Travel and Hospitality (TnH) - December 2019

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FROM THE EDITOR

Historic verdict

Publisher & Editor Srishti Rai Director Bharat S. Rai Managing Editor Prem Kumar GM - Marketing Prem Sagar premsagar@tnhindia.com (M) +91 99106 81111 Art Director Sunny Singh 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 Naveen Printers, F-11 B, Okhla Industrial Area, Ph-1, New Delhi-110020, and published at C-4, 2nd Floor, Community Center, Safdarjung Development Area, Opp Main IIT Gate, New Delhi-110016; Editor: SRISHTI RAI

Last month was historic for India. In a landmark verdict, the country's Supreme court settled Ayodhya's centuries-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute.

A five-member constitutional bench led by Ranjan Gogoi delivered the historic verdict paving the way for construction of a grand Ram temple at an Ayodhya's site believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. Located in Uttar Pradesh, Ayodhya is one of the main pilgrimage centres of Hindus. Once a grand Ram temple comes there, the city's profile is bound to grow as a tourist centre. Besides, the State Government has undertaken a series of initiatives to improve infrastructure in the city. Our cover story 'The Ayodhya verdict to greatly boost tourism in the UP' looks at the future prospect of the city in

Fly direct from Mumbai and Delhi to London and beyond Call 1800 102 3000 or visit vsflyinghub.com to Ăźnd out more.

the light of the SC's Ayodhya verdict.

Enhancing its services for Indians, Window Malaysia is soon launching its Affiliates Program for Indian Travel Agents, further easing the visa submission process for applicants even as offering an attractive source of revenues for agents.

Under the new affiliates program, agents can now easily submit the bulk of visa applications on Window Malaysia's portal on behalf of their clients. Another affiliate program Window Malaysia is launching is the Privilege Program to allow agents to sell value-added services. For more, read our story: 'Window Malaysia all set to launch Affiliates Program for Indian Travel Agents' (page 8-9). I also invite you to read our guest column (page 24) titled 'Making visa services simpler with a smile'

by Belson Coutinho, the Chief Marketing Officer of VFS Global.

Moreover, don't miss reading our Diplomat's Corner (page 38), which features interview of H.E. Mr Julius PraneviÄ?ius, Ambassador of Lithuania to India.

Enjoy reading!

Srishti Rai Editor

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NEWS 06

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VFS Global commences The Netherlands' visa services in Hyderabad

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'Digital experience is the deal breaker for millennial travelers of India'

DECEMBER 2019

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I NTERVIEW

'Stronger enabling environment is needed to propel tourism sector'

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Focusing on to conserve nature in Garhwal Himalayas 37

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E XPERTSPE AKS

Making visa services simpler with a smile 29

TBO picks up minority stake in travel fintech SanKash

FE ATURE

SATTE’s economic footprint is far-reaching, significant

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White Christmas goals at St. Moritz, Switzerland

HIGHLIGHTS 18

18 COVER STORY

COVER STORY

The Ayodhya verdict to greatly boost tourism in the UP 08

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Window Malaysia all set to launch affiliates program for indian travel agents 26

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REVIEW

Where luxury is in sync with greenery 34

BITE CORNER

Gorging on traditional health platter

DIPLOMAT’S C O RNER 38

Lithuania: A nation close to nature, full of wonders

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NEWS

news HOTELS | AIRLINES | TRADE | MORE MARRIOTT’S 6TH ‘RUN TO GIVE’ CHARITY FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN ASIA PACIFIC Marriott International held its sixth annual ‘Run to Give’ charity run across 120 locations involving more than 620 hotels in Asia Pacific from August through November. More than USD500,000 was raised in support of longstanding non-profit partners as well as charities from local communities, with the participation of over 52,000 runners and volunteers in this meaningful cause.

As Marriott International expands in a dynamic region like Asia Pacific, it presents a growing strength of associates impassioned to do more incrementally year aer year through these charity runs. e funds raised in this year’s ‘Run to Give’ witnessed an exceptional increase of USD100,000 from 2018, demonstrating the power of Marriott as a force for good.

Today, Marriott International’s sustainability and social impact program, Serve 360, has successfully completed

two full years and continues to navigate the company towards its 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals. Marriott believes it can play the purposeful role to support the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals in taking on the world’s most pressing social, environmental and ecoby TNH DESK nomic issues.

India, Finland sign MoU for strengthening tourism ties A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Government of Finland was signed on 21.11.2019 for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. e MOU was signed by Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister for Culture and Tourism(Independent Charge), Ministry of Tourism, Government of Indiaand Ministerfor Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Government of Finland Timo Harakka. A high level delegation consisting of Arto Haapea, Minister Counsellor/DHM and Ritva Koukkuby T NH DESK ronde,

Lemon Tree debuts in Vijayawada with its brand Red Fox Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd., today marked its entry into Vijayawada with the launch of the 101 room hotel –Red Fox Hotel, Vijayawada.

Set on the banks of the Krishna River in the city of Vijayawada, it is an ideal destination for both business and leisure travellers. Just 1.5 km from the railway station, it is in close proximity to the ornate Kanaka Durga Temple, nestled on the Indrakeeladri Hill, the Undavalli Caves featuring ancient rock-cut temples and the Bhavani Island on the Krishna River. The hotel’s strategic location offers multiple options to experience the city’s

tradition, architecture and ethos. For recreational activities in the close vicinity, Raghavaiah Park and VMC Disneyland promise an engaging experience.

The hotel is a short distance away from the Jawaharlal Nehru Auto Nagar Industrial Estate, which houses some of the biggest automobile, pharmaceutical and agricultural companies such as Ashok Leyland Automotive Manufacturers, Yokohama India, IMIS, Darwin and Lupin Agro.

Red Fox Hotel, Vijayawada, welcomes you with its fresh interiors as well as crisp and

clean rooms, and delights you with its unbeatable value. Here friendly smiles and a lively environment go hand in hand with professional service. A hotel that is young at heart, with ‘close to home’ environment, Red Fox lets you be yourself.

by T NH DESK

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VFS GLOBAL COMMENCES THE NETHERLANDS' VISA SERVICES IN HYDERABAD VFS Global so far offered Netherlands visa services in seven cities; Hyderabad is the eighth e city of Hyderabad has got its first Visa Application Centre for the Netherlands. Anneke Adema, Deputy Head of Mission, the Netherlands Embassy in India, officially inaugurated the centre today in a formal ceremony.

VFS Global has been offering visa services for the Netherlands in India since 2008 through a network of seven centres - New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Jalandhar. e addition of the centre in Hyderabad brings the visa services closer to home for customers in the State of Andhra Pradesh, and will help the organisation better cater to the growing demand for travel to the destination from India.

Anneke Adema, Deputy Head of Mission, the Netherlands Embassy in India mentioned the ever increasing number of Indians welcomed to the Netherlands. She stressed her determination to handle the visa

TAJIKISTA'S SOMON AIR APPOINTS BIRD TRAVELS AS ITS GSA IN INDIA

procedures as efficiently and customer friendly as possible, to which end she was looking forward to the extended cooperation between the Netherlands embassy and VFS Global in Hyderabad.

Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO – Middle East, South Asia and China, VFS Global said, “Our association with the Netherlands Embassy in India has been long standing and strong, and the expansion of our network of centres on their behalf is testament to their faith in our services and abilities. We look forward to serving the residents of Andhra Pradesh through our new centre in Hyderabad.”

Customers can also avail a range of optional services for a smooth and seamless visa application process, including the Premium Lounge, which offers end-to-end personalised assistance, in a plush ambience.

Worldwide, VFS Global serves the

Somon Air, national air carrier of Tajikistan has appointed Bird Travels Private Ltd, the Airline Management Services arm of Bird Group as its local representative in India. The appointment of Bird Travels is a major step by the

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

Optional services available at the centre: • Premium Lounge for end to end personalised assistance • Prime Time Submission & Collection to complete the process outside of business hours • Automated SMS updates on the progress of the application • Courier return of passport and documents

Netherlands in 38 countries through 84 Visa Application Centres.

Netherlands' VAC, Hyderabad

Address: 8-2-700, 3rd Floor, Srida Anushka Pride, Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500034

Airline to build upon its presence in the International arena. Somon Air is planning to commence online operations from Delhi to Dushanbe, Tajikistan on December 1, 2019 with two flights per week. The flying

hours between New Delhi and Dushanbe will be around two and half hours and it will be a non-stop flight. It will be very convenient for business travelers, leisure travelers and students visiting Dushanbe.

by T NH DESK

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WINDOW MALAYSIA ALL SET TO LAUNCH AFFILIATES PROGRAM FOR INDIAN TRAVEL AGENTS Window Malaysia is all set to launch its Special Window Malaysia Affiliates (WMA)Program for Indian travel agents to make Malaysian visa and value-added services seamless and optimal.

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et to be launched in the month of December, the Special Window Malaysia Affiliates (WMA) Program will allow Indian travel agents to apply for single entry visas for Indian nationals through their own login pages.

So far Window Malaysia through its portal windowmalaysia.my has been receiving visa applications for the single-entry visas directly from Indian nationals, without an intermediary. Now the portal will also receive the single entry visa applications submitted by agents on behalf of their clients using their own affiliates login pages with added benefits.

"For outbound travel agents, we are offering an excellent opportunity to provide Malaysian visa services to their clients. One of the key advantages of this programme is that

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

our affiliated agents with their own login pages can submit visa application details of up to 100 applicants at one time," said Rajji Rai, Director, Window Malay Visa Pvt Ltd. "This special affiliate programme eliminates requirements for agents to create a separate login for each and every individual applicant when they are applying for single entry visas for different sizes of groups. They don't need a separate login ID to submit visa details of each member of a group.

Once visas are approved, they can be downloaded from the agents' login pages," informed Mr Rai. Easing the visa application submitting process further, the WMA Program offers a user-friendly special App to scan and upload information of up to 100 passports into the visa portal at one time. The programme also offers real-time approval tracking mechanism of applications for agents and end-users.

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NEWS Silver Membership available at Rs. 4000 excluding GST also offers a SIM Card, Travel Protection, Travel Assistant, a Mobile App and Premier Travel Service. Under Silver Membership too, SIM Card (talk time worth Rs. 517.28) is delivered to users via courier to their home addresses. The SIM card is automatically activated on the user's arrival in Malaysia. Silver Membership's Travel protection offers Cover up to Rs. 18,50,000, Cashless Admission and Local

HOW TO REGISTER FOR WMA For travel agents to register for the new WMA Program, they need to meet certain criteria: they must have valid company registration and Travel Agency License (IATA Registration No). As stipulated in WMA agreement, agents will have to generate minimum sales of Window Malaysia Membership per month.

To register for WMA, eligible agents should visit Window Malaysia Affiliate (WMA) Application Page and fill up the Online Window Malaysia Affiliate (WMA) form. Once an application is processed, the applying agent will receive an email, confirming membership of the programme.

To register for WMA, eligible agents should visit Window Malaysia Affiliate Application Page and fill up the Online Window Malaysia Affiliate form. Once an application is processed, the applying agent will receive an email, confirming membership of the programme.

WINDOW MALAYSIA PRIVILEGE PROGRAM Another important affiliate programme of WM is WINDOW MALAYSIA PRIVILEGE PROGRAM that offers valueadded travel services to Indian travellers visiting Malaysia.

Under this programme, which offers an alternative source of revenue for agents, WM affiliate members can sell valueadded services to their clients and earn attractive commissions. To end-users, WM Privilege Programme is available under two categories: Silver Membership and Classic Membership.

Initially, 10-15% of commissions will be attached with the sale of either or both of the memberships and will be even more attractive when the sales volumes are achieved. Travel agents can earn anything between Rs. 400 and 600 by selling one Silver Membership priced at Rs. 4000. They will be able to earn from Rs. 100 to Rs. 150 by selling one classic membership of Rs. 1000.

Initially, 10-15% of commissions will be attached with the sale of either or both of the memberships. Travel agents can earn anything between `400 and 600 by selling one Silver Membership priced at `4000. They will be able to earn from `100 to `150 by selling one classic membership of `1000.

TPA Support. Silver Travel Assistant offers 24/7 live chat and email support. Furthermore, the Mobile App provides information and updates about discounts and offers, map with group location sharing, calendar of events and places of interest. Premier Travel Service offers arrival and departure lounge access and light refreshments.

Classic Membership at Rs. 1000 excluding GST offers SIM Card (talk time worth Rs. 517.28) to end-users.

Delivered via courier to users at their home addresses, this SIM Card gets automatically activated from the first day in Malaysia. Other benefits of Classic Membership includes travel protection (Cover up to Rs. 925,000, Cashless Hospitalization and Local TPA Support), Travel Assistant (24X7 live chat and email support) and a Mobile App that gives information about discounts and offers and has a map with group location sharing, calendar of events and places of interest.

For any query about WINDOW MALAYSIA AFFILIATES (WMA) PROGRAM and its PRIVILEGE PROGRAM, email to: contactus@windowmalaysia.in

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ETIHAD: 1ST FOREIGN AIRLINE TO OPERATE ITS FLIGHTS TO JEDDAH’S NEW TERMINAL

Etihad Airways has received a special reception welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute – at Jeddah’s new Terminal 1.The inaugural flight was operated on Etihad’s Dreamliner with the distinctive Kingdom of Saudi Arabia livery.

The reception was followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony and was attended by H.E. Nasir Al Ketbi General Consular of UAE, Essam Fouad, Director General of King Abdulaziz Airport, Captain Fahd Cynndy, CEO of Saudi Ground Services, Yousef Attiah, Director General of Terminal 1, and management from Etihad Airways.

Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “The introduction of the new terminal in Jeddah and the warm welcome we’ve received is a demonstration of our commitment to the Saudi market and it’s a reflection towards the deep relationship between the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” “As Etihad Airways and Saudi Arabian Airlines continue to strengthen their partnership, the new terminal will also provide convenient travel options to our customers, boosting the codes hare conby T NH DESK nectivity on joint services.”

Tourism Fiji’s Brand Ambassador Launches New Brochure Collection With a huge “Bula”, Ileana launched the first edition of Tourism Fiji’s Luxury Resorts and Experiences Brochures. Titled as “Barefoot Luxury in Fiji”, the collection is meticulously curated, craed and designed for the discerning luxury traveller. e collection comprises of two books ‘Island Bliss in Fiji’ and ‘Fiji Unplugged’. e former highlights some of Fiji’s most premium boutique resorts and finest luxury hotels, while the latter showcases a plethora of ‘must have’ experiences in Fiji, keeping in mind a palate of local flavours, culture and adventure at the Destination. e Brochure Set showcases some of the luxury stays and unique experiences and provides inspiration and information on luxury travel in Fiji.

Authored by none other than the globetrotting journo-couple Gustasp & Jeroo Irani, globally acclaimed for their travel writing, the duo has beautifully captured the culture, bespoke expeby TNH DESK riences and luxury destinations of Fiji.

Cleartrip augments customer engagement; Joins hands with PAYBACK India Cleartrip has recently partnered with PAYBACK India, country’s largest multi-brand loyalty program. Redefining the archaic loyalty experience for travelers who otherwise face limitations with stand-alone loyalty memberships, Cleartrip is taking its rewards offerings to the next level by empowering customers with choice and exclusive benefits.

This partnership will enable the 100 million+

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Payback customers to earn points on Cleartrip and in addition redeem their existing PAYBACK points on every booking made with Cleartrip.On the other hand, the partnership will give Cleartrip access to PAYBACK’s 100 million+ member base for flight bookings.Both the companies have a customer-first approach and this strategic tie-up strengthens it even further.

Cleartrip plans to leverage this partnership to incentivize app users by offering them added benefits. With this partnership, Cleartrip app users will receive 3X rewards as compared to website users. For instance, if a user transacting on the website earns 1 PAYBACK point on every INR 100 spent, an app user will be rewarded 3 PAYBACK points. by TNH DESK

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NEWS

CLUB MED RE-LAUNCHES SAHORO HOKKAIDO RESORT WITH A LOCAL AINU INFLUENCE

Club Med, the premium all-inclusive operator and global snow holiday leader has confirmed the launch of the renovated Club Med Sahoro, Hokkaido resort on 29 November 2019. With over 20 ski resorts across the globe, Club Med continues to expand its leadership of the mountains with ambitious growth plans to cater to global and regional demand for snow holidays and new mountain adventures.

At the newly renovated Club Med Sahoro, Hokkaido resort, guests will learn more about the Ainu culture – the indigenous tribe from Hokkaido – through the resort’s new design and public spaces. The public spaces including the bar, theater and reception have gone through a major overhaul, featuring a fresh modern look this November. Drawing inspiration from the Ainu ornaments, stitching and embroidery, the

resort interior preserves the beauty and splendor of the culture, presenting a harmonious mix with a modern twist to the traditional Ainu patterns.

Additionally, a new “Magic Carpet”, an outdoor moving walkway which will take children

THE FERN HOTELS & RESORTS OPENS THE FERN RESIDENCY IN BHOPAL e Fern Hotels & Resorts, India's leading environmentally sensitive hotel chain has opened e Fern Residency Bhopal, the first Fern Hotel to open in Madhya Pradesh. e company also manages a hotel under the Beacon brand in the state capital. is takes the number of hotels managed by the company to 68 hotels across the country as well as in Nepal and Seychelles.

Suhail Kannampilly, the CEO of the company said,” e Fern brand is expanding in the country at a brisk pace.

With the opening of e Fern Residency Bhopal, we are now present in 55 cities across the country.” e Fern Residency, Bhopal is a 58-room hotel offering contemporary accommodations. e hotel offers three difby T NH DESK ferent categories of room viz.

and adult-beginner skiers to the top of the training slope, will also be created for the launch of the new resort. Facilitated by certified Club Med instructors, the Magic Carpet provides a safe and exciting experience for first-time skiers.

by TNH DESK

Kerala Literature Festival in Calicut on 16-19th January 2020

e fih edition of the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF 2020) is set to be held from the 16th to 19th of January 2020 at Calicut. With over Four Lakh attendees, KLF 2020 is the secondlargest cultural gathering and the fastest-growing literature festival on the continent. Set along the shores of the Arabian Sea by the beaches of Calicut, the festival will bring readers and writers together for inspiration, entertainment, and discussion. e eminent speakers include Literary Luminaries, Booker Prize Winners, Oscar Winners, Jnanpith Laureates, Astronauts, Environmentalists, Head of States, Film & eatre Personalities, Performers & Artists, Designers, Media Personalities, Sports Icons, Diplomats and celebrities from diverse profesby TNH DESK sional backgrounds.

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GOAIR PARTICIPATES AT GLOBAL EXHIBITION OF SERVICES 2019 GoAir participated at Global Exhibition of Services (GES) that was held at the Palace Grounds, Bengaluru.

GoAir’s stand attracted huge global attention, along with individuals attending the exhibition. Officials from GoAir exchanged notes and ideas with the global contingent on possible skills in aviation, and GoAir’s role in empowering its employees in varied skill sets and the training process it has adopted across its departments, which has resulted in GoAir being one of the most efficient airlines in the country.

On this occasion, GoAir spokesperson said: “GoAir is happy to be a part of GES 2019, one of India’s finest platforms for showcasing Indian services, skill sets and capabilities.

by TNH DESK

LE MURRAYA HOSPITALITY GROUP ENTERS INDIA OUTBOUND MARKET Le Murraya Hospitality Group (LMH) from Koh Samui, ailand enters India Outbound Travel market by partnering with INDIA SALES ASSOCIATES (ISA Tourism Pvt Ltd) as their India Representatives.

Le Murraya Hospitality Group (LMH) operates boutique hotels and resorts, namely- Le Murraya Hotel, Synergy Resort and La Vida Resort and restauManas Sinha Director, India Sales Associates rant ownerships as well as other hospitality services.

Based in the beautiful island of Koh Samui – these properties offer not only the diverse stay facilities ranging from budget to luxury categories but also a variety of dining experiences, serving the best of ai favourites, Mediterranean, Western cuisine and with a breath-taking views from the amazing beaches.

Speaking on this new partnership, Manas Sinha, Director, India Sales Associates, said, “Koh Samui is steadily growing as a must visit part of ailand. It has become a hot favourite amongst Indian guests looking at the wholesome experiences. By presenting these three properties, we are happy to bring a range of options for our valued travel

by TNH DESK partners.”

SBI Card, Vistara Come Together to Launch Premium Co-Branded Credit Cards SBI Card and Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier, have joined hands to launch a one-of-its-kind premium credit card for travel savvy urban Indians. Launched in two variants, Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME and Club Vistara SBI Card, the new card has been designed to offer a rewarding travel experience to cardholders, through unique benefits and unmatched value proposition, on domestic and international travel spends.

The newly launched Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME will further address the evolving needs of the Indian travellers who aspire to travel in style and luxury. The card offers benefits such as, one-way Premium Economy

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tickets on joining and achieving spendsbased milestone(s), complimentary Club Vistara Silver tier membership, up to six free cancellation of flight tickets booked on Vistara channels viz. website, app and helpline, and also complimentary lounge access- up to four international and eight domestic, among host of other benefits.

Speaking at the launch, Hardayal Prasad, MD & CEO, SBI Card, said, “SBI Card has always strived to bring products for its customers that are customised as per their diverse lifestyle and preferences, offering maximum value and enhanced experience.

Travel is one of the key spend categories for

our cardholders. Through our partnership with Vistara, India’s best airline, we aim to address unique requirements of our customers, especially urban millennials, whose spend on travel has increased over a period of time and are looking for related privileged benefits.

by T NH DESK

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NEWS

'Digital experience is the deal breaker for millennial travelers of India' e recent Global Digital Traveller Research 2019 by Travelport highlighted that millennials in India seek a premium digital experience across all aspects of travel. Another key finding was that travellers in India want and expect travel providers to help them personalize their experience seamlessly. e research surveyed 23,000 people from 20 countries; including 2000 from India of which 1,526 were millennials (in the age group of 20-39 years).

It revealed that Indian millennial travellers were one of the world’s most likely (84%, above the global average of 71%) to consider it important that an airline offers a good digital experience – for instance, offering online check-in and gate information. Similarly, Indian millennials were the world’s most likely to consider the digital experience when booking hotels (e.g. having a room key on their smartphones) – 82% in India considered it important, well above the global average of 58%. is propensity for digital technology also extended to the trip planning process, as well as during travel:

• Indian travellers of all age groups were the world’s most likely to believe augmented or virtual reality experiences would help them better plan their trips (in joint first-place at 76%, compared to the global average of 48%).

• Indian travellers reported using voice assistants to checkin for their flights (52%, global average of 42%); check the traffic to the airport (58%, global average of 54%); and check their flight status (56%; global average of 50%).

Additionally, travellers in India look forward to personalizing their travel experience.

26% were willing to provide airlines more of their personal information if it meant receiving personalized offers – the second highest in the world (global average of 17%). is trend was highest amongst Indian millennials (28%).

Unsurprisingly, their pet peeves when booking trips were also related to personalization.

Some of the top frustration of Indian travelers was: • Not being able to understand what their deal includes as a standard (59% in India and 52% globally); • Not knowing what add-ons

Sandeep Dwivedi COO, ITQ

Key facts

-Survey of 23,000 people around the world -Digital solutions influencing travel decision making -Travelers want value for money, more control

are available to them (61% in India and 56% globally); and • Companies they use regularly not remembering their preferences (56% in India versus only 35% globally).

• In this context, 56% of Indian travellers found it frustrating if they are not able to interface with a human point of contact while exploring a deal (42% globally).

Commenting on the findings of the research, Sandeep Dwivedi, Chief Operating Officer, InterGlobe Technology Quotient, said: “e findings of the research clearly establishes

that Indian millennials have a strong penchant for a superior digital experience while planning their travel. e travel ecosystem in India is headed towards a digital-first future and we, working with Travelport, are committed to innovate and develop solutions that can help the industry cater to the expectations of the modern traveller.” e study also finds that Indian users are looking for a value for money deal – only 5% of them reported always going for the cheapest price (global average of 18%). To get the best deals, they will analyze travel review sites like TripAdvisor (60% in India vs 42% globally) and price comparison sites such as Kayak.com (50% in India vs 38% globally). 93% of Indian travellers also look forward to getting insights from booking sites to discover new

by T NH DESK destinations.

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TBO PICKS UP MINORITY STAKE IN TRAVEL FINTECH SANKASH The strategic alliance aims to facilitate the travel agent ecosystem with hassle-free travel package processing and increased revenue growth.

Gurgaon-based revolutionary travel fintech company SanKash and India’s leading online travel aggregator Travel Boutique Online entered into a strategic partnership. e association will enable the travel agents operating both online and offline to fast track the processing of their travel packages without any hassles and drive doubledigit revenue growth.

Aiming to make holiday trips a part of the simple and accessible pleasures of life, SanKash comes as a revolutionary travel fintech company that focuses on helping Travel Agents and Tour Operators provide pay-in-parts / monthly EMI solutions for their travellers. rough this unique value proposition, it intends to create best-inclass customer and partner focused affordability solutions for the travel industry. Sankash is a B2B service that makes payment (loan disbursement) to travel agents bank account instead of customers account, thus empowering the travel agent but enabling customers to travel.

Travel Boutique Online is India's largest B2A travel portal that enables travel partners to serve their customers efficiently, with the right pricing and inventory.e portal delivers a wide range of travel solutions for its existing 45,000 + travel agents and tour operators across India including metro cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata to help them take their business to new heights.

While TBO will bring its reach and distribution, SanKash will contribute its entire payment know-how, operations and technology to the travel agents associated with TBO. ey can adopt

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Akash Dahiya Co-founder, SanKash SanKash’s Monthly Payment Plan and help customers book their dream vacation packages, which will eventually increase their customer uptake and upsell services without money becoming an issue.

Commenting on this association, Akash Dahiya, Co-founder of SanKash said, “We are thrilled to team up with TBO as both of us are tech-first & only travel focused B2B platforms this synergy seemed inevitable. With SanKash offering affordable payment plans, travel partners can get their customers to make faster travel decisions and even increase the trip value, thereby augmenting their sales. is means, even the small-town travel operators struggling to meet their daily needs can implement and integrate SanKash’s services to boost conversions throughout the entire purchase funnel and drive double-digit revenue growth.

Meanwhile, for the travellers, SanKash is making travel more accessible, affordable and fulfilling by offering flexible, pay-over-time payment choices.”

As part of the partnership, TBO picked up minority stake in SanKash to drive the travel company to the next stage of growth.

Ankush Nijhawan, Co-Founder of TBO said, “We are excited with this

Ankush Nijhawan Co-Founder, TBO alliance considering SanKash’s ambitious target of making funds and budgets no longer an impediment to travel. Apart from providing an alternative to standard payment options, this partnership will improve important travel marketing metrics including conversion, booking value, channel loyalty, cross-selling, and ancillary revenue for travel agents in order to process travel packages without any hassles and make their business flourish.”

Not just another payment option, SanKash opens ‘a way to sell’ for all travel partners. e platform has already registered a significant traction, in last 6 months of launch, with over 350 travel partners across 32 cities utilizing its services; including some key partners like omas Cook, OYO, Veena World, TUI India and online marketplace like Tripshelf and it is now poised to reach 90,000 Travel Partners across the country through its distribution model, enabling them to amplify their business growth. Its ultimate idea is to promote the habit of travel consumption within the country and use SanKash as a smart payment tool for both travellers and travel agents / tour operators.

by TNH DESK

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NEWS

Accor, InterGlobe Enterprises win the Best Indo-French Cooperation award e Indo-French Business Awards 2019 was held in New Delhi on 28th November. Accor and InterGlobe Enterprises Private Limited proudly announce winning the award for “Best Indo-French Cooperation” at e Indo French Business Awards 2019 held in New Delhi. e event was hosted by the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) and Business France – the Trade & Investment Commission of the Embassy of France in India to honour excellence and acknowledge the accomplishments of Indian and French companies, based in India and France. is award is a testimony of splendid work being done

by Accor and InterGlobe Enterprises for successfully establishing most significant hospitality brands in India. e collaboration between InterGlobe Enterprises and

by TNH DESK Accor Asia Pacific initiated in 2004.

MADHYA PRADESH IN TOP 3 BEST VALUE DESTINATIONS GLOBALLY Global travel authority Lonely Planet has unveiled its top 10 countries, cities, regions and bestvalue destinations for next year “Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2020” book released. Madhya Pradesh being one of the most diverse tourist destinations has been honored as Top 3rd'Best Value Destination' of the world. The state offers wildlifespotting at a lower cost than in Africa. It also boasts sites like Khajuraho’s temples with fewer crowds than neighbouring Rajasthan. The state is blessed with rich wildlife experiences, marvelous heritage, divine pilgrim spots, several architectural wonders

by TNH DESK and food to suit everybody's taste.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

GOAIR'S NEW FLIGHTS FROM BENGALURU, KOLKATA TO DELHI GoAir recently introduced additional frequencies on its Kolkata-Delhi and Bengaluru-Delhi sectors. This new service will also enable GoAir passengers to have better connectivity to and from Singapore from Kolkata and Bangalore.

GoAir will operate non-stop flights from Kolkata to Delhi thrice a week with fares starting from Rs. 5,882 for a return trip. The flight G8 115 from Kolkata will depart at 09:35 hrs on

Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and will arrive in Delhi at 12:25 hrs. The return non-stop flight G8 114 will depart from Delhi at 15:10 hrs and will arrive in Kolkata at 17:40 hrs on Tuesday,Thursday and Saturday.

Starting from October 28, 2019, the non-stop flights from Bengaluru to Delhi will operate four times a week, with fares starting from Rs. 5,335 for a return trip.

by T NH DESK

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NEWS

HOLIDAY INN RESORT PHUKET REOPENS AFTER RENOVATION The Holiday Inn Resort Phuket has announced its grand reopening after undergoing a USD$4.6 million renovation process in the last 7 months. An oasis of tranquillity in bustling Patong, the refurbished resort successfully

combines the established reputation of Thai hospitality with a calm, relaxed and luxurious ambience.

Having undergone a transformative make-over in its Busakorn Wing, the resort strives to provide guests with unrivalled high-end

service, personal welcome facilities, premium-use swimming pools and a host of indulgent packages.

“Offering a fabulous resort within a resort experience, we are thrilled to unveil the newly renovated Busakorn Wing where tropical sophistication meets traditional Thai

luxury. Offering a fresh guest experience for our new and returning guests, the beautifully appointed Studio Rooms and Villas meld heritage-inspired décor but with Modern Thai elegance,” said Bart Callens, General Manager of the

by T NH DESK Resort.

FIRST HYATT HOTEL OPENS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH IN DHARAMSHALA

VIETJET INKS DEAL WITH AIRBUS FOR 20 LATEST-GENERATION AIRCRAFT

The opening marks the 12th Hyatt Regency branded hotel in India.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation today announced the opening of its first mountain resort property in India, Hyatt Regency Dharamshala Resort, in the scenic Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Surrounded by mountains and lush forests, the resort’s signature Hyatt Regency offerings and insightful service will now be available to travellers visiting the region. The hotel’s opening marks an important step for

the growth of the Hyatt Regency brand in India, joining 11 other Hyatt Regency properties in the country.

Hyatt Regency hotels aim to provide a stress-free travel experience for guests by providing seamless access to everything guests need under one roof. “We are thrilled to announce the opening of our first Hyatt Regency branded hotel in the majestic state of Himachal Pradesh,” said Sunjae Sharma, Vice President - India operaby T NH DESK tions, Hyatt.

New age-carrier Vietjet and aircraft manufacturer Airbus signed a contract for 20 brand-new A321XLR aircraft on October 31 in Toulouse (France). The first aircraft will be delivered in 2023, makingVietjetone of the first carriers in the world to operate Airbus’ newest “extra-long-range” version. With a range of up to 8,700km, the innovative model will serve Vietjet’s fleet of international flight network expansion plans in the near

by TNH DESK future.

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COVER STORY

THE AYODHYA VERDICT TO GREATLY BOOST TOURISM IN THE UP

The Supreme Court's recent judgment paves the way for the construction of a grand temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. Once the temple is built, it will give a big boost to tourism activities in the temple town.

By Prem Kumar

India's Supreme Court unanimously delivered a historic verdict on 9th November 2019, bringing one of the country's most contentious disputes to end. e judicial verdict has paved the way for the construction of a grand temple of Lord Ram at the place believed to be his birthplace. e history of the Babari Masjid-Ram Mandir land dispute in the temple town of Ayodhya goes to as back as 1857.

Ruling in favour of Hindu parties, a fivemember Constitutional bench of the Supreme Court headed by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi directed the Central Government to constitute a trust within three months with the sole purpose of constructing a new Ram temple. e Constitutional bench heard the case for 40 days and gave 1024 pages verdict to settle this 161-year-old dispute, clearing the way for the construction of the Ram Temple. e court ordered the government to allot a separate 5 acres land to the Muslim parties for the construction of a Mosque in a prominent place in Ayodhya itself.

Almost every political

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

parties and section of the society welcomed the historic verdict of the apex court.

Commenting on the SC's verdict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the verdict should not be viewed as a victory or defeat of any party. He added that the Supreme Court's ruling has heralded a new dawn in the country. In his comment, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that he is of the firm belief that this historic verdict delivered by the SC will prove to be a milestone. He added that his verdict will further enhance the unity, integrity and great culture of the country.

Commenting on the Supreme Court's verdict on Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit, veteran BJP leader LK Advani, a strong votary of a Ram temple at the site, said, "I join all my countrymen in heartily welcoming the historic verdict delivered by the five-member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court today in the Ayodhya matter."

Advani, who had led a mass movement in the early 1990s for construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site, said, "I stand vindicated and feel deeply blessed that the Supreme Court has given its unanimous verdict paving the way for the construction of a glorious

Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India temple for Lord Ram at Ramjanmabhhomi in Ayodhya."

Welcoming the decision of the honourable Supreme Court, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sought the cooperation of everyone in maintaining unity and harmony in the State. e CM asserted that the state government is fully committed

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COVER STORY

to maintain the atmosphere of security and harmony in the wake of the supreme court's verdict.

Iqbal Ansari, the main litigant for Babari Masjid in the Ayodhya land dispute case, said, " I am happy with the verdict and respect the decision of the Supreme Court. It was a very important case that has come to an end today. Now it is the government's responsibility where it allots land for a mosque."

Commenting on the court's verdict, Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi, the Chairman of India's National Minority Commission said there could not have been a better decision than this. Muslims are happy that this decision will strengthen unity and fraternity in the country.

It is estimated that a grand Ram Temple will be built in Ayodhya in the next 3-4 years if the construction starts in the next six months, and hopefully a grand mosque too in the city. at, along with other initiatives, would give a fillip to tourism activities in the city.

Deepotsav

Earlier a grand Deepotsav was held in Ayodhya on the eve of 'Diwali' (26th November) by lighting 6 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) on the banks of the river Saryu. It was a historic moment as this year a record number of the earthen lamps were lit on the riverbank, breaking the last year's record when more than three lakh diyas were lit up.

On the occasion, various schemes worth Rs 226 crore were inaugurated by the state

government. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Speaker of Republic of Fiji Veena Bhatnagar and other dignitaries graced the occasion. e Yogi Adiytanath Government since it came into power in the state in 2017 has been celebrating Diwali in Ayodhya on a grand scale. e legend goes that Diwali is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Ram, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman to Ayodhya aer defeating Ravan, the king of Lanka and his army, and completing 14 years of their exile in the forests. Deepotsav has now become a top annual event in Ayodhya.

New roads linking Ayodhya

Meanwhile, the state Government of Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is developing infrastructure projects and road links on fast-track. Highways are being constructed to improve connectivity between Ayodhya and Varanasi and to link these two ancient cities to the UP Expressway. Plans are also afoot to develop Ram Van Gaman Marg and Ayodhya’s 84 Kosi Parikrama to give a further boost to the religious tourism in Ayodhya. e 84 Kosi Parikrama Marg (a ring road around the ancient city ) will ease the movement of pilgrims around Ayodhya and reduce the pollution level. All these projects and initiatives along with the proposed grand temple of Ram will make Ayodhya an iconic tourist and pilgrimage destination. ese development projects will

improve connectivity and facilities for tourists and pilgrims who come to the ancient cities of Ayodhya and Kashi. All these projects are aimed at facilitating tourists and pilgrims in the two most ancient religious cities in the country – Ayodhya and Varanasi. e State Ggovernment has also swung into action to develop a large airport in the city. e government has also planned to expand the city's current airstrip and convert it into a full-fledged airport. A new airport will connect Ayodhya by flights to the other parts of the county, boosting movements of devotees and visitors to the city.

In another move, the state Government's has announced its plan to set up a digital museum in Ayodhya on Lord Ram to promote tourism in the city. e state government has also sanctioned a proposal for beautification and landscaping of Ayodhya in order to boost tourism in the city. Besides, a 251 meter-tall statue of Lord Ram is also coming up on the bank of the Saryu river.

Ayodhya 2.0 as a tourist hub Ayodhya is acknowledged as the legendary city of Ayodhya, the kingdom of Ram, mentioned in epic Ramayana. It is considered one of the most important pilgrimage centres for Hindus. Along with the construction of a grand Temple of Lord Ram, if world-class tourist amenities and infrastructure are developed in the city, cleanness and safety and security are provided to visitors, Ayodhya has immense potential to emerge as a popular destination only next to Agra in the state of the UP. Ayodhya has also potential to become a top tourist destination in India if all plans are executed well. is number is bound to grow substantially with the Supreme Court clearing the obstacles in the ways of the construction of a grand temple of Lord Ram at the site believed to be his birthplace.

All these positive developments are bound to impact the economy of the city and the state, with the tourism sector getting a major leg-up, generating a large number of skilled and semi-skilled jobs in the city. Eying new business opportunities, hospitality majors are already planning to open new hotels in Ayodhya. e city's tourism industry as a whole and the hotel industry, in particular, will be the biggest beneficiary of the SC's verdict in the long run, along with the local communities.

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INTERVIEW

'STRONGER ENABLING ENVIRONMENT IS NEEDED TO PROPEL TOURISM SECTOR' Recognizing immense potential in India's sunrise sector of travel and hospitality, SN Srivastava, President & Co-founder of Clarks Inn Group of Hotels, says that here is a need of a stronger enabling environment to propel this sector. Excerpts of his interview:

By Prem Kumar

Q. How do you view the current situation of India's travel & hospitality sector?

Travel and hospitality continues to be a sunrise sector. ere is potential for immense employment generation, tremendous investment and sustained high growth rate for years to come in this sector. However, there is a need of a stronger enabling environment that will help propel this sector. We have definitely witnessed an uptick in the sector. However, a lot more can be achieved, from growing the overall travel and hospitality market, developing destinations with certain specialized mandates like ‘Convention City of India, or let’s say Lucknow as the ‘Cultural Capital of India’ to reviving destinations like Khajuraho, which are seemingly losing in attractiveness if we are willing to hear the local tourism industries in such places.

Domestic market continues to be robust. However, it needs upbeat business sentiments for sustained growth, especially in terms of business travel which is actually the mainstay of travel and hospitality sector. e recent relief on corporate tax is a step in the right direction. As for tourism movement, whether domestic or inbound, I do think that we still have some way to go on taxation, brand and image management, aggressive destination marketing campaign, among others.

Q. What is your expectation from the ensuing

SN Srivastava President & Co-founder of Clarks Inn Group of Hotels

"As for tourism movement, whether domestic or inbound, I do think that we still have some way to go on taxation, brand and image management, aggressive destination marketing campaign, among others." inbound tourism season? e last financial crisis over a decade ago had put a stop to the great juggernaut India tourism had witnessed during 2003-2007 period in inbound arrivals. With a state of recession already looming large, I don’t see the ensuing inbound season to be much promising.

However, what we need is a robust market development

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

plan for not just the newer source markets but also for our key existing inbound markets because even in these markets we are only scratching at the surface. Our numbers from countries like Russia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Malaysia etc. can be grown considerably. While at the same China that has emerged as the world’s biggest tourism source market with around 150 million overseas travelers but contribute just about 250,000 visitors to India’s FTA! Q. The Government has given some reliefs to the travel & hospitality sector in the forms of cuts in GST, Corporate tax. How well do these reliefs auger for the industry?

I am very clear on this. If you want to grow travel and hospitality sector, if you want to grow tourism in the country or if you want to grow as an inbound destination, GST for various tourism verticals like hospitality must be kept in the lowest tax slab, and that is 5%, in order to be competitive and not in the 12% or 18% slab.

Under lower tax slab of 5%, not only it will have tremendous impact on boosting India’s destination competitiveness vis-à-vis neighbouring destinations and a very healthy impact on foreign exchange earnings, but also it will significantly grow the tax base and reduce tax evasion.

But that said we do appreciate the government’s decision to reduce the GST tax slab

for over Rs 7500/- tariff from 28% to 18%. is is a step in the right direction. But it needs to be in the lowest slab if the government’s objective is to grow tourism. e reduction in corporate tax is significant and timely. It is doing a world of good to the corporates and their spending sentiments. Now they have extra cash and do not need to be austere.

Q. The industry continues to face multiple challenges, but according to you, what is the biggest challenge at present before it?

We have an image issue as a destination. I think it is particularly dented for cleanliness and hygiene and safety and security. In my opinion even very important tourism infrastructure, like hotels or roads, is secondary to cleanliness and safety. We need to look inward and address these issues. e government’s cleanliness campaign is particularly laudable. We now need to further build on this momentum and up the ante.

And I would particularly like to highlight safety concerns of tourists. What happened with the American tourist in Delhi recently wasn’t a one odd unfortunate incident. ere are unscrupulous elements who need to be checked and I would particularly like to draw attention of the travel fraternity and their representatives to these kind of malaise. It is of utmost importance for us to be seen as a friendly and safe destination.

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F E AT U R E

SATTE’S ECONOMIC FOOTPRINT IS FAR-REACHING, SIGNIFICANT UNWTO hails SATTE as the year’s first major international tourism event and an integral part in South Asia’s growth as both, a tourism destination as well as the source market for destinations across the world.

SATTE’s economic impact on the region’s economy is also massive.

By Shayan Mallick

Sudeep Sarcar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly emphasized the economic benefits of travel and tourism, particularly stressing the need to build modern state-of-the-art infrastructure like convention centers to host large scale events. e PM has delved deeper too in his addresses on the events’ impact on the local economy and profile of the destination. A world class event venue in Varanasi, PM Modi’s parliamentary constituency, for instance, is integral to transforming Varanasi into the Kyoto of India.

SATTE’s role as a catalyst of the Prime Minister’s vision is significant. e expo is probably the most important events in the country that, apart from highlighting India’s outbound tourism potential, is also dedicated to showcasing India and the region and positioning it across different spectrums of travel and tourism, from leisure to MICE, within and outside the country and the region. SATTE is aer all the biggest and the

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

Pallavi Mehra

most important tourism show in this part of the world. e UNWTO too hails SATTE as the year’s first major international tourism event and an integral part in South Asia’s growth as both, a tourism destination as well as the source market for destinations across the world. e Chief Guest of SATTE 2019 earlier this year, former Tourism Minister and the then Minister of State (I/C) for Culture, Mahesh Sharma was extremely keen toplay host to SATTE in his parliamentary constituency not only because of the focus and attention that the event brings to the destination but also because of its tremendous economic impact. While sharing facts such as that the sector contributes 6.8 per cent to India’s GDP and earns over 1.56 lakh crores in foreign exchange, an elated Sharma had profusely thanked the event organizer for bringing the show to the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida.

In its recent report, Allied Market Research pegs the overall MICE sector at a staggering US$ 805 billion in 2017. e report further estimates the MICE industry to reach US$ 1245 billion by 2023, registering CAGR of 7.5% between 2017 and 2023, pegging the sector at over US$ 1 trillion by 2020. According to another study, the exhibition sector alone is estimated to have surpassed US$ 55 billion in industry size globally.

SATTE’s economic impact is massive. e event itself creates huge demand across accommodation, travel and transport from road to air and tourism business for the destinations especially in the Delhi NCR, Agra and Jaipur etc. Furthermore, the event also supports exhibition structure companies, stall design agencies or logistics and audio visual companies among others.

Commenting on SATTE’s economic impact, Sudeep Sarcar, CEO of India Expo Centre & Mart, says, “SATTE is a big ticket event and the big daddy of travel, tourism and hospitality industry in the whole of South Asia. India being the host country, SATTE sends out a highly refined message on India and the region’s readiness to host global events of repute to international industry stakeholders and decision makers besides also cementing India’s profile as a destination which is equipped for high profile events, congresses, conventions and exhibitions. Furthermore, at the local level, SATTE also impacts businesses right here in Greater Noida, from hotels to various others service providers and contractors as well as across the Golden Triangle region of DelhiJaipur-Agra.

Beyond the economic impact, SATTE is probably the biggest catalyst of the social, professional and talent development of

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F E AT U R E

human resource and job creation associated with the travel and tourism sector and beyond by creating a great melting pot and showcase of global best practices. Global profiling, innovation in travel and tourism businesses, enhancing partnership, business development and foreign investment, cultural exchanges, and more importantly, putting India and the region in global spotlight, serve as additional benefits to the event’s direct economic impact.

Pallavi Mehra, Group Director, Informa Markets in India, also draws attention to the

SATTE’s far-reaching impact that goes beyond tourism. “SATTE’s economic impact for India and the South Asia region is tremendous. Other than being itself an impactful event for the local economy, SATTE being India and the region’s foremost travel and tourism event provides the biggest showcase and marketing platform for the global travel and tourism community to discover this part of the world. e show’s impact on the region’s overall tourism growth and tourism revenue is massive.

Furthermore, I believe SATTE’s key

economic impact also lies in triggering destination and infrastructure development like that of hotels, convention centres, social, professional and talent development, among others.”

“PM Modi envisions to put destinations like Greater Noida that has a facility like the Expo Center as a hub for global events.

SATTE, given its tremendous global reputation and reach, sends this message out most effectively. As a tourism industry event SATTE is the biggest showcase platform of India,” said Sarcar while concluding.

PRIDE GROUP LAUNCHES A NEW RESORT IN BHARATPUR Pride Group of Hotels has launched ‘Pride KadambKunj Resort’ at Bharatpur, its second property in the vibrant state of Rajasthan. Prominently located on NH-11 FatehpurSikri Road, Bharatpur, this upscale ethnic resort is an expression of the spirit of Rajasthan and its royal elegance.The resort property is spread over 3 acres that gives a feeling of openness and greenery all around.

With major tourist attractions namely Fatehpur Sikri, Bird Sanctuary, Museum, Agra, MehendipurBalaji, Deeg Palace, Mathura/Vrindavan,in close

proximity, the hotel boasts of aesthetically designed rooms & suites ideal for leisure travelers.

Announcing the launch, S.P. Jain, Managing Director, Pride Hotels Limited says, “Rajasthan with its vibrant culture enjoys pre-eminence in attracting large section of leisure tourists from across the world. We are delighted to open our second resort in Rajasthan at Bharatpur to tap the growing potential in this region.

‘Pride KadambKunj Resort’ with a perfect blend of contemporary amenities rooted in customary ele-

gance and excellent services will make every guest’s stay a pleasurable experience”.

Pride Kadamb Kunj Resort offers 42 well-appointed rooms and 2 suites replete with all modern elements. The resort has a main block (reception & lobby block) and 2 wings comprising of rooms. In one wing rooms take shape of Octagon and has a beautiful central courtyard

which is used for puppet show, cultural evenings and bon fire and other activities.Rooms at new wing open towards massive open mustard fields giving a pretty sight to every room.

All the three blocks are connected for every ones convenience. All the rooms are equipped with LED TV, mini bar, tea/ coffee maker, Wi Fi, individual air conditioning and comfortby T NH DESK able beddings.

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EXPERTSPEAKS

MAKING VISA SERVICES SIMPLER WITH A SMILE

By Belson Coutinho

VFS Global, the leading outsourcing and technology partner to 63 governments worldwide, is leveraging its 18year long domain expertise to renew focus on enhancing customer experience across all its touchpoints.

As the company looks to further consolidate its presence worldwide, it is also ensuring a renewed focus on customer delight. e new integrated customer care strategy is built around 3 core elements of Listen-EngageRespond to go beyond what is commonly expected and deliver a quality, consistent customer experience across all touchpoints. e new Customer Care approach will rest on these three elements and aim to deliver reliable, timely and accurate response thereby offering a near real-time resolution to concerns and issues. e company is working to leverage technology, analytics and training backed with robust processes improvements to achieve this objective.

Key units like Marketing, Quality, Information Services and Customer Care have been unified under a single structure to bring synergy and improve service delivery in close coordination with the global operations team.

An omni-channel solution that will allow the customer care teams to efficiently leverage digital and social media and get a single view and voice of the customer is being put into place currently. is will further accelerate the entire process and enhance customer satisfaction levels.

Finally, customer service and care being an on-going process, VFS Global is focussing on continuous skill enhancement and trainings for employees.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

Belson Coutinho Chief Marketing Officer of VFS Global

Innovations to enhance convenience

With a focus on making the end-toend journey and process hassle-free, VFS Global has introduced innovative offerings such as chat bots for faster resolution of queries, real-time updates for applicants to track and trace the status, customised interfaces such as personalised services, prime time appointments, premium and platinum lounges, biometrics at home and so on, based on agreements with the respective client governments.

VFS Global’s customer-centric approach (with respect to both - the

client governments and customers) has helped it to offer solutions and services customised to individual needs. Some of the initiatives in this respect include Location Independent Document Processing (LIDProTM) for government efficiency, self-service kiosks, Visa At Your Doorstep, Mobile Visa Application Centres, biometric solutions and mobile e-Visa solutions.

Companies today are required to maintain a high standard of customer service across multiple physical and digital channels in addition to delivering a seamless experience. However, not many companies are well equipped to handle the sudden surge in digital engagement with customers.

With its deeply entrenched knowledge of e-governance, coupled with tech and data prowess, the company has been able to extend this expertise to government facing projects seeking citizen convenience and seamless operations that are technology-centred. VFS Global has always strived to not only offer innovative solutions to governments for hassle-free operations and egovernance, but also provide convenience and consumer experience that is scalable and addresses the evolving needs of the applicants. is has not only positively re-designed how citizens perceive these services, but has also given governments the opportunity to provide an experience paramount to any private service.

The importance of industry support

Last but in no way the least, no industry works without a strong ecosystem, and our support has always been the travel trade fraternity. Some of our services are best facilitated by the travel agents in the regions we operate in, such as Visa at your Doorstep or the Platinum Lounges in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We engage with them at various touchpoints to ensure we are always abreast of their requirements, and we hold regular meetings and roadshows that allow us to further develop this successful synergy.

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NEWS

VIRGIN ATLANTIC RELAUNCHES DAILY DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM MUMBAI TO LONDON

Virgin Atlantic relaunched its daily directoperations between Mumbai (BOM) to London Heathrow (LHR) on 28th October 2019, complementing itslong-established route between London and Delhi. e Mumbai flights operate on Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787-9 aircra offering customers the fantasticUpper Class and Premium cabins along with three ways to fly Economy – Light, Classic and Delight. e daily service will depart and arrive in the morning at London Heathrow, offering seamless connections between India and the US.Virgin Atlantic offers afull on-board service in each of its cabins, providing complimentary food, drink and over 300 hours of entertainment across films, TV and music channels. e airline is Wi-Fi enabled across the fleet, allowing customers to stay connected throughout their flight. Virgin Atlantic offers chauffeur driven car service for its Upper Class customers anywhere within 75 miles of Mumbai airport, the only direct carrier offering the

by TNH DESK service on Mumbai – London route.

ETIHAD AND BOEING ANNOUNCE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP Etihad Airways has joined forces with Boeing in an industry-leading strategic partnership centred on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and focused on innovation, cost efficiency and minimising the impact of aviation on the environment.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline, which received its first 787 in December 2014, now operates 36 Dreamliners – the largest number in the Middle East - which comprise more than one third of its total fleet and will reach 50 per cent by 2023.

Etihad and Boeing also jointly unveiled a special ‘Greenliner’ livery for one of the airline’s 787 Dreamliner aircraft to highlight their shared commitment to more sustainable aviation, and to test new products, procedures and initiatives designed to reduce fuel consumption.

The partnership will be underpinned by commercial and technical agreements valued at approximately AED 800 million ($US 215 million) encompassing a broad range of services including a landing gear overhaul program, high value airframe components, and maintenance planning

by T NH DESK optimisation tools.

STB partners with Zomato to bring authentic Singaporean food to Indians

The Turkish Tourism Board in cooperation with Turkish Airlines and Accor Hotels recently hosted yet another successful MICEFAM for representatives of leading corporate houses from India. In the first week of November, Turkey hosted a MICE group comprising of representatives from six companies and two B2B publications who travelled to Antalya and Istanbul to experience the cultural and cosmopolitan aspects of Turkey. The tourism board in India has been receiving an overwhelming response from various MICE

groups and is planning to host more MICE FAMs in months to come Representatives from companies like Maxlife Insurance, Silver skills private Ltd, Glenmark pharmaceuticals, Bajaj Alianz, Akument is Healthcare attended this well curated FAM. The carefully curated itinerary helped showcase the best of Turkish culture, MICE& hospitality to the delegation.

The first destination for the group was Istanbul where the first day group had several potential hotel inspections like Swiss Hotel Bosphorous, Istanbul, Fairmont Hotel, Novotel Bosphorus. The second day of the itinerary involved MICE specific hotel tours of hotels and cruise dinner and experienced the regional cuisine and culture very closely.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

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REVIEW

WHERE LUXURY IS IN SYNC WITH GREENERY

One of the leading luxury MICE properties in Central India, Pride Hotel and Convention Centre Indore is the only one to boast of huge banquet facilities and greenery.

By Swaati Chaudhury

Luxury hospitality in the commercial capital of Central India is picking up. ere are five-star groups like Radisson Blu Hotel and Indore Marriott while Sheraton Grand Palace and e Park will foray into the city sometime next year. A luxury property nestling in the heart of Central India that figures on the travel bucket list of MICE travellers is Pride Hotel and Convention Centre, Indore. Lying around 15

km from Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport and about 7 km from Indore Railway Station, Pride Hotel and Convention Centre is on Agra-Bombay Road or National Highway No.3 and is at a proximal distance from the industrial hub of Central IndiaPitampur. It is the first-of-a-kind convention centre from the house of Pride Hotels that kicked off in 2017. e luxury property spread over 1 lakh sq. 

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

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REVIEW

Verdict: The luxury set-up has a fair share of MICE travellers, boasts of greenery and a huge space for hosting conventions and meets. certainly deserves a thumbs up for the wide array of MICE facilities on offer including banquet hall, Tiffany Bluesthe all-day dinning outlet, gym and spa.

I happened to visit the property sometime in mid -September this year and was enamoured with the high quality of service

offered by the hospitality group. ere are 75 luxury rooms categorized into three kinds- deluxe rooms, suites and cottages that are 10 in number. e property has earned the distinction of organizing weddings, large conferences and events. Sanjay Sharma, General Manager, Pride Hotel and Convention Centre, Indore commented, “Our property has the largest banquet hall in Indore with a seating capacity of 1,200. Our MICE facilities comprise five banquet halls and a lush green lawn for hosting outdoor weddings. We have a parking area of 80,000 sq. . ere is

Fuel Bar and the Vishram Spa. ere is the night club that remains open on Fridays and Saturdays. We are working on to provide the best service to our valued customers and we have an active presence in social media.” e property has set a benchmark in the hospitality scenario of Indore in more than one ways.

Sharma said, “We have the largest night club in the city and our poolside cottages are unique.” Meanwhile the city hospitality scene has clocked a growth of 20 per cent in the recent period. e group is far away from any kind of competitions. e hospitality group has rolled out its ex-

pansion plans that will see the light of the day sometime end of this year. Sharma further said, “We have drawn up plans to come up with a 40-seater, poolside restaurant called Aqua Grill sometime by November end, 2019. It will be an exclusively barbecued food outlet that will churn out grilled delicacies, serve liquor and will be open for dinner on all days.”

Address: Pride Hotel and Convention Centre, Indore 35/1 Bicholi Mardana Bypass Road, Near Oscar Township, Indore- 452016 Phone: (0731)675 5555 Website: www.pridehotel.com

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NEWS

LOT POLISH AIRLINES

STRENGTHENS BUDAPEST AS ITS SECOND HUB In 2020, LOT Polish Airlines, member airline of Star Alliance, continues to develop Budapest as its second hub in addition to its home base Warsaw. In summer the airline will add Dubrovnik in Croatia and Varna on the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea to its flight schedule from Budapest. In addition, LOT Polish Airlines will increase its weekly services from the Hungarian capital to Seoul in South Korea from currently three to four flights per week. e new flights to Dubrovnik and Varna are offered on Sundays and will be launched the 7th June 2020. Both will be operated with modern Embraer 195 aircra. Flight schedules are:

Budapest-Dubrovnik (LO2571): departure at 7:00am, arrival at 8:15am, 1:15 hours flying time Dubrovnik-Budapest (LO2572): departure at 8:55am, arrival at 10:10am, 1:15 hours flying time Budapest-Varna (LO2631): departure at 12:30pm, arrival at 3:05pm, 1:35 hours flying time

JW MARRIOTT HOTEL BENGALURU TO LAUNCH URBAN OASIS ‘MERAK’ Corona, from the world’s leading brewer Anheuser Busch InBev (AB InBev), in association with JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru today unveiled a one-of-a-kind urban oasis ‘Merak’ by Corona, which embodies the brand’s belief that

outdoors is where the best version of ourselves shine through.

Introduced in India for the first time ever, Merak by Corona inspires people to truly disconnect from their everyday routine and reconnect with nature, thereby experiencing outdoors,

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

Varna-Budapest (LO2632): departure at 3:45pm, arrival at 4:20pm, 1:35 hours flying time High load factor on the flights to Seoul: Starting on 6th May 2020, LOT Polish Airlines will increase its service from Budapest to Seoul. e route was just launched in September 2019 and reached immediately an average load factor of 85 percent. Based on that success, the airline will add another weekly nonstop flight on Wednesdays to its already existing three flights per week (Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays). Like all long-haul flights, LOT Polish Airlines operates this route with a modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner, offering guests three services classes: LOT Business Class, LOT Premium Economy Class and LOT Economy Class. Travel times are: Budapest-Seoul: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays with LO2001: departure at 12:25pm, arrival at 6:05am the next morning; 10:40 hours flying time.

indoor. As part of this, Corona reimagined a section of the hotel into a unique city escape and this strategic alliance will enable Bangaloreans to kick back and rejuvenate themselves over bespoke cocktails, a custom-made menu and a distinct tropical atmosphere.

Merak by Corona celebrates the moments spent outside, being one with nature, by reclaiming an urban dwelling and

by T NH DESK

transforming it through a sensorial experience created by two like-minded partners – Natura

by TNH DESK and WeCreate.

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NEWS

FOCUSING ON TO CONSERVE NATURE IN

GARHWAL HIMALAYAS Garhwal-based luxury haunt is betting big in rustling up organic delights.

By Swaati Chaudhury

For luxury travellers inclined towards wellness and looking ahead to rejuvenate themselves in the serene nature of the Garhwal Himalayas, there’s e Terraces Resort and Spa resting on Mussoorie-Chamba Road in the district Kanatal. Well-known as a boutique spa resort, the hospitality group stands tall for providing comfort, yoga and meditation sessions coupled with the best cuisine in the Garhwal Himalayas. e property with 21 rooms serves as a MICE destination and is contemplating to spread its wings in Rishikesh.

Ravi Malhotra, Managing Director, e Terraces Resort and Spa commented, “Our property has carved a niche in the hospitality scene of Garhwal Himalayas and we cater to selected clients with our limited room inventory. We have adopted a twopronged strategy including making use of digital marketing platform to reach out to our global and domestic visitors.

We are working on retention strategies that would not only help us to receive guests but our hotel can receive references.” e hotel group is characterized by a huge open space and a garden that go down well for MICE travellers for their team building activities. Malhotra said,

“Our hospitality set-up has a wellappointed conference hall that can seat 55 people in theatre style. We intend to create one-of-a-kind experience in the field of food and beverage that is dependent on organic farming and activities are augmented by nature keeping in mind, minimum visitors’ impact on the environment. We have rolled out the concept of Farm to Table where visitors venture out in our vegetable garden and place their choices of vegetables and the dish is prepared accordingly. Our speciality dining outlet has earned the reputation of serving the best Garhwal cuisine in the region that beckons travellers staying in other luxury properties to visit our hotel for fine dining experience. We are aiming to emerge as a prominent contributor in conserving the environment in the Garhwal Himalayas.” e hospitality group is into receiving around 4,000 travellers annually. Malhotra further said, “We aim to increase the tourists’ footfall by 90 per cent and generate awareness across the world on the kind of offerings brought about by our hospitality group.”

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NEWS

CLARKS INN MAKES A BIG SPLASH AT WTM LONDON Clarks Inn Group of Hotels, one of the largest hotel chains from the Indian subcontinent, made a big splash at the recently concluded World Travel Mart (WTM) in London. Attending the show at the Indian Pavillion along with Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the hotel company showcased its wide array of offerings in the accommodation arena and its footprints encompassing the vast Indian geography and the neighbouring Nepal.

“With one of the biggest network presence across India and a growing footprint in Nepal as well, it is important that we showcase our properties to international buyers and decision-makers from across the globe. WTM, London is a lead-

ing platform for the global travel and tourism industry and provided us with the right opportunity to showcase our unique offerings in the accommodation segments,” said SN Srivastava, President & Co-founder, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels.

“Also, as one of the leading Indian hotel chains, it was important that we also promote the destinations that we are located in. WTM gave us ample opportunity to do that too as we were able to inform and draw a lot of attention to the destinations that we are located in,” he further added.

Furthermore, while thanking the property owners and developers for trusting Clarks Inn Group of Hotels with their hotel properties,

Srivastava pointed that their trust in our commitment, brand promise and deliverables has catapulted Clarks Inn Group of Hotels into one of the fastest growing hotel companiesin India.

“It is incumbent upon us to live up to their trust and promote and showcase these wonderful properties to international travel and tourism community from across the globe. We already have a robust promotional calendar in the domestic market and now we want to be

WELCOMHERITAGE OPENS NEW HOTEL IN RAJASTHAN WelcomHeritage (WH) has opened WelcomHeritage Inderpura Resort, which is situated on Delhi road State highway 37B at Udaipurwati of Jhunjhunu District in Rajasthan.

Udaipurwati is known as Udaipur of Shekhawati, which was the capital of Raja Todarlmal of Shekhawat Rajput clan. It is located near a very famous Shakambhari Mata Temple. Adjoining is a Kot Dam, which has a former hunting ground (Shikarbagh) of Shekhawat Rulers. The Resort also falls on the route from Delhi to very famous Salasar Balaji Temple.

Talking about the new property, Sanjeev K Nayar, GM, WelcomHeritage shared shared, “The addition of this property is part of our strategy to expand and open more properties in the current financial year.

Rajasthan has such abundance of cultural properties and we are extremely lucky to find few of such gems and add in our existing portfolio.

Udaipurvati is a beautiful location with a vivid historical importance. The

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

picturesque location of the property and the cultural heritage of the city promise to give a perfect holiday experience. Moreover this property has close proximity to Delhi/NCR, we expect to see the business flow from this part of the country on a higher pace, especially in weekends.” This also happens to be our 10th property in the state of Rajasthan.

The property is situated at the foothill of Aravalli range and is spread across 1.75 acres of land surrounded by hills on three sides, with a clear view of the sunset. The property has an inventory of 21 rooms which are divided into 3 categories – Super deluxe rooms, Deluxe rooms and Standard rooms. There are 2 restaurants for the guests - A multicuisine restaurant that serves buffet and can accommodate 50 people indoor and another 30 in the adjoining open verandah and a Barbequewhich serves Barbequed/grilled food and beverages and is situated near

by TNH DESK the swimming pool.

there at the prominent international travel expo and marts like ITB Berlin, ITB Asia, WTM London, ATM Dubai, among others,” added Srivastava.

One of India’s fastest growing and biggest hotel chains, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels today boasts of a portfolio of over 55 hotels in operation and anoverall hotel portfolio nearing 100 properties spread across more than 22 states in India and the neighbouring Nepal.

by T NH DESK

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NEWS

ELLINGTON PROPERTIES COMMENCES HAND-OVER OF DESIGN-LED EATON PLACE HOMES

Ellington Properties, Dubai’s leading design-led property developer, has underlined its proven credentials with the delivery of its Eaton Place residential development, located centrally

in Dubai’s family-friendly Jumeirah Village Circle ( JVC).

A community-focused development that celebrates the Ellington values of design and technology integration, Eaton Place has only a limited selection of 110 studio,1 and 2bedroom residences overlooking a resort-style courtyard. Eaton Place had gained strong investor response upon its launch and is one of the sought-aer residential developments by Ellington Properties.

Reflecting the aesthetics that set Ellington Properties apart, the homes have serene interiors and are ontrend with a palette of pastel neutrals, which take inspiration from the tonali-

ties of the desert rose.

In addition, Eaton Place is already home to two phenomenal art pieces created by local artists in the lobby area and modern gym.

Artists have creatively added their touches to add to the aesthetics of the areas making Eaton Place, another remarkable addition to the portfolio of Ellington Properties, which stand-out

for the integration of art and community living.

Eaton Place is ideal as live-in homes for those seeking to be part of a trendy lifestyle neighbourhood. ey are also a valuable investment proposition, assuring strong return on investment. e homes also assure strong rental yields, given its locaby T NH DESK tion in JVC.

SriLankan Airlines forges ahead with Business Turnaround Plan SriLankan Airlines has made significant progress in its efforts to become a sophisticated customer-centric airline intent on achieving financial success, by implementing a wide-ranging Turnaround Plan under the leadership of its Board of Directors with the unstinted support of its employees across all divisions.

Following the appointment of a new Board of Directors in April 2018, the majority on an honorary unrecompensed basis, SriLankan began implementing a wide range of initiatives to curtail losses and improve the customer experience, despite many challenges including the im-

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

pact on tourist arrivals from the Easter Sunday attacks, volatile fuel prices and depreciation of the rupee. e airline will expand its presence in the important Australian market by commencing operations to Sydney next year and further strengthen its position as the largest foreign carrier in India with the launch of services to Ahmedabad. SriLankan also intends to stretch its wings in Southeast Asia with a new service to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in Vietnam, while plans to return to Frankfurt, Paris and other earlier destinations continue to be under consideration.

A considerable effort is being made throughout the organization in order to provide the most pleasant and userfriendly experience in terms of both products and services, across all customer touchpoints.

by T NH DESK

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NEWS

CRISIL reaffirms Thomas Cook (I) credit rating at ‘CCR AA-’

e CRISIL Credit Ratings, dated November 22, 2019, communicated to omas Cook (India) Ltd., and uploaded on its portal, has reaffirmed its corporate credit rating of ‘CCR AA-/ stable’ to omas Cook (India) Ltd. (TCIL). Additionally, CRISIL has reaffirmed its rating on the debt programmes and bank facilities of omas Cook (India) Limited at ‘CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+’.

In its ratings rationale, CRISIL has highlighted, “omas Cook India is a completely separate entity from omas Cook PLC post acquisition of a 77% stake by Canada based Fairfax Financial Holdings in 2012. Also, that there are no shareholding or business linkage between the two companies.” by TNH DESK

INDIGO RECEIVES IATA MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE In-line with the recent announcement of IndiGo joining IATA, the airline received its membership certificate today in Gurgaon.

Conrad Clifford, Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific, IATA presented the certificate to Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, President and COO, IndiGo at their office premises in Gurgaon. The membership will help IndiGo align to global practices developed by IATA and further strengthen the airline’s partnership portfolio.

IndiGo recently announced a one-way codeshare with Qatar Airways and partnered with Turkish Airlines in December 2018 to expand its international presence. As part of its expansion strategy, IndiGo entered into new markets including Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, China, Myanmar and Vietnam in 2019, commencing operations to multiple cities in each market.

At the occasion, Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, President and COO, IndiGo said, “This is a strategic milestone, as the airline steers its focus towards international expansion. Being a member of IATA will help IndiGo grow its network faster by building relationships with other airlines, after the recently announced codeshare with Qatar Airways and almost a year-long successful partnership with Turkish Airlines. IATA membership becomes more critical at this time, as it will be important for us to achieve our mission of making IndiGo the best air transby T NH DESK portation system in the world”.

Tourism Turkey conducts FAM trip for leading Indian corporate houses The Turkish Tourism Board in cooperation with Turkish Airlines and Accor Hotels recently hosted yet another successful MICEFAM for representatives of leading corporate houses from India. In the first week of November, Turkey hosted a MICE group comprising of representatives from six companies and two B2B publications who travelled to Antalya and Istanbul to experience the cultural and cosmopolitan aspects of Turkey.

The tourism board in India has been receiving an overwhelming response from various

MICE groups and is planning to host more MICE FAMs in months to come Representatives from companies like Maxlife Insurance, Silver skills private Ltd, Glenmark pharmaceuticals, Bajaj Alianz, Akument is Healthcare attended this well curated FAM. The carefully curated itinerary helped showcase the best of Turkish culture, MICE& hospitality to the delegation.

The first destination for the group was Istanbul where the first day group had several potential hotel inspections like Swiss Hotel

Bosphorous, Istanbul, Fairmont Hotel, Novotel Bosphorus. The second day of the itinerary involved MICE specific hotel tours of hotels and cruise dinner and experienced the regional cuisine and culture very closely.

After Istanbul the group headed to Antalya and stayed in some of the best hotels in Belek region and indulged in sightseeing.

by TNH DESK

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BITE CORNER

Gorging on traditional health platter Vedic, the new, the exclusively vegetarian outlet serves simple, holistic, slow-cooked platters that is light on the stomach.

By Swaati Chaudhury

A

soothing ambience recreated with hydroponic garden, merchandise well-stocked with antiques and health spices and cooking oil. We’re not talking about any retail outlet. Well, believe it or not. This is a scene straight from the newly-opened fine dining outlet called Vedic from the house of The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat. An opportunity to dive deep into the menu and the ambience of Vedic came to me a few days ago and once again it was an urge to binge on traditional Indian flavours.

Snuggled on 31st floor of the luxury hospitality group, Vedic sprawls over 3,540 sq. ft area and has opened its gates sometime on November 2, this year. The 42-seater vegetarian outlet boasts of bespoke interiors with hydroponic garden done up with great care that has around 20 kinds of organic herbs. There is impressive merchandise that displays antiques, healthy spices and cooking oil that aid in liver and revitalizes the energy of the body. There is a trail mix with sunflower seeds, flax seeds, white sesame, poppy and fennel seeds and raw sugar.

Like the Westin hospitality brand that stands on four

pillars- Eat well, sleep well, play well and work well, the fine dining restaurant is based on four fundamentals that include regional, seasonal, homey and traditional. Vivek Kalia, Executive Chef, The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat said, “Vedic ideology constitutes a major part of the hospitality group. The menu has been the brainchild of celebrity chef, Ajay Chopra. The cuisine touches every state of India and the menu is in sync with four seasons- winter, spring, summer and autumn. In fact, the traditional unpopular Indian recipes are amalgamated and are given a boost at the outlet.”

I had a dinner date at the outlet and the interiors opened up a whole new world to me.

I was completely bowled over gaping at the décor of the outlet. The dimly-lit outlet with its huge, circular, handmade paintings depicting human beings and nature take us back to ancient India during the times of Vedic age. There are relics at every corner and the ambience is highly soothing.

Every table has a row of copper chandeliers and bells depicting positive vibes. The presence of an open kitchen is another highpoint of the food outlet.

I settled down to have my dinner and was served Kaarha, a health drink made of Tulsi leaves, pepper, ginger, lemon, honey and aniseed. The

Verdict

For those who intend to explore the traditional, vegetarian, forgotten Indian cuisine, Vedic is the preferred destination.

delights are all served in stone bowls to recreate the old-world ambience. The mocktail on offer – Kumaon Cup was lipsmacking prepared by blending watermelon juice, fig syrup, honey water, fresh lime juice and amchoor powder. There was an array of starters like BajrekaRaab comprising fennel flavoured bajra, buttermilk soup with ghee and cumin seeds that was nothing unusual.

Another starter that I had was LaukiKhaman on the lines of Mumbai PavBhaji. The starter that was outstanding was MakaiMalaiyoChaat, a delectable roasted corn platter from Indore.

I soon moved on to the main course that had signature creations like Soumyaconstituting whole moong dal and whole wheat dhokla sauteed with fenugreek seeds and naachni papad. This was incidentally the first time I got to savour whole wheat dhokla.

There was multigrain roti made

of spinach, beetroot and fenugreek seeds that I savoured with Dal Vedic comprising Moong Dal. Another platter on offer was Winter Greens Saag comprising an array of wintergreen leafy vegetables cooked with rice water and done up with white butter. While it’s true that all the dishes were health food, Winter Greens Saag could not satiate my delectable food cravings.

The outlet serves desserts that are quite outstanding particularly GulabShrikhandVerrine, a delightful blend ofShrikhand (Maharashtrian delight) and shifta (Kashmiri dish). Before finishing off the meal, I had a taste of Palm JaggeryPongal with a caramelized banana that is a must-try for those craving for sweet delights.

The outlet serves food every day from 6.30 pm to 11.30 pm.

Rating Food: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambience: 4.5/5

Address: The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat, Plot No. CBD/2, Action Area-II, New Town, Rajarhat, Kolkata-700156

Phone: (033) 40371234

Food for two: Rs 2,200 exclusive of taxes.

Alcohol is served on order

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NEWS

MASQUERADE THEMED NEW YEAR EVE CELEBRATIONS AT G VILLAS MANALI Welcome in 2020 with an exquisite and extravagant evening in the splendor of magnificent Masquerade theme party. This one-of-a-kind New Year celebration will be held at “G Villas Manali, city’s one of the top-rated boutique cottage, located just at Simsa in the heart of Manali.

Kunal Sharma, Owner of G Villas says, "Manali has never witnessed such kind of party. We are the first one to organize Masquerade party in Manali. Wrapped in the right decor and the Holiday spirit, G Villas Manali brings to its patrons a range of spectacular offerings to usher in the New Year in style and indulge in a world of splendour. Set to be an allout celebration, one can expect

nothing but the best of luxury and exquisite dining here. Offering to our patrons the most luxurious ball drop party in town, creating one truly unique Gatsby-like experience to ring in New year 2020. " The place is offering Stay at Luxury Cottage, Grand Celebration of New Years, Divine Night in the lap of Himalayas, Dj Night and Bon Fire, Unlimited Drinks, Unlimited Snacks and Gala Dinner.

Enjoy exquisite gourmet food and put your best foot forward to dance on the beat by the DJ, in a luxurious and elegant ambiance.

Address- G Villas Manali, Kanyal Road, Simsa, Manali.

by T NH DESK

LE MÉRIDIEN GURGAON'S CHRISTMAS STAY PACKAGE FOR FAMILIES With the holiday season approaching, it's all about spreading joy and love with your family and friends.

Make your Christmas merry and bright with the Le Méridien Gurgaon's travel package. It's the time of the year when families get together from all around the world and celebrate in full swing. With decor which is everything Christmas and special food and drink menus, 'Tis the season to enjoy a relaxing holiday where you are taken care of with love.

The travel package also includes: Buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner at the all-day dining restaurant, Latest Recipe; 30 minute express spa treatment per adult, per stay at Senses Spa; Interactive mixology session with the bartenders at the Longitude Bar; Curated walk through of the Aravalli Biodiversity Park; and Engaging kids games and activities during the brunch hours. The packages start from INR 9999/night.

by TNH DESK

JUSTMYROOTS.COM DELIVERS BIRYANI ACROSS INDIA, FROM ALL GHARANAS Biryani is an evergreen classic dish that really needs no introduction. India offers so much on its culinary platter but the one dish that all Indians unanimously love indulging in, is the mouth-watering biryani. With variations having evolved into distinctive styles of biryanis, one is spoilt for options when it comes to experiencing this melting pot of flavours. JustMyRoots, has tied up many renowned places with Authentic Flavours of Biryani’s from different communities across India, which can be ordered while sitting in the comfort of your home or wherever you may be within India.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

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NEWS

White Christmas goals at St. Moritz, Switzerland A

re you dreaming of a white Christmas? Make your holidays merry by heading to a snowy St. Moritz in Switzerland and be magically transformed into a winter Wonderland full of enchantment and holiday cheer.

Pamper yourself at the luxe Carlton hotel in St. Moritz which has 60 suites with stunning views of the lake of St. Moritz and the picturesque Upper Engadine beyond. On Christmas Eve, embark on a culinary journey to Lombardy and enjoy the award-winning delights at Da Vittorio of the Cerea brothers. e five-course dinner at Da Vittorio - St. Moritz will make your Christmas 2019 unforgettable. Kids will get to bake, decorate, eat some gingerbread and be greeted by Santa Claus for Christmas presents.

Starting from CHF 11,743 (INR 8,50,000 approx.) per room for the

entire stay from 20-27 December 2019, the stay offer includes: Buffet breakfast, Daily CHF 100 (INR 7200 approx.) food and beverage, credit per adult, Butler service, Use of the 1'200 m² Carlton Spa, Ski shuttle to Corviglia Station and 24 hour Bentley limousine service within St. Moritz.

You wouldn’t want to miss out on the Christmas and New Year’s Eve (NYE) celebrations at e Kulm hotel in St. Moritz. Being the first hotel in the Alps to offer winter holidays with luxury hospitality, e Kulm Hotel is in the heart of St. Moritz.

Enjoy a glass of Champagne to ring in Christmas Eve. On 24 December, join e Kulm’s General Managers, Jenny and Heinz Hunkeler for a festive Christmas aperitif in the aernoon and a special Christmas candlelight dinner with traditional dessert buffet. Dinner

is priced at CHF 155 (INR 11,200 approx.) per person for non-resident guests.

On Christmas Day, children are invited to recite a poem and receive a surprise Christmas gi from Santa Claus, followed by a festive gala dinner for the family in the splendidly decorated Grand Restaurant. Dinner is priced at CHF 155 (INR 11,200 approx.) per person for non-resident guests.

Step into the magical Grand Restaurant and dance away to a live music band to bring in the NYE on 31 December. An extensive dinner menu is priced at CHF 600 (INR 45,000 approx.) per person. On 1 January 2020, enjoy the spectacular New Year’s fireworks on the Lake of St. Moritz from e Kulm Spa’s heated outdoor pool with a fantastic panoramic view.

A photographer remains at your disposal at e Kulm St. Moritz for your personal souvenir picture to capture the special holiday moments.

Engadin St. Moritz: e official organization for the whole destination (13 communities) to maximize global travel and tourism opportunities. For more information, visit: www.engadin.stmoritz.ch

by T NH DESK

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D I P L O M AT ’ S C O R N E R

LITHUANIA:

A NATION CLOSE TO NATURE, FULL OF WONDERS In an exclusive interview to TnH, H.E. Mr. Julius Pranevičius, Ambassador of Lithuania to India, spoke at length about the immense tourism potential of his country and elaborated on many reasons to visit Lithuania. Excerpts of the interview:

By Prem Kumar

Q. Do you find Lithuania growing in popularity among Indian travellers? Which are the top favourite tourist attractions within Lithuania?

2018 was a record year for the Lithuanian tourism sector. e year witnessed 1.9 million international tourists travelling to Lithuania and spending at least one night in the country, which is an increase of almost 12% from 2017. In the first half of 2019, the growth is almost 10%. Great progress has been made in attracting tourists from far-away markets – tourist numbers from China and Japan have doubled. We also see significantly increased interest from Indian tourism companies and individual travellers. Lithuania is a unique destination, more and more tourists from India now are looking for special, unseen places and find Lithuania as a perfect fit for that, so the potential is very high.

Tourists coming to Lithuania, first of all, are attracted by the feeling and surroundings of the country – fresh air and clean water, beautiful, green nature, slow pace lifestyle and friendly people. You might not even need any attractions – enjoying the space around you and being just with nature might be the best holiday. However, those who wish to explore more are impressed by Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Its historical centre is included in UNESCO world heritage site list and its stunning medieval and baroque architecture rivals the very best in Europe. For a pure fairytale thrill, there’s Trakai Castle, a beautiful medieval castle that sits on an island in the centre of Lake Galve. If you need to get away from it all, there’s no better place than the Curonian Spit. is peninsula with amazing sand dunes is located between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian lagoon. It has been listed as a place you must see before you die (in the travel book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz) and included in the UNESCO world heritage site list as one of the most beautiful and unique landscapes in Europe. e Hill of Crosses also leaves a big impression on the tourists. Located in Northern Lithuania, the hill is covered with more than 100,000 crosses and is a sacred place for pilgrims and an awe-inspiring and mysterious site for tourists and visitors.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

H.E. Mr. Julius Pranevičius Ambassador of Lithuania to India

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D I P L O M AT ’ S C O R N E R

©Laimonas Ciūnys_Lithuania Travel

“We see significantly increased interest from Indian tourism companies and individual travellers.

Lithuania is a unique destination, more and more tourists from India now are looking for special, unseen places and find Lithuania as a perfect fit for that, so the potential is very high.”

Q. If you have to recommend some ‘off-the-beaten-track’ destinations/ attractions in Lithuania, what would they be?

Lithuania itself is still 'off-the-beatentrack' destination. Northern Europe is a new, trendy destination that everyone around the world seems talking about. e Lonely Planet has recently likened a trip to the Baltic States and Lithuania to a fairy tale, thanks to the abundance of enchanting castles, dunes, forests and lakes.

Tourists are surprised to know that

aer a visit to Lithuania they can safely claim that not only they have been to one of the Nordic-Baltic countries but also in the very centre of the continent! e official geographical centre of Europe is 26 kilometres away from the capital of Lithuania. To experience something special, hot-air balloon ride above Vilnius should not be missed.

Lithuanians are incurable romantics: we are among the top five countries with the largest number of hot-air balloons and balloon pilots per thousand residents, and international travel magazines have already put Vilnius and Trakai on lists of top 10 places to see

from the sky for several years. If you ever glanced at the map of Lithuania, you might have noticed one feature missing from the landscape completely – mountains. With such a flat country, our pagan forefathers had to find creative ways to worship gods. us, they created their own mountains, so-called 'Hillforts', 900 of them scattered around the country. Each of them is like a treasury of legends, folk stories and history.

Standing by yourself on top of one of these hills makes you truly feel as being king of the world. I would also highly recommend walking on the shore of the Baltic Sea in search of little pieces of amber, also known as the gold of Lithuania. It is an integral part of Lithuania’s identity and has been valued since ancient times not only for its culture, aesthetics but also for its therapeutic features. e Baltic amber is free from heavy metal impurities, therefore, it is particularly good for use in medicine and beauty products.

Lithuania is a small country, having advanced road system, so it is very easy to explore many parts of the country and see totally different landscape and attractions in a short time.

Q. How are people-to-people contact, and cultural and tourism exchanges growing between the two countries?

Many are surprised to learn that Lithuania and India are connected since ancient times. It is proved by clear existing links between our two languages: Lithuanian and Sanskrit. 'Dievas' in

©Vaidas Gegužis_Lithuania Travel

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D I P L O M AT ’ S C O R N E R

©Ernestas Zarnadzė_Lithuania Travel

Lithuanian and 'Dev' in Sanskrit, 'Sapnas' and 'sapnā' mean the same thing. e Lithuanian Language Institute has even produced a dictionary. So next time tourists from India may surprise their hosts in Lithuania by greeting them with “labas” (lābh)! It is important to build on this existing link between our countries with present-day exchanges, cooperation and relationship.

Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary was celebrated in Lithuania.

His soulmate Hermann Kallenbach was born in our country. ere is a monument reminding about their friendship in a small town close to Baltic Sea, Rusnė, which is oen visited by tourists from India. Gandhi’s non-violence resistance ideas echoed in Lithuania 30 years ago, when people of Baltic countries joined hands together to form a human chain, which peacefully showed the determination to gain independence from the Soviet Union.

Since the opening of the Lithuanian Embassy in New Delhi 11 years ago, we see cultural and people-to-people contacts growing every year. Currently, more than 1000 students from India study in Lithuania, and this number grew from 50 in less than 5 years. With this, more Indians are thinking about doing business with Lithuania or establishing a company there. Lithuania is a member of the European Union and belongs to the Schengen area and is a perfect gateway to Europe. Our nation now holds 11th place in 'Ease of doing business' rankings and welcomes investors and businessmen from India. Such companies as Indorama, HCL, Tombo Imaging and others already have a significant presence in Lithuania. Being

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

the regional centre for life sciences and fintech sectors, Lithuania is attracting established companies and start-ups from India. Entrepreneurs from India should not miss the chance to take advantage of very favourable Lithuania’s business scene and apply for start-up visa: Lithuanian government has developed special scheme to ease the visa application process for people with innovative ideas and business plan. ere is a rise of visa applications from family members and visiting friends of established Indians in Lithuania – the best advertisement for the country is

LiThuania: KEy facTs Full name: Republic of Lithuania Location: Baltic region, N. Europe Capital: Vilnius Currency: Euro Language: Lithuanian Dial Code: +370 Local Time: UTC+2 hours

word-of-mouth. ere is an agreement on cultural exchanges between the governments of Lithuania and India, and cultural groups showcasing rich cultural heritage or modern art forms are very warmly welcomed and enjoyed by Lithuanian audience.

Q. What are the new steps to promote Lithuania's tourism in India?

Historically when Indians think of travelling to Europe, southern countries are on their mind. So it is our big job to change that and create more awareness about Lithuania and Nordic-Baltic re-

gion of Europe. We can be proud of our rich history and naturally fresh and crisp air that may be enjoyed so much when hot and humid summer hits India. e important part is to inform potential tourists of great tourism opportunities in the region and Lithuania.

To deliver to the Indian market the message of such welcoming and interesting tourism destination as Lithuania, here in India roadshow of Lithuanian tourism operators is planned early next year. Besides, the Embassy keeps making numerous presentations about tourism opportunities.

Contemporary tourist is seeking experiences and impressions. So Lithuania as the destination recently puts lots of emphases to showcase not only its beautiful nature, rich history and culture, UNESCO heritage towns and places, but also to offer tailored routes and packages for all kind of experience lovers.

Tourists from India should think of Lithuania if they love birdwatching or playing golf – mild, pleasant climate, endless forests and meadows ensure the best experience in that. Gastronomical tourism, being one of the top reasons for travelling can be very well experienced in Lithuania – recently released gastro map for new culinary experience seekers will help to find the best restaurants in the country. We all know that Indians love to travel to places they have seen in the movies – now it is possible to go for tours through shooting locations in Lithuania of such films as HBO series Chernobyl, Catherine the Great and others.

We see the importance of growing MICE tourism and encourage Indian companies to bring their employees for incentive trips to Lithuania. We have one of the highest growing numbers of hotel rooms in Europe, offering state-ofthe-art facilities to accommodate large groups of travellers and hold meetings and dinners. Our IT infrastructure is one of the most advanced in the world, which is always very much appreciated by business travellers.

To satisfy the growing demand of Indian tourists to travel to Lithuania, this year 3 visa centres in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore were opened to facilitate the visa application process for tourists.

More locations to apply for Lithuanian Schengen visa are planned to open by the end of this year. So really there are

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D I P L O M AT ’ S C O R N E R Why LiThuania

©Vaidas Gegužis_Lithuania Travel

no more reasons to delay the trip to Lithuania, explore and experience all it has to offer yourself !

Q. How convenient is Lithuania’s visa process for Indians and how is air connectivity?

Lithuania is part of the Schengen area, so anyone holding Schengen visa may travel to Lithuania as well. Indians now can apply for a visa at VFS Global Visa Center in their preferred location, so no need to travel to New Delhi. Visa processing will take two weeks maximum, though we encourage everyone to apply as much in advance as possible to ease the planning of the trip.

Lithuania, though a small country, has 3 international airports, all in its major cities, and a highway connecting all of them. With a short flight to Helsinki, Warsaw, Istanbul or Kyiv, it is possible to have dinner in Delhi and breakfast in Vilnius. If tourists want to explore more of Europe during their trip, now it is possible to fly directly to Helsinki and then tour by road or air through the Baltic States ending the trip in Warsaw, from where you can fly back directly to India (or vice versa). You can tick boxes of 5 visited countries in one trip! Vilnius airport is 15 minutes away from the city centre and has the best low fare airline connection in the region. So travellers touring other Schengen countries may consider to enrich their trip by spontaneously hopping onto a plane and aer 1-2 hour flight enjoying a few days in Lithuania.

Q. What would be your message to those who generally prefer to travel to western Europe or to nearby countries?

I would really like to encourage everyone to discover Lithuania and nearby region – everyone comes back with best impressions and regrets that they haven’t done this earlier. It is so much to see and explore in Lithuania that even one trip will not be enough, especially as you can see all four very different seasons. If you visit Lithuania in the summertime and next time come in winter, you might think that you are visiting a totally different place.

Lithuania is a very safe, secure and peaceful country with mild and pleasant climate, convenient infrastructure and people that will go out of their way to host travellers and show them all the best that Lithuania has to offer. It is easy to get by in Lithuania with English language and Indian tourists will find all ranges of restaurants to satisfy cravings for any kind of food.

Q. How exciting has been your time in India? What do you like most here? is is my second year in India. I try to use every opportunity to travel and discover new places in India together with my family. ough it seems like I

Lithuania is a destination full of beautiful landscapes comprising enchanting castles, dunes, forests, lakes and more. On top of it, the country's fresh air, clean water, natural beauty, the slow pace of life and friendly people make Lithuania an ideal destination for discerning travellers.

Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is known for its stunning architecture in its Old Town recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Lithuanian capital also offers hot-air balloon ride experiences above its landscape that should not be missed.

The Curonian Spit, with its southern part in Russia and the northern in southwestern Lithuania, also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List is one of the most beautiful and unique landscapes in Europe. Located in Northern Lithuania, the Hill of Crosses is again an aweinspiring and mysterious site for tourists.

Lithuania is home to about 1000 of Hillforts counted among the country's most beautiful archaeological monuments.

Walking on the shore of the Baltic Sea in search of little pieces of amber, also known as the gold of Lithuania is an amazing experience.

With its advanced road system, most parts of Lithuania are easy to explore in a short period of time.

have seen a lot, India, being such a diverse and full of contrasts country doesn’t stop to astonish me with different landscapes, culture and traditions.

I have three kids and we love being in nature, so whenever possible, we try to leave Delhi to go to the hills for a hike.

During winter months we like going to the Indian seashore and enjoy quiet time at the beach and lots of fresh seafood.

©Laimonas Ciūnys_Lithuania Travel

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NEWS

Loi Krathong Festival Celebration in New Delhi Tourism Authority of Thailand New Delhi celebrated the beautiful Loi Krathong Festival at Radisson Blu Delhi Airport hotel on 11th November 2019.

It was a splendid evening as several floating candles and krathongs decorated the venue, showcasing Thai art & culture and celebrating the festival of lights.

The evening was inaugurated by a beautiful cultural performance put together by a team of dancers from Thailand and was led by Nang Noppamas. There was also a special Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) performance that was greatly enjoyed by the guests. The performances ended with a procession where Miss Loi Krathong was carried on a palanquin to the pool site where she invited the guests to release the candle and incense lit krathongs.

Mr Isra Stapanaseth, Director Tourism Authority of Thailand, New Delhi said”It gives us great joy to celebrate the Loi Krathong festival in New Delhi

after a gap of 4 years. This event will give the guests a glimpse of Thai art & culture, traditions and of course a taste of delicious and authentic Thai food. We would like to thank our partners Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport Hotel & Thai Airways for their support in making this a successful evening.”

Over two hundred guests including well known personalities, HNI and media and members of the travel fraternity, were invited to celebrate the delightful event where candle lit krathongs twinkled on the water creating beautiful and unforgettable experiences.

Throughout the evening the guests were entertained with Thai culture and performers as well as learnt the art of making the krathongs and the popular umbrella painting from Northern Thailand. The guests were also treated to authentic Thai cuisine

by Neung Roi restaurant (Thai Restaurant at Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport Hotel.

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Loi Krathong or festival of lights is a Thai festival celebrated annually throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. The festival takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, thus the exact date of the festival changes every year. In the Western calendar this usually falls in the month of November.

The word “loi” means to float, while “krathongs” are small baskets traditionally made from banana tree wood and carefully folded banana leaves, each containing sticks of incense, candles, and an offering of a

few coins. On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal, or a pond, making a wish as they do so. The festival may originate from an ancient rural ritual of paying respect to Goddess of water, while the krathong's floating away symbolizes letting go of all one's hatred, anger, and defilements.

Nang Noppamas: According to legend, the festival was originated by Nang Noppamas, consort to a king. Beauty pageants in her honour remain a traditional part of Loi Krathong celebrations.

by T NH DESK

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NEWS

A celebration of cocktail culture, the first edition of India Cocktail Week was held in New Delhi from the 8th to 17th November 2019.

A celebration of the country's burgeoning cocktail culture, India Cocktail Week was organized by Rakshay Dhariwal, MD of Pass Code Hospitality, and Sharan Behl & Akshat Kumar, the Co-Founders of WMS Entertainment. e 10-day festival offered diverse cocktail menus at special prices by 35+ of the best cocktail bars in Delhi/NCR. Along with these week-long bar activations there were also masterclasses, brunches, international bar pop-ups, workshops, secret tastings, cocktail crawls, and other experiences that were held at these venues across the city. e bars that were on board this edition were

Auro Kitchen & Bar, Cocktails & Dreams - Speakeasy, Dandy - e Fio Bar, Delhi Club House, Dragonfly Experience, Ek Bar, Fig & Maple, Foxtrot, Guppy, Home, Kampai, La Latina Tapas Bar, Mango Kitchen & Bar, Monkey Bar, Olly, One8 Commune, Pa Pa Ya, PCO, PDA, Perch, Ping's Café Orient, Plate Kitchen & Bar, Playground

by JW Marriott, Plum by Bent Chair, Public Affair, Rooh, SAZ - American Brasserie, Serai at Olive, Sidecar, Sly Granny, Summer House Cafe, e Drunken Botanist, e Kimono Club, e Piano Man Jazz Club, Together at 12th, Town Hall, Whisky Samba and

e Wine Company! e Cocktail Week culminated into a two-day Cocktail Village that was held at 1AQ, Mehrauli, melding cocktail and spirit experiences with music, art & gastronomical delights. e carnivalesque event featured brand showcases, entertainment, secret bars, restaurant pop-ups and much more!

International and homegrown brands like Absolut, Beefeater, Bacardi, Baileys, Bira, Bombay Sapphire, Caorunn, Greater an, Jameson, JW Gold, Kahlua, Ketel One, Redbull, Sepoy, Simba, Singleton, Smoke Vodka and Talisker had their own pop-ups and experiences at the Cocktail Village. e cocktail week also saw bartenders flying down from some of the top international bars in the world, Atlas (Singapore), Manhattan (Singapore), e Pontiac (Hong Kong), Coupette (London) and Havana Social (Bangkok). ey did bar takeovers at venues across the city and guest-shis at the Cocktail Village.

Adding to the vibe at the village on 16th & 17th November, there was a lineup of live and hip-hop artists including Peter Cat Recording Co., Boxout Soundsystem, Dhruv Visvanath, DJ Kan-i, Tanya Nambiar and more over

by T NH DESK the two days.

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AROUND THE WORLD

POPULAR FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD IN JANUARY 2019 International Kite Festival January 6-14, 2020 Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Better known as Uttarayan, the International Kite Festival is an annual feature in the tourism calendar of Gujarat that marks a steady flow of global tourists. The ideal venue to enjoy the festival is the Sabarmati riverfront that has the capacity to accommodate around 5 lakh spectators. Another location for watching the festival is Ahmedabad Police Stadium. During the festival days, the kite buyers and sellers throng the city market. For those interested in bulk purchase of kites, there is a kite market called Patang Bazaar in Ahmedabad that remains open round the clock during the festive week.

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Chinese New Year January 25, 2020 Location: China

Well-known as Spring festival or Lunar New Year based on the Chinese lunar calendar, the Chinese New year is by far the most significant annual recurring festival for those who trace roots to China all across the world. Every Chinese New Year is designated as the year of one of the 12 animals mentioned in the Chinese Zodiac. The 1,000-year-old celebration is a religious festival marked by prayers, offerings and ageold traditions.

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AROUND THE WORLD

UP HELLYAA FIRE FESTIVAL January 28, 2020 Location: Scotland

Makar Shankranti January 15, 2020 Location: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal and Indian sub-continent.

This is a unique fire festival of Scotland that symbolizes the end of Yuletide season and refers to any of the 12 fire festivals. It occurs annually in Shetland Islands of Scotland sometimes in mid-winter season.

The festival is marked by a procession involving 1,000 guizers or participants in Lerwick, the major port of Shetland Islands on the last Tuesday of January that organize into squads and march through the hamlet in themed costumes.

Devoted to the Sun god, MakarShankrantiis the harvesting festival that signifies the Sun’s foray in the Zodiac sign of Capricorn and marks the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days. In Tamil Nadu, the festival is best known as Pongal. It is one of the few age-old Hindu festivals based on the solar cycle that almost falls on the same date every year.

RANNUTSAV October 28, 2019-February 23, 2020 Location: Bhuj, Kutch

A pet project of the Department of Tourism, Gujarat, RannMahotsav is a great winter extravaganza that takes off at Bhuj and gradually the entire district reverberates with the festive fervour. The festival heralds when the moon is in full bloom.

The finale of the festival takes place at RannUtsav tent city that comprises over 400 air-conditioned and ordinary tents. The entire show is set up at Dhordo, a tiny hamlet close to Bhuj Airport.

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E V E N T WAT C H

SKAL DELHI MEET

Skal International Delhi held its monthly lunch meet at Pullman The Honk, New Delhi Aerocity on 13th November. Members and guest present enjoyed Pullman's hospitality and the culinary specials of the city’s leading fine dining restaurant, with its sumptuous exhibit of signature dishes.

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E V E N T WAT C H

SKAL INTERNATIONAL MYSURU LAUNCHED Skal International India has opened its 14th Club under the name of Skal International Mysuru. e city is the pride of Karnataka’s tourism legacy with its world-renowned Dasara festival, culture and historic places in and around the city. One of the popular tourist destinations in South India, Mysuru is ranked as one of the cleanest cities in the country which is an added feather to its cap.

Mysuru, considered as cultural capital of Karnataka, continues to contribute greatly to the State’s Tourism.

Skal International Mysuru has been

formed with 22 members – consisting of hoteliers, airlines, travel and tour operators, hotel management institutions and government agencies from Mysuru and surrounding areas of Coorg, Bandipur and Kabini. Suresh Charles has been appointed as the President of Skal International Mysuru, Prashanth B as Vice President and Sunaina Manerker as Secretary. e Charter Night was hosted by e Grand Mercure Mysuru – one of the largest luxury hotels in the city. e Charter Document was handed over by

Vijay Mohan Raj -Director -Skal International, Sanjay Datta – President SKAL Asia and Ranjini Nambiar, President SKAL International India. She also delivered the Presidential Chain and the Oath to newly elected Club President Suresh Charles.

Sanjay Datta – President SKAL Asia, also presented a Skal Asia standee and flag to Skal Mysuru, for displaying at all their meetings. VP, SKAL West Asia, Keethi Jayaweera, handed over Skal Colombo flag to President Suresh Charles.

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MOVING ON

APPOINTMENTS OF THE MONTH

1

Benedikt Jaschke

chief Quality Officer kempinski hotels kempinski hotels has promoted Benedikt Jaschke to chief Quality Officer and Member of the Management Board. in his former role as VP - Operational strategy and Quality Management he successfully implemented a new level of standards at kempinski hotels together with his team.

2

aMit sidana

V-P, sales & Marketing Pride Group Of hotels Pride Group of hotels has announced the appointment of amit sidana as its VP - sales & Marketing. a seasoned hospitality professional, sidana has over 19 years’ experience in sales & Marketing. he comes with a diversified knowledge base of sales as he had worked in other industries.

3 4 aMit Bhatia

director - F & B JW Marriott Jaipur, resort & spa as director of Food & Beverage at JW Marriott Jaipur, resort & spa, amit Bhatia is responsible for managing the overall operations of the food and beverage department and delivering excellent guest experiences. he spearheads the property’s culinary team.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2019

Piyush sharMa

associate director of revenue doubletree by hilton Pune - chinchwad Piyush sharma has been promoted as associate director of revenue at doubletree by hilton Pune-chinchwad. he had joined the hotel as revenue Manager and has been promoted as associate director of revenue. he will be reporting to GM. he has contributed to reach the hotel’s arr.

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MOVING ON

5

Shaikh Samim

Pastry Chef, JW marriott Chandigarh an expert Baker, Patissier and Chocolatier with a decade of professional experience, Pastry Chef Shaikh Samim’s passion for his craft has seen him create many a delectable delights to come ‘out of the oven’ all through his culinary journey.

6

anaSua roy

executive housekeeper Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden hotel Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden hotel has appointed anasua roy as the executive housekeeper. anasua brings aboard over 14 years of extensive experience in her field. her expertise and key strengths lie in implementing housekeeping & room operations along with other pivotal roles including strategic planning, resource and team management.

7 8 TuShar JoShi

rooms division manager Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden hotel Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden hotel welcomed Tushar Joshi as the rooms division manager to its family. Bringing over 13 years of experience in Front office and hospitality industry to the role, Tushar is adept at managing and coordinating of all room area departments.

aakaSh SaChdev

executive Chef Four Points by Sheraton Pune, hotel Four Points by Sheraton Pune, hotel & Serviced apartments has appointed aakash Sachdev as its new executive chef. With a remarkable career of well over a decade, Chef aakash is all set to take reigns of the kitchens at Four Points by Sheraton Pune in his hands.

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NEWS

Destination wedding:

A key trend defining Mid-East’s hospitality industry 5% of destination weddings take place in the Middle East with the UAE the most favoured location.

Destination wedding tourism as well as solo and female led travel and ecotourism, wellness, adventure and agritourism (EWAA) are defining the hospitality industry landscape, according to data released ahead of Arabian Travel Market 2020 (ATM), which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from Sunday 19 – Wednesday 22 April 2020. e research by Colliers International, ATM’s official research partner, revealed that the destination wedding segment is worth more than US$90 billion globally, with 25% of marriages now taking place abroad – equating to approximately 340,000 destination weddings every year.

Looking at the Middle East specifically, the regional market is worth over US$4.5 billion, attracting 5% of the global destination weddings market. e UAE is the most favoured location as a result of the emirate’s relaxed visa regulations, easy connectivity, yearround sunshine, its variety of pristine

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beaches and scenic mountain ranges.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Destination wedding tourism is just one of four key trends identified in the Colliers report that will define the Middle East, and indeed, the global travel and tourism market as well as consumer behavior, as we look ahead to 2020 and beyond.

“Overseas weddings are now playing a key role in the overall growth of the global hospitality industry, as more couples seek a unique as well as a personalised experience abroad. And in addition, these weddings are also positively impacting the local economies,” she added.

Ecotourism, Wellness, Adventure and Agritourism (EWAA) is another notable emerging trend, particularly among environmentally conscious consumers. According to the Colliers data, 70% of global travellers are now more likely to book accommodation that is ecofriendly, with 52% prepared to alter

their behavior on holiday to become more sustainable.

Today’s travellers are more attuned to the environmental impact of tourism and are looking for destinations that provide sustainable accommodation and experiences such as glamping, a form of camping that combines the traditional components with more luxurious facilities and amenities.

“Glamping has become increasingly popular in the Middle East over recent years, mainly as a result of the region’s

varied landscapes, with various glamping sites opening throughout the UAE, Oman and Jordan including Hatta Sedr Lodges, Hatta; Bedouin Oasis Camp, Ras Al Khaimah; Desert Nights Camp, Oman and Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp, Jordan.”

Other major predictions include an increase in the number of solo and female travellers. Global searches for solo travel witnessed an increase of 17.4% in 2018 compared to 2017 as the idea of travelling alone has become more socially acceptable leading to hotel and tour operators removing single supplement fees to accommodate this growing market. e Colliers data indicates that 58% of millennials are more likely to travel alone compared with 47% of baby boomers, and interestingly, 74% of lone travellers are in fact females with social media, particularly Instagram and Pinterest the main sources for travel inspiration for these unaccompanied trips.

Curtis added: “Women control approximately 40% of global wealth, a factor that has greatly contributed to more woman opting to take solo trips in recent years. Seeking time for themselves, solo female travellers tend to select their location based on adventure, culture, relaxation and gastronomy as well as visiting destinations as part of voluntary programmes or to learn new skills.” ese dynamic trends shaping the Middle East’s hospitality industry will be explored in greater detail during ATM 2020, with a host of seminar sessions discussing their impact. by TNH DESK

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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