Travel and Hospitality (TnH) - January 2019

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 1

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 2

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 3

I S S U E 0 4 | VO LU M E X | JA N UA RY 2 0 1 9 | ` 5 0

PA G E S 5 2

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 4

34 30

38

24

18

COVER STORY

06

NEWS

Industry looks forward to 2019 with great expectations

Russia Visa Application Centres launched in 4 cities in India

10 11

NEWS

16

NEWS

2018: a great year for Incredible India

NEWS Italy extends visa services with VFS Global

Kapil Chopra, ex-president of The Oberoi, launches The Postcard Hotel

42

24

SPOTLIGHT

30

FEATURE

34 38 42

BITE CORNER

44

AROUND THE WORLD

2018: a remarkable year for South African Tourism in India

Pride of Pink City Clarks Amer

Back to School @ Prankster

DIPLOMAT’S CORNER ‘Lebanon is a perfect destination for Indians’

NEWS Affluent for exclusive experiences; hotels are their trusted travel partners

Popular festivals around the world to look for in February 2019

44

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 5

FROM THE EDITOR

Looking forward to a better year

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

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

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

2018 was a mixed bag for India's tourism industry. The worst of all were the devastating floods in Kerala in August, which not only took a huge toll of life and property but also disrupted the lives of tens of thousands in the state and adversely affected the tourism sector, the backbone of the state economy.

The country did enhance its travel and tourism profile with the expansion of its infrastructure, hospitality and aviation sectors. Regional connectivity scheme UDAAN further expanded in 2018. Last year in Budget 2018-19, the Government announced its plans to develop a few key tourism sites in the country as iconic destinations. The MoT has identified 17 sites for this purpose for which master plans are at the final

stages. In 2018, the MoT in association with the industry body FAITH organized the first edition of India Tourism Mart in Delhi from 16th to 18th September. Focused on Inbound tourism, ITM will be an annual trade show.

As for misses, the government could not introduce its much-delayed new tourism policy in 2018.

Last time it was in 2002 when a new national tourism policy had been approved, and it is high time that the country gets a new tourism policy considering the new opportunities.

The last year also saw a failed attempt by the government to privatize debt-ridden national carrier Air India.

Read our cover story on page 18 to know how the Industry assesses 2018 and what are their expectations from the new year. This issue also features the interview of the ambassador of Lebanon to India H.E. Rabie Narsh.

As we enter 2019, we must put our hands and heads together to work in unison and ensure a better future of our industry. Let's hope and strive for the best. I wish you all a very happy and fulfilling new year!!!

Srishti Rai Editor

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 6

NEWS

Key features of the centre include:

Russia Visa Application Centres launched in 4 cities in India Applicants can now apply through centrally located Visa Application Centres and also avail of Premium Lounge services in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Indians can now apply for visas to Russia at VFS Global Visa Application Centres opened by the Embassy of the Russian Federation. The new centres will cater to the growing needs of outbound travellers to Russia, and increase accessibility to, and convenience of, visa services.

With Russia emerging as a popular destination – approximately 55,000 travellers visit Russia from India each year – the application process through the new centres will prove to be smoother and more streamlined.

The centre in New Delhi was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Nikolay Rishatovich Kudashev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of India, in a ceremony held on 17 December 2018. Speaking on

6

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

the occasion, H.E. Kudashev stated, “It is indeed a matter of great satisfaction for me to be present here with the personnel of VFS Global and the Russian Embassy to inaugurate the new Russian Visa Application Centre. It looks very impressive, advanced and fits perfectly into the new substance of our bilateral ties as well as our global co-operation. As you would surely know our relationship is one of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. It carries political, economic, cultural and humanitarian content, but after all and finally, it is all about people; it is all about people to people connection. And this connection would not be possible without such a simple thing as visa. So in a way, the visa is the key to the strategic nature of our bilateral ties, and this key is in the professional hands of VFS Global. I hope this visa application centre will make a real contribution to the growing connection between our countries and our people.”

• Convenient and centrally-accessed location • Premium Lounge for personalised and comfortable service • Dedicated website for easy access to information including visa categories, requirements, check-list and applicable fees • 100% secure handling of passports, documents and personal information • Door-step delivery of passports

Speaking about the development, Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group Chief Operating Officer – Middle East, South Asia & China, said, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with the Russian Government to the Indian subcontinent with the opening of these visa application centres in four cities in India. The network of Russia Visa Application Centres serves the needs of the ever-increasing numbers of travellers to Russia from this region and we are confident it will deliver firstclass services that exceed the expectations of the applicants.”

VFS Global has been operating visa processing services for the Government of Russia since 2009, and today serves the client government in 22 countries, apart from India. VFS Global is the trusted partner to a total of 46 client governments in India.

by TNH DESK

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 7

NEWS

IHG re-enters Bangladesh; opens InterContinental Dhaka Flydubai launches new routes to Europe Flydubai has announced the start of flights to Budapest in Hungary and Naples in Italy. Flydubai will operate up to five flights a week to Naples from 04 June 2019 becoming the first UAE carrier to offer direct flights. Daily flights to Budapest will start on 27 June 2019 and will be in addition to the current service offered by Emirates. Emirates will codeshare on both routes and further illustrates the strength of the partnership which aims to provide more options for travel to passengers.

Both routes will operate from Terminal 3 at Dubai International (DXB).

Naples is one of the largest cities in Italy and is home to a wealth of cultural attractions, great food and the beautiful Amalfi coastline. Budapest, which is situated on both banks of the Danube river, combines impressive architecture with numerous museums, galleries and its famous thermal baths.

To offer passengers more comfort and an enhanced travel experience, Flydubai will operate the new routes on the brandnew Boeing 737 MAX 8.

InterContinental Hotels Group has opened InterContinental Dhaka in partnership with Bangladesh Services Limited.

The luxury hotel is situated in a prime and one of the most prestigious locations in the capital city, Minto Road with easy access to the downtown business district.

Built in a contemporary design, the hotel offers 226 stylish guest rooms. InterContinental Dhaka also offers 2 exquisitely designed ballrooms and 7 spacious meeting rooms equipped with the latest technology.

With over 21000 square feet of specially designed space for meetings and events, the hotel promises flawlessly executed corporate and social events.

Vivek Bhalla, Regional VP, SWA, IHG said that InterContinental Dhaka will offer the guests a luxurious experience with signature facilities and high standards of service. that we have become renowned for. The opening also aligns with our strategy to expand our presence across brands and key cities in the SWA

by TNH DESK region.�

by TNH DESK

The Fern Residency, Mumbai strives to become zero carbon footprint hotel 'The Fern Residency, Mumbai (a unit of The Fern Hotels and Resorts, India’s leading environmentally sensitive and eco-friendly hotel chain) is doing its level best to reduce its carbon footprint and has adopted a number of environment friendly practices to ensure that it reaches its ultimate goal of becoming a zero carbon footprint hotel', the General Manager of the hotel, Raj Shetty said.

One of the foremost measures

adopted by the hotel is setting up a bottling plant. The hotel has completely eliminated the use of packaged water and is providing water in glass bottles in the rooms as well as in its restaurants. Water is purified from the ionizing machine set up in

the plant.

The hotel has identified a few core issues and has been endeavoring hard to achieve success in these core areas of environment sustainability.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

7

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 8

NEWS

WTTC INDIA APPOINTS NEW OFFICE BEARERS The new office bearers of World Travel & Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTCII) for 2019 were appointed at its annual general meeting held on 11 December 2018 at New Delhi.

Rajeev Talwar, CEO, DLF has been appointed as the Chairman of WTTCII for the year 2019.

Talwar, who served as the Vice Chairman of WTTCII for the year 2018, takes over from Sunder G. Advani, Chairman & Managing Director, Advani Hotels & Resorts (India) Limited who completed his term at the recently held AGM in Delhi.

Ajay Singh, Chairman & MD, Spicejet Ltd has been unanimously appointed as the Vice Chairman of WTTCII for the year 2019.

KJ Alphons, Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) for Tourism and Suman Billa,

Rajeev Talwar CEO, DLF

Joint Tourism Secretary, Government of India along with former officials of Ministry of Tourism, SK Misra and VK Duggal felicitated the new team.

Ajay Singh said: “I am delighted to take over as Vice Chairman of WTTCI. India's culture and diversity make it a land of unlimited opportunities. Our travel and tourism industry has enormous potential but it faces numerous

by TNH DESK challenges.”

UNWTO PARTNERS UNIDIGITAL FOR INNOVATION IN THE AMERICAS The World Tourism Organization signed a collaboration agreement with Unidigital to promote innovation in tourism.

Unidigital is the result of the collaboration between the public and private sectors to promote innovation in tourism. It will offer services, products and training in digital transfor-

8

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

mation in order to allow the most disruptive entrepreneurs in tourism in the Americas to develop their projects. Today is a historic day because we have brought together many tourism authorities of the Americas to inaugurate this place, which is open to any entrepreneur, and where together we will do very interesting

things and achieve excellent results,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. He added: "We are committed to helping them find investors and give them the opportunity to internationalize not only in the Americas, but also beyond the contiby TNH DESK nent.”

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 9

NEWS

IHCL OPENS TAJ ARAVALI RESORT IN UDAIPUR The Indian Hotels Company Limited's iconic brand Taj has opened its second hotel in Udaipur - Taj Aravali Resort & Spa. Nestled at the foothills of the picturesque Aravali Mountain Range, the resort is spread across 27 acres of lush landscaped gardens.

Puneet Chhatwal, MD and CEO, The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), said, “Taj has been instrumental in developing India’s tourism potential in Rajasthan and putting the state on the global map with the iconic Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur since 1970. With the opening of Taj Aravali Resort & Spa, we are enhancing our offering for the global traveller and reinforcing our commitment to Udaipur - the Venice of the East.”

The resort has 92 luxurious rooms, suites and tents with panoramic views of the Aravalis. The design ethos is contemporary with a mix of traditional Rajasthani influences and

furnishings inspired by Mewar’s world-class equestrian heritage. The hotel is conveniently located an hour away from the airport.

“Taj Aravali Resort & Spa is ideally located to enjoy nature while also staying connected to the pulse of Udaipur’s vibrant character. We look forward to welcoming guests to experience Taj’s legendary service.” said Anand Nair, General Manager, Taj Aravali Resort & Spa, Udaipur Guests have a choice of distinctive culinary options which include an

Mobile audio guide app planned for five iconic sites A MoU has been signed to develop a mobile audio guide app.

Letters of Intent have been issued to seven agencies under ‘Adopt a Heritage’ Project for Vision Bidding.

The Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, K J Alphons handed over a Memorandum of Understanding under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ project to Resbird Technologies for development of a mobile Audio Guide App for

five iconic sites. The five iconic sites for which the mobile Audio Guide App is to be developed are Amer Fort (Rajasthan), Kaziranga (Assam), Colva Beach (Goa), Kumarakom (Kerala) and Mahaby TNH DESK bodhi Temple (Bihar).

all-day diner – Tiri; a specialty vegetarian restaurant – Javitri; an alfresco grill – Ridgeview and a bar – Odeypore Lounge. The hotel is an ideal destination for weddings and conferences with expansive indoor and outdoor banqueting spaces. It also houses the award-winning Jiva Spa spread over 15,000 sq. ft. with 11 treatment rooms. Additionally, the hotel has extensive recreation facilities such as squash, badminton, basketball and tennis courts, a gymnasium and a state-of-the-art indoor golf simulator. It even boasts of its own 34-seater movie theatre.

by TNH DESK

SAROVAR TO OPEN ITS 6TH HOTEL IN BENGALURU Sarovar Hotels has signed its latest hotel in Bengaluru. Shravanthi Sarovar Portico will be Sarovar’s sixth hotel in the city. The total inventory of Sarovar in the city will cross 700 rooms with the addition of the new hotel, which is a midscale hotel located in JP Nagar, one of India’s oldest planned suburbs. The hotel have easy access to the city CBD and electronic city.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

9

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 10

NEWS

2018: a great year for Incredible India Augmentation Drive’ (PRASHAD) Scheme.

‘Adopt A Heritage’ project Ministry of Tourism in close collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) launched “Adopt a Heritage Project” to provide world class tourist facilities at the various natural/cultural heritage sites, monuments and other tourist sites.

K J Alphons Tourism Minister, India

The Ministry of Tourism launched many initiatives in 2018 Development of Tourism Infrastructure • Theme based circuits are being developed under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme spanning the entire country. A total number of 07 projects have been sanctioned during 2018-19 for a total amount of `384.67 Crore.

• Nine projects under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme have been inaugurated between August to December 2018 in the States of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

• Integrated development of identified pilgrimage destinations is being undertaken under the ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage

10

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

Iconic Tourist Sites MoT has identified 17 Sites in 12 Clusters for Development as Iconic Tourist Sites. Master Plans are at the final stages of preparation.

India Tourism Mart 2018 The First edition of the India Tourism Mart 2018 was organized by the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and State Governments/Union Territory Administrations from 16th to 18th September, 2018 at Hotel Ashok, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

Incredible India Website MoT launched a new Incredible India website on 14th June 2018.

The website showcases India as a holistic destination, revolving around major experiences, such as, spirituality, heritage, adventure, culture, yoga, wellness and more.

Online Learning System MoT launched an Online Learning Management System for creat-

Ministry of Tourism in 2018 1st edition of India Tourism Mart organized in Delhi MoT launched new ‘Incredible India’ website & mobile app 10 MoUs signed under adopt a heritage project Indian Culinary Institute campuses inaugurated in Noida and Tirupati

ing skilled manpower to work as tourist facilitators. The initiative will enable the youth living in the remotest part of the country to skill themselves and facilitate tourists on a Pan India basis.

Incredible India Mobile App MoT launched Incredible India Mobile App on 27th September, 2018.

Tourism Statistics: • Foreign Tourist Arrivals in Jan Nov 2018 were 93, 67, 424 as compared to 88, 67, 963 in the same period in 2017 registering a growth of 5.6%.

• During Jan - Nov last year, 20,61,511 tourists arrived on eTourist Visa as compared to 14,56,615 during Jan - Nov 2017, registering a growth of 41.5% .

• Foreign Exchange Earnings in Jan - Oct 2018 were `1,58,846 Crore as compared to `1,41,965 Crore in Jan - Oct 2017, a growth of 11.9% over the same period.

by TNH DESK

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 11

NEWS

ITALY EXTENDS VISA SERVICES WITH VFS GLOBAL The Italian Embassy in India signed an agrrement with VFS Global to extend visa services contract with the comapny, strengthening thier partnership.

On 11 December 2018, the Embassy of Italy in New Delhi signed its contract with VFS Global, mandating the organisation to provide Italy visa services in India and Nepal for a further period of four years. VFS Global commenced visa services for the Embassy of Italy and its consulates inIndia in 2004, with three Visa Application Centres.

Under this extension, VFS Global will expand these operations to 27 States across India.

From this year, in addition to accepting visa applications for Italy, VFS Global will provide three new services, specially designed to make the visa application experience more seamless for Italy visa applicants. Residents of India who have previously enrolled their biometrics for a schengen visa, will now have the option to submit their documents through the new VFS Global Drop Box facility by simply collating their required documents, sealing them in an envelope, and dropping them into the box provided at the centre, for processing.The Drop Box facility, which will be available at 28 locations in India, will provide applicants the comfort ofsubmitting their visa applications closest to the place of their residence,

Vinay Malhotra Regional Group COO – Middle East, South Asia & China VFS Global

• Visa services to further expand to 27 States across India • Three new services introduced for Italy visa applicants

without having to book an appointment or visit the counter to complete the process.

To provide applicants desirous of travelling to Italy a taste of Italian experience, VFS Global will also offer its new service, Casa Italia, at select visa application centres. Trained professionals will be available on hand to guideapplicants intending to travel to Italy for business, study and tourism, with their visa applications, travel packages, and itineraries.

Additionally, a mobile app will

be introduced to provide applicants with easy access to visa application process related information, location of Italy Visa Application Centres, tracking services to stay updated on the progress of the application as well as a host of value added services.

H.E. Lorenzo Angeloni, Ambassador of Italy to India and Nepal stated, “The four-year extension of our partnership with VFS Global in India and Nepal is marked by multiple innovations.

More services, new visa centres, and user-friendly technology, will better serve the needs of the growing Indian and Nepalese public interested in doing business, studying, and visiting Italy.”

Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO – Middle East, South Asia & China, VFS Global said, “We are honoured to have a longstanding relationship with Italy and the award of this contract is a testimonial of the trust reposed by the Embassy of Italy in VFS Global yet again. We are excited to bring innovative solutions to applicants desirous of traveling to Italy by providing them with options that enable them to have the most seamless visa application experience.”

Italy has traditionally been a popular destination for Indian visitors, with numbers growing year on year. In 2017 alone, over 100,000 applications were submitted for Italy visas from India.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

11

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 12

NEWS

FHRAI WARNS OF ACTION AGAINST OYO FOR BREACH OF CONTRACTS The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has accused Oyo of indulging in large-scale breach of contracts, endangering the safety of consumers and violation of laws. The Association has warned of action against the room aggregator.

In a letter dated Dec 10, 2018, FHRAI has pointed out to the aggregator that it is endorsing illegal and unlicensed Bed & Breakfast apartments, flats in residential and commercial buildings, rooms in chawls and such other independent structures. “Such positioning of hotels is tantamount to misleading

Gurbaxish Singh Kohli VP – FHRAI

the guests. When a guest books in a hotel they expect to stay in a hotel and not in an apartment or residential premises. This not only harms the reputation of hotels in India but also constitutes a potential safety hazard for the guest,” says Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, VP – FHRAI & President – Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI).

Keeping in mind the interests of all stakeholders involved, the FHRAI has called Oyo for dialogue before the issue snowballs.

Hotels are alleging that OYO had initially approached them offering a strategic partnership by sharing room inventories. However with time, as the room aggregator became stronger with deeper pockets, it started twisting the arm that they had once extended for partnering. by TNH DESK

FHRAI'S MISPLACED FRENZY WILL LEAD TO PRICE INCREASE: OYO Confirming that it has received the recommendations made by FHRAI, OYO stated that those are based on invalid claims by certain bodies, which seem to be misleading the apex body. While OYO will continue to engage with FHRAI on a one to one basis, to resolve issues if any, the company strongly condemns the misplaced concerns, as the same is not in the best interest of consumers.

Oyo said that they are aware of the recommendations made by FHRAI, and believes that

12

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

the same is misguided and misplaced, and based on incorrect allegations made by small groups of people. It says that certain bodies have incorrectly claimed that OYO charges a high commission. Oyo added that their franchise fees are not only in line with the industry, but it also enables us to create and maintain a world-class distribution platform for our asset owners and invest heavily in the improvement of the asset related infrastructure.

by TNH DESK

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 13

NEWS

Delhi Government brings out Calendar 2019 dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi The year 2018 marks the momentous occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. As the nation celebrates Gandhi ji and his legacy, the Government of Delhi found its own way of remembering our Father of Nation. Delhi Tourism (DTTDC) has brought out a theme-based calendar on behalf of the Government of Delhi, paying a tribute to Gandhi ji’s life and his connect with Delhi. The Calendar was launched in a special ceremony by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia along with other senior Govt. officials.

Speaking at the occasion, Sisodia, said, “Commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, this calendar has been conceptualized on his many visits to Delhi. Gandhi ji visited Delhi 80 times between 1915 and 1948, he spent 720 days here, furthering the cause of Indian Independence across spheres and walks of life,

from major colleges in University of Delhi to Harijan Basti and beyond. These memories have been translated into artwork by eminent artist, Hena Chakravarty, who has dedicated her life to visualizing Gandhi ji’s life teachings as art.”

Gandhi ji’s connect with Delhi dates back to when he first visited the city in 1915 at St. Stephen’s to his last fast at the Birla house, where he spent 144 days. Delhi Tourism has been publishing the theme based calendar

by TNH DESK every year on behalf of Delhi Govt.

TrawellTag Cover-More: offering help when you need it the most Many organizations gift all-expenses paid trips to their business associates, as a token of performance or gratitude. Subhash Chandra Agrawal was awarded one such trip, and embarked on a vacation to Thailand along with his wife.

While in Pattaya, Mr Agrawal complained of uneasiness and breathing issues. Worried and scared for his health, an anxious Mrs. Agrawal approached the trip organizer, Cox & Kings, for help.

Being the travel assistance and insurance partner, TrawellTag Cover-More was informed immediately. The global emergency assistance team of TrawellTag

Cover-More swung into action, arranging for Mr Agrawal's first line treatment at Pattaya and subsequently transferring him to one of Thailand's leading hospitals in Bangkok for treating the diagnosed pneumonia.

Being alone in a foreign country, Mrs. Agrawal was highly worried about financial liabilities. Language barriers further added to her woes. TrawellTag Cover-More endeavored to address all her concerns promptly by providing regular updates about her husband's health, liaising with the local medical team, and facilitating end-to-end financial assistance along with language assistance.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

On being declared fit to travel, Mr. & Mrs. Agrawal returned to India, thankful for travelling with the TrawellTag Cover-More's global assistance and insurance.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

13

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 14

NEWS

Istanbul and Antalya amongst the top 5 cities in Europe in terms of International Tourist arrivals in 2018 Two of the most popular cities in Turkey are amongst the most visited destinations in Europe. According to the Euromonitor International's city arrival report, Istanbul and Antalya have been listed among the “Top 5 cities in Europe” in terms of the international tourist arrivals in 2018. Within the first ten months period Istanbul hosted more than 12 million International tourists whereas Antalya hosted almost 1 million tourists within period from January to October.

According to the said report Istanbul and Antalya ranked 3rd and 5th respectively in Europe.

Mice travel in Turkey is increasing at an incredibly fast pace, with the country being ranked among the world's top 10

DCT Abu Dhabi's Food Festival concluded

meeting and congress destinations, it was revealed. First Istanbul Convention and Visitors Bureau organized strong marketing programme and promotes Istanbul and Turkey at previous years.

Then Antalya CVB also started to promote Antalya in MICE industry.

by TNH DESK

Jerusalem leads tourism cities in annual growth According to a recent ranking report titled ‘Top 100 City Destinations 2018’ released by global market research company Euromonitor International, Jerusalem will lead all global tourism cities in annual growth for inbound visitors, making the Israeli city one of the world’s most popular travel destinations of 2018. Growth in Jerusalem is set to accelerate 38% to 4.8 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2018, according to the report, and this after a 32% growth in 2017. The figures for 2018 are an estimated arrivals figure based on part-year data.

by TNH DESK

14

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

Abu Dhabi Food Festival (ADFF) has officially concluded with more than 70,000 visitors and food lovers coming together across the emirate, thus strongly contributing to the positioning of Abu Dhabi as a global culinary hub. The two-week festival, organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), ran from 6th to 22nd December.

UNWTO launches report UNWTO together with the European Travel Commission (ETC) launched a new report on health tourism. Part of their joint research programme, the study is the first attempt to set a coherent conceptualization of health tourism and define the motivations behind travellers looking for health-related services.

British Airways takes off to Islamabad

British Airways will fly from Heathrow to Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, from June 2, 2019. The route will launch as thrice a week service, operated on Boeing 787 Dreamliner – British Airways’ newest long-haul fleet Return fares start from £499 for World Traveller, £773 for World Traveller Plus and £1,799 for Club World.

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 15

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 16

NEWS

Kapil Chopra, Ex-President of The Oberoi, Launches The Postcard Hotel

THE NEW CHAIN WILL BE INDIA’S ALL NEW EXPERIENTIAL LUXURY HOSPITALITY BRAND. Leading hotelier Kapil Chopra today announced the launch of his latest hospitality venture The Postcard Hotel - a brand of unique, intimate luxury hotels in India and the world. The hotels are aimed at the leisure seeking audience and will be found in destinations by the sea, the mountains or jungles rich in wildlife.

Transformative experiences and local community are at the heart of The Postcard Hotel's offering.

Each hotel will offer unique experiences that are true to its surroundings, giving guests a sense of the neighbourhood and the destination in a way never seen before. The experience within the hotel, too, is in keeping with the times of conventional luxury hotels. This means no set breakfast hours, no buffets, and definitely no sugary welcome drinks. In its place, will be authentic local experiences, from food, to design, to

Kapil Chopra

artisanal welcome cocktails, to defining your own check in and check out hours and immersions with the local community.

‘What I wanted to do with The Postcard Hotel, is make luxury hotels for the modern audience but bring back the romance and

charm of sun kissed holidays. We wanted it to be rich in its experience but also wanted it to be simple. We believe guests want to stay in a place where the hotel does the thinking for them, where they get the simple things right, yet offer fantastic spaces for them to relax, meet like minded people and experience local culture. This is why, we handpick our locations and our hotels, so that guests have a different experience whether they are in Goa or overlooking the snow clad Himalayas.’

In an unprecedented move, The Postcard Hotel has announced the opening of three luxury hotels on the opening day, ready to receive guests. The three hotels are spread across unique neighbourhoods in Goa. The Postcard Moira, nestled in one of the four heritage villages of Goa, The Postcard Velha, surrounded by 300 acres of virgin coconut plantations in old Goa; and further south, in keeping with its proposition of taking travellers back in time, The Postcard Cuelim, that houses a 350 year old chapel.

The brand is committed to building and operating 50 hotels in the next 5 years. In the next 12 to 18 months, The Postcard Hotel will be present in seven more destinations across the country.

by TNH DESK

16

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 17

NEWS

Clarks Inn debuts in Nepal The 60 key property, now known as Sneha Clarks Inn Suites, Nepalgunj, boasts of facilities like swimming pool, spa and casino, among others.

Clarks Inn Group of Hotels, India’s fastest growing hotel company, has signed one of mid-west Nepal’s most iconic property in Nepalgunj. Suites.

The new addition marks Clarks Inn’s first operational debut in Nepal, located along the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar, and the second property overall, including one in the capital Kathmandu that is expected to open the door later this year.

Nepalgunj, a border town and the oldest city in the mid-west region of the country located just across the Indo-Nepal border along the state of UP, is fast emerging as a tourism hotspot of the mid-west region of

S N Srivastava President & Co-founder, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels

Nepal. The border city serves as the gateway to the majestic Himalayas, wildlife and National Parks, pristine adventurous trekking routes and a host of adrenaline pumping water sports activities like white-water rafting etc.

Combining the old world charm with cutting-edge guest services,

Sneha Clarks Inn Suites is a more than 50 years old property exuding the old world charm with its colonial era architectural designs with the latest in amenities and world-class guest services. The 60-key property, currently a three-star hotel, is soon to be a fourstar hotel as it has already applied for the four-star certification and is awaiting the same in about a month’s time.

Commenting on the latest addition, S N Srivastava, President & Cofounder, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels, said, “We are absolutely ecstatic on our latest addition. This is our operational debut in Nepal and we are doing so with a property that befits this special milestone for us. It’s a 60 key property spread over a huge area with big landscaped lush green lawns

by TNH DESK and international feel.”

ICCA delegates gather in Dubai for a cause In collaboration with each local host committee, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) aims to incorporate a strong, meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR) element to every edition of its flagship event, offering delegates several ways to contribute to and raise awareness of a global cause affecting each host destination. For this year’s Congress in Dubai, its efforts were supported by Dubai Business Events, the city’s official convention bureau, which helped to identify a local charity to collaborate with.

The second ICCA Charity Run ‘N’ Walk, which took place on 12 November, saw 200 delegates taking part and supporting Noor Dubai Foundation through financial donations. To further maximise the Congress’ impact on the charity’s cause,

ICCA also made a donation in place of speaker and Local Host Committee gifts. The total amount raised, €5,555 (AED 23,118), will go to supporting Noor Dubai Foundation’s international outreach programmes, its mobile eye camps, in developing countries across Africa and Asia. The mobile eye camps allow the Foundation to provide screenings and diagnosis, conduct surgeries and distribute glasses to those in need of vision aids.

Another major part of ICCA’s corporate social responsibility tradition is the Gift of Love project, set up in 2013 to allow delegates to leave a physical legacy behind after they leave each host destination. This year, delegates were encouraged to bring along old glasses and donate them on-site via a dedicated collection box.

This initiative was a tremendous success, with ICCA delegates donating 591 pairs of prescription glasses and sunglasses to support the Foundation’s work. All pairs will be relensed in partnership with Dubai optical and eyewear company Al Jaber Optical, before being distributed to those in need through Noor Dubai Foundation’s mobile eye clinic campaigns run across the UAE.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

17

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 18

COVER STORY

Industry looks forward to 2019 with great expectations With an eventful 2018 coming to an end, India's tourism industry looks forward to 2019 with great expectations.

TnH speaks to key players of the industry to know their assessment of 2018 and expectations from the new year.

v B PREM KUMAR Y

'Online momentum to build further due to strong macro-economic fundamentals'

Rajesh Magow Co-Founder & CEO-India, MakeMyTrip

In 2019, we see the online momentum to build further as the macro-economic fundamentals are more fertile than ever. Our digital infrastructure is finally coming of age to support the new economy be it smartphone penetration, cheap 4G connectivity, payments or logistics. Travel continues to lead in innovation -- from how corporate and leisure travel is managed and booked to how suppliers are using technology to

18

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

streamline operations. Online travel companies are adopting technology and big data analytics to understand individual travel needs and offer curated solutions.

At MMT, 2018 has been an exciting year. We launched two chatbots - Gia on Goibibo and Myra on MakeMyTrip – to assist travellers. These chatbots have helped us serve a big chunk of our posttransaction queries. This clever use of machine learning and data analytics has helped us elevate customer experience. For the new mobile-first generation, transacting with a chatbot from their go-to travel brand will become an intuitive experience and we will continue to invest in that.

Focusing on the next wave of internet users, we launched GoXpress, first-of-its-kind chat and voice-based travel booking app in India. We are learning immensely from this all new conversationbased app that is fit for budget smartphone users who are experiencing products and services online for the first time. We have also seen a big surge in corporate segment. Besides big corporates, SMEs and start-ups have travel needs that can be served by our online corporate travel tool MyBiz. One of the biggest opportunities continues to exist is the

hotel segment which is under-penetrated.

As for travel trends, we foresee a lot more personalization as the travel industry stands at the doorstep of real-time travel curation. The reliance on brands will overtime shift to reliance on trusted chat bots and that’s where companies deploying clever customer facing AI tools will reap benefits.

'2018 will be remembered as a year of great changes' We will remember 2018 as a year of great changes, achieving newer heights in all spheres of business, from growth in turnover to overall brand value, from perception to visibility, says Nishant Pitti, CEO, EaseMyTrip. Since our inception we have always strived to be a people's brand , offering varied services and options with best pricing deals. There will be plethora of new things in offing to allow our customers to make the most out of their travel and holiday needs.

In the last few years, trends not just in travel but in all sectors such as banking, fashion, hospitality, aviation, etc have transformed The increase in job opportunities and alternate career options has also

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 19

COVER STORY the United States.

'2018 was a year of celebration and innovation for us'

Nishant Pitti CEO, EaseMyTrip

brought so much awareness and increased the dependency on online travel portals for real time assessment and booking. Be it travelpreneurs or freelancer or a social media mini celebrity, a mix usage of all mediums will bring in a greater connect and growth. Experiential value added dynamics will allow one to be have a strong base and combat tides of stronger current.

As regards new initiatives, we are looking to clock total sales of Rs 7,800 crore on our platform in the next financial year. For this the company has taken a number of initiatives including doubling the marketing spend every year and also making investments in technology and user experience.

We are already present in Dubai, Bangkok, Maldives and Singapore, and also looking to foray into new countries. We will soon be opening our branches in London, Hong Kong, Australia, and

2018 was a year of celebration and innovation for us. We initiated several niche brands and won many renowned awards, says Karan Anand, Head, Relationships, Cox & Kings.

More importantly, in 2018 Cox & Kings brand turned 260. At this remarkably significant stage of its journey, the company announced a string of offers and schemes. With attractive and discounted travel packages to the world over, our clients were treated to a travel bonanza throughout the year.

In 2018, Cox & Kings introduced many innovations and made a refreshing entry into two emerging segments, self-drive road trips and culinary tours with the launch of its two most-awaited brands: Self Drive 365 and Tour to Feast.

Self Drive 365 continued to attract

Karan Anand Head, Relationships, Cox & Kings Ltd.

discerning road trippers with its tempting and adventurous selfdrive journeys. With cars and bikes ranging from the most luxurious to the ones that totally fit client’s needs and destinations, Self Drive 365 proved to be an instant hit. Similarly, those who wish to travel for food, learn to cook and to experience immersive culinary journeys, 'Tour to Feast' became the one-stop-shop for them in the country. In 2018, Bollywood youth icon, Anushka Sharma became our new brand ambassador. Enable Travel, powered by Cox & Kings associated with Ezy Mov to make Goa accessible for people with mobility challenges.

Since we plan to continue to work on the specialized segments we have forayed in recent years, we expect their products to grow with renewed awareness. In addition, our diversified offerings across adventure, women-only travel, solo travel, self-drive, accessible travel, travel for senior citizens, educational tours, domestic tours, luxury escapades among others should be receiving a phenomenal response in the new year.

We expect more international flights to connect with metro and tier-2 cities in India that will further fuel the growth of outbound tourism. Accelerating UDAAN scheme in India will also fasten the pace of domestic tourism. We aim to partner with various upcoming as well as established tourism boards to introduce unfiltered and competitive travel packages for its Indian clientele. In the travel fraternity, we has had a robust network of its trade partners.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

19

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:51 PM Page 20

COVER STORY We expect our partners to participate in the incentive schemes launched by us and stay motivated to further push our diverse offerings in the market.

The Indian tourism industry will witness greater growth in 2019, thanks to the foundation laid for noteworthy projects in 2018. India and Singapore have been in talks in 2018 to up cruise services in India. The port infrastructure is being worked upon with renewed vigour besides new entrance of established cruise liners that are keen to cater to the Indian travellers.

'2018, a promising year for Group Concorde' 2018 was a promising year for Group Concorde, says Prithviraj Singh Chug, Director, Group Concorde. Not only did we manage to increase our volumes significantly but also acquired a new account Nok Air for passenger sales in 2018. Cargo vertical of our business continues to grow and we have further diversified and strengthened our portfolio with addition of Kuwait Airways and WoW Air. With a constant endeavour to innovate, in 2018 we also started a neutral air waybill business successfully.

We are certain that we will continue to be on the growth trajectory in 2019 as well. We will be launching flights from Guwahati and Visakhapatnam to Bangkok in 2019. The currency valuation remains a concern but we expect a growth in sales at a steady pace.

The slight decrease in fuel prices is allowing airlines to be more flexible and competitive with their

20

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

'2018, an eventful year for ITQ & Industry' 2018 was an eventful year not just for InterGlobe Technology Quotient but for the entire travel and tourism industry as well, says Sandeep Dwivedi, COO, ITQ. A lot of positive changes occurred in the industry painting a bright pic-

Prithviraj Singh Chug Director, Group Concorde

pricing.

We expect more transparency so that consumers have better visibility of the prices and products to choose from. Also, there is a shift of business from conventional travel agencies to online travel agencies. Travel is on a rise and consumer today is more price conscious; they go for the lowest logical fare which would help in growth of low cost carries.

In 2019 we wish to further diversify and add new products to our existing impressive portfolio. We see a huge potential, and would be investing, in the charter space.

Also, we would like to get into joint venture agreements with airlines and explore opportunities of cost sharing to ensure viability of operations. In 2018, we extended our footprints and opened our offices in South Korea and Myanmar. The expansion will continue in 2019. We will open our offices in Australia and New Zealand.

Sandeep Dwivedi COO, ITQ

ture of the aviation sector worldwide.

Travelport offering New Distribution Capability (NDC) content was the highlight of 2018. The travel commerce platform has become the first GDS operator to manage live booking of flights using the IATA's NDC technical standard. This significant step marks the beginning of a new era for airline retailing. A series of product enhancements and NDCenabled products can be expected in 2019. This suite of products will benefit airlines and travel agencies, alike.

I am ecstatic to see how technol-

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 21

COVER STORY ogy has driven the travel and tourism industry in the recent years. Air travel retailing is changing at a fast pace. Increasing demands of travellers have led to advanced travel technological solutions; modern travellers are more inclined towards technology and seek solutions that consume less of their time and are easy to implement on the ground level.

The whole aviation industry went through dynamic shifts in 2018 and the same can be expected in 2019 too.

As for my expectation from 2019, it looks really promising to me. Air traffic would rise undoubtedly and so would the demands of air travellers to get more personalised and hassle-free experiences. This gives an excellent opportunity to travel businesses to keep their game up and come up with cutting-edge travel solutions to cater to the demands of today's tech-savvy travellers.

The travel and tourism industry is rapidly evolving and responding to the new-age technological advancements along with changes in consumer preferences. Adoption of technology has enabled the travel businesses to enhance traveller-facing technology and offer more choices and flexibility in their products and services.

We expect more technological advancements in 2019. Some anticipated developments in the new year are: personalization, Mobile Technology, Chat-bots/Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), Micro-Trip, Off-peak Travel, Ease of Travel, Solo Travel, Women Travellers, and LGBTQ Tourism.

'Indian aviation industry on a high growth trajectory' According to Robert Williams, Head of Sales - Asia Pacific & the Middle East, British Airways, 2018 was a remarkable year for British Airways as it was our 99th year of operations globally and over 90 years of flying to India. We are proud of this feat and are expecting our nonstop India-UK flights to continue to perform well.

The popularity of our daily services from a number of Indian cities to UK reflects the demand from travelers wishing to fly to the UK. We have been wanting to expand our network in the region for some time and the code share announcement with Vistara last year is a significant step taken towards the same direction. Through this move, British Airways customers can now visit 13 other new destinations across the region.

India has been a key focus area for us for over 90 years now and remains one of the most significant markets for us. In fact, we are happy to share that last year we also celebrated our 30th anniversary in Chennai and 10th anniversary in Hyderabad.

The Indian aviation industry has been on a high growth trajectory.

In the past few years, the government’s focused initiatives have not only been forward-looking, but also pro-business and consumer focused. The potential, without a doubt, is enormous for the aviation industry.

India holds great potential of being one of the fastest growing markets for British Airways and we surely look up to expanding our business

Robert Williams Head of Sales - Asia Pacific & the Middle East, British Airways

here. We have invested £4.5 billion for our customers over the next five years and installing the best quality Wi-Fi for all our customers.

We will take delivery of 72 new aircrafts over the next five years.

We are fitting out 128 of our longhaul aircrafts with new interiors and providing every customer with power at their seat. Long-haul economy customers will receive better snacks and, on longer flights, a full second meal. Our priority will always remain on ensuring exceptional customer service and unmatched travel experience.

British Airways will celebrate its centenary in 2019, a landmark in aviation. A key focus area of BA’s activity next year will be on the future of flying, demonstrating that the airline is forward-looking and will continue to innovate and evolve over the next 100 years. We are working on interesting marketing and promotional plans for 2019 that will revolve around the same theme.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

21

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 22

COVER STORY

'We have been able to bring global standards in our assistance services' ONE OF THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS LAST YEAR FOR US WAS TO REPRESENT THE INDIAN TRAVEL ASSISTANCE AND INSURANCE FRATERNITY AT THE INTERNATIONALLY CELEBRATED ITIJ AWARDS, 2018, SAYS DEV KARVAT, FOUNDER & CEO, INDIA & EMERGING MARKETS – TRAWELLTAG COVER-MORE. With the backing of an international conglomerate we have been able to bring global standards in our assistance services, customer focus and product innovation to the Indian market which has garnered a positive response. CoverMore’s proprietary software ’Impulse’ and other tech innovations that improve interactions with customers and enhance sales of ancillary products, have helped us to further our brand equity in the ecommerce, OTAs and airlines segments. One of the major highlights last year for us was to represent the Indian travel assistance and insurance fraternity at the internationally celebrated ITIJ Awards, 2018. We were selected as one of the top two finalists in the aggregator/broker/affinity partner of the year. Our entire accounting system underwent an overhaul as we moved to an upgraded software to streamline processes.

No travel is experience comes with a zero risk tag and as more and more people have begun to travel today due to the ease of it, we are seeing a gradual growth in

22

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

“With the backing of an international conglomerate we have been able to bring global standards in our assistance services, customer focus and product innovation to the Indian market which has garnered a positive response.”

the awareness about travel assistance and insurance among people. With digitization, people have evolved into smart and independent travellers who expect their trips to be holistically protected. It is expected that service providers will bridge this gap between customer experiences and industry practices in 2019.

Today’s travellers are largely young millennials with disposable income, looking for smart travel solutions. They mix work and leisure while offshore and turn their trips in Bleisure. We also see a growing number solo women travellers as well as young urban professionals looking for adventure and fun on their trips. As travelling has increasingly become customised, so have the ancillary

Dev Karvat Founder & CEO, India & Emerging Markets TrawellTag Cover-More

services. There is a huge potential for promoting travel ancillary services that provide a sense of personalised attention.

With the Travel Agent’s Engagement Programme (TAEP), we continue to focus on training and enlightening the travel agents. The two-fold benefit of TAEP is to improve conversions for travel agents and ensure to protect as many travellers as possible with travel assistance and insurance.

This will also help us in achieving our primary goal of improving the conversion rate of the Indian travel insurance industry, which is stalled at 20%. We aspire to lead product innovations beyond travel assistance & insurance and Zurich’s global expertise is instrumental in achieving this for an emerging market like India. We are constantly moving toward upgraded technology to empower travel agents with dynamic offerings. We are also bringing improved changes to our medical assistance services that remain to be at the heart of our business.

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 23

NEWS

CAMPAIGN: VISTARA INSPIRES FLYERS TO NOT SETTLE FOR LESS THAN THE BEST Steven Dixon Regional Manager - South and South East Asia at Tourism New Zealand

When it comes to New Zealand, India constitutes one of the significant global source markets for the country. The tourist-friendly destination with amazing Maori culture and great adventure is definitely a place to look forward for outbound Indian tourists.

Tourism New Zealand’s newest campaign themed “Everyday a different journey” and “Where one journey leads to another” promises to showcase a wide variety of offerings and explore the destination in terms of regional perspective.

Steven Dixon, Regional Manager, South and South-East Asia, Tourism New Zealand said, “The new global campaign has been unveiled sometime in July, 2018 and throws light on regional destinations, people, experiences and the spectacular adventure tourism in little-known and familiar landscapes. We are enticing the independent Indian professionals in the age bracket of 25 to 54 years.”

Aiming to inspire air travellers to not settle for second best, Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier, recently announced its new high-decibel multimedia brand campaign dubbed ‘Fly Higher’. The Fly Higher campaign builds on Vistara’s brand promise, which is to make people look forward to flying again and to expect the same level of class, quality, and attention to detail in the air as they expect in their other career, lifestyle, and travel choices.

Conceptualized by Vistara’s creative agency FCB India, the creative concept of the brand campaign is based on wide-ranging customer insights suggesting that discerning customers today are not willing to settle for less than the best. Successful Indians of all ages today live a life of an upgraded standard – they choose offbeat and challenging careers, create their own success stories, dine at fine restaurants, wear the best brands, pick uncommon holiday destinations, stay in the most stylish hotels, and expect the best quality and service in everything they select, but when it comes to flying, they choose to select the best possible fare.

by TNH DESK

by TNH DESK

NEW ZEALAND IN KEEPING WITH MICE MOMENTUM New Zealand has sets its MICE standard with some never-before offerings that promise to be a cut above the rest for Indian MICE tourists.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

23

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 24

SPOTLIGHT

2018: a remarkable year for South African Tourism in India 2018 was a remarkable year for South African Tourism, which increased destination visibility and demand last year through aggressive media engagements, informed Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head for Middle East, India and Southeast Asia, South African Tourism. In the first half of 2018, the country received 50,015 Indian visitors to South Africa.

Y

Q

How was 2018 for South African Tourism in India?

2018 was a remarkable year for us. We kick-started the year with our 15th Annual Roadshow which was conducted across Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. Through the course of the year, we have succeeded in increasing destination visibility and demand through aggressive consumer and trade media engagements, including especially focused familiarization trips.

While our attempts were largely structured towards driving awareness and demand for our adventure and wildlife offerings, last year we also looked at driving historic travel. Our efforts were based on the premise that South Africa birthed, shaped and moulded the great Nelson Mandela whose centenary birth year was celebrated in 2018. The Mandela Centenary was an important milestone in South Africa’s history, and as we reflect on our late Former President’s

“

We have observed a marked shift from seeing to experiencing for key traveller segments, leading to a rise in immersive holidays. Indian travellers to South Africa want to explore local culture, indulge in art and history of the place, meet new people and try new things.

“

v B PREM KUMAR

Neliswa Nkani Hub Head – MEISA, South African Tourism

legacy in a year when he turns 100 years old, we are proud to share our beautiful country with people from around the world. In the first half of 2018, we welcomed 50,015 Indian visitors to South Africa.

Q

Tell us about your initiatives for the Indian market in 2018?

At South African Tourism, we want selling South Africa to be a seamless and fun experience for our Indian trade partners. There

24

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 25

SPOTLIGHT

have been huge developments in terms of product offering, as well as in the way we operate in the Indian market. The India office now functions as the Hub in the Middle East, South East Asia and India region. Working with the Indian trade has reached new heights in terms of execution and depth of engagement. We always asked for trade input on operations and offering in India and that has been great in terms of increasing the effectiveness of our campaigns and training sessions. We have been conducting an annual roadshow over the last 15 years in a continued effort to increase awareness and engagement with travel planners in India. This platform has proven important in cementing existing relationships and also to introduce new products and experiences.

Through consumer and trade media engagements, especially through familiarization trips, we have also been successful in showcasing a variety of adventure activities available in the country.

During the past year, showcasing the adventure offerings of the Rainbow Nation was one of our

prime focus areas. As part of the familiarization trips, we also hosted trade and consumer media to INDABA 2018 to attend the sessions as well as experience the beautiful Rainbow Nation.

Q

What are the key travel trends you witnessed in 2018 from India? What trends do you expect in Indian travel to South Africa in 2019?

We have observed a marked shift from seeing to experiencing for key traveller segments, leading to a rise in immersive holidays. Indian travellers to South Africa want to explore local culture, indulge in art and history of the place, meet new people and try new things. Mirroring this shift, one of our key focus areas for the coming year is to go beyond the immensely popular Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg & surrounds and create awareness about new destinations such as Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Port Elizabeth, the Drakensberg region and the Panorama Route within the consumer and trade spaces.

These are picturesque areas where travellers can pack in a lot of action into shorter time-spans.

Q

What is your expectation from the New Year from India?

Despite numerous challenges posed to the tourism industry as a whole in India, we have successfully sustained our growth story through 2018 as well and are optimistic of making 2019 better.

In 2019 we hope to surpass our achievements of the last year, which was a great year for us.

Q

Tell us about your activities for the Indian market in 2019?

On the trade front, we will market the destination and introduce the Indian trade media to the South African offerings at Meetings Africa 2019. Meetings Africa, which aims at providing a comprehensive panorama in the field of the travel industry in Africa, showcases Africa’s diverse offering of services and products where African associations and African meetings industry professionals can partner to help transform the continent.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

25

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 26

NEWS

Indian visitor footfalls up in Australia Undiscover Australia is the latest campaign of Tourism Australia to unravel the hidden gems of their destination.

For outbound Indian tourists contemplating to spend their next vacation in the land Down Under, there’s some good news waiting for them.

Tourism Australia has very recently rolled out a novel tourism campaign in India and South-East Asia themed Undiscover Australia that promises to flaunt unexplored, exotic places that are off-the-beaten track and offer one-of-a-kind experiences.

Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager, India and Gulf, Tourism Australia informed, “The newly

launched campaign is executed in two phases in India from September to November in 2018 and January to April in the New Year. Both the phases will coincide with those planning their tour during the peak travel season including winter and summer holidays. The media exposure for the campaign is spread across digital that includes display, social media, search, programmes and broadcast medium.

The country is home to the most inspirational global business event destinations like Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Perth and Hamilton Island. Kashikar said, “The country with hospitality

Life-enriching experience A bygone Portuguese colony teeming with rich history and heritage can only be the land of Macao.

The New Year will mark the 20th anniversary celebration of Macao’s return to China and in order to make it a memorable event, they plan a wide range of Arzan Khambatta Head of Macao Government Tourism events and festivals.

Office in India at the National Geographic Traveller Culture Meetup Arzan Khambatta, Head, for Macao Macao Government Tourist Office, India commented, “Macao will touch new heights in tourism in the New Year and our prime strategy will be focused upon joint cooperation with travel agents in a bid to make Macao a leading holiday destination.

by TNH DESK

26

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

Nishant Kashikar Country Manager, India and Gulf, Tourism Australia

groups of global standards and banquet facilities has the capacity to surpass the expectations of the corporate world.”

by TNH DESK

IndiGo and Turkish Airlines sign codeshare agreement Both airlines to leverage their respective networks to maximize travel opportunities for the traveling public.

India’s largest domestic carrier, IndiGo, and Istanbul-based Turkish Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, today announced a codeshare and mutual cooperation agreement. The signed codeshare and mutual cooperation agreement between the two carri-

ers, the effectiveness of which is subject to receipt by IndiGo and Turkish Airlines of all necessary Board and regulatory approvals, will enable both carriers to provide more flexibility of choice to their respective customers to fly on sectors between India, Istanbul and beyond. This is the first codeshare agreement for IndiGo as part of its international expansion strategy.

by TNH DESK

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 27

NEWS

Wyndham Hotels to add 3 new hotels in historic area of Dubai

Thailand's LCC NokScoot forays into India NokScoot, a Thailand-based low-cost carrier (LCC), marked its entry into India with launch of its first non-stop flight connecting New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport and Bangkok Don Muang International Airport from 19thDecember 2018.

NokScoot, a joint venture LCC between Scoot, 100% owned by Singapore Airlines, and Thailand’s Nok Air, also announced a special promotional one-way Economy class fare starting from INR 7,200 (USD 99), inclusive of taxes and surcharges. The special promotional fares are available from 07 – 31December 2018 for travel between 19

by TNH DESK December 2018 to 30 March 2019.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is set to increase its footprint in Dubai with three new managed hotels as part of the Deira Waterfront Development by Ithra Dubai, a wholly owned subsidiary of Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD). The hotels will operate under the Wyndham, Days by Wyndham, and Super 8

by Wyndham brands.

Also known as the Deira Enrichment Project, Ithra Dubai’s development is a mixed-use area situated along the Dubai creek in the southern part of Deira.

Communal facilities, public amenities and open spaces will create a dynamic urban community along the shores of the Dubai Creek and will deliver key commercial growth opportunities for the city. The addition of three new hotels to the first phase of the development will also draw domestic and international business and leisure visitors looking for accommodation suited to a range of budgets.

“We are very excited to welcome Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as a partner of our flagship development in Deira,” said Issam Galadari, Director and CEO of

by TNH DESK Ithra Dubai.

Shangri-La partners ride service provider Blacklane Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is partnering with Blacklane to provide premium transportation to its Golden Circle members whenever they travel on the road. Blacklane’s highly personalised chauffeured service is available in more than 300 cities and to all Golden Circle members when they reserve a ride via the Blacklane app or website.

The partnership offers every Shangri-La Golden Circle member booking a ride through Blacklane one Golden Circle Award Point for every two U.S. dollars, British

pounds or Euros spent. For the inaugural offer, members can enjoy a 10 percent discount on their first Blacklane ride and double Golden Circle Award Points for every materialised booking from now until February 28, 2019. “Together with Blacklane, we are creating more value and a

growing suite of benefits and lifestyle experiences for our Golden Circle members when they travel around the world,” said Wee Kee Ng, Shangri-La’s VP – Loyalty & Partner Marketing.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

27

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 28

NEWS

SATTE 2019: AN OVERVIEW 26th edition of the South Asia’s leading and celebrated travel trade show is to be held in Greater Noida.

UBM India is all set to bring in the 26th edition of SATTE - South Asian Travel and Tourism Exchange from January 16 to 18, 2019 at the new venue - India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi – NCR. This year, the exhibition has witnessed tremendous response from the industry with expected participation from over 1,000 exhibitors and representation from over 50 countries and 90 cities from across India. SATTE will provide a comprehensive platform to domestic and international buyers and professionals from across the travel, tourism and hospitality industry along with National and State Tourism Boards (NTOs and STOs) to congregate and conduct business, arrive at solution-driven innovations and promote inbound, outbound and domestic tourism in India.

The three-day expo will witness several exciting partnerships and announcements that promise to augur well for the industry. SATTE 2019, fresh after its gala silver jubilee celebrations last year, has witnessed a record-breaking number of enrolments for its Domestic Buyer Programme with 500 domestic buyers already registered three months before the exhibition.

Lemon Tree launches second property in Pune Opens a 201-room Lemon Tree Premier in the heart of the city Lemon Tree Hotels opened Lemon Tree Premier, City Center, Pune. This is its first ‘Premier’ property in the state of Maharashtra and its second ‘owned’ hotel in Pune city. Just five minutes from the railway station and the key business and shop-

28

ping hubs of the city, this new-age hotel is designed to please the modern-day business and leisure traveller.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

by TNH DESK

SATTE 2019 will have an array of exhibitors with many of them increasing their presence for the 26th edition of SATTE. SATTE India Conference 2019 is set to once again provide industry professionals with the tools and techniques to succeed in today’s fast-paced marketplace.

This year, SATTE has roped in many global and national associations/ think tanks.

by TNH DESK

INDIGO MAKES KANNUR ITS 67TH DESTINATION Effective January 25, 2019, IndiGo to operate its first daily non-stop flights connecting Kannur with Hyderabad, Chennai and Hubli Bookings open with fares starting at INR 1999 In line with its growth strategy to build a large and profitable air transportation network for our country, IndiGo has announced Kannur as its 67th destination.

Effective January 2019, the low-cost airline will operate daily non-stop return flights from Kannur to Hyderabad, Chennai and Hubli.

by TNH DESK

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 29

NEWS

Eco Rent a Car partners Europcar in global foray The French car rental company Europcar Mobility Group has entered into a strategic partnership with India's ECO Rent a Car. With this partnership, both ECO and Europcar customers will benefit from a consistent high quality service worldwide. ECO customers will be now be able to access Europcar’s high quality global car rental services directly from ECO (website: www.ecorentacar.com). In the same way, Europcar customers will have access to ECO’s premium services through Europcar’s website (www.europcar.com) and will be able to either rent a car, or book a chauffeur driven service in India.

This new partnership will enable

From L- R – Mr. Marcus Bernhardt, Managing Director International Coverage, Europcar Mobility Group, Mr. Fabrizio Ruggiero, Deputy CEO, Europcar Mobility Group, Mr. Rajesh Loomba, Managing Director, ECOS (India) Mobility & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd and Mr.Aditya Loomba, Joint Managing Director, ECOS (India) Mobility & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd

Eco Rent a Car to offer a global quality of Service in India with their Self Drive and Chauffeur driven products under the aegis of a global brand. At the same time Eco's customers will also see the comfort and familiarity of

the Eco brand embedded in over 3700 rental stations in over 130 countries cross the globe is the first time that the two car rental companies

by TNH DESK have come together.

Crystal Jade Restaurant Opens at Sands Cotai Central Second renowned La Mian Xiao Long Bao restaurant enhances first opening at The Parisian Macao.

A Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao restaurant has opened at Sands Cotai Central, joining a first restaurant that launched at The Parisian Macao in May. Operated by the renowned Crystal Jade Culinary Concepts Holdings restaurant group, Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, which originated in Singapore, brings a contemporary twist to classic Beijing, Szechuan and Shanghai cuisine. Offering quality cuisine at reasonable prices, the group operates more than 120 restaurants across 30 cities, including Singapore, Viet-

Crystal Jade Culinary Concepts restaurant group has opened a La Mian Xiao Long Bao brand restaurant at Sands Cotai Central to enhance the first which arrived at The Parisian Macao restaurant.

nam, Bangkok, Seoul, Manila, Shanghai and Beijing. Crystal Jade chose Sands Resorts Macao to expand the brand into Macao based on the group’s reputation for delivering quality dining, alongside its customer base and impressive footfall.

Since 2009 Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao has been commended by the Michelin Guide for seven consecutive years with ‘Bib Gourmand’ recognition for its excellent quality and value for money.

In addition to classic dishes such as shredded chicken and bean starch sheet in sesame sauce, sautéed prawns in chilli sauce, and braised minced pork ball with vegetables, the brand is renowned, as its name suggests, for its signature Lanzhou ‘La Mian’ noodles and Xiao Long Bao dumplings. A firm favourite with diners, the silky noodles are handmade to order and served with a rich soup simmered down from pork bones and Jinhua ham for at least eight hours, while each mouthwatering xiao

long bao is folded with a minimum of 20 creases, filled with aromatic broth and steamed for exactly seven minutes.

As well as original, the multi-flavoured xiao long bao set is available in eight exciting flavours, including truffle and cheese (limited daily availability).

With Macao named as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in late 2017, there has never been a better time to explore Sands Resorts Macao’s award-winning array of great dining options. Sample an authentic French afternoon tea at The Parisian Macao’s Brasserie, the famous seafood platter at The Venetian Macao’s Portofino, old Beijing noodles at North and spiced delights at Michelin-starred Indian restaurant The Golden Peacock.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

29

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 30

FEATURE

Pride of Pink City

Clarks Amer Clarks Amer is iconic to the Pink City, Jaipur in Rajasthan. It is one of the oldest luxury properties and still retains its old age charms along with all the modern day amenities.

v B PRADEEP CHAMARIA Y

Located on the prestigious JLN Marg, Clarks Amer is just a 5-minute drive from the Jaipur International Airport and a 15-minute drive from major city attractions such as City Palace, Birla Mandir, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal.

I often used to go to the Clarks Amer, Jaipur in the late 1980’s for a cup of tea with my would-be girlfriends.

Oh yes, it was an expensive cup of tea for me as a student,

30

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

but you see – what's money go to do when it is the question of luxury and status building. During these visits, I often used to fantasize to come here one day and spend some days and soak in the luxury that the hotel provided.

This dream of mine turned into reality recently week as we stayed at this first five-star hotel in Jaipur, built in the mid 1970s for two nights. In a land of low rise havelies and

Verdict Clarks Amer is surely the place everyone should have on their bucket list. The centrally located property has every facility inhouse, is environment friendly and makes your holidays and business meetings memorable.

other structures, it still is a wonder that it has been the tallest building around for so long.

Clarks Amer and its management including Timmie and Apurv Kumar have always tried to bring unique and enriching experiences to their beloved city. They regularly host and organize Art Events, Animal Welfare Summits and Music Festivals such as the extremely popular Tablu Music Festival.

I found Clarks Amer to be a great place to stay and I was happy to come here and live out my dream. The hotel com-

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 31

FEATURE

plex is set in beautiful lush green gardens with splendid decor and architecture.

As the check-in process was going on, I started eyeing and my camera went on a shooting spree.

Clarks has a huge lobby and the decor made me nostalgic. Excellent lighting and amazingly chosen designs of the intricate chandeliers, coloured glass windows, wooden jaalis and painted ceiling further added to the grand effect.

After a warm welcome with a tilak ceremony and a glass of cold Sherbet, we were escorted to our rooms. As we got onto the elevator, my eyes got glued to a message glittering in golden lettering – “This is the oldest passenger lift in the city” and I kept staring at it in awe. This certainly is the royal grandeur of the oldest five- star hotel in the Pink City.

I was stunned by the classy interiors when I entered the room.

Best of yester-years charm were amalgamated with modern facilities, and the result was sheer elegance. Wooden flooring, huge glass windows and a lovely view of the lush greenery surrounding

the property greeted me in the room. The bed was comfortable and bathroom was clean.

The hotel currently has 214 well equipped rooms spread over 8 floors and 5 restaurants. They also have an outdoor pool. Free WiFi in public areas, free valet parking, a health club, a bar/lounge and a coffee shop/café are also available. All the rooms have 24-hour room service and LED TVs with cable channels.

The rooms are classified as – Superior Rooms, Club rooms, Penthouses, and Presidential Suites.

The hotel also features a 24hour business centre and meeting rooms. Clarks Brijj Convention Centre is supposed to be the best business center in the entire north India.

The feature that I liked the most was this is an environmentally green hotel. I loved going into the Semal Bagh (named after the Semal trees that grow here), the front garden where I was at home with the music of chirping birds.

They also have a nature walk which leads to the habitat of a few birds (geese, swans and emus) and animals that the hotel

owners have given shelter to. The vegetable and herbal gardens are also located here. The gardens have a capacity to house between 1,500 to 2,000 people for any weddings and large events.

The most unique feature of the hotel was their initiative on reducing use of plastic. Now, you get paper straws and cutlery at Zolocrust and they plan to replace the commercial plastic water bottles with glass bottles with water from in-house bottling plant.

The hotel also has some of the best restaurants in Jaipur; Durbar, a north Indian and Continental Restaurant, Dholamaru, an authentic Rajasthani restaurant, ta Blu, a Rooftop Cafe Bar & Art Gallery, and Zolocrust, a 24×7 Live Bakery and Pizzeria. The hotel also has great conference facilities in Jaipur for all categories of business conferences and meetings.

Address: Clarks Amer, Jaipur Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg near Jaipur Airport, Jaipur, Rajasthan – 302018

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

31

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 32

NEWS

Chinese visitors to GCC slated to increase 81% by 2022 Danielle Curtis

Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market

The number of Chinese tourists travelling to the GCC is expected to increase 81% from 1.6 million in 2018 to 2.9 million in 2022, according to data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April – 1 May 2019.

The latest research from Colliers International, in partnership with ATM 2019, reveals that the GCC countries currently attract just 1% of China’s total outbound market, however positive trends are expected over the coming years as 400 million Chinese tourists are expected to go abroad in 2030 – up from 154 million in 2018.

by TNH DESK

Tourism Fiji launches brand revitalization to bring ‘Bula Spirit’ to the world Tourism Fiji announced a revitalized global brand campaign ready to roll-out in 2019. Produced by Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand, the refined campaign builds upon the destination’s current brand messaging; ‘Where Happiness Finds You’, while showcasing the breadth of experiences available to visitors.

The campaign assets have been developed to demonstrate that the Fiji brand goes beyond just relaxation by highlighting Fiji’s ‘Bula Spirit,’ and emphasizing the range of unique experiences that are offered throughout Fiji’s 333 islands, with powerful imagery designed to evoke an emotive response and create real interest in the destination. CEO for Tourism Fiji, Matthew Stoeckel commented: “Fiji is famous for its stunning environment, world-class resorts and of course it’s hosby TNH DESK pitality.

Malindo forays in Kolkata skies With Malindo Air foraying in Kolkata, Malaysia-bound travellers from Eastern India can now travel in style.

Here’s a piece of exciting news for Malaysia-bound Indian travellers from the eastern zone of India. Malindo Air, an all-inclusive Malaysian premium service airline player has kick-started its inaugural flight from Kolkata to Kuala Lumpur on October 22, 2018. Owned by Indonesia’s Lion Air Group, Malindo Air currently flies out from nine Indian cities and Kolkata is incidentally the

32

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

eighth city in India for the airline player to begin its flight service.

Speaking at the launch, Manoj Mehta, General Manager, Malindo Airlines-India informed, “We have 74 weekly flights from Indian cities to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. We have expanded our footprints to the southern cities of Trivandrum, Trichy, Cochin and Bengaluru. We have partnered with

Batik Air and forayed in Chennai, being the ninth city in India. We have begun five weekly flights from Kolkata with a seating capacity of 810. There are 12 business class seats and 150 seats in the economy class. We are operating 74 weekly flights across nine cities of India.”

by TNH DESK

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 33

NEWS

IHCL REVAMPS GINGER, UNVEILS THE BRAND'S NEW LOOK Ginger recently opened its first prototype hotel with a complete new brand identity at Panjim, Goa after an intensive repositioning exercise. The current portfolio of the other 45 plus hotels will be repositioned reflecting the new brand identity and brand promise. Ginger will introduce the lean luxe segment, the first of its kind in India.

Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL said, “The Ginger brand journey is aligned to Aspiration 2022 that defines a brandscape that addresses diverse customer segments and price points. It will be an important growth vehicle for the company and we are looking at quickly scaling up the brand to a large number of hotels across India.”

The new identity of Ginger pres-

ents a co-existence of contrasts through re-imagined spaces blurring the lines of work and play, bringing about a fusion of global and local and create experiences that are vibrant, quirky, intuitive and smart.

Deepika Rao, MD & CEO & CEO, Ginger said, “The brand is slated to appeal to an on-the-go lifestyle and is anchored in the idea

Ministry formulates guidelines for OTAs The Ministry of Tourism have formulated guidelines for approval /re-approval of Online Travel Aggregators (OTAs). These guidelines for approval /re-approval of OTA’s have been devised to ensure that there are adequate safeguards against deficiency of service, alternate arrangements if needed and punitive deterrence. This is a voluntary scheme open to bonafide online travel aggregators to bring them on a common platform in the organized sector and the guidelines will be rolled out online by the end of December, 2018. The scheme is expected to be rolled out soon on the online platform and all applications and fee payment will have to be

by TNH DESK made on the online platform.

of seamlessness, facilitating a ‘never stop’ lifestyle. Ginger will now be an aspirational hotel chain that is also surprisingly affordable.”

The redesigned spaces will bring together attractive public areas as well as spots designed for solitude, allowing the smooth transition from one to the other. They come alive with vivacious high energy glocal music and unique artwork installations. The all-day diner Café Et Cetera offers comfort food and doubles up as a personal workstation.

The service style is designed around the on-the-go lifestyle of the target audience enabling them to do more whether it is on-the-go breakfast, express laundry service or quick munch snack bars.

by TNH DESK

IHCL SIGNS NEW TAJ HOTEL IN LUCKNOW The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has announced one more Taj branded hotel in Lucknow, a city with rich history and an exciting future. This hotel will be in partnership with Luxus Hospitality Pvt Ltd. With this addition, IHCL will have three hotels across two of its brands in the city.

Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL said, “We are delighted to partner with Luxus Hospitality. This signing is aligned to Aspiration 2022 with its focus on aggressive domestic growth. The Company is very optimistic about Lucknow as it is an important centre of governance, business, culture and tourism.”

The Taj branded hotel will be conveniently located at Vibhuti Khand, New Gomti Nagar Centre with close proximity to key corporate parks, institutions

by TNH DESK and recreational facilities.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

33

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 34

Bite Corner

PRANKSTER Back to School @

v B PRADEEP CHAMARIA Y

P

rankster in Sector 29 at Gurgaon is a single floor property with a floor area of 10,000 sq. feet. The entire floor is designed with a college campus theme and each and every section of a residential college campus is represented here in a well thought and planned way.

As you enter the restaurant you walk into the Library section of the college, and then as you take a tour, you pass through the Amphitheater, Science Laboratory, College canteen and street food van, Parking lot for cars as well as two wheeler, conference room, class rooms etc.

Hold on folks, are we missing something here? Yes we are missing the most important section of a residential college – the Hostels or the Dormitory. Don’t worry, Inder-

34

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

jeet, the co-owner took us to the corner of the restaurant where he has designed the dorms – and mentioned that this will be for a few selected guests only.

The owners have done wonders with the food menu too here. They have roped in none other than Chef Harangad Singh who recently was creating wonders in Dubai food circles. The idea behind such a setup was to give an eatery a college look where the youth can come in and chill. Those who look for some cozy times with their groups can go inside the conference hall, or the dorm area. The place boasts of being the only place in Delhi which serves some unique fusions in the food specially the Tikka fusions.

Prankster is already creating a buzz with their unique presentations and fusion in food. The Nitro-

gen Dahi Bhallas, their signature dish is already in the hall of fame in Delhi NCR Food circles.

Prankster serves some amazingly fresh brewed drinks. There are so many options for the guest, in fact I don’t remember the time when I took so much time deciding which drink and dish to order. In the beer section the in house specialties are the apple beer and the lychee beer.

We tried Apple Cinnamon Mojito made of fresh apple chunks, mint leaves, cinnamon syrup, Tikhi Imli

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 35

Bite Corner Verdict We had a great evening with refreshing food and drinks.

And we feel that if you are in Gurgaon you shouldn’t miss a visit to Prankster.

made of Tamarind paste, green chilly, sweet sour and soda, and Basil Wali Mango made with mango puree, basil, and ice cream.

The Apple Cinnamon Mojito deserves a special mention.

Out of the cocktail menu, the drinks that were served to us were Curvaceous Watermelon, Prankster Punk, and Babaji Ki Butti. The Prankster Punk was the best among the drinks.

As starters, we had Lotus stem crisps served in an aeroplane model, Sambhar Cappuccino with Dosai crisps, Litchi Tikkas, Dahi Kebabs, Honey Chilli Potatoes, Bombay Tawa Pulao Croquettes, Veggie spring rolls, College Pattice with Truffle and Button Mushroom, Pav Bhaji Zinker, and two varieties of Pizzas – the Paneer Tikka Pizza, and the Honey Hawaiian Pizza.

Of special mention here are the followings: Dahi Bhalla Nitro Chaat - This

Rating Food Service Ambience Drinks

Dahi Bhalla 4/5 is their signa3/5 dish; it ture 4/5 a burst was of4/5flavors.

They serve it as a starter, but I guess this is a great dessert to have.

Litchi Tikka – The best innovation by the Chef, it was mouth-watering and heavenly. Litchi pulp filled with mawa and tossed with dry fruits, this is a must for every fruity food lover.

Dahi Kebabs – Super dish, had all the flavours of a typical Marwari style Dahi preparation. The almond on the top added to the looks, and a not to be missed dish.

Paneer Tikka Pizza (Fattir – an Egyptian style pizza) – The flavours were awesome and the Paneer tikka taste was evident in every bite. A special mention about the base of the pizza – it was freshly made and amazingly soft and crispy. This again was something that you will not find anywhere else.

Imly Infused Chicken and the Meat filled Egyptian Fattir - Both are awesome and finger-lickingly delicious.

The mains, we had Dal Makhni and Sarson ka Saag with bread.

Sarson ka saag was divine and bread was awesome. And for Desserts readily had the Nitro Dahi Bhalla Chaat. We also tried the fusion dessert containing Ras malai topped with Daulat ki Chaat and loved it.

Address: Sec 29 Market, Gurgaon, Haryana

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

35

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 36

ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF)

MAKTA Nordic Travel Fair

January 14-22, 2019 Location: Quang Ninh, Vietnam

January 16-20, 2019 Location: Helsinki, Finland

An attempt to offer a major boost to the Association of SouthEast Asian nations as a single tourist destination, the ASEAN Tourism Forum is a front-ranking initiative that involves the travel sectors with all the 10-member countries of ASEAN including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines and Laos People’s Democratic Republic. Each year, every member country receives an opportunity to host the event. ATF began way back in 1981 and the forthcoming event will mark the 38th anniversary of the travel event.

36

Famed as the largest travel mart in Northern Europe, the travel fair is also known as The Finnish International Travel Fair and is hosted by The Finnish Fair Corporation at Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre. The travel bonanza presents a complete picture of elaborate travel options on offer to the common masses. The forthcoming event will have the presence of more than 73,500 travel industry professionals from 80 global destinations at the fair in order to lend it an impressive start. The annual travel fair is being held since 1987.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

Adventure Travel Show January 19-20, 2019 Location: London, United Kingdom

Reputed as the only mart dedicated to travel experiences off-the-beaten track in the United Kingdom, the show will be on at Olympia and is a perfect opportunity to interact with global travel professionals.

There will be professional explorers and adventurers who will occupy the centre stage at the Adventure Auditorium. One can get to be inspired by travel writers, explorers, film makers and adventure enthusiasts who will narrate their adventure experiences. For budding trekkers, there will be experienced panel of authors to offer advice on their premier multi-day hike or trekking in the Alps or the Himalayas.

East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair (EMITT) January 31-February 3, 2019 Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Best known as the leading travel mart in Turkey, EMITT is considered as one of the five major travel exhibitions across the globe and the biggest tourism meeting point of Eurasia and East Mediterranean. The mart pulls around 46,000 travel industry professionals and travellers who are on the look out for new travel experiences from travel companies and global destinations. The 23rd EMITT will be hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkish Airlines, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, six chambers and 36 local groups. There will be 1,065 exhibitors from around 85 global countries at the fair.

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 37

NEWS

Norwegian Cruise Line reveals Winter 2020-2021 itineraries Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore to Sail from Cruise Capital of the World Norwegian Escape to Make Debut in Port Canaveral, Fla. Norwegian Cruise Line recently opened for sale its winter 2020/2021 itineraries. Highlights include sister ships, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore, sailing from Miami to the Caribbean; Norwegian Escape’s debut in Port Canaveral; and Norwegian Epic’s return to San Juan.

Norwegian Joy will set sail from Miami for the first time and cruise a

mix of five-to-seven-day Western and Eastern Caribbean voyages. Beginning Oct. 24, the ship’s Western Caribbean cruises will include calls to Roatan Island, Honduras; Harvest Caye, Belize; Costa Maya and

Cozumel, Mexico while its Eastern Caribbean voyages will include Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and the company’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

Following her first summer season in the Big Apple, Norwegian Encore will return to Miami to sail seven-day cruises to the Western Caribbean with calls to Roatan Island, Honduras; Harvest Caye, Belize; and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.

by TNH DESK

Madame Tussauds joins hands with National Rail Museum

MIAL's Sustainability Report released Became the first Airport in Asia-Pacific to release such report as per GRI Standards. The First and only airport operator in India to bring out a sustainability report in public domain GVK Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) – the operator of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), published its fourth biennial Sustainability Report 2018, delineating its triple bottom line performance. The report is based on the theme – ‘Coming Together for a Sustainable Tomorrow’, showcases performance and achievements for FY 2016–17 and FY 2017–18. Through this report, MIAL aims to keep its stakeholders informed regarding progress on vital sustainability issues such as Climate Change, Safety & Security, Environment & Health and others to create value in short, medium and

by TNH DESK long term.

Madame Tussauds Delhi has announced a collaboration with the National Rail Museum in Delhi in which both will offer amazing deals to their visitors. As part of launch, Madame Tussauds is offering 50% off on tickets to visitors who come to the attraction after visiting the Rail Museum.

The internationally famous attraction also set up the figure of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at the Rail Museum as a special treat to visitors and to give them a preview of Madame Tussauds Delhi. Madame Tussauds, world’s most famous wax attraction for families has completed one year of its presence in the country, and has planned several events to mark the occasion.

Madame Tussauds Delhi is an attraction known for the beautiful portrayal of the fascinating world of glamour, sports, history, politics and history under one roof, through planned themed and interactive areas, by the skilful and innovative interpretation of renowned celebrities. The visitors are encouraged to interact with the life-like figures of the celebrities, which marks the uniqueness of the wax attraction. The tickets to the attraction are available at https://www.madametussauds.com/delhi/en.

by TNH DESK

• 50% off on the lead price at Madame Tussauds • Entry of school kids to rail museum @INR200 per kid and Madame Tussauds @INR 375 per kid

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

37

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 38

‘

LEBANON IS A PERFECT DESTINATION FOR INDIANS’

H.E. Rabie Narsh Ambassador of Lebanon to India

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 39

DIPLOMAT’S CORNER v B PREM KUMAR Y

India plays an important role in promoting Lebanon as a tourist destination, says H.E. Rabie Narsh, Ambassador of Lebanon to India. In an interview, the ambassador said that the Lebanese tourism Authority will soon partner with several trade and tourism players in India to attract tourists from all parts of the country to Lebanon. H.E. Narsh informed that there has been a significant growth in the number of Lebanese visa applications from Indians.

Q

Tell us about tourism in Lebanon.

What has the country to offer as a tourist destination?

The nature of Lebanon makes it the only country in the Middle East that embraces four seasons yearly. Irrespective of the season, there is always something special to enjoy. In the winter season, ski resorts offer tourists slopes that are comparable to the best resorts in Europe. In the summer, international festivals all over the country—in Baalbek, Beiteddine, Byblos, Jounieh and many others—bring together Lebanese and foreign artists to perform in stunning archaeological and historical sites. These events have given Lebanon an enviable place on the cultural map of the Middle East. Visitors to Lebanon enjoy outstanding service in world-class hotels and resorts, restaurants, casinos, theaters, cinemas and nightclubs as well as luxury shopping centers along with advanced communication and transportation services.

Q

Which forms of tourism are more popular in your country? What are the popular attractions?

The most popular types of tourism in Lebanon are cultural tourism, nature and adventure tourism (including attractions like beaches and mountains), shopping, and religious tourism. Lebanon is enriched with tourist attractions, both natural and man-made.

Q

What are the new initiatives by the Government of Lebanon to promote tourism in the country?

We want tourists from all parts of India to witness the exquisite and serene Lebanon experience. In addition to the major tier-I cities, we also plan to promote the destination in tier-II cities of India.

Our Ministry of Tourism recently launched ‘Rethinking Lebanon 2025’, a campaign to craft slogans that reflect Lebanon’s identity.

As part of the campaign, Lebanese people from across the globe have been invited to come up with creative slogans that reflect Lebanon’s cuisine, night life, hospitality, etc.

The slogan is meant to promote ‘brand Lebanon’ on the international arena. The competition aims to engage and challenge Lebanese youth all over the world to help create a virtual community to revive patriotic feelings and a sense of belonging among the Lebanese people.

Q

Could you tell us about Lebanon's international tourist markets?

The tourism industry in Lebanon has been historically important to the local economy and remains to this day a major source of revenue for Lebanon. The country has experi-

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

39

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 40

DIPLOMAT’S CORNER enced a remarkable tourism growth; people from across the globe are exceedingly willing to visit Lebanon and explore what it has to offer.

Q

How important is India as a tourist market for Lebanon?

A large number of Indians are exploring Lebanon as I have noticed a significant growth in the number of visa applications received. India, a country of 22 million outbound tourists annually, plays an important role in promoting Lebanon as a tourist destination. Indians are evolved travelers, who believe in experiential travel and want to do things at their own pace. Lebanon is a perfect destination for this category of tourists, therefore, Indian tourists love Lebanon.

Q

How do you plan to attract Indian tourists to your country?

We plan to collaborate with several trade and tourism partners in India. We also have many activities and initiatives in the near future. We want tourists from all parts of India to witness the exquisite and serene Lebanon experience.

In addition to the major tier-I cities, we also plan to promote the destination in tier-II cities of India. The historical, deep and warm relations between our two countries and peoples

Baalbek

make my mission to promote Lebanon much easier and pleasurable.

Q

What would be your advice for Indians planning to visit Lebanon?

Traveling to Lebanon is a mode of self-realization, exploration, experiencing different cultures and meeting new people. I advise my Indian friends to fully indulge into this exceptional experience and enjoy the touristic sites, cuisine, night life, nature and Mount Lebanon, among many others.

Q

What is the visa process for Indians?

Thanks to our partner VFS Global, applying for visa has become easier for applicants. We have been getting positive feedbacks from the people.

Q

Tell us about the flights between India and Lebanon?

Although there is no direct flight to Lebanon from India, there are future plans that Middle East Airlines would run direct flights to and from Delhi. Currently, many airlines fly to Lebanon from India through one-stop transits.

Q

How do you see India as a country?

What do you like most about India?

India is a magnificent multi-cultural country that has a wonderful history and rich culture.

Above all, I have been impressed by the warmth and genuineness of the hearts of Indian people.

Tyre Triumphal Arch

40

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 41

NEWS

MICE in the land of Ramayana trail

American Express opens new lounge at Mumbai Airport The lounge provides exclusive space for Cardmembers to relax and unwind before taking off to their next travel destination.

American Express has opened a new proprietary lounge at Terminal 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai. This is the second proprietary lounge of American Express in India, the other being in Delhi. The lounge facility offers an opportunity for travellers to relax in style and

by TNH DESK comfort.

It is an unstoppable journey for STPB to pull Indian tourists and MICE visitors.

The island destination of Sri Lanka has emerged as a popular MICE tourist hub with a slew of novel infrastructural developmental activities. Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau (STPB) is looking ahead to set up Destination Representation Company for India sometime in the middle of the New Year in order to go on with its promotional activities. Madubhani Perera, Director of Marketing, STPB informed, “Our bureau will be making its presence at leading travel marts in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad in 2019. We will be going for road shows in Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru in a bid to create business-to-business platform for our travel industry to make them interact with Indian travel groups emphasizing on leisure and wedding

by TNH DESK segments.”

5 Historic Hotels in Washington, DC These famous hotels can serve as the perfect backdrop to your DC visit.

The Hay-Adams: This legendary hotel is named after John Hay, who served as personal secretary to Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State under two presidents, and Henry Adams, a Harvard professor and descendant of Presidents John and John Quincy Adams.

Willard InterContinental Washington: Affectionately known as “The Willard,” this beloved hotel began as a series of small houses

on Pennsylvania Avenue, built in 1818. The houses were purchased

by Henry Willard in 1847, who then combined the buildings to make one four-story hotel at 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Jefferson, Washington, DC: Named after Thomas Jefferson, this Downtown hotel is fittingly just four blocks from the White House, features a Michelin-starred restaurant in Plume and boasts the cocktail haven that is Quill. The Jefferson’s history dates back to 1923, when the structure began as

a new residential building sporting a beautiful Beaux Arts design.

Washington Hilton: Since its opening in 1965, the Washington Hilton has played host to U.S. presidents and world leaders and their momentous events in its 36,000-square-foot international ballroom.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

41

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 42

NEWS

Affluent for exclusive experiences; hotels are their trusted travel partners The latest luxury insights report from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts uncovers global trends; findings reveal 93% consider the hotel an important part of the travel experience.

With a focus on Gateway to Home - Hotels as the Heart of their Communities, this latest volume in a series of ongoing research-led, data-driven reports on luxury travel trends, reveals that affluent travelers perceive hotels and resorts as established authorities and trusted travel guides. The newly commissioned study found that hotels are perceived as pillars in their community, connecting guests, whether from abroad or locally, to the true character of the destination. Luxury travelers

view the role of a hotel beyond curating authentic local experiences. It is the combination of destination expertise and recreating the comforts of home that creates this trusted relationship and positions the most desirable hotels in the world at the very heart of the travel experience. Fairmont’s Luxury Insights Report is based on data uncovered from Fairmont’s 2018 Global Luxury Traveler Insights Study, an online survey of 2,725 luxury travelers from France, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, China, and United Arab Emirates. Industry leaders across the globe also shared their perspectives on the findings to round out the report and facilitate a discussion around innovation leadership and the integral role of experience in the travel sector.

by TNH DESK

42

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 43

EVENT WATCH

TAAI C ONVENTION IN C HINA Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) held its 65th Annual Convention & Exhibition in Kunming, China from 27th to 29th November 2018. The convention was attended by industry leaders and experts besides a large number of members of the association.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

43

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:52 PM Page 44

AROUND THE WORLD

Popular festivals around the world Taj Mahotsav February 18-27, 2019 Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Desert Festival of Jaisalmer

One of the most sought-after tourism festivals in India, Taj Mahaotsav is a 10-day mart held at Shilpgram in the vicinity of the Eastern gate of Taj Mahal in the “City of Taj”. An initiative of Uttar Pradesh Tourism, the festival serves as a live platform to provide info on India’s glorious culture, art, craft, cuisine, dance and music to global tourists.

With the magnificent Taj in the background, Taj Mahaotsav brings alive the bygone memories of the Mughal era and the culture of Nawabs dating back to 18th and 19th centuries.

February 17-19, 2019 Location: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

The most popular festival in the Golden City of India- Jaisalmer that attracts a legion of global travellers is well-known as Rajasthan Desert Festival. A brainchild of Rajasthan State Tourism Corporation, the festival is a significant annual event in the itinerary of Rajasthan festivals and occurs in the Sam dunes, around 42 km from Jaisalmer. It presents the traditional culture of the desert and vibrates with colours and folk tunes of the Thar Desert.

PINGXI SKY LANTERN FESTIVAL February 19, 2019 Location: Pingxi, Taiwan

The lantern festival in Taiwan occurs after Chinese New Year and the country flies high under the radar of lantern festivals. Pingxi Sky lantern Festival is held annually in the coal mining hamlet of Shifen in the district of Pingxi in New Taipei. Pingxi is an hours’ drive from Taipei. The highpoint of Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is the release of glowing sky lanterns and scores of lanterns illuminate the sky at night.

44

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

t

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:53 PM Page 45

AROUND THE WORLD

to look for in February 2019 Perth Festival February 8-March 3, 2019 Location: Perth, Australia

SULAFEST February 2-3, 2019 Location: Sula Vineyards, Nasik, Maharashtra

Organized by SulaIndia’s winery major, there is a robust blend of fine music, wine, food, fashion and shopping in the sylvan environs of Sula Vineyard.

Known as the first gourmet world music festival in India, Sulafest began in 2007 and has a plethora of global and Indian artistes from all genres including rock, folk, electronic and reggae music. For music lovers and wine connoisseurs, the event deserves a visit. The global and Indian bands making their presence at the event include Bloc Party, Infected Mushroom, Dana Ruh, Indian Ocean, The Sky Vengers, Dhruv Voyage et al.

ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL February 15-March 17, 2019 Location: Adelaide, Australia

Reputed as the longest running arts festival in Southern Hemisphere, Perth Festival in Western Australia is an amazing one replete with contemporary and classical music. The current period marks the 66th year of Perth Festival that prides in having some of renowned names in global theatre, circus, dance, film, literature and visual arts. For art and music buffs, this is an exciting festival to look forward. What’s more? There is an annual Writer’s Week programme in the festival. Besides there are oneof-a-kind events and there is no full stop to the number of events lined up in the festival.

The festival lives up to the reputation in being the largest open access arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere.

There will be opening night party, comedy, theatre, cabaret, circus, visual arts and design, music, magic, dance, films and events. Kids will get to watch interactive workshops, talks and multicultural story time. The event is labelled as Australia’s biggest cultural playground and vibrates with creativity. The event started off around 58 years ago and goes on for 31 days and nights. The festival provides a platform for artists from all genres to share their work.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

45

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:53 PM Page 46

EVENT WATCH

S KAL D ELHI XMAS LUNCH Skal Delhi hosted a festive Christmas lunch on 19th December 2018 at the lawns of The Imperial Hotel, New Delhi. Attended by a large number of Skalleagues and their guests, the occasion also saw the distribution of attractive prizes and Christmas goodies, along with a delectable spread.

46

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:53 PM Page 47

EVENT WATCH

RUSSIA-VFS VAC S

LAUNCH

Four new Russian-VFS Global Visa Application Centres were recently launched in India. Catering to the growing needs of travellers to Russia, the new centres will increase the convenience of visa services. The New Delhi VAC was inaugurated by H.E. Nikolay Rishatovich Kudashev, Russian Ambassador to India on 17th Dec 2018.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

47

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:53 PM Page 48

MOVING ON

Zubin Saxena MD & VP-Operations, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group Radisson Hotel Group has appointed Zubin Saxena as its new Managing Director and Vice President of Operations, South Asia, effective 1January 2019. Zubin is also a member of the Group’s Asia Pacific executive committee and is involved in growing and directing the company’s business in South Asia.

Zubin will take over the regional leadership role from Raj Rana, who has decided to move on from Radisson Hotel Group after a long and illustrious career. In his new role, Zubin will provide counsel to the South Asia team. A strategic thinker and executor, he will be responsible for implementing new brand standards and delivering on operational efficiency and effectiveness to our hotels.

Zubin was appointed as Radisson Hotel Group’s Vice President of Development, South Asia, in February 2015 and has successfully spearheaded the company’s regional expansion strategy.

Tusch Daroga Hotel Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore has appointed Tusch Daroga as the Hotel Manager for the 273-key luxury hotel, located in the heart of the vibrant city. Tusch brings with him a wealth of experience, spanning a prolific career of over 16 years inhospitality, across leading luxury hotel brands such as The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts and Trident Hotels. In his latest capacity, Tusch is responsible for leading the team in achieving operational efficacy and creating exceptional guest experiences by instilling initiatives to empower employees and inspiring a thriving work culture. Being a passionate hotelier, accomplishing enhanced guest satisfaction is his forte. A graduate from the celebrated Oberoi Center of Learning and Development, and having begun his career at the early age of 18, Tusch has grown through the ranks from an Assistant Manager in Front Office with The Oberoi Group to his most recent role as the Executive Assistant Manager of The Leela Palace, New Delhi.

Prashanth Rajagopal Director, Business Development & Marketing, Gokulam Grand Hotel & Spa Bangalore Gokulam Grand Hotel and Spa Bangalore is pleased to announce the appointment of Prashanth Rajagopal as Director of Business Development and Marketing. Prashanth comes with over two decades of experience in sales and marketing delivering long term sustained success, he will be responsible for Gokulam Grand’s strategic growth by delivering exceptional experience to corporates and loyal customers alike. Prashanth’s focus on customer experience is centered on delivering promises, building meaningful relationships and developing repeat business.

Prior to Gokulam Grand, Prashanth held several leadership positions in India and the Middle East, across multiple sectors including technology services, automotive to name a few. He brings experience and leadership perspective to establish the right team and focus on Gokulam Grand’s key priorities.

48

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:53 PM Page 49

MOVING ON

Jeslin Mathews Director, Sales & Marketing Complex, Le Meridien Mahabaleshwar &Sheraton Grand Pune Le Meridien Mahabaleshwar resort and Spa and Sheraton Grand Pune, has appointed Jeslin Mathews as the new Director of Sales and Marketing - Complex. He will lead all the sales and marketing related functions of the hotel. His appointment as Director of Sales and Marketing with both the hotel is a welcome homecoming for the seasoned professional, who was a part of the similar set of hotels in 2010 in the capacities of Assistant Sales Manager. His career then took him throughout the region to other luxury brands in various level roles, including the multiple international brands. Jeslin has been a part of the Marriott family since 2010; his prior stint being the Directorof Sales at the JW Marriott Pune where he drove the sales force where he aggressively tapped into the special corporates, MICE& groups segments.

Jeslin not only brings with him over a decade of experience within the hospitality industry but also brings with him tons of enthusiasm & agility.

Gaurav Sinha Director of Operations, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru has appointed Gaurav Sinha as the Director of Operations. Being in the industry since 2001, Gaurav comes with vast knowledge and experience in the hospitality domain. He is a result driven individual with proven track record of guiding teams to deliver to the best of their abilities and continues to thrive in a competitive environment.

Gaurav started his career as a Front Office Assistant with Trident, Udaipur in 2001 and has been a part of prestigious properties such asTaj and Trident Hotels in the past, where he has had a steady growth trajectory.

He later joined The Leela Kempinski Hotels & Resorts, Gurgaon as the Assistant Front Office Manager and was a part of the pre- opening team. He grew with the brand and he was promoted as the Front Office Manager in 2010 at Kempinski. He later moved on to work with The Leela Ambience Hotel & Residencies, Gurgaon as a Rooms Division Manager.

Gaurav Sindhwani Director, Global Sales & Development, South Asia, Preferred Hotels & Resorts Preferred Hotels has promoted Gaurav Sindhwani to a new role as Director, Global Sales & Development, South Asia. He will continue to drive the company’s efforts in corporate, MICE, and leisure sales, and also take on additional responsibilities of overseeing the development and retention of the brand’s portfolio across the region. Sindhwani brings more than 20years of experience working in India’s hospitality industry prior to this role, specializing in sales and marketing, as well as hotel operations. Prior to joining Preferred Hotels & Resorts in May2015 as Director Global Sales for India, he served as Director of Sales & Marketing for The Imperial New Delhi, a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Legend Collection. Sindhwani spent his early career in both hotel-specific and national sales roles with The Leela Palace New Delhi, Jones Lang Lasalle, The Oberoi Group, and The Nikko Hotels.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

49

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:53 PM Page 50

AWARDS & HONOURS

RezLive.com wins a World Travel Award 2018

ITQ receives the Golden Peacock Award for 2018 InterGlobe Technology Quotient Private Limited (ITQ) has been honoured with the ‘Golden Peacock Award’ for Risk Management 2018 by the Institute of Directors at the ‘Golden Peacocks Award Night’ held on 5th December 2018 in Singapore. The Award was presented by H.E. Jawed Ashraf, IFS, Indian High Commissioner to Singapore to Alok Mehta (Group Chief Governance Officer, InterGlobe Enterprises) and Munish Gupta (Principal Finance Officer,

by TNH DESK ITQ).

ARMANI HOTEL DUBAI HONOURED Armani Hotel Dubai, the iconic hotel in Burj Khalifa, was honoured as the ‘World’s Leading Hotel’ at the World Travel Awards 2018. This award recognises the exceptional world-class guest experiences and exemplary services offered by the hotel to luxury connoisseurs and discerning travellers from around the world.

by TNH DESK

50

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | JANUARY 2019

RezLive.com won the World Travel Award for the category “World’s Leading B2B Travel Provider” in the travel industry. Winning world travel award is anachievement for RezLive.com, an award-winning brand that over the years has received thirty awards for the excellence of its product, service, technology and brand value.

by TNH DESK

ICCA’S REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ASIA PACIFIC HONORED WITH CHINESE MICE AWARD ICCA’s Regional Director Asia Pacific Noor Ahmad Hamid experienced a career highlight at the 11th China Meetings Industry Convention (CMIC) in Beijing in December, when he became the first non-Chinese recipient of the China MICE Hall of Figures Award, a prestigious accolade which honours those who have contributed to the advancement of China’s meetings industry.

by TNH DESK

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:53 PM Page 51

TnH January 2019--final-04-01-2019_Layout 1 1/5/2019 8:53 PM Page 52

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