Travel and Hospitality (TnH) - February 2017

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FROM THE EDITOR

The Budget At A Glance!

Publisher & Editor Srishti Rai Director Bharat S. Rai Managing Editor Prem Kumar General Manager - Marketing Prem Sagar premsagar@tnhindia.com (M) +91 99106 81111 Art Director Sunny Singh Web Designer Mohit Chaudhary Senior Reporter Archana Sharma Correspondent (Kolkata) Swaati Chaudhury Accounts Chander Shakher Balodi Administration Executive Sarwat Jahan

For any query, write to us at: info@tnhindia.com

www.tnhglobal.com Printed, published and owned by Srishti Rai. Printed at Somsons Printing Works, 1/7, Doctor’s Lane, Gole Market, New Delhi - 110001, and published at P- 23/90, Connaught Circus, New Delhi 110001; Editor: SRISHTI RAI

The suspense over the timing and agenda of the Union Budget for 2017-18 has finally ended. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has made several announcements specifically for the tourism sector. He has announced the launch of the second international Incredible India campaign in FY 2017-2018. He has also pledged the setting up of five special tourism zones in the country in partnership with states. Furthermore, there is a proposal to set up airports in tier-2 cities in partnership with private players. As a part of the regional connectivity plan, Jaitley has announced that select airports will be developed and maintained under PPP mode.

Additionally, in a landmark move, the Railway Budget has been subsumed into the General Budget. As always the Railways got a lion's share of allocation, however, unlike the past no new trains have been announced in the budget. Instead the Finance Minister has allocated Rs.55000-crore for the railways with focus on safety, cleanliness, development works and finance and accounting reforms. A Rs.1 lakh crore special fund has been announced for a five-year safety upgrade. Moreover in a move towards

digitization, the FM has removed service charges on railway e-tickets.

Through this Budget, the finance minister has continued to demonstrate its commitment towards a pro-infrastructure environment. For tourism in particular, Incredible India 2.0 will prove to be advantageous and while there have been other promising budgetary allocations for our sector, one could have expected some relief in taxes distinctly a reduction in service tax. Also, more incentives for selling destination India would have boosted the morale of stakeholders. To explore the budget and its implication in depth, flip to our cover story 'Tourism industry not amused with the Union Budget 2017-18' on page 20.

Lastly, I would like to echo to our readers that the purpose of Travel and Hospitality is to publish up-to-date, high quality and original news, reviews and features that are enjoyable, engaging and accessible, and at the same time informative, thought-provoking and empowering. To achieve this goal, we want to solicit your help. We invite you to contribute an opinion piece to our issues.

We welcome all types of topics, and look forward to featuring what is on YOUR mind.

Email your articles to editorial@tnhindia.com Best wishes and thank you in advance for your contribution to Travel and Hospitality.

Srishti Rai Editor

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Travel Hospitality

CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2017 20 COVER STORY

Tourism industry not amused with Union Budget 2017-18

10 NEWS

The bright and beautiful Taiwan Lantern Festival!

24 NEWS

20

10

24

25

26

30

32

40

Abu Dhabi ranked among fastest-growing destinations in the world

25 TRAVEL MANTRA

Smart travel tips for women adventure travellers

26 TRENDS

Holiday ideas for long weekends in 2017

30 EXPLORE INDIA

Discovering Lakshadweep - a less explored destination in India

32 EXPLORE THE WORLD Exploring exotic destinations of Peru - a beautiful country in South America

40 HOTEL REVIEW Of water and ice - Hotel La Reserve, Geneva

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news

Clarks Inn: March of the century Total tally reaches 75 hotels in 2016 as the company now eyes the magical figure of 100 hotel portfolio this year.

Few hotel companies have been able to leverage the growth potential that the Indian hospitality market offers to hotel companies like Clarks Inn Group of Hotels, one of the country’s fastest growing hotel chains in the country today. In business for just over ten years, the hotel company has emerged as probably the biggest S N Srivastava success story in India with a portfolio President & Co-founder Clarks Inn Group of Hotels of 75 hotel properties, including 40 in operation, spread across 16 states in India and one in Nepal.

According to S N Srivastava, President and Co-founder, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels, “There was a time when we were striving hard to attract hotel owners and developers to work with us.

Today by the grace of god, our relentless endeavour and services and the massive trust that our business partners and owners have placed in us, we are managing a portfolio of 75 hotels including 40 that are currently in operation and the remaining slated to open door over the next couple of years. We have now set sight to reach the magical figure of 100 hotel properties by the end of the year.

We have a strong development pipeline and given the goodwill and industry confidence in our ability to deliver profitable partnership we are confident of achieving this target.”

Clarks Inn’s Associate Vice President – Operations, Rahul Deb Banerjee, says, “Last year was particularly significant for us as Clarks Inn Group of Hotels not only witnessed a strong growth, both in terms of overall sign-ups and new operational properties

added to the portfolio, but also in terms of our footprints extending to new markets. We not only witnessed significant growth in business locations, but also in leisure and pilgrimage destinations like Shirdi and Katra. We have continued to bring unchartered territory and new markets in the fold of organised hospiRahul Deb Banerjee tality and, as part of our corporate AVP – Operations philosophy, will not only market our Clarks Inn Group of Hotels hotels but also these destinations that we operate in.”

Clarks Inn witnessed one of its biggest growths so far in 2016 as it signed and opened a total of 21 new properties last year with the total tally now reaching 75. New hotels opened and signed in 2016 include Bhagalkot, Buxor, hampi, Mysore, Patna, Shimoga, Sultanpur, Balan, Kanpur, Ara, Faizabad, Katra, Bijapur, Noida, Vasundhara, Kurloon, Greater Noida, Ujjain, two in Shirdi, Vrindavan.

Of these, twelve properties that include Alwar, Bhagalkot, Dehradoon, Gangtok, Gwalior, Buxor, Musoorie, Mysore, Panchkula, Shimoga, Sultapura and Ujjain have become operational in 2016.

­ Key Facts

New Hotels opened and signed in 2016: Bhagalkot, Buxor, Hampi, Mysore, Patna, Shimoga, Sultanpur, Balan, Kanpur, Ara, Faizabad, Katra, Bijapur, Noida, Vasundhara, Kurnool, Greater Noida, Ujjain, two in Shirdi, Vrindavan Operational properties added in 2016: Alwar, Bhagalkot, Dehradun, Gangtok, Gwalior, Buxor, Musoorie, Mysore, Panchkula, Shimoga, Sultapur, Ujjain

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news

OPENING A NEW WORLD OF PILGRIM TOURISM Jharkhand Tourism is going all out to revamp its ancient pilgrim resorts and provide online facilities to tourists..

Jharkhand, the land of rich tapestry of natural wealth is a destination to lust for nature lovers and pilgrims alike. Jharkhand Tourism has drawn up big plans and has come up with a slew of forward-looking initiatives to tempt tourists into the state.

Dr. Alok Prasad, Deputy General Manager, Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation Limited informed, “We are developing the basic infrastructure of tourist destinations, introducing different transport vehicles and old vehicles are being overhauled. We are building new tourist accommodation centres and also inviting private players to invest in setting up tourist resorts by offering them various tax benefits. It is essential to have sound co-ordination between the state and

Central tourism departments to remain at par with other states. Digital Jharkhand forms our guiding principle and we provide all services online like hotel booking facility et al.”

Jharkhand Tourism is pulling out all stops to offer a fillip to a plethora of lesser-known pilgrim retreats like the medieval terracotta temples of Maluti in the district of Dumka. Dr. Prasad further said, “Our upcoming renovated pilgrim hotspots are Deoghar, Basukinath Dham in Dumka district, Parasnath Hill, Jagannathpur temple in Ranchi and Sun Temple about 39 km from Ranchi.. One of the largest pilgrim resorts is the Lord Shiva temple in Deoghar popularly known as Baidyanath Dham.We are accentuating on the tourist markets of West Bengal and Gujarat to pull in domestic tourists. The renowned Buddhist attraction of Itkhori attracts a legion of global tourists from Thailand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.”

Dr. Alok Prasad Deputy General Manager, Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation Limited

Itkhori marks the convergence of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

The state is experiencing a steady growth in the influx of domestic and global visitors over the past couple of years. Dr. Prasad added, “We are looking forward to receive 4 crore domestic travellers and 2.5 lakh global tourists in the New Year.”

by TNH DESK

NEW LUXURY GREEN HOTEL IN KOLKATA Keeping with eco-friendly practices and serving menu based on the sun sign of visitors are some of the distinguishing features of The Fern Residency.

Here’s a new luxury hospitality setup in New Town, Kolkata that will give environmentalists a reason to smile.

Having said this, it’s none other than The Fern Residency managed by Mumbai’s Concept Hospitality Private Limited that has opened its gates sometime in April, 2016. Next to Asansol, this incidentally is the second venture of Concept Hospitality in the eastern zone.

The luxury property is one of the few

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green hotels in Kolkata that has rain water harvesting facilities at its roof – top and uses backwash water for gardening. Bilash Das, General Manager, the Fern Residency said, “We adopt eco-friendly practises like all rooms

are equipped with eco-buttons that bring down the normal room temperature by 2º C and all windows are double glazed to save energy and keep the rooms cool.”

by T NH DESK

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News

Kerala gets new tag- Land of Biennale With an agenda to develop sustainable tourism and to sail smoothly in times of demonetization, Kerala Tourism has rolled out Kochi Muziris Biennale.

The first state of India to welcome monsoon is beyond doubt Kerala best known as God’s Own Canvas. In an attempt to boost the state tourism sector in times of demonetization, Kerala Tourism along with Kerala government is leaving no stone unturned to organize the third edition of Kochi Muziris Biennale- a global, contemporary art festival that has given a new tag to the state as “the Land of Biennale”.

Kochi Muziris Biennale took off from December 29 last year and will be on till March 17, this year. Nandakumar K P, Deputy Director, Kerala Tourism explained, “The biennale is on along the

trail of the spice route from Kochi to Muziris, the two ancient ports of the state. We intend to revive the two ports of Kerala through tourism. We have in-

“

Our main agenda is to create sustainable tourism that would be environment-friendly and secure at the same time. We are providing PayTM options to tourists.

Nandakumar K P Deputy Director, Kerala Tourism

vited 15 chefs from global destinations to rustle up delicacies inspired by the Spiced Route.” He was speaking at Kerala Tourism Partnership Meet 2017 in Kolkata sometime on January 20 in the New Year.

Demonetization has hit the tourism industry in Kerala bringing about 10 to 15 per cent dip in domestic tourists footfall.

In order to tide over the economic crisis, Kerala Tourism is going the extra mile to provide support to tourists. Nandakumar said, “Demonetization has affected everybody but it will be helpful in the long run. Our main agenda is to create sustainable tourism that would be environment-friendly and secure at the same time. We are providing paytm options to tourists.” The department of tourism is exploring new markets like Ranchi in the east. Nandakumar added, “Monsoon is the best time to visit the state when hotel rates are slashed but the travel experience is incredible. We have received around 10 lakh global tourists and 1 crore 30,000 domestic tourists till Sepby T NH DESK tember, 2016.”

Turning a new page in heritage tourism PHTPB is pitching for projects on rural tourism, designing new products and offering a major thrust to highlight Amritsar as the focal point of attraction for tourists.

If you wish to have a glimpse of the Golden Heritage Street and the Sikh Circuit, then look no further beyond. Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) has been quite proactive in consolidating the tourism infrastructure of the state with the financial support of Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Encouraged by the tremendous success of farm tourism, bed and breakfast tourism and tented accommodation concepts, PHTPB has devised a number of tourist circuits. Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa, Director, PHTPB, informed,“Our

mega circuit projects are based in Dera Baba Nanak and Sultanpur Lodhi while our Sikh circuit projects are in Kartarpur, Dera Baba Nanak and Tarn Taran. Our

“

In order to bring a surge in tourists footfall, we are inviting public-private partnership in marketing tourist destinations, creating novel tourism products and documentary films.

Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa Director, PHTPB

other prominent projects are in Sangrur, Nabha and Patiala circuit. Our recent developmental activities with the help of ADB include Golden Temple Entrance

Plaza, Golden Heritage Street, Ram Tirath, War Memorial, Hop-on Hop-off bus tour, Amritsar Heritage Walk, Amritsar Craft Walk and the heritage hamlet of Sadda Pind.”

The opening of Gobindgarh Fort, Partition Museum in Amritsar’s Town Hall and developing facility in Keshopur Community Reserve Wetlands form a large part of the developmental projects of PHTPB. Next to Amritsar, the new state-of-the art museum- Virasat-e-Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib forms the chief attraction for tourists.

Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa, Director, PHTPB, “In order to bring a surge in tourists footfall, we are inviting publicprivate partnership in marketing tourist destinations, creating novel tourism products and documentary films.”

by T NH DESK

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news

VFS GLOBAL LAUNCHES CZECH REPUBLIC VISA APPLICATION CENTRE IN AHMEDABAD Newly opened centre in Ahmedabad is the seventh visa application facility for the Czech Republic in India!

The Embassy of the Czech Republic and VFS Global have launched a Czech Republic Visa Application Centre in Ahmedabad, to make visa application facilities more accessible for residents of India’s fastest emerging business hub in the western region.

The centre was inaugurated by H.E. Milan Hovorka, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India, at a ceremony held on 09 January, 2017. The inauguration was also attended by other key members from the Embassy and VFS Global.

Ahmedabad is the seventh city in India where VFS Global has launched a Visa Application Centre for the Czech Republic, in the last one year. Earlier, applicants from Ahmedabad seeking a Schengen visa (if the main country of travel to Europe was the Czech Republic) were required to travel to Mumbai or New Delhi for the same. This new centre in Ahmedabad is centrally located at Ground floor, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce, Opposite Vallabh Sadan temple, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad 380009.

Speaking about the launch, H.E. Milan Hovorka, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India said, “Yet again, we continue to expand our footprints in the seventh major city in India, where people can submit their Schengen visa applications for travel to the Czech Republic by going to the visa centre of VFS Global. Like always, we strive to fulfill on our promises. And I will continue this journey of building convenient ways to ensure seamless travel to Czechia. Our endeavors see no limit as we will announce the opening of additional Czech Visa Applications Centres soon.”

The setting up of this seventh visa application centre in less than a year since

Vinay Malhotra Chief Operating Officer –Middle East and South Asia, VFS Global

commencement of services for the client government in India signifies the company's strengthening association with the Embassy of the Czech Republic. VFS Global consistently strives to support the client government in smoothly processing large volumes of visa applications in India and to enhance accessibility to visa application facilities for leisure, MICE, and business travellers, so that the Embassy can focus on the key task of adjudication of visa applications.

Commenting on the launch, Vinay Malhotra, Chief Operating Officer –Middle East and South Asia, VFS Global, said, "We are pleased to further enhance the visa services network for the Czech Republic in India, through this modern visa application facility in Ahmedabad. The new centre will serve the ever-increasing volumes of visa applications for the Schengen country, and illustrates the emerging popularity of the Czech Republic as a tourist destination. We are confident that the introduction of professional and hassle-free Czech Republic visa services in Ahmed-

abad will be well-received by aspiring travellers from this city.”

VFS Global set up visa application operations for the Czech Republic in Russia, in 2008, and has since established a robust network of 82 centres for this client government across 18 countries.

Key features of the centre include: • Convenient and central location • Skilled staff well-versed with the local language to handle applications and queries • Extended operating hours enabling visitors to submit applications at their time of convenience • 100% secure handling of passports, documents and personal information • Doorstep delivery of passports • Dedicated website for easy access to information including visa categories, requirements, checklist, applicable fees, visa status update Czech Republic Visa Application Centre Address: Ground floor, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce, Opposite Vallabh Sadan temple, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad 380009 Helpline: 022-67866023 Email: info.czechindia@vfshelpline.com Website: http://www.vfsglobal.com/CzechRepublic/India Operational from Monday to Friday, except holidays as declared by the Embassy Submission Timing for Applicants: 0900hrs -1200 hrs and 1300 – 1600 hrs Submission Timing for Travel Agents and Representatives: 0900 -1200 hrs Document Collection Timing: 1300hrs–1700 hrs

by TNH DESK

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News

The bright and beautiful Taiwan Lantern Festival!

The most celebrated festival of Taiwan –Lantern Festival will be held from 11 February to 19 February in 2017. Like Indians, the Taiwanese also celebrate festivals with fervor and festivities and it’s the best time for family and friends to get together and celebrate!

The festival is held across Taiwan in different cities every year like Taipei, Kaohsiung, Pingxi and Yenshui. The Taipei Lantern Festival is held for several days at the Taipei Expo Park, reaching its peak on the day of the Lantern Festival itself. There are many traditional lanterns, electromechanical lantern displays, and large themed lanterns sponsored and designed by different companies.

The Kaohsiung Lantern Festival is held along the Love River. During the festival period, both sides of the river as well as Wufu Rd., Heping Rd., Guangzhou St., and other thoroughfares have lantern exhibitions. There are also musical performances, helping to throw the whole city into a festive mood.

The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is one of the most colorful activities of the Lantern Festival. Pingxi is a remote hillside town. In the past, those who worked or farmed in the mountains faced the risk of being robbed or killed, and they used lanterns to inform their families they were safe. The lanterns do not function as signals anymore, but are now used as symbols of peace and good fortune.

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Origin of Lantern Festival The Lantern Festival is an ancient Chinese tradition that dates back more than 2,000-years. The origin of the festival lies in the festive activities of an agricultural people celebrating the lengthening of daylight hours and the coming of spring after the New Year. The festival was actually started by an emperor of the Han dynasty (206 B.C. – 220 A.D.), who was a devout Buddhist and who ordered his people to display lights on the fifteenth night of the first month of the lunar year to pay respects to Buddha.

Holding torches or lanterns on this night makes it easier to see deities descending from heaven to give blessings to the earth. During the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD), the emperors would celebrate the festival by ordering hundreds of beautiful women to sing and dance with lanterns in the brightly lit plaza. These festive activities gradually spread to the common people and developed into the most popular festival in the year after Chinese New Year. The festival is also called the Little New Year. In 1990, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau held the first Taipei

Lantern Festival. Every year a gigantic lantern is installed in the middle of the plaza of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The lantern installation is followed by performances like laser lights, music and sculptural arts. On the four sides of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, smaller lantern installations depict folklore and historical events. You can also find interesting live folk performances such as lion and dragon dances, acrobatic acts, folk art skits, mock battles, and booths that demonstrate and sell traditional handicrafts such as fan painting, lantern making, dough sculpture, candy-figure blowing, paper cutting, Chinese knot work, and many delicious snacks and sweets. During the festival period, a tunnel of lights is put up on the roads of Taipei, dressing up the whole city with glittering lights.

Several media outlets and travel lists have recommended the Taiwan Lantern Festival as one of the best holiday celebration events. It has emerged as an international event, attracting tens and thousands of visitors from all over the

by T NH DESK world.

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news

COX & KINGS FOUNDATION STARTS SCHOOL FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED KIDS IN PUNE; FOCUSES ON THE YOUNGEST AND MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN As a part of the systematic efforts to provide education to the underprivileged kids, Cox & Kings Foundation- the philanthropic arm of Cox & Kings Ltd along with The Mamta Trust, has set up a new pre-primary school for underprivileged kids in Mahadev Nagar, Manjari Road, Pune. The school is set to offer quality education, nutrition and care to the youngest and most vulnerable children in the area. The new school was inaugurated by Thomas C Thottathil, Vice Presidentby T NH DESK Corporate Communication & CSR, Cox & Kings Ltd.

KARNATAKA DECLARES 2017 AS “YEAR OF THE WILD” Karnataka, true to its tag line of “one state, many worlds” has a variety of unexplored experiences to offer for every type of tourist. Karnataka tourism has declared 2017 as the ‘Year of the Wild’ for tourists who not only want to explore the wilderness & wildlife, but also experience the wild side of life.

“The Year of the Wild”, a brand new campaign, to kick-start the year, was launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the presence of Priyank Kharge, Minister of State for IT, BT & Tourism along with AN Mahesh , Chairmain JLR, Secretary Tourism Naveen Raj Singh, IAS, Dr. N Manjula, IAS, Director-Tourism and Kumar Pushkar, IFS, MD – KSTDC. Karnataka’s forests and wildlife are her priceless natural heritage. The State is home to some of the largest jungle tracts south of the Vindhyas, that make it a dream destination for adventurers and naturalists. by TNH DESK

SRILANKAN AIRLINES’ CODESHARE PARTNERSHIPS CONTRIBUTE TO 2 MILLION TOURISTS’ MILESTONE The smooth functioning of SriLankan Airlines’ codeshare partnerships in the Western and Central European region contributed in a significant manner to the growth of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in 2016, which expanded by 14% and crossed the 2 million milestone.

SriLankan made a significant change in strategy in the fourth quarter of 2016 by expanding services to the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia which included the launch of 11 new destinations and the increase of frequencies to existing destinations, while suspending services on three loss-making European routes. The changes resulted in SriLankan expanding its global route network to 101 destinations in 47 countries. It is also now the largest foreign carrier into India where it serves 11 cities with over 100 frequencies, as well as being the largest airline operating to both Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

SriLankan arranged efficient codeshare agreements with its partner airlines to carry passengers to Colombo from much of

Europe, as it suspended services to Paris, Frankfurt and Rome in November 2016. Significantly, each of these tourism markets recorded significant increases in growth of tourists to Sri Lanka and growth was not affected by the suspension of direct air services, due to the convenient codeshare services offered by Sriby TNH DESK Lankan’s partner airlines.

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News

REZLIVE.COM CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF ONLINE PRESENCE Celebrations have just begun at Travel Designer Group globally, as one of its leading B2B brand i.e. RezLive.com, has completed 10 years of online presence.

RezLive.com, which is the leading provider of Hotels, sightseeing & transfer services worldwide has remained focused on servicing suppliers and travel partners and it’s all because of their support, RezLive.com has come such a long way, where there is always something more to achieve, with each passing year. The two important points of this successful story where innovation and expansion in different markets, wherein the key growth drivers were identified as investment in best-in-class technology, cutting edge use of data and analytics, and emphasis on building strong relationships with travel partners.

Jaal Shah, Group Managing Director at Travel Designer Group said, “As we celebrate 10 years in the online market, I would like to thank all our travel partners for their loyalty and support. I would also like to make a note that our relationship with them will remain the foundation for such achievements and we look forward to their continued support in the future”. by TNH DESK

MOU BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND BENGALURU FOOTBALL CLUB

REDBUS LAUNCHES NEW BUS HIRE FEATURE Customers can avail the service across 7 Indian cities & choose from a wide range of vehicles redBus, World’s largest online bus ticket booking platform, has launched a new service- Bus Hire. This product has been introduced to provide customers seeking to hire buses, minibuses or tempo-travellers, with Prakash Sangam a one-stop access to leading CEO redBus.in chartered bus providers in a particular city who offer best-in-class vehicles and superior service quality. Prakash Sangam, CEO redBus.in expressed his enthusiasm about the new service, commenting, “Often group travel such as corporate outings, weddings and pilgrimages require a full vehicle to be hired. There was no easy way for travellers to connect with multiple

by T NH DESK vehicle providers to hire a bus of their choice.”

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Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JSW Bengaluru Football Club Private Limited (BFC) to carry out copromotional activities for promoting Bengaluru as a footballing and tourist destination for people in India and across the world.

Bengaluru Football club has a mission to place India on the footballing world map.

Department of Tourism along with Bengaluru Football Club will promote Bengaluru as a sports destination targeting the youth and sports loving population. Department of Tourism envisages that football can be the key driver for developing Bengaluru as a famous sports tourist destination on the same lines as Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester and Munich which are home to Real Madrid CF, Liverpool FC, Manchester United FC and FC Bayern Munich FC respectively.

Hon’ble Minister for IT, BT & Tourism Priyank Kharge said “Bengaluru as a city with round the year pleasant climate, a growing sports culture and truly cosmopolitan crowd is probably the only city in India that can match the European cities which pride themselves on their footballing culture and fans.

Considering these factors, Department of Tourism intends to

by T NH DESK promote Bengaluru as a sports destination.”

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News

'The New Year is the time for new beginnings' 2016 was by all standards an unusual year in every way, says Rajeev Kohli, Joint MD, Creative Travel, while one country voted to exit a union, another voted for dramatic change. 2016 was a highly strange year.

As Year 2017 begins, we stop and ponder on all that happened in the year gone by and wonder what the year ahead holds for us. 2016 was by all standards an unusual year in every way. One country voted to exit a union and another voted for dramatic change. Terror surfaced where it did not exist before. And wars continued where they did the year before.

A country voted against a peace accord and another saw its government demonetize its currency. Yup, the year gone by was a mighty strange one with a host of mixed emotions across the world.

All we know for sure that each year paves the way to some new hopes and new promises. Lord Buddha said “Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” We wish for 2017 to be a year of many happy starts for one and all.

For us in the Creative Travel family, 2017 brings in our 40th year of being amongst India’s most respected and largest family owned DMC. This is a milestone we are so proud of. Ours is a story of a vision, of a passion that went against all conventional norms. Ours is a very personal story. This is a story we want to share.

In the early 1960’s, Ram Kohli, was hired straight out of college by the then largest travel company in India. Impressed by his dedication, his company sent him to Germany to open the first ever office of an Indian travel company in Europe. A young bachelor, he adapted well to a new world. Along the way, Ram married Deepak, was moved to New York to repeat his success from Germany and along the way had two sons, Rajeev and Rohit. In 1976, he felt the tug of home. He

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Rajeev Kohli Joint MD, Creative Travel & SITE President

impulsively quit his job and moved the family back to India. To a country that was deeply mired in socialist ideology and a backward economy. We never really got around to asking him why he made the move back home. He was just driven in ways few others were. In 1977, out of a garage at home, Creative Travel was founded. With nothing in hand, Ram spent months of the year traveling the world to create a following of partners & friends, many who still work with us today.

Why we tell you this is because Creative Travel is not just a business. This is

a family. A family of the Kohlis, a family of our team members, a family of our partners across the world. And we are determined as a family that no matter how strange the year gone by may have been, we will work to make the coming year one full of promises of better moments for one and all.

In the next few weeks we will move into our new home, a 50,000+ sq.ft space for work and play for the over 150 dedicated professionals who make up the Creative family. With more work space, more meeting space, more relaxation space, 60,000 feet of green vertical walls, a barista and cafeteria, this three-year project is almost at its end and we are very excited. The building is designed to bring in a new sense of energy in our work ethos. Our aim has been to design a home that attracts talent and to give our team an environment that fosters creativity.

2016 was also another record breaking year when it came to winning global accolades. Creative Travel was proud to have been awarded as "India's Leading Destination Management Company" (our 6th) and "India's Leading Luxury Travel Agency" (our 3rd) and the first “India’s Most Experiential Holiday Company” for our team at JungleSutra Wildlife Journeys at the 2016 World Travel Awards Ceremony. The World Travel Awards are described by the Wall Street Journal as "the Oscars of the Travel Industry". We are so very proud of the men and women in our team who made all this possible. We could not have done all of this without the support of our friends and family across the world.

by T NH DESK

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news

SAROVAR HOTELS OPENS THE MUSE SAROVAR PORTICO IN KAPASHERA, DELHI Starting the New Year on a high note, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd. opened a new hotel in Delhi NCR, The Muse Sarovar Portico, Kapashera. Marking the group’s focused expansion plan, The Muse Sarovar Portico Kapashera will be followed by openings in Nairobi, Ranchi, Jaisalmer and Amritsar this year.

With easy access to the domestic and international airports, The Muse Sarovar Portico is a smart, efficient solution for both business and leisure travellers and offers a plethora of options to host seamless functions and events. 73 elegantly-designed rooms combine aesthetics with functionality assuring a pleasant visit, every single time.

Speaking on the occasion, Ajay K.

Bakaya, Exeutive Director, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd. says, “We are glad to be opening the year with this important addition to our portfolio. Strategically positioned, The Muse Sarovar Portico is convenient to commute to and from the airport making travel easy for frequent travellers. Excellent banquet and conference facilities are the prime services we aim to focus on here” The Muse Sarovar Portico features Standard and Deluxe rooms with all modern amenities designed to give ultimate comfort and convenience. Elegant décor and facilities such as unlimited free wi-fi, LED TV and inroom refreshments to make a relaxed stay for the guests. The hotel has conference and banquet facilities that are

professionally managed by our team to ensure that your event is flawless. The three ballrooms together have an area of 6900 square feet and can accommodate up to 600 people. The banqueting team customizes and supervises each event from beginning to end. Menus for coffee breaks and meals are tailor made to guest preferences. The seasoned team is happy to cater to special requests ensuring that your event is flawless.

Guests can dine at Patio, the all-day dining restaurant located on the ground floor. This multi cuisine restaurant with a buffet and an a la carte menu boasts of a capacity for 66 covers with efficient and impeccable service.

by TNH DESK

Kufri gets its first international five star hotel with the launch of Royal Tulip Kufri, Shimla “Experience the finest level of luxury

Vimal Singh, Managing Director, South Asia

flavors. The company is looking to expand ag-

and impeccable service in the lap of Hi-

– Golden Tulip Hotels & Resorts/ Louvre Ho-

gressively in the next few year across South

malayas”

tels Group said "We are excited to present

Asia thereby adding significant value to the

Royal Tulip Kufri, the first international luxury

hospitality sector.” Royal Tulip Kufri features 54

proudly announced the opening of its first 5

hotel in Kufri that will offer the highest stan-

luxuriously appointed guest rooms and

star luxury hotel Royal Tulip Kufri- Shimla.

dards of luxury, comfort and world class serv-

suites, offering panoramic views overlooking

This will be the group's first property in the

ices to its customers”.

the beautiful Kufri valley. The hotel’s interiors

Golden Tulip Hospitality group, South Asia

beautiful and picturesque Himalayas.

Located at 8600 feet above sea level in the

Singh further added,“The opening of the

are tastefully done with classy with bright

hotel is significant for us,“Royal Tulip will be

coloured furniture, carpeted floors, beautiful

charming town of Kufri, Royal Tulip Kufri of-

the perfect destination hotel for leisure travel-

paintings and spectacular view of the moun-

fers the majestic views of the Himalayas ex-

ers and family holidays. In keeping with the

tains. Culinary highlights at Royal Tulip Kufri

quisitely spread over acres of Cedar forest

Group's motto Royal Tulip, Kufri brings an

include an array of gastronomical experi-

range.

ethos of International Standards with local

ences.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2017

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hospitality

Della Adventure Resort and Spa: an exclusive address Della offers 5 exceptional experiences across its property, namely Adventure theme park with a luxury resort, camp stay, luxury villas, a wedding destination and banquets for corporate or personal events.

Della Adventure Resort and Spa is the only resort to offer an unheard indulgence of having a 24-hr functioning high-end Spa and Salon, Pool and Fitness Centre, Fudge and Chiki store, along with Roundthe-Clock In-Room Dining. " Jimmy Mistry, Principal Designer & MD at Della Group, informed that the group are currently expanding the number of villas, banquet halls, resort rooms and suites to accommodate the growing numbers of visitors.

Speaking about the USP of Della Adventure Resort and Spa, Mistry said, "Our adventure park is our best attraction, and while it might be popular with groups of friends or families for a day-visit or weekend getaway, it also a highly preferred MICE destination. We have about 29 team building activities which are far moved from the routine table-chair-sticks set up.

They are hard-core infrastructures like obstacle courses designed on the line of the Swiss alps, a paintball match setup, zip lines, group cycling and much more." Unlike standard adventure parks and MICE destinations where food is of secondary importance, we ensure that people also have a memorable gastronomic experience, and focus on hospitality as well as F&B, said Mistry. Fine cigars, nitrogen ice cream, nuclear bhel, choicest cocktails, are some of the elements which make their F&B experiences an unforgettable affair.

The resort's signature Villas offer people a fully-equipped luxury second home.

Those who own these villas have access to all the facilities on the resort, making convenience the key word here. The villas can also be maintained by the group for an additional fee, so they can drop in whenever they wish to and all their needs will be taken care of.

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TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2017

Excerpts from Jimmy Mistry's Q&A: What are the key adventure activities to experience at the property?

We take pride in being India’s largest adventure park and offer over 70 activities of

Q

groups. Be it families, groups of friends, couples, or the large number of corporate groups which come to experience our facility each year, we make sure there is something for everyone.

The adventure junkies can get their adrenaline dose with our exclusive activities like a 150 feet high bungee jump, 100 feet high swoop swing, India’s longest Flying Fox of 1250 feet, landing zorbing, aqua zorbing, zip-lining Motocross dirt bike and such. We also offer rock climbing, paintball, buggy ride, mountain cycling, horse riding, shooting, archery, swimming and other such group activities as well.

Tell us about the spa and wellness facilities at the property.

We believe that the best time to pamper yourself is exactly when you feel like doing so. And so we have offer a surreal experience in the form of the 24-hour functioning Della Spa, Salon, Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre. The fully equipped spa and salon leaves the patron spoilt for choice with its wide range of invigorating treatments like Signature, Wellness and Express Therapies. It is an international standard spa with 7 Treatments Suites in-

Q

Jimmy Mistry Principal Designer & MD at Della Group

different difficulty levels. We have divided the park into different zones based on the type of activities. The plethora of activities featured here cater to people across all age

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hospitality / news

clusive of 4 Couple Suites. Patrons can avail of Aromatherapy with pure essential oils across a host of services like head massages, tissue relaxing body massage, foot rituals and such. We offer Swedish, Balinese, Hot-stone, Foot Reflexology and a host of other therapies from around the world.

What is special about your F&B facilities?

We pay a great deal of attention to our

Q

hospitality and F&B services. Design thinking plays a role here too, with us creating a menu that’s varied, authentic to the cuisine and as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palette. Our range of restaurants is as diverse as the patron who visit us. The fine-dine PNF Restaurant and Bar, features the best of Indian, Oriental and authentic Malvani fare and is complemented by a fully equipped bar with a unique equestrian touch. One can relish authentic Parsi delicacies and robust Punjabi fare in an

open air setting at the Parsi Dhaba, while the adjacent Sports Bar is perfect for a family fun-time with games and popular street foods for company.

Lovers of vegetarian foods can indulge their taste buds with Gujarati cuisine and other Indian cuisine at the avant garde restaurant overlooking the golf course. The jewel in the crown of cluster of restaurants is Café 24, which offers round-the-clock fine dining, with its innovative multi-cuisine menu and comprehensive gourmet selection with an eclectic experience. Our extremely unique Fudge and Chiki store offers a range of cakes, cookies and breads, chikkis and liquor fudge, all prepared inhouse.

What are the attractions to explore around the area?

We are located in the hilly, scenic destination of Lonavla, which itself is a popular tourist destination. And our property itself is so large and offers so many diverse experiences that it is certainly one of the biggest attractions here. Apart from that, there are a few local sights like the Bushi Dam, Kalra

by T NH DESK caves, Lohagad fort etc.

Q

VIRGIN ATLANTIC AND FLYBE ANNOUNCE NEW CODESHARE FLIGHTS TO SCOTLAND • Virgin Atlantic and Flybe have extended their codeshare agreement on flights to Scotland • Virgin Atlantic flights from Delhi will seamlessly connect to Edinburgh or Aberdeenvia London Heathrow • The new flights are now on sale at virginatlantic.com for travel from 26th March Travellers in India can now book flights with Virgin Atlantic to Scotland thanks to closer cooperation with Europe’s leading regional airline, Flybe.

From today customers will be able to book tickets to travel from Delhi with Virgin Atlantic, and connect onto Flybe

flights at London Heathrow to Aberdeen or Edinburgh. Scotland is one of the most iconic locations in the UK– famous for the scenic Highlands, cultural festivals, Whisky tasting, and the mythical Loch Ness Monster.

The new flights are available for travel from 26th March and will allow customers to seamlessly connect between Virgin Atlantic and Flybe.

Tickets are now on sale at www.virginatlantic.com: • Delhi to Aberdeen from INR 70205 return • Delhi to Edinburgh from INR 70320 return

Nick J Parker, Head of Middle East, Africa and India (MEAI) for Virgin Atlantic commented: “Our partnership with Flybe will help bring beautiful Scotland a little closer to Delhi thanks to new daily connections via London Heathrow. From 26th March customers can fly to London Heathrow with Virgin Atlantic and transfer seamlessly onto their Flybe flight to Edinburgh or Aberdeen to explore Scotland’s famous scenery, history and culinary delights.”

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2017

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news

Radisson Blu Hotel Faridabad, the City’s 1st International upper upscale hotel opens Radisson Blu Faridabad, the city’s first upper-upscale hotel, opened in the north Indian state of Haryana, one of India’s largest business and industrial hubs in the National Capital Region (NCR).

v B Prem Kumar Y

Faridabad is home to many industries and corporations as well as a center of attraction for leisure travelers with the presence of striking places of interests including the Badhkal Lake and Raja Nahar Singh Palace.

Radisson Blu Faridabad features 124 contemporary rooms complemented with modern amenities. Stylish, sophisticated and comfortable, guests will enjoy the brand’s internationally renowned Yes I Can! service philosophy, together with the property’s contemporary design and facilities.The hotel offers elegant and spacious meeting facilities with state-ofthe-art technology and a pillar-less Grand Ballroom that accommodates up to 1,000 guests.

Raj Rana, chief executive officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group said, “We are honored to be partnering with Eros Group to bring this iconic hotel to Faridabad. We are confident the hotel will have a strong appeal to business and leisure travelers and redefine expectations. We welcome this stylish addition to our growing portfolio of 140 hotels in operation and development. This reinforces Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s position as one of the leading and fastest-growing international hotel companiesin India.”

Akshay Sood, director, Eros Group added, “In the last 70 years, Eros Group has built a legacy, diversifying our business intoreal estate development and hospitality.We are confident and delighted to be working with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. Their proven experience and marketing expertise in this region will benefit the hotel. The team is proud to be the first to introduce an interna-

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tional upper-upscale brand into the market, and we look forward to a mutually rewarding long-term partnership with the Group.”

Speaking about the business expectation, Rana said that Faridabad is a very important Industrial hub in Haryana, also an important part of the NCR. The region is close to and well connected to Delhi.

The connectivity is improving by the day.

"Since the area did not have any hotel in upper-upscale segment, our feasibly report show that our hotel will be commercially successful. Being an industrial hub, this market offers huge potential for corporate and MICE business. There is also potential in social segments. Our hotel facilities are very much oriented towards catering to MICE and social segments like weddings, banqueting etc and we are

strongly focused on meeting and banqueting business ," said Rana. The hotel expects 20-25 % of itss business from MICE. As for F&B segment is concerned, "We expected 50% of our business from this segment. For us F& B is sure bet as there is lot of potential for this in the local market owing to lack of any other such facility in this area. Earlier people had to go to other locations to avail F&B at hotels as there was no such option here."

The hotel features four delectable dining options that include: Broadway – The all-day dining restaurant serves international cuisine featuring an extensive buffet as well as the à la carte menu.

House of Soy – The hotel’s specialty Pan-Asian restaurant serving Chinese, Japanese and Thai delicacies.

The Cove – Set in a contemporary ambience with upbeat retro tunes, this bar serves up mixologist concocted classic cocktails for guests to enjoy a tipple or two.

Tea Studio –The Patisserie shop, located at the lobby level, serves a selection of premium teas and the finest choices of cakes, pastries, chocolates and breads.

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cover story

Tourism industry not amused with Union Budget 2017-18

nounced in the budget. FM has allocated `55000-crore for the railways with focus on safety and cleanliness. `1 lakh crore special fund has been announced for a five-year safety upgradation of the Indian Railways. The minister also announced to launch dedicated trains for tourism and pilgrimage. To promote digital transaction in the Railway, FM has removed service charges on railway e-tickets.

Commenting on the budget proposFM Arun Jaitley in his budget speech announced the als for the upcoming fiscal year, JB launch of second Incredible India campaign in FY Singh, President and CEO of Inter2017-18 across the world. Jaitley also announced setGlobe Hotels, said, “This budget has taken several measures to boost the ting up of five special tourism zones in the country. travel and tourism industry. We see a But, India's Travel & Tourism industry is not amused strong focus on strengthening railwith the Budget. They say the FM has failed to adroad infrastructure and building of dress their concerns in the budget. airports in tier-II cities in order to

BY Prem Kumar support the tourism ecosystem, J B Singh which is likely to improve connectivThe first ever integrated Union Budget 2017-18 (Rail budget has ity across the country." According to him, Rural India holds imbeen merged in general budget from this year) presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley focuses on rural India, infrastructure, mense potential from a tourism point-of-view, and the newly announced initiatives to further develop our rural markets with housing and employment generation. A better infrastructure is im100% village electrification will further add to the overall develperative not just for tourism but for whole economy. The country's opment of our economy. Singh however added that the industry infrastructure including transport did see improvement in the rewas keenly looking forward to a stronger government focus on incent years, but we have to go a long way. The focus on the infracentives for the commercial real estate sector such as listing of structure will definitely boost our tourism sector.

REITS, changes to the Real Estate Regulatory Bill and creation of Tourism has been a key priority area for the Narendra Modi Government. For the development of India’s tourism sector, the Fisingle-window clearances besides according infrastructure status to the hospitality industry. We now look forward nance Minister in his budget speech has to the implementation of GST such that all taxes announced the launch of second Incredible are streamlined for the long-term benefit of the India campaign in FY 2017-18 across the country. world. Jaitley also announced setting up of According to Peter five special tourism zones in the country.

Kerkar, Director, Cox The travel and tourism industry has been Tourism is a big employment gener& Kings, infrastrucasking for revamping of Incredible India ator and has a multiplier impact on the economy. Five special tourism ture is a part of the campaign and launching its 2nd version. zones anchored on SPV (special 10 most important Lack of an international marketing campurpose vehicle) will be set up in themes in Union paign in recent years is given as one of reapartnership with the states. sons of modest growth in FTAs to India; Budget 2017 with Arun Jaitley Finance Minister allocation for infratherefore Incredible India 2.0 was overdue. structure at a record While announcing measures for tourism sector, Jaitley said, "Tourism is a big employment generator and `3,96,135 crore. Road and rail infraPeter Kerkar structure are crucial in terms of boosthas a multiplier impact on the economy. Five special tourism zones anchored on SPV (special purpose vehicle) will be set up in parting tourism as these are widely used mode of transport in India.

"In this context, stepping up the allocation for national highways nership with the states." The Union Budget 2017-18 has proposed setting up airports in tier-2 cities in partnership with private playto `64,000 crore, announcement to launch dedicated trains for pilgrimage/tourism and service charge withdrawal on booking of rail ers. As part of the regional connectivity plan, Jaitley has announced that selected airports will be developed and maintained tickets are welcoming moves which will help to accelerate domestic and inbound travel. Provisions made for clean and safe rail under PPP mode. From this year, there is no separate railway budget, therefore, the General Budget also provides for budgetary travel and making 500 rail stations disabled-friendly are also encouraging," said Kerkar, adding: we are quite positive about the allocations for railways. Unlike past, no new trains have been an-

v

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“

“

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cover story

focus on rural infrastructure development as we see a scope to promote rural tourism even further, especially for inbound tourists.

As per Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, OYO: “The launch of the Incredible India 2.0 will result in best tourist interest and inflow from overseas, creating a huge demand and opportunity for the Indian hospitality industry. The proposed creation of 5 special tourism zones in partnership with state governments will also provide excellent fillip to domestic tourism. It is encouraging to note the government's focus on Ritesh Agarwal infrastructure development as it forms the backbone of tourism and hospitality sector. Furthermore, reduction in tax rate for SME and the push towards digital economy by de-incentivizing cash transactions will support new-age businesses and start-ups.”

Commenting on the budget, Mahesh Iyer, COO, Thomas Cook (India) said that this budget has very little to offer to the tourism industry, but with plans to launch Incredible India 2.0 as the next phase of growth for domestic tourism with respect to India, there is something to look forward to. "India has a vast railway network and the recently announced Railway Budget acknowledges the strength of this. One of the biggest Mahesh Iyer announcements is the withdrawal of service charge on rail tickets booked through IRCTC. This will not only lead to more bookings but will enable the consolidation of a digital economy. Another significant development is the emphasis on safety and sanitation, by introducing bio-toilets, which will increase passenger comfort. It is also encouraging to note the measures that will be incorporated to make the Railways friendlier for the disabled." With emphasis on a Digital Economy, by introducing measures like elimination of service charge rail e-tickets, launching DigiGaons to facilitate employment & skilling, and even augmenting transactions done via the BHIM app; the Finance Minister has laid out a path that directs the country towards digital transformation.

Rakshit Desai, MD, FCM Travel Solutions, "I believe, the Union Budget provides a good perspective on building a stronger ecosystem by focusing on development of key aspects such as rural areas, infrastructure and poverty alleviation. The year 2016, overall has been a good year for both tourism and hospitality. The industry contributes close to 7.5 per cent of India’s GDP and has been a key contributor to the Indian economy. With an objective to clearly give a further impetus to both domestic and inbound tourism, we

feel the strategic vision for ‘The Incredible India 2.0’ campaign announced by the finance ministry is a positive step. This kind of support from the government goes a long way in creating awareness and should further help India get a distinct competitive edge vis-à-vis other destinations.

Rishi Puri, Vice President, Lords Rakshit Desai Hotels & Resorts said that he had hoped for the FM to announce some incentives for investing in new projects in the tier 2 & 3 cities that draw tourists but lacks good hospitality infrastructure.

"Many renowned and international hospitality groups are investing in India because they too see the growth potential here. However, the Government has not doled out anything of much consequence to the sector. Except for the 5 per cent reduction in tax for MSMEs which will elevate the tax burden on us, there Rishi Puri is nothing that hospitality players such as us will benefit from," added Puri.

Expressing his disappointment on the budget, Dilip Datwani, President, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI), said, "We had very high expectations from this year's Union Budget for tourism and hospitality.

Based on the Government's vision for tourism and our hopes were to receive the much needed reduction in taxes which would come into effect in the GST roll-out later this year.

Also we had hoped that the government would grant infrastructure staDilip Datwani tus to hotels with a project cost of INR 25 crore as against the present INR 250 crore. But there has been no mention on any of the critical aspects for promoting tourism."

Key highlights • Finance Minister announced the launch of Incredible India 2.0 • 5 special tourism zones to be set up • Airports in tier-2 cities under PPP mode to be developed • Rs 1 lakh crore special fund for safety upgradation of the Indian Railways • Service charge removed on Railway e-ticket • Dedicated trains for tourism and pilgrimage to be launched

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2017

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SATTE

A wealth of renowned Travel and Tourism brands to embark on the SATTE 2017 bandwagon SATTE is India’s Flagship Show for Travel and Tourism Industry by UBM India.

UBM India will be hosting the 24th edition of SATTE, South Asia's leading travel trade show from 15-17 February 2017 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The expo is represented by more than 870 exhibitors and participants from over 40 countries and 28 Indian states, with several significant exhibitors making an inroad to SATTE 2017 for the first time. SATTE will provide a comprehensive platform to domestic and international buyers and professionals from across the travel, tourism and hospitality industry along with National and State Tourism Boards (NTOs and STOs) to congregate and conduct business, arrive at solution-driven innovations to counteract economic uncertainties, and promote inbound, outbound and domestic tourism in India. This most favoured industry platform is also well-supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

SATTE continues to receive support of international organisations and Indian travel trade associations such as World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Indian Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), SKAL International, United Federation of Travel Agents Associations (UFTAA), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Association of Domestic Tour Opera-

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TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2017

tors of India (ADTOI), Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) and IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), to name a few. Spread over 3 days, SATTE 2017 will be witness to several exciting partnerships and announcements that promise to augur in new trends in the industry. Visitors at the signature expo can expect to witness a number of features including a special pavilion of 12 start-ups and venture capital firms that will be on board to provide seed investments for innovative ideas.

The expo will see participation from almost all State Tourism Boards. As far as NTOs are concerned, USA, Mexico, Peru, Czech Republic, Spain, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Israel, Thailand, Indonesia, Macau, Fiji, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, New Zealand, Reunion Island and Egypt amongst others have confirmed their participation with Peru, Vietnam and Sharjah Joining in for the first time. Turkey and Maldives are all set to confirm their participation soon. Dubai, Sri Lanka and Thailand are partner countries for SATTE 2017.

SATTE 2017 is also going to witness an active participation from hospitality players such as, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, ITDC, Sterling Resorts, Dubai Parks & Resorts, Movenpick Hotel & Resorts, Minor Hotels, Melia Hotels International, ONYX Hospitality Group, Ramee Group of Hotels, Shangri –La Hotels and Resorts, Venetian Cotai amongst others. Apart from NTOs and State Tourism

Yogesh Mudras Managing Director, UBM India

Boards, travel & hospitality companies, airlines, cruise liners, DMCs, OTAs and tourism products will also join the event. SATTE works closely with renowned travel associations, organisations and media houses, keeping visitors and buyers at the show well-informed on trends and updates of the industry.

Pronab Sarkar, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) said, “SATTE has emerged as one of the premium platforms in the country, where one can find all the segments that make up the travel industry. This is the place where the entire tourism fraternity comes under one um-

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SATTE

brella and a lot of actual business happens.

Also through SATTE, newer and hitherto unknown destinations get a lot of focus and this is very important for tourism to grow.”

According to PP Khanna, President, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), “SATTE is the biggest travel trade exhibition in South Asia. It brings international exhibitors and buyers who have travel business in India under one roof. Not only does it give fresh exposure to established players, it also offers a plethora of opportunities to new entrants. It is a great networking platform where participants get to generate a lot of business leads and transact business.”

Lauding the SATTE platform, Biji Eapen, President, IATA Agents Association of India, opined, “We are sure that SATTE 2017 will follow its tradition and the newer features will only help SATTE establish new growth paths for the Indian Travel and Tourism Industry. SATTE 2016 -- the 23rd edition of SATTE – was labeled ‘Unprecedented and Bold’, and had also proved to be a spectac-

ular event with around 860 exhibitors across 35 countries, 30 international & 28 domestic Tourism Boards. The key sessions and panel discussions had covered a wide range of subjects and relevant topics that brought together industry stakeholders on a single platform allowing a valuable exchange of ideas.”

Speaking on the upcoming 24th edition of SATTE and its latest developments, Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India said, “SATTE has now become an institution and has evolved as a truly global exhibition in this part of the world. In spite of worldwide uncertainties this year, it stands taller than ever before. SATTE has an expected turnout of over 21,000 qualified travel professionals – each visiting the expo with a high expectancy from the event and its innovative, solution-driven features like the knowledge seminars, product launches and a grand Awards Night that is set to celebrate excellence and innovation within the industry.”

One of the key features of SATTE 2017

will be the conference programme scheduled for February 15 and 16 that promises industry discussions and sharing of new insights pertaining to the sector and industry best practices. Additionally, key stakeholders are looking forward to the six intensive panel discussions that SATTE is also set to host this year. As a pre-cursor to the expo, UBM India will be hosting the SATTE Awards 2017 for the first time. Slated for the evening of February 14, the award is an endeavour to recognize and celebrate the excellence, achievements and innovations of key players in the Travel and Tourism industry. It will be based on transparent, authentic and genuine parameters, a philosophy which is imbibed in the values of SATTE. Networking opportunities, presentations and other features will add substance and style to the evening. The 19 award categories will cover various segments of the travel and tourism industry including airlines, cruise, tour operators, hotels, destinations, online travel portals, to

by T NH DESK name just a few.

INTERGLOBE TECHNOLOGY QUOTIENT TO SHOWCASE AT SATTE 2017 With technology redefining every aspect of travel and tourism industry in the recent years, InterGlobe Technology Quotient has emerged as a mammoth of advanced technological solutions. This year at SATTE we plan to demonstrate unique features that make us technology leader. Catch us at 2017 SATTE Show in Pragati Maidan from February 15th - 17th at Booth# C5 and know us better.

Travelport Smartpoint 7.2 has been designed to transform the way travel agencies work. With more content and more features, it’s better than anything you have seen before- to help you sell more, earn more and meet your customer’s need. Along with this, we have products designed specifically to meet

the necessities of our clientele.

Our Travelport Merchandising Suite offers unique branding opportunities for airlines to display their ancillaries in the best possible way. As the ancillary revenue continue to soar at almost 60 billion dollars worldwide, the importance of apt display tools and customized travel solutions come in. Now with 212 airlines onboard, including Indigo, on Travelport Merchandising Platform, travel agents across the world have access to more ancillaries and therefore, customized travel solutions for their customer.

Sandeep Dwivedi, Chief Commercial Officer at ITQ comments, “We are committed to bring best-in-class futuristic technology to address growing indus-

Sandeep Dwivedi Chief Commercial Officer, ITQ

trial demand. We already have products that are right now catering to smarter travel business management, but we aim to go a step forward and portray ourselves as leader in travel technology innovation through adby T NH DESK vanced solutions.”

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | FEBRUARY 2017

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news

Abu Dhabi ranked among fastest-growing destinations in the world

• Emirate ranked number one in the Middle East in Mastercard report • Abu Dhabi host more than 4 million guests in the first 11 months of 2016 • Annual growth rate of 19.81% in overnight visitors between 2009 and 2016 Abu Dhabi has been ranked among the fastest-growing destinations in the world, and the fastest-growing destination in the Middle East, in a new report by financial services giant Mastercard.

The Global Cities Index Report recognised the UAE capital's compound annual growth rate of 19.81% in overnight visitors between 2009 and 2016, which places the emirate in third place alongside major upcoming destinations such as Osaka, Japan and Chengdu in China, and above established hubs such as Tokyo, Riyadh, and Taipei in Taiwan. The report is produced on an annual basis, and features results gathered by field specialists through extensive research. The UAE capital was one of only three Arabian Gulf cities to make it into the top 50 overall rankings for destination cities in the world.

Abu Dhabi has already posted record-breaking results in 2016, with more than 4 million guests checking into the emirate's 168

hotel and hotel apartments in the first 11 months of the year. The strong performance of the emirate was underpinned by the UAE capital hosting world-class events such as Abu Dhabi Summer Season, Abu Dhabi Food Festival, the Qasr Al Hosn Festival and a comprehensive programme of events to celebrate New Year in the city as well as successes in the MICE sector, with Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau - part of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) – having a record-breaking year by securing agreements to host 14 conferences, which are expected to attract more than 35,000 delegates to the emirate in upcoming years.

Other notable factors included the opening to the public of Al Ain Oasis World Heritage Site and impressive growth in Abu Dhabi's cruise sector following the opening of the city's permanent cruise terminal and the opening of the region's first-ever cruise beach. "The outstanding results offered in this year's Global Destination Cities Index Report reflect Abu Dhabi's ongoing successes in achieving global recognition as a leading international destination," said HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, TCA Abu Dhabi. "We remain resolute in fostering the continued evolution of Abu Dhabi into a distinctive global destination, leveraging diverse tourism and cultural assets, as well as extensive tourism infrastructure. Welcoming a growing number of overnight visitors over the course of 2016 conveys our emirate's commitment to providing the highest standards of hospitality, coupled with internationally recognised business and leisure opportunities."

The Global Destination Cities Index Report conducted by Mastercard covered 132 cities, investigating global cross-border travel and spending in order to speculate on the growth trajectories of the many increasingly dynamic global destinations cities that are on the rise around the world. Mastercard concluded that their study into the fastest-growing destination cities has revealed that there are strong and multi-faceted sources of momentum propelling cities such as Abu Dhabi into newly established positions as international hubs of business, tourism and commerce.

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Smart Travel Tips for Women Adventure Travellers Adventure travel vacations are first meant to be exciting and then, exhilarating! Naturally, however, when travelling in exotic destinations, all adventurous women getting on adventure travel trips want to avoid potential hair-raising surprises which can otherwise happen at the unprepared traveler. These experiences are memorable for life and help you to make the most of your vacation. Although, there are no fixed rules for an adventure trip for women, but to enjoy your trip in all aspects you must follow some tips. Read on to know some smart travel tips for women adventure travellers‌

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Try to travel light On adventure travel trips, it is always advised to carry fewer luggages as limited storage space on the camel, sailboat, raft, helicopter, and other vehicles of transport used by the travellers. Therefore, you must try to limit your luggage to one convenient suitcase and a small carry-on bag. Always remember that you are often supposed to carry your own suitcase and thus, be good to yourself.

Carry-on your essentials Always keep a check on what should you pack in your checked luggage and what to put in your carry-on? Medications (with labels on) which you might not find easily in overseas or wilderness locales, toiletries, all of your camera equipment, one full change of clothing, trip itinerary, cash, important papers and most importantly, your passport and visa. It's also a great idea to wear any of the items that might be essential to have for your trip, such as your hiking boots if you are going for a trek.

Always tag your bags with your name and address It is a common fact that luggage manufacturers make almost every bag either in black, blue or red color, which may make confusion and your luggage can be misplaced or exchanged.

In order to avoid the confusion or any mishap to your luggage, mark it with identification tags both outside and inside with your name and address written on it. Also, bring good luggage locks to use, specifically if you are storing luggage during a trip.

Make copies of important documents You will be able to speed up logistical delays if you carry several copies of your passport (first 2 pages only and relevant visa page), airline ticket, and credit card numbers and distribute them between the luggage and carry-on bag. Always

leave copies at home. Also remember that in can your passport get stolen or lost, it cannot be renewed unless you have 2 passport photos. So, bring extras!

Don't leave home without these!

Moreover, in the smart age, you can also put all your important information (passport and credit card numbers, passwords, driver's license number, etc.) on a secure app in your smartphone, or any other smart device.

Leave your tour itinerary, contact details with family and friends Always, always and always leave a copy of your tour itinerary with friends or family. Also, make sure you include fax, phone numbers, and email addresses with other emergency contact details.

Always call or go online at least one day prior to check schedule or any flight time changes.

Leave your jewels at home Especially, when travelling to unknown countries, do a favour to yourself by not wearing wear or bringing any kind of expensive jewelry. Gold necklaces, earrings, and rings are often an irresistible temptation to muggers and you can be in very much danger if you are carrying them. So, better keep them at home and enjoy your adventure vacation free mindedly.

Last but not the least, just be open to Adventure and wander around Any adventure vacation necessitates being a good-natured realist, able to laugh at new situations which may not be expected. Situations which later turn into memorable stories to make your trip truly unique. So be open for adventurous experience, flexible to new situations as they occur, and remember that laughter is the universal language of all travellers and people.

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Holiday Ideas for Long Weekends in 2017

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2017 is packed with 13 long weekends, including bonanzas in August and October. So without wasting any time, act fast—for great savings, make your bookings well in time, and start packing your bags!

Check out the cheat sheet that we have compiled to help you plan your holidays this year: January: Republic Day weekend (26th: Thursday – Holiday for Republic Day, 27th: Friday – take leave, 28th: Saturday, 29th: Sunday) January is a great time to head to Gokarna (the mini-Goa of Karnataka) for a beach holiday. It’s calm, peaceful and not very commercial. Moreover, this is just the right time to go—once the peak Christmas-new year tourist rush is over and prices for accommodation and eating out are not sky-rocketingly high. With the heights of winter, lots of people from the plains

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also like to head to the hills to get their fill of the snow. So, if you’re looking for a snow adventure, then consider Gulmarg or Auli, where you might even try a hand at skiing.

February: Mahashivratri weekend (24th: Friday – Holiday for Mahashivratri, 25th: Saturday, 26th: Sunday) With romance in the air this month, you could head to Agra for the Taj Mahotsav (from 18th–27th).

Of course, the advantage is that it’s a convenient day trip from Delhi. If you’re a water baby, February is a great month to take a shot to diving at the Andaman Islands. This is also one of the nicest months to visit Goa, before it gets really warm there—moreover, the local carnival happens here around this time (25th–28th), which is an annual Mardi Gras type procession. Another interesting option is the Jaisalmer desert festival (8th–10th), a three-

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6 day long extravaganza of dance, music, handicrafts and exciting competitions.

March: Holi weekend (11th: Saturday, 12th: Sunday, 13th: Monday – Holiday for Holi) If you’re looking to celebrate Holi in an exotic destination, then Mathura or Vrindavan are your best bet. Varanasi is beautiful too, and the season is just about ending here in March. If you’re the trekking kind, then plan to go to the Har Ki Dun valley. Starting from Dehradun, it’s one of the most picturesque (and relatively easy) treks in the Garhwal Himalayas. Another pleasant option is a three-day trip to Coorg (about a five-hour drive from Bengaluru) to catch the white coffee flowers in bloom.

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April: Ram Navami weekend (1st: Saturday, 2nd: Sunday, 3rd: Monday – take leave, 4th: Tuesday – Ram Navami)

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the sacred Golden Temple, the area around which becomes carnival-like during this time. The Mapro Strawberry Festival—a unique four-day festival dedicated to promoting strawberries—is another attraction in Mahabaleshwar, which takes place annually during the Easter weekend. Nearby Panchgani is a lovely little hill station to visit too. April is also an excellent month to spot some wildlife—for this, you could head to one of the national parks like Kanha, Pench or Bandhavgarh.

The Tulip Festival in Srinagar makes April the best time to witness the flowers in full bloom. If white-water rafting gives you an adrenalin rush, then this is the best weather to go to Rishikesh. You could also head to some hideouts like Mandawa castle or Khimsar fort in Rajasthan—they are perfect for weekend getaways, and the weather in April is just right, as summer has still not fully kicked in. Popular hill stations like Ooty, Kodaikanal and Darjeeling are also a good choice, just before the peak tourist season hits.

May: May Day weekend (29th April: Saturday, 30th April: Sunday, 1st May: Holiday for May Day) This month, you could discover relatively unexplored hill stations in the north—like Lansdowne or Landour—to beat the heat of early May. Another offbeat one is Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh, which is famous for paragliding.

If wildlife excites you, then head to Ranthambore, Sariska or Tadoba to spot the big cat. Alternatively, if a short camping trip is more your thing, then go to Dharamshala.

April: Baisakhi/Good Friday weekend (13th: Thursday – Holiday for Baisakhi, 14th: Holiday for Good Friday, 15th: Saturday, 16th: Sunday - Easter) Baisakhi, the harvest festival of Punjab is celebrated with great fervour (feasting, bhangra dancing, folk music, and fairs) in Amritsar. Here, you can also pay a visit to

June: Ramzan Eid weekend (24th: Saturday, 25th: Sunday, 26th: Monday – Holiday for Eid) Ramzan Eid has a special charm in cities like Hyderabad, Aurangabad or Lucknow, where you can gorge on some lipsmacking Mughlai food—during these dates, there are plenty of stalls dishing out delicious delicacies like biryani and kebabs. Munnar or Wayanad are great choices if you’re looking to experience the monsoon in Kerala. The waterfalls here around this time are especially breathtaking. June is also the best time to visit Ladakh, but you might need to take some more days off to do full justice to this beauty.

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August: Janamashtami/Independence Day weekend (12th: Saturday, 13th: Sunday, 14th: Monday – Holiday for Janamashtami,

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9 15th: Tuesday – Holiday for Independence Day) August is the apple-harvesting season in Himachal Pradesh. You could head to one of the quieter hill stations like Mashobra, Naldehra or Kufri to experience this. If you’re a history and architecture buff, then pick a trip to Orchha in Madhya Pradesh.

On the other hand, if a remarkable trek is what you’re looking to do, then consider the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand.

August: Ganesh Chaturthi weekend (25th: Friday – Holiday for Ganesh Chaturthi, 26th: Saturday, 27th: Sunday) To fully experience the excitement of Ganesh Chaturthi, head to Maharashtra in the rainy month of August. Pune is a good choice, or if you’re going to Mumbai, then Karjat and Matheran are some scenic hill stations close by. Agumbe in Karnataka is also ideal for some fantastic monsoon drives. You could also choose to go to Coonoor for witnessing some unique cheese-making. Madhya Pradesh is great around this time of the year too—go to Bhopal, from where you can go visit the Satpura national park and even spend a day at Panchmarhi, a hill station close by.

10 Oct). Or head to Puri in Odisha for a pleasurable three-day getaway, where you can get to see temples, beaches and lakes all in one city. You could also head to Kolkata just before the Durga puja fever sets in, or Gujarat where the navratri season is fun and festive. This may be also a nice time to go to Hampi, located about six hours away from Bengaluru, within the ruins of Vijayanagara.

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September/October: Gandhi Jayanti weekend (30th September: Saturday, 1st October: Sunday, 2nd October: Holiday for Gandhi Jayanti) The Thimphu Tshechu festival takes place in Bhutan during this time (30 Sep–2

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13 October: Diwali/Bhai Dooj weekend (18th: Wednesday - Holiday for Diwali, 19th: Thursday - Take leave, 20th: Friday – Holiday for Bhai Dooj, 21st: Saturday, 22nd: Sunday) If you’re happy to step out of your home around Diwali, then Rajasthan is one of the most wonderful places to enjoy the festival. Head to Jaipur for a generous dose

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You could also head to Pushkar, the hippie hub of this colourful state. Puducherry is a good idea around this time too—it’s an easy three-hour drive from Chennai. Since this is a five-day break, you can even plan for a longer getaway, maybe to the northeast.

December: Eid-e-Milad weekend (1st: Friday – Holiday for Eid-eMilad, 2nd: Saturday, 3rd: Sunday) If you’re a music buff, then don’t miss out on the Hornbill Festival (1st–10th) in Nagaland. This is also a great month to visit the Periyar sanctuary in Kerala to see some wildlife. To spot migratory birds, you can go to Bharatpur, about a four-hour drive from Delhi. If you’re looking for a spacation (or spa vacation), then consider Kovalam for a refreshing three-day break.

Another good option for a short getaway around this time is Udaipur, the historic capital of the kingdom of Mewar.

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December: Christmas weekend (23rd: Saturday, 24th: Sunday, 25th: Monday – Holiday for Christmas) If you want to view a white Christmas, then go to Manali for the snow. Instead, if you’re looking for a winter break away from the cold, then get yourself booked in a luxurious houseboat in Alleppey or Kumarakom in Kerala. If water sports are your thing, then try your hand at scuba diving in the serene Lakshadweep islands. December is also the best season to consider a trip to the desert triangle of Rajasthan, covering Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.

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news

UK ENCOURAGES INDIAN VISITORS TO APPLY EARLY FOR VISAS WITH #BEATTHEPEAK CAMPAIGN The UK has launched a new campaign to encourage Indian visitors to apply early for their visas in the quieter, off peak period, during January and February. Visa applicants can expect to get a visa decision more quickly outside of the peak period, and benefit from quieter Visa Application Centres and more available appointment slots. Visitors can now request for their visas to be post-dated by up to three months, so the visa starts on their intended travel date. Those planning to travel in April can apply for their visas now and the six month validity can start on their intended departure date.

The initiative was announced at the Destination Britain India, currently being held in Pune and hosted by the UK’s national tourism agency VisitBritain. The three-day tourism trade fair brings together more than 75 travel agents from across India and more than 20 UK travel suppliers for three days of networking and business appointments.

British High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG, said: “We are delighted that more and more Indians are choosing to come to the UK either on holiday or for business. The latest

visa statistics show that visitor visas issued have increased by 6% in the year ending September 2016 and last year we issued more Indian visit visas than ever before. “There has never been a better time to visit the UK - 2017 is the Year of Culture, which will see an exciting festival of events celebrating the vibrant cultural history of UK and India held in both countries. By making it easier for visitors to apply for their visas early, we hope that even more Indians will choose to come to visit the UK to see our world class heritage sites, enjoy our beautiful countryside and experience the vibrancy of our cities.”

VisitBritain Director for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa Sumathi Ramanathan said: “We want the UK to be a ‘must-go-now’ destination for visitors from India. Making it easy to travel here is an important part of our tourism offer.

With our hotels, attractions and shops, all offering great value for Indian visitors right now, it is a great time to come to Britain.”

The UK continues to make improvements to the visa service. Last year a new online visit visa application form was

introduced in India. The new form is quicker and more intuitive and it has been translated into four Indian languages to make it easier for Indian customers to apply. The eligibility for visitors using the same-day Super Priority Visa and 3 to 5 day Priority Visa has been expanded so that now all first time visitors can use the service, regardless of whether they have travelled before.

India will become the first visa country to benefit from the Registered Traveller Service, as announced by the British Prime Minister Theresa May.

by TNH DESK

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ExplorE IndIa

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(Trivia) ALERT! Resist the urge to collect corals as souvenirs.

Picking up corals is prohibited and is a punishable act.

SPECIAL PERMITS: A trip to Lakshadweep requires a tourist permit from all. This can be arranged at the Lakshadweep Tourist Office in Cochin (Kochi).

Discovering Lakshadweep- A Less Explored Destination in India

Agatti Agatti is a major gateway to the island destination because it is the only destination with only airport in the island. You can enjoy a wonderful holiday experience by living in the twentybedded tourist resort which has been set up here. Different from other islands Agatti is the only island where one can stay as long or short as you wish. It is possible with a benefit given by the Indian Airlines direct flight operated from Kochi to the airport and vise-a-versa. Other uninhabited islands like, Bangaram, Parali-I, Parali-II and Thinnakara are just a step away. You can come at these tiny islands and have an exclusive day excursion here.

Lakshadweep (the group of 36 islands) is known for its exotic and sun-kissed beaches and flourishing green landscape.

The name Lakshadweep in Malayalam and Sanskrit language means 'a hundred thousand islands'. It is a less explored beach destination in India unlike Goa or Andaman Islands. Lakshadweep is the smallest Union Territory consisting of 36 islands with an area of 32 sq. km. Lakshadweep enjoys a tropical climate and therefore, the best time is visit here is from October to March. In comparison to other island or beach destinations, Lakshadweep is less explored by tourists. If you are planning a vacation here, then read on to know which places you must explore in Lakshadweep…

Kavaratti The next is Kavaratti Island, which is the administrative headquarter and the most developed island. The island is dotted with a total of 52 mosques which also includes the most stunning “Ujra mosque”. This beautiful mosque has ornately carved ceiling which is believed to be carved from a piece of driftwood. The Lagoon located on this island is best for various water sports, swimming and the sandy sun-kissed beaches are just best for sun basking. You can also spot exotic underwater world without getting wet by sailing in the glass-bottomed boats. You can also hire water sports crafts like Kayaks.

Minicoy Minicoy is the southernmost island of the group and is geographically isolated from other islands. Possibly that’s why, the culture of this island is a mix of South Indian and Maldivian.

Agatti

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Minicoy is often called as Women’s Island for the dominating position enjoyed by ladies in the society which is the culture distinct from other islands. This island has a rich tradition of performing arts and the most attractive of them is Lava dance, which is performed on festive occasions. A visit to the tuna canning factory and the light house built by the British in 1885 is strongly recommended for tourists.

Bangaram Bangaram is beautiful tear-drop shaped piece of land which is encircled by creamy sand. To form a perfect excursion there are three uninhabited islands in the same atoll, which are, Parali-I, Parali-II and Tinnakara. The deep warm and clear waters of Indian Ocean with its fauna and flora are an irresistible invitation for tourists who love scuba diving. It is a hop away from Agatti airport by a speedboat.

for its picturesque beauty.

How to Reach Lakshadweep?

By Air The airport at Agatti is well connected to Kochi (Cochin) through regular flights. All the cities of India and various international destinations are also well connected with Kochi, the capital of Kerala and thus, enhancing the connectivity of Lakshadweep. PawanHans helicopter service can also be availed to commute between the islands.

By Sea The ship service is available from Kochi and takes around 18 to 20 hours to reach Agatti. The ship service is not available in monsoons.

Kadmat Island The island of Kadmat is a retreat of solitude with its beautiful lagoon of even depth and a long stretch of shoreline with well secluded tourist huts. Apart from the shallow lagoon on the west that forms an ideal spot for water sports, there is also a narrow lagoon on the east. It is the only island in the group that has lagoon on both the sides. In fact, this island is considered as the finest diving spots in India. Due to its uniqueness the island is increasingly becoming a favourite place for honeymooners. Kadmat is also the only island apart from Agatti and Bangaram where international tourists are permitted.

Bangaram

Kalpeni Kalpeni has the biggest lagoon among Lakshadweep islands.

The lagoon is comparatively shallow and ideal for all kinds of water sports. An unusual feature of Kalpeni atoll is the huge storm bank of coral debris along the eastern and south-eastern shoreline. Kalpeni with the small islets like Pitti, Tilakkam and the uninhabited Cheriyam with sparkling lagoon are renowned

Minicoy

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Lima

Exploring exotic destinations of Peru- a beautiful country in South America

Machu Picchu Peru

Cusco

Also known as the “Land of the Incas”, Peru has multiple faces each beautiful, different and fascinating. Peru is called the land of the Incas because it was used to be the home of the expansive Inca Empire. As a result, it has a rich heritage and is presently dotted with colonial architecture and archaeological remains. The country’s picturesque natural beauty adds up to make it an attractive travel destination. If you are planning a trip to the less explored Peru, then read on to know some of the interesting places you must visit during your vacation…

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Lima The largest city and capital of Peru, Lima is an extensive metropolis constituting an architectural blend of pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary infrastructure. This city was founded in the year 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro. Lima offers a rich history as well as extraordinary food, a vibrant culture and vivacious nightlife.

Lima’s historic district features the most interesting attractions with old churches, Spanish palaces, monasteries and one of the oldest universities in the Americas.

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Beaches at the north and south ends of the city are popular crowd-pullers, like the popular Miraflores suburb.

Machu Picchu One of the most stunning and impressive ancient sites in the world, ‘Machu Picchu’ is surely the number 1 among the top tourist attractions in Peru. The “Lost City of the Incas” is invisible from the Urubamba Valley below and totally selfcontained, surrounded by agricultural terraces and watered by natural springs.

This archaeological wonder is situated

7,000 feet above the sea level amidst the Andes Mountains. You can explore this historic place and see the well-preserved buildings that include houses, temples, fountains and baths. Although known locally, Machu Picchu was largely unknown to the outside world before being re-discovered in the year 1911 by historian ‘Hiram’.

Cusco Regularly serving as a famous base to explore nearby renowned ruins such as Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of

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Sacred Valley of Incas

the Incas, Cusco was the historic capital of the ancient Inca Empire. Situated in southeastern Peru, it is one of the most significant tourist destinations in Peru.

This city is steeped in history featuring various well-preserved buildings dating back to Inca and Spanish colonial times.

The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the city is the main square surrounded by many cafes, restaurants and churches.

You can see an important Inca site called ‘Sacsayhuaman’, which is actually an enormous walled complex constructed of large limestone boulders.

Sacred Valley Previously the heartland of the Inca Empire, The ‘Sacred Valley of the Incas’ is a valley in the Andes, located close to Cusco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu. It was appreciated by the Incas because of its special geographical and unique climatic qualities. The region contains abundant archaeological remains and villages including the Inca cities of ‘Písac’ and ‘Ollantaytambo’.

Arequipa

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to most visited natural attraction in Peru, the ‘Colca Canyon’.

Puno

Nazca Desert

Nazca Desert Another unique destination to visit is the Nazca Desert. It occupies a strip along the northern Pacific coast on a high arid plateau. The world famous ‘Nazca Lines’ are situated between the towns of Palpa and Nazca. It is believed to be created between 200 BC and 700 AD the figures range from simple lines to stylized spiders, lizards, monkeys and various human figures. The dry, stable climate and windless of the Nazca Desert has helped keep the lines uncovered to the current day.

Arequipa Arequipa is amongst the most visited cities in Peru. It is surrounded by three picturesque volcanoes in the country’s Southern Coastal region. Arequipa embodies a rich mix of the indigenous and Spanish colonial cultures. Among the most considerable of these is the Santa Catalina Convent, which is often described as a city within a city because of its colorful buildings, charming streets and flowers. This city is also the gateway

Last but not the least; Puno is a famous port city on the shores of Lake Titicaca on the Altiplano in Peru. Regardless of its charming hillside setting, the city itself is a ramshackle collection of unfinished modern buildings. Its biggest attraction is as a departure point for the famous ‘floating islands on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca’.

How to Reach Peru?

By Air Flights from Europe and America bound for South American locations land in Lima’s Aeropuerto International Jorge Chauez. There are direct flights from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome and Madrid. There are daily flights from all South American countries to Peru.

Miami is the main gateway to Peru.

By Road Running north to South is the recently rebuilt Pan American Highway.

Cars can be hired from local agencies for those who like to do their own thing.

By Sea Boats from Brazil link to Callao, the international port, which is sometimes one of the stopover points of cruise liners from many countries across the world.

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Louvre Hotels Group buys into Sarovar Hotels and becomes one of the largest hotel groups in India Louvre Hotels Group, 2nd largest hotel group in Europe, has acquired majority stake in India's leading hotel chain Sarovar Hotels. The European hotel group has made its first investment of the size in the Indian subcontinent. India, with its fast-growing economy, its global tourism potential and a significant under-penetration of branded hotel rooms, represents a new opportunity and a strategic market of more than 1.2 billion inhabitants for the group.

The group has become a majority stakeholder in Sarovar Hotels, an Indian company made up of 75 hotels on the premium, mid-range and budget sectors, through 3 leading brands: Sarovar Premiere, Sarovar Portico and Hometel.

In addition to the above three brands, the group also has two well established F&B brands, The Geoffrey’s Pub and the Oriental Blossom, and manages the lodging and catering facilities of various institutions in India. Furthermore, the group manages 10 hotels under the Radisson, Park Plaza and Park Inn brands.

Sarovar Hotels was founded in 1994 by Anil Madhok, a hotel industry expert on India, Singapore and Sri Lanka markets. It is also run by Ajay K. Bakaya and Mansoor Adil who have built it into a robust and effective hotel platform combining marketing, human resources, operations, management and technical services.

Leveraging its hotel expertise and seasoned management staff, Sarovar has developed significantly over the past 5 years, growing from 4500 to nearly 6000 rooms in over 50 cities. Sarovar has a secured pipeline of over 20 hotels, most of which are due to join the network shortly.

Over the last few years, Sarovar also started to develop its brands outside its boundaries, targeting Africa, and more

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significantly Eastern Africa, which de facto also strengthens Louvre Hotels Group positioning as the largest hotel group in this part of the world.

There will be no change in management of the Sarovar Group and this strong

(L - R) Saurabh Chawla, Pierre-Frédéric Roulot, Anil Madhok, Ajay K. Bakaya

and experienced team will continue to provide its expertise and manage the hotels under its brands. Both hotel groups share the desire to continue developing Sarovar Hotels brands. This powerful platform will also sustain the development of Louvre Hotels Group brand which has been present in the Indian sub-continent since 2007 and currently manages 22 hotels under its Golden Tulip Umbrella brand.

This transactionbetween Louvre Hotels Group and Sarovar Hotels offers unprecedented synergies between strong local brands and the world’s 5th largest hotel group. Respective hotel owners for both groups will benefit immediately from such synergies including local and international management expertise, world-wide distribution, loyalty programs, sales and

marketing initiatives, and procurement services while continuing to benefit from the experience of the local management .

This deal clearly demonstrates the ambition of Louvre Hotels Group; boosting its development through strategic deals on high potential markets. “Number 2 in Europe, Number 1 in China, and now a leader in India, we really are a major global player, present in all major markets, and in all the hospitality segments.

Sarovar is a fantastic platform, very promising for the future, mostly due to the professionalism and the local expertise of its smart team.” emphasisesPierre-FrédéricRoulot, CEO Louvre Hotels Group.

"Over the last two decades, Sarovar Hotels has grown to be one of the fastest growing hospitality chains in India.

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OAKS DEBUTS IN INDIA WITH OPENING OF OAKS BODHGAYA Leading Australian accommodation provider Oaks Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Oaks Bodhgaya, marking the brand’s debut in India.

Bringing Oaks’ smart simplicity to a new regional destination, Oaks Bod-

hgaya welcomes travellers to the captivating temple town of Bodhgaya in the Indian state of Bihar. Home to Mahabodhi Temple, where Buddha is said to have found enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, this temple complex is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

In this sacred destination, Oaks Bodhgaya is superbly situated just seven kilometres from Gaya International Airport, two kilometres from Magadh University, three and a half kilometres from the sacred Mahabodhi Temple and 10 kilometres from Vishnupad Temple.

The 78-key new-build Oaks Bod-

hgaya provides modern accommodation with spacious living areas and generous bathrooms. 74 Deluxe Rooms offer 30 square metres of space and feature twin beds, a walk-in shower and some also a bathtub. Three Suites, each offering 66 square metres of space, feature a king size bed, two bathrooms with a bathtub, a lounge and dining area. Designed specifically with disabled access, a Deluxe Suite of 40 square metres is equipped with two bathrooms featuring walk-in showers, along with well-planned living and dining areas.

by T NH DESK

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news

EMIRATES TO LAUNCH DAILY FLIGHTS TO CROATIA Introducing the only First Class Cabin product between the Middle East and Zagreb Emirates announced that it will further expand its European network with the introduction of a daily flight from Dubai to Zagreb (ZAG), the capital of Croatia from June 1, 2017. The new southeast European destination will be served by an Emirates Boeing 777-300 aircraft, the only wide-body service operating to/from Zagreb.

“Emirates has had a commercial presence in Croatia since 2003, so to launch full operations is a natural progression.

Emirates is pleased to have this opportunity to add such a picturesque destina-

tion to our global route network. We look forward to working with our partners and stakeholders in Croatia to provide our world renowned service to our customers on our young, modern fleet of aircraft.

We are also committed to our contribution to growing the trade and tourism flows between Croatia and Dubai, as well as encouraging incoming tourism from the Middle East and Asia Pacific, where Emirates operates 45 destinations,” said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

The new Zagreb flight opens a whole new exciting region for Emirates’ passengers to explore. The city itself is steeped in culture and history with an abundance

SWISS posts record passenger volume for 2016 Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS)1 transported 16,517,559 passengers in 2016, a 1.3% increase on 2015, which had itself been a record year in passenger volume terms. A total of 145,868 flights were operated systemwide in 2016, some 0.5% more than the previous year. Of these, 127,055 (up 0.3%) were within Europe and 18,813 (up 2.1%) were on intercontinental routes.

Annual systemwide capacity was raised 6.6% in available seat-kilometre (ASK) terms. Annual traffic volume, measured in revenue passenger-kilometres (RPKs), was up 4.0%. On its European network SWISS raised its ASK capacity by 2.6%, while its RPK traffic volumes saw a 0.2% decline.

On its intercontinental services ASK capacity was raised by 8.5%, while RPK volumes were a 5.7% increase on the previous year. Seat load factor for SWISS’s European services amounted to 76.4% for 2016, down 2.1 percentage points.

Seat load factor for SWISS’s intercontinental services declined 2.2 percentage points to 83.4%. Systemwide seat load factor for 2016 amounted to 81.3%, a 2.1-percentage-point yearon-year decline.

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by T NH DESK

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of charming pavement cafes and restaurants to be enjoyed during the spring and summer months. Located in the northwest of the country, the capital city offers easy access to the mountains and national parks for energetic travellers to hike, or visitors can simply admire the natural beauty and capture the stunning vistas for Instagram or the holiday photo album. During the winter months, the ski resort of Sljeme on mountain Medvednica is just a twenty minute drive away and is a great alternative to the busy Alpine slopes.

by T NH DESK

Yas Island opens window for sponsorship opportunities Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is a stunning, cosmopolitan and energetic location looking to host exciting events that will support it in celebrating Abu Dhabi’s cultural diversity, driving overnight visitation to the island and creating economic impact for the destination.

Destination Yas Island has opened an inaugural window of opportunity to event organisers based locally and internationally who are interested in applying for sponsorship to host their event on Yas Island, to help encourage people to visit, dine, shop and stay on the island. The window – closing on 24 January 2017 – will provide the opportunity for event organisers to secure sponsorship from Miral, for events being held between 1 July 2017 and 31 December 2018 eligible

to apply. Yas Island is located a mere 10 minutes from the Abu Dhabi International Airport, 25 minutes from central Abu Dhabi, and 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport. Notorious for hosting world-class events ranging from the FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX ™ to concerts such as Madonna, Andrea Bocelli and Coldplay, Yas Island has always been a pioneer when it comes to entertainment.

by TNH DESK

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news

DECCAN ODYSSEY'S 2017 COMPANION SCHEME LAUNCHED New Year celebration continues, as flat 50% discount on the companion announced on select journeys Keeping with the growing interest in experiencing India's pride – Deccan Odyssey, the award-winning luxury train operated by Cox & Kings, an exclusive Companion Offer on select journeys starting January 2017. Travel enthusiasts can book a lavish twinsharing cabin in Deccan Odyssey and avail flat 50% discount for their companion. Imagine sitting on the magnificent couch with a view that slowly unravels the best-kept secrets of the serene countryside of Western, Southern and Central India. Onboard Deccan Odyssey, you can now live a grand life at an unimaginable price.

The offer is applicable on bookings

made from 1st January – 30th April 2017. The exclusive scheme is open to all including Indian citizens, Foreign

one facet of India on any of the enchanting journeys. Here your destination is the journey itself; the moving palace takes you through Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Delhi depending on

diplomats / Expats resident in India having work/resident permit. At the palatial train, you discover more than

your choice of itinerary. Guests onboard will be treated to memorable

by TNH DESK experiences.

TrawellTag Cover-More and GoAir announce Travel Assistance and Insurance Partnership India’s leading dedicated provider of global assistance and travel insurance, TrawellTag Cover-More, announced their partnership with GoAir India.

TrawellTag Cover-More will provide specialised travel assistance services including insurance for GoAir passengers opting for domestic travel. The association rides on Cover-More’s upgrade of their proprietary optimisation platform, ‘Impulse’ which works in real time to offer travel protection plans matched to the customer’s profile, based on the details provided while booking their tickets. Cover-More’s expertise in the domain of ancillary service optimization for airlines, has enabled the organisation to serve clients like Malaysia Airlines, Air New Zealand & Virgin Atlantic.

This strategic alliance perfectly marries with GoAir’s motto of 'Fly Smart' that is aimed at offering passengers a holistic, quality-assured, and time-efficient service through value for money in fares and services. This alliance suits the needs of the Indian traveller, particularly the new age traveller who prefers customised solutions.

MD & CEO – TrawellTag Cover-More,

Dev Karvat, said “We are delighted to partner with GoAir to provide our unique travel assistance and insurance services to GoAir’s customers throughout India. Impulse is the key to our new strategic partnershipas it not only equipsthe travelers with holistictravel protection but also enables our client to enhance ancillary revenue though an

by T NH DESK agile online technology”.

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INTERVIEW

Jordan is and will remain one of the safest destinations to visit In an interview with TnH, Ashit Taneja, Country Head, Jordan Tourism Board, Representative Office of India spoke about what Jordan offers to Indian travelers, asserting that Jordan is and will remain one of the safest destinations to visit.

In the recent past, Jordan has become a must-do on every intrepid traveler’s list from India. Your views?

Jordan still is and will remain one of the safest destinations to visit. It is a very stable country. This can be attributed to a number of factors namely: the leadership, the people per se, their moderation and open-minded thinking process and way of living, all these factors combined have given Jordan the leverage. The leadership of King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and prior to that, his father's has been highly instrumental in building that base. All major powers in the region want Jordan to remain that way. Odd incidents may happen here and there, but Jordan is as safe as any other tourist destination anywhere in the world. I believe the major incentive for Indian travelers would be to offer visa on arrival for Indians which can be obtained for USD 56 and free visa on arrivals for groups.

Q

Can you comment on JordanIndia’s bilateral ties?

The relationship between Republic of India and Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan goes back to a long period of time, The two countries signed their first bilateral agreement for cooperation and friendly relations in 1947, which was formalized in 1950 when the two countries established fullfledged diplomatic ties. The friendly relations, mutual understanding and

Q

Ashit Taneja Country Head, Jordan Tourism Board, Representative Office of India

cooperation between the two countries have developed over the years in the political, economic and cultural aspects.

Can you tell us about the Indian community in Jordan and its local engagement in the fabric of the country?

Jordan is home to more than 10,000 Indians, who are employed in textile, construction and manufacturing sectors, fertilizer companies, health sector, universities, IT, financial companies and multilateral organization. There are about 25 garment factories across Jordan owned by Indians with an investment of over US$ 300 million and employing over 10,000 persons.

Q

Q

Is India a promising market for Jordan in terms of tourism?

India is a big nation with millions of travelers travelling each year. Almost 50,000 Indians visited Jordan in 2016 and I want to pass on the message to the fellow Indians that Jordanians are very welcoming, warm by heart and extend the courtesies to the travelers. Jordan offers an excellent

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INTERVIEW

blend of tradition, culture along with developed infrastructure and world class hospitality services. Jordanian food and the great experiences of Dead Sea, Petra and Wadi Rum makes it distinct from other countries.

Q

Visa issue is an important one for the Indian traveller. Travelling to Jordan for Indians is now easier with the 'Visa on Arrival' facility. Can you elaborate?

Indians can avail of free visa on arrival in Jordan. The requirements are: • Book through Jordanian DMC/supplier and stay for minimum 2 nights with minimum 5 pax as a group, or

• Buy the Jordan Pass and stay for minimum 3 consecutive nights in Jordan. The Jordan Pass is the ultimate sightseeing ticket to Jordan. It offers hassle-free prepaid entry at a reduced rate to over 40 attractions in Jordan. Link and details to buy the Jordan Pass: http://www.jordanpass.jo/ If the traveler does not fulfill the requirements stated above, the traveler can pay

USD 56 or JD 40 and still avail Visa on Arrival.

The basic formalities required for Indians who wish to avail this facility are: • USD 1000 cash per person • Confirmed return ticket • Confirmed hotel reservation under travellers name • Passport validity of 6 months from date

by T NH DESK of arrival into Jordan.

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hotel review

Of Water and Ice

Hotel la ReseRve, Geneva v B Mandira Rai Y

Let’s face it – skiing is not for everyone!

Well, it might just be when you’re young, but the older you get, the higher your chances get of acquiring more bumps and bruises and lesser skill.

Ice-skating, on the other hand, can be quite exhilarating too and is not half as difficult to master. So if you’re thinking of heading to Switzerland this winter and don’t quite make it to the top of the Alps (the Swiss Alps boast of many good ski resorts), remember there is always ice skating to the rescue. Surprisingly, I found my favourite place to ice-skate in Switzerland in a hotel. And not just any hotel - I’m talking about the grand dame of hotels in Geneva, La Reserve.

This hotel (or rather a resort, given its expanse) sits like an indulgent matriarch, occupying 10 acres of parkland, right on the banks of Lake Geneva, whisking its spiffy guests in its equally swish private Venetian boat across the lake to the heart of the city. Unfortunately, this complimentary boat service runs only through summer and spring.

As you walk in, the gentry give you the

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feel of being in Hollywood. The interiors, however, give you a different feeling altogether – African reserve. The dark tones, animal prints, life-size baby elephant statues and the quaint multicoloured acrylic birds perched on lights remind you of the hauntingly beautiful Dark Continent.

Back to the ice-skating, Winter Wonderland, as the name suggests, is open during winter (November to mid-March) and is Geneva’s largest private ice skating rink. Constructed over the outdoor pool, fur, crystal and huge heating lamps dominate this cozy indoor space. And in the middle of it all sits the gorgeous mass of white ice. Use of ice skates is complimentary and skating lessons can be booked in advance.

Guests travelling with children will be surprised (very pleasantly, though) to learn of La Petite Reserve (9 am – 6 pm), the kids’ club at the hotel. Stationed conveniently next to the spa, this childfriendly space is equipped toys, games, puzzles and books as well as areas for little kids. A large outdoor playground, complete with swings and a tree house

add to its undeniable appeal to those travelling with kids.

An outdoor pool remains open in the summer months and offers swimming and diving lessons for kids. The gorgeous spa pool, on the other hand, is open round the year. The hotels also houses two tennis courts with year-round tennis classes for children. During school holiday months, the hotel organizes summer camp for kids where they indulge in tennis classes, watersports and other activities.

Like the rest of the hotel, the rooms at La Reserve too are tastefully (I’m talking ‘Jacques Garcia tasteful’) done. The ground level rooms with garden access are definitely worth snagging for those travelling with children. The ultimate indulgence, however, comes in the form of the hotel’s lakefront villa. A private garden, wading pool, two bedrooms, dining room, kitchen and a helper’s room make this a totally different kind of family holiday!

Like everything else at this luxury hotel

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hotel review

owned by Michel Reybier, nothing less than Michelin quality would be expected from La Reserve and there too, it does not disappoint. Its Chinese restaurant Le Tse Fung serves fantastic food and deservedly so is Switzerland’s first Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant. The Loti, with a gorgeous tree taking centre stage here, this restaurant is the place to go if you want to see how to cook with truffle – their truffle preparations are fantastic and the portions are more than generous.

The spa at La Reserve, apart from being a temple of ultimate indulgence (expect nothing less than La Prairie products), is also the largest in Geneva (it is spread over a whopping 2,000-square-meters) and is definitely worth spending an afternoon at.

It is worth noting that though the hotel sits on the lake and is very accessible, it is not in the town centre but three miles from it. It is also a quick 2 miles from the international airport. But honestly, as you stare at the Alps in the distance, dip a toe into the cool lake and take in the woody smell of the trees around, really, whose counting?

More on luxury family-friendly holidays from our columnist Mandira Rai on www.withmandy.com

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news

ALL FOR EASY ACCESSIBILITY OF THE EAST v B Swaati Chaudhury Y

The eastern states need to have seamless connectivity for the tourism industry to grow in leaps and bounds.

Connectivity is a significant aspect of tourism development since it builds up hospitality industry and other tourismrelated infrastructure. At Confederation of Indian Industry’s recent conclave on Destination East, focus was given on accessing the eastern states of India as well as the North-eastern region.

Speaking at the summit, Suresh Nair, General Manager-India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh said, “West Bengal and North-eastern states should have more connectivity and there should be more number of flights to Darjeeling, Kalimpong and flights connecting Kolkata to the Sundarbans. Accessibility to Cooch Behar and Kalimpong is quite essential. Our global airline player believes in low air fares and always look to connect smaller destinations. We began our journey in India connecting Trichy in South India.

Arunachal Pradesh has fascinating landscapes but accessibility is an

FLYER-FRIENDLY AIR FARES TO QUEENSLAND v B Swaati Chaudhury Y

The lure of watching Koalas, Kangaroos, whales, crocodiles and cassowaries in wild is so great that Queensland appears to be a stealing march over other global destinations.

If the devil of wanderlust seeps into your senses and cripples you with visions of sandy island, white, sandy beaches and rain forests, you know where to head to. For Indian travellers, the air fare to Queensland has become flyer-friendly. Thanks to the efforts of Tourism Queensland that has come up

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Suresh Nair, General Manager, India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh, Air Asia Berhad

issue.” Nair cited the example of Masai Mara National Park that has grass strips with 20 regular flights connecting to Nairobi. In India, there are no flights operating from New Delhi to Agra.

Nair added, “West Bengal has three more airports- Durgapur, Malda and Cooch Behar that are waiting in the wings. This is the era of low airfares owing to competition and low-cost airlines foraying into the country. Since Kolkata has been the gateway for Bud-

with low-cost air fares for pan-India flyers. Ryna Sequeira, Country Manager-India, Tourism and Events Queensland, informed, “We have worked out with Singapore Airlines and Silk Air and a two-way air fare from Kolkata to Cairns with a stopover at Singapore would come for Rs 49,600. Flyers can kick-off travel from February 1 to December 15, this year.

We are working out to launch similar such air fares with Scoot Airlines and tourists from Amritsar, Jaipur and Chennai can fly down from these destinations to Gold Coast sometime in March, this year.” Sequeira was speaking at Tourism Queensland’s road show themed “The best of Australia” hosted

dhist tourism, the eastern sector should open up in aviation. There are no regular flights from Kolkata to Bodh Gaya.

Tourists have to depend on four-daysa-week flight to travel from Kolkata to Bodh Gaya. With Buddhist tourists flying down from Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore to visit Bodh Gaya, Kolkata has an enormous potential for Buddhist tourism.

The eastern state of Odisha particularly Bhubaneshwar has great potential for Buddhist tourism.”

by T NH DESK

Ryna Sequeira Country Manager- India, Tourism and Events Queensland

in Kolkata sometime on January 19, this year. Queensland is all set to go for road shows in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad in the

by T NH DESK coming months.

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Festivals around the World

A look at some the most interesting festivals around the world of this month!

February brings a lot of festivity with variety of colorful festival and carnivals for an intrigued traveller. There are many festivals around the world like, Desert Festival of Jaisalmer (Rajasthan, India) to Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival (Pingxi, Taipei, Taiwan). Here are some of the best festivals / carnivals which a traveller must enjoy!

February 17-19, 2017 Location: Tapapakanga Regional Park, Orere Point, New Zealand

Splore Festival Splore festival is all about eclectic, performance-based music policy with plenty of pleasant surprises. Based on extensive vetting of acts before booking to ensure a consistently high standard of music and charisma. A festival line up you may not be largely familiar with but one that always provides the audience with lots of “favourite new acts”.

Also, there's an array of styles and cultures with delicious fresh real food. This festival takes Splore takes place every two years in a lovely regional park just south of Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island.

It combines live musical performances, caravan and tent camping, a family friendly atmosphere, sunny days on the beach and artist designed trails for revelers to explore. Costumes are encouraged, nay, they are practically required.

February 8-10, 2017 Location: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

Desert Festival of Jaisalmer The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is an annual event organized by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation each February at the beautiful Golden Desert City of Jaisalmer. It is held in the Hindu month of Magh (February), three days prior to the full moon. The festival is celebrated amidst the beautiful dunes of the Thar Desert in the Sam dunes (42 kilometers from Jaisalmer). Romantic, remote and unspoiled, the location comes to life during the three day extravaganza of the delights of the desert. This three-day extravaganza was started as a marketing idea to attract local and overseas tourists interested in exploring the rich and colorful heritage of Rajasthan and its folk culture in a short period of time.

February 27-28, 2017 Location: Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago Carnival The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an annual event held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday in Trinidad and Tobago.

The event is well known for participants' colorful costumes and exuberant celebrations. Carnival is the most significant event on the islands' cultural and tourism calendar, with numerous cultural events such as "band launch fetes" running in the lead up to the street parade on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. It is said that if the islanders are not celebrating it, then they are preparing for it, while reminiscing about the past year's festival. Traditionally, the festival is associated with calypso music; however, recently Soca music has replaced calypso as the most celebrated type of music. Costumes, stick-fighting and limbo competitions are also important components of the festival.

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Festivals around the World

February 17 - March 5, 2017 Location: Sydney, New South Wales (NSW)

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is an annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pride parade and festival in Sydney, Australia which is attended by hundreds of thousands of people from around Australia and overseas. It is one of the largest such festivals in the world and includes a variety of events such as the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade and Party, Bondi Beach Drag Races, Harbour Party, the academic discussion panel Queer Thinking, Mardi Gras Film Festival, as well as Fair Day, which attracts 70,000 people to Victoria Park, Sydney. This festival is one of Australia's biggest tourist drawcards with the parade and dance party attracting many international and domestic tourists.

February 11, 2017 Location: Pingxi, Taipei, Taiwan

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival While Chinese New Year tends to get all the attention, one of the more subtle and beguiling celebratory days in the Chinese calendar is the annual Sky Lantern Festival. In a blaze of luminous glory, 100,000 to 200,000 hot air balloons emblazon a full moonlit sky. Although the holiday is celebrated all across Asia, nowhere in the world is it more recognized than Pingxi, a remote mountain town an hour-long drive from Taipei. According to the elders of Pingxi, the Sky Lantern Festival originated in the Xing Dynasty, over two thousand years ago. It is an annual event hosted by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in Taiwan to celebrate the Lantern Festival.

February 6-12, 2017 Location: Odori Park Sapporo, Japan

Sapporo Yuki Matsuri (Sapporo Snow Festival) The origins of the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri (Sapporo Snow Festival) date back to 1950, when half-dozen local high school students got together and built a half-dozen snow statues in Odori Park. This sort of activity is historically commonplace in the winter on the island of Hokkaido because of its typically heavy snowfalls. A few years later, in 1955, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces viewing participation as a training exercise, came from a nearby base and built sculptures. The Olympic Games introduced Sapporo’s Snow Festival to the rest of the world. The staging of nearly 400 spectacular ice and snow sculptures is what draws visitors to the 12-block stretch of Odori Park, home to much of the action and the majority of sculpture activity. This is one of the largest and most distinctive winter events.

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EVENT WATCH

S KAL D ELHI

ORGANIZES SCREENING OF 'B LOOD LION' Skal Delhi recently organized the screening of an award winning movie 'Blood Lion ' for its members at The Roseate Hotel, Aerocity, New Delhi. The screening took place on 11th January 2017 in the evening. This film has won many awards and was also shown at the recent Jaipur International Film Festival. After enjoying the screening of the movie, the members had a delicious dinner.

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EVENT WATCH

TAAI, ABU D HABI TCA UNVEILS ITS 63RD C ONVENTION'S MEMORIES 63rd Annual Convention & Exhibition of TAAI held at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi in October was a great success. TAAI and Abu Dhabi TCA recently came together in an evening and unveiled the memories of its 63rd Convention.

ITDC HOLDS AWARENESS PROGRAM ON “CASHLESS BANKING” Recent demonetization move has already changed the mindset of the people to stride towards cashless transaction. Considering the initiative and also to boost the Central Government’s drive towards cashless economy, India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) organised an interactive awareness program for its employees in association with State Bank of Hyderabad. The program was graced by Umang Narula, Chairman & Managing Director ITDC, Piyush Tiwari, Director Commercial & Marketing,

Pradip Kumar Das, Director Finance ITDC, and Vinayak Garg Chief Vigilance Officer, ITDC. During the awareness program, various available modes of cashless transactions such as POS machines, e-wallet, mobile banking/online banking using apps such as SBI Buddy, SBI Freedom etc. were demonstrated and explained in detail. Speaking at the awareness program Umang Narula, Chairman & Managing Director ITDC said “It’s a matter of great satisfaction and pride that this workshop was organised. The

government is promoting cashless transactions to overcome the acute shortage of lower denominations. In my opinion, this is a good move as digital transactions ensure transparency and proper payment of taxes." C&MD also advised all the participants to spread awareness among their family members, friends and others. by TNH DESK

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MOVED ON

Michael Murphy General Manager, Evason Ana Mandara in Nha Trang, Vietnam Michael Murphy has been appointed to the role of general manager at Evason Ana Mandara in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Michael is no stranger to Six Senses as he was the pre-opening general manager at Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain in China from July 2104 to October 2015. Following that position, he became general manager of Vinpearl Luxury Nha Trang in Vietnam. A Canadian national, Michael spent most of his working years in Asia.

He has a bent for online media and interior design, and enjoys watching movies during his down time. A true food and beverage enthusiast, dining out and a great California Cabernet are among his pleasures. He is accompanied by his Thai national wife, Nongnuth.

Frank Trampert Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer, Sabre Hospitality Solutions APAC Sabre Corporation has appointed Frank Trampert as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for its hospitality business in Asia Pacific. In this role, he will lead Sabre’s hospitality business in Asia Pacific, with responsibility for its financial performance, customer engagement and overall growth across the region. He has deep experience in both hospitality operations and technology in Asia Pacific including leadership positions with Wyndham Hotel Group in Hong Kong, Carlson Hotels across four continents, Brand Karma in Singapore, and most recently as the CEO for Tune Hotel Group in Malaysia.

Nupur Chandra Senior Manager, Public Relations, Golden Tulip Hospitality Group Golden Tulip Hospitality, South Asia has appointed Nupur Chandra as Senior Manager, Public Relations.

She would be responsible for strategic planning and execution of communication campaign for the corporate brand and for Golden Tulip Hotels in South Asia. In her previous assignment, Nupur was heading Wizspk Gurgaon office and was responsible for new business development and client servicing for brands across fashion, hospitality and lifestyle vertical. With over 9 years of experience in public relations Nupur has worked with International and top national PR agencies like Weber Shandwick India, Avian Media, Good Relations India and others. She has efficiently managed and executed communication campaign for various brands.

Jay Ladwa Assistant Manager – Marketing, Lords Hotels & Resorts Lords Hotels & Resorts has appointed Jay Ladwa as the new Assistant Manager – Marketing. An experienced professional in Brand Solutions and Marketing, Ladwa will assist the hospitality group in the development and implementation of overall marketing strategies. His core functions will be to engage with each of its properties across the country, and ideate and execute marketing strategies that drive revenue growth and brand visibility across the chain. Proficient in analysing brand communications and marketing needs of an enterprise, Ladwa has previously worked with several renowned brands in the course of his tenures with Brand Management and Solutions companies.

Alok Verma Chief Operating Officer, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd. Alok Verma has joined the Cygnett Group of Hotels as Chief Operating Officer-South Asia. A Graduate and Diploma in Hotel Management Catering Technology from IHM – Mumbai, Alok has more than three decades of rich professional experience with ITC hotels, Starwood, Marriot etc. He was also associated with Destination Management Company – Travelpack, UK, handling Inbound, Outbound and Charter operations in Goa for a short stint. Before joining Cygnett, he was the operation Head of all properties under ITC Fortune Group. Alok’s skills cover wide range Business Development, Operations, Pre-Opening, Launch of New Hotels, Alliance Management feasibility of the project, Financial Operations Management & Financial Planning & Strategy. He leads the entire Operations & Business Development of the group.

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MOVED ON

Vinita Khar Director of Sales and Marketing, Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa has announced the appointment of Vinita Khar as the Director of Sales and Marketing of the award-winning destination resort. Vinita has been associated with the hospitality industry for more than a decade and brings with her insightful learning and experience gained across international brands. This is a homecoming of sorts for Vinita as she is returning to the Hyatt family after 18 months during which she was part of the pre-opening and launch team of Conrad, Pune as Director of Sales and Marketing. In her new role at Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa, she will be heading the Sales, Marketing and Events team. Vinita has been a part of the Hyatt family since 2007 as Director of Revenue Management at Grand Hyatt Mumbai and then at Hyatt Regency Pune as Director of Sales and Marketing.

Pavan Chennam Executive Chef, Courtyard by Marriott & Fairfield by Marriott-Bengaluru Courtyard by Marriott & Fairfield by Marriott-Bengaluru, Outer Ring Road, Bengaluru has appointed Pavan Chennam as its Executive Chef. Chef Pavan started his culinary journey after he enrolled at the prestigious Culinary Academy of India. With his eyes firmly set on the goal of working for an International brand of repute he joined the JW Marriott New Delhi pre-opening team as a Chef De Cuisine, responsible for the Indian food. He also played a pivotal role in setting benchmark in regards to the Indian food in the specialty K3 restaurant. He would always bring in a personal touch while meeting his guests and ensuring that he leaves a lasting impression on them long after they are left the hotel. Taking his contributions to account the Management bestowed upon him the “Best Manager Award” for February, 2014.

Dhaval Jani Vice President of Sales and Marketing, V Resorts V Resorts have appointed Dhaval Jani as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. An intuitive and ingenious leader, Dhaval has utilized his experience with strategy and people-management to push our growth into overdrive.

Under his motivated leadership, V Resorts has grown its numbers- that of resorts, reservations and revenues- exponentially. Besides the measurable outcomes, his imaginative and spirited mentorship has turned the talented V Resorts' bunch into a vigorous, single-minded unit. Armed with an MBA from Sardar Patel University, Gujarat and an accelerated certification in Management Excellence from St. Stephens, Delhi, Dhaval distinguished himself early in leadership capacities at Bharti Airtel and Tata Communications with his enterprising approach to targets, which quickly reflected in his teams setting new benchmarks and besting them.

Franco Canzano Executive Chef, Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa has announced the appointment of Chef Francisco Domingo Canzano as the Executive Chef at the award-winning destination resort. Franco brings more than 14 years of expertise in the hospitality industry. Chef Franco holds a Diploma in Culinary from Gato Duma’s School, Argentina and started his career with Restaurant Katrine in Buenos Aires. He joined the Hyatt family in 2003 at Park Hyatt Paris Vendome and has also worked with Park Hyatt Milan, Park Hyatt Palacio Duhau Buenos Aires. His previous assignment was with Grand Hyatt Doha where he held the position of Executive Sous Chef. Franco is very active and enjoys contact sports; he also enjoys fishing and loves cooking for his friends and family.

Asmita Kamble Executive Housekeeper, DoubleTree by Hilton Pune Chinchwad DoubleTree by Hilton Pune Chinchwad has appointed Asmita Kamble as their new Executive Housekeeper. A Graduate in Hotel Management from Pune University, she has over 11 years of experience in the Hotel Industry.

Asmita began her career with Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur in 2006 and later moved on to Oberoi, Mumbai in 2007 as Housekeeping Supervisor. She then joined Preopening team of Westin Pune as Housekeeping Supervisor in 2009 and then was a part of the Preopening of Crowne Plaza, Okhla, New Delhi and worked her way up as the Housekeeping Executive in 2010. Thereafter, she joined Hyatt Regency Mumbai as Assistant manager in 2011 and then joined Hyatt Place Goa/Candolim as Head of the Department and core Team member of Preopening.

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INTERGLOBE HOTELS DEBUTS IN KERALA WITH ITS IBIS KOCHI PROPERTY ibis makes its debut in the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala – Kochi with the launch of ibis Kochi City Centre. Strategically located in the Ernakulam commercial hub, the hotel is a stone’s throw away from the upcoming Kochi Metro station and a short drive to Ernakulam Railway Station. Kochi is recognised as a leading commercial and tourism hub in India with plenty to offer to business and leisure travellers.

Featuring 115 well-appointed rooms, the hotel’s contemporary design offers unparalleled comfort and convenience with its range of in-room amenities, signature Sweet Bed™- an innovative bedding concept by ibis and complimentary high speed WI-FI access to ensure that guests can enjoy a relaxing stay. For food aficionados, ibis Kochi City Centre features the ibis signature ‘Spice It’ restaurant – a

HOTEL & RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION APPEALS TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TO WITHDRAW ITS NEW SERVICE CHARGE NOTIFICATION In the wake of a statement issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs on Jan 02, 2017 implying Service Charge billed by restaurants are optional, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has come out with a clarification to all industry stakeholders. In a letter to the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) the apex body of hotels and restaurants, has appealed for withdrawal of the advisory as it has been creating chaos and disruption in the smooth functioning of restaurants across the country.

The association has clarified that there is nothing illegal about levying the fee and has citied judgements by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi which is the highest consumer forum of the country as well as by the Supreme Court, which have upheld the legitimacy of this practice. “Service Charge like any other charge is a proposal from the restaurant or an establishment to potential customers. It is for the customers to decide whether they wish to patronise the said restaurant or not,”

by TNH DESK says Dilip Datwani, President, HRAWI.

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food concept tailor made for India. Serving Indian, Oriental and European cuisine prepared from freshest locally sourced ingredients, ‘Spice It’ offers well-priced, quality home style and healthy food and beverages – buffet and an a la-carte menu – including an eight hour non-stop breakfast concept starting from four in the morning until noon. At ‘Spice It’, the concept of "You Create, We Cook" comes to life with live cooking stations. The interactive cooking environment lets guests explore their culinary skills whilst dining in one of the most

by TNH DESK vibrant and energetic restaurants in town.

ITDC DEBUTS ON NATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGE (NSE) The shares of India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the only public sector undertaking under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism — began trading under the trade-fortrade segment on the NSE from Friday, the 30th December.

The company stock at the time of debut was priced at `229 and settled at `211 at the day’s close on Friday.

Further to this, the stock on the same day touched an intraday high of `234 and a low of `210.20 on NSE. In terms of volume, a total of 1, 22,798 shares of the company were traded on NSE. On BSE, where ITDC is already listed, the stock settled at `212.8, with an increase of 0.24 percent from the previous close.

Commenting on the development Pradip Kumar Das, Director Finance ITDC said “It’s a matter of great pride for us to be listed in India’s largest Stock Exchange (NSE) and World’s third largest stock exchange in terms of transactions. ITDC has been a valuable proposition for investors on BSE and we are sure that it would continue its legacy on NSE as well. At ITDC, we are moving with positive momentum and are sure that we are going to make some remarkable performances in the coming Years.” The company in its Annual General Meeting announced significant performance in half yearly results of the financial year 2016-17. The total turnover in H1 ending September 2016 increased to `221.34 cr as compared to `205.88 cr in

by TNH DESK the corresponding H1 last year.

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DL (ND)-11/6167/2017-18-19 | DATE OF POSTING: 5-6 OF MONTH | rNI NO.: DELENG/2010/33723 | DATE OF PUBLISHING: 4 th OF THE MONTH