AAHAR 2014 DELHI
MARKETS
AVIAREPS to triple India portfolio by 2020 Looks to open office in Bengaluru Kahini Chakraborty Mumbai
so different. According to me, the biggest challenge in India
AVIAREPS is looking at tripling its growth in the India market in the next seven years as part of its 'Agenda 2020' plan. The company is going to focus on building its aviation portfolio in India as well as look at representing hotels. The company has 46 offices in 38 countries worldwide and 12 clients from India, ranging from attractions, airports, airlines, including Dallas Airport and Air Nambia. AVIAREPS is a global leader in tourism, aviation, hospitality and trade promotion representation. Speaking to the media during his visit to Mumbai, Michael Gaebler, chairman and CEO, AVIAREPS said, “The India market is growing every year by more than 50 per cent and there has been a sustainable trend in outbound travel. As part of our 'Agenda 2020' plan we are working towards tripling our India business by 2020. The company will try and push its IBCS and Avianet service for airlines and airport, as well as work with GDSs to grow its hotel business in India. The IBCS programme provides an opportunity to profitably participate in marginal market BSPs with negligible capital risk.” Gaebler also stated that it could be a good idea to sign MoU's with FICCI, IMC in India. Presently, the company has its offices in Mumbai and Delhi, and hopes to soon have an office in Bengaluru to have a strong pan India presence. “We are also studying Sri Lanka and Bangladesh markets with the intention of handling clients from these countries from our India office,” informed Gaebler. Elaborating on the Indian market business scenario he opined, “India is a special market in some way, but the marketing techniques are not
FOOD & HOSPITALITY WORLD
15
March 1-15, 2014
is that it is a more price-centric market which is looking
for a bargain, but this scenario is almost the same in
any other market which is looking for better prices.”