of your business? That we have created a product line of boutique experiential hotels in 2004 way before this was even a trend speaks volumes for the work we have done and continue to do. Our market reach is very strong and the values additions of our hotel community is very unique and genuine. This is reflected in the experiences at each one of them and resonates in all our marketing promotions and communications. Being pioneers our reputation and brand has reach far and wide without being gimmicky we have grown and sustained organically. Also what we do is what we personally believe in. It is my endeavour to train my team to think sustainably and think style, boutique and community all the time. What are the future investments and projects lined up? I believe people are your best investments. This year it is my endeavour to invest in people, to train and empower them to deliver the RARE ideal effectively. I always say we are all “Rare&Aware”. As for projects I want to take up fledgling and potential destinations like Andhra Pradesh and the North East and work with the government to work on a global tourism model which is sustainable as well as lucrative without destroying the destination. We must look at quality and not quantity, lower number but higher revenue models will
keep new destinations pristine. What are challenges and opportunities you visualise in the near future? There are many many lodges, retreats and experiential hotels opening up with all sorts of concepts. It is important to take into account the local flavours of the destinations and to constantly innovate to create quality products at viable price points. Hotels and projects should invest in research and feasibility, impact on the local resources etc. before they hit upon the sweet spot that can provide sustainable ROIs at the same time treading softly on the land and resources. Marketing should be so managed that the destination does not lose its appeal and does not impinge on the local populace. For people with a vision that can consider the above, there are great opportunities in newer areas where there are fewer quality products and also new frontiers and concepts to explore. Women are breaking the glass ceiling, however the service industry can certainly make room for more leaders on top? Your comments. Absolutely broken and will continue to shatter it. In fact somehow the outbound Industry has a lot of great women on top, it is the Inbound and Domestic where we seem to be lagging behind. Especially in associations and organisa-
tions, women as changemakers are somehow in the minority. I feel if they make it to the board their voices are largely subdued and their ideas not taken into account. Women are naturally inclined towards inclusiveness and deeper engagements. They also tend to ideate more broadly and long term; and always from a business perspective which could be well used brand ourselves as a destination well. I am against having women organisations, because I believe tourism is a collective cause and we are in it together and we bring in our skills and ideas to create a balanced environment and a wider perspective. A message you wish to share with the industry? Yes and that is wake up and reimagine destination India. Re-think our quality and the element of luxury. With the online dogging us with deals, agencies and hoteliers should take a stronger stance against selling on the basis of lowering the costs and sidestepping the travel agents. Ideate for collaboration, sustainability and a brilliant PR strategy. Mediocrity won’t work, there is a wealth of richness in every corner of the country, there are a 100 things you can visit India for – lets break the box and reinvent ourselves. It’s time to reset our strategy, and there is no dearth of talent in this country to help us achieve this.
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THE MAIN FOCUS
NALINI GUPTA MANAGING DIRECTOR,LOTUS AERO ENTERPRISES,GSACOSTACRUISE INDIA Game changer thought: Cruise liners home porting and starting short round trip itineraries from Indian coasts travel companies and the end consumers about the different cruising itineraries. The USP of your business? Cruising in India is still only in its nascent stages of growth and Costa currently is still the only cruise liner to have taken first steps to homeporting from Mumbai. This just shows the dedication that we have to growing the market in India. Today, we have far flung places in India who are reaching out to us for our Mumbai sailings. This has also helped our brand awareness spread to a larger base in India, thereby helping sales on our International sailings as well.
“Travel companies need to be proactive, solution seekers, besides being just customer friendly�
What will be the primary game changer for the next five years in your work domain? While cruising in India is growing at a rapid pace, according to me the big game changer is going to be cruise liners home porting and starting short round trip itineraries from different parts of the vast Indian coastline (i.e. Mumbai, Goa, Chennai). Ease of boarding from within the country, is going to help Indian cruising numbers shoot upwards from 180,000 currently to 1 million within a short span of time. Plans for 2019? We are looking at aggressively using Social Media to educate more
Women are breaking the glass ceiling, however the service industry can certainly make room for more leaders on the top? Your comments. I think I am seeing a lot more energetic young women take leadership positions, which is very exciting as I think women are able to handle frayed nerves more ably with their strong emotional quotient. They also lead teams well. A message you wish to share with the industry? Work hard, learn to own your clients instead of just transacting with them, enter unchartered waters fearlessly, recognise the power of working with teams.
The future investments will be to have more Costa ships homeport in India for a longer duration in the year. Presently we are the only cruise liner home porting from Mumbai
What are the future investments and projects lined up? The future investments will be to have more Costa ships homeport in India for a longer duration in the year. However, presently we are the only cruise liner home porting from Mumbai from December to March. What are challenges and opportunities you visualise in the near future? The opportunity is that the cruising/holiday travel is going to grow aggressively within the country. The challenge for travel companies will be that consumers will know a lot about cruising and different holiday options as information becomes even more and more readily available. Hence, travel companies and sellers cannot just sit on their past laurels, but they need to ensure their teams are proactive, solution seekers and knowledgeable besides being just customer friendly. In terms of cruising, also while the consumer and the cruise liner will be excited about the India opportunity, the port infrastructure and related procedures will need to move at the same pace.
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cover ) ZAREEN KAHAI GOVERNMENTOFINDIALICENSED TRAVELGUIDE AND OWNER MYSTIC TRAVELS Game changer thought: The domestic market will have a major market share than Inbound tourism in due course of time Plan for 2019? 2019 I plan to add food tours to my company portfolio and focus on food workshops for foreigners.
“Women travellers find it safest to travel with me through India. I do not feel intimated by the fact that I am in a male dominated profession”
What will be the primary game changer for the next five years in your work domain? According to me the domestic market will have a major market share than Inbound tourism in due course of time. More and more people are realizing the importance of travel and prefer moving out on a long weekend. Its a great shift for the Indian economy and Indian Tourisim as the domestic customers are on the rise. Business in the travel space is no longer seasonal. One can clearly witness growth in the domestic market due to a number of both internal and external factors and it will only surely rise over time.
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What is the USP of your business? I am a Female Travel Guide , very few women travel guides are available in my field . When I passed the government of India license exam we were only 2 women in a class of 180 meaning the rest were offcourse men . So my field is completely male dominated . Women travellers find it safest to travel with me through India. I am amongst the very few women in this field with a legal license to work from the government of India. Being a woman in this field I take that as my biggest USP and I do not feel intimated by the fact that I am in a male dominated profession. My passion helps me soar and being the brand ambassador of my country is something I am extremely proud about. What are the future investments and projects lined up? I plan to focus on circuits which have not been capitalised due to poor infrastructure for example the Buddhist Circuit. I want to bring the Buddhist circuit to the mainstream travel. Try to move it from being just a pilgrimage circuit to a secular circuit wherein people of all faiths and from all corners of the world travel. UP and Bihar are rich in history, heritage and culture. These will be experiential and historical tours. In India we do read about Buddhism a lot in our history books what I would like to do is bridge the gap and would like Indians to experience these sites with their families. There is a huge potential of this circuit in south-east Asia and the west. What are challenges and opportunities you visualise in the near future? The biggest challenge would be lack of infrastructure in Bihar and certain parts of UP. There is lack of basic amenities and good roads on these
routes and lack of toilets and clean midway stops to eat like we find on the Rajasthan circuit which has developed quite well. We definitely don’t have high end and neat and clean hotels. It will be extremely challenging and I hope the governments of Bihar and UP focus more on giving travellers basic infrastructure as this will be a great boost to the tourism industry and make travel in Bihar and UP much easier. Women are breaking the glass ceiling, however the service industry can certainly make room for more leaders on the top? Your comments. Well to be honest there very few women travel guides who move out with groups into different states of India. Most prefer to work in the place they live as safety is of paramount importance and this is a completely male
dominated sector. I truly have believed being fearless, courageous and passionate is the only way forward. If you are good at what you do you can truly make a difference. Yes, being a woman travel guide is not a very accepted profession in this country and I have answered this question endlessly why am I in this profession and its looked down upon as well . People don’t respect me but my passion drives me and what people think has never made a difference to me and it shall never stop me from doing what I love doing the most which is being a brand ambassador of my country. A message you wish to share with the industry? My message would be lets make the industry more women friendly and see more women travel guides out there by encouraging them.
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LUBAINASHRERAZI COO,BLUE SQUARE CONSULTANTS Game changer thought: Technology is and will continue to be the biggest game changer growth for tourism boards and hospitality brands. Plans for 2019? 2018 has been a successful year for our company with some path breaking work executed for our clients. We have witnessed strong outbound growth results and increased traction for various tourism boards and hotel chains we represent and are glad to step into the New Year on a high note. Our client portfolio has also expanded to include newer brands.
“Companies today are far more dedicated towards honing the leadership potential and skills of female employees”
What are the primary game changer for the next 5 years in your work domain? With digital revolution at its peak, technology is and will continue to be the biggest game changer in the travel business in years to come. Being tech savvy is now a need for the masses, influencing majority of their travel decisions. Given how digital and mobile-centric the world has become, the demand for technology in the travel sector has no intent of slowing down. As a representation firm, it is imperative to understand the scope of digital media, its ever evolving trends and tap into its full potential for intelligent solutions and impactful results. Services like Marketing, Sales and Public Relations must adopt a digital approach and change its modus operandi to foster
What is the USP of your business? We offer a whole gamut of representation services to our clients. As a partner, we take responsibility for managing the brand and business in India. We are specialists in tackling the Indian market’s complexities by implementing a global approach along with possessing exceptional skills in crisis management for our brands as and when required. Our efforts have resulted in changing perceptions and driving desired outcomes; Oman’s inbound travel mix has gone from being completely labour heavy to a healthy mix of high end leisure and MICE, while Thailand has now attained a fine balance of high end travellers and budget seekers as opposed to drawing only budget vacationers previously. Seychelles has also received an overwhelming response with India coming in as one of the top 5 source markets in a short span of time.
The wave of digitalisation has exposed travellers to an enormous amount of information. In this scenario, it becomes crucial to break the clutter as novelty is an essential element in building travel aspirations. Experiential travel is in vogue and marketing entities must work towards developing innovative marketing solutions to lure the new set of travellers who are becoming more discerning and informed. Additionally, the influence of social media also brings with it a host of opportunities and challenges. Creativity and optimal use of technology along with a localised approach is the key to landing on the tourists’ itineraries. Women are breaking the glass ceiling; however the service industry can certainly make room for more leaders on the top? Your comments. More often than not, women have proven to be successful leaders pos-
sessing the power to envision, shape and strategically guide the culture of their firms. The service industry without doubt can welcome more women in top positions as this has been a workplace problem since decades now. However, we cannot fail to acknowledge the fact that companies today are far more dedicated towards honing the leadership potential and skills of female employees than in the past as they are now recognizing the value of workforce diversity. A message you wish to share with the industry? A new year brings with it newer prospects, opportunities, chance to learn and unlearn and raise the bar by doing exemplary work. As an industry, it’s our time to rise and shine together setting examples of admirable innovation for the rest of the world to follow suit.
What are the future investments and projects lined up? As an agency, we believe in constantly reinventing our strategy to provide a comprehensive approach for all our brands. Bearing this in mind, we aim to drive increased investments towards expanding our digital arm to offer a 360 degree, allinclusive solutions to enhance the PR, marketing and sales efforts. What are challenges and opportunities you visualise in the near future?
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cover ) SAKSHI VIJ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,CARZONRENTAND FOUNDER & CEO,MYLES Game changer thought: Consumers are more likely to change their car ownership behaviour to car sharing options Plans for 2019? We believe that the EV policy by the government will take its full shape in 2019. This will provide a large boost to clean energy vehicle options and also bring a large number of EV options from car manufacturers. What is the USP of your business? As Carzonrent and Myles, we have always focussed on providing newer mobility options achieving convenience, value and Flexibility for our customers. Our corporate chauffeur drive business has continuously innovated in providing the only completely automated B2B chauffeur drive service to large business houses in India. With Myles, our car sharing service, we are bridging the gap between access over ownership of a car to prospective car users.
“I see the Indian millennial's making their need for Access over ownership of assets felt strongly�
What will be the primary game changer for the next five years in your work domain? The mobility industry is going through a new phase of electrification, connectivity and access over ownership from the consumer side. All of this is with the objective of making ground travel more convenient, affordable and clean. The next five years will see large adoption of the same. Electric vehicles will be a strong focus. Consumers are more likely to change their car ownership behaviour to car sharing options like MYLES.
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What are the future investments and projects lined up? We will continue to invest in Technology as a company and keep building more products in the area of personal mobility. What are challenges and opportunities you visualise in the near future? I see the Indian millennials making their need for access over ownership of assets felt strongly. A car is therefore an asset that will become far more popular in the Car sharing space. As Myles we will collaborate with stakeholders in the car ownership value chain to make this available to our consumers. Women are breaking the glass ceiling, however the service industry can certainly make room for more leaders on the top? Your comments. I believe that one of the toughest sector for women to crack was manufacturing, and we have seen shining examples there from General
The mobility industry is going through a new phase of electrification, connectivity and access over ownership from the consumer side. Electric vehicles will be a strong focus. Consumers will be more likely to change their car ownership behaviour to car sharing options like MYLES
Motors to Pepsi and so many more. In the services space, I see a lot of women entrepreneurs starting out
as well. It may now be the time for the industry to collectively push that envelope.
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MANJULA OWNER,VARUN WORLDWIDE VACATIONS Game changer thought: Travel industry will need to look beyond set itineraries to attract clients also in the process of putting together groups of young travelers who are looking for once in a lifetime experiences such as the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb in Tanzania, the Machu Picchu trek in Peru and scuba diving with the sharks in the Philippines. Hopefully we will be able to roll-out some more experiential packages in 2019. What is the USP of your business? We love to curate tailor made packages like ski packages and diving holidays for our clients who are interested in offbeat and luxury destinations. We also have decades-old trust based and personal relationships with many of our DMC and hotel partners, creating this sweet spot where the suppliers provide excellent service to our clients, and our clients return with very happy memories.
“Competing with the internet or tech-based companies is definitely going to be a growing challenge�
What will be the primary game changer for the next five years in your work domain? The travel industry is evolving at a faster pace than ever before. The success of companies such as Airbnb and Uber prove that the clients preferences are shifting from a planned itinerary based holiday to a more exploration based holiday. They are investing in experiences and want to live like the locals. The travel industry, over the next 5 years, needs to adapt to this changing mindset and look beyond set itineraries to attract clients. Plans for 2019? Our workload has been steadily increasing and we would definitely like to grow our team in 2019. We are
more leaders on the top? Your comments. The travel industry has always been ahead of most industries in terms of giving women the opportunity to grow and flourish. In fact some of the pioneers of the industry have been women. We've always been balancing work and home, managing crises and people - these are very important skills in the trade and women should appreciate this, support one another and help each other grow as leaders. A message you wish to share with the industry? 2018 may have brought with itself challenges like more competition and alternative forms of holiday planning, but let's work together as an industry rather than compete and remember to keep the client front and centre!
We've always been balancing work and home, managing crises and people - these are very important skills in the trade and women should appreciate this, support one another and help each other grow
What are the future investments and projects lined up? In addition to the growing team and packages mentioned above, we're also launching a brand new interactive website that will allow clients to choose or shortlist their potential holiday destinations. What are challenges and opportunities you visualise in the near future? Now services like car rental, room bookings and experiences are all available online and only a click away for most clients. Competing with the internet or tech-based companies is definitely going to be a growing challenge in the industry. Despite a proliferation of these options, clients are often skeptical of the quality of these, and the opportunity for small family-owned businesses like ours is to leverage and deepen our relationship with suppliers so that the quality of our offerings remains unmatched. Women are breaking the glass ceiling, however the service industry can certainly make room for
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cover ) JYOTI MAYAL HON.SECRETARYGENERAL,TRAVELAGENTS ASSOCIATION OFINDIA(TAAI),MEMBER BOARD - CII SKILL DEVELOPMENT,MEMBER BOARD - CII NATIONALCOMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY, MEMBER - FAITH (TAAI) AND DIRECTOR,NEWAIRWAYS TRAVELS (DELHI) Game changer thought: Government needs to recognise us as an industry
“We need to build on our strength of services through technology and start looking at ourselves as consultants�
What will be the primary business game changer for the next five years in your area of specialisation? Travel and travel related business is evolving. Every day that dawns is a day full of challenges. We have seen revenues deteriorating and services becoming more demanding due to evolving technology. Relationships are more superficial and the bondings are more mechanical. Unity and moving together is of the past. The next five years I believe the above stated issues will change more and more. Any plans which went unfulfilled in 2018 and will pan out in the coming year?
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Holding a position of the Hon Secretary General at the most nodal body - TAAI I believe we need to build on our strength of services through technology and start looking at ourselves as consultants. We should certainly be seeing our industry getting into a matured platform as we progress. We should cultivate relationships and grow more united. We should also make the government recognise us as an industry which actually supports the country the most, for employment, foreign exchange, progress & infra structure. We definitely need to work closely with the government and fight for a recognised industry status. We cannot be ignored. No ministry takes us seriously - neither tourism nor aviation. We are like the gap fillers. Even the airlines are behaving in an autocratic way .They keep taking our support, inputs, and then finally react as they want to. My objective surely for future is that we as an industry should be heard seriously and our inputs be considered as priority. What is the USP of your business? Our company is into distinct businesses from corporate travel, conferences, exhibitions etc. In corporate business we need to see how our services can improve. I feel services and travel are going to be based on experiences. Vanilla services can be offered by all but the differentiators is personal touch and dedicated services. . What are the future investments and projects lined up? Every agent should be nurturing niche markets. Luxury market, incoming tourism also holds a great future. I would like to build this model for my travel company and hope 2019 would be the year to do so. In conferences, exhibitions too we need to see what the audience is looking for. We certainly need to delve into what the
trade would be like in the next five years and draw out a long term plan to succeed. Once again I feel personal touch with smart technology is the winning formula. What are challenges and opportunities you visualise in the near future? I have learned so much from this industry and I would like to give back to the society from my learnings. Recently I did a forum on relevant topics for the industry - technology, tourism and challenges in aviation. I plan to do many more knowledge sessions and the purpose would be to educate the industry and work towards building an industry with inputs of ethics, knowledge and success. In an annual exhibition
which I do for children I like to inculcate tourism, health, education & entertainment. Women are breaking the glass ceiling, however the service industry can certainly make room for more leaders on the top? Your comments. The travel trade needs to see more women in the fore front. I believe women are much better workers and leaders. We are so used to multi tasking. Women are perfectionists, work diligently and passionately. They have humility & willingness to learn along with persistence & know the balancing act well. We certainly look forward to many more leaders. Woman should also be supporting woman and help each other to become leaders.
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SHEETALWADHWAMUNSHAW DIRECTOR, ATOUTFRANCE -INDIA Game changer thought: Slow travel may emerge as an important travel trend in the coming few years with friends and family.
“The only challenge is maintaining a distinctive identity in a competitive environment and to retain the positioning, recall and allure of the destination” What will be the primary business game changer for the next five years in your area of specialisation? Digitalisation is the driving force today for all businesses and its contribution to the field of travel has been immense. Travel is enabled by technology and the discerning traveller of today literally has all information at the click of a button. This burgeoning dependence on technology may pave the way for newer concepts in travel and it would not be surprising if vacations of the future are considered a means of a detox from all things digital. Slow travel may emerge as an important travel trend in the coming few years. While technology will still play an important role in the travel domain, vacations may be considered as a time to disconnect and spending quality time
What is the USP of your business? In addition to being the most visited country in the world, France is also the number one country for Indian arrivals in the Schengen space. What sets France apart from its contemporaries is its unique art de vivre that is integral to the daily life of the French. This art de vivre also forms part of France's areas of expertise that include diverse domains such as wine tourism, ecotourism, sports, the French Alps, the French savoir-faire and nightlife. France's signature tourism brands include destinations such as Alsace, Alpes-Mont Blanc, Biarritz Pays Basques, Burgundy, Brittany, Bordeaux, Côte d' Azur, Corsica, Champagne, Languedoc-Mediterranean, Lyon, Normandy, Provence, Paris, Toulouse- Pyrénées and the Loire Valley that benefit of global renown. Our global strategy is to effectively communicate and showcase these iconic destinations and France's areas of expertise through our marketing and communication initiatives.
to showcase relatively unexplored facets of France such as adventure holidays, winter travel, self-drive escapades. Cinema is an important medium for us and we would be keen to facilitate the shooting of Indian movies in French locales. The only challenge is maintaining a distinctive identity in a competitive environment and to retain the positioning, recall and allure of the destination. Women are breaking the glass ceiling, however the service industry can certainly make room for more leaders on the top? Your comments. By default, women make up a large part of the workforce in the tourism domain. From hospitality to travel to other segments associated with tourism, women have successfully made their presence felt. In fact, at Atout France, our global workforce is 70 per cent women dominated. I per-
sonally believe that leadership qualities are more individualistic and personality driven and not linked to gender. A good leader leads by example irrespective of gender. A message you wish to share with the industry? I believe that as a responsible fraternity, the onus is on us to successfully and consciously integrate the message of sustainable and responsible tourism. It is crucial for all of us to conserve and preserve our planet and through strong initiatives taken by our fraternity, we can set stellar examples. Let us also integrate the concept of promoting tourism responsibly and avoid over- cluttering monuments and historic sites that already see a huge influx of visitors daily. It is also essential to lend support to local artisans and local producers so that they benefit commercially.
What are the future investments and projects lined up? India is steadily gaining importance as a source market for France. This is reinforced by the fact that during the official visit of the honorable minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs – JeanYves LeDrian in December 2018, a closed door panel meeting was held in Mumbai with a selection of prominent spokespersons from the travel domain to understand today's dynamic travel trends and means of augmenting the number of Indian travellers to France. Focused efforts are being made by French suppliers to adapt to the needs of Indian travellers and we are confident that France will continue to remain a preferred travel destination for the discerning Indian traveller. What are challenges and opportunities you visualise in the near future? To connect with the growing breed of experiential travellers, we would like
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cover ) ADITI BALBIR FOUNDER & CEO,VRESORTS Game changer thought: Customers won't care about whether a room has a chandelier or not, but will probably be happier to know their resort offers bird watching or safari experience whether a room has a chandelier or not, but will probably be happier to know their resort offers a bird watching or safari experience. Plans for 2019? We were planning on expanding outside India, something that we will fulfill in FY 19-20.
“Since most of our resorts are in sensitive, offbeat areas, I wish there was a ceiling on the number of properties that are allowed to mushroom there� What will be the primary business game changer for the next five years in your area of specialisation? The hospitality industry has always been about customers and their feedback. To that end, five-star hotels always had the infrastructure required to cater to what Indian travellers wanted. In the coming years however, boutique properties (that may or may not have the same kind of infrastructure as 5-star hotels) will shift their focus towards what they can make a customer do -experiences that they can truly cherish. Customers won't care about
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What is the USP of your business? V Resorts in India's largest hospitality management company focused on micro tourism. We offer experiential stays to leisure customers, solving the problem of a lack of standardised, high-quality services to travellers across 20 states. Our exclusive experiences, local outdoor activities and unique dining experiences are all USPs, but the work we do with local women artisans through our store Pitara, is a huge reward for us, as well as being absolutely unique to us. What are the future investments and projects lined up? First off, we're going to be expanding our operations in East India (especially around Kolkata), as well as in the South (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu). This is apart from us venturing into South-east Asia, mainly to places that receive the most Indian travellers. Are there any challenges and opportunities you visualise in the near future? First and foremost, maintaining quality across properties. We can't have the same approach that the aggregators do - customer reviews mean everything to us. Women are breaking the glass ceiling; however the service industry can certainly make room for more leaders on the top? Your comments?
In India, women in hospitality are mostly all family-business run; we don't see any women entrepreneurs as such. So I think we can definitely make room for more. A message you wish to share with the industry? This is a great question to ask on the eve of our selection as finalists of the UNWTO Awards! Since most of our resorts are in sensitive, offbeat areas, I wish there was a ceiling on the number of properties that are allowed to mushroom there. Mainly so the destination itself remains unspoiled and pristine, allowing everyone to enjoy it as it should be.
We're going to be expanding our operations in East India (especially around Kolkata), as well as in the South (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu)
EVENT ROUND UP
Buddhonomics and more: ABTO's Convention highlights the importance of serene synergies The recently concluded International Buddhist Travel Mart and Convention organised by Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO), which was the association's maiden one at Bodhgaya, took up the cause of promoting and projecting Budhhist tourism and circuits with a focused approach. By Reema Lokesh
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t was a meeting of minds at the recently held International Buddhist Travel Mart and Convention, the first one organised by Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO) International Convention at Bodhgaya, Bihar. Representatives associated with the promotion and marketing of Buddhist tourism places and regions from neighbouring countries of Nepal and Sri Lanka along with representatives from South East Asian countries were part of the convention. The convention and travel mart spread over three days highlighted critical and pertinent issues that this niche pilgrim tourism sector faces. From infrastructure bottlenecks to connectivity and marketing collaborations a number of points were highlighted at the first convention of ABTO. The convention received wholehearted support from the team from Nepal, with dignitaries namely C P Shrestha, MD, Hotel NANSC; Achyut Sharma Guragain, honorary secretary Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM), president, Nepal Association of Tour & Travel Agents (NATTA), who came in to support ABTO's initiative. In his opening remarks Kaulesh Kumar, secretary general, ABTO, stated, “We are all in it together and the
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EVENT ROUND UP mission is not only business but business through friendships and building stronger bonds based on ethical practices. Our aim is to project and highlight the various inspiring locations associated with Buddha that also links our neighbours Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries namely Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc. The convention and mart has been an eye opener to all stakeholders, scholars, monks around the world who are directly or indirectly involved in this Buddhist Pilgrimage Tours, that an organisation such ABTO is ready to work in this sector with the support of government and private players. We want to work together to push this niche sector
Our aim is to project and highlight the inspiring locations associated with Buddha that also links our neighbours
forward.” He further added that the message is very clear to preserve, conserve, protect, promote monuments associated with Buddhist links. He said, “We want to link ourselves to more countries representatives to take our cause forward.” The association is also seeking wholehearted support from the government and also large trade organisations from India namely IATO and the others. IRCTC joined hands to promote the exclusive Buddhist circuit train. Delegates were taken on an exclusive
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EVENT ROUND UP showcase of the train. Kamal Kathiat, deputy general manager, IRCTC said, “This train is in demand not only from international Buddhist pilgrims but also by Indian nationals who want to explore and visit the sites from the tourism viewpoint.� This train experience comes with an all inclusive package starting from the capital city of India. ABTO also aims to work with other states namely Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra to push their Buddhist circuit development plans forward. Ajay Sengar, from Akola, Maharashtra was also keen to work closely work with ABTO to support the cause and promote the same in western region of India. Bikram Pandey, goodwill ambassador of the Lumbini Development Trust felt that it's important to promote the sector not only as a pilgrim tourism journey but for all tourists in general. It should be not only for the religious point of view but also for pure experience. He also spoke about his work with Marathons being organised in his region to promote the cause and explained his version of Buddhonomics. Dr Ravindra Panth senior advisor, International Association of Buddhist Tours Operators, spoke about the profound knowledge his journey can provide to the visitors. He is advocating the cause of Dharma and its true meaning. Ravi Bankar, of Genesis Leisure Consulting, was rather practical and pragmatic and he wishes to see some real ground breaking changes and infrastructure improvements to do justice to this sector. Rasika Rajapaksa from Nawamini Travels, Sri Lanka spoke about the strong connect between the two countries and he highlighted the importance for more exchanges of such nature. ABTO is clear in its mission and is wanting more link minded stakeholders to join them to take forward the cause of Buddhist tourism both on the national and the international arena.
ABTO also aims to work with other states namely Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra to push their Buddhist circuit development plans forward. Ajay Sengar, from Akola, Maharashtra was also keen to work closely work with ABTO to support the cause and promote the same in western region of India. ABTO is clear in its mission and is wanting more link minded stakeholders to join them to take forward the cause of Buddhist tourism both on the national and the international arena
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IN FOCUS
The challenge of cyber prevention in aviation Heightened focus on cybersecurity drives investment by aviation to US$ 3.9 billion in 2018
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hile cybersecurity remains high on the agenda and is a spending priority for both airport and airline CIOs, faster progress towards implementation of concrete cyber prevention and management initiatives remains a challenge.This is according to the 2018 Air Transport Cybersecurity Insights, new research released recently by global IT provider SITA. The report shows that 89 per cent of airline CIOs plan a major program around cybersecurity initiatives in the next three years, up from 71 per cent last year. This is even higher for airports, with 95 per cent of them planning major programmes by 2021. Business continuity, through the protection of operational systems and processes, remains the priority for more than half (57 per cent) of airline and airport executives. As a result of the heightened focus, spend on cybersecurity is increasing year-on-year, reaching $3.9bn in 2018. SITA’s research shows that airlines will spend an average of 9 per cent of their overall IT budget on cybersecurity this year, up from 7 per cent in 2017. Similarly, airport investment in cybersecurity in 2018 is set to rise to 12 per cent of their overall IT budgets in 2018, up from 10 per cent last year. The research also highlights that many executives are keenly aware that greater strides need to be made to implement proactive cybersecurity measures. Barbara Dalibard, CEO, SITA said, “The importance of cybersecurity is well recognized and airlines and airports are investing in building a solid security foundation. However, the
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number of cyberthreats continues to grow exponentially every year, as does the sophistication of those threats. Given the complexity and integrated nature of the air transport industry, we need to move far quicker in establishing proactive defenses to ensure we stay ahead of the game.” The most common cybersecurity spending priorities among airlines and airports today are; employee awareness and training (76 per cent); achieving regulatory compliance (73 per cent) and identity and access management (63 per cent). However, SITA’s Insights identi-
fied several focus areas that need more attention over the next few years. These include proactive network monitoring and protection, securing the extended enterprise (Cloud, IoT) and protection from internal threats such as data leaks. SITA’s research also indicates more can be done to raise the importance of cybersecurity. Today only 41 per cent of respondents capture cybersecurity as part of a global risk register, while a further 42 per cent of respondents plan to include cyber risk in their registers by 2021. Only 31 per cent of the responding organisations have a dedi-
cated Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), which is seen as crucial to ensure visibility of cybersecurity at executive level and effective implementation. Proactive monitoring through a Security Operations Center (SOC) is also a core topic for many respondents with the majority having plans to quickly implement such services. The biggest barrier to implementation is a lack of resources which affects 78 per cent of air transport industry organizations. Another significant challenge executives face is the retention and recruitment of specialized skilled staff (47 per
cent) and the capacity for staff training (56 per cent). Michael Schellenberg, head of Cybersecurity Solutions, SITA, said, “We at SITA recognise that moving from awareness to action can be challenging. It was with this in mind that we - together with other industry specialists such as Airbus have built up a portfolio of cybersecurity solutions that help air transport industry organisations monitor, detect and manage cyber risks. It is only by collaborating as an industry that we can move forward faster and ensure our industry remains well protected and prepared.”
SPOTLIGHT
Travel trends 2019 Cox & Kings unveils trends that are set to define travel in 2019
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leagues to take up travel. Wifi enabled places and hotels is a bliss for such travellers as it enables them to post live travel updates.
(1) Travel to influence: For Gen X’er or a Millennial, travelling to new places, explore new experiences, try out new cuisines and interact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds has become an intrinsic part of their lifestyle. This passionate generation of travellers is more likely to make their travel decisions based on the travel posts of their peers on social media because social media is a more authentic source of information. At
(2) Far and beyond: What drives travellers to pursue their travel dream is curiosity. A rising number of them are keen on exploring what's beyond at some of the most remote locations in the world. Basis the travelsearches made by holidaymakers in 2018, there is an evident trend of rising interest in places beyond city-centres and conventional tourist spots. To unravel the hidden secrets and visit the untouched lands are the latest trends. Following the foot-
eter Kerkar, Group CEO, Cox & Kings shares the company’s perspective on trends that will define travel in 2019.
Peter Kerkar
the same time, it is important for them to capture their best travel stories through photos and videos and inspire their circle of friends and col-
steps of Charles Darwin, a new tribe of travellers are making their way to Galapagos archipelago to experience the endemic species and inhabited islands. Similarly, cruising through Norwegian Fjords to reach the remote shores of Svalbard watching the passing shining glaciers and stunning landscapes are all experiences catching the eyes of avid travellers who wish to reach earth's edges in 2019. (3) Walking tours: Each place, if observed carefully, tells you multiple stories about its history, culture, biodiversity, geography, food, architecture and people. Many travellers consider
exploring destinations on foot as the best way to delve into several intricate aspects of the place, which one might miss otherwise. This is why many passionate travellers are relying more on guided walking tours to enjoy the experience. Though city walks are the most common form of walking tours, they are gradually moving to food walks, cultural trails and photography stroll among others according to the specific interest of the travellers. While heritage walk in South Mumbai is common, one can get introduced to unusual sea creatures in Mumbai during a guided Marine walk near Haji Ali. Similarly, gourmet walking tours in France offer
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SPOTLIGHT an amazing experience to the foodies with food and wine pairing, cooking classes, gourmet restaurants and even a bit of local culture like cheese and truffles. Travelling on foot also offers the opportunity to spend sufficient time at any given place, explore the local culture and reach inaccessible spots. Walking tours at Machu Picchu is a great window to explore the colossal mountains, lush vegetation and ecological wonders while the forest trails of Japan are equally resplendent. We expect this type of holidays will form part of every traveller’s itinerary in the coming year. (4) Multigenerational travel: The joy of travelling with the family is unmatched, however, one is happier to travel with a bigger family. The new trend is called Multigenerational Travel and it seems to also take a centrestage in 2019. Nuclear families with hectic lives find it difficult to meet their family members on a regular basis, for them, travelling with their grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins have become a great time to spend some quality time. In addition, instead of closed-door celebrations, family members of different generations are travelling together to celebrate several occasions like birthdays, anniversary and other family events. Given the rise in multigenerational travel, there is a sharp increase in demands for familygroup and customised packages. Cruising is also one of the top five leisure options for multigenerational family groups as it is more relaxed and lesser activity based, especially when there are older family members travelling along. (5) Luxury Travel: Luxury travel is growing, faster than it did in past five years. Over the next decade, the growth rate for luxury travel is projected to be at 6.2 per cent. There are several
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factors influencing the decision to opt for luxury travel. The year 2019 will see more people experiencing luxurious camps, villas, embark on exquisite journeys, traverse in luxury trains and embark on luxury cruises. While the developing nations are at the forefront of the growth acceleration, an increase in the disposable incomes in these countries is favourable to luxury travel. Although currency fluctuations in different nations slightly affected the segment, it has made the developed nations seek luxury travel at further discounted prices, fuelling the growth. (6) Dark tourism: Curious travellers always want to explore every nook and cranny filled with unforeseen surprises and great adventures. This set of travellers who step out to take experiences that they have never taken before, no matter even if it’s a weird thing to do.
Some people find it thrilling and entertaining to visit mysterious places like Kuldhara village in Rajasthan that are believed to be haunted. While others may visit tragic sites such as Cambodian Killing Fields memorial or Berlin Wall in Germany, some also visit the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero when in New York. Though for most of the travellers visiting the sites of death and disaster is only a part of a wider range of thing to do, a large number of travellers in some way are getting attracted to such sites because they wish to review these chapters in history and remind them of these incidents. (7) Getting over Overtourism: Factors influencing a traveller's destination choice is fast changing. The year 2019 is set to make the holidaymakers more discerning and conscious. Although there is a trend of travellers being
more sensitive towards geopolitical and other related issues, off late these factors have started influencing the travellers' decision. It is nondesirable to get stuck in long queues or crowded streets on a leisure trip. While Italy is using phone apps to deal with overcrowding by giving realtime updates, Dubrovnik is experimenting with dispersing cruise timings through the week. While such measures are being undertaken at all major tourist hubs, travellers are modifying their plans to help curb Overtourism at an individual level. In 2019, we will see more travellers taking trips in offseason to ensure visit to their favourite place while not adding to Overtourism. New destinations near the saturated ones stand benefitted. (8) Responsible Travel: There is no running away from the much devastation that has rocked our oceans,
beaches, forests and Islands. Most being tourist places, the onus of the situation must be borne by the travellers as well as operators. Pollution of different forms has started hitting the business as well as non-economic aspects of societies including indigenous tribes, local ecology, ecosystems etc. However, the good part is that there are organisations and operators that have highest regards for sustainability. They will take the centre-stage in 2019. Travellers including majorly the millennials consider themselves equally responsible for the disaster and duty-bound to reverse it. The New Year will see a spurt in the number of responsible travellers demanding for sensitive travel packages as well as sustainable operators to ensure a guilt-free tour. Plastic-free travel, Voluntourism, Sustainable and green tours are predicted to be extensively used terms in the travel space.
SUSTAINABILITY
A carbon neutral world by 2050
Photo credit Sylwia Bartyzel unsplash
UN Climate Change and WTTC highlight role of travel and tourism in attaining this goal
T
he World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and UN Climate Change recently showcased how the travel and tourism sector can take steps towards carbon neutrality by 2050. In April, WTTC, which represents the global private sector of travel and tourism, announced the agreement of a common agenda with UN Climate Change, an international treaty which aims for the stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, paving the way for travel and tourism to engage more effectively in the delivery of global goals around climate change. Recently. at the UN Climate Conference (COP24) in Katowice, Poland, at the first travel and tourism event ever held at the annual COP, both organisations addressed the links between travel and tourism and climate change and presented a pathway for the sector to achieve carbon
neutrality by 2050. Speaking ahead of the event at COP24, Gloria Guevara, president and CEO, WTTC, said, “Travel and tourism has an important role to play around the world in economic development, presently accounting for 10.4 per cent of global GDP and one in 10 of all jobs, which is more than comparative sectors, such as automotive, chemicals manufacturing, banking and financial services.” “Given our sector’s contribution to social and economic development, it is important that travel and tourism plays its part in the drive towards climate neutrality, under the auspices of the UN Climate Change. So, today we are announcing that we will continue to work with UN Climate Change to highlight to consumers the positive contribution travel and tourism can make to building climate resilience; the establishment of an industry accreditation scheme; and the creation of an
We will highlight to consumers the positive contribution travel and tourism can make to building climate resilience; the establishment of an industry accreditation scheme; and the creation of an annual “State of the Climate” event and report annual “State of the Climate” event and report to evaluate, monitor and share progress towards climate neutrality. As a major world sector, travel and tourism stands ready to play its part in this bright future,” she said. UN Climate Change executive secretary Patricia Espinosa encourages the travel and tourism sector to find new, innovative and sustainable ways to reduce its carbon footprint. “On a basic level, doing so is simply a question of survival. But on another level, it’s
about capturing opportunity. It’s about transforming your businesses to be part of a global economic shift - one marked by sustainable growth and powered by renewable energy,” she said. “We are already experiencing the impacts of climate change in Fiji and in the rest of our Pacific Island countries. The tourism sector is a major revenue earner for our country. Unfortunately, the attractions that drive this sector – our reefs, sandy beaches, clear seas, and forest biodi-
versity – are under threat from the impacts of climate change. Innovative financing where the travel and tourism sector can support our small island economies to respond to these threats is needed and I am very encouraged that the sector is eager to engage in such initiatives and strengthen public-private partnerships in the fight against climate change,” said High-Level Climate Champion H E Inia Seruiratu, Fiji’s minister for defence and national security.
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MOVEMENTS IHCL The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has announced the appointment of URBAN DENK as senior vice president, F&B; SARABJEET SINGH as head of IHCL’s new brand, Expressions and PANKAJ SAMPAT as area director - Sri Lanka, Maldives & Malaysia & head – Taj Asia (TAL) and Taj Safaris (TSL). Chef Denk will be instrumental in shaping the Food & Beverage philosophy for IHCL. He is an accomplished culinary expert with over three decades of global experience from across Europe,
Middle East and Africa. Singh will head IHCL’s new brand, Expressions which comprises its service retail portfolio. He will provide leadership for businesses of The Chambers, Taj Khazana, Jiva and the Company’s signature restaurants. Sarabjeet is a seasoned hotelier and his association with IHCL spans over three decades. Sampat launched and positioned the new Taj Santacruz, Mumbai when he was the general manager of the hotel. Prior to that he was the General Manager at Vivanta President. He joined IHCL in 1993 at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. Whilst managing his new role, Sampat will also additionally continue to carry out his responsibility as Center of Excellence (COE) lead for Food & Beverage Concepts.
Sterling Holidays
Urban Denk
Sterling Holiday Resorts, one of the leading holiday lifestyle company, announced the appointment of MANISH JAIN as chief finance officer. In his role he will be responsible for Sterling Holidays finance, accounting, tax, in-
Sarabjeet Singh
ously held key leadership roles at Westin, Ista Hotels, Polar Group and Hindustan Development Corporation.
Air Canada Air Canada has appointed MICHAEL ROUSSEAU as deputy chief executive officer and chief financial officer, and CRAIG LANDRY as executive vice president pperations, effective January 1, 2019. Rousseau and Landry are both based in Montreal and report to Calin Rovinescu, president and chief executive officer, Air Canada. As deputy chief executive officer and chief financial officer, Rousseau will assume oversight for several important corporate initiatives and businesses, in addition to his present responsibilities, including Air Canada Rouge where its president will now report directly to Rousseau. He is currently Air Canada's executive vice president & chief financial officer, with responsibility for the airline's overall financial
Michael Rousseau Manish Jain
Pankaj Sampat
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surance, and treasury functions. A chartered accountant and a company secretary by qualification, Jain is a seasoned finance professional with over 26 years of experience in the hospitality and manufacturing sectors. Prior to joining Sterling , he held the position of finance director at Fassco International Pte in Abu Dhabi and as CFO at Roots Corporation (Ginger Hotels). He was associated with Taj Hotels for over 8 years. He has previ-
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore has newly appointed TUSCH DAROGA as the hotel manager for the 273-key luxury hotel. Daroga brings with him a wealth of experience, spanning a prolific career of over 16 years in hospitality, across leading luxury hotel brands such as The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts and Trident Hotels. In his latest capacity, he is responsible for leading the team in achieving operational efficacy and creating exceptional guest experiences by instilling initiatives to empower employees and inspiring a thriving work cul-
strategic direction comprising all aspects of financial reporting and planning. As executive vice president, operations, Landry will have oversight for all aspects of safe, reliable and efficient operations throughout Air Canada's worldwide network, with responsibility for Flight Operations, Systems Operations Control, Maintenance and Engineering, International Operations, In-Flight Service, Crew Planning and Scheduling, Airports, Contact Centres, Customer Relations, and Air Canada Vacations. He is currently senior vice president, revenue optimisation, and has held several executive roles at Air Canada with responsibility for various aspects of the airline's commercial group.
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Craig Landry
Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has appointed MICHELLE FRYMIRE as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Based in Minneapolis, Michelle will report to Kurt Ekert, President & chief executive officer of company and serve as a member of the CWT executive
ture. Being a passionate hotelier, accomplishing enhanced guest satisfaction is his forte.
Michelle Frymire
leadership team. Current CFO, Brad Hall, will become executive vice president, chief administrative & financial officer of Carlson Inc., CWT’s parent company. Both appointments are effective from January 21, 2019. Immediately prior to her appointment, she was chief financial officer at a portfolio company of private equity firm Kohlberg & Co. She was previously chief financial officer at Service King Collision Repair, TruGreen Lawn Care and Starwood Vacation Ownership, and held senior finance roles at ServiceMaster, Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines and American Airlines.
weekend
E V E N T S
NEW AT NOVOTEL Hon. chief minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu; V Prabhu Kishore, chairman, Varun Group and Jean-Michel CassĂŠ, COO, India & South Asia, AccorHotels during the launch ceremony of Novotel Vijaywada Varun
SARANGKHEDA CHETAK FESTIVAL MTDC recently organised the Chetak Festival in Nandurbar, Maharashtra. The festival exhibited horses from other states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat
KOKAN CALLING Kokan Bhumi Pratisthan kicked off its eighth Global Kokan Festival at the Mumbai Exhibition Center, NESCO
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weekend
E V E N T S
THE CHARM OF VIETNAM Embassy of the S R Of Vietnam, in association with OM Tourism, organised the Vietnam Tourism Roadshow in New Delhi and Mumbai under the theme 'Vietnam - A charming destination for Indian tourists'
NEW YEAR NOTE Delhi Tourism ushered in the New Year with a combination of music and food at the Garden of Five Senses
BRIDGING DISTANCES PM Modi opened India’s longest railroad bridge, Bogibeel Bridge in Assam which will reduce distances between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
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REGD.WITH RNI NO. MAHENG/2005/15993,POSTAL REGD. NO. MCS/163/2019 – 21, PUBLISHED ON 11TH EVERY MONTH, POSTED ON 12TH,13TH,14TH OF EVERY MONTH, POSTED AT MUMBAI PATRIKA CHANNEL SORTING OFFICE,MUMBAI – 400001.