Travel and Hospitality (TnH) - November 2016

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Advantages galore for attending

WTM London Excellent opportunity for exhibitors and buyers to promote their business

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FROM THE EDITOR

LONDON CALLING! WTM London 2016 (pg 22). India’s aggressive annual participation at the event makes it clear that we are optimistic of the opportunities abound by marketing Incredible India on this global platform. To discover more, do keep visiting our website www.tnhglobal.com to get up-to-date coverage of the meetings, sessions, and get-togethers live from WTM London.

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

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

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

Though we have conference news throughout the year here in Travel and Hospitality, this month we are focusing on the father of trade exhibitions- the World Travel Market (WTM). Considering the over abundance of conferences and exhibitions that grace the travel industry’s business calendar this is a huge title. Subsequently, our coverage of WTM 2016 begins in this issue but will continue in our December issue. To get a first glimpse be sure to take a look at our cover story, 'Advantages galore for attending WTM London' (pg 20), it includes messages from key exhibitors and buyers regarding their expectations from the show. In addition, we have featured an insightful piece on the significance of India being the premier partner of

Also in our Explore the world section, Archana Sharma travels through Jordan (pg 30) touring its historical attractions and enjoying its ethnic charm. Flip a few pages ahead to page 38 in this issue and you will find Estonia’s Ambassador to India H.E. Riho Kruuv's take on what makes his country an attractive tourist destination and how he sees Indo-Estonia relationships.

Finally all roads lead to London but as always, there’s plenty more inside. Take a look.

Happy Reading,

Srishti Rai Editor

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A N D

Travel Hospitality

CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2016 20 COVER STORY

Advantages galore for attending WTM London

06 NEWS

Zubin Karkaria honoured with TAAI’s ‘Award of Distinction’

24 WTM

20

06

24

27

30

32

34

38

Top 10 trends in global travel marts

27 TRAVEL MANTRA

Shopping tips while travelling abroad

30 EXPLORE THE WORLD Things you must enjoy while in Jordan

32 EXPLORE THE WORLD Singapore Adding Jolly to the Season

34 EXPLORE INDIA

Explore Odisha: a Scenic, Serene and Sublime Destination

38 DIPLOMAT CORNER

Estonishing Estonia: completely unique and idyllic destination

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news

ZUBIN KARKARIA HONOURED WITH TAAI’S ‘AWARD OF DISTINCTION’ Zubin Karkaria, CEO – VFS Global, and CEO – Kuoni Group, was conferred with the prestigious ‘Award of Distinction’ by the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), for his long-standing contribution to the Indian travel and tourism industry. The award was presented to Karkaria at the 63rd TAAI Convention held in Abu Dhabi on 14 October 2016. The award recognizes Karkaria’s pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit and his role as a mentor in the industry.

Presently, VFS Global serves 51 client governments and operates in 126 countries across 5 continents. The company, which pioneered the concept of visa process outsourcing, has facilitated travel across the world by enhancing efficiencies in the visa application process and making the overall visa application experience easier and more convenient for potential travellers. The ISO 27001:2013 certified company (for Information Security Management System) has been recognized for maintaining highest levels of security, while adhering to best practices in technology, innovation, and streamlined service delivery.

Karkaria, who has been a part of the travel industry for more than 25 years, established visa processing multinational VFS Global in 2001. In 2015, he became the first Asian to head the Switzerland headquartered Kuoni Group.

Speaking at the event, Karkaria said, “I am honoured to receive this recognition from TAAI, with whom I have been closely associated since the beginning of my career. VFS Global has always supported and cooperated with the travel fraternity whilst ensuring the overall sanctity of the visa application process as per requirements of our client governments. We owe our success to the trust that our client governments, partners, the travel trade, applicants, and all our stakeholders have placed in us, and are committed to the continuous enhancement of our services.”

Sunil Kumar R, President, TAAI, said “Zubin Karkaria and VFS Global are great examples of the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the Indian travel & tourism industry.

Today we are very proud to state that the VFS Global spark

Zubin Karkaria CEO – VFS Global, & CEO – Kuoni Group

was ignited in India and then spread across the world like a raging fire. Zubin is a beacon for our industry and an inspiration, who has demonstrated that when you dare to dream and are committed to making it happen, virtually anything is possible. TAAI is proud to honour and recognize the contribution of Zubin for his pioneering initiatives which includes the establishment of an enterprise like VFS Global, strongly reflecting leadership of a highly commendable order, and supporting travel not just in India but across the

by TNH DESK world.”

FICCI ANNOUNCES “ONLINE TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE” FICCI has been championing the cause of the betterment of the Travel and Tourism Industry of India for over two decades working very closely with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and various State Tourism Boards.

FICCI recognizes the changing travel market dynamics and the significant role online travel and technology is playing towards shaping the future travel booking, consumption and distribution trends. FICCI further understands the drivers towards these trends in-terms of internet penetration, usage

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of smart phones and simplification of transactional supported payment mechanism. Keeping in mind, the rapid penetration of Internet and mobile which has transformed the way travel industry operates and how travellers book and consume travel related products; FICCI has instituted the Online Travel and Technology committee which will function under the aegis of the existing FICCI Tourism committee.

by T NH DESK

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News

The 63rd Convention & Exhibition of TAAI charms Abu Dhabi with a huge Success The Indian Travel Congress 2016 organized by Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) from the 14th to 16th October 2016 has been a huge success. This 63rd Convention and Exhibition of TAAI was held at the most famous and incredible “Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi” and featured about 700 Delegates.

The Convention was also highlighted by the most popular ITTE – India Travel Trade Expo offering an excellent B2B opportunity to the visiting delegates to connect themselves with vendors from all over. The convention was ably supported

by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA) who had inspired TAAI to decide Abu Dhabi as the venue for this most outstanding tourism event of the year. TCA played a key role in hosting the Inaugural evening at the Emirates Palace; free visas to the delegates; Pre-Post tours to the Delegates; City Tours and extending overall support to ensure success of the event.

Emirates Palace had gone all out to offer to delegates greatest of comfort and opulence backed by the rich quality of some great service. This year, TAAI Convention will always be recalled for the most outstanding manner it was pre-

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sented to the Delegates amidst the best of convention venues in the world. Sunil Kumar, President of TAAI remarked “Organizing a Convention of this huge magnitude in less than 40 days strongly reflects the TEAM WORK by TAAI and invaluable support from our partners in the Industry. The success of the event is a strong attribute of TAAI and its eminence” The Convention was inaugurated by India’s acting Ambassador Her Excellency Neeta Bhushan, Acting Ambassador of India to Abu Dhabi; by the Director Gen-

eral of TCA His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash and Sunil Kumar, President of TAAI on 14th October, 2016 at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. The Director General of TCA also released the convention special – the third issue of TAAI’s Travel & Tourism magazine NAMASTAAI on the 14th October. TAAI presented three prominent industry awards on 14th October. Zubin Karkaria, CEO of VFS Global was presented with “TAAI’s Award of Distinction for his outstanding leadership and growth in the industry, Dev Karvat, Managing Director of Trawell Tag Cover More was presented the “TAAI’s Awards of Excellence” for his most significant contribution to the Industry and Shyam Nijhawan, Chairman of the Nijhawan Group was presented the “Life Time Achievement Award” for his decades of contribution and support to the Industry.

On 15th & 16th October, at the Emirates Palace, TAAI held its “Knowledge Sessions” featuring subjects of relevance and importance encouraging the delegates to embrace change and be prepared for a fast evolving scenario that demands newer approaches to service the growing travellers. The Convention theme “Tomorrow begins NOW” with a tag line, “rise above the routine” was well received and served as an excellent focus for the deby T NH DESK bates held.

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news

Travellers would spend $100 on airline ancillaries to personalise travel experience: study New research from global travel technology company, Sabre Corporation has found that travellers would drop a hundred dollar bill to make their travel a little more “about me”. Sabre surveyed travellers from 20 countries about what they would spend and why. The results show that 80 percent of travellers purchased air extras on their last trip, spending an average of $62. When asked if they would spend more to personalise their trip, the answer was “yes” – up to $99 if it improved their travel experience.

The research was announced at the IATA World Passenger Symposium in Dubai, as part of a Sabre-hosted industry roundtable on how airlines and hotels can deliver more tailored offers and services to customers.

Regional differences in ancillary purchases The survey also found differences between what people from different regions would spend on extras, with Africans willing to spend the most and Asia Pacific travellers the least. When asked what they would be most likely to spend money on, the most desired ancillaries were cabin class upgrades, on-board food and beverage and preferred seating and extra leg room – all at 11 percent. This was followed by inflight Wi-Fi (nine percent) and extra checked baggage (nine percent). The popularity of each ancillary varied between travellers from each region, with North Americans and Europeans choosing preferred seating and extra

leg room; Latin Americans opting for onboard Wi-Fi, and Asia Pacific travellers selecting extra checked luggage. For travellers from Africa and the Middle East, on-board food and beverage, and fast track security respectively topped their pick.

Personalisation While technology is preferred by most travellers to plan and book travel, human interaction still plays a significant role in some countries. In Latin America, almost half (48 percent) prefer the help of a consultant to plan and book travel, compared to around a third of travellers from other regions – 37 percent in the Middle East, 36 percent in Asia, 35 percent in Africa and North Amerby T NH DESK ica, and 33 percent in Europe.

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News

INDIA HOLDS OUT HUGE POTENTIAL FOR ABU DHABI'S TOURISM, SAYS TCA DIRECTOR GENERAL India’s leading travel agents have been urged to seize the potential of Abu Dhabi’s diverse tourism offering to further boost their already growing business relations with the Emirate.

The call came at a welcome gala reception for up to 600 agents, all members of The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) - the ‘voice’ of the country’s rapidly expanding travel and tourism sector - which held its 63rd annual convention at Abu Dhabi’s signature Emirates Palace for the first time in Abu Dhabi.

Addressing the agents, H.E. Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which hosted the gathering, said the outbound Indian market is of paramount importance to the Emirate as it is now the largest overseas source of hotel guests.

In the first half of this year 152,423 Indians checked into Abu Dhabi hotels which were a 20% year-over-year increase. Indian guests accounted for 7% of all hotel stays in the Emirate, with a longer-than-average stay of 3.4 nights. Ghobash said with three

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airlines now operating more than 300 combined flights a week to Abu Dhabi from 15 different Indian cities, the Emirate could be promoted within India as a convenient short-break choice, a luxury wedding celebration destination and a world-class meeting and convention venue in less than four hours flying time.

“Abu Dhabi could cater to the various travel segments because of its product diversity which spans capital city luxury, Yas Island entertainment, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Al Ain and superb desert and island resorts within Al Gharbia” said TCA Director General. He also pointed to new attractions taking shape on Yas Island and the near completion of the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island.

Abu Dhabi was selected as host venue for the TAAI convention following a successful bid by the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau – the dedicated TCA Abu Dhabi division which champions the Emirate as a dynamic global business events leader. During their stay in Abu Dhabi, the TAAI delegates will be hosted on city tours and will visit Yas Island, the Emirate’s entertainment destination, where they will experience Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – the world’s only Ferrari theme park. The TAAI Convention is the second major overseas summit being hosted in Abu Dhabi this month. From October 10-12, the emirate hosted the 2016 convention of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

by T NH DESK

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News

THAI Smile Airways to introduce new flights to four cities of India THAI Smile Airways creates another milestone, as the only scheduled airline from Thailand to fly to Gaya and Varanasi, Jaipur, and Lucknow, with the launch of new flights. The flights will gradually start operation from Bangkok to Gaya and Varanasi from October 1, Bangkok to Jaipur from November 15, and Bangkok to Lucknow from December 1, 2016.

These flights will bridge the demand of both Indians and Thais, who have been looking for seamless connections for religion, work and leisure purpose in Thailand, India and onward destinations. Isra Stapanaseth, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), New Delhi Office said, "Tourism Authority of Thailand congratulates THAI Smile Airline to operate direct flight from tier 2 cities like Jaipur, Lucknow to Thailand which are potential mar-

kets for India. THAI Smile makes it more convenient and effective in terms of tourism; segments like weddings, corporates, family, luxury travellers and commercial trades will be benefited. With this direct connectivity, we are very positive that it will boost the tourism from these cities to Thailand in the near future."

Captain Woranate Laprabang, Acting Chief Executive Officer, THAI Smile Airways, stated that THAI Smile Airways, which is a 100% subsidiary of THAI Airways, the national flag carrier, proudly introduces new flights to India’s four popular cities. The flights will gradually start operation respectively from Bangkok to Gaya and Varanasi, effective from October 1, Bangkok to Jaipur from November 15, and Bangkok to Lucknow from December 1. “THAI Smile Airways under-

stands the immense need for passengers travelling among these 4 cities. A journey which can be covered in less than 4 hours can take up to 8 – 10 hours. We wish to make it more comfortable and affordable to Indian passengers,” Captain Woranate added.

“Our well trained and experienced flight crew has been meticulously selected to provide full service with the same standard as with that of THAI Airways. This is to meet the highest standards of quality, while offering value for money experience to the passengers. This is our top priority. With our determination to be a favorite regional airline in Asia, we therefore continue to expand international routes and increase flight frequency to facilitate the passengers,” Captain Woranate explained.

by TNH DESK

Goa first state to introduce Duck Boat Tours in India Goa Tourism has successfully launched Amphibious Vessels also popularly known as Duck Boats which is the first of its kind being used for civilian purpose (joy rides) in India.

Launched on the auspicious day of Dussehra, the event also marked another milestone for the Government of Goa and Goa Tourism and was presided by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa Laxmikant Parsekar. Others who were present at the event included Dilip Parulekar – Minister for Tourism, Nilesh Cabral – Chairman Goa Tourism Development Corporation, Sidharth Kunkoliekar - Panaji MLA, Nikhil Desai – Managing Director of Goa Tourism Development Corporation, BoDs of GTDC and other officials.

Parsekar flagged off the amphibian joy ride service and personally experienced the premiere ride in River Mandovi. Full-fledged operations of the Duck Boat joy rides will begin in November and online bookings can be done on www.goa-tourism.com.

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by T NH DESK

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news

Club Med partners Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation to develop 3rd resort in Indonesia, Club Med Lombok Club Med Lombok is a contemporary nature-inspired, upscale and eco-chic resort. The resort will offer an authentic and unbridled escape to nature with its exclusive collection in Indonesia.

Club Med, the pioneer of the Premium All-Inclusive holiday concept, has announced plans to open Club Med Lombok, the third resort in Indonesia. Situated in the tranquil waters and abundant nature of Lombok, the new island resort offers families, couples, and corporate groups an exotic and eventful holiday experience

filled with authentic and rich discoveries.

Lombok is a well-preserved island located east of Bali with fine destinations in the south, such as Mandalika. Blessed with over 16 kilometres of stunning natural landscapes and the rich culture of Indonesia, it is the ideal retreat for weary city dwellers and worldly travellers who seek an escape from the hectic schedule of city life.

Spanning over a preserved site of 15 hectares with 650 metres of pristine aquamarine waters with powdery white sand, the new Club Med Lombok will offer

guests a plethora of sea activities, such as snorkelling, surfing, diving and more.

“We are very happy to have the support and opportunity to work with ITDC once again to develop Indonesia’s prime locations as we did thirty years ago with the first resort, Club Med Bali,” shared Henri Giscard d’Estaing. “Club Med Lombok will be a successful resort that promotes the unique and beautiful environment of Lombok to the rest of the world, and we are excited to be one of the first to invest in the region.”

by TNH DESK

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News

IITTM Gwalior to organise 6th Asia-Euro conference 2016 Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior (IITTM) to organise 6th Asia-Euro conference 2016 in Tourism, Hospitality & Gastronomy from 9th to 12th November, 2016.

Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Gwalior, an organization of Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, is one of the premier institutions in the field of tourism and travel management in the country. Besides several short-time EDP/MDPs courses on selected themes, IITTM has been running full-time MBA (Tourism & Travel Management) as well as BBA

Cox & Kings opens first Forex Store at Panjim in Goa Cox & Kings Ltd., the leading holidays and education travel group having operations in 22 countries, opened its first dedicated Foreign Exchange branch at Panjim in Goa. The branch designed as a onestop-shop for all foreign exchange requirements was inaugurated by Ravi Menon, Head, Foreign Exchange, Cox & Kings Ltd. The flagship store located at Magnum Centre, First Floor, Shop 20, MG Road, Panjim will offer a slew of products - buying and selling of all frequently traded foreign currencies, sell pre-paid cards, enable Money Transfer business where tourists can receive money from overseas, as well as provide domestic money transfer facilities. Students who desire to travel overseas from Goa for further studies can avail Foreign Currency Draft and Outward Remittance facilities through this outlet.

According to Ravi Menon, Head, Foreign Exchange, Cox & Kings Ltd., “Goa is a key market as it receives a large number of foreign tourists. Our bouquet of foreign exchange products and services are

by T NH DESK designed to cater to this segment.

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(Tourism & Travel) programmes with specialization in Tourism & Travel, International Tourism, Service Sector, Leisure Management & Cargo respectively. IITTM is also involved in the research and training activities for the development of tourism in the country and allied sectors. Conference Chairman and Director, IITTM Prof. Sandeep Kulshreshtha, has informed that – "It is the first time in India that this conference is being organized in collaboration with Taylor's University, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia and University of

by T NH DESK Toulouse, Jean Jaures, France.

Lords Hotels & Resorts bags 7 awards at the Tourism Awards Gujarat 2016 India’s premium hospitality chain in the mid-market segment, Lords Hotels & Resorts bagged seven awards at the recent ‘Tourism Awards Gujarat 2016’ held in Ahmedabad, including the prestigious Best Chain Hotel In Gujarat. With its hotel property in Surat – Lords Plaza winning the most awards in different categories, its properties in Vadodara – Revival Lords Inn and in Dwarka – Dwarkadhish Lords Eco Inn won an award each.

Lords Hotels & Resorts has fourteen hotel properties, out of the twenty six properties, in Gujarat alone and has plans to take the total count to at least 40 properties by the year 2020.

The categories in which Lords Hotels & Resorts received the awards include Best 3 Star Hotel in Surat - Lords Plaza, Best Budget Hotel of Vadodara - Revival Lords Inn, Best Budget Hotel in Other city - Dwarkadhish Lords Eco Inn, Best Business Hotel in Surat - Lords Plaza, Best Restaurant in Surat - Lords Plaza, Best Multi Cuisine Restaurant in Surat - Lords Plaza, Best Chain Hotel in Gujarat - Lords Hotels And Resorts. by TNH DESK

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news

Air India enhances passenger experience with new SITA-built App Easy-to-use mobile service gives airline increased access to mobile-savvy passenger market Air India has launched a completely new app to its more than 18-million passengers which will takethe user experience to a new level.Built by global technology provider SITA using its state-of-the art mobile platform, the app makes it even easier for passengers to book, check-in and manage every aspect of their journey from their mobile device.

Air India’s new app meets the growing demand for mobile services in India and supports the airline’s drive to increase direct consumer booking – both domestically and internationally. Today more thanone billion Indians use a mobile phone. Of these, more than 300million regularly use them to access the Internet, a trend that is expected to grow by 56% per year.

Built on SITA’s iTravel® platform, the Air India appoffers the ability to book and pay for a flight by quickly and securely scanning both your passport and credit card. Passengerscan fully manage their booking from their mobile device,including selecting their seat, making changes to their itinerary, buying additional services, choosing their meal and checking in.

The app has also been integrated with Air India’s Flying Returns loyalty program where passengers can securely access details of points earned or other updatesto their accounts.

Ashwani Lohani, Chairman and MD of Air India, said: “Mobile apps are becoming an important tool for making travel bookings by passengers who are tech-savvy and like to access information on the go. This mobile app provides Air India the right tool to access a growing passenger market that is connected both in India and beyond. The new app, developed by SITA, provides an elevated mobile experience where passengers can easily manage every

by T NH DESK step of their journey on their phone or tablet no matter where they are.”

CleartriP launCHes new ProGramme “First Cut” Cleartrip, in association with OML,launches ‘First Cut’ –a programme that will feature events under comedy, music andstorytelling genres.

The first version of First Cut will see 27 events being held across the metros: New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai.

The cities will witness anenthralling performance by artistessuch as Kanan Gill, Zakir Khan,among others. With this, Cleartrip is set to indulge people in a riveting musical and comedy experience, live on stage.

This exclusive content, in association with strategic partner OML, will be available on Cleartrip Local for customers to book instantly.

by T NH DESK

Trailing in luxury heritage Pachar Group of Hotels is expanding with the twin rhythms of heritage and luxury to catapult young, highend luxury travellers.

Rajasthan is inextricably woven in heritage and when it comes to heritage hospitality, it is a sheer wonder for highend luxury tourists with a penchant for timeless art. For Jaipur’s Pachar Group of Hotels, hospitality is a tradition that traces its descent in Pachar hamlet in Sikar district, around 60 km from Jaipur. Owned by Pachar Group, Hari Mahal Palace in Jaipur opened its gates sometime in 2000 and prides in showcasing the royal architecture of Jaipur.

It has been a chequered past for the owners of Pachar Group who belong to the royal kingdom of Shekhawati dating back to 15th century and pride in their past glory.

According to Jitendra Singh Pachar, Director, Pachar Group, “We have luxury hotels flaunting the royal grandeur of Rajasthan including the 300-year-old Castle Pachar in Shekhawati that dishes out culinary delights of

Shekhawati. There is Aaram Baagh in Udaipur displaying the art of pre-Aryan civilazation and Aaram Baagh in Pushkar. Very soon, we are opening another luxury property in Agra that will showcase the royal architecture of Mughal empire right from Babur to Bahadur Shah Zafar.

The luxury hotel will kick-off sometime in December 2017.”

Equipped with 11 luxury rooms, Hari Mahal Palace has more domestic luxury tourists than global visitors.

by TNH DESK

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | NOVEMBER 2016

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news

The Hall of Fame Hot.E, A New Recognition of European Industry to Gabriel Escarrer Juliá

SRILANKAN AIRLINES COMMENCES SERVICES TO LAHORE SriLankan Airlines has enhance its focus on the Asia / Middle East region by commencing services between the Pakistani city of Lahore and Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo. Ajith Dias, Chairman of SriLankan airlines, said: “This is an important step in our strategy of increasing our focus on Asia, from the Middle East in the west to China and Japan in the east. In addition, as we announced previously, we are taking over operations of Mihin Lanka, in accordance with our government’s policy. The route will be served by SriLankan’s medium haul fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. SriLankan already has a daily service to Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and commercial centre.

by T NH DESK

Meliá Hotels International ‘s Chairman and founder have just been presented with the "Hall of Fame Award" at the Hotel Investors Conference Europe (Hot.E) held in London, in front of some of the most important experts, Chairmen and CEO’s in the Hospitality Industry in Europe.

This new recognition of a lifetime of work and success of Gabriel Escarrer coincides with the 60th anniversary of the group founded by him in 1956, when he was only 21 years old, in Mallorca. Since then, as we all know, his tireless tenacity and strength, his values and his strategic vision of the tourism industry, have enabled him to build a leading international company with over 375 hotels and almost 100,000 rooms, located in 42 countries.

Throughout his passionate speech at the Awards ceremony, our Chairman shared some of the keys behind his success and his main lifelong learnings, and listed our industry’s main future challenges, emphasizing the importance of focusing on customers – being the service vocation an intrinsic value to our Company and on investors, partners and distributors. In particular, he stressed the need for companies to reinvent themselves and modernize permanently their products, brands and processes, an attitude thanks to which, in his words, "Meliá has managed to stay ahead, even in the earliest times recently, as one of the exponents of the digital transformation of the sector ". by TNH DESK

RezLive.com organises Agent Networking Event in New Delhi, India RezLive.com, Travel Designer Group hosted Agent Networking event in “Hot Mess”, New Delhi - India, which was attended by all the leading travel agents and tour operators of Delhi and NCR region, followed by evening supper.

The event was held to appreciate the never ending response from the local travel trade and also acted as a platform to discuss company’s future offerings. The event also helped the RezLive.com team to listen to the useful suggestions provided by the local travel trade and looked for the possibilities to grow business mutually.

Jaal Shah (Group Managing Director – Travel Designer Group), firstly appreciated the local travel partners for the overwhelming support they have received from Delhi & NCR market and also highlighted the importance of sustaining and strengthening the

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solid foundation that they share with Travel Designer Group.

He also highlighted the future plans of the company and how we can mutually benefit each other to prosper ahead. Lastly he said that, we at Travel Designer Group understand the importance of our travel partners and always try to offer them something innoby TNH DESK vative, that will make their job easy.

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news

JAMMU READYING WITH MICE & BORDER TOURISM Border tourism is catching up at Suchetgarh in Jammu.

Tourism transcends all boundaries and the department of Sushma Chauhan tourism, Jammu is Director, department of tourism, concentrating on to Jammu upgrade the basic tourism facilities and offer a fillip to the infrastructure in and around the city of Jammu. The tourism department is working to project the Jammu segment as a prospective MICE destination.

The department is going for advertisements and campaigns to draw tourists.

Sushma Chauhan, Director, department of tourism, Jammu stated, “We are developing MICE tourism in Srinagar and Jammu and there are convention halls at Patnitop, Gulmarg and Sonmarg. There are three golf courses in Srinagar and one 18-hole golf course in Jammu. Our potential tourist markets are Gujarat, West Bengal, Mumbai and New Delhi. West Bengal accounts for the second highest tourist flow into the state.”

The department of tourism is positioning itself to boost border tourism in Jammu.

Chauhan said, “There is Suchetgarh in R S Pura sector that has an age-old Peepal tree that falls in the midst of India and Pakistan and is worth a visit. Suchetgarh is an hour drive from Jammu. We have given a proposal to start off an International Yoga Centre at Patnitop. Work will begin within a year.”

Sushma Chauhan, Director, department of tourism, Jammu, “We have given a proposal to start off an International Yoga Centre at Patnitop.”

by TNH DESK

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KERALA, ONLY STATE FROM INDIA LISTED IN NAT GEO'S 'AROUND THE WORLD IN 24 HOURS' Picturesque tiny island in 'God's Own Country' among 24 world destinations!

Kakkathuruthu, a tiny spectacular island in Kerala’s tangled backwaters, finds place among select stunning destinations across the world that hold appeal to the adventurous traveller. Nestled along the Kerala Coast, the emerald-fringed "Island of Crows" has been listed in National Geographic's 'Around the World in 24 Hours', a photographic tour of travel-worthy spots across the world. "Kerala is known for its rustic beauty and an incredibly picturesque landscape, verdant hills and quiet backwaters, which attract tourists from across the world. It is a matter of pride for us to be listed by Nat Geo, which is among the leading magazines in the world," said Kerala Tourism Minister A C Moideen. The charm of the small island with sea green waters, lush coconut groves and absence of tarred roads, located in Alappuzha, has been captured by the magazine photographers during the time of dusk when "the shadows lengthen and the sky shifts from pale blue to sapphire." In a graphic description, the magazine says the sunset in Kerala is greeted by a series of rituals — Sari-clad women head home in skiffs, fishermen light lamps and cast nets into the lagoon and bats swoop across the horizon snapping up moths. "If dawn is awakening and daytime illumination, then twilight is transcendence, a final burst of vitality before darkness falls," said NatGeo Expeditions. Beginning with hunting the aurora borealis in the northern lights zone in Norway at 12 am, the list includes photos of Hawaii at 5 am, Paris at 6 am, San Francisco at 7 am, Abu Dhabi at 8 am, Melbourne at 9 am, New York at 8 pm, Budapest (Hungary) at 10 pm and Kerala at 6 pm, among others, offering a peek into how different places in the world look like.

by TNH DESK

LEMON TREE HOTELS LAUNCH 2 NEW HOTELS IN BANDHAVGARH AND GOA The Lemon Tree Hotel Company has announced the opening of two new properties, one each in Goa and Bandhavgarh, thereby affirming the groups’ growing focus on resort and leisure destinations.

Branded as Lemon Tree Hotel, Candolim, while this midscale hotel becomes the groups’ second property in Goa; Lemon Tree Wildlife Resort, Bandhavgarh debuts as the first wildlife resort of the group. Envisioned to be in line with the quintessential fresh and fun spirit of Lemon Tree properties, these hotels promise to delight their upbeat guests with their vibrant interiors, sumptuous food, ‘close to home’ comfort and hybrid experiences, clubbed with the distinctive warm and friendly service that Lemon Tree is known for.

Lemon Tree Hotel, Candolim is located in North Goa, just walking distance from the Candolim Beach, and about 10 minutes drive from Fort Aguada, the 17th Century Portuguese marvel. Designed to offer an ambience that is refreshing, it is also in close proximity to Calangute beach and other key tourist destinations of the city. by TNH DESK

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Advantages galore for attending WTM London There are plethora of advantages for both exhibitors and buyers to attend the World Travel Market London that's why the event retains its relevance and popularity at a time when number of travel marts across the world is growing and the travel industry has more options.

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ttending travel trade marts is an important global practice for professionals of travel and tourism industry. These marts benefit tourism companies in many ways such as building professional relationships, getting business leads, learning latest market trends and new ideas from industry experts, learning from other like-minded participants, gaining an understanding of best global practices, and of course, meeting old business partners to refresh their ties.

Every year in the month of November, thousands of travel professionals gather at WTM London to seek new opportunities and to forge new partnerships as well as to strengthen old business ties. They utilize this occasion to engage with leaders and experts in the industry and learn new trends and innovations in different parts of the world. They return home with numerous new contacts, sales leads and valuable insights on how to grow their business.

WTM 2016 is being held at ExCeL London on 7 - 9 November 2016. Organized

by Reed Exhibitions, WTM London is the world's leading annual travel trade show.

WTM London attracts from big to small travel brands from different segments of the travel & tourism industry such as hotels, airlines, tourism boards, tour opera-

A

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Karan Anand Head—Relationships, Cox & Kings

tors, travel agents, PR companies, etc.

Representatives of many brands are there to explore new business opportunities.

WTM London is a must attend B2B event for the travel industry. There are multiple reasons for this event to be the world's leading travel trade show. The trade show presents a diverse range of destinations and tourism products to travel professionals from across the world.

The exhibitors get opportunity to exhibit their products to buyers from across the world. They increase their sales potential and market reach. They get leads for future business deals. They also utilize their presence at the WTM for making new business contacts, positioning, branding and relationship building. Just by attending one event they reach out to the large world-wide travel market.

WTM London is also a big opportunity to connect with existing clients and refresh ties with them. With good planning and tons of energy even the smallest tour operator can benefit enormously.

The event attracts tremendous footfall

Rajeev Kohli Joint Managing Director, Creative Travel India

of buyers from the many international markets. Every year more than 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international press participates in the WTM to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry opinion and trends at WTM. This year for the first time, WTM London will be a three day event from 7th to 9th November. This has been done on the basis of exhibitor and visitor feedback.

This year the show will also have extended opening hours from 10am to 7pm, which means extra business hours and greater business opportunities. The extended opening hours will reduce the overall ancillary costs of exhibiting and visiting the event. TnH speaks to some exhibitors and buyers to know the benefits of attending the WTM London.

Global platform for the tourism industry: According to Karan Anand, Head—Relationships, Cox & Kings, WTM London is a global platform for the travel and tourism industry. It provides us with the opportunity to renew old relationships

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Nishant Pitti CEO, EaseMyTrip.com.

and forge new partnerships. It is also a platform for us to exhibit our new products and engage with destinations and suppliers to introduce new products to our clientele.

Event to meet partners: WTM is one of the major tradeshows of the world in our industry. According to Rajeev Kohli, Joint Managing Director, Creative Travel India, travel trade shows form a very important component of the marketing plan for many stakeholders. It allows us to meet existing partners from all over the world as well as create new relationships for future business. Another important aspect of trade shows is that they allow us to see and judge trends across other and competing destinations through interactions with exhibitors from other parts of the world. So at the end of the day WTM this year will be another important shall for many Indian stakeholders who have various objectives from their participation.

Event offers huge opportunities: World Travel Market is the leading international event that connects professionals of travel industry and helps them in conducting great business deals, according to Nishant Pitti, CEO, EaseMyTrip.com.

Through this event, we can create personal and business opportunities to provide exclusive contacts, content and communities to the customers. As an exhibitor, we get a chance to promote our country as a great tourist destination

Jaal Shah Group Managing Director Travel Designer Group & Founder – RezLive.com.

along with endorsing various tourism products and services. This enables us to associate, bargain and conduct business with more than 50,000 international travel professionals from around 40 different sectors of the travel industry. No other travel expo or event gives this huge platform to the travel agents.

Best platform to showcase tourism products: World Travel Market is a world class travel trade show, which offers the best platform to showcase one’s offerings to the travel trade that is pooled in from all across the globe, says Jaal Shah, Group Managing Director – Travel Designer Group Founder – RezLive.com. According to him, it has the highest number of international portfolio of exhibitors amongst all the Travel Trade Shows. WTM not only serves as the path defining and learning experience for the buyers across the globe, but also serves as a leader for providing the conducive environment for any exhibiting organization to showcase its offering to the buyers in the best possible manner. With growing popularity from Asia pacific, Europe, Africa and Middle East reflecting market developments and expansion, the 2016 WTM is all set to offer promising business prospects. We look forward to have a fruitful WTM as always.

Numerous benefits for buyers: It is not only exhibitors that benefits from WTM London but buyers also benefit

from this event. WTM London provides an array of facilities to its buyers who attend the event to source products from exhibitors. They network and discuss business opportunities with exhibitors . The buyers at WTM London have great opportunities to see wide range of tourism products from across the world under one roof and meet and negotiate with exhibitors present there.

WTM Buyers’ Club is its exclusive business club for the travel industry’s most senior buyers. The membership of the Buyers’ Club helps in making contacts and concluding deals. The membership is open to the entire travel industry with a strict selection process in place to ensure that only the most senior industry buyers are granted membership. WTM Buyers’ Club facilitates business opportunities between buyers and exhibitors in terms of meeting, networking and concluding business deals. Benefits of WTM Buyers’ Club include the WTM Speed Networking sessions, exclusive WTM Buyers’ Club lounges with free refreshments, access to private meeting rooms, fast-track entry to WTM, dedicated cloakrooms and discounted travel, accommodation and entertainment. Some other important benefits of attending the WTM London for buyers are: Reaching plenty of exhibitors under one roof: Buyers attending WTM London have opportunities to visit stands of numerous exhibitors to know many new and emerging tourism products and new offerings. This enrich their product ranges and provide more choices for their customers in terms of holiday packages. Buyers get chances to meet and negotiate with new suppliers at the WTM London and establish relationship with them to source new tourism products for sales in their respective markets.

Occasion to know new-emerging destinations: WTM London offers buyer an opportunity to know and learn about new and emerging destinations that will attract their clients. Discerning travelers look for new destination to have a new

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Knowing latest trends & practices: At the WTM London, buyers also get opportunity to learn new market trends and practices from the industry experts and the like-minded buyers. This helps buyers to improve their business.

Updating know-how and expertise :

An another important benefit for buyers is that they get opportunity to enhance and update their know-how in buying and selling tourism products and services.

This comes through interaction with their business partners, various travel professionals and the industry experts from different regions of the world, as well as by

attending insightful business sessions, seminars and workshops that are the important features of the WTM London.

Indeed, WTM London is a great opportunity for exhibitors and buyers, in general, for the whole travel and tourism industry of the world.

Being Premier Partner of WTM London 2016 to boost India's tourism outreach Being the premier partner of the event will allow India's Ministry of Tourism to speak to WTM Buyers’ Club members at WTM London 2016 and request them to sell India's tourist attractions.

India Tourism is the Premier Partner of World Travel Market London 2016, the leading global event of the travel industry.

The aim is to promote the diverse tourism product the country offers. Last year India Tourism was the sponsor of WTM Buyers’ Club. While the government has taken many steps in recent past to promote tourism in the country, marketing the destination in the world market has remained a challenge that is one of the reasons for the modest growth of foreign tourists arrivals in the country. Being premier partner at WTM London will help India market its diverse and emerging tourism products among important buyers from different regions of the world. Explaining the benefits of India's presence at the WTM London 2016 as its premier partner, Karan Anand, Head—Relationships, Cox & Kings, said that this will help the country get the much-needed visibility in a forum such as the World Travel Market and enable us to position India amongst operators from tourism generating countries.

At the WTM 2016, India's Tourism Ministry is also expected to seek investment in the country's tourism, hotel and aviation sectors. Indian's civil aviation market is growing at fast pace and needs huge investment to cater to future demands. As the premier partner of the event, India's

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Ministry of Tourism will be speaking to WTM Buyers’ Club members from its key source markets of the U.S., U.K., China, Australia, France, Germany, Canada and Spain as well as the growing markets of South East Asia, the Middle East and Russia. Buyers from the WTM Buyers’ Club have a combined purchasing responsibility of $22.6 billion (£15.8bn).

Promoting India in international markets has been a challenge before the Indian tourism industry. Experts say that India's efforts to market its tourism products has not been very encouraging. The government launched e-visa in November 2014, now the scheme is available to nationals of 37 countries, but there is lack of awareness in the foreign countries about the scheme.

The NDA government led by Prime Min-

ister Narendra Modi has been focusing on tourism products such as culture and heritage, coastal and beach tourism, cruise, eco-tourism, medical and wellness tourism, adventure and golf. India has 32 World Heritage sites including Islamic, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu religious sites.

HRIDAY and PRASAD are two flagship programmes of the government of India aimed at improving infrastructure facilities in the cities having heritage sites and pilgrimage centers. Both schemes target holistic development of pilgrimage and heritage cities to attract tourists. HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) scheme under Ministry of Urban Development is focused on the overall development of the identified cities whereas PRASAD (National Mission on Pil-

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cover story grimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) under Tourism Ministry is focused on developing civil amenities at pilgrimage centers/heritage sites identified under HRIDAY scheme.

India is also focusing on its North East region comprising states such as Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram.

The Union Government along with the respective state governments is making huge investment in improving tourism infrastructure and connectivity. Government of India has been organizing India International Travel Mart for some years with focus on promotion of tourism in the North Eastern states. With its abundant natural resources and cultural diversity, the region is described as “Paradise Unexplored”. Government of India recognizes huge potential of eco and adventure tourism in the country as large part of Himalayas lies in India across 10 states of India that include Jammu & Kashmir, Hi-

machal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh as well as the hill regions of two states - Assam and West Bengal.

Speaking about India becoming the premier partner of WTM 2016, Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India said: “India is privileged to be Premier Partner of WTM London 2016. The event is the perfect platform to promote the diverse tourism products the country has to offer, from cultural heritage to beaches, cruises, eco-tourism, medical tourism and religious tourism and to showcase that India is truly Incredible”.

“There is an ever-increasing amount of new and exciting products to educate the world’s leading buyers about. WTM London is an event when the Indian tourism stakeholders get to meet the world’s buyers and sign business agreements. The Ministry of Tourism and the Indian exhibitors look forward to a very successful WTM London 2016.”

WTM London, Senior Director, Simon Press, said: “WTM London is delighted to welcome India as its Premier Partner for 2016. India has been a key exhibitor at WTM London in recent years, including its sponsorship of the WTM Buyers’ Club in 2015.

“Becoming WTM London’s Premier Partner cements that relationship further and puts India in prime position to promote the diversity of the country’s tourism offering to more than 9,000 of the world’s most important buyers through the WTM Buyers’ Club. These buyers will sign deals worth more than £2.5 billion with exhibitors.”

The Indian Government has in the last two years invested more than $300m (US Dollars) on developing its tourism infrastructure around the country, with aims for more than 13 million visitors a year by 2020. India is experiencing a 10% annual growth in foreign tourist arrivals this year taking visitor numbers to a projected nine million in 2016.

roomsXML to delight travel agents at WTM 2016 As always, this year also roomsXML will be participating at WTM London in the Travel Technology Section - TT-525. Visitors simply need to look out for its confident and smiling team to know more about some incredible innovations at roomsXML. "2017 will be another path-breaking year for us. Till date we have introduced 11 unique features in roomsXML. Many of the features are yet to be emulated by similar systems in the marketplace," said Prakash Bang, Managing Director, roomsXML Solutions. He informed that at WTM 2016, roomsXML will introduce the next generation API with cutting edge features. Two of them are: Under 1-second response, and Multiple hotel searches in single request "There are a few more, which we would like to keep under cover for now.

Over and above, there will be major enhancements to the booking platform

with innovative search and filter tools, improved hotel and room level content, integrated CRM which will allow users to submit and track all their support queries directly from the roomsXML platform," said Bang. He added, as always we will focus on technology and content delivery, enabling our travel agent partners compete with large OTAs. Rather than spreading ourselves thin by diversifying in new product lines and markets, we would stay put in our core areas and consolidate our growth - in the accommodation segment. We would rather hold an ace than a pack of jacks."

Prakash Bang Managing Director, roomsXML Solutions

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10GLOBAL

TRENDS IN

TRAVEL MARTS v B Neha Kirpal Y

The World Travel Market (WTM) scheduled for 7–9 November in London, will be a three-day event this year. The exhibition will open from 10 am to 7 pm on all three days. While buyers and visitors will need to be invited by exhibitors on 7th November to gain entry to the exhibition, the bulk of the content will take place on 8th and 9th November—open days for everybody who works in the travel and tourism industry.

The key change for this year’s WTM is that the WTM World Responsible Tourism Day will take place on the 8th, swapping days with the UNWTO and WTM Ministers’ Summit, which will now take place

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on the 9th. The WTM Speed Networking for buyers and exhibitors will take place, as usual, on 7th morning before the exhibition floor opens, and the WTM Bloggers’ Speed Networking will move to 9th morning. The event will conclude with the WTM Festivals.

India Tourism is the premier partner of this year’s WTM, as it looks to promote the diverse tourism product that the country offers. India is experiencing a 10% annual growth in foreign tourist arrivals this year, taking visitor numbers to a projected nine million in 2016. The government has invested more than USD 300 million on developing its tourism in-

frastructure around the country, as it aims for more than 13 million visitors a year by 2020. The Ministry of Tourism will be looking to speak to members of the WTM Buyers’ Club from its key source markets of the US, UK, China, Australia, France, Germany, Canada and Spain as well as the growing markets of South East Asia, the Middle East and Russia.

The WTM Global Trends Report, in association with Euromonitor International has been successfully predicting trends in the travel and tourism industry for more than decade. The bodies have collaborated for the 11th year to predict future trends shaping the travel industry. The

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new travel trends predicted by the WTM Global Trends Report 2016 will be revealed at Euromonitor’s conference session from 10:30 am to 11:30 am on 8th November at the WTM London International Press Centre at the Excel Centre.

The conference session will also take place on 8th November from 3:00 pm to 3:50 pm at the WTM Inspire Theatre at the Excel Centre.

The report highlights some vital analysis related to changing consumer behaviours as a response to external shocks and global events. The upcoming WTM Global Trends Report shows how travel brands and destinations are grasping the opportunities thrown up by a constantly changing landscape.

Some of the top travel trends to watch out for at global travel marts and exhibitions include the following: 1. Hipster holidays: Tourists are looking beyond the mainstream or traditional tourist spots, exploring districts popular with the locals. Some of the offbeat areas include Kreuzberg in Berlin, District VII in Budapest and Miera iela in Riga. Thus, trailblazers are continually changing the landscape of the tourism industry. Local residents are lapping up the growing trend, offering hipster tours of different districts, such as the East London Bike

Tour that takes guests on bikes through the city’s canals, street art and back roads.

2. Peer-to-peer online marketplace: Homestay networks such as Airbnb have played a central role in opening up many small neighbourhoods to visitors, as many of these places lack hotels and private rentals are often the only option for staying locally. The home rental business has taken the travel industry by storm.

While 74% of Airbnb properties are located outside the main hotel districts, 85% of Airbnb guests choose Airbnb to ‘live like a local’ in communities beyond the tourist hotspots. This is a key trend as people across all age groups are looking for more unique holiday experiences.

3. Mobile travel: Mobile convenience has become the buzzword, as travellers

need to be able to book, amend or cancel their travel plans while on the go. Booking sites—for flights, hotels, and other activities must be mobile-friendly and have the capacity to enable travellers to have complete control over their travel plans through handheld devices. Needless to say, hotels and restaurants must be WiFi-enabled, so that tourists can do all of the above as well as stay in touch with family and friends via social media.

4. Travel 3.0: Various cities are turning to digitalization and high-tech solutions to redefine tourist offerings and attract visitors. This ranges from simple smartphone applications and online games to sophisticated, smart cities that use big data to transform the urban experience for both residents and tourists alike.

Thus, travel is being transformed by the

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introduction of personalized services that suggest richer and more enjoyable experiences suited to a traveller’s individual preferences.

For example, the TripAdvisor Apple Watch app can send a push notification at lunchtime with information about the highest-rated restaurant nearby. The next step will be tailoring the service to travellers’ personal tastes. Google Now is aiming to proactively bring consumers information before they ask, based on their past behaviour, with geo-localisation keeping suggestions locally relevant.

5. “Bleisure” travel: “Bleisure” is a combination of “business” and “leisure”.

With an increase in technology and mobile businesses, this is a heady mix that’s now possible to achieve. The trend has caught on fast over the last five years or so, with business travellers wanting to see more of a destination where they go for short work trips—rather than simply taking a cab from the airport to the hotel or conference room and back to the airport.

Some even take along their partners or families and spend an extra couple of days exploring the city with them, while paying for the additional cost incurred.

Countries that are projected to have an influx of business visitors (or potential ‘bleisure’ travellers) are India, China, Colombia, Mexico, Singapore and Australia.

6. Corporate holiday incentives: Some US companies are providing holiday spending money, or ensuring that their employees have a holiday before their work starts (‘pre-cations’). Some organisations have even established policies in line with ‘bleisures’—allowing employees to add on half the number of additional leave days of the combined official working days. Further, companies like Netflix, Evernote, Virgin Group and Gravity Payments are offering their employees unlimited paid holidays in order to create a happy and motivated team.

7. Incredible India in the spotlight:

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India will be the focus in the coming year, with its variety of products ranging from heritage to culture, health/wellness, eco-tourism and golf. India boasts of 32 World Heritage sites, which it will continue to promote alongside its most popular destinations—the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra and Jaipur), Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala, Kashmir and the North East. A special focus is also being put on coastal and beach tourism, cruise and ecotourism. World-class cruise passenger terminals are being developed to make India a central hub of the global cruise industry.

8. Experiential travel marketing: Travellers today are seeking authentic experiences in their travels. The trend saw a surge in hotels offering activities and experiences specifically designed for their guests, and usually done and booked within the compound of the resort. This means there are no third parties involved, and the entire travel experience is a one-touch solution. Thus, tourism booths at various travel market fairs and exhibitions are marketing this customized guest experience—using tastes, sounds and vibes—in order to draw potential buyers in. Virtual reality as a sales tool is clearly here to stay.

9. City breaks: ‘Short haul’ destinations are the flavour of the season as the trend of weekend breaks continues to catch on. Within Europe, Italian cities are

some of the most popular ones, and there are other all-time favourites like Paris and Barcelona. While Istanbul is also being seen as a hot destination, Eastern European cities such as Ljubljana are expected to see a boost from holidaymakers looking to try somewhere new without having to travel too far.

10. Holidaymakers becoming more adventurous: While the often-heard refrain in travel used to be “the place to see before you die”, it’s now changed to “the place to see before it’s gone”. For instance, this year saw a surge in the number of visitors to Iceland or Norway to see the Northern Lights, as the phenomenon takes place over an 11-year cycle and the next time we may be able to see it at its peak could be sometime between 2024– 2026. Similarly, the Maldives is the lowest-lying country on earth. If sea levels continue to rise, the stunning island nation could be completely engulfed in water about a hundred years from now.

Further, more and more people around the world want to explore a new country, city or resort where they have never been before. Adventure travel—or travel involving biking, mountain hiking, trekking and marathon running (or ‘runcations’ as they are popularly called) is being embraced like never before, and not just in the west, but in countries like India too.

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travel mantra

Shopping tips while travelling abroad Many travelers like to know a place through its monuments and museums, while others explore scenic landscapes or authentic cuisine. And when you are travelling overseas, there is no doubt that you do feel the need to get some souvenirs of that place or country. If the exchange rate of the destination you are visiting is in your favour, you may even get tempted to splurge and go on a shopping spree. In both the cases, you’ll want to make the most of your money. Here are some important tips to make your abroad trip more beneficial for shopping…..

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Identify what to shop for?

Prior to travelling overseas, identify items that are unique to that particular destination.

For instance Australia is popular for opals, Dubai for gold and China for pearls. Look out about the kind of shopping that will be on offer.

Know whether the place is famous for market, bazaar, local markets, finds and unique pieces, or if it is known for boutique shopping and designers goods, like Paris in France.

Keep check on local currencies and exchange rates Before planning for shopping, do a check on local currencies and exchange rates. This

will definitely help you in budgeting of your trip. For example, if your dollar is strong against the local currency (of that destination) you’ll have plenty of room to play around with your money for shopping. Similarly, if your dollar is weak, it may be help you to implement a budget for shopping.

Do your research Do extensive research for the destination you will be visiting. It will help you to save a lot of effort and time. If you wish for more genuine experience, search about local markets that you can visit.

And, if you’re after a more refined shopping experience,

you can look into boutique shopping destinations and malls. One of the best ways to do so is to look for reviews posted on blogs or other platforms from fellow travellers who could be able to give firsthand of their shopping experiences.

Shop from local markets In famous holiday destinations, shops might be targeted towards the tourist trade. It usually means that the prices are exaggerated.

To make the most of your money and get good value for money stuff, explore the places from where the locals of that place do their shopping. However, be aware of

the fact that it’s obvious for a tourist (you), the prices of same items could be inflated.

Do your style of bargaining In some shopping destinations, bargaining is a very important factor. In the big markets or bazaars, you will need to bargain for items.

However, everyone have a different style of bargaining.

So, choose your own style of bargaining for the stuff you like to buy. Apart from these tips, do consider shipping and duty costs and don’t forget duty free items like liquor, perfume, and makeup.

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news

MPTM 2016 concluded successfully in Bhopal The third Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart (MPTM) was organised in Bhopal, the capital of the state. FAM trips were also organised for different destinations in Madhya Pradesh.

The three day M.P. Travel Mart, 2016 was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on October 15, 2016, at 9.00 a.m. He distributed awards to winners under the M.P. State Tourism Awards Distribution programme. A total of 30 awards were given in 22 categories.

These awards are given in order to promote excellence in the Madhya Pradesh Tourism sector. Minister of State for Tourism and Culture (Independent Charge) and Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare, Surendra Patwa and Chairman of State Tourism Development Corporation, Tapan Bhoumik, were also present on the occasion.

Around 70 hosted buyers from 28 countries, 175 domestic buyers from 54 Indian cities and a total of 61 Exhibitors, out of which 50 Sellers / Exhibitors being from Madhya Pradesh, took part in the third edition of M.P. Travel Mart. Presidents of major National Travel Trade Associations like IATO, ADTOI, ATOAI and ITTA also attended the Mart. A special Training and Development programme was conducted for the sellers and the sales team of MP Tourism to prepare them for handling the Hosted Buyer meeting

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experience and to make the overall engagement with the attendees more effective. For the first time a live webinar was organized on “A chance for Building Partnerships in Madhya Pradesh”. Not only the attendees but also the buyers across the globe, who could not make it to the MP travel mart this time, benefited from

the webinar. Several presenters made presentations to showcase Madhya Pradesh’s Wildlife, Culture and Heritage tourism. Deliberations were held on the scope of tourism industry, how to attract more investment in the state, how to increase the number of tourists and how to encourage international tourism besides hotels and hospitality in Madhya Pradesh. Later, presentation focusing on efforts being undertaken for enhancing tourism in Madhya Pradesh was given by the Secretary Tourism and Managing Director of Tourism Development Corporation, Hari Ranjan Rao in the M. P. Travel

by T NH DESK Mart.

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ExplorE thE World

THINGS YOU MUST ENJOY WHILE IN

JORDAN Visit Jordan with planning as it’s a marvel of mesmerizing mix of modernity and ancient wonders. Live it up in the cosmopolitan capital city of Amman, explore mystical desert landscapes in Wadi Rum, visit the dramatic ruins of Petra and trek to the remote hilltop village of Dana on the enriching and exciting tour of Jordan. With cultural gems, ancient artefacts and warm hospitality waiting around every corner, Jordan is an enthralling and magnetic land to visit. Read on to know how to make your Jordan trip more interesting….

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Enjoy the night life of Amman After the sunset, the capital city Amman turns into a bustling city with a prosperous nightlife. The city has large number of coffee houses, restaurant and bars for celebration. Also, the warm and friendly nature of Jordanians will make it a homely affair for you to go on with the flow of the night and enjoy the contagious spirit of the city.

Be it the beautiful Arabic women or delicious delicacies, Jordan reveals it’s other side when the day turns to night.

Important Info: Some of the popular

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clubs such as the JJ's at the Grand Hyatt hotel, Blue Fig, Harir Lounge which are known for eclectic music, cocktails and lively ambiance. (make a box): A typical Dress code is expected in some places. So, watch before you choose to wear skimpy outfits.

Hot Air Balloon trip through Wadi Rum The appealing landscape of the Wadi Rum is best discovered when you (travellers) get to climb up in the air into a hot air balloon. This offers a bird's eye

view of the mighty mountains. Usually, the flights take place during the morning hours and lasts for an hour. However, it is advised to the tourists to go for 2 to 3 hours for a wholesome expe-

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ExplorE thE World Wadi Rum visitor center at about 5:45 AM and taken to the take off spot from the landing point to the visitor center Hot air balloon.

Warning: The flight takes approximately 1 hour and it can be cancelled due to bad weather.

rience to get closer to the supreme of capturing the beauty of Wadi Rum in their lenses. There are two balloons which can accommodate around (5 and 16 persons). So, according to the number of participants; one of the balloons is used for the flight.

Important Info: It is an early morning activity and experience, when the visitors or travellers are picked from the

Discover Petra in night with a difference You must go for the memorable walk through the path leading to the famous site of Petra. It is an after dark guided tour excursion into this ancient city which adds an absolutely new dimension to treasure along with group of other travellers. The walk goes through the rocky paths begins in darkness and the climax is that the site that is lit up with 1,500 candles to provide a fantastic view to tourists against the backdrop of the world’s wonder. During the walk a Bedouin musician plays on a pipe. Apart from wandering into the gorgeous setting, tourists can go for other activities such as sleeping in a tomb cave to energize your tired soul and you wake up to the fresh morning of Petra. The ancient marvel of Petra, one of the seven wonders in the world brings out the romantic spirit in the traveller seeking thrill and adventure.

Important Info: The Petra sight runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The excursion or walk begins at 20:30 PM from the Petra Visitor centre and gets you back by licensed guide to the visitor centre around 22:30 PM. Indulge in the culinary wonders of Jordan The Jordanian cuisine is compiled of almost everything to tantalize your taste buds. The most famous one rather the national cuisine is Mansaf. It is a lamb dish cooked in a broth when topped with rice, almonds and spices becomes a treat for the taste buds. This delicacy is served on a massive plate with rounds of bread. If you are more into foody journey, then you must try the street food then dip on ‘Hummus’, a well known food dip made with chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and pepper, served in the bowl of the food processor. Some of the other popular dishes include Zarb, Olives and dates, Mezze, Falafel, Schwarma etc.

Important Info: The Al Hawa restaurant in Amman is popular for its ‘Mansaf’. However, Hashem’s is best known for its ‘Hummus’.

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ExplorE thE World

Cube Spinning Act

SINGAPORE ADDING JOLLY TO THE SEASON

BY Mandira Rai

‘Tis the season to be jolly? Well, almost. And by now we all know that that means that as you are reading this, dates are being worked out, destinations are being shortlisted and winter holidays are being planned. And as always, topping that list is none other than the island country of Singapore!

Not without reason though. The flights are short and relatively cheaper (relatively being the operative word here), weather is good and as always, Singapore upholds its reputation of being a mecca for family-friendly holidays.

Besides the usual suspects like its famous zoo, night safari and bird park, be ready for mayhem overload at Legoland Malaysia (worry not for it’s only a 50-minute

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drive from Singapore’s city centre) featuring a spanking new 4D ride and a waterpark that is the largest amongst all Legolands. Add to this mix the city’s many parks, indoor playgrounds child-centric museums and Southeast Asia’s first Universal Studios and it should come as no surprise that the kids never want to leave! The parents, on the other hand, never had it better with not one but two casinos, Michelin-starred restaurants and shopping galore.

But the area where the city has really upped its ante is the performing arts scene, which is bursting at the seams, to say the very least. And not just for the parents; the wee ones never had it better too. Tinies heading into the country a little early will still be able to

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ExplorE thE World

catch SRT’s Charlotte’s Web (28th October – 11th December), named by The Children’s Literature Association as the “best American children’s book of the past 200 years”. Full of pigs, spiders and other farmhouse animals, magical adventures promise to be the order of the day.

With the kids tucked safely in bed, parents can make their way to the Singapore premier of the Pulitzer Prizewinning play Disgraced. Following its Tony-nominated Broadway run in New York, Disgraced proudly stakes claim to being the most staged play in the United States in 2016. Disgraced forces you to delve into culture, beliefs and faith from 16th November – 4th December.

BASE Entertainment, one of Asia Pacific’s leading presenters of live entertainment, rings in festive cheer with the ultimate Christmas concert featuring a 51-piece orchestra presented by renowned UK conductor John Rigby. Jingle Bell Rocks will delight for two nights only (9th and 10th December).

After travelling to the US, UK, South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong and beyond, Cirque Adrenaline ushers in a new genre of circus performance in Singapore, smack in the middle of the festive season (15th December – 25th December). Expect nothing less than nail biting action

Kids Fest

with a spate of death-defying acts, including the Wheel of Death and the Sphere of Fear. The troupe consists of over 30 performers including stuntmen, trapeze artists, aerial performers, fire-breathers, jugglers and more, each a master in their own field. Dare to be there!

Spilling over into 2017, Singapore’s much-awaited KidsFest, an annual presentation by ABA Productions, will run for an entire month (11th January – 12th Febru-

ary). With nine productions adapted from best-selling children’s books, the piece de resistance will be awardwinning author Julia Donaldson’s production Gruffalos, Ladybirds and Other Beasts featuring none other than wait for it – Julia Donaldson! What’s more, a little more Julia after the show in a book signing session by none other than Julia herself. Your not-so-little ones might can catch a performance (or two!) of something a tad more mature like Horrible Histories Awful Egyptians or Romeo & Juliet Untold.

Do note that tickets for all the above-mentioned performances and many other attractions in Singapore can be purchased online at http://www.sistic.com Singapore-dreaming yet? Well then, see you over at the little red dot, for Santa is most definitely coming into this town!

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

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ExplorE INDIA

v B Archana Sharma Y

EXPLORE ODISHA O

disha is blessed with its palm-fringed beaches, sparkling

lakes, winding rivers, forest-clad blue hills of Eastern Ghats,

A SCENIC, SERENE AND SUBLIME DESTINATION

which are home to rich flora and fauna (wildlife) that impress

and lure tourists from India and across the world. Odisha is popular for its fairs festivals, stone carving, applique work, exquisite handicrafts, silver filigree, and beautiful textiles. Dotted with a large number of architecturally celebrated temples, sacred shrines, and historical monuments, this state is known to be one of the most hidden splendid cultural

There are some places in India which are special, and Odisha is surely one of them. This beautiful state has everything to attract an intrigued traveller and mesmerize with its many facets of tourism.

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landscapes of India.

Let us explore some of the most popular places which you must visit while you are in Odisha‌..

Bhubaneshwar The capital city of Odisha, Bhubaneswar is most popular for its temples (there are more than 700 temples mostly devoted to Lord Shiva).

The largest and oldest temple in the state is the Lingraja Temple. The diverse collection of caves cut into the hillside on the outskirts of the city is another popular attraction. These caves were once home to Jain

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ExplorE INDIA

aesthetics. The most popular ones can be found at Udayagiri (Sunrise

dinary Chilika Lake. It is the largest brackish water (a mixture of sea

Hill). It is open from 6 AM until 6 PM. If you're interested in natural

and fresh water) lagoon is an ecological wonder spanning around

medicine, the beautiful Ekamravan garden of medicinal plants is re-

1,000 square kilometers. This place is full of wildlife, principally fish

markable and worth visiting. Once here, you should not miss the sun-

and migratory birds from far off lands. You can even find dolphins and

rise over Udayagiri and numerous music and dance festivals held in

this lake also has a number of islands. While here, you must Chilika

Bhubaneswar in January, along with the Adivasi tribal mela.

Lake and its various islands by boat. Most departures are from Satapada (where the dolphins are), located at the mouth of the Lake, which

Konark

is just 50 kilometers from Puri. Other departures are possible from

Konark is a medium town in the Puri district in the state. This place

Rambha, Barkul, and Balugaon.

is the place of the 13th-century Sun Temple, also known as the Black Pagoda, which is believed to be constructed in black granite during

Tribal Villages

the reign of Narasimhadeva-I. This stunning temple is a World Heritage

It is believed that there are over 60 tribal communities in Odisha.

Site. It stands 30 meters high on 12 massive wheels. Erotic carvings

These ancient people with mystical ancient ways inhabit in Odisha's

similar to those on the Khajuraho temples are a renowned feature. The

remote, deep forests and hilly interior region. Most of these tribal towns

monument was also called the Black Pagoda by the European sailors.

are found in the southwest part of the state. Exploring these tribes is

Konark is also home to an annual dance festival called Konark Dance

an interesting experience, but you'll need to go on an organized tour.

Festival held every December, devoted to classical Indian dance forms

Some tribal areas are quite inaccessible and need permits.

including the traditional classical dance of Odisha, Odissi.

How to Reach Odisha?

Puri

By Air: The Biju Patnaik International Airport at Bhubaneswar

Puri is located on the beach, but it cannot be counted as a beach

city is the best way to reach Odisha by air. The airport is well-

paradise. In fact, Puri is majorly known for its holiness. It is one of the

connected to different cities of India like Kolkata, Hyderabad,

Char Dham places with having the imposing temple of Jagannath Tem-

Mumbai, Delhi, Nagpur, Raipur and many other cities of India.

ple. It is called white pagoda by international tourists. Though it is only

There are many domestic airports serving to various cities of

open to Hindus, but the roofs nearby buildings offer decent views (for

India.

a small fee). Puri is also a good place to go for tribal tours and day

By Train: The major railhead is in the state capital known as

trips. The most important thing you can witness is the Rath Yatra fes-

Bhubaneswar Railway station and is served by major train net-

tival, which takes place during July/August every year. It is interesting

works that connect it to other parts of the state as well as the

to know that this is the only occasion when non-Hindus can get to see

country. Rajdhani, Coromondal Express, Konarak Express are

the temple deities. It is considered that only a glimpse of Lord Jagan-

some of the popular trains that serve this station.

nath on the chariot, or even to touch the chariot to be very auspicious.

By Road: The state of Odisha can be easily accessed via National Highway 5, 6, 23, 42 and 43 run through the state. These

Chilika Lake

roads connect the state to different states of India.

A perfect place to spend some quiet time with nature is the extraor-

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international

Taiwan: The Country that never sleeps…

A vacation in Taiwan is surely an unprecedented experience for a sole reason that Taiwan is a country that never sleeps. One has diverse places to explore starting from the morning when you open your eyes to mid-night when you are exhausted but still have a lot to soak up.

One can start their day by visiting the Sun Moon Lake. The breathtaking green mountains that encircle the area are something worth experiencing if you are in Taiwan. The natural forest around this area is an ideal site for bird watching.

Birds like Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Grap throated Minivet, Formosan Yuhina, Gray Tree Pie, Bamboo Partridge, Chinese Bulbul, Muller's Barbet and the Black Bulbul is a common site.

If you are a nature lover then Taiwan is the place to be in. After a relaxing morning one can take bus to Yehliu Geo park.

What makes this place a tourist spot is the scenic beauty of naturally formed rocks stretching approximately 1,700 meters into the ocean.

A number of outstanding formations that makes the site alluring are Sea Candles, Fairy Shoe, Ginger Rocks, Elephant Rock, Ice Cream Rock, Kissing Rock and the beautiful Princess's Head. But we do not stop here. A trip to Yehliu Geo park is incomplete without visiting the Yehliu Ocean World, which offers a glimpse into the exotic marine life and even more exciting is the dolphin and sea lion performance.

When in Taiwan, you do not have to worry about missing onto the shopping while spending the entire day enjoying the scenic beauty. When the world is sleeping, Taipei - the capital city of Taiwan has an exciting night life to offer to tourists that is entertaining yet economical. Starting from shopping to satiating your belly with mouth watering Taiwanese cuisine, the night life of Taiwan will give you an unprecedented experience. The famous night markets to visit

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during your trip to Taiwan are Shilin Night Market, the largest night market in Taipei and Keelung Miaokou Night Market. Clothes, jewelry, household items, toys and interesting gadgets, all at pocket friendly price, and not forget, you can bargain to your heart’s content!

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

an amazing experience to write on all four sides of the Lantern with inedible ink and then wait for it to dry! Each colour of the lantern represents a different wish fulfillment! Added to the atmosphere of families and groups painting the lantern is the old steam train that lumbers its way through the area every one hour and everyone jumps away from it!

After it leaves, people come back on the old train tracks to let their lanterns fly!!

Before flying back home, you can check out the Gloria Outlets near Taipei’s international airport that has over 100 of the world’s leading retail brands, restaurants and cafés.

by TNH DESK

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Diplomat Corner

ESTONISHING ESTONIA: UNIQUE AND IDYLLIC DESTINATION A country, which boasts of its rich culture and history, beautiful islands, pristine nature and wildlife, Estonia is a unique and captivating destination for discerning travellers, yet it is comparatively affordable. Lonely Planet has selected the country as the best value destination in the world for 2016. With more than half of the country being covered with forests and natural landscapes, Estonia is one of the greenest countries in the world.

Its capital Tallinn, a UNESCO world heritage, is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. In an exclusive interview with TnH, HIS EXCELLENCY RIHO KRUUV, AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA TO INDIA spoke about the uniqueness and potentials of Estonia as a tourist destination.

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RIHO KRUUV

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Diplomat Corner

v B Prem Kumar What is extraordinary about EsQ tonia as a tourist destination?

Y

Much like India, Estonia has a rich history too. Estonians have lived in the same place for thousands of years, but Estonia as a country has been part of Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Russia and the Soviet Union. It has been 25 years since we regained independence whereas we will celebrate 100 years of independence in 2018. When you visit Estonia and its capital city Tallinn which is a UNESCO world heritage, you will see and feel this history all around you.

Estonia also has pristine nature and wildlife. With more than half of the country covered with forests, our air is one of the cleanest in the world. We attract tourists during winters also. If lucky, you can drive a car on the ice across the sea to some of the largest of Estonia’s 2000 islands. Less adventurous visitors can enjoy Tallinn’s picturesque Christmas market which is open from November end and goes on till the first week of January. Some of my Indian friends have been worried about the weather being too cold during winter in Estonia. On this case, we Estonians believe that there is

no wrong weather, but there can be wrong clothing for the season.

Thirdly, it is worthwhile mentioning that Estonia is still relatively affordable.

Lonely Planet selected Estonia as the world’s best value destination for 2016.

The average cost of an overnight stay in Estonian accommodation providers in 2016 is between 2300 and 2800 INR, a fraction of what much of Europe would cost.

Q

Why do you think that Estonia is a good destination for Indian visitors?

Three million tourists stayed overnight in Estonia last year whereas Estonia is still relatively little known as a tourism destination in the Indian market. However, Tallinn may be more familiar than you would think. We, Estonians love Indian food. Trip Advisor currently lists 19 of the best Indian restaurants in Tallinn and former Financial Times correspondent in Estonia, Vijay Maheshwari has gone further by calling Tallinn “curry capital of Europe.” Even some local pubs in Tallinn have added curry to their menus. Alcohol drinkers can also find Kingfisher and Old

Munk in some Tallinn’s bars. You can easily get by with English in Estonia.

The relaxed vibe and natural beauty make Estonia a perfect destination to enjoy with the whole family. Estonia is small enough to go berry picking in the forest, climb and swing at a nearby adventure park, and visit the many interactive museums and child-friendly restaurants all within one weekend. Estonia has a range of exciting theme parks and leisure centres, educational and fun at the same time. Explore everything from sailing to ice age, gadgets to dolls.

We know the hectic lifestyle some of our Indian friends have. A quick spa break is a must when visiting Estonia and thousands of visitors from Scandinavia and elsewhere come here just for that. These days anyone can enjoy a luxurious spa treatment in Estonian day spas and spa hotels. The local signature treatment uses Estonian peat, mud and mineral water, which are renowned for their healing qualities.

Here you can easily combine a wellness holiday with a nature retreat, with many spas located in the middle of the wilderness. Spa hotels tend to offer everything you might wish for during your stay, from pools and saunas to an a la carte restaurant with live entertainment.

Q

How simple is the visa process of Estonia for Indian travellers?

How about the first time travellers?

Estonia is accessible for all Schengen visa holders. Our visa procedures in India are in line with our visa policy around the world and with other Schengen embassies. We do encourage tourism wherever we can, and people who provide us with truthful information about their travel plans rarely face issues.

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Diplomat Corner

Q

How does Estonia’s visa service remain competitive?

We use all 16 VFS visa centres across India. But we give applicants option to choose whether they like to apply for our visa directly at the Embassy or via VFS. Our policy is to try whenever possible to give frequent travellers multiple entry visas. It is a good thing when people travel to Estonia, and we should encourage this.

Q

What tips do you offer to Indian nationals applying for Estonian visas?

We do encourage people to apply for visas early on so that they can plan their trip well ahead and save themselves a lot of last minute stress. We also encourage visa applicants to give us all the correct documentation, including a confirmed hotel booking at the time of applying. This helps us a great deal to fasten our visa processing time. Often people turn to the Embassy without having the full documentation.

Q

How important is the Indian outbound market for Estonia? How many Indians visited Estonia last year?

Since many Indians visit Estonia as part of a Baltic cruise, we do not have official statistics on how many Indians visit.

Nevertheless, Estonia still gets few tourists from India as compared to other countries. In 2016, we have received approximately 1200 visa applications, but the number of applications grew by 50% from last year. Hence please do come and visit before everyone else does.

Q

How is the air-connectivity between the two countries?

There are many connections with the fastest being Finnair (9 hours from Delhi to Tallinn with a layover in Helsinki with Finnair). You do have many other choices too i.e. Air France (via Paris), generally

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Jet Airways (via Amsterdam and Paris), KLM (Amsterdam), Lufthansa (via Frankfurt and Munich) and Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul).

Q

How will you describe the relationship between Estonia and India?

Bilateral relations between India and Estonia are generally very good. One of the more important areas of co-operation is e-governance. With Digital India and eEstonia initiatives, both countries share a common commitment to making government accessible to citizens online. For

Recently Estonia started offering e-residency to Indian nationals which allows people who do business with Europe to start a company and open a bank account in Estonia without ever needing to visit for bureaucratic reasons.

some years Indian civil servants have attended training to learn about how egovernance has been set up in Estonia.

With several hundred e-services, Estonians can today even name their baby online and vote in elections online. During last parliamentary elections around 30% of the population chose to do so.

We also issue e-Residency cards to Indians who can create an Estonian based company and start a bank account online without ever having the need to visit Estonia. It is nice to see that e-Residency has proven to be very popular among Indians. It is also excellent to see the unfolding of the Digital India project which could make governance much more effective in India and substantially cut red tape.

Q

What do you like most about India?

Having grown up in Estonia during the Soviet occupation, we had movies from three cinemas that were available.

Movies shot in Estonia, Russia and Bollywood movies. Mainly thanks to Bollywood, Indian culture is much more familiar to me and many others who grew up in Estonia during the Soviet era.

Other than that, I greatly enjoy opportunities to travel around India whenever the opportunity arises. Within my few months here, I have already visited Haridwar, Chennai, and Bengaluru.

In addition to hiking in the wilderness, there is also a range of fun & traditional activities to try out, such as Indian cuisine which I have been a fan of for some time already.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS: • Estonia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

• Its capital Tallinn is one of the world’s best preserved medieval cities.

• A country of the size of Switzerland, Estonia has more than 50% of territory covered with forests and over 2000 islands.

• Estonia is one of the least crowded countries in the Europe, with only 13 lakh people.

• It is among the countries with cleanest air in the world.

• During mid-summer day light is almost 24 hours in Estonia; best time to enjoy Estonia’s pristine nature.

• Estonia is also the one of most digitalised countries in the world. Estonians get almost every government service done online.

USEFUL LINKS For planning your trip: www.visitestonia.com For visa application: http://www.newdelhi.vm.ee/consular_ information/visa_information For becoming e-resident of Estonia: https://e-estonia.com/e-residents/ apply/ For business opportunities: http://www.investinestonia.com/en

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NEWS

JW MARRIOTT OPENS IN KOLKATA JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts continues to expand its luxury portfolio with the opening of its eighth hotel in India, JW Marriott Hotel Kolkata. The first hotel in Kolkata & East India by Marriott International, the property towers over JBS Haldane Avenue and is located in the heart of the city, minutes from the old central business district.

The hotel will feature an elevated guest experience with exceptional comforts and personalised service, housed within a warm environment designed to reflect the spirit of the ‘City of Joy’, Kolkata.

Comprising 281 spacious rooms, modern meeting and conference facilities, as well as a host of dining experiences, JW Marriott Hotel Kolkata is a contemporary landmark of true luxury, delivered with passion, tradition and world-renowned JW Marriott hospitality. Boasting the largest ballroom in the city, the hotel is the destination

of choice for weddings, corporate events and social gatherings. In a first for the city, the hotel features a unique bridal room, offering brides an exclusive, private space available for pre-wedding preparations. In addition to 38,370 square feet of indoor and outdoor event spaces measuring, the hotel offers five intimate studios for meetings, each one equipped with cutting-edge facilities. As part of the hotel’s commitment to the latest technology, the hotel is home to India’s largest in-built video wall measuring 32 feet x 18 feet and comprising 64 LED panels.

“The opening of the first JW Marriott hotel in Kolkata marks a great milestone for Marriott International”, said Neeraj Govil, Area Vice President, South Asia, Marriott International. “It was a matter of time before we presented one of our luxury brands –JW Marriott – to

by TNH DESK the city of Kolkata.

ETIHAD AIRWAYS EXPANDS INDIA – UAE SERVICES WITH STRATEGIC PARTNER JET AIRWAYS 28 additional flights a week between Abu Dhabi and India 3 new destinations boost Etihad Airways /Jet Airways’ Indian network to 18 cities Etihad Airways announced the expansion of scheduled services between Abu Dhabi and India as strategic partner Jet Airways unveiled new routes and additional frequencies to further strengthen their partnership in one of the world’s fastest growing avia-

tion markets.

From early 2017, the two airlines will expand their services between the United Arab Emirates and India by adding 28 weekly flights[1] and three further Indian cities. These will enhance connections between India and the rest of the world though Etihad Airways’ convenient Abu Dhabi hub, and complement Jet Airways’ non-stop services to other

by TNH DESK cities.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | NOVEMBER 2016

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news

SIDHARTH MALHOTRA WELCOMES NEW ZEALAND'S PM IN INDIA The special event was also attended by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minster of Tourism and Culture, India and Former BLACKCAPS Cricket Captain Brendon McCullum Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Right Honourable John Key MP received a warm Indian welcome from Tourism New Zealand’s brand ambassador, Sidharth Malhotra at a press conference in New Delhi.

The event was also attended by other special guests, such as Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of Tourism and Culture India; former Blackcaps captain and cricketer Brendon McCullum; the New Zealand High Commissioner to India, H.E. Grahame Morton; David Craig, General Manager, Asia, Tourism New Zealand and Steven Dixon, Regional Manager, South and South East Asia, Tourism New Zealand.

The press conference began with a

symbolic celebration of Diwali to welcome Prime Minister Key who is also New Zealand’s Minister of Tourism followed by him addressing the media at the event. Figures released in yester-

day’s Tourism Satellite Account’s annual data reflect the work the tourism sector and government are doing to boost the value tourism brings to New

by T NH DESK Zealand.

SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM PARTNERS WITH THOMAS COOK TO OFFER SPECIAL HOLIDAY PACKAGES TO SOUTH AFRICA South African Tourism has partnered with Thomas Cook to offer exciting travel packages and deals for Indian travellers. Tourists eager to enjoy their Diwali and Christmas holidays in South Africa, now have the opportunity to take advantage of the special, fun-filled, activity and experience rich holiday itineraries from Thomas Cook in association with South African Tourism. Commenting on this joint marketing activity, Hanneli Slabber, Country Manager, South African Tourism said, “We constantly endeavor to create exciting and innovative experiences for our visitors. We would love for more Indians to come and witness the wonder that is South Africa– to truly experience and know the country like the locals. In close partnership with a leading travel trade partner like Thomas Cook, we hope to ensure that our Indian visitors have the best and most memorable experience from the minute they begin planning their trip. With a favorable exchange rate, Indian travellers going to South Africa will get an exceptional value on the ground as they can partake in so many more activities and experiences in their desired budget.” Rajeev Kale – President and Country Head – Leisure Travel & MICE, Thomas Cook (India) says, “For our Teams at Thomas Cook India, our partnership with South Africa Tourism has had a significant positive impact- South Africa has now emerged as one of our fastest growth

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long haul destinations for Indian outbound travelers! Our upcoming campaign is strategic and focused on a 3 pronged delivery: strong growth of over 15%; inspire demand not only for popular choices across individual and group travellers (Cape Town, Garden Route, Johannesburg, Sun City), but equally showcase newer regions like Kruger, Franschhoek, etc., and thirdly, catalyse uptake for fresh new opportunities

by TNH DESK like self-drives and winter-travel.”

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EvEnt Watch

TAAI'S 63RD C ONVENTION IN ABU D HABI The 63rd Convention and Exhibition of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) was held at the incredible Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi on 14th-16th October 2016. Also known as the Indian Travel Congress, the event was a huge success.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY | NOVEMBER 2016

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Festivals around the World

This November will be an exhilarating month for travellers who love to enjoy different sorts of colorful and music festivals. There are many festivals around the world like, Iceland Airwaves (in Iceland) to Yi Peng and Loy Krathong (Lantern Festival) (in Thailand). Here are some of the best festivals which a traveller must witness!

Día de los Muertos Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Dates: November 1 - 2, 2016 The Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and by people of Mexican ancestry living in other places, especially the United States. It is acknowledged internationally in many other cultures. The multi-day holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey. In 2008 the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The Mexican Day of the Dead celebration is similar to other culture's observances of a time to honor the dead. The Spanish tradition included festivals and parades, as well as gatherings of families at cemeteries to pray for their deceased loved ones at the end of the day.

Iceland Airwaves Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Dates: November 2 - 6, 2016 Iceland Airwaves is an annual music festival held in Reykjavík, Iceland in early November. The festival spans five days (Wednesday - Sunday) and its main focus is showcasing new music, both Icelandic and international. The festival's main sponsors are Icelandair and the City of Reykjavík. Late night lovers, fans of intimate shows, quirky clubs and even quirkier destinations: rejoice, this is your festival! Put on your Viking hat and prepare to get down up north at the Iceland Airwaves festival. The first show was held in 1999 as a one-off event in an airplane hangar at Reykjavík Airport. It is known for its intimacy and party spirit. The festival has been called "the hippest long weekend on the annual music-festival calendar" (David Fricke, Rolling Stone) and an "unbelievable zest for music and celebration" (Jonah Flicker, Pitchforkmedia).

Lewes Bonfire Location: Lewes, England Date: November 5, 2016 Guy Fawke’s Day, or Bonfire Night, is traditional throughout the UK, but in Lewes the celebration reaches new heights. The Lewes Bonfire Night, or the #LewesBonfire Night Celebrations is the biggest celebrated Fifth November event in the world, and is held in the usually peaceful county town of Lewes East Sussex, every year on 5th November, and the carnival or festival is known as the Lewes Bonfire Night or just simply the Fifth. Remember, remember, The Fifth of November, Gunpowder treason and plot; For I see no reason, Why Gunpowder Treason, Should ever be forgot!

Every year on November 5th, Brits light bonfires and set off fireworks to remember their good luck in stumbling upon Guy Fawkes just before he attempted to blow up Parliament in 1605. Fawkes and his 12 co-conspirators plotted to assassinate King James I over increasingly repressive moves against Catholics.

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Festivals around the World

Yi Peng and Loy Krathong (Lantern Festival) Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand Dates: November 14, 2016 Loi Krathong is a festival celebrated annually throughout southwestern Tai cultures. The name could be translated as "to float a basket", and comes from the tradition of making krathong or buoyant, decorated baskets, which are then floated on a river. Loi Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar; hence, the exact date of the festival changes every year. In the Western calendar this usually falls in the month of November. Yi Peng refers to the full moon day in the second month according to the Lanna lunar calendar (the twelfth month according to the Thai lunar calendar). Loi Krathong coincides with the Lanna (northern Thai) festival known as Yi Peng. Swarms of Lanna-style sky lanterns are launched into the air where they resemble large shoals of giant fluorescent jellyfish gracefully floating through the sky.

Pushkar Fair Location: Pushkar, India Dates: November 8-14, 2016 The Pushkar Fair (Pushkar Camel Fair) is an annual five-day camel and livestock fair held in the town of Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is one of the world's largest camel fairs. Apart from the buying and selling of livestock, it has become an important tourist attraction. Competitions such as the "matka phod", "longest moustache", and "bridal competition" are the major attractions for this fair which attracts thousands of tourists. In recent years the fair has also included an exhibition cricket match between the local Pushkar club and a team of random foreign tourists. A camel race starts off the festival, with music, songs and exhibitions to follow. Between these events, the most waited for is the test of how the camel is able to bring the items. From the Kartik ekadashi to Kartik Poornima, the full moon day (the 15th) of Kartik (October–November), the full moon day is the main day.

Melbourne Cup Carnival Location: Melbourne, Australia Dates: November 1, 2016 The Melbourne Cup is the crown jewel of the Australian horse racing calendar. First run in 1861, the Melbourne Cup is steeped in social, fashion related and cultural tradition. Each year on the first Tuesday of November, the greatest thoroughbreds from across the globe make their way to Flemington Racecourse for a shot at the prestigious title and a chance at the AU$6.2 million in prize money.

It is commonly billed as the race that stops the nation and it truly is.

At 3pm, Australians from all walks of life religiously stop what they are doing to clamber for a view of the race at bars, pubs, offices and schools all around the country. The Melbourne Cup is one of Australia's most prestigious Thoroughbred horse races. Conducted annually by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria, the event starts at 3pm on the first Tuesday in November.

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EVENT WATCH

SKAL DELHI ORGANISES MUSICAL NIGHT Skal Delhi organised Musical Night at The Four Points By Sheraton, New Delhi where Nizami Brothers mesmerized the audience comprising members of Skal Delhi. Ghulam Sabir Nizami and Ghulam Waris Nizami are among the most famed Qawwali Singers in the Sufi style, Astana Gayki as well as the modern Qawwali tradition. Ghulam Sabir Nizami is a most sought-after Qawwali Singer in India. Members also have sumptuous dinner on the occasion.

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MOVING ON

Alfred de Cárdenas Chief Commercial Officer for Travel Network, Sabre Corporation Sabre Corporation has appointed Alfred de Cárdenas as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of its Travel Network organization, which spans the GDS travel market place and Traveler Experience businesses. With more than 28 years of commercial strategy, operations and executive management experience, de Cárdenas will be responsible for leading global sales, sales operations and business development initiatives.

Prior to joining Sabre, he was president of global sales and customer service for Syniverse Technologies, a cloud-based/SaaS mobility services company. He also led a number of strategic roles as Chief Operations Officer (COO) and general manager across the Americas region. De Cárdenas will be based at Sabre’s global headquarters office in Southlake, Texas.

Raju Shreshta General Manager, Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre Raju Shreshta has been appointed the General Manager of Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre. He is leading the team with his impeccable leadership skills and has taken on this new challenging role with a strong understanding of IHG's brand mission. Shreshta is instrumental in managing hotel revenue, budgeting, operations and leading the hotel team to create business & dining landmark.

He has been in hospitality industry for more than three decades and during his tenure he has worked across borders including Nepal, Thailand and India. He has persistently strong background in Operations, Sales and Marketing. Prior to joining Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre, Shreshta was leading the team as the General Manager at Crowne Plaza Today New Delhi Okhla.

Srijan Vadhera General Manager, Fairmont Jaipur Srijan Vadhera has been appointed as a new General Manager of Fairmont Jaipur. Vadhera brings with him more than 18 years of experience holding executive positions in the hospitality industry in various reputed hotel chains, specializing all aspects of hotel operations, with an avid interest for Sales and Marketing. His educational background that gives him firm feet in his field includes Master of Business Administration, Hotel Management from Institute of Hotel Management Chandigarh and schooling from Sainik School Kunjpura, Karnal.

Nicolette Elia-Beissel Programme Manager, UFI Nicolette Elia-Beissel has been appointed as Programme Manager in UFI. She became part of the exhibition industry when she joined RAI Exhibitions and Events (now known as Thebe Reed Events & Exhibitions) as Project Coordinator, a subsidiary of the RAI group in Amsterdam, based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

During her time at RAI, she worked more specifically on Travel and Tourism shows, with a portfolio that included the South African Tourism pavilions at the various international trade shows such as EIBTM and ITB. After two years, she was promoted to Project Manager, working on the international shows as well as her own show in Sandton Johannesburg: Meetings Africa. She remained with RAI / Thebe for five years before relocating from Johannesburg to Durban.

Jana Hofmann Events Manager, UFI Jana Hofmann has been appointed as the Events Manager at UFI. Having worked as a Project Manager for the German based trade show organiser fairtrade Messe GmbH for the last 6 years, Jana managed various projects in an international exhibition environment, with a focus on emerging markets such as Ghana, Iran or Nigeria to name a few. The role at fairtrade included cooperating with different service providers, exhibition partners, associations and naturally, exhibitors. Jana has always welcomed working with different project teams and enjoys the spirit of collaboration. Topics like Quality Management or the launch of a new CRM system were on her agenda too, providing a very diverse working environment as well as the opportunity to learn new thematic areas.

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news

NEW PLEASURE CRUISE LINE BETWEEN HAIFA AND ACRE IN ISRAEL A new pleasure cruise line has been launched for better connectivity between Haifa and Acre (Akko) ports. This new initiative will decrease the travel time between the two cities and will enhance tourist experiences through this beautiful water route. The sailing takes 45 minutes and the boat has a capacity of up to 200 passengers. The Tourism Ministry invested about NIS 11 Million (approx. USD 2.88 Million) in upgrading the two ports and the Haifa and Acre Municipalities will assist in marketing the line that will, in the future, include a combined ticket offering tours in the tourism sites in Acre and Haifa. The Tourism Ministry estimates that the pleasure cruise line will attract thousands of tourists, domestic and international, each year.

The new pleasure cruise line was launched in the presence of the Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevi, the mayor of Haifa Yona Yahav and the mayor of Acre Shimon Lankri. Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said: "We launched the tourist pleasure cruise line between Haifa and Acre.

This is the first such project of its kind in Israel, a complex one that I set as a central objective in developing the tourism infrastructure in the north, and this, after many years of talk but without implementation. This scheduled pleasure cruise line will serve as a fixed-price tourism attraction and will help significantly in proby TNH DESK moting tourism to Haifa and Acre."

LUFTHANSA FLIES ITS FLAGSHIP AIRCRAFT B747-8 TO MUMBAI The ‘Queen of Skies’ will offer Mumbai area residents premium onboard product on flights from Mumbai to Frankfurt during winter schedule.

With the introduction of the 2016/ 17 winter schedule and underlining the importance of Mumbai on its global network, Lufthansa flies Boeing 747-8 on its Mumbai – Frankfurt route on Diwali night. Starting October 30, the ‘Queen of Skies’ will offer its passengers an enhanced comfort, experience and new technology including premium on board products like modern cabin design concepts and the most up-to-date onboard amenities in all classes. This latest flight schedule will also offer the Mumbai area residents travel choices and better connections to the Lufthansa Group Airlines’ network of 170destinations in over 100 countries.

“Lufthansa has a presence in the India market of over 50 years and is committed to offering its passengers outstanding quality and service, in line with our philosophy of More Indian Than You Think”, said Wolfgang Will, Director, South Asia, Lufthansa Passenger Airlines. “Adding to the festive cheer, we bring the Queen of Skies to Mumbai, one of the most important cities in the world and a key destination in

our global network. The deployment of Boeing 747-8 shows once again our strong commitment to the Indian market.”

On the Mumbai – Frankfurt route, the Boeing 747-8 is configured to seat 364 passengers: eight in First Class, 80 in Business Class, 32 in Premium Economy and 244 in Econby T NH DESK omy Class.

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HOT NEWS

DECCAN ODYSSEY'S DUSSEHRA BONANZA, COMPANION OFFER EXTENDED TILL 31ST DEC Deccan Odyssey, the award-winning luxury train operated by Cox & Kings, the outsourced partner of The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), in India has extended the date for its attractive companion offer until 31st December 2016. One can book a cabin and avail flat 25% discount for his/her companion for journeys starting from 8th Oct. Your companion can now travel with you onboard the royal journey for price starting $7338 instead of $8,386 for Deluxe Cabin on twin sharing. It is the time you let yourself immerse in opulence. Visit the iconic symbols, India's architectural wonders, World Heritage sites and relish secret recipes of the royal kitchens.

Giving more reasons to rejoice this festive season, Deccan Odyssey has also offered couples a relaxing spa therapy for 30 minutes absolutely free at 'Ayush'- the luxurious spa. There is to more the happiness; passengers can also treat themselves to a complimentary wine/beer at the well-stocked bar on board the Deccan Odyssey.

The luxury train has been recently refurbished keeping with the taste of the new age traveller. It reflects timeless traditions, cultures, folk arts and symbols that together make Maharashtra vibrant.

The luxury train has 21 coaches including 10 Deluxe Cars and 2 Presidential Suite Cars. The train is fully equipped with two restaurants,

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, GENEVA’S POP-UP CHALETSTYLE RESTAURANT RETURNS FOLLOWING LAST YEAR’S SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH Mandarin Oriental, Geneva is opening its highly successful popup restaurant, Le Chalet by Mandarin Oriental, for a second season. Located within the hotel’s Café Calla restaurant, the specially designed, wooden chalet-style pop-up will serve authentic Swiss cuisine in a warm and friendly atmosphere from 14 November 2016 to 10 March 2017. Café Calla’s first chalet pop-up opened in winter 2015/16.

Cosy and inviting, the chalet will be a mountain-style winter retreat in the heart of city. A la carte specialties will include carefully selected delights from the local countryside, including Alpine cheeses, air-dried Grisons meat, rösti, Gruyère and Vacherin fondue, Zurich-style veal, and Meringue with Gruyère cream. Threecourse menus priced from CHF 59 will be available too, along with a selection of local beers and regional wines.

by T NH DESK

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'Waavar' and 'Utsav', a library, a bar called 'Gateway', a massage centre, a gymnasium, beauty parlour, a conference car with Wi-Fi connection. The unique proposition of the Deccan Odyssey is its itineraries that offer varied destinations across the length and breadth of India.

Passengers onboard are well taken care of with service available on

by TNH DESK demand by well trained attentive staff.

SIX SENSES HOTELS RESORTS SPAS DEBUTS IN US Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas announced its long-anticipated debut in the United States. The brand will open Six Senses New York in 2019. The property is a luxury hotel being developed by HFZ Capital Group in New York City between Manhattan’s popular High Line and the natural wonder of the Hudson River. CEO of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Neil Jacobs said, “This project is a fascinating and exciting contrast to the typical Six Senses locations where we operate resorts in settings with azure waters, UNESCO heritage listings and lush rainforests. Six Senses New York will have the same touchpoints and DNA, with some creative adaptation of course, but with no compromises on our commitment to community, wellby T NH DESK ness, sustainability and design.

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DL (ND)-11/6167/2014-15-16 | DATE OF POSTING: 6-11 OF MONTH | rNI NO.: DELENG/2010/33723 | DATE OF PUBLISHING: 4 th OF THE MONTH