TOURISM INDIA SEPTEMBER 2021

INCREDIBLE INDIA

WONDERFUL WORLD AVIATION ONLINE TECHNOLOGY

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SEPTEMBER 2021 VOL. 24 NO. 05 Pages 60

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tourismindiamagazine

CARAVAN TOURISM PATA GOLD AWARDS WELCOMHOTEL KATRA PHILADELPHIA SAN FRANCISCO

W E D D IN G D IA R IE S

by Hilton India

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Editor’s Note

Time to address safe mobility and sustainability issues

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ost countries reopened their boundaries and travel sector; travel shows started their in-person versions instead of virtual shows. But many people can’t afford travel these days just because of the expensive testing requirements of many countries and finally, it weakens the boost of the economy.

Transparent and accurate information on the health and safety situation in source and recipient countries is a solution for these types of consequences. The simple solution that will help to restore the freedom of mobility is the common international approach to COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and certification. Targeted measures should be taken to prevent the transmission of viruses by infected travellers,.

International standards should develop on time and the frequency and facility of tests, vaccinations, and on the provision and checking of testing and vaccination certificates and travel history data, in compliance with national regulations. The ethical issues of non-discrimination of travelers and protection of data should be guaranteed.

Individual biosecure risk assessment plays an important role in the implementation of these measures and appropriate strategies in communications by all is

the need.

People’s desire to travel and enjoy freedom has been denied by Travel restrictions and closed borders.

Now travellers are more aware of the new normal of Travel & Tourism after the COVID-19 crisis, and their choices and behaviors are different than the days before Covid. The use of digital technology like traveler identity, biometrics, and contactless transactions will help to facilitate safe and seamless travel. To Implement all these actions, the authorities should work together.

Purpose-driven Travel & Tourism was already emerging, as travellers intentionally seek to grow and engage with the world in new ways, In the new normal new ways have the demand to sustain business and health.

It is better to adopt a culture of Health na5 ture and culture are the valuable assets of the Travel & Tourism sector Through protecting the planet and people in the long-term, the Travel & Tourism sector can create and sustain shared value, making its fullest contribution to fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals and the mission that a world where “no-one will be left behind”.

Rajani A Editor

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Contents

SEPTEMBER 2021 VOL. 24 NO. 05

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Cover: Indian Wedding PhotoCourtesy: Hilton India

MANAGING EDITOR Ravisankar K V EDITOR Rajani A EXECUTIVE EDITOR Raadia Mukadam ASSOCIATE EDITOR G. Ajithkumar ART EDITOR N Bhattathiri DIRECTOR - DESIGNS Anand Sankar PHOTOGRAPHERS Vivek R. Nair, Murukesh Iyer EXECUTIVE - DIGITAL MEDIA VAISHNAV RAMAKRISHNAN

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TOURISM FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH PATA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF GOLD AWARD 26TH WORLD ROUTES DEVELOPMENT FORUM IN MILAN ITALY KERALA ANNOUNCES COMPREHENSIVE CARAVAN TOURISM POLICY KERALA TOURISM LAUNCHES MOBILE APP

WEDDING DIARIES BY HILTON INDIA

BUSINESS & EDITORIAL ASSOCIATES

NEW DELHI D Anilkumar +91 9868123311

MUMBAI K V Satyanath +91 9745598126

KOLKATA Jayasree Singh +91 943306033

BANGALURU Damodaran K Nair +91 8310955261

EDITORIAL & CORPORATE OFFICE TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD A-29, KUMARA VILAS, ELANKOM GARDENS, VELLAYAMBALAM, SASTHAMANGALAM P.O., TRIVANDRUM, KERALA, INDIA 695010 TEL: +91 471 2315256 MOB: 9847060531 CONTACT US Editorial Enquiries editor@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9847060531 Advertisement Enquiries marketing@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9745598126 Circulation & Subscription Enquiries circulation@tourismindiaonline.com Mob: +91 9745598126 Online Edition www.tourismindia.org www.tourismindiaonline.com Digital Edition: https://issue.com/tourismindia No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD. All rights reserved Copyright @2021 Printed and Published by Ravisankar K V on behalf of TOURISM INDIA PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD, A-29, Kumara Vilas, Elankom Gardens, Vellayambalam, Sasthamangalam P.O., Trivandrum 695010 at Aarsha Offset Graphix, Mettukkada, Thycaud.P.O., Trivandrum- 695014 Editor: Rajani A

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KERALA TOURISM TO SPREAD ARTERIA FRESCO

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MADHYA PRADESH TOURISM BAGS 2 AWARDS

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PATA VIRTUAL TRAVEL MART 2021

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BLR AIRPORT WINS SKYTRAX WORLD AIRPORT AWARDS

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THE DECADE AHEAD: BRAVING NEW REALITIES IN TRAVEL

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ARE INDIANS MOVING BEYOND SUPERSTITIONS FOR THEIR BIG-DAY?

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THE CHAMBERS EXPANDS ITS PRESENCE TO LONDON

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INDIGO CELEBRATES ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL FARES

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ATHER ENERGY & BLIVE TO DRIVE EV ADOPTION AT TOURIST DESTINATIONS

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BELIEVE HELPING LEADERS UNLOCK THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL BY SHANTHA DE SILVA

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eZee MINT MODERN RMS FOR HOTELS

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goSTOPS LAUNCHES goEXPERIENCES

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RAFI ANSARI AS F&B MANAGER OF COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT BENGALURU HEBBAL

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ITC HOTELS LAUNCH WELCOMHOTEL KATRA

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MARRIOTT WORK AND PLAY STAYCATION

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TRAVEL IS RETURNING TO PHILADELPHIA

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SAN FRANCISCO PARKS: OUTDOORS

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W HOTELS REVEALS DEBUT OF W PHILADELPHIA

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QATAR AIRWAYS TO COMBAT WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING

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NALADHU PRIVATE ISLAND MALDIVES WITH A NEW LOOK

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LIT SPIRIT SUPPORTS WEAVERS OUTDOORS

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AMAZING COLLECTION OF SWISSWATCH

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NEWS /INTERNATIONAL

“TOURISM FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH” WORLD TOURISM DAY 2021 UNWTO has designated World Tourism Day 2021 as a day to focus on Tourism for inclusive Growth

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ourism is one of the hardest-hit Industries by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has had massive social and economic impacts on both developed and developing countries, The restart of tourism will help to kickstart the recovery and growth.

UNWTO has designated World Tourism Day 2021 as a day to focus on Tourism for inclusive Growth.

UNWTO refers to this opportunity to look beyond tourism statistics and acknowledge that, behind every number, there is a person.

UNWTO invites its Member States, as well as non-members, sister UN agencies, businesses, and individuals to celebrate tourism’s unique ability to ensure that nobody is left behind as the world begins to open up again and look to the future.

World Tourism Day, which is celebrated on 27 September, is the global observance day to foster awareness of the social, cultural, political, and economic value and the contribution of the tourism 8

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sector to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. The most vulnerable members of societies have been less able to cope with the social and economic effects of the pandemic. Furthermore, lowpaid workers, youth, the elderly, indigenous communities, and differently-abled people, are in many cases also less likely to have the resources or opportunities to bounce back from adversity.

The Second Principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to “Leave No One Behind”. As per UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Guidelines, Sustainable tourism should Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes, and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity. Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and

traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.

Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.

UNWTO offers leadership and support to the tourism sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide, advocating for responsible tourism, and promoting tourism as a driving force towards economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability.

UNWTO encourages the current 156 countries with membership for the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics in Tourism, in order to maximize tourism´s socio-economic contribution while minimizing its possible negative impacts.

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NEWS / AWARDS

PATA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF GOLD AWARD The PATA Grand Title Winners were presented to outstanding entries in two principal categories: Marketing, and Sustainability and Social Responsibility

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he Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced the winners of The PATA Gold Awards 2021.

This year’s awards recognise the

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achievements of 20 organisations and individuals.

PATA presented 18 Gold Awards to such organisations as the Catalan Tourist Board, Desig-

nated Areas for Sustainable Development Administration (DASTA); Galaxy Entertainment Group, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Korea Tourism Organization, Langkawi

Development Authority (LADA), Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Meridian Adventure Dive Resort, MGM China, Outrigger Hospitality Group, Plaza Premium Group, SriLankan Airlines Ltd., Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Ayala Land, Inc. – Ten Knots Group, Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Tourism Malaysia, The Award is supported and sponsored by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) for the last 26 years.

Under the guidance of PATA headquarters, 18 independent judges from around the world selected the winners of the 18 Gold Awards and two Grand Title Winners.

Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of MGTO, said, “Amid the global disruption we are living due to the pandemic, the outstanding initiatives in tourism marketing and sustain-

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ability of this year’s PATA Gold Awards winners are a beacon of light for the industry. Congratulations to all winners for keeping up the spirit of innovation in these trying times. Macao is honored to maintain its long-standing support to this PATA initiative and contribute to helping rebuild a more responsible and sustainable tourism industry.”

PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera added, “On behalf of PATA, I would like to extend our sincere congratulations to all PATA Gold Award winners and Grand Title winners, and I would also like to thank all of this year’s participants. The achievements of this year’s winners will hopefully inspire and encourage our industry to create new responsible and sustainable initiatives as we look towards recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a pleasure to celebrate their accomplishments live during the online PATA Gold Awards Presentation.”

The PATA Grand Title Winners were presented to outstanding entries in two principal categories: Marketing, and Sustainability and Social Responsibility. 11 The Macao Government Tourism Office USA Representative Office, Macao, China received the PATA Gold Award 2021 Grand Title in Marketing for its “Dream Now and Travel Later” campaign. In re-

sponse to the global pandemic that caused a -93% of YOY decrease in visitor arrivals to Macao from 2019 to 2020, the Macao Government Tourism Office USA Representative Office (MGTO-USA) launched the “Dream Now and Travel Later” integrated campaign series in the fall of 2020, which consisted of the concepts of East Meets West and Macao Make it to GIPHY with a goal to inspire consumers to “Dream Now and Travel Later.”

The campaigns launched across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, inclusive of influencer partnerships, paid partnerships with a third-party media platform, social media sweepstakes, content creation and management, and community engagement. Initially conceptualized in 2019, both campaign concepts required immediate reconsideration and redirection in order to compensate for the changing marketplace.

The Grand Title in Sustainability and Social Responsibility was presented to Cinnamon Hotel Management Ltd, Sri Lanka for its “Cinnamon Travel Pledge”. As a company that has always been guided by the values of caring, trust, and integrity, Cinnamon Hotel Management sought a way to be an effective support for the front-line employees and the country and bring a silver lining to this dark time in history. The Cinnamon Travel Pledge is a way of saying ‘Thank You’ to the brave front-line workforce and appreciate their dedication and sacrifice with a getaway that gives them the chance to reconnect with their families and uplift their mindset.

Open to both PATA and non-PATA members, this year’s Awards attracted a total of 113 entries from 51 travel and tourism organisations and individuals.

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NEWS / INTERNATIONAL

26TH WORLD ROUTES DEVELOPMENT FORUM IN MILAN ITALY Over 185 airlines to rebuild global air connectivity at 26th World Route Development Forum

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n less than eight weeks, the global aviation community will reunite at World Routes in Milan. Over 185 carriers are expected to attend the event and engage in conversations with airports and destinations during both in-person and virtual meetings, which will support the recovery of global air connectivity.

With millions of jobs dependent on a strong restart of the travel industry, World Routes will unite decision-makers from airlines, airports, and destinations to define recovery strategies.

Senior network planners of Airlines who have already confirmed their attendance at the event include American Airlines, Breeze Airways, British Airways, Copa Airlines, Eurowings Discover, JetBlue Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, LATAM, Ryanair, TAP

Portugal, Volotea and Wizz Air ” Routes continues to influence the world’s air services; with over 3,500 new air services are connected to meetings at Routes events in the last three years alone,” says Steven Small, Brand

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Director for Routes. “The number of airlines and the seniority of the airline delegates confirmed to attend World Routes in Milan demonstrates the importance of in-person meetings to help overcome the impact of this pandem-

Routes events are unique forums dedicated to the development of air services, bringing together airlines, airports, and destinations to meet, plan, discuss and negotiate new and existing flights ic.” he added In addition to meetings, there will be a conference, and airline CEOs including Wizz Air’s JózsefVáradi and Air Dolimiti’sJoergEberhart will deliver keynote addresses, highlighting how their respective carriers have adapted to the pandemic. Networking sessions including a welcome reception and formal evening will also support airports, destinations, and suppliers in fostering new and developing existing business relationships with their target airlines.

Routes events are unique forums dedicated to the development of air services, bringing together airlines, airports, and destinations to meet, plan, discuss and negotiate new and existing flights. www.tourismindia.org

PATA Grand Title Winners 2021 {Marketing} Dream Now and Travel Later, Macao Government Tourism Office USA Representative Office, Macao, China (Sustainability and Social Responsibility) Cinnamon Travel Pledge Cinnamon Hotel Management Ltd, Sri Lanka (Marketing Campaign (National – Asia) Special Tourist Visa (STV), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand (Marketing Campaign (State and City – Global) 360 Hong Kong Moments – Great Outdoors Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR (Marketing – Carrier) #SriLankanPromises, SriLankan Airlines Ltd., Sri Lanka (Marketing – Hospitality) The Outrigger Promise, Outrigger Hospitality Group, USA (Marketing – Industry), Plaza Premium Group – Build Back Better, Plaza Premium Group, Hong Kong SAR (Digital Marketing Campaign), Legends of Catalonia, Catalan Tourist Board, Spain (Printed Marketing Campaign), DIVE INTO YOUR DREAM – MALAYSIA 365 DAYS, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia (Travel Video) A Glimpse into Meridian Adventure Dive Resort – Raja Ampat, Meridian Adventure Dive Resort, Indonesia (Travel Photograph)13The sunset view of Jingzaijiao Tile-paved

Salt Fields, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei (Destination Article) Georgia, queen of the desert, Catherine Marshall, Australia (Business Article) TTG Asia July 2020: Loyalty wars TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd, Singapore (Climate Change Initiative), Above & Beyond – Melco’s Sustainability Strategy, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Macao, China (Corporate Social Responsibility), Be GREEN and GREAT in the time of COVID-19, Ayala Land, Inc. – Ten Knots Group, Philippines (Community Based Tourism), Tour Dure, Korea Tourism Organization, Korea (ROK), ( Culture) Galaxy Entertainment Group – Promoting Cultural Tourism through our Foundation, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Macao, China (Heritage) THE DIVERSE HERITAGE OF KUBANG BADAK BIOGEOTRAIL, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Malaysia (Youth Empowerment Initiative) MGM Youth Empowerment and Engagement Initiative, MGM China, Macao, China (Human Capital Development Initiative) DASTA CBT Integrated Curriculum, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), Thailand.

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NEWS / NATIONAL

KERALA

ANNOUNCES

COMPREHENSIVE

CARAVAN TOURISM POLICY Caravan Tourism: Next big thing for Kerala Tourism after houseboats in three decades. Policy offers subsidy to operators

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ising to the demands and preferences of tourists in the post-pandemic world, Kerala Tourism has announced a comprehensive, stakeholder-friendly Caravan Tourism Policy, promising the visitors a safe, customized, and closest-to-nature travel experience.

“This marks a paradigm shift in almost three decades after the state made it big with houseboat that provided a unique experience to visitors and positioned the state as a major global destination,” said Mr. P A Mohamed Riyas Tourism Minister, Govt of Kerala, while unveiling the policy which offers attractive investment subsidy to Caravan operators.

“Like other successful tourism products of Kerala launched since the 1990s, Caravan Tourism is also to be developed on PPP mode with private investors, tour operators, and local communities being key stakeholders,” said Mr. Riyas.

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He said that investment subsidy would be given to Caravan operators, the details of which would be announced soon. Mr. Riyas also unveiled the logo of Caravan Tourism. The project will be rolled out in the next few months.

“The policy envisages laying down the broad framework for the development and encouragement of Caravan Tourism in Kerala, predominantly in the private sector through incentivizing the purchase of caravans and for establishing caravan parks, chalking out the process and procedures for its operations and approvals”, the Minister added.

“Caravan Tourism imparts an added thrust to the State’s inclusive approach of leveraging the tourism potential of the entire state by bringing to attention many an unexplored spot side-byside the promotion of established destinations. Every unexplored

destination can be made accessible with the rollout of this meticulously drawn-up policy,” said Dr. Venu V, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Tourism, Govt of Kerala.

The two major components of this activity are Tourism Caravans and Caravan Parks. While the first involves specially-built vehicles for travel, leisure, and stay, the Caravan Parks are designated places to park the vehicles and enable the visitors to spend a night or a day or station for an extended period to explore the destination.

Caravan Tourism will also promote Responsible Tourism activities for sustainable growth and for the benefit of the local communities, promote eco-friendly practices, and market for local products.

“Going by Kerala’s inherent strengths of natural beauty and tourism-friendly -culture, Caravan

Mr. P A Mohamed Riyas, Minister for Tourism, Kerala unveiling the logo of Caravan Tourism in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Dr Venu V, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism and Mr. V R Krishna Teja, Director, Tourism, are also seen Tourism has immense scope for the state. Besides offering a refreshing experience for the tourists, local communities stand to gain substantially by enabling them to showcase their culture and products before the visitors”, said Mr. V R Krishna Teja, Director, Kerala Tourism.

There will be two types of caravans. In one model, two guests shall be accommodated, while the other is for a family of four members. The tourism caravans will have all the necessary facilities for a comfortable stay such as sofacum-bed, kitchenette with fridge and microwave oven, dining table, toilet cubicle, partition behind the driver, Air-conditioner, internet connectivity, audio-video facilities, charging system, and GPS. Eco-friendliness being a major feature of Caravan Tourism, preferably Bharat Stage VI compliant vehicles will be pressed into service.

Assuring complete security of the guests, there will be IT-enabled realtime monitoring of caravans.

A fool-proof approval mechanism is also put in place for according approval for the operation of caravans based on the procedures set by the State Motor Vehicles Department in accordance with the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

The caravan parks are to be developed in the private sector, public sector, or in the joint sector.

The configuration of parks will vary from location to location, even www.tourismindia.org

though the fundamental attributes remain the same.

A caravan park will be a completely safe and secure zone offering a hassle-free and stress-free environment to tourists, protected with necessary features like compound walls, adequate security and safety arrangements, patrolling, and surveillance cameras. The park authorities will maintain effective coordination with local authorities and medical establishments to attend to medical emergencies.

The minimum land required for a park will be 50 cents, with at least 5 parking bays. The park design should be compatible with its surroundings, causing the least

possible disturbance to the site.

Landscaping and plantation have to be planned to ensure privacy, green cover and take into account such factors as wind, dust, and noise.

The parks in hilly and ecologically fragile areas will have to incorporate creative architecture in conformity with local heritage. The parks should have proper water harvesting structures. There should be strategically located open space for recreation, a forecourt, drive-in area, and turning circles. The parks will have Tourist Facilitation Centres to inform the visitors of amenities and services available..

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NEWS / NATIONAL

KERALA TOURISM LAUNCHES MOBILE APP Renowned Film Actor Mr. Mohanlal unveiled the app in the presence of Mr.P A Mohamed Riyas, Kerala Tourism Minister

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erala Tourism Department has launched a mobile app that ensures hassle-free travel for tourists coming to Kerala and giving them an opportunity to discover unexplored attractions themselves and record their impressions during the visit. Mr. Mohanlal, Malayalam film star, unveiled the app at The Raviz, Kovalam, in the presence of Mr.P A Mohamed Riyas., Minister for Tourism, Govt of Kerala, Dr. Venu V, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Kerala Tourism, was also present.

“Besides providing all information about destinations and services at your fingertips, a key feature of this app is that it identifies unexplored destinations in all panchayats in Kerala. It will help attract local tourist spots to grab global attention”, Mr. Mohamed Riyas said. Mr. Mohanlal said that the launch of the app would be a blessing for travelers, who would 16 16

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Actor Mr. Mohanlal launching the mobile app of the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala at The Raviz, Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram. Mr, P A Mohamed Riyas, Kerala Tourism Minister and Dr V Venu, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Kerala Tourism are also seen

like to explore God’s Own Country extensively. Dr. Venu said that the app was designed with a view to providing all services to tourists. “Tourism Minister’s direct contribution was there during the preparation of this user-friendly app. It has the facility to add user-generated content, and thus, going forward, it can give a kind of modular growth.” The in-progress app is designed in such a way that a visitor gets the opportunity to write about any unexplored destinations and experiences through the option ‘Create Story’.

The app will be further upgraded with more innovative features within six months. In the next phase of the app, tourists can make enquiries using the ‘Voice Assistant’ facility, which will give answers through voice, eliminating the difficulty in typing letters.

Moreover, the app makes the current toilet mapping activities very fast as it helps those travelling inside Kerala to find out safe and hygienic restrooms nearby.

Tourists can also explore restaurants and eateries that offer delicious Kerala cuisine and relish local flavors as per their choice. With the application of cutting-edge technologies like augmented reality in the future, the app will have the dimensions of a gaming station and it will draw a tremendous response from travelers across the world.

Giving added thrust to Kerala’s successful Responsible Initiative initiative, the app also enables tourists to experience the community driven model in its totality and will also help local communities to showcase their ethnic products globally. www.tourismindia.org

KERALA TOURISM TO SPREAD ARTERIA FRESCO A

rteria, an initiative of Kerala Tourism that seeks to render the city walls with paintings by renowned artists, is under the implementation of its third phase in the capital city.

The Kerala government will consider beautifying city spaces in all districts by bringing them under the purview of the Arteria Fresco project said Mr. P.A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister for Tourism, Govt of Kerala.

“The idea is not just to deck up the looks of our cityscapes, but gift a positive energy to their visitors,” Mr. Riyas added.

Being implemented in coordination with the District Tourism Promotion Council, Arteria has been seeing the conversion of walls and fences of public, private, and cooperative own17 ership into canvases of artistic

creativity in the past six years.

The project’s first two phases (in 2015 and ’16) envisaged 25-odd paintings by as many renowned artists, gaining the vitality to change the face of the historical city. Arteria succeeded in completing a work by the renowned K.G. Subrahmanyan (1924-2016) without the supervision of the Kerala-born master.

In January this year, the paintings under Arteria were brightened up after the works had dulled amid the rainy spells and summer seasons in the past half a decade. Currently, Arteria plans murals along Akkulam bypass at Kuzhivila Junction, St Joseph’s School, and the Museum besides at the 2005-completed Palayam Underpass. The current 3rd phase of the project features around 20 graffiti artists and their team members from across the state.

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NEWS / NATIONAL

MADHYA PRADESH TOURISM BAGS 2 AWARDS Recognition for Best Wildlife & Eco Tourism and Best Tourism Marketing Campaign

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adhya Pradesh Tourism is awarded as Best Wildlife & Eco-Tourism State and Best State for Tourism Marketing Campaign in the 7th edition of ITCTA B2B International Tourism Expo & Conclave, 2021 held at Le Meridien Hotel. New Delhi.

The awards were presented by the chief guest Mr. Sheo Shekhar Shukla IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Public Relations, Government of Madhya Pradesh, The Best Wildlife and Eco-Tourism Award was received by Mr. Yuvraj Padole, Deputy Director, MP Tourism while the Best Tour18

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ism Marketing Campaign Award was received by Ms.Deepika Roy Choudhury Deputy Director, MP Tourism.

Madhya Pradesh is blessed with rich wildlife. In a forest area covering 77,700 sq km, it has numerous wildlife hotspots with 11 National parks & 24 Wildlife sanctuaries. The “Tiger State” of Madhya Pradesh with a

maximum tiger count of 526 has also recently gained the tag of ‘The Leopard State’ and the ‘Gh-

adiyal State’ which is reflective of its wildlife conservation efforts.

For the active promotion of state tourism, Madhya Pradesh Tourism has organized various

promotional events like the Orchha Cultural festival, Mandu Utsav, Jal Mahotsav, Go Heritage Run, Cycle Safari, and Elephant Safari. It also organised social media

campaigns like Buffer me safar, Intezaar Aapka, Intezaar Khtam Hua, Monsoon Magic, Sab Kuch jo Dil Chahe, etc.

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NEWS / EVENTS

PATA

VIRTUAL TRAVEL MART 2021 V

The delegate numbers embraced 242 sellers from 226 organisations and 30 destinations, along with 163 buyers from 156 organisations and 39 source markets

irtual PATA Travel Mart 2021 (Virtual PTM 2021), organised in conjunction with the Sichuan International Travel Expo (SITE) with the support of the Leshan Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau and powered by official virtual partner Dragon Trail International, attracted 573 delegates from 69 global destinations.

The delegate numbers embraced 242 sellers from 226 organisations and 30 destinations, along with 163 buyers from 156 organisations and 39 source markets.

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“While border restrictions have been more conservative in Asia-Pacific than other regions, the latent growth for the future is still here. The foundation is being built for a safer, more resilient, responsible, and sustainable global travel and tourism industry. Virtual PATA Travel Mart 2021 is just a small example of how we can support each other in these times of crisis,” said Liz Ortiguera, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). “I would like to thank all of you who joined us for this event as we con-

tinue to support a strengthened, more evolved travel and tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

Virtual PTM 2021 officially opened on Thursday, September 2, and ran until Sunday, September 5.

The event offered two full business days of business appointments across all time zones on September 2-3, as well as two trade visitor days on September 4-5.

On Friday, September 3, Virtual PTM delegates had the opportunity to join a special live stream of the opening ceremony of the Sichuan International Travel Expo (SITE).

Furthermore, various games and giveaways allowed delegates a chance to win travel giveaways and prizes from sponsors and partners.

In addition to the business-to-business travel contracting, the event included various forums, including Destination Recovery Insights from Azerbaijan; Guam; Kiribati; Macao, China; Nepal; Sabah, Sarawak, and Thailand.

Delegates also were able to join several insight sessions from various stakeholders from across all segments of the industry.

PATA Wellness & Luxury Travel Conference & Mart 2021 T

he Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced that Virtual PATA Wellness and Luxury Travel Conference and Mart 2021, will take place from October 20-22.

The event is organised in partnership with Platinum Sponsor, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Official Virtual Platform Partner, Zipevent Co., Ltd. This niche-themed event offers a deeper look at specialised product offerings and forum topics to share key trends in the global wellness and luxury tourism industry emerging from pandemic recovery.

“Shaped by new consumer priorities since the pandemic, wellness and sustainable luxury tourism are on the rise. These two segments of leisure travel overlap in a number of ways, which can be seen in the growing demand for boutique travel experiences offered by high-end hospitality brands,” said PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera. “While not every wellness story comes with a luxury angle, personal well-being has never been more central to consumer behavior. We can also expect the demand for personal www.tourismindia.org

well-being and environmental well-being to be viewed as one.

Guests will value travel experiences that don’t have a negative impact on the planet, just as they don’t want it to have a negative impact on their own health.”

This two-day niche event, comprising a one-day conference and one-day mart, brings together various tourism professionals in the wellness and 21 sector, sustainable luxury travel offering a deeper look at specialised product offerings from around the region. The conference is designed to support PATA’s vision for the responsible development of tourism, while the one-day travel mart helps promote, build, and strengthen business and networks for delegates.

“Thailand has now initiated the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus

Model to reopen the country to fully vaccinated international tourists without quarantine. In considering the Wellness and Luxury sector as an important part when tourists plan their trips, after a long pause from travelling, tourists might need to heal themselves, both body and soul, as well as isolate themselves in a luxury pool villa,” said Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor. “This coming October, Thailand plans to reopen several destinations for international travellers, which means we have to be ready for welcoming our guests from all over the world.

Therefore, the Virtual PATA Wellness and Luxury Travel Conference and Mart 2021 would be an important channel for Thailand to tell the world that we are ready to welcome everyone back with safety and hygiene measures.”

The travel mart will offer 1-1 business meeting appointments, which will be supported by video calls, text, and voice chat. Furthermore, there will be networking opportunities at the interactive networking breaks which will include various games and quizzes.

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NEWS / AIRPORTS

BLR AIRPORT WINS SKYTRAX WORLD AIRPORT AWARDS ‘Best Airport Staff in India & Central Asia’ at Skytrax World Airport Awards 2021; Recognition is for every member of the BLR Airport ecosystem who contributed towards providing best airport experience

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ollaborative efforts from members of the BLR Airport ecosystem and passengers’ endorsement of top-quality services saw Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (KIAB/ BLR Airport) being adjudged as ‘The Best Airport Staff in India and Central Asia’ at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2021.

“This is truly a fabulous reward for all of us working at the BLR Airport ecosystem as this rec-

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ognition is based on passenger voting. A big thank you to all our passengers who appreciated our hard work and voted for us,” said Mr. Hari Marar, MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL).

“We dedicate this award to every member who has worked towards improving passenger experience at BLR Airport. I believe this award will add further impe-

tus to our pursuit of excellence,” Mr. Marar added.

This award is particularly significant considering the challenging year that the aviation industry has experienced following the outbreak of COVID-19.

The World Airport Awards began in 1999, when Skytrax launched its first global, Airport customer satisfaction survey. A central directive of the survey is for customers to make their own, personal choices as to which airport they consider to be the best, underlining the brand as the Passenger’s Choice Awards.

Earlier this year, BLR Airport had won a global recognition from Airports Council International (ACI) World’s ‘Voice of the Customer’ initiative and ACI Airport Service Quality Award. The Airport was also inducted into the prestigious Airports Council International (ACI) Director General’s Roll of Excellence for the year 2020 for delivering superior customer service.

THE DECADE AHEAD: BRAVING NEW REALITIES IN TRAVEL ITB Asia Virtual Conference 2021 from October 25 – 29 , 2021

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nder the overarching conference theme of “The Decade Ahead: Braving New Realities in Travel”, ITB Asia Virtual Conference 2021 from 25 – 29 October, will address the most Pressing issues looking forward to the travel year 2022.

Visionary pioneers and leading figures will be having their say and sharing their up-to-date insights and discuss key strategies on the biggest and most important issues to remove barriers to travel, accelerate international recovery, and ultimately make

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sure the travel, tourism, and MICE industries become more inclusive and sustainable. During the fiveday event, the conference brings together leaders of national tourism boards and convention bureaus, top CXOs of destination management companies, travel agencies, cruise lines, hotels, attractions, the world’s major travel brands, MICE planners, and travel tech solution providers.

COVID-19 has indeed plunged the global tourism industry into a deep crisis and23drastically changed the world of travel.

ITB Asia’s travel think tank will cover key topics ranging from“2022 Global Travel Outlook”, “What Will Be Key to Travel the World Again?”, “The Challenge of Digital Health Passports”, “Getting to Know Your Consumers, Post-Vaccine Travel” and “Where Do OTAs Stand in the

COVID-19 Era?”. High[1]profile international speakers will discuss the new micro and major challenges such as resuming to travel the world again with the implementation of digital health passports and business opportunities emerging from post-vaccine-travels.

The key topics speakers will include John Wroughton Brown (CEO, Agoda), Laura Houldsworth (Managing Director & Vice President Asia Pacific, Booking.com), Todd Handcock (President, Asia Pacific, Collinson), Ang Choo Pin (Managing Director, Asia & Senior Director Government and Corporate Affairs, Asia, Expedia Group), James Thornton (CEO, Intrepid Travel), Stephen Kaufer (President & CEO, Tripadvisor), Axel Hefer (Managing Director & CEO, Chicago) and David Schelp (CEO of TUI Musement, Member of the TUI Group Executive Committee).

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NEWS / TRAVEL TRENDS

ARE INDIANS MOVING BEYOND SUPERSTITIONS FOR THEIR BIG-DAY? With restricted number of auspicious wedding dates aka ‘saaya’ dates in the year 2020, picking a new date has left couples with no other option, but to choose a ‘non-auspicious’ date.

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eddingWire India, the Indian subsidiary of The Knot Worldwide and online marketplace for couples and wedding professionals has released insightful statistics on how Indians are opting for nonsaaya dates. The insights revealed that there’s a 76% surge in the demand for non-saaya dates in the first half of the year in comparison to the last year.

The data further highlights that Bangalore has the most demand for non-saaya weddings at 16% followed by Mumbai (12%), Jaipur (11%), and Lucknow (10%). Vendor availability and accessibility on these dates are 24

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driving this trend. In terms of venue, resorts and destinations weddings have seen highest queries at 139% followed by marriage gardens, and weddings lawns & farmhouses at 62% and 60% respectively.

Talking about the mushrooming trend, Anam Zubair, Associate Director of Marketing at WeddingWire India, said, “The pandemic has brought a significant change in how

76% of couples opted for non-saaya dates .

Bangalore leads with maximum demand at 16% followed by Mumbai (12%), Jaipur (11%) and Lucknow (10%)

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weddings are done across the globe. In India, the big-bang Indian weddings have been replaced by micro and livestreamed weddings. However, given how rooted Indians are in their culture and customs, the surge in demand for nonsaaya weddings is a refreshing and favourable change for the wedding industry. This radical change which was envisioned 2-3 years down the lane has been fast-tracked by the pandemic.

If the trend continues to strike a chord with the consumers, it will drive new revenue opportunities for professionals in a $50 billion Indian wedding industry.”

Talking about the pent-up demand for Non-Saaya dates, Janvi Dave – Founder and Creative Director of Janvi Dave Weddings and Events said, “This a welcome change for the vendor fraternity – the same old wedding customs have been practiced for ages and haven’t witnessed any significant change so far. The pandemic has played a huge role in the swift adoption of this change in the lives of Indians. We as planners now believe in – Har Din Shubh Hai, so we encourage that and also millennial couples are quite open to non-saaya dates.”

Since the unprecedented second wave, there’s been a paradigm shift in how Indians are planning their wedding in the new normal.

The insights pointed towards the fact that increasingly couples and families are moving away from traditionally considered auspicious dates for weddings and looking for alternatives.

From minmonies (intimate/micro weddings), digital weddings, E-invites & customized wedding websites (62% decrease in demand for traditional wedding cards) to now non-saaya dates, the approach has become more modern and practical.

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NEWS / NATIONAL

WEDDING DIARIES

BY HILTON INDIA Hilton India has launched Wedding Diaries – to offer guests getting married a bespoke and exemplary experience and create everlasting memories of their wedding.

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wedding is considered amongst the most intimate and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Wedding Diaries by Hilton will ensure that the entire journey of planning to execute all events is in perfect sync with desired expectations of the guest. Hilton has also formed a Wedding Advisory Board consisting of well-reputed wedding planners from across the country to assist guests with contemporary ideas to curate the finest wedding experience. The advisory also serves as a think tank that consistently works with the Hilton team towards innovation in the space.

“Weddings Diaries offers our guests an opportunity to visualize and co-create their dream wedding with our wedding specialists and have it flawlessly executed. From conceptualizing a theme wedding, or being advised 26

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by our wedding planner partners, to having our culinary team prepare and layout nostalgia via food on the table, we will cater to all aspects of organizing a bespoke wedding.” said Manish Tolani, Commercial Director & Vice

President, Hilton India.

Whether the wedding locale is a charming riverside venue or a grand ballroom or even nestled amidst the serene Western Ghats, Hilton hotels have the perfect wedding venues for all

guests in India.

To commemorate the launch, Hilton is also offering a Wedding Bliss limited-time offer valid until 31st October for events booked until 31st March 2022.

This package offers a Bridal suite along with an In-room breakfast and comes with additional benefits such as The hotel will organize a photoshoot venue, offer sparkling wine and appetizers to the couple. The couple will also receive triple Hilton Honors points which can be redeemed to book their honeymoon or a much-needed ‘Just Us’ break after the wedding.

Be it the engagement, bachelor or bachelorette party, bridal shower, Pre-wedding cocktails,

To commemorate the launch, Hilton is also offering a Wedding Bliss limited-time offer valid until 31st October for events booked until 31st March 2022 traditional wedding ceremony, reception, guests’ services, and management or curated menus, Wedding Diaries by Hilton captures every aspect of the wedding

journey. Several benefits come along when planning a wedding with Hilton, such as: Dedicated wedding specialist along with an experienced team who truly understands the nuances and importance of each ritual and event leading up to the wedding.

A premium ‘monogram’ fine dining menu featuring chefs and cuisines from across our award-winning restaurants in India and APAC.Range of customized amenities such as in-room Barat welcome hamper, dedicated check-in desk, customized key cards, luggage tags, and bath amenities for guests.Personalised amenities, wedding logo on the linen, in-suite breakfast for the couple to name a few.

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NEWS / HOSPITALITY

THE CHAMBERS EXPANDS ITS PRESENCE TO LONDON First European Outpost Of India’s Highly Regarded Private Members Club Opens At Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites And Residences

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he Chambers, India’s first exclusive business club has announced the launch of its new outpost in London. Taj The Chambers, located at the iconic Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, is a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace.

The unveiling event saw the who’s who of the London corporate and social world come together over an elegant soiree. Ravi Shastri, former international cricketer and current coach of the Indian Cricket team, launched his book, Stargazing: The Players in My Life, in

L to R: Mr. Prabhat Verma, IHCL, Ms. Mehrnavaz Avari, IHCL, Indian Cricketers Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, MD&CEO- IHCL

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the presence of the Indian cricket team. With this addition, The Chambers is now present at eight destinations across the globe.

Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL said, “The Chambers offers an exclusive address

for a select community of accomplished acclaimed achievers.

With its launch at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate, London, we are excited to offer members access to an uber-luxury private and élite club in one of the city’s distinguished locations. Chambers members can now get access to its facilities at some of the world’s most important business hubs like London, Dubai and soon to open in New York. Members can look forward to experiencing Tajness and its familiar stamp of warm hospitality when travelling to these destinations.”

Designed by Conran & Partners, Taj The Chambers, London is a beautifully crafted private members club. It provides members a haven to conduct business at an exclusive office space, or simply relax and unwind in the company of select few. It features a sophisticated bar; individual work pods; a smart private dining space, which also transforms into a meeting room; and a lounge that offers Indian and international cuisine, rich in flavours and exquisite in presentation.

The Chambers Global Membership offers members a lifetime access with its accompanying benefits and privileges. Members enjoy unrestricted access to the business centre and club lounge across all Taj, SeleQtions and Vivanta hotels worldwide. From lifetime membership, best room prices and upgrades to complimentary breakfast, curated events and exclusive experiences, members can enjoy an unparalleled experience at The Chambers.

The Chambers, today, has presence across eight landmark Taj hotels including six in India, one in Dubai and now in London. It will soon be expanding to Bengaluru in India and New York. www.tourismindia.org

INDIGO CELEBRATES ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL FARES STARTING INR 915 The sale will be effective from August 04, 2021 till August 06, 2021 and Passengers can avail the offer for travel between September 01, 2021 till March 26, 2022

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o celebrate fifteen successful years of flying, IndiGo has announced a 3-Day Special Sale offering all-inclusive fares starting from INR 915 on its flights. The offer will be live from August 04, 2021 till August 06, 2021 and will be applicable on travel between September 01, 2021 till March 26, 2022.

Additionally, the 6E add-ons including Fast Forward, 6E Flex, 6E Bagport are being offered at INR 315 while the Car Rental service will start at INR 315.

Mr. Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “It is a momentous occasion for us as we celebrate 15 fulfilling years. We would like to express 29 our gratitude towards our customers and employees for their confidence in us even during the difficult times. On behalf of team IndiGo, I would like to thank all our customers, partners and members of the aviation fraternity who have made this journey so successful”.

Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, IndiGo said, “Our flight path over the last 15 years is a testament of our commitment to making air

travel accessible and affordable, thereby promoting trade, tourism and mobility, within, to and from India. On this celebratory occasion, we have launched a 3-day-specialsale for 6E passengers to share our joy. Our consistent endeavour has been to provide an on-time, hassle-free, and affordable experience to travellers, on our lean clean flying machines. Customers can avail additional 6E benefits with 10% cashback on using Ka-ching credit card for flight booking and 20% cashback on using Ka-ching credit card for pre-booking add-ons*.”

Mr. William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said, “We are all excited as we turn 15. It has been a great run as we built the brand IndiGo not just in domestic but also international frontiers. Customer-first orientation is deeply embedded in IndiGo’s DNA, as they have been an integral part of our journey. We look forward to achieving many more milestones together as we move forward to a post pandemic era of travel and welcome them onboard a lean, clean flying machine”.

Also HSBC credit card owners can avail an additional 5% cashback offer of up to INR 750 on a minimum transaction of INR 3000.

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NEWS / AIRLINES

QATAR AIRWAYS TO COMBAT WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING Q

The Illegal Wildlife Trade Assessment was developed by the International Air Transport Association, with the support of ROUTES, as part of IEnvA – IATA’s environmental management and evaluation system for airlines

atar Airways has extended its participation in the USAID ROUTES (Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species) Partnership, reinforcing its commitment to combat illegal trafficking of wildlife and its products.

Qatar Airways, a founding member of the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce, signed the historic Buckingham Palace Declaration in 2016, aimed at taking steps to shut down the routes exploited by traffickers of the illegal wildlife trade, to move their products. Subsequently, in May 2017, the airline went on to sign the first Memorandum of Understanding with the ROUTES Partnership. In May 2019, Qatar Airways became the world’s first airline to achieve certification to the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Assessment. The IWT Assessment certifi30

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cation confirms that Qatar Airways has procedures, staff training, and reporting protocols in place that make the smuggling of illegal wildlife products more challenging.

The Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT)

Assessment was developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), with the support of ROUTES, as part of IEnvA – IATA’s environmental management and evaluation system for airlines. Com-

pliance with the IWT IEnvA Standards and Recommended Practices (ESARPs) enables airline signatories to the United for Wildlife Buckingham Palace Declaration to demonstrate that they have implemented the relevant Commitments within the Declaration.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade threatens our global biodiversity, and poses a risk to health and safety, particularly in marginalised communities. We are taking measures to disrupt this illicit trade in order to conserve biodiversity and safeguard our delicate ecosystems. We remain committed with other aviation industry leaders to emphasise our zero-tolerance policy towards illegal trafficking of wildlife and its products, and we join the ROUTES Partnership in saying – ‘It Doesn’t Fly With Us’. We will continue to work with our stakeholders to raise awareness and improve detection of illegal wildlife activities to

protect these creatures that we value.”

Mr. Crawford Allan, the ROUTES Partnership Lead, welcomed the leadership Qatar Airways has shown in efforts to prevent wildlife trafficking said: “Through its actions on raising awareness, training and including wildlife trafficking within its policies, Qatar Airways has demonstrated its commitment to the Buckingham Palace Declaration and to the goal of the ROUTES Partnership.

I am proud to see that Qatar Airways is continuing these efforts and being part of a growing number of companies to say It Doesn’t Fly With Us.” The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that wildlife crime is a threat not only to the environment and biodiversity but also to human health.

Despite restricted travel, reports of illegal wildlife seizures over the past year have revealed that traffickers are still taking their chances to smuggle contraband through the air transport system. Qatar Airways recognises that with support from

the USAID ROUTES partnership, the air transport industry can move towards a greener planet that includes ecosystems and wildlife conservation, essential parts of a thriving wildlife economy with and for local communities.

As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016 and a founding member of the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce, Qatar Airways has a zero-tolerance policy towards the transportation of illegal wildlife and their products. Qatar Airways Cargo launched the second chapter of its sustainability programme WeQare: Rewild the Planet earlier this year focused on transporting wild animals back to their natural habitat, free of charge. The cargo carrier’s initiative to preserve wildlife and rewild the planet is aligned with the airline’s commitment to fight wildlife trafficking and illegal trade of wild animals and thereby protect the environment and planet Earth.

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NEWS / NATIONAL

ATHER ENERGY & BLIVE TO DRIVE EV ADOPTION AT TOURIST DESTINATIONS Starting with Goa, BLive will showcase Ather Energy’s electric scooter through product experiences and facilitate pre-bookings for customers

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Live, the multi EV retail platform, and Ather Energy an intelligent electric scooter manufacturer announced a strategic partnership to drive EV adoption by offering the Ather experience to customers and helping build charging infrastructure across popular tourist destinations in the country, starting with Goa. In this first-of-its-kind partnership, Ather Energy and BLive aim to build an ecosystem that provides easily accessible EV experience and charging infrastructure across the country, 32

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leveraging the latter’s pan-India presence at India’s top tourist destinations.

BLive will set up 5 charging stations for Ather Energy across Goa by the end of August, named ‘BLive EV Zones’. It further plans to strengthen its presence by setting up 15 charging stations across the state by the end of the year, at prominent places. BLive will also offer a first-hand Ather Energy E-Scooter experience and help customers with pre-booking

● BLive to help set up Ather Grid with 5 charging stations by the end of August and 15 stations by end of the year in Goa

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and booking of the same through its BLive EV Store, the multibrand online EV Store.

On the announcement of strategic partnership Ravneet S. Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy said, “The electric vehicle market in India is amidst massive transformation and we have seen an exponential increase in demand for our electric scooters. We aim to leverage BLive’s strong presence, in Goa and other popular tourist destinations across India, in deploying Ather Grid and bringing the Ather experience to EV enthusiasts. Further, we hope to work very closely with BLive’s range of partners, from Goa Tourism to the hospitality industry, in boosting consumer confidence in shifting to e-vehicles.”

BLive is the official EV Tourism partner of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC).

Continuing their support towards sustainable tourism and EV adoption in Goa, ‘BLive EV zones’ will be set up across its associated hotels.

Mr. Dayanand Sopte, Chairman, GTDC said, “Goa is among the most popular tourist destinations in India and we want Goa to set an example for sustainable tourism. GTDC supports all the efforts to make sustainable tourism and EV adoption in Goa. We want to create an environment where companies like Ather Energy and BLive can drive innovative change and lead us into the future. We aim to collaboratively encourage cleaner and sustainable ways to travel.

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NEWS / BOOKS

BELIEVE

HELPING LEADERS UNLOCK THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL

BY SHANTHA DE SILVA

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED HOSPITALITY VETERAN, MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT, AND LEADERSHIP COACH, SHANTHA DE SILVA LAUNCHED HIS FIRST BOOK: ‘BELIEVE: HELPING LEADERS UNLOCK THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL.

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erived from his remarkable and stellar experience of transforming businesses for one of the largest hospitality companies in the world, BELIEVE condenses a wealth of wisdom and practical insights from Shantha’s experience spanning over 3 decades. The book talks about seven steps aimed to inspire, motivate, and challenge leaders to discover the extent of their own capabilities.

During his tenure as Head of South West Asia at InterContinental Hotels Group, Shantha was instrumental in doubling the 34

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portfolio size of IHG in India and led significant signings of management agreements with key business partners in the region as a result of transformative leadership, groundbreaking commercial and operational strategies.

His vision to create a thriving culture across 27 hotels in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka was realized with his innovative associate engagement and recognition program that soon became a movement in the region. This led to IHG’s phenomenal success in

the Great Places to Work survey, making the brands skip over 50 ranks to be one of the top 15 brands to work for in India.

He has been a recipient of innumerable awards including the prestigious Internal Flame Award, a biennial global recognition awarded to a senior executive at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for contributing to the development of people.“Today’s leaders and those who aspire to be tomorrow’s game-changers are all too aware of the fact that we are increasingly surrounded by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. We can’t know for sure what tomorrow holds, but one thing that we can be certain of is that it will be different to today.”

So, what can we do today to help

us stay relevant and responsive?

“What I have learned from my own experience and from many great leaders in business is simple: we need to believe that we can and will succeed, but at the same time remember to face our current reality. This book guides the reader through its process; motivating them through the example of real life.

This is my attempt to pay forward to inspire others so that they can realize their true potential, and at the same time be an inspiration to others. Ultimately, the only person that stands between you and success is you,” shares de Silva.

Shantha began his career in hospitality at the Inter-Continental Colombo, Sri Lanka’s first-ever international five-star hotel.

He quickly rose through the ranks to head up many regions where he was responsible for over 100 hotels in operation and under development with an annual turnover of nearly 1 billion AUD and the direct leadership of over 8,000 associates.

His passion for the community saw him serve as Chairman for a Government-sponsored programme for the employment of those differently able in Singapore, where he initiated a national recognition programme. Shantha was the head of IHG hotels, India for 3 years and has extensive experience in the global hospitality industry across multiple brands and diverse geographies in Asia, Australasia including South East Asia, South West Asia, and South Pacific.

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“An amazing resource for leaders who are searching to unlock their true potential!

Shantha provides practical steps, accompanied by real life examples and inspirational stories, that will help encourage and bring out the best in leaders.”

Marshall Goldsmith

New York Times #1 bestselling author of Triggers, Mojo, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.

Thinkers 50 #1 Executive Coach and only two-time #1 Leadership Thinker in the world.

FROM FIVE DOLLARS TO A BILLION DOLLARS

BELIEVE HELPING LEADERS UNLOCK THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL

Do you want to be a great leader?

Do you want to be better at what you do?

Do you want to achieve your dreams, your goals, your vision?

Be challenged in your thinking and learn how to unlock your true leadership potential, a potential you may not have been aware even exists! BELIEVE takes you through a journey of self-reflection drawing upon the experiences of the amazing career successes that Shantha enjoyed. The seven steps outlined in this book are supported by real-life examples, learnings from business leaders and, in true ‘Shantha-style’, many engaging stories that will inspire you.

Be real: Do you understand your current reality?

Envision: What would success look like for you?

Leverage: What is it that you are able to leverage to your advantage?

I, Me, Myself: What gets in your way?

Explore: How best can you get there?

Validate: What are your commitments and next steps?

Enable: “Impossible is nothing”

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Ready to be the leader you always dreamt of being? Start your journey now!

Shantha is an inspirational leader, esteemed for growing talent and helping other leaders realise their true potential. He is passionate about the community and those differently abled, making a difference where it matters.

As a visionary leader, he is well-regarded for his successes in transforming businesses and delivering exceptional results.

Shantha is now a much sought-after executive coach, leadership mentor and hospitality management consultant. He was a coach to incredible entrepreneurs and innovators at the Inc 5000 Vision Conference, amongst other prestigious engagements.

SHANTHA DE SILVA www.tourismindia.org

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NEWS / TECHNOLOGY

EZEE MINT MODERN RMS FOR HOTELS The strength of eZee lies in its potent R&D skills, technological prowess, industry expertise, and dynamic team members across the globe

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Zee Technosys, has recently launched a smart and fast hotel revenue management software named ‘eZee Mint’ that optimizes revenue through dynamic pricing. With this new offer, the company aims to complement the existing products and timely up-gradable tech solutions that help the hospitality industry achieve higher profit margins.

Designed and developed in considering the vastness of revenue management which includes multilevel property assessment, past and present business performance analysis, real-time inventory synchronization, composite rate analysis to deploy an intelligent pricing engine. eZee Mint is a globally recognized solution recommended for all kinds of accommodation businesses. Its comprehensive dashboard offers insights into the day at a single glance to make quick 36

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decisions. With the rise in technology, automated revenue management systems are quickly seeping into the traditional hospitality industry with the assurance of driving revenue and enhancing performance. eZee Mint is synonymous with the solutions

the hospitality industry needs today. The strength of eZee lies in its potent R&D skills, technological prowess, industry expertise, and dynamic team members across the globe.

Mr. Aeijaz Sodawala, CEO, eZee Technosys said, “eZee has been

Mr Harshdeep Khatri, CTO, eZee Technosys

Mr. Hitesh Patel, Co-founder, eZee Technosys explained, “With the launch of eZee Mint, eZee justifies ‘hospitality in totality and totality in hospitality.’ eZee’s full suite of hospitality solutions gets upgraded with the most vital dynamic pricing software. small to mid-sized hospitality businesses, that usually struggle to optimize their revenue will benefit from the accuracy and reliability of eZee Mint and eventually manage their revenue better. We are expecting the introduction of eZee Mint to have a positive impact on our overall business growth with an upward trajectory at about 74% by 2023.”

Mr. Harshdeep Khatri, CTO, eZee Technosys: said, “Carrying innovation in its core, eZee has

consistently adopting innovation in its software offerings to best suit the needs of the hospitality industry. We launched eZee Mint and eZee Panorama in the slack times of the pandemic. eZee Mint is the solution that has the highest potential to derive the best rates for the inventory and con- Mr. Aeijaz Sodawala, tribute to revenue optimization.” CEO, eZee Technosys

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Mr. Hitesh Patel, Co-founder, eZee Technosys

technology as its strongest suit.

All hospitality tech products were built and upgraded to the latest tech to provide the ultimate user experience to our customers. Carrying the legacy forward, eZee Mint – secure and accurate dynamic pricing software, meticulously computes and updates prices within seconds. Hospitality businesses today need such prompt, upgradable software, and eZee Mint delivers it to them for ensuring ideal yield.” eZee’s revenue experts help users analyze the scope of improvements and monitor competitors. eZee Mint works upon a series of criteria including weekly occupancy, seasonality, lead time, demands, last-minute booking to calculate competitive rates for the available inventory. eZee Mint looks forward to aiding lodging businesses with better ARR and improved revenue.

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NEWS / NATIONAL

GOSTOPS

LAUNCHES GOEXPERIENCES A new ‘experience wing’ to curate exciting adventures for young travellers

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oSTOPS, a full-stack operator brand that leases and transforms budget hotels and operates them as backpacker hostels, introduces a new division goEXPERIENCES to offer a wholesome, fun-filled, exciting,

and experiential holiday. The Gen Zs and Millennials are explorers at heart who like challenges, outdoor activities, and are keen on going on adventures. In that spirit, goEXPERIENCES will cover India’s 30 most popular travel lo-

cations, beginning its first phase in September, and scale to 55 destinations by end of 2022.

The ‘Experience Wing’ will create avenues for well-planned itineraries with multi-day, multi-destination treks and tours as well as curated in-destination experiences and activities over the next 6 months.

The trips have been curated to inspire the traveller, that goes above and beyond the trodden path. This well-rounded exciting travel programme will provide a hassle-free one-point travel solution with the availability for stay and transportation. The experiences at goEXPERIENCES are curated by trekking and travel experts at goSTOPS. Each activity is planned after taking into account the safety precautions. goSTOPS

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APPOINTMENT will ensure bringing together knowledge and specialist skills in providing accommodation, travel, stays, and outdoor activities, that will give their customers a safe, exciting and fun-filled adventure.

Speaking at the announcement, Pankaj Parwanda, Co-Founder, goSTOPS said, “We are thrilled to launch our experiences division that will be a pull factor for Gen Zs and millennials. goSTOPS is a leader in providing high-quality youth-focused accommodation infrastructure within a youth-friendly budget. We believe you can have an exciting holiday if your experiences are well planned and managed by experts on the ground, who could give you total value for your money, and yet not leave you wanting for a better experience. Our strong on-ground presence with inhouse operations places us in an excellent position to provide rich experiences to young travellers across the country and bring the benefits of the sharing economy to their entire travel experience helping them experience more in less.”

In the initial phase, goSTOPS will provide customised trekking and sports activities like sunrise cycling tours, snowboarding, rappelling, boulder climbing, etc. across Rohtang, Manali, Kasol, Manikaran and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and Himachal.

There is also a line-up of treks and activities for young travellers in winters. Upcoming experiences will also take youngsters to new and offbeat locations in Rajasthan, MP, Kerala, and other cities. One can get an itinerary designed around their chosen activity including cycling, trekking, multi-adventure, cultural or historical. www.tourismindia.org

RAFI ANSARI

AS F&B MANAGER OF COURTYARD

BY MARRIOTT BENGALURU HEBBAL

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ourtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal, one of the city’s favourite 5-star destinations has announced the appointment of Rafi Ansari as the Food and Beverage Manager. Rafi comes with a formidable experience of over 14 years in the hospitality industry that has seen him convert strategic visions into measurable results. A highly motivated individual, he believes in imparting knowledge to fellow team members to ensure they perform to their full potential at the highest level.

Rafi’s passion for service and building new relationships is what drew him to this industry. He began his career in the year 2006 with JW Juhu as an F&B associate and there was no looking back after that. He kept climbing the ladder by building the overall skill set that took him to various established properties that further contributed to his growth. Prior to joining Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal, he 39 performed his duties at Fairfield by Marriott, Lucknow as the Food and Beverage Manager.

Rafi has handled large operations with a keen understanding of Food and Beverage, marketing strategy development, and communications over the last few years. As the Food & Beverage Manager at Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal, he will be responsible for heading and managing the Food and Beverage

operations. And at the same time, maintaining high standards of guest satisfaction. He will closely work with the sales and marketing team to enhance brand visibility for the hotel’s food and beverage department and drive revenue.

Hailing from the City of dreams, Mumbai Rafi is an alumnus of St. Andrews IHM, Mumbai. When not at work, a sports enthusiast that he is, you will see him try his hand at badminton, cricket, football, and carom.

He also enjoys watching movies and listening to music when in leisure.

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NEWS / HOSPITALITY

ITC HOTELS LAUNCH WELCOMHOTEL KATRA Brand Welcomhotel forays in the heart of Katra, a spirited holiday destination popular for it’s scenic beauty and adventure sports

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elcomhotel, one of India’s fast-paced hospitality brands has launched its latest outpost in Katra.

Katra city is located in the

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foothills of the Trikuta Mountains in the Reasi district. It has been a preferred place for devotees for decades for its proximity to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. Katra is the base

camp for aficionados not just going to Mata Vishnu Devi, the sanctum sanctorum but also nearby places of tourist attraction. The Patnitop is the only hill station where snowfall can be

seen in the winters in Jammu and hence even the locals and guests from Katra come here during the winters.

Just 45 kilometers away from the Jammu airport, WelcomhotelKatra is an idyllic destination nestled in the lush green valleys and panoramic views. Amidst the pine trees, breathtakingly beautiful landscape, the hotel stands tall like a crown jewel of Katra city. The hotel is dotted with miniature hand paintings created by budding artists from the region.

WelcomhotelKatra has 83 well-appointed guest rooms, a swimming pool, an array of sublime activities on-site to keep one joyfully engaged.

WelcomhotelKatra offers a quintessential ITC Hotels culinary experience with signature dishes. The WelcomCafe serves the best of gourmet flavours in international and regional vegetarian cuisine is one of a kind in its offerings and the finest in Katra. The traditional Welwww.tourismindia.org

comSthalika brings the best of this region’s vegetarian cuisine on a platter. The ingredients are sourced from the local farming community of the neighborhood and are fresh & seasonal.

The WelcomSthalika represents regional fare from the Jammu region and is prepared in Sattvik style bringing out the fla-

vors predominant in Katra and adjoining areas. Some of these local preparations are Jammu Rajma,Ambal,ShingarekiKadhi, Mewekakofta andTumbaajwainaloo.

The curated menu uses locally grown ingredients like Jammu Rajma, walnuts, almonds, Badi masala, tumbaajwain, shahi-

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NEWS / HOSPITALITY

zeera, saunf, sonth, and more this rich temple cuisine recreatin traditional style. These Local ing exclusive meal experiences.

Love meals will take guests on One can discover holistic the expedition to the tastes of Ayurveda experiences and therapies for an overall reboot of the body and mind at the soon to open Kaya Kalp Spa. The hotel also offers an ideal space both outdoor and indoor, for events, weddings, and celebrations with a seamless banquet space of 2750 sqft.

WelcomhotelKatra is the base camp for those wanting to partake of the region’s picturesque attractions, including Patnitop.

For the thrill-seekers and nature lovers, Patnitop is just 85 kilometers drive away and the route to the hill station is truly poetic with the beautifully lined pine and cedar trees.

River rafting features high on the itinerary of Katra guests.

The thrill of rafting in the white waters of Chenab is an unmissable experience. Katra has one of the best rafting stretches in the world with its fifteen-kilometer-long stretch bordered by lush green surroundings. Adventure lovers throng this place Mr. Anil Chadha, COO, ITC Hotels for water sports activities and 42

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mesmerizing beauty.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Anil Chadha, COO, ITC Hotels said, “BrandWelcomhotelcontinues on its expansion spree offering guests the most beautiful destination properties likeWelcomhotelKatrapopular for its scenic beauty and spiritual air. Katra truly offers the best of enriching experiences, for both pilgrimage and leisure.

The globally acknowledged DNV platinum-certified ‘WeAssure’ health and hygiene protocol at our hotels enables travelers to enjoy their holiday with complete peace of mind.“ WelcomhotelKatra is a destination that offers a gleeful experience to the discerning traveler who is in search of some rest and rejuvenation. Should one wish to pick memorabilia or local produce, one can shop in Katra for dried apples, homegrown organic products, Kashmiri chilies, woolen garments, leather jackets, and hand-painted miniature paintings in the colorful and bustling local markets.

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NEWS / HOSPITALITY

MARRIOTT WORK AND PLAY STAYCATION Work & Play Staycation package which helps you find the perfect balance between work and leisure, with an escape at a home not so far from home

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loft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park, a Marriott International hotel has exclusively curated the MarriottWork & Play Staycation package which helps you find the perfect balance between work and leisure, with an escape at

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a home not so far from home!

With hygiene measures intact and timely sanitization of rooms and the hotel, Aloft is a safe place for you to find an escape away from home, while still being able to stay connected with your work. The MarriottWork &

Play Staycation package includes high-speed internet to keep yourself entertained or catch up with work, breakfast, and dinner prepared under strict hygiene conditions, and also a DIY Cocktailin-room, for you to bring out your inner bartender! The kiddos

are also covered with specially customized baking/cooking sessions. Book for 3 nights or more, and avail a complimentary wine tasting as well!

Aloft Cessna Business Park is a perfect confluence of leisure and business featuring 191 spa-

cious, loft-like rooms, an urban design aesthetic, live music performances, and an active social scene Aloft rooms are equally cheery, audacious, and spacious.

It features a multi-cuisine all-day dining restaurant- ‘Nook’. Light meals, snacks, healthy bites are

catered at ‘Re-Fuel’, and ‘W XYZ Bar offers a wide range of signature cocktails with live music in a splendid ambiance. A fitness center ‘Re-charge’ and an outdoor pool ‘Splash’ are added facilities that Aloft offers.

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FEATURE / DESTINATION

TRAVEL IS RETURNING TO PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia ranks the 4th most walkable large city in the nation as travellers can explore the city by foot while most attractions and historic sites are just a short walk away from downtown hotels.

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he City of Philadelphia has ended all travel restrictions and has announced that more than 75% of all Philadelphia adults have received at least one

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dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with at least 62% of all Philadelphia adults now fully vaccinated.

As a result, domestic and international air travel is also begin-

ning to return to Philadelphia.

The International Airport, train services continue to run into Amtrak’s 30th Street Station and the buses are bringing groups back to

Philadelphia, all with new guidelines in place to ensure a healthy, safe journey for travelers.

The Philadelphia International Airport offers a COVID-19 testing site in the pre-security area of Terminal-E for travelers that need to produce a negative COVID-19 test prior to returning to their city, state, or country. The site is offering multiple types of tests intended for outbound travelers and ranging from $80 to $130, including an antigen test, a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, and a Rapid PCR test.

The airlines and other transportation services including Amtrak are also offering a contactless travel experience, allowing travelers to purchase tickets, acquire boarding passes, check bags, and more, all by using apps or websites accessible via a mobile device. Touch-free solutions are being implemented within the terminals of Philadelphia International Airport, including contactless menus and payment solutions at many of the airport’s dining and shopping options. The airport has also begun testing a

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robotic delivery program, in which a small robot delivers meals ordered through their OrderAtPHL program directly to your gate.

Philadelphia ranks the 4th most walkable large city in the nation as travellers can explore the city by foot while most attractions and historic sites are just a short walk away from downtown hotels. Travellers can also rent a car to reach the countryside for more flexibility with multiple car rental agencies stationed at the Philadelphia International Airport, including Enterprise, Dollar, Hertz, and Budget, with more hubs stationed around downtown Philadelphia.

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FEATURE / DESTINATION

SAN FRANCISCO PARKS: WHERE TO ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS Beaches, hills, impressive man-made architecture, or natural wonders.

Whether you’re into golf, tennis, or simply strolling through the City by the Bay, you’ll never get bored

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he hundreds of parks in San Francisco offer you no shortage of activities.

Enjoy beaches, hills, impressive man-made architecture, or natural wonders. Whether you’re into golf, tennis, or simply strolling through the City by

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the Bay, you’ll never get bored!

Here are a few of the most popular parks you shouldn’t miss in San Francisco.

Alamo Square Park A.K.A. The Painted Ladies At Alamo Square, you’ll find a full range of activities, from

walking trails to tennis courts and a playground. There’s a dedicated dog park, but the entire area is canine-friendly, so you can go ahead and bring your puppy to play. Catch a glimpse of the row houses, the Painted Ladies, featured in the popular

80’s sitcom “Full House” while you’re there. Open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Alcatraz Island While the main tour of Alcatraz Island will take you indoors, through the prison that once held the likes of Al Capone, you’ll want to stroll around the island on your own, too. There are trails leading to the shore that offer an impressive view, not only of the Bay but also of the Golden Gate Bridge and the skyline of San Francisco. There’s no food service on the island, so be sure to bring supplies for a meal at one of the scenic picnic benches around the island. To get to the island, you’ll need to take a ferry. Reservations are required, so book early via Alcatraz Cruises.

Angel Island State Park Coined the “Ellis Island of the West,” Angel Island State Park is reachable by ferry, but if you prefer, you could kayak the www.tourismindia.org

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FEATURE / DESTINATION three-mile route yourself and go trekking on the island by foot.

Bikers will find trails running 13 miles through shady, beautiful trees and along with incredible bay views. For a more novel way to see the island, buy a roundtrip ticket from Blue & Gold Fleet and Segway over the hills. The US Immigration Station is open Wednesday through Sunday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Bernal Heights Enjoy fresh air at Bernal Heights, a pleasant park that offers plenty of space to roam, an extensive playground, and a beautiful backdrop to take a lot of Instagram pictures. Just up the hill from the gardens, you’ll find the recreation center, which offers several programs for families, as well as a gym

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and basketball court. Open daily from 5 a.m. to midnight.

Dolores Park (Neighborhood: Mission District) This Mission District park is the perfect place to enjoy great views while you picnic and people watch. Great expanses of grass make the park popular with dog owners, but there’s also a playground and tennis and basketball courts to play on.

Open daily from 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area Islands, redwood forests, a former federal prison (Alcatraz), ocean beaches, and historic points of interest are all part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).

Across the Golden Gate Bridge, the GGNRA encompasses vast

areas of undeveloped lands in the Marin Headlands as well as wildlife sanctuaries, picnic areas facilities, and 100 miles of trails.

Bird-watching is a popular pastime and the National Park Service offers seasonal activities throughout the year, everything from lighthouse visits to hawk watches.

Within just one massive space, Golden Gate Park features playgrounds, lakes, museums, and even a Japanese Tea Garden.

You’ll also want to check out the de Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco Botanical Garden and stroll through the western area of the park, where you’ll find windmills and an expansive tulip garden.

W HOTELS REVEALS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEBUT OF W PHILADELPHIA Through Intentional Design and Locally Elevated Guest Experiences, the Glowing Addition to the City’s Skyline is a Love Letter to the City of Brotherly Love

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Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International announced the opening of W Philadelphia. Located in the heart of downtown, the 51-story skyscraper is a celebration of the city’s street art, musical legacy, and historic embrace of originality – as seen through the provocative lens of the W brand. Embracing the same drive, grit, and irreverence that sparked our nation’s revolution, W Philadelphia liberates the city’s traditional rules of luxury through its design as well as a lineup of local creative partners who authenticate and elevate every stay.

“Philadelphia is the quintessential city for a W hotel – rebellious, unexpected, and original,” said Tom Jarrold, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “Its diverse neighborhoods and rich history attract travelers from around the country and the world and we are www.tourismindia.org

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FEATURE / DESTINATION excited to put our unique stamp on its luxury hotel scene.”

Rebellious Design From The Sound of Philadelphia and the city’s legendary 1970s nightlife scene to its famed urban grid richly juxtaposed with vibrant greenspaces, the design of W Philadelphia is as rich and diverse as the city itself. Punctuated throughout the hotel is an extensive artwork collection, much of it exclusively commissioned by the hotel using the talent of local artists. From abstract murals celebrating urban gardens to oil and digital print portraits of the city’s most famous musicians of the past and present, the art of W Philadelphia is as thoughtful as it is thought-provoking.

W Philadelphia features 295 guest rooms including 39 suites, which feature floor-to-ceiling windows and breathtaking, panoramic city views. Nods to traditional Pennsylvania craftsmanship can be seen in entryway and bathroom tile patterns as well as Shaker-style chairs at each workspace.

Illuminated in the guestrooms are the words of the Declaration of

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Independence, etched in graffiti font on a custom light fixture. The signature W Bed is made with a bespoke bedspread print – “Philly Toile” – featuring both modern and historical city icons. A throw pillow features the iconic Robert Indiana LOVE statue on one side and, for a playful twist, the word LUST on the opposite side.

The hotel’s six suite categories feature oversized soaking tubs and ornate details including Danby marble and Chesterfield-style furnishings, as well as the only private guest balconies of any luxury hotel in the city. Local artwork imagined under the theme of “Collective Independence” is displayed in salon groupings inspired by the impressionist and modern art collections housed at the nearby Barnes Foundation. The WOW and Extreme WOW Suites push the unexpected even further with custom foosball and billiard tables as well as in-room DJ booths.

Equally important to the design of a W is each hotel’s sonic identity.

Shaping the sounds of W Philadelphia’s music activations is Joshua Lang, a multi-faceted artist with a background in design and mu-

sic. In addition to spinning regular sets on the property as resident DJ, Lang will book DJ talent with his distinct approach to curating the sound and vibe specific to the hotel’s social outlets: think soulful and loungey in the Living Room with funk and soul and high-energy and vibrant house and global dance music on the WET Deck.

Distinct Dining + Cocktail Culture W Philadelphia features an eclectic selection of spaces for guests and locals to socialize as they unwind and indulge. First is the Living Room, with a design inspired by the historic sunken gardens of Fairmount Park. By day, coffee from local artisan roaster Rival Bros. will be served in custom ceramics from Philadelphia-based houseware and design studio, Centerpeak, and, by night, craft cocktails curated by famed local mixologist Resa Mueller will flow.

The focal point of the Living Room is a wall of hand-painted, custom ceramic skulls that draw inspiration from the Hyrtl Skull Collection at the nearby Mutter Museum

and feature references to hip-hop, fashion, and garden icons.

Tucked away behind the skulls and a two-way mirror, guests will find “Stevens’ Prophecy,” a salon adorned with artwork celebrating Hollywood and Philadelphia royalty, Grace Kelly. The name is a reference to the story of Grace Kelly’s high school yearbook superlative in which it was predicted she would become “a famous star of stage and screen.” The salon will soon feature its own special menu including small-batch as well as limited-run spirits.

On the 7th floor, the WET Deck features a heated, year-round pool with intricate, green, and blue custom tile work inspired by French parterre pattern, while the WET Deck Bar is adorned with a large-scale, pixelated floral motif from floor to ceiling. All WET Deck Talent will wear custom uniforms from Philadelphia’s own Grant BLVD, a Black-owned sustainable fashion brand that upcycles vintage clothing. Around the corner, guests will discover a lush green space known as The Secret Garden, where Illuminated busts of Benjamin Franklin and Marie Antoinette are tucked amongst the greenery for a modern twist on traditional garden design. The urban retreat will play host to local pop-ups and host live music performances where guests and locals can discover the up-andcoming talent of the musically driven city.

Soon to be the power spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Center City Philadelphia, Dolce, a signature concept of LDV Hospitality, is W Philadelphia’s destination restaurant. The timeless spirit of Fellini’s 1960s Rome is brought to Center City with a menu of fresh, regional Italian dishes.

FUEL Your Stay W Philadelphia is home to the brand’s signature AWAY Spa which, unlike other spa concepts, embraces socialization with a www.tourismindia.org

lounge, beauty bar, and DJ setup for private events. Located on the 7th floor, AWAY features five treatment rooms inspired by the color palette and joie de vivre of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette as well as two large-scale wallpaper prints of Marilyn Minter’s provocative take on beauty and pleasure – Kicksilver and Goldkicker. AWAY embodies the brand’s “Detox. Retox. Repeat.” philosophy with a custom detox menu (including a Detox Massage, Detox Body peel and wrap, and a Detox Facial) in addition to traditional luxury spa services. AWAY is stocked with clean products from The Davines Group as well as local favorite, Franklin & Whitman.

Furthering this Detox philosophy, the hotel features FIT, a 24/7 fitness center, and will feature a regular lineup of FUEL programming where guests and locals can take intimate classes with top local fitness pros.

Meet You at the W Spanning three floors, W Philadelphia has over 45,000 square feet of event space inspired by the brand’s long-standing passion for music. It begins with a pre-function space connected by a monumental grand staircase with a

dramatic floating chandelier made of 10,000 gold coins as a nod to Philadelphia’s banking history.

Alcove seating under the stairs shares space with a locally-produced skull sculpture, another reference to the famed Hyrtl Skull Collection and a signature iconography of rock n’ roll. Each of the 37 meeting rooms flows with natural light and high-design lighting concepts that create the feeling of private recording studios. Lastly, the sun-drenched-by-day Great Room features floor-to-ceiling windows, abstract floral carpeting as well as circular lighting fixtures, and shimmering wall finishes that resemble the night sky during evening events.

“Philadelphia is ready to ring free and we are excited to open our doors and change the city’s social scene as only W can,” said Edward Baten, General Manager, W Philadelphia. “This hotel is an homage to the city and the people who define it. By embracing its history through art and design to celebrating its presence through local talent and brands that can’t be found anywhere else, W Philadelphia delivers an inspired local experience for the global guest.”

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FEATURE/ RESORTS

NALADHU PRIVATE ISLAND MALDIVES WITH A NEW LOOK The resort’s two categories of Houses, each with 300 sqm of living space, are surrounded by tropical vegetation and invite a total immersion in nature

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aladhu Private Island, the exclusive luxury island resort in the Maldives, is due to relaunch in November with an impressive new look and feel, following a complete renovation during a six-month closure. The intimate resort is undergoing a total redesign with the public areas and accommodation being renovated and the resort’s top suite, the Two Bedroom Pool Residence, reopening with its own 20-meter private beach. Located on the edge of a pristine lagoon in the South Malé Atoll, Naladhu Private Island is 30 minutes by luxury speedboat from Velana International Airport in Malé.

Home to just 20 ‘Houses’, Naladhu offers the ultimate privacy and seclusion for the most discerning guests. The resort is being redesigned by New York-based designer Yuji Yamazaki, with new sleeker furniture throughout and a lighter colour palette creating a modern colonial southeast Asian 54

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style. Yamazaki has focussed on maximizing the number of spots around the houses where guests can have a moment of pause, ranging from ocean-side seating for breakfast to predinner cocktails on the chaise longue overlooking the pool. The restaurant, bar, wine cellar, and gym are among the public areas receiving a completely new look.

The resort’s two categories of Houses, each with 300 sqm of living space, are surrounded by tropical vegetation and invite a total immersion in nature. The Beach House with Pool has direct access to the white sands and lagoon, whilst the Ocean House with Pool and Private Beach Cabana has a large terrace with panoramic ocean view, in addition to its own dedicated cabana, where guests can relax on their oversized day bed and enjoy drinks, snacks or lunch served by their butler, to be known as a Kuwaanu. Each House will be named after an indigenous Maldivian flower or plant that can

be found on the island, with each chosen flora growing alongside in the House’s garden.

The guest experience at Naladhu will be completely

bespoke. The Kuwaanu, deriving from a storyteller in Dhivehi the Maldivian language, will be at guests’ disposal 24 hours a day, both as their guide and to provide services ranging from unpacking or serving early morning coffee to organising a private island picnic.

The resort will also introduce some new experiences, including a snorkeling tour with the in-house marine biologist to see some of the 2,000 species of tropical fish and sea mammals and to understand more about the coral conservation programme.

The jewel in the resort’s crown is the 600 sqm Two Bedroom Pool Residence. Sleeping up to six guests, this vast space guarantees both privacy and quality time with loved ones. The Residence benefits from both sunrise and sunset views, with its pool and large deck facing the ocean, along with loungers, alfresco dining area, and a swing,

and its new private beach offering direct access to the lagoon.

The resort will be expanding its no-menu dine anywhere concept, enabling guests to choose their favourite dishes and dining spots round the clock – whether it’s in The Living Room with views over the lagoon, a Champagne floating breakfast in the pool, or moonlight midnight snacks on the beach. Led by new Peruvian Chef de Cuisine, Patricio Basombrio Cedano, the resort’s culinary team is experienced in cuisines from around the globe ranging from Arabic to Italian, French to Sri Lankan, or Japanese to Indonesian.

As part of the sustainability programme, Naladhu has started working with Parley Air to reduce marine plastic pollution and recycle plastic waste, plus all single-use plastic has been banned on the island. Educating guests about the Maldives’

ecosystem and locale will also be a high priority when the resort reopens, including guided walks of the island to learn about the flora and fauna and private sessions with the marine biologist focused on the ocean and coral. In addition, the resort’s furniture from pre-renovation has been donated to the Maldives’ only hospital for mental health.

Naladhu Private Island will be renewing its focus on wellness with a new dedicated spa treatment area including a double treatment room with a bathing and changing area. A Naturopath and Nutritional Therapist will also be resident on the island. Guests will be offered the opportunity to focus on their nutrition to help overcome stress, sleep issues, and unhealthy eating patterns as well as their digestion, immunity, weight management, hormones, skin, and blood sugar balance.

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NEWS / NATIONAL

LIT SPIRIT SUPPORTS WEAVERS A showcase of ancient Karnataka and Maharashtra weaves like Chitradurga, Bagalkot, and KarvatKati was the highlight of the event

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meaningful fundraiser to support weavers, who have been hard-hit during the pandemic was organised by Deepa Rao Acharya for her charitable Foundation Lit Spirit. She collaborated with Vyusti from Bombay.

A showcase of ancient Karnataka and Maharashtra weaves like Chitradurga, Bagalkot, and KarvatKati was the highlight of the event.

Deepa invited prominent personalities like Pavitra Halkatti, Paola Ravishankar, and Danish Consul General Jette Bjerrum to model some exquisite handloom Sarees. They beautifully showed their solidarity with the cause.

The evening honoured the rich legacy, of dying weaves, and talented weavers & artisans. It is said that those who carry forward ancient crafts that keep our hoary history alive live in penury themselves. The event was geared to help these weavers achieve inde56

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AMAZING

COLLECTIONS OF

SWISSWATCH Ms. Deepa Rao Acharya

pendence through entrepreneurship skills; education for their children; and access to groceries and medical supplies.

The weaves by Vyusti included Himroo (very few weavers know how to keep this art alive now).

Chitradurga Sari – inspired by nature the weave is said to hark back to the Ramayana times. and Bagalkot, whose weavers are in dire straits. Each handmade, handwoven sari is a testimony to our world-class craftsmanship, spells true luxury.

Many luminaries, like FICCI Flo Chairperson Revathi Raju, Nirmala Gowda Nayak, Anita Samuel, and danseuse Madhu Natraj were in attendance.

LIT Spirit Foundation donates from its events to various causes. This time, it is being given to a weavers community in Bagalkot, to help sustain their art by investing in much-needed tools and equipment..Last year Lit Spirit, had contributed to a cluster of rural weavers in Phulia and helped them start up their empty looms again and thrown the spotlight on their plight through the help of celebrities, influencers, and social media campaigns. www.tourismindia.org

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wisswatchcompany. Jura. Since 1961 Andre Mouche in, India’s only website has brought expertise to the crefor an exclusive range ation of its products, especial-

of Swiss Watches has announced an offer of up to 25% off on various brands. Each of these watches is handmade in Switzerland and is available at a special price this Raksha Bandhan.

Andre Mouche - André Mouche maintains the exclusivity of its collection by manufacturing patented and registered timepieces in its factory in the Swiss canton of

ly during the installation of the enamel, a relatively complex process to achieve different decorations on jewellery watches.

Wenger - Part of the Victorinox AG, is recognized for producing impeccable timepieces and Swiss army knives. The timepieces combine reliability with style, a contemporary design with the ultimate in functionality, well-selected materials, and meticulous craftsmanship.

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INDIA INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MART India’s Premier Travel & Tourism Exhibition

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