TravelScapes MiceInsiders April 2018

APRIL 2018, PAGES 40

VOL. 1, ISSUE. 3

South Africa A giant in the MICE market

MICE in Middle East Promising to grow bigger and better

Taiwan Quality Family time Guaranteed!

THINK STRAWBERRIES, Taiwan Tourism Bureau India Office: C-41, Gulmohar Park, New Delhi 110049 Tel: +91 11 2653 1733 l Fax: + 91 11 2653 1735 l Email: noel@ttbrep.in Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Singapore Office: 30 Raffles Place, Cheveron House #10-01, Singapore 048622

Publisher’s Note PUBLISHER & CEO Varun Malhotra varun@versatilemedia.in DIRECTOR Pranav Khullar pranav@versatilemedia.in DIRECTOR- PR (MIDDLE EAST & SOUTH EAST ASIA) Sanjiv Chopra ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gagneet Kaur ASST. EDITOR Sayanti Halder SENIOR REPORTER Ankita Jain BUSINESS HEAD - MICE Seema Joshi AGM SALES & MARKETING (MUMBAI) Aarti Rajkhewa SR. MARKETING MANAGER Nidhi Hinduja CONSULTANT Anindya Malhotra, Jitin Mann ART DIRECTOR Rakesh Kumar ACCOUNTS Chandan Kumar Jha, Swati Jauhari ADMIN HEAD R Prem Lata EXECUTIVE-CIRCULATION Hari Puri, Sameer Singh

Dear Readers, At the threshold of the globallyrenowned ATM 2018, I could realise it to be the right time to discuss on the current success and following year’s strategic plans with the industry stakeholders of Middle East.

Also, we would see how they are implementing a smoother pavement for the outbound MICE travellers from India. Hence, this issue is designed to elaborate on the potential destination that Middle East is expected to bring about as a change in the industry, inline with the economical contribution and easier facilities for the Indian outbound market.

To comprehend the existing outbound MICE business from India to the Middle East, our “Cover Story” is exhibiting a dais of opinions from some of the top Middle Eastern country representatives who share an understanding of the MICE sector in Middle East to boom in the year to follow. This took us to a number of opinion leaders to understand the rising and racing growth graphs and their understanding on the

development of the sector in the years to follow.

Further, playing a pivotal role in development of MICE tourism in India, we share the insights of the veteran Sudeep Sarcar in our “Expert Speak” section. For the “Guest Column”, we have presented some insightful facts about the growing outbound market travelling outside India shared by one of the top crusader amongst the leading DMCs in India.

I thank you all again for your kind support and valuable feedback.

Happy Reading!

Varun Malhotra Publisher & CEO

Editorial & Marketing Office: Versatile Media: 207, Satya Mansion, Commercial Complex, Ranjeet Nagar, New Delhi-110008 Contact: 011 - 45530380/83 • varun@versatilemedia.in All information in MiceInsiders is derived from sources we consider reliable. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. Opinions/views expressed by third parties in abstract or interviews are not necessarily shared by us. Material appearing in the magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part(s) without prior permission. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian Advertisement Code. The publisher will not be liable for any loss caused by any delay in publication, error or failure of advertisement to appear.

Owned and published by: Varun Malhotra, Editor & Publisher, EB-63, Maya Enclave, Hari Nagar, New Delhi - 110064 and printed on his behalf at Acme Tradex India Pvt. Ltd. ( Unit : Printing press) B - 70, Sector - 80, Noida - 201305

CONTENT Cover Story Page No. 8

Special Issue

MICE in Middle East

Promising to grow bigger and better

With international meetings in the Gulf region increasing by 300 per cent, for the last ten years, the decade-old modern economies in the region compete with multi-centurions. We analyse how the upcoming Middle Eastern MICE players have elevated in the global map, paving a smoother roadway for corporate travellers from India GUEST COLUMN

HOTEL FEATURE

16 Shikha Chaudhary, General Manager- MICE & Groups, TravelBullz

32 Radisson Blu Hotel New Delhi Paschim Vihar A new place to do meetings

Shares an how sectors in MICE are high yield businesses

HOMEWARD 20 Blesiure stopovers India’s fast growing tourism market generates 5.1 million tourists annually and MICE tourism is one of the driven factors. Reach out to the top five upcoming Indian states for MICE tourism with the right amount of infrastructure

34 South Africa: A giant in the MICE market Recognised as an important untapped segment within the powerhouse, business tourism has become a key priority for South Africa in recent years.

The country poises world-class facilities in terms of meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions. MICEInsiders hand picks and offers the best on the table

REGULAR NEWS

SPOTLIGHT 26 Desaru Coast set to greet Indian business travellers in 2018 In order to attract more travellers from the Indian tourist market, Tourism Malaysia has recently introduced the country’s new experiential destination in the south-eastern region, Desaru Coast, developed by Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn. Bhd.

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6......................................................................................................................... Inbound 14...........................................................................................................................Trade 18....................................................................................................................Outbound 24...................................................................................................................... Aviation 30................................................................................................................ Hospitality 38..........................................................................................................Appointments

News

INBOUND Airbnb signs MoUs for promotion of tourism in the North-East Airbnb has signed MoUs with the North Eastern Council (NEC), the North East Tourism Development Council (NETDC) and two key livelihood initiatives, North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) and North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS), with the aim of creating hospitality micro-entrepreneurs across key destinations in the North East of India. The need for economic development in the North Eastern Region for holistic growth of the nation has been amply stressed upon not just by the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), but also by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Through the partnership, the NEC, NETDC and

Airbnb will collaborate to boost tourism and create positive travel experiences for both domestic and international visitors to the North Eastern India.

“We are excited about working with the Government to promote the enviable tourism offerings of the North East of India. Last year, Airbnb had committed to develop a homestay ecosystem through adequate skills training and development and promote India’s high potential tourism offerings to the world; and the North East was an inevitable choice.

We look forward to supporting the economic growth of the North East by drawing more tourists to the region,” said Kum Hong Siew, Regional Director, Airbnb Asia Pacific.

ITDC posts INR 18.30 Cr profit in Q3 for 2017-18 India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) ltd, the public sector undertaking under the aegis of Ministry of Tourism, posted a noteworthy performance in the 3rd quarter of the current financial year 2017-18. The total turnover in third quarter ending December 2017 stood at INR 108.01Cr and the company registered Profit Before Tax (PBT) at INR 18.30Cr as compared to INR 13.14Cr in the corresponding quarter last year (2016-17), an increase of 39.27 per cent as compared to the last financial year.

Kerala Tourism to introduce newer destinations MoT sanctions over With the objective to achieve an increase of domestic tourists by 50 per cent and international tourists by 100 per cent by the year 2020, Kerala Tourism aims to introduce new attractions in the region. Announcing the initiatives, Muraleedharan P., Tourist Information Officer, Department Of Tourism, Government of Kerala, shared, “We are bringing up more destinations and one international airport in Kannur in North Kerala. We are also adding new destinations to capture the tourists. These include Bekal for its sea front and, Wayanad as a hill station and for its spectacular waterfalls.”

For this, Kerala Tourism has already identified new initiatives and schemes to target these tourists. The tourism board recently organised a Partnership Meet in New Delhi along with around 40 suppliers from the ‘God’s Own Country’ with an idea to draw

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maximum tourists from Delhi and surrounding areas to Kerala. Through the meet, they tried showcasing the idea that Kerala’s culture is not limited to performances on stage. “It is ingrained in our way of life and the department is taking small but significant steps towards helping a traveller experience the richness of Kerala, be it our temple festivals, cuisine, rural crafts, folk forms or traditional and popular art forms,” Muraleedharan added.

The state has already registered a remarkable increase in international and domestic tourist arrivals during 2016. While international tourist arrivals to Kerala during the year 2016 was 10,38,419 – an increase of 6.25 per cent over the previous year’s, the domestic tourist arrival was 1,31,72,535 and marked a 5.67 per cent increase. The total revenue has also seen a whopping increase of 11.12 per cent over the last year’s figure.

INR 5600 crore under Swadesh Darshan

A total amount of INR 5638.87 cr was sanctioned with release of INR 2148.17 cr since 2014-15 till date under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism. Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, thirteen thematic circuits have been identified for development.

Meanwhile, under the PRASHAD scheme, 23 projects have been sanctioned to 15 States for a total amount of INR 687.92 cr with release of INR 241.28 cr since 2015-16 till date. The objective of the national mission on ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive’ (PRASHAD) is of holistic development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destination. This information was given

by Shri K. J. Alphons, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

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Cover Story

MICE in Middle East

Promising to grow bigger and better With international meetings in the Gulf region increasing by 300 per cent, for the last ten years, the decade-old modern economies in the region compete with multi-centurions. We analyse how the upcoming Middle Eastern MICE players have elevated in the global map, paving a smoother roadway for corporate travellers from India

By Sayanti Halder

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Cover Story

Khalid Al Zadjali

Bejan Dinshaw

Ashit Taneja

Almost a decade back, when the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) Exhibition first opened its doors in 2007, the regional Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition (MICE) industry outside of Dubai was only in its infancy.

Large-scale meetings simply could not be supported as venues were not established yet and destinations lacked the requisite accommodation mix. Fast forward to 2018, the Middle East has refurbished itself with its ever-improvising infrastructure, pro-business and tourist-friendly policies to welcome investment, trade and visitors. Despite a late start, the rapid expansion of infrastructure, commerce and tourism in the Middle East has outpaced every other prominent MICE destination in the world.

Alternatively, India is estimated to generate 6.5 million outbound luxury and MICE tourists annually by 2020. The projected market growth was accounted by the Ministry of Tourism’s official outbound tourism figures specifically for India’s current 1.5 million outbound MICE travellers.

In 2016, the GCC witnessed an unprecedented spike in arrivals from India, with both Dubai and Abu Dhabi naming the country their top source market for the year. Following the footsteps of progress, India outbound market to the Middle East is expected to increase 50 per cent by 2021 adding a major boost to the MICE segment in India, as a result.

for tourism underlines MICE as one of the main focus areas, in the coming days and the emerging Middle Eastern MICE destinations have made remarkable progress over the years. A vigorous dialogue between buyers and suppliers and a strong educational approach became the catalyst which needed to take the industry forward.

The regional industry was told that it would only ever become mature when it started to attract more of events, business-rotational and association meetings. The shifting sands of change have also extended to the source markets and types of visitors and events being hosted in the region.

Economies have expanded, so has the meetings’ sector in the Middle East.

“India is a huge potential market for growing outbound MICE tourism sector. With a large number of destinations looking at the India market, especially the Middle East, the MICE sector is expected to see a significant boom in 2018. We understand the scope of outbound MICE tourism and hence formulate our strategies accordingly. We extensively conduct marketing activities PAN India promoting Sharjah as ‘the MICE destination’ through roadshows, joint promotions with travel trade, online and offline trainings and participating in trade fairs and exhibitions. We make sure that the MICE facilities provided

by Sharjah are being showcased in

Indian outbound market to the Middle East is expected to increase 50 per cent by 2021

James Britchford

Komal Seth

the most efficient way and to the most productive target market,” informs Komal Seth, Country Representative, Sharjah Tourism- India Market.

Working in tandem, Bejan Dinshaw, Country Manager, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, highlights, “At the Department of Culture and Tourism-India office, we have

RISING AND RACING Middle East’s new national strategy APRIL 2018

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Cover Story

a planned schedule of events and participation to create awareness on the MICE aspects of the destination.

These include participation in select trade shows featuring MICE, joint promotions with the industry with MICE specific agents. Interactions with partners for events connected to corporate are also of a high priority, this year. These are in addition to the one-to-one engagements and presentations to the corporate segment.”

The Global Destination Index, compiled by the leading global DMC and event management companies, Pacific World and ACCESS Destination Services, identifies, each year, the most thriving countries and cities within the meetings, incentives and

conferences industries and has picked up Jordan, Oman, Turkey and Qatar some of the upcoming and lucrative MICE destinations. Newly developed MICE destinations are tapping more Indian MICE travellers with a prime perspective of focusing more on quality than numbers, currently.

“Instead of ranking ourselves, we prefer to position Jordan as a unique and ultimate MICE destination that offers breathtaking and mysterious sights, high standard accommodation, exquisite cuisine and countless activities that provide visitors with inspiration, motivation, and rejuvenation. Currently, the average group MICE size is around 40 to 50 travellers and we are targeting for

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larger groups in the coming time,” says Ashit Taneja, Country Manager, Jordan Tourism Board.

Located at the crossroads of three continents, Jordan is positioning itself as an ideal MICE destination for the Indian corporate travellers.

Taneja continued sharing, “2017 has been very fruitful a year for us. We have witnessed a lot of MICE groups travelling to Jordan. We are working closely with MICE companies, meeting corporate establishments and educating them about the perks that the MICE tourism in Jordan. We have witnessed a growth of 28 per cent until October 2017, experiencing a steady increase in the MICE segment as much more groups have

mainly focusing on pilgrimage, leisure and MICE as they are huge segments in India. However, they also have scope for the young adventurer groups, honeymoon and for medical purposes.

Similarly, Oman is entering the tourism arena with the benefit of hindsight initiating a successful MICE journey with a range of venues and nearly every hotel, having at least one venue for the purpose of meetings and exhibitions. The newly established Oman Convention Bureau (OCB), part of the Ministry of Tourism has forecasted the economic impact to the country from 11 confirmed conferences won to be 15.5 million Omani Rials (USD 40.25 million) making India a key MICE market for the country.

Newly developed MICE destinations are tapping more Indian MICE travellers with a prime perspective of focusing more on quality than numbers materialised to Jordan compared to 2016.”

According to a recent report, Israel has positioned itself as an affordable premium destination and is targeting travellers from India mainly for pilgrimage, leisure and MICE including weddings. According to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism’s India Director, Hassan Madah, Israel is

WHAT TO EXPECT? When one thinks of MICE tourism, one the biggest concerns that strikes the heads is that of accommodation. With over 300 hotels in the construction phase, the Middle East holds one of the largest hotel development pipelines in the world. Competition is extremely high and hotel owners

and operators have to continuously upgrade their infrastructure to increase their market share and stay competitive in attracting more MICE footfalls in the region.

According to James Britchford, Vice President of Sales & Marketing-India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, “The MICE industry in the Middle East is significant. If you took InterContinental Hotel Group’s (IHG) hotels, approximately 45 per cent of our business is room revenue. MICE makes up 55 per cent of IHG’s business in the Middle East.

India is certainly on the top strata of our priority list.”

Likewise, Khalid Al Zadjali, Director, Oman Convention Bureau informs, “With the recent revision in visa regulations (granting of non-sponsored tourist visa for certain categories), we are expecting growth in arrivals across all segments, especially visitors to conventions and exhibitions. The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) is one of the key drivers of MICE business to Oman, presently. There are also other infrastructure and tourism projects within the ninth five-year development plan (2016-2020) that the Oman Tourism Strategy will reinforce. Development of the area is fast progressing, with the five-star JW Marriot hotel and the completed phase II of the OCEC set to open in 2018. We definitely see MICE tourism growing in the coming years.”

“Middle East is fast developing as a favourable MICE destination.

This is expected to increase in the coming years as the governments of the region are actively engaging and investing to make it a lucrative business destination. To boost the sector, what will be needed here is to recognise the changing way in which the world is conducting business as well as identify the trends which are influencing global economies. Competitive pricing and value for money are the two factors that will play a leading role to determine the growth of the MICE tourism in the region,” concludes Seth.

A token of appreciation to all our

TRAVEL PARTNERS

for making Akquasun Roadshow 2018 a great success

Expert Speak

Shifting the spotlight to incentive market IEML meets

every conceivable demand of MICE travellers At the forefront of innovation in business, India Exposition Mart Ltd (IEML), one of the biggest MICE venues in India, makes for an ideal choice for holding big-ticket events. Sudeep Sarcar, Vice President, India Exposition Mart Ltd (IEML), whose presence and expertise have played an instrumental role in adding several feathers in the cap of IEML, further shares the differentiating factors of IEML, the plans ahead and key suggestions to abridging the gaps

By Gagneet Kaur

How do you think India Expo Centre is meeting the growing demand for meetings and conferencing space in India?

We have been organising the events’ demands visualising the concept, evaluating, financing and budgeting, scheduling, marketing, followed by designing and executing. With the help of a dedicated, creative and imaginative team, a precise and complete plan is chalked out for meeting the growing demands of meetings and conferencing needs. Since these sectors are the most vibrant form of connecting businesses and with growth in virtually every sector of our economy, there is a greater than ever buzz around the M&C space and we, at the India Expo Mart, have been watching this very closely. We are providing a variety of solutions across the wide spectrum of events and connecting industry sectors with great success.

Our complete professional service bouquet fulfills every conceivable demand of the meeting and conferences business. Supplemented with reasonable and competitive prices and stateof-the-art purpose-built infrastructure, we have

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Please give us an insight into MICE facilities at India Expo Centre.

How do you think has the overall scenario of MICE changed in India over the last few years? What are the shifts in trends that you have witnessed within this period?

At India Expo Centre, the focus is not just on the large format trade exhibitions. In fact, MICE facility is one of the fastest growing segments of India Expo Centre. We have a variety of spaces and services including 29 meeting rooms in addition to 14 exhibition cum conference halls, Plenary hall up to a capacity of 20000 pax. With exhibition and conference facilities under one roof and an extensive choice of staying options around our facility, our clients are immensely pleased with our MICE facilities. Large exhibitions and conferences is our forte; meetings, a regular business; given our strategic location, so close to the capital, on the golden triangle tourist circuit, close to world-renowned nature and wildlife, spiritual and heritage sites, it is the incentives market that we want to offer our services to. We have started many offerings to attract corporate to plan their arrangements at our facility.

The MICE segment has come of age. It has placed itself at the center of tourism as one of the key drivers of the sector’s development and an important generator of income, employment and investment. MICE industry provides immense benefits to the broader economy as it generates on average a higher spending level, reduces seasonality, contributes to the regeneration of the destination, spreads knowledge and enhances innovation and creativity.

India has always been an enchanting and a potentially top destination for MICE from all around the world. Yet, as on date, India attracts only one percent of the total international market in MICE. To gauge India’s strength as an emerging MICE destination, besides harnessing inbound business, it is also important to understand Indian outbound MICE tourism, given the growth pace and scope of India’s economy.

gained extensive admiration from a large clientele base.

Expert Speak

The MICE industry in India, though well equipped to take on its’ immediate neighbours and in certain cases, the global warhorses have to trudge a long path before it comes up as a “top of the mind” destination amongst global MICE organisers. We have recently moved up to occupy the 31st position in the recent list of global ranking published by ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) from 35th rank in 2014 globally. The Union Government has set an ambitious target for MICE INDIA to achieve two per cent of the global MICE market share by 2025. The industry estimates that the MICE sector in India is growing at a rate of 13 to 17 per cent annually. As per industry estimates the global MICE market supports 4, 00,000 conferences and exhibitions worldwide, making it the annual USD280 to 300 billion market. The Asian market, however, accounts for USD60 billion market but is growing at a significant rate of 38 per cent since 2006 while India accounts for a mere 0.5 to one per cent of the total market. So the journey has only just begun, and at India Expo Centre, we have equipped ourselves fully to meet this growing demand.

national technological offerings on par with global standards. The government should promote this industry since it provides a lot of opportunity for tourism, employment and overall growth of the economy.

Do you think that the location of India Expo Mart stands as one of the roadblocks for delegates?

On the contrary, big events like Auto Expo and IHGF Delhi Fair have seen better footfall at India Expo Centre as compared to the time when they were being held in the heart of Delhi. Being a little away also ensures a better quality of

How do you see the future of MICE in India in the next five years?

Since 2008, the MICE industry is on a high in the country. With this escalation, following things can be predicted about the future of MICE in India.

Further, with the developing infrastructure and profitable business policies, it is highly possible that the Indian MICE will surpass other countries to reserve a higher position globally. Not only the position, but the size of the industry in India is also likely to grow in the coming 10 years. With increased value of MICE events in the country, it is certain that the situation is going to change rapidly and we will witness a steeply rising curve in the business

India still lacks the proper infrastructure and innovation techniques to hold bigger conventions. What do you think are the roadblocks and what are your suggestions to overcome these challenges?

Unlike many countries abroad, where the state pushes things forward and hugely incentivises MICE industry, the machinery in India is propelled in the bottom to up direction. There are few exhibition cum convention centres such as Mahatma Mandir, HICC and India Expo Centre in India which are capable of holding bigger conventions. To build a large convention centre with all state of art facilities requires huge funds and this is where we are lacking and not getting ample financing support. Mutual competition and trust deficit restrict entities to come together to bid for a big show and end up losing valuable business. Also, there is no DMO in any state or a convention bureau which could handhold the organisers and facilitate them at each and every step in order to get the conference and help it to make it a success.

The government should come forward by giving administrative support and also for funding bids.

It should support sponsoring familiarisation tours for select invited business stakeholders, with the object of providing a first-hand experience of the proposed itinerary. The government should promote the MICE industry and must strive to develop the necessary infrastructure to keep

“To gauge India’s strength as an emerging MICE destination, besides harnessing inbound business, it is also important to understand Indian outbound MICE tourism, given the growth pace and scope of India’s economy.” visitors and delegate focus – in case of meetings and conferences. It is the mindset that needs change. All big conferences are away from the city in order to provide ample convention space, adequate parking and for smooth movement of delegates. India Expo Centre is well connected with the city centre with an 8 lane expressway and flyovers with no traffic signal and helipads within premises. The metro which is coming right next to our venue, in next two months’ time, will add another feather to our cap.

graph. The future of the industry in India will have a lot more inclusion of technology in organising and managing the events.

Are there any expansion plans for IEML in the pipeline?

Being one of the biggest venues in India, we already have a fantastic infrastructure. While upgrading and upkeep is an ongoing exercise, in a big step forward, we are planning to construct a hotel having 110 rooms, inside the very premises of our venue!

APRIL 2018

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News

TRADE Dubai Business Events wins 212 bids Dubai is all set to welcome an additional 95,000 delegates, delivering an economic impact of approximately AED 715 million. In 2017, Dubai Business Events (DBE) won 212 bids, which is significantly higher when compared with 2016. The bids and proposals secured in 2017 mark an increase of 64 per cent over 2016 when a total of 129 bids were won, further cementing the Emirate’s leading position as a global business events destination.

Key bid wins from 2017 include the Baby Care Annual Incentive, with an expected attendance of 1,500 delegates, as well as the Amway Russia Annual Incentive, which will bring 2,700 employees to Dubai; both business events are set to take place in 2018. Other notable wins include The International Society for

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Geospatial Week, the 71st edition of the International Astronautical Congress.

“The exponential increase in bids won in 2017 is a direct reflection of Dubai’s rapid growth as a leading business hub. 2017’s success in attracting international business events builds on the steady growth the city has experienced, establishing Dubai as a destination of choice for business events from around the globe,” says Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

“The strength of Dubai as a business events destination and knowledge hub is proven y-o-y. Our strategy is aligned with Dubai Tourism’s Vision 2020 to attract 20 million visitors to the emirate by the year 2020,” adds Steen Jakobsen, Director, Dubai Business Events.

IRCTC to launch own payment gateway Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp. (IRCTC), the largest consumer internet firm by revenue, is set to launch its own payment gateway as the online ticketing platform eyes additional revenues and looks to reduce dependency on third-party payment services providers.

IRCTC, which currently sells over 1.2 million tickets a month, is expected to start the pilot for its in-house payment gateway over the next four to eight weeks. The payment gateway is internally being called ‘ipay’ and will be rolled out in phases once the testing is successfully completed. Till then, ipay will be among the many payment gateways that IRCTC uses for online transactions on its platform.

SITE launches Young Leaders Programme for India The global association for Incentive Travel industry, Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) has launched its global programme for young leaders of the industry in India. The programme that aspires to enlist young leaders and connect them with the global industry and the best practices followed will be open for people below the age of 35 and less than five years of industry experience. The India programme was launched in Delhi at the aegis of

Nitin Sachdeva, the Co-Chair for Global Young Leader programme of SITE. Around 30 young leaders from the travel industry attended the launch event.

Later speaking to the media, Sachdeva, who is the first Asian to be appointed as the Co-chair of the Global programme of SITE, said that the programme intends to get the next generation of leaders into the fold and expose them to the global best practices and grow their business vistas

through connections and relationships with around 2,000 members of SITE spread in 88 countries.

“Every SITE chapter has a mandate to create Young Leader programme,” he added. He said that a Board has been constituted with three members and the next step is to set up a committee to steer the activities forward. Predominantly an association of Incentive Travel industry stakeholders of the US, SITE opened India Chapter 10 years ago.

MakeMyTrip and OYO announce partnership MakeMyTrip and OYO announced their partnership whereby OYO’s chain of hotels across India, Malaysia and Nepal will be listed and available for booking on MakeMyTrip across its popular OTA brands, MakeMyTrip and Goibibo. The partnership will add momentum to India’s rapidly growing travel sector by bringing together OYO’s large base of economy, mid-segment and vacation rentals assets and India’s largest online travel customer-base served by MakeMyTrip, Goibibo and RedBus. “We are committed to bring the best of travel experience to our customers, which is why we offer them a variety of options across price segments, particularly in the fragmented economy and

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mid-segment hotels, where there is a greater need to build assurance around stay experience. With OYO’s evolution as a full-scale hospitality company,

we are excited to offer their chain of hotels in the value economy and mid-market category through MakeMyTrip and Goibibo platforms,” says Rajesh Magow, Co-founder & CEO India, MakeMyTrip Ltd. “With OYO, we have created a brand that resonates quality for both our customers and hotel partners.

Being a full stack hospitality tech company, we have built capabilities to run quality-ensured accommodations across different formats and placing them in the hands of travellers who are constantly on the lookout for unique experiences.

We are excited to extend our offerings of beautiful living spaces to them through MakeMyTrip and GoIbibo,” adds Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, OYO.

Guest Column

OUTBOUND

TO AUGMENT INDIA TOURISM

The largest and fastest growing segments in India’s outbound market are large groups, weddings, incentives and events and clubbed be known to the trade as MICE. Only a decade ago, these segments were low yield business but economic growth in India has changed things and now these segments, along with a budget, are high yield business. Shikha Chaudhary, General Manager- MICE & Groups, TravelBullz shares an extensive insight

Outbound MICE from India has seen a paradigm shift, particularly in the last five years. Personally for us at TravelBullz, ‘Socials’ witnessed an unprecedented spike from India, with more and more people wanting to mark their special events and landmarks with friends and families outside the country.

Resonating a similar line of thought, not too long ago, in 2016, India ranked as the fastest growing outbound business travel market of any country in the world, with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reporting that spending in this segment increased 5.4 per cent over the year.

Not only is the market growing in volume and value but, following the introduction of more direct flights to key cities across the world, Indian travellers now venture further than ever before.

(Source: Trading Economics) At TravelBullz, we know the kind of expectations Indian MICE travellers have in terms of hospitality, innovation, value add-ons and expertise to handle big events with impeccable planning and we meet that demand through our service and experienced staff.

Scope for outbound MICE is great as the

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countries around the world continue their efforts to attract the Indian market to their destination, marketing spends have increased aggressively with the aim to improve brand visibility by the destination and the corporate.

The growth we see in the Indian market is unmatched. India has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing outbound market second only to China. The growth of the Indian outbound travel industry is at a very exciting phase and we continue to cater to this dynamic and lucrative segment with our three destinations – Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau.

Incentive travel has long been recognised as a powerful business tool for helping organisations achieve key business objectives and drive bottomline results. Smart business leaders in India; whether big or small know that the skills and attitudes of their employees can be the very thing that sets them apart from their competition and this is why incentive travel is the fastest growing segment within India’s outbound MICE vertical.

This is the strongest tool to motivate and reward top-performing employees and external channel partners to drive top-line sales.

Indian corporates from Pharmaceutical, Cement, FMCG, Retail, BFSI and other industries are seeking new destinations for MICE trips beyond traditional destinations and themes, thereby providing their employees and distributors unique experiences and are actively holding regular MICE programs abroad with departments dedicated to take care of business travel and incentive groups of size-able proportions.

The foreign tourism boards are gearing up to meet the growing number of Indians who are travelling abroad and splurging. While many of the National Tourism Organizations also have established their own offices in the country, others are making use of representations or their embassies/cultural desks to test the waters, before taking the plunge.

Airlines are experimenting the trend of connecting popular short haul and most popular destination such as Thailand to the tier II cities of India.

The challenges still remain the introduction of some new taxation or the visa restrictions like PAR in Hong Kong.

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News

OUTBOUND Tourism NZ teams up with Indian RTOs More than 50 travel agents from India and South East Asia visited New Zealand last month to wrap up almost a year of upskilling themselves on the nation ‘Down Under’. Tourism New Zealand worked with the regional tourism organisations (RTOs) to develop three different itineraries for the agents. Recently, the agents landed in Auckland where a one-day workshop was held with 25 RTOs before they headed out around the country. Consumer insights and product updates were shared between the agents and RTO’s through one-on-one meetings.

Tourism New Zealand also provided a market update before the workshop concluded with an award ceremony to recognise the agents becoming Gold Specialists.

Steven Dixon, Regional Manager South and South East Asia, Tourism New Zealand,

Steven Dixon said it was fantastic to be able to bring these agents to show them first-hand what they’ve been learning about. “By coming on the trip the agents ticked off the final requirement to become Gold 100 per cent Pure New Zealand Specialists – a visit to New Zealand. We are confident that the knowledge, which the agents acquired by experiencing New Zealand themselves will help them to better sell New Zealand as a holiday destination to their clients.”

Sultanate of Oman simplifies VoA Last year Oman relaxed its visa rules to attract more tourists by granting Visa on arrival (unsponsored tourist visa) for the citizens of India, who reside in or hold an entry visa to USA, Canada, Australia, UK and Schengen states to enter the Sultanate of Oman. To further facilitate the process, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has announced that visas will only be granted electronically and there will be no more hand-processed visas at the airport. The e-visa application explains clearly the process of obtaining visas such as obtaining a visa through a tourism company, in a simplified way. The application clarifies

the visa formalities for various groups of countries.

Royal Oman Police, Sultanate of Oman shared, “The migration to electronic visas is due to its simplicity and effectiveness, its alignment with modern technology and is in line with the e-government project of the Sultanate. It will save tourists’ time so they don’t have to wait in long queues at the airport. The system has been thoroughly tested and over 12,000 users have already benefited from it. The system is considered to be one of the safest and most confidential in the world, with an ISO certification.”

Nishant Kashikar

India crosses 300k mark in visitor arrivals to Australia Visitor arrivals from India to Australia have crossed the 300,000 mark as recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for the year ended December 2017, an increase of 15.4 per cent over the previous year. India is also currently the eighthlargest and the fastest-growing inbound travel market for Australia, and has recorded double-digit growth for the fourth consecutive year. The growing appetite for Australian holidays has been fueled by Tourism Australia’s consumer marketing campaign ‘There’s Nothing Like Australia’.

“We are delighted having crossed the 300k mark for arrivals into Australia from India, and are grateful to all our partners and stakeholders for being with us on this journey. There has been a consistent effort at the introduction of new products and experiences from a trade distribution perspective and innovative direct to consumer communication initiatives that have been implemented to build and sustain Australia’s preference as a holiday destination,” shares Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager, Tourism Australia India and Gulf.

Indonesia to regain more air connectivity with India Considering the strong trade and political terms between India and Indonesia, H.E. Sidharto R Suryodipuro, Ambassador of Indonesia to India considers it to be an ideal time to renew the air services agreement between the two countries for a boost in footfalls between the two countries.

According to Suryodipuro, the existing Air Services Agreement that is in place since 2011, Indonesian carriers have exhausted the flying rights of 28 direct frequencies per week to India in the last 18 months.

“However, no Indian carrier is flying to Indonesia. We want to see that happening,” he added.

The Ambassador said that there has been 30 per

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APRIL 2018

cent growth in tourist visits from India to Indonesia last year, touching nearly half a million visits, which shows increasing demand for direct flights between the two countries. He said that it is a good time that

the existing agreement is renewed and that he had several rounds of meetings with the Minister of Civil Aviation in India in this regard. The Ambassador hopes that the momentum in political and economic relationships between the two countries in the last few years would bring improvements in air connectivity between the countries in the coming years. On unveiling an exhibition, coffee table book and documentary on ‘The Pride and Glory of Bali Yatra’ depicting the old maritime relationship between he two countries, Suryodipuro shared that the Indian influence in Indonesia is not just limited to Bali but also in Java and Sumatra.

Homeward

Bleisure stopovers India’s fast growing tourism market generates 5.1 million tourists annually and MICE tourism is one of the driven factors. Reach out to the top five upcoming Indian states for MICE tourism with the right amount of infrastructure and plenty of leisure activities to indulge in

By Ankita Jain

Andhra Pradesh Often called the ‘Food Bowl of the South’, Andhra Pradesh is recognised for its legendary dynasties, for its most revered temple- Tirupati, the world famous pearls of Hyderabad, beautiful weaves, rich literature and the vibrant Kuchipudi dance form. To be fair on the MICE business, the state has finalised locations for international convention centres in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Moreover, in Vizag, the convention centre will be constructed on the hills of Madhurawada facing the seafront, at a cost of INR 380 crore. It can be said that after Hyderabad, Vizag is rising as the second best destination for MICE.

Convention centres • A Plus Convention Center • PLR Convention Centre

Jammu and Kashmir Even heaven hath no fury when scorned by nature. Well, Jammu and Kashmir is one of those ‘must travel roads’.

Besides, serene beauty, the state is also promoting adventure tourism. It has decided to introduce the high adrenaline sport of ice climbing in Pahalgam, 100 km from Srinagar. Also, J&K was the pioneer in establishing convention centre in the country as the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) and it was the first convention centre in India which was set up in the late seventies.

Convention Centres • Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) • Convention Centre Jammu

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APRIL 2018

Homeward

TRADE Odisha It is a state where rolling greens spread like a carpet.

Driving along most of the roads in Odisha comes along with tall trees perched on either side and an occasional sight of a villager lugging ahead with his cattle, every scene here is made for a picture perfect postcard and a reminder of the concept of sustainable living. On the other hand, a number of hotel and hospitality groups and individuals have come up with different five-star, deluxe to luxury and budget hotels in different cities very close to major tourist attractions. Interestingly, these renowned hotels and resorts are also known for the best MICE in Odisha where you can give new wings to your business growth.

Convention centres • MAYFAIR Convention, Bhubaneswar • KIIT Convention Center

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh has the Heritage Arc that connects Agra, Lucknow and Varanasi. The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Policy accepts the immense importance of MICE tourism and it has selected this niche tourism as an engine to drive growth. In collaboration with private entrepreneurs convention centers will be established for the trade fair, seminar, exhibition and more in Noida, Agra, Lucknow and Varanasi which are ideal tourism centers for MICE tourism in Uttar Pradesh. Of late, infrastructure has geared up considerably, the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida and the Yamuna Expressway in addition to the proposed Agra – Lucknow Expressway has added a fillip to the entire process of infrastructure rejuvenation in the state.

Convention centres • International Trade Expo Centre Limited

Jharkhand Jharkhand is an attractive land which is impregnated with fascinating attractions and glorious history.

Sharing its border with Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Orissa, Jharkhand finds mention in the Hindu Mythological book called Bhavishva Purana. This destination is famous for its mineral wealth, wildlife, forests, waterfalls, natural beauty, rolling hills, backwaters, mountains, rivers and lakes. The state also recently laid the on-line foundation stone of a multi-purpose convention centre at Jamshedpur. The government has investment plan of about INR 10 crores.

Convention centres • Institute of Public Health and Convention Center (IPH) APRIL 2018

21

In Conversation

IMAGICA

TO RETUNE HOLIDAY IMAGINATION

Five years ago, with a vision to start a theme park in India, AdlabsImagica, part of Adlabs Entertainment Ltd. (AEL) was introduced with a right mix of all universal parks, globally.

Raveendra Singh, Associate Vice President - Marketing & Strategic Planning, AdlabsImagica discusses how the brand is differentiating itself, shifting the idea of weekend holiday for Indians

By Sayanti Halder

How is the recent evolution been for Adlabs Imagica?

Imagica has seen tremendous growth in the past four years with over six million guests walking into our parks over the years. This in itself is a milestone, as no other park in the country has yet shown such radical growth numbers. While we see two third of the total footfall coming from Mumbai and Pune, around 20 per cent of our guests are coming from Gujarat, travelling from Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat and Baroda.

Adding on to this, the biggest driver of this growth is repeat value, and the trend of re-visitation by guests. Although re-visitation is a comparatively new trend in the country, we have received between eight and twelve per cent of re-visitation, from the first year till recent times.

What new attractions do you plan to introduce this year?

Recently, we have announced a partnership with Green Gold Animation Ltd. to introduce India’s first character inspired ride ‘Chhota Bheem The Ride’, along with Chhota Bheem’s introduction in the Grand Imagica Parade. Our latest introduction, Family Entertainment Center (FEC) is also receiving

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APRIL 2018

a good response. Furthermore, we plan to introduce a unique Bollywood-centric museum as a separate attraction, within the premises, by June 2018.

Mostly reputed as a family destination, how do you position Imagica for the MICE segment of travellers?

There is a pre-conceived notion that Imagica is only a family destination, whereas, we also tap more MICE travellers, young working adults and couples.

We have different products for different needs, especially for the MICE segment. With an average size of 200 to 400 people in a group, we have organised events for as much as 7000 people in a day and posses capacity to cater to larger numbers of MICE travellers.

We have observed a y-o-y growth of influx to the park and corporate segment contributes close to eight to ten per cent of the total footfall, each year. Since last year, regular footfall has grown by 18 to 20 per cent out of which, MICE footfalls has increased over 25 per cent amounting to close to 1.5 lakh visitors. This is due to the fact that we offer a strategic mix of hospitality service, entertainment and the massive infrastructure to support various fun-filled activities. The growing numbers reflects

an acceptance of the destination amongst the corporates in the vicinity.

What gives us encouragement is that corporates and MICE planners are looking at hosting typical as well as innovative first time ever activities at Imagica, which breaks from the routine. For instance, last year a very large group from a jewellery company set a Guinness World Record at Imagica with the largest ever fire walk! While it was a fun activity, the organisers had a clear objective in mind – to promote team bonding and going the extra mile. The whole event was conceptualised by an event partner, and both the event agency and the organisation knew that no other place would be able to provide the infrastructure or the atmosphere for an activity like this.

We have a special ‘Imagica by Night’ attraction for the visitors and endorse the same to corporates for their annual functions or employee-rewards programs. To attract more MICE travellers in the park, we are introducing a no-ride-conference-only option to carve out a non-ticketing zone providing a more affordable choice to organise MICE events.

Our integrated 267-room-Novotel ImagicaKhopoli, with an annual ARR of around 75 per cent, offers banquets and convention halls.

In Conversation

To attract more MICE travellers in the park, we are introducing a no-ride-conference-only option to carve out a non-ticketing zone providing a more affordable choice to organise MICE events.

Further, in future, we would be looking at, having a mid-market, semi-budget hotel, of around INR 4000 to 5000 per room night, to attract and cater to larger MICE crowds in the park.

What is the immediate target for the coming days?

We are trying to build a brand value of becoming an immediate weekend getaway for our surrounding catchment area. Our competitions are mainly the movie theatres and shopping malls and not any other amusement park, for rerouting Indian families’ weekend destination. For more visibility, we aim to penetrate into our target markets by reaching out through electronic and print media and outdoor promotions. We would be all out with outdoor publicity and social media engagements this year, allowing the already visited six million travellers to revisit Imagica.

How are you planning to engage with more tour operators?

What lies ahead in the future for AdlabsImagica?

Our relations with tour operators of Mumbai, Pune and Gujarat are growing stronger as they fetch a lot of FITs although we are eyeing for travel agents of bigger scales. We have enrolled some of the biggest names in the travel trade and try to educate as many agents and sub-agents as possible. A lot of our corporate travellers are driven by Cox and Kings.

We aim to create more awareness to reroute the MICE tourists, travelling to Singapore or Hong Kong for the same experience, for which we would engage and educate more tour operators and customise our itineraries according to their clients’ demands. We aspire to reach a level of educating every travel agent, possible, where our comparison would rise with that of any popular inbound destination.

With three existing theme parks in the premise, we aim to introduce two more attractions by the end of 2018 that would propel more business, this year. Additionally, as an economical alternative for accommodation and camping experience, we recently introduced the tenting experience for adventure seekers. This attraction would surely bring in more visitors, planning for overnight stays.

We also plan to tie up with key aggregators such as MakeMyTrip or OYO, to have their hotels listed on our platform. Likewise, we would list our attractions and packages on their portals, driving a mutual business. We have been able to cater to only 15 per cent of our relevant target customers from Mumbai and Pune. What I see is a large potential of growth in the days ahead.

Hilton Strengthens Partnership With Embassy Group To further expand its portfolio in India, Hilton has signed management agreements with Embassy Group for developing two hotels in Bengaluru.

The 500 room dual-branded hotel that features a Hilton Hotels & Resorts and a Hilton Garden Inn hotel in the same complex will be located within the 100-acre Embassy TechVillage Business Park near Marathalli.

Following the success of Hilton Bangalore Embassy Golf Links and the subsequent signing of the first dual-branded 620-keys twin hotels at Embassy Manyata Business Park, this is the third project with Hilton.

“We are delighted to sign our third hotel project with Hilton, reflecting the powerful synergies and collaboration between both groups. Using Embassy’s proven expertise in project development, we are focused on delivering landmark hotels that will provide an elevated service for our corporate occupiers within their work environment. As in the past five years, the mainstay of our hospitality foray will be to build hotels and mixed-use developments as part of our business parks,” said Jitu Virwani, CMD, Embassy Group. Correspondingly, Navjit Ahluwalia, Senior Vice President and Country Head, Hilton India, added, “India is at a cusp of growth in the travel and hospitality sectors. We are witnessing positive signs with an uptake in both domestic and international inbound travel.

Hilton will continue its endeavor to deliver best-in-class hospitality to our discerning guests as we take rapid strides to increase our presence in the growing Indian hospitality industry.”

Construction of this new hospitality project, which is among the largest in India, is expected to begin this year and the hotels will be operational by end 2021 or early 2022. The announcement reinforces Embassy Group’s strategic roll-out of hospitality ventures and strengthening its longstanding partnership with Hilton Hotels. As per the agreement, the dualbranded property would be developed and owned by the Embassy Group and managed by Hilton.

APRIL 2018

23

News

AVIATION

Air India launches direct flights to Tel Aviv According to an official statement by Air India (AI), the airline has begun nonstop flight operations from New Delhi to Tel Aviv, Israel. With one way duration of seven hours and 10 minutes, AI will be the fastest nonstop flight between India and Israel.

“In light of the significant increase in incoming tourism from India over the past few years, the Ministry of Tourism has been in talks with AI and other airlines to increase their flights and seat capacity to Israel. AI’s direct flight connectivity from New Delhi to Tel Aviv is great news with its shorter flight duration. With direct flights now from both Mumbai and New Delhi by El Al and Air India respectively, this will help meet the growing demand, enabling us to achieve our target of one lakh Indians in 2018,” said Hassan Madah, Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism India & Philippines

Vistara completes initial fleet order Vistara received its 20th aircraft and its seventh Airbus A320neo hence, completing its initial aircraft order as planned at the earlier of setting up the airline. Vistara will use the new aircraft to increase frequencies on existing routes to scale up operations in the domestic market, while gearing up to start international operations soon. “This is not just another addition to our fleet, but a landmark one that signals Vistara’s arrival on the global map, marking the beginning of our next phase of growth. We’re confident that our distinctive approach to the business will continue to set new benchmarks for the industry,” said Leslie Thng, CEO, Vistara.

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APRIL 2018

CSIA Mumbai Airport rated World’s Best Airport Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), operated and managed by GVK MIAL, has been rated the World’s Best Airport for the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards 2017 for customer experience, announced by the Airports Council International (ACI). As part of the ACI’s worldwide programme, passengers were surveyed across international airports for their feedback on 34 key performance indicators including airport access, check-in, security screening, restrooms, stores and restaurants.

“We are delighted to be conferred with this award. In 2007, when we had taken over the complete operations of the airport, the ASQ

score was 3.53 and in ten years we have got it to hover around 4.99 out of a maximum five. It is a testimony to the quality service provided during 2017 to over forty six million travellers by the thirty thousand odd airport community members comprising the CISF, customs, immigration teams, airline staff, F&B and retail teams who work at the airport with a mission to constantly raise the bar and create new benchmarks day after day,” exclaimed Dr. GVK Reddy, Founder and Chairman, GVK. “Going forward, we will continue to strive harder and innovate through technology enabled services to delight our travellers”, he added.

Emirates unveils more spacious Business Class seats Emirates has unveiled a brand new business class cabin and configuration on its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, with new wider seats laid out in a 2-2-2 configuration for the first time. The airline has invested over USD150 million to refurbish the 10 existing 777-200LR aircraft in its fleet. The newly refurbished Emirates 777-200LR aircraft is set in a two-class configuration, which offers 38 business class seats and 264 seats in economy class.

The business class seat has a pitch of 72 inches and moves into a fully flat sleeping position. It also has touchscreen controls for the seat and in-flight entertainment system, several personal lighting options, privacy panels between seats, a shoe stowage area, footrest and a personal mini-bar.

The cabin also features the Ghaf tree – considered

the national tree of the United Arab Emirates, and now a signature design on the latest Emirates aircraft. In addition, the new Business Class cabin features a social area – unique to the Boeing 777200LR fleet.

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growth

Spotlight

Desaru Coast

set to greet Indian business

travellers in 2018

Left to Right: H.E Dato Hidayat Abdul Hamid and Muhammad Zainal Ashikin

In order to attract more travellers from the Indian tourist market, Tourism Malaysia has recently introduced the country’s new experiential destination in the south-eastern region, Desaru Coast, developed by Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn. Bhd., spanning over 3,900 acres along an unspoiled 17km beachfront facing the South China Sea. The fully-integrated beach-front destination, Desaru Coast already encompasses few of the globally renowned hotels and resorts, two world-class golf courses, a themed water park plus a retail village

By Sayanti Halder

Completing the unique blend of experiences that the multi-billion-dollar integrated destination has to offer is the Desaru Coast Conference Centre, a fully equipped multipurpose venue with a banquet area and exhibition space that can host up to 1,000 participants. The conference centre is furnished with meeting and breakout rooms, VIP lounges, a pre-function area, and courtyard to cater to MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibition), corporate functions and entertainment events, therefore promising a healthy MICE tourism in the Desaru Coast. The destination also offers a range of indoor and outdoor venues, suitable for events ranging from 10 to 10,000 participants.

“The strategically located convention center managed by the Westin Hotel is ideal for meeting and conference of varied size of groups providing a niche kind of meeting. The center delivers a state-of-the-art and traditional, Malay architecture and design. The facility is supported by both the Westin and Hard Rock hotels for better services with an aim of more footfalls. For MICE crowd planning for strategic meetings mixed with retreat or excursion, Desaru Coast is an ideal destination as all the existing hotels provide full spa facilities along with several other experiential offerings. Also, the pre-planned beach destination is a key getaway for places such as Johor Bahru and Singapore that may allow more MICE travellers diverting to Desaru

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APRIL 2018

Coast,” shares Muhammad Zainal Ashikin, Chief Executive Officer, Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn Bhd. He continues sharing, “We anticipate that the programs, which Tourism Malaysia advocates for the India market would bring in a significant impact to Desaru Coast by opening more opportunities of exploring the corporate segment of Indian travellers. With Tourism Malaysia, we hope to involve more tour operators from India, engaging in more promotional activities. Last year, the number of Indian visitors in Malaysia was around 4, 00, 000 and

Course and the 18-hole Valley Course, assuring a world-class golf experience with an incredible view for the business travellers and golfers.

“India has always been an important market for Malaysia. In 2016, a total of 6,38,578 Indian travellers visited Malaysia, maintaining its position as the sixth top tourist generating market to the country. With an increase in air connectivity between India and Malaysia, we expect an arrival of around one million Indians to Malaysia by the end of 2018. Desaru Coast will gradually become preferable destination for the Indians thus,

“With Tourism Malaysia, we hope to involve more tour operators from India, engaging in more promotional activities” around three percent of that figure in 2018 would be a positive jumpstart for us. We expect that our new destination would provide at least 30 to 40 per cent of growth in Indian arrivals to Malaysia, especially the MICE section.”

Furthermore for golf aficionados, the first Els Club in Southeast Asia and the third in the world, The Els Club Malaysia in Desaru Coast consists two championship golf courses, the 27-hole Ocean

boosting the arrivals to the country,” adds H.E Dato Hidayat Abdul Hamid, High Commissioner, High Commission of Malaysia- India.

Both the Hard Rock Hotel and the Westin Desaru Coast Resort are expected to open the doors by the end of end of June 2018 with the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas by early 2019. The destination, Desaru Coast, itself is expected to soft launch in June, 2018.

Lavish Stays

Roda Al Bustan

Is more than a place to meet!

A stylishly designed five-star hotel giving a sense of modern luxury and a pinch of chutzpah, Roda Al Bustan Hotel is the place that perfectly showcases the dynamism of Dubai. Located in close proximity to Dubai International Airport and the leisure hub of Deira, the hotel stands as an epitome to warm Arabic hospitality and features a space that upends the unexpected. While each room enjoys a magnificent city or a pool view, the sheer superficiality of the open atrium gives you a distinct futuristic feel. As one steps into this spectacular and thoughtfully designed property, one is divided as to whether to gasp or applaud! The hotel is all set to celebrate its 20 years of exceptional hospitality services this year

By Gagneet Kaur

LIVE IN STYLE Roda Al Bustan reads for wow in the 279 rooms and suites, stylishly stacked in an ultra-modern space.

Whether it’s a Classic Room providing spectacular city views, the Premium Room giving direct access to the hotel pool or the lavishly designed Classic and Executive Suites, each is uber chic space that redefines the elegance. Guests opting for Executive Room accommodation on the third floor of the hotel can enjoy a personalised service and an exclusive access to the RODA Discovery Club lounge and the Executive Lounge.

Generous room sizes, interconnecting rooms and plenty of in-room amenities offer a perfect choice for family holidays in Dubai.

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APRIL 2018

Lavish Stays

TINGLE YOUR TASTE BUDS As appetising dishes serenade your taste buds and tempting drinks satisfy parched throats, Roda Al Bustan’s awardwinning restaurants take you to culinary journey where you will be spoilt for choices. Bambooda is a must visit Thai restaurant evoking all charms of authentic rural Thai kitchen. Makan, the all-day-dining restaurant is a place that offers you the choicest of cuisines from all over the world. If you have an intention to unwind yourself with music accompanied with light snacks or the tastiest cakes, Gazebo Café should be your place of choice. You can’t afford to miss the thrill dining at Hibachi where chefs flip, juggle and theatrically flame raw ingredients to create mouthwatering meals. Roda Grill, on the other hand, serves its signature steak tartare which is prepared at your table.

Apart from this, if you choose to stay back in the room and enjoy a laid-back meal, there are plenty of in-room dining options to choose from.

A LA MODE MEETINGS & EVENTS Space here can accommodate from 15 to 1,500 guests.

Boasting 3,500 sq m of flexible meeting and event spaces, the hotel is capable to host exhibitions, business events, conferences, meetings and seminars. The 13 elegant meeting spaces feature the best of technology, on-site technical assistance, other modern state-of-the-art facilities and complimentary wi-fi. You have a choice to hold a convention/exhibition at the Convention Centre with a pre-function area perfect for tea and coffee breaks. Spread over 1536 sq m, Grand Rashidiya Ballroom boasts its own private entrance and elegant pre-function areas along with the spacious VIP Majilis. This trendy ballroom can host up to 1000 guests for an ideal wedding or other big functions and can make your event, an affair to remember!

FACILITIES & SERVICES With guest comfort and convenience being the major trademark for the hotel, there is an array of facilities to indulge in! The Flow Spa & Health Club at the hotel allows the guests to stay on top of their fitness regime as it is fully equipped with cardiovascular and free weight areas. The tennis and squash courts at the hotel are the best way to stay fit. As the sun loungers and sun shades are provided to the guests for their relaxed swimming time, the toddlers, on the other hand, can enjoy in their small pool. Steam and sauna rooms and the outdoor Jacuzzi can help you rejuvenate yourself. You can also opt for a complimentary shuttle bus to Al Mamzar Beach Park, Dubai and other selected locations. With all these facilities on offer and the hospitality providing the warmth of authentic Arabic culture, Roda Al Bustan adds so much value to your stay but also spoils you for a plenty of choices.

APRIL 2018

29

News

TRADE HOSPITALITY AccorHotels opens Novotel in South Goa AccorHotels launched its latest Novotel, in partnership with the Alcon Victor Group and its fourth property in the Goa market. AccorHotels has rebranded the Dona Sylvia Resort to

Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort, adding the Novotel brand essence with modern refurbishments. Situated in South Goa, the resort features 181 well-appointed and spacious rooms, villas and suites.

The property provides a glimpse into the traditional Portuguese culture through a mix of contemporary and local heritage architecture, built like a small luxury village in itself. Appreciating the needs of today’s travellers, Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort features two

dedicated conference rooms with a capacity to serve about 200 guests.

“Dona Sylvia Resort has always resonated with old-world charm and new-world luxury, creating an authentic Goan ambience along with its perfect location on Cavelossim Beach.

Today through the rebranding of the property, as a Novotel Resort, we look forward to offering an international standard product to our guests,” said Varun Albuquerque, Director, Alcon Victor Group on the launch day. “The rebranding of Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort strengthens AccorHotels’ presence in the Indian market. With 17 Novotels in the country, we believe this brand is particularly well targeted for the modern Indian traveller and international guests. We are delighted to partner with the Alcon Victor Group and look forward to bringing our expertise in hospitality to this relationship,” added Jean-Michel Cassé, Chief Operating Officer, India & South Asia, AccorHotels.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group rebrands as Radisson Hotel Group Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group announces its rebranding to Radisson Hotel Group at the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin. Radisson Hotel Group, capitalises on a strong partnership between Radisson Hospitality, Inc. (formerly Carlson Hotels, Inc.) and Rezidor Hotel Group AB (publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Sweden and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium) who has master franchise agreements to develop and operate several brands across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“It is the start of an exciting era for the Radisson Hotel Group, united by our new brand and long-term vision to become a top three hospitality company in the world. Our fiveyear operating plan includes

IHG acquires stake in regent hotels & resorts InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced that it has agreed to acquire a 51 per cent stake in Regent Hotels and Resorts for USD 39 million in cash. IHG will have the right to acquire the remaining 49 per cent interest in a phased manner from 2026. IHG will bring Regent into its brand portfolio at the top end of the luxury segment and will accelerate its growth globally, supported by IHG’s powerful enterprise. IHG’s intention is to grow the brand from six hotels today to over 40 hotels in key global gateway city and resort locations over the long term.

“IHG is already one of the world leaders in luxury with our InterContinental Hotels and Resorts brand, but we see significant potential to further develop our global footprint in the fast-growing luxury segment.

As one of the pioneers in defining luxury hotels both in Asia and around the world, Regent is an excellent addition to IHG’s

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portfolio of brands. We see a real opportunity to unlock Regent’s enormous potential and accelerate its growth, globally. In addition, by creating a dedicated luxury division, we will be bringing together some of the most experienced and respected people in the industry who will help drive our luxury offer, ensuring that our existing luxury brands continue to evolve and allowing us to bring in new brands such as Regent to enhance our brand portfolio,” said Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer of IHG.

initiatives that redefine our value proposition, optimise our portfolio, streamline operations and invest in new technology to deliver on our signature, ‘Every moment Matters’ that is about how we do business at the Radisson Hotel Group and who we are at the core, a place of purposeful encounters. Our rebranding is just the beginning,” said Federico J. González, President & CEO, the Rezidor Hotel Group and Chairman of the Global Steering Committee, Radisson Hotel Group.

Fairmont Austin opens with 140,000 sqft meeting space Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced the launch of Fairmont Austin. With 1,048 guestrooms, the largest outdoor pool and full service spa in Downtown Austin, nearly 140,000 sq.ft.of event space and direct access to the Austin Convention Center via the Red River Canopy Walk. Fairmont Austin debuts as the largest Fairmont property in the United States, as well as the second largest globally, in both number of rooms and total meeting and event space. “A strategic opening for AccorHotels, Fairmont Austin is the first in a series of highprofile luxury developments. Fairmont Austin will give an opportunity to host larger conferences and conventions, bringing more business travellers, and employing more than 900 staff to bolster the Austin economy,” said Kevin Frid, CEO, North & Central America, AccorHotels.

M.I.C.E AND MORE

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+91 22 61467000 | info@zesttour.com | www.zesttour.com

Hotel Feature

RADISSON BLU HOTEL NEW DELHI PASCHIM VIHAR

A new place to do meetings

By Sayanti Halder

Travelling to Delhi for business?

Experience a five-star service and chic design while in the midst of the eventful capital city of property with Radisson Blu Hotel New Delhi Paschim Vihar, an upscale accommodation, conveniently located on Outer Ring Road in West Delhi.

BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE

Location

The Living Spaces for All

Situated less than 30 minutes from New Delhi’s city center, the hotel is the ideal hotel for those who wish to visit New Delhi without the hassle of city traffic. A few kilometers from the Delhi Metro’s Peera Garhi and Janakpuri West stations, the hotel gives a quick access to city attractions, nearby businesses and the Delhi airport (DEL). There is something about the hotel and its charm slips up a notch with its strategic location.

Designed with a Neo-Gothic vibe, the 178 spacious rooms, namely the Superior and Business Class and 21 elegant suites combine chic style with comfortable furnishings. Relax with the best of style and comfort in the hotel with its complimentary high-speed, wireless Internet access available in all possible spaces of the property, Radisson Blu Hotel New Delhi Paschim Vihar offers specially tailored offerings to corporate travellers.

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Whether planning a small business meeting or a grand banquet, the versatile facilities at the Radisson Blu in Paschim Vihar can be tailored for your event. The property provides services such as on-site parking and 1,858 sq. meters of space that can accommodate up to 1,500 guests. Host a large reception in one of the four ballrooms, or celebrate a vast social in the striking seventhfloor wedding hall. For smaller events, reserve the Crystal or Onyx banquet hall that can host 50 to 120 people, or one of the meeting rooms, perfect for a gathering of 25.

Hotel Feature

Delivering “warm, courteous and unobtrusive” hospitality In conversation with Arun Arora, General Manager, Radisson Blu Hotel New Delhi Paschim Vihar How do you position the hotel as an ideal MICE stop?

Our MICE offerings are diligently customised and tuned to meet with the demands of the hosts with enough flexibility.

We become partners in planning the event, accommodating the requirements along the way to seamlessly execute for the success of the event. We also enjoy loyalty of many corporate houses and associations who share their annual calendar with us, wherein the requirements remain unchanged with a few minor deviations.

We believe in adding personal touch and enhancing relationships with our guests, hence our marketing strategies largely revolve around regular sales blitz in our source markets be it Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore or Hyderabad. We do campaign about ‘Radisson Experience Meetings’, which is our unique concept with Brain Food, stimulating hall setups.

Tell us about the customer segmentation of the property.

We largely cater to the MICE segment that includes both corporate and social conferences and events besides a large section of corporate, which includes longer stays at our hotel. Additionally, our leisure segment, in the form of group series and domestic FITs, play an important role round the year.

What do you see as the most significant strengths of your property?

Revitalise Your Senses After a tough day of meetings, return to the Radisson Blu Paschim Vihar for a soothing massage or a cleansing facial treatment at Vyoma, home to one of the finest spas, fitness center and salon.

Determined to provide refreshment for both body and mind, Vyoma is an extension of the hotel’s health, fitness and relaxation facilities. Spend the day lounging at the sparkling outdoor pool or simply unwind in the mini-bar to conclude the day.

Conveniently located, with ample parking space, the property gives our guests an edge to host large events and gatherings. With large events come vast requirements, which are very distinct for each meeting. Hence, I firmly believe that being flexible and ready to accommodate and make provisions for our guests’ specific needs is one of our biggest strengths.

How is your property making sure to retain a brand value in the competitive market?

We will continue to focus on our culture of warm, courteous and unobtrusive service, keeping our guests engaged for loyalty and re-visitation while ensuring that the product remains maintained with continuous infusion of latest trends, exclusive presentations and innovative promotions. By this, we expect more footfalls and revenue share, in terms of occupancy and MICE gatherings, in the hotel this year.

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Overseas

South Africa A giant in the MICE market

Recognised as an important untapped segment within the powerhouse, business tourism has become a key priority for South Africa in recent years. The country poises world-class facilities in terms of meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions. MICEInsiders hand picks and offers the best on the table

By Ankita Jain

CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Apart from the fact that Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is nestled in one of the most happening cities, it has earned several other feathers in its cap too. CTICC was the first convention centre in Africa to gain three ISO certifications simultaneously, the first convention centre on the continent to become a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and the first convention centre in the world to have its sustainability reporting practices aligned to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Framework and to achieve a Level B status.

SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE The USP of Sandton Convention Centre is its location, placed right at the heart of Southern Africa’s business and tourism hub of Sandton in Johannesburg. The venue offers a variety of different rooms for any occasion, from a meeting room seating 10 to the Pavilion, which can host 4500 visitors with the state-of-the-art technical facilities.

It is also adjoined to all the major hotels and tourist spots like Nelson Mandela Square and Michelangelo Towers Mall, While allowing guests the ease of access to entertainment and accommodation via skywalks, it also boasts 18 hotels within walking distance.

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Overseas

TSHWANE EVENTS CENTRE Tshwane Events Centre is the second largest exhibition centre in South Africa with 42000 square metres of undercover exhibition space and a further 40000 square metres of outdoor exhibition space. It is capable of hosting huge exhibitions or conferences as well as several smaller exhibitions simultaneously without hindering or adversely affecting each other. It is also unique in a way that, the centre offers a complete turnkey service to clients such as carpets, shell schemes, AV and catering through to complete on-site project and events management services. Tshwane Events Centre is convenient to all major highways and business centres of Tshwane (Pretoria) and the Greater Johannesburg area.

EAST LONDON INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Alike Tshwane Events Centre, East London International Convention Centre (ELCC) also provides in-house services required for hosting a successful event. These services make this venue a convenient and affordable option. ELCC is the biggest venue of its kind in the Eastern Cape and the availability of accommodation on-site allows delegates to have an all in one solution, without having to worry about making extra travel plans. The ease of conferencing, through the variety of meeting rooms, choice of accommodation and restaurants sets this conferencing centre as a well-wrought venue.

JOHANNESBURG EXPO CENTRE Johannesburg Expo Centre (JEC) is Southern Africa’s largest multi-purpose exhibition centre with over 50000 sq m of space under roof, 100000 sq m of outdoor exhibition space and conference rooms encompassing 4000 sq m. With more than 15000 parking bays, the arena can accommodate up to 20000 people. About the location, it provides an ease of access to all of Johannesburg’s major arterial highways and a 30-minute drive from Tambo International Airport. The JEC is a worldclass facility and has won the coveted PMR Africa Diamond Award in 2007 and 2011.

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Looking for humorous moments? Settle in: You are in the right place. We have gathered some hilarious incidents that the wellknown faces of the industry have encountered while dealing with their clients in their workfront. These moments guarantee to bring on serious laughs

Vikas Kapoor VP-Operations, Radisson Khajuraho and Shimla

Aarish Khan Vice President- Sales (India), Travel Boutique Online

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Once a couple staying with us was doubting the fire sprinkler system in their room to be a hidden camera. Our staff explained them the entire system. After their check out in the morning, it was noticed that they hung a towel over that sprinkler, still believing that it was a camera.

Once a honeymoon couple during their travel was trying to book a hotel. To their despair, the hotel was completely sold out and the couple was unfortunately given a twin-sharing room. The honeymooner requested time and again to get upgraded to a king size room or any other but due to the peak season, the couple had to manage with the allotment.

APRIL 2018

Hanneli Slabber Regional General Manager, Asia/ Australasia/Middle East, South African Tourism

Ravi Rai General Manager Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach

In my extensive span of career, I have encountered numerous people with endless expectations from South Africa.

From some incredible road trips to incomparable safaris, from the hinterland of Swaziland to the wilderness of Hluhluwe area, we have curated all of them. We make sure every trip you take to South Africa, you bring along memories which are etched forever in your heart.

Our property pulls a large number of govt. officials, bureaucrats, IAS officers for luxurious stay in our hotel. In one such incident, we landed up in welcoming these higher officials with the traditional aarti, tikka and garland. And without even knowing who is who we kept welcoming them with the traditional ritual.

Suddenly, we realised the actual boss was standing behind the Liasoning officer, whom we had welcomed thinking that he was the IAS officer, who was our Chief Guest.

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News

APPOINTMENTS

MICHAEL P. WALE

ARIJIT CHATTERJEE

NICK IVEZAJ

ANOOP PANDEY

Kerzner International, owner of the Atlantis and One&Only hotel brands, has announced the appointment of Michael P. Wale as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Wale joins Kerzner International from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he worked recently as President for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, capping off nearly 40 years with the company. Kerzner International is currently overseeing the opening of the Atlantis Sanya resort in China

The Fern Hotels & Resorts has appointed Arijit Chatterjee as the Chief People’s Officer. A Certified Asia Region Trainer from Accor Academie Thailand & Marriott Intl, he is also a Certified Lead Facilitator-Adv Change Tech, Mly and Assessor from the TATA group, an ‘Emerging Leader’ from Taj. Recently, Chatterjee completed an Advanced HR program on Leadership Coaching & Mentoring from XLRI Jamshedpur.

Kimpton Ink48 Hotel announced the appointment of Nick Ivezaj as its new General Manager. He will oversee all aspects of the hotel and its day-to-day operations as well as its continued growth and success. Ivezaj cut his teeth into hospitality at the Plaza Hotel in 1997. Later, he became the Director of Guest Services at the W Times Square followed by joining Hotel Mela Times Square as General Manager.

The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi has appointed Anoop Pandey as Resident Manager. In his new role, Pandey is responsible for developing business plans to improve guest satisfaction and profitability. He will oversee the daily rooms operations encompassing front office, housekeeping, spa and F&B. With an experience of over 11 years in hospitality, Pandey has been recognised as ‘Front Office Manager of the Year’ by Hotelier India in 2012.

DIMITRIS MANIKIS

ANKUSH SHARMA

RAMESH DUGGIRALA

BORIS BLOBEL

Wyndham Hotel Group appointed Dimitris Manikis as the President and Managing Director for Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA).

Manikis will be responsible for the development of all of Wyndham Hotel Group’s brands in the EMEA region while maximising the performance of all new, existing franchise and managed hotels. A 27-year veteran of RCI, he will also look after the strategic objectives of Wyndham Hotel Group including quality and technology solutions.

Sarovar Hotels & Resorts has appointed Ankush Sharma as the General Manager of Aditya Park Hyderabad, a Sarovar Portico hotel.

In his last international assignment, Sharma spearheaded the pre-opening of Ramee Rose in Bahrain. With a diverse experience of over 16 years and in his current assignment, he is responsible for project management in terms of renovation and refurbishment of the hotel as well as restructuring sales and marketing.

Ramoji Film City appointed Ramesh Duggirala as the General ManagerSales and Marketing. With over twenty two years of cumulative experience in events, client servicing and business development, he brings skills of team building, creativity and connect with the people to steer ahead the brand. In his current role, Duggirala would be responsible for planning and executing marketing strategies, leading Ramoji Film City to continue as a favoured MICE destination.

Four Seasons Hotel Pudong, Shanghai appointed Boris Blobel as its General Manager. With over 16 years of experience, Blobel possesses extensive work experience throughout China and is currently a part-time Executive MBA Scholarship Student at the Mannheim Business School in Germany. He started his career in Asia as a front office Manager at Grand Hyatt Beijing before taking the next step as Director of rooms at Hyatt Regency Hangzhou in 2004.

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