TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 1 Vol. XXXIIssue9; May 1 TravTalkIndia.comTalkIndia.com st fortnight i fortnight ssue 2019 A DDPPUBLICATION Special April 28-May1,2019

ddppl.com Pages : 40 4/26/2019 10:28:27 AM ` 20/- TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 2 4/26/2019 10:28:30 AM Vol. XXXI Issue 9; May 1st fortnight i ssue 2019 A DDP PUBLICATION Pages : 40 ` 20/- ddppl.com ddppl.com TravTalkIndia.com ME shot to medical tourism As a growing sector in India, medical tourism has now been taken over by hospitals and corporate houses, although it was started by tour operators. India receives good numbers from the Middle East, and this growth is aided by state-of-the-art medical facilities and 30-day e-visa facility for selected countries.

TT Bureau )RUWKHÀUVWWLPHZHKDYHJHWWLQJ Wellness and medical tourism in a medical tourism board established, India has witnessed tremendous With excellent hospitals, world- of which I am a member. We are going LQFUHDVHLQWUDIÀFLQWKHUHFHQWSDVW,Q class doctors and experienced para- to have a common website with all the IDFWGXULQJWKH.HUDODÁRRGVODVW\HDU medics, medical tourism is a great op- hospitals, accreditation and specialisa- there were cancellations for leisure portunity in India. A CII-McKinsey study tion. Secondly, we have requested tours but medical centres along with reports that Indian medical tourism is KRVSLWDOVWRÀ[WKHSULFHVIRUPDMRU wellness and Ayurveda centres were VXUJHULHVZKHUHWKHSULFHFDQÁXFWXDWH running full. In terms of source mar- expected to grow 30 per cent annually Subhash Goyal Sejoe Jose to grow to USD 9 billion by 2020. India Managing Director between 4-5 per cent and not more Chairman NHWVSHRSOHDUHPRVWO\ÁRFNLQJIURP Stic Travel Group WKDQWKDW027PDGHDÀOPWKDWKLJK- IATO Kerala Chapter the Gulf and Middle East who visit the EM Najeeb currently accounts for around 18 per Senior Vice President cent of the global medical tourism mar- lights state-of-the-art medical facilities country for various check-ups. As far Indian Association and affordability of surgeries available at one-third the price or as Ayurveda and spiritual tourism is concerned, we have a great of Tour Operators ket. Locations like Kerala has a great opportunity to grow as a recuperative even less than the cost of what is available in other movement from Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Russia. The leisure destination in the years to come. PDMRUFRXQWULHV medical visa has worked in favour of this sector. Contd on page 8 ‘Indian inbound will certainly grow’ Satyajeet Rajan (IAS), Former Director General, Tourism, shares the biggest achievements and challenges for inbound tourism in an exclusive interview with TRAVTALK.

Nisha Verma in the country. growth. In fact, the the stakeholders in the tourism is growing more rapidly However, entire short-haul sector need to look at these than the inbound market. he association with the employ- market needs to be short-haul markets for faster Sharing his views on the TMinistry of Tourism (MOT) ment data in tapped, right from the growth as well as for faster state of inbound tourism in is one of Satyajeet Rajan’s India tells a different Middle East market to the employment generation.” India, he said, “The inbound Satyajeet Rajan (IAS) best assignments as he feels story altogether, on which, he biggest market in the world, market will grow from the Former Director General honoured to be a part of the commented, “Tourism needs which is China as well as the The outbound market of countries from where the Tourism largest employment generator to grow at much larger rate of Southeast Asian market. All ,QGLDDFFRUGLQJWR5DMDQ income growth is faster. Contd on page 6

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 3 4/26/2019 10:28:32 AM TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 4 4/26/2019 10:28:34 AM BULLETIN Maya makes its way to Chennai The sixth edition of India Travel Awards- South 2019 will be held at Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa in Chennai on May 27, 2019 to felicitate tourism and hospitality industry’s frontrunners in South India.

TT Bureau we are glad to host this event at our recently opened . s a recognised all-India Tourism is a crucial industry Aplatform to reward and for India and an integral part celebrate the success of travel of the socio-economic de- and hospitality industry profes- velopment. The awards are a sionals, India Travel Awards is standard of excellence and an setting new benchmarks in the ideal platform to recognise and industry with every passing inspire colleagues from our edition. Nikhil Jeet, Convener, industry for all the hard work, India Travel Awards (ITA) dedication and achievements,” LQIRUPVWKDWWKHVHDUHWKHÀUVW he says. and only regional awards to Nikhil Jeet Shibil Malik Convener General Manager, Sheraton Grand reward achievers from every India Travel Awards Chennai Resort & Spa Located on the East region, who have collectively Coast Road in Chennai and supported the growth of the spread over 10 acres, the tourism industry and taken it to recognition and acknowl-wl- As tthehe host of the black-tie KRWHOLVWKHÀUVW6KHUDWRQ newer heights. edgement of the effortss put award cceremony, Sheraton resort in India. in by industry players isis a GrandGran Chennai Resort “Growth of the tourism catalyst for this growth.h. & SSpa in Chennai is all and hospitality industry in With these awards, wee prpreppedep up to put up a The the country is a mark of intend to boost their ggoodoo show. Shibil Malik, 125-room progress and development spirit, recognise their ssig-ig- GeneralGen Manager, Sheraton of the country itself. Every QLÀFDQWUROHLQWKHRYHUDOOUDOO GrandGrand Chennai Resort & Sheraton Grand Chennai entity contributes to the overall development of tourismm Spa,Spa, feels that ITA is an Resort & Spa is inspired by development of these sectors. and hospitality, and inspirespire excellentexcell forum to recognise four Ss, namely, sun, sand, With a forecast of 20 million them to be future leaders.ers. talenttalent aand reward the efforts sea and South India, and inbound tourists in 2020, the We hope the tourism ssectorector put in byb colleagues who WKLVLVUHÁHFWHGLQ growth of tourism is going to gets its due share in thehe contributecontrib to the growth the design of escalate and we are going to coming years, leading thethe of theth industry. “It’s very the hotel be a prominent name on the way for an even better ethoseth is to honour indus- global tourism map. Constant tomorrow,” he says. trytry achievements and THINk

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 5 4/26/2019 10:28:39 AM TRAVTALK brings to you news and events that years made headlines 25 years ago with relevance even today. Let's look at a page from our archives.

VIEWPOINT Then (May, 1993) Jet crash lands Jet Airways commences operations s In May 1993, Jet Airways started its operations with a fleet of he beginning of this year has descended a pall of four B737-300 aircraft, which was to be expanded to eight aircraft Tgloom over Indian skies. However, the crashing within one year of operations. of Jet Airways comes as no surprise to those who s It was reported that in the first month, two B737-300 aircraft were KDYHEHHQIROORZLQJWKHDLUOLQH·VMRXUQH\VRIDU-HW V to join the Jet Airways fleet. The aircraft were leased from Ansett Worldwide Services Australia. troubles started when its then Chairman, Naresh s Jet Airways was planning to operate in new tourist and Goyal, decided to buy Air Sahara in spite of many commercial operations in Maharashtra. experts warning him against it. After Jet acquired s Also, the airline along with Government of India, was looking at restructuring the airports to allow safe landings of the loss-making Air Sahara for about `1,450 crore the state-of-the-art aircraft and similar jet aircraft. in 2007, it was branded as the budget carrier JetLite. Around the same time, India witnessed a surge of ORZFRVWFDUULHUVOLNH,QGL*RDQG6SLFHMHWZKRZHUH Jet suspends operations Now (April 2019) offering cheaper tickets. This acquisition made Jet On April 17, 2019, Jet bleed and the airline wrote off its entire investment Airways announced the temporary shutting in 2015. Also, in spite of low-cost carriers making down of its operations Á\LQJ DIIRUGDEOH IRU D SULFHVHQVLWLYH PDUNHW OLNH after failing to get any India, Jet continued to focus greatly on corporates. emergency funding for keeping the airline However, this debacle may now help turn the govern- afloat. Vinay Dube, CEO, Jet Airways, wrote ment’s attention towards including aviation turbine an emotional letter to fuel (ATF) under the purview of Goods and Services its employees, which Tax (GST). Today, fuel makes up about 40 per cent said, “After 25 years of sharing the ‘Joy of Flying’ with Indian and international guests, Jet Airways and its of the cost of running an airline in India; little wonder Board of Directors have been forced to take this extreme measure, as prolonged then that airlines struggle to make money even as and sustained efforts with lenders and authorities to ensure the sustainability of the airline did not yield the desired results.” SDVVHQJHUWUDIÀFFRQWLQXHVWRJURZDWGRXEOHGLJLW pace. Currently, ATF prices vary from state to state. In Maharashtra and Delhi, it attracts a tax of 25 per FHQW+RSHIXOO\WKLVZLOOVHUYHDVDUXGHMROWWRWKH powers that be! The inbound growth trajectory Contd from page 3 The economic growth from India was ranked as the more in number as well as in tourism has also grown Eco-exhibitions? short-haul markets has been world’s third most powerful the receipts than the average considerably. Further, e-visa increasing. The Asia income country for travel and tourism world growth.” reforms have also been a he recent Très 2019, organised by RARE India, growth has been much more in 2018, according to World PDMRUVXFFHVVVWRU\µ set standards on how responsible tourism can be than Europe and America, Travel & Tourism Council’s 2QWKHPDMRUDFKLHYHPHQWVRI T and it is this market that (WTTC) new T&T Power and 027GXULQJKLVWHQXUH5DMDQ He insisted that the raising of practised even at the exhibition space. As exhibitions we need to concentrate. In 3HUIRUPDQFH5HSRUW5DMDQ said, “The kind of infrastruc- visa fee this year has com- and travel shows are getting bigger, there is a greater fact, we have the thrust in lauded, saying, “Such a power ture created under SWADESH pletely switched off the Rus- demand for infrastructure and material for décor, the Chinese market as well ranking and the growth in DQG35$6$'VFKHPHVLVMXVW sians from India, especially as the ME and South East tourism receipts is one of `7000 crore plus that has Goa. “2018-19 was a year ZKLFKUDQJHVIURPÁH[SODVWLFJODVVDQGZKDWQRW (SE) Asian market. We need the four indicators of growth. covered many of the small of negative growth primarily Très 2019 used recycled cardboard for branding and to look at all these markets There has been a big growth places across the country, because of the increase in visa creating stall divisions. The effort not only show- repeatedly and keep sending in receipts compared to rest thereby leading to a doubling fee. Even 40-50 dollars per the team of different stake- of the world. The growth RIGRPHVWLFWRXULVPLQÀYH head matter as far as decision cased their ethos but the belief of sustainability that holders to these markets.” rates of inbound tourists are years. Secondly, inbound making is concerned.” the brand propagates. However, would it be practical for international events to follow suit? While the dis- cussion around responsibility is always a focal point Do you want to... DWWKHVHIRUXPVDGRSWLQJLWFRXOGEHVOLJKWO\GLIÀFXOW WRITE A GUEST COLUMN With big corporate houses going fully environment OR friendly, we can probably look at something like SHARE NEWS FROM YOUR REGION eco-exhibitions in the future. Contact: [email protected]

Vikramajit Editorial Advertising Advertising (Mumbai) MUMBAI: Devika Jeet Suchita Saran TRAVTALK is a publication of DDP Publications Private Limited. information contained in this publication which is provided The publisher assumes no responsibility for returning any 504, Marine Chambers, 43, New Marine Lines, Chairman Nisha Verma Nikhil Jeet Branch Manager All information in TRAVTALK is derived from sources, which we for general use, and may not be appropriate for the read- material solicited or unsolicited nor is he responsible for Hazel Jain Director Opp. SNDT College, Mumbai - 400 020, India, Manas Dwivedi Harshal Ashar consider reliable and a sincere effort is made to report ac- ers’ particular circumstances. Contents of this publication material lost or damaged. Ph.: +91-22-22070129; 22070130 SanJeet Karishma Khanna General Manager General Manager curate information. It is passed on to our readers without are copyright. No part of TRAVTALK or any part of the contents Editor & Publisher Priyanshu Wankhade any responsibility on our part. The publisher regret that he thereof may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system This publication is not meant to be an endorsement of any MIDDLE EAST: Amrita Ghosh Arumita Gupta Manager Advertising Durga Das Publications Middle East (FZE) Senior Manager cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in or transmitted in any form without the permission of the VSHFLÀFSURGXFWRUVHUYLFHVRIIHUHG7KHSXEOLVKHUUHVHUYHV Asst. Desk Editor Susan Eapen Z1-02, PO Box: 9348, Saif Zone, Sharjah, UAE Peden Doma Bhutia Gaganpreet Kaur Sr. executive – Sales & marketing this publication, however caused. Similarly, opinions/views publication in writing. The same rule applies when there the right to refuse, withdraw, amend or otherwise deal with Manager Ph.:+971-6-5528954, Fax: +971-6-5528956 Managing Editor Vikas Mandotia / Nitin Kumar expressed by third parties in abstract and/or in interviews is a copyright or the article is taken from another publica- all advertisements without explanation. Advertisement Designers are not necessarily shared by TRAVTALK. However, we wish to tion. An exemption is hereby granted for the extracts used TRAVTALK is printed, published and edited by SanJeet on behalf advice our readers that one or more recognised authorities for the purpose of fair review, provided two copies of the All advertisements must comply with the Indian and Inter- of DDP Publications Pvt. Ltd., printed at Modest Print Pack Pvt. Design: Nityanand Misra Ltd., C-52, DDA Sheds Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-I, New Sudhir Mudgal may hold different views than those reported. Material used same publication are sent to us for our records. Publications national Advertisements Code. The publisher will not be Delhi-110020 and published at 72, Todarmal Road, in this publication is intended for information purpose only. reproducing material either in part or in whole, without per- liable for any damage or loss caused by delayed publication, Production: Anil Kharbanda New Delhi - 110 001 error or failure of an advertisement to appear. CIN: U22210DL2012PTC230432 Circulation: Ashok Rana 5HDGHUVDUHDGYLVHGWRVHHNVSHFLÀFDGYLFHEHIRUHDFWLQJRQ mission could face legal action. Ph.:+91-11-23344179

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 6 4/26/2019 10:28:42 AM STATES MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 TRAVTALK 7 calls out to trade In an endeavour to increase domestic footfalls, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) and Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, organised multi-city roadshows across the country to help travel trade promote the state in a new light.

Manas Dwivedi in terms of improved facilities in the state. “Hampi hardly Pushkar also briefed about Karnataka aggressively on Fam tours for buyers too. The and infrastructure. This is a KDGDQ\ÀYHVWDUKRWHOWKUHH Karnataka’s new promotional social media and other digital show will help tourism achieve arnataka Tourism has set right platform where we can years back. The city currently campaign. “Our new campaign marketing mediums,” he said. new heights in Karnataka and KDQREMHFWLYHWRFRQGXFW elaborate our offerings and KDVDWOHDVWVHYHQÀYHVWDU called ‘Script Your Adventure’ build relationships across the at least two roadshows every build better networking.” . In total, we have 1,500 is part of promoting the state To engage dialogue and busi- world,” he concluded. month, covering one Tier-I rooms in Hampi and Hosapete. globally with an eye-catching ness among stakeholders of the and one Tier-II city, informed Pushkar further informed that Now, Mysore also has a good TVC and print campaign. Our industry, Karnataka Tourism is Kumar Pushkar, Managing Karnataka has moved from QXPEHURIÀYHVWDUKRWHOV tagline says, One State, Many organising Karnataka Interna- Director, Karnataka State Tour- the ninth position to the third Hill stations like Coorg and Worlds, which truly suits our tional Travel Expo 2019 (KITE) ism Development Corporation position in last two years, as in Bengaluru from August 25- (KSTDC). Sharing details about per the India Tourism reports. 27. “The need was to conduct the roadshow in Delhi, he said, “Karnataka had welcomed Karnataka had welcomed 14 crore a travel show for showcasing “We would like to take forward 14 crore domestic tourists domestic tourists two years ago that Karnataka on the interna- all our partners in the tourism two years ago while the tional platform immediately. sector to different places and tourist footfall increased to 21 increased to 21 crores last year The two-day show will feature build a networking platform. crores last year. This growth B2B roadshow and meetings In Delhi, we had 25 trade in a period of two years in Madikeri now feature so many multiple diverse tourism between buyers and sellers, partners from Karnataka who phenomenal. Looking at the hotels besides plenty of resorts offerings and destinations. where 100 hosted international showcased their products, betterment of infrastructure, and homestays. Same is the With the new campaign, we and 250 hosted domestic while we welcomed almost the state has witnessed posi- scenario with areas like Hassan want to attract tourists to the buyers would be visiting 150 tour operators from the tive changes in the last couple and Chikmagalur. Things have state offering them freedom Bengaluru to network, city as buyers. I am sure it of years,” he explained. been changing in the state and to script their own adventure interact and do will help us in doing a better with better facilities, road infra- along with having mesmeris- business with all business. There has been a Many new hotels have come structure and air connectivity ing experiences during their our stakeholders. lot of development in the state XSDWPDMRUWRXULVWDWWUDFWLRQV are also improving.” stay. We are also promoting There will be post-

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 7 4/26/2019 10:28:43 AM 8 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 NEWS Avant Garde on a safari Fuelling medical tourism Contd from page 3

Great Plains Conservation has signed on Mumbai-based Medical tourism has been doing very well in Madurai, Chennai and Avant Garde Consulting as its sales ambassadors for Trichy. It is a completely different business model and I don’t think any tour operators or IATO members are involved in this business. This sec- its safari camps in Botswana and Kenya. tor is growing very fast with a growth of minimum 20 per cent. Every year one big hospital is opening in all cities with 200-300 beds that are always full. Most of the people coming for medical treatments are from TT Bureau met with a better partnership than the one we have found the Middle East and Bangladesh who opt for heart and kidney treat- outh African company Great in Great Plains Conserva- ments. India has a good reputation for medical care. Even Mysore and Plains Conservation has a tion, a company that is so Bengaluru are doing well in attracting medical tourism. This is aided by K Pandian, Chairman S the medical visa that the government introduced with recently. Tamil Nadu, Indian Associa- newly-minted agreement with passionate about preserving tion of Tour Operators Avant Garde Consulting, headed everything that Africa really up by Pooja Wadhwa and stands for, wildlife, nature Kunal Munshaw. They will be and its people. It also leads Medical tourism as a sector has moved on to the large corporates as responsible for targeted sales, us towards conscious luxury, WKH\ÀQGLWDOXFUDWLYHEXVLQHVV:KRHYHUFDQWDNHFDUHRILQWHUQDWLRQDO marketing and public relations tranquil travelling and giving insurance is in this business, including hospitals. The reality is that we activities in the Indian market. Pooja Wadhwa back to where we came from, Founding Partner as the industry started this business, but it’s not with us anymore and Dereck Joubert, CEO, Great Avant Garde something that the evolved the bigger corporates have taken over. In order to handle the basic travel Plains Conservation, says, “We traveller is seeking, in today’s arrangements, visa and on-ground facility, which is a minor part of the KDYHDOZD\VHQMR\HGWKHVKDUHG permanent sales presence in fast-paced world.” bigger billing they are eyeing, they hire a small agency to do the running values and ethos of our guests India. Avant Garde has a great Atul Rai around. It’s no more our domain. USA and the UK are also big markets, from India at our safari camps reputation in the Indian market Great Plains Conservation is Managing Director but India is pacing well in terms of pricing and matching the standards. in Botswana and Kenya. There and we feel that we share com- an African-focused conserva- Ananya Tours LVMXVWVRPHWKLQJVSHFLDODERXW mon values and sensitivities tion tourism focused organi- VKDULQJWKHMR\DQGDSSUHFLDWLRQ when it comes to conservation sation that creates conserva- Even though medical tourism is promoted by inbound tour opera- that we love about this busi- ethics, high-end tourism experi- tion and community initiatives tors, the numbers are not very impressive. The high cost of hotel stay ness. On opening newer safari ences and being respectful through a sustainable bouquet LVDIIHFWHGGXHWRKLJK*67XOWLPDWHO\DIIHFWLQJWKHRYHUDOOEHQHÀWRI offerings with the new camps in and caring to everyone and of small luxurious camps, cheaper medical facilities as compared to European countries. Moreo- Botswana and Kenya this year everything we touch.” lodges and safari experiences. ver, medical tourism is still scattered and not recognised in a complete and the totally new safari expe- Great Plains Conservation way. In states like Maharashtra, it is still expensive as compared to rience in Zimbabwe – the time Pooja Wadhwa, Founding currently runs and manages south India. Kerala for that matter is faring well in medical tourism as far came for us to further grow our Partner, Avant Garde, says, safari camps and lodges in as the Middle Eastern countries are concerned. Among medical relationship with these valued “Our foray into the African Botswana, Kenya tourism, the cosmetic sector has to be explored. This market is very Himanshu Agashiwala Managing Director guests and to bring on a more continent could not have been and Zimbabwe. well captured by Singapore, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Columbus Travels

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 8 4/26/2019 10:28:46 AM TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 9 4/26/2019 10:28:50 AM 10 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 HOTELS India to get its first Raffles has recently announced the advent of its new brand, Raffles in India in Jaipur and Udaipur. Jean-Michel Cassé, COO – India and South Asia, Accor, elaborates on the brand and how India might see some more Accor brands in the coming years.

Anupriya Bishnoi 8GDLSXU7KHÀUVWSURSHUW\ZLOO forward to expanding Accor’s epicentres for the highest Since Accor has a wealth open in Udaipur by mid-2020 globally renowned portfolio levels of luxury. of brands, each performs the industry or if it does at ith a stronger fo- with 101 rooms and suites. of luxury brands here. The differently and yields dif- all? According to Cassé, “In Wcus on luxury and The group will later venture DGGLWLRQRIWKHLFRQLF5DIÁHV Cassé further shares more on ferent profits owing to the our hotels, on an average, premium brands, Accor is into the Jaipur market by brand signals a new era for Accor’s expansion plans and dynamics of the market the we have one customer per DOOVHWWREULQJLWV5DIÁHV 2022 with 55 suites. Both our group.” its properties in the pipeline. hotel operates in. Cassé room who stays for one to brand to India in Jaipur and hotels will deliver a palatial He mentions, “Today we explains, “We look at the two nights. experience in an extraordinary 5DMDVWKDQLVXQLTXHIRULWV have 51 properties in India, term ‘profitability’ differ- setting along with the famous- rich heritage and tradition and one in Colombo, 52 in the ently because we are now In Airbnb, you will notice the ly discreet and personalised is famous for its spectacular region, taking the room count a pure asset-light company booking is always for more 5DIÁHVVHUYLFH palaces and forts. While Jaipur to 9,500 with the strong so when I am speaking of than one person, usually SURILWDELOLW\,DPMXVWORRNLQJ a family and for a longer period Speaking more on the brand We look at the term ‘profitability’ at the operations of the RIVWD\XVXDOO\IRUWKUHHWRÀYH and its suitability for the hotels. The reality in India is, people with a stay ranging from Indian market, Jean-Michel differently because we are now a pure it takes at least two years to WKUHHWRÀYHQLJKWV Cassé, says, “The signing of ramp up and be at par with WKH5DIÁHV-DLSXUDQG5DIÁHV asset-light company. It only entails looking at the market, and once it is at So, we are not playing in the Udaipur marks a historic mo- the operations of hotels for us par with the market, then we same league, it’s a different ment for Accor in India and normally go ahead of what offering. So, a customer can certainly for tourism forms part of the culturally rich presence in 22 cities. What the market does.” be an Accor guest today and in India. We are tourist circuit known as The we have in the pipeline today stay in an Airbnb tomorrow seeing increasing Golden Triangle comprising is 25 per cent of our current Also, with the quirks and because they both are aimed demand for Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, Udaipur inventory which will come in options on offer, the arrival at two different kind of luxury travel is a natural extension of this, WKHQH[WWKUHHWRÀYH\HDUV of Airbnb and the likes have experiences. It’s in fact in the country given its proximity to Jaipur. Hopefully, we will also see put the hotel industry on its good to see the hospitality and are looking Both cities are renowned as new brands in this pipeline.” toe. But how does it affect market evolving.”

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 10 4/26/2019 10:28:53 AM TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 11 4/26/2019 10:28:54 AM 12 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 AVIATION Future of Jet’s codeshares With around 20 codeshare partners from across the world, Jet Airways had the most widespread connection across India before it cancelled operations in April. The news disturbed passengers who already had bookings on the airline directly or via codeshares. TRAVTALK spoke to the codeshare partners of the airline on the crisis.

TT Bureau Jet Airways had codeshared We continue to work with Jet with around 20 airlines and management, lenders and key pril 17, 2019, turned out to was connecting their passen- stakeholders in the context of Abe a black day for Indian gers to different parts of the the lender-managed effort to aviation when Jet Airways country. Now, what happens to restructure the company.” announced cancellation of all passengers who have booked LWVÁLJKWVDQGFHDVHGDOORSHUD- on these airlines, with Jet Air France tions due to a lack of funding. Airways being grounded? Air France came to the rescue The airline was struggling to of its passengers, saying, stay in business for a couple Etihad “At this stage, Air France and RIPRQWKVEHIRUHÀQDOO\SXOOLQJ $PDMRULQYHVWRULQWKH KLM still honour custom- the plug, though temporarily. A airline and a big shareholder, ers booked on Air France statement from the airline read, Etihad Airways pulled out DQG./0ÁLJKWVXQGHUD-HW Virgin Atlantic Aeromexico to them. We are working to get “Since no emergency funding of the deal with Jet Airways Airways code and holding a Virgin Atlantic echoed the Airlines like Aeromexico also them to their destination. We from the lenders or any other during the recent turmoil. Jet Airways ticket.” sentiment, saying, “As with came forward with their reac- are offering them the necessary source is forthcoming, the On the crisis, the airline’s many airlines, we operate a tion for the situation, and com- support and we are relocating airline will not be able to pay spokesperson commented, Delta Air Lines codeshare agreement mented, “We are aware of the WKHPLQRWKHUÁLJKWVZLWKKHOS for fuel or other critical services “Following the announcement Delta Air Lines, in its state- with Jet. Any customers situation of Jet Airways and we of other SkyTeam partners.” to keep the operations going.” of Jet Airways’ suspension of ment, commented, “Delta is who have booked directly are deeply sorry of what they Currently, the airline is seeking operations, Etihad continues assisting Delta customers with Virgin Atlantic should are currently facing. Regarding Fiji Airways a private investor to buy 75 per to re-accommodate and ERRNHGRQ-HW$LUZD\VÁLJKWV check our website www. our codeshare, Aeromexico is Another codeshare partner of cent of the company to restart support affected guests. Our to support their re-accom- virginatlantic.com for the taking actions to reduce the -HW$LUZD\VZDV)LML$LUZD\V operations. “Jet Airways hopes teams are assisting guests modation via alternative travel latest advice. All other impact on our customers. For- which said that they have to to bring the ‘Joy of Flying’ with their travel arrangements options. We apologise for any customers on Jet operated tunately, the number of affected temporarily stopped back to guests as soon as pos- and rebooking those affected inconvenience caused to Delta ÁLJKWVVKRXOGFRQWDFW passengers is minimal, and codeshare bookings with sible,” claimed the statement. RQWRWKHQH[WDYDLODEOHÁLJKWV customers impacted by Jet.” them directly.” we have already reached out -HW$LUZD\VÁLJKWV

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 12 4/26/2019 10:28:56 AM AGENTS MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 TRAVTALK 13 Now book Canada, Alaska tours Mazda Travel has partnered with APT to offer its award-winning Canada and Alaska tours and cruise programmes exclusively to Indian agents.

TT Bureau porterage, port charges, etc. before the crowds arrive.” Mountaineer (upgrades avail- are included in the commis- The signature experiences APT offers able). APT’s Australia inbound azda Travel has partnered sionable price. are special like early access to Victoria’s Mazda Travel will also offer products such as Kimberley Mwith Australia-head- Travelmarvel Canada and Wilderness Adventures and quartered APT to offer their Explaining why Mazda Travel Butchart Gardens before the crowds arrive Alaska touring products. Outback Wilderness Adven- Canada and Alaska tour and chose to partner with APT, Travelmarvel is a value brand tures can also be booked with cruise programmes exclu- Shastri says, “I spend a lot of their tour. Without a doubt, the Their signature experiences are offering all the highlights Mazda Travel along with a sively to Indian travel agents. time in Canada and I often ask APT guests were always the also special, like early access of the region and Silver host of other APT and Travel- Mernoz Shastri, Director, WRXULVWVKRZWKH\DUHHQMR\LQJ KDSSLHVWDQGPRVWVDWLVÀHG to Victoria’s Butchart Gardens Leaf service on the Rocky marvel global destinations. Mazda Travel, says, “We are well-known as the India GSA for the Rocky Mountaineer. It was only logical that we part- ner with APT that has over 90 years of history as Australia’s largest and most successful tour operator. Their Canada and Alaska tours make Mazda Travel a one-stop shop for Indian agents wanting to offer their clients the trip of a lifetime to this beautiful part of the world.”

Mernoz Shastri Director Mazda Travel

APT offers unique inclu- sions in their fully-inclusive programmes that include ‘Freedom of Choice’ dining where guests are free to choose when, where and who they dine with from multi- choice menus in a variety of restaurants. ‘Freedom of Choice’ sightseeing allows them to select the activity that suits their interest, along with guaranteed view rooms at Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, luxurious Wi-Fi-equipped coaches and top tour directors.

Another feature of the APT range is the inclusion of a seven-night Inside Passage Cruise on Holland America Line or Princess Cruise ships. Craig James, Sales Manager, APT, says, “We always have the cruise at the end of the land tour. It’s a highlight and it LVZRQGHUIXOWRHQMR\WKHODQG tour but still have the cruise to look forward to.” APT tours have no hidden costs or op- tional excursions. All tipping, round-trip airport transfers,

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 13 4/26/2019 10:28:58 AM 14 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 HOTELS & SAMHI: Winning team It’s tough to find the right partner, but when you do, miracles can happen! Rajit Sukumaran, Chief Development Officer—EMEAA, InterContinental Hotels Group, talks about the company’s successful partnership with SAMHI to re-launch its Express brand.

Hazel Jain itself in 2017. The way they not only managed to open them You can excel if you have the right partner, increase last year, making it 14 hotels at one go! approached us was to say that but also open them on budget. one of our best years. QHow have you man- they wanted to use it as a way ,QVRPHFDVHVOLNHWKHÀUVW bringing in the right asset, in the right aged to stay on such an to re-launch the Holiday Inn one we opened in Gurgaon six locations and with the right collaborators Does that mean IHG ambitious target? Express brand. It was an inter- months ago is operating well Qwill not look at other We had been trying to collabo- esting proposition! There were above expectations. Six months brands for the India rate with SAMHI for some time obviously some challenges but in and we are already seeing 21 Are you looking for Why do you have so market? and the opportunity presented the key drivers working for us per cent above the forecasted Qother similar collabo- Qmuch focus on the Not at all. We currently have were great locations and RevPAR we thought we will rations in India? Holiday Inn brand? four brands present in India – a great partner. achieve within the year! ,QWKHODVWÀYH\HDUV,+* India is largely a domestic InterContinental, , has grown by 160 per cent! player. So you want to be able Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn This partnership is probably the So the partnership We now have close to 40 to go to the market and cater Express and we are in active largest portfolio transaction of Qmix was right. What is operational hotels and another to that domestic guest and not talks to bring in more brands. that nature for a hotel manage- the status so far? 40 under construction across MXVWORRNDWLQWHUQDWLRQDOWRXU- ,WLVMXVWDERXWÀQGLQJWKHULJKW ment company – to do 14 It shows what you can do if India. Our growth drivers are ists. That’s why we recognised partner at the right time. In fact, hotels and 2,000 rooms in one you have the right partner, the Holiday Inn brand family, early on that our growth we are in active discussions to go. In India, that was almost bringing in the right asset, in which accounts for probably strategy should be from the close deals for InterContinent- probably the largest one an- the right locations and with the 70-80 per cent of our growth Holiday Inn brand of family, als and Crowne Plazas in India. nounced so far. We signed the right collaborators. 10 hotels in India. Almost 70 per cent of which is in the mid and upper- We are also looking at bringing deal in 2017 and we opened are operational as of now. The the hotels in the pipeline are mid scale and is perfect for the our Kimpton brand into India. WKHÀUVWKRWHOVE\WKHHQG others are in various stages of under the Holiday Inn brand domestic market. It also allows We are also looking at of 2018. Something that was construction since some were family and 80 per cent of the you to have lower investment opportunities in the extended- unheard of. But we man- EURZQÀHOGSURMHFWV6RLWZLOO properties under construction costs. We managed to achieve stay area in India for our aged to pull it off and we take another year and a half. are under this same family. close to 10 per cent RevPAR brand.

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 14 4/26/2019 10:29:00 AM TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 15 4/26/2019 10:29:02 AM 16 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 STATES Model for sustainable tourism Kerala Tourism’s Responsible Tourism Mission is working towards promoting sustainability in tourism through various mediums—online as well as by working with hotels and other tourism products locally—besides encouraging community participation.

TT Bureau Mission, which is under direct through that process. At the “We have different experiential RT Mission is also promoting control of Director Tourism,” same time, we have an online tour packages. Nowadays, peo- environment-friendly products. he Responsible Tourism he shared. human resource directory, ple want to extract more from “We are trying to remove T(RT) Mission for Kerala which allows a hotelier to the destinations. This is not plastic bottles, plastic straws Tourism started in 2018, Speaking about the initiatives, select local people based on the time for sightseeing pack- and bottled water from hotels. reveals Rupeshkumar K, Rupeshkumar explained, “We their capacity. This means ages. We are trying to create a We are also trying to imple- State Responsible Tourism are trying to develop three that one can get electrician, village-like experience package ment sustainable practices in Mission Coordinator, Depart- W\SHVRIDFWLYLWLHV³PDMRULW\ plumber, artisan, etc from the ZKHUHZHZLOOWU\WRÀQGRXW destinations for waste man- ment of Tourism, Govt of of them being for economic locality on that portal. There is community-based tourism agement,” he shared. Kerala. “Even before starting responsibility, socio-cultural responsible tourism, we faced responsibility and environ- Rupeshkumar K Rupeshkumar insisted that State Responsible Tourism Mission Coordinator, We have local production, procurement agitations and struggles from ment responsibility. As part of Department of Tourism, Govt of Kerala they are reaching out to both the local community—ago- this initiative, we have local and supply mechanism with the hotels and international and domestic QLVWXQHWKLFDODQGXQVFLHQWLÀF production, procurement and with the support of hotels and tourists. “Last year, we got development of tourism. We supply mechanism with the resorts. During 2018, we cre- resorts, which means one can supply their around 1 lakh tourists for decided to promote respon- hotels and resorts, which ated ` 7.99 crores in selected local products to these properties experiential tour packages. Out sible tourism in the selected means one can supply their seven destinations. At the of them, 64,000 people were four destinations initially, and local products to these prop- same time, we have three also a responsible art and cul- products from the locality. We LQWHUQDWLRQDO2XUPDMRUVRXUFH later added three more des- erties. If a destination creates RQOLQHSODWIRUPV7KHÀUVW tural forum, under which over will train the local community, markets include the UK, USA, tinations during the second money from tourism, the platform is for product sales, 10,000 artists are directly and later convert it into tourism Spain, Germany and France. phase started in 2011. This locals would get the money which allows one to purchase linked with tourism industry products to create packages. With this mission, we want means that around July 2017, from the tourism industry. all types of souvenirs and with their art forms.” From those packages, people to convey that we can create we initiated seven destinations Therefore, we are trying to handicrafts from the local will get money. At the same wonders in tourism with the for responsible tourism. Now, involve the local community artisans. One can also sell Rupeshkumar claimed that the time, we have cuisine, support of local community in August 2017, we started to production procurement products like vegetables, food agency also has a booking plat- storytelling and cultural whilst walkinh hand in hand the Responsible Tourism and purchase mechanism items and everything else form for a village experience. experiences,” he said. with them,” he concluded.

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 16 4/26/2019 10:29:04 AM TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 17 4/26/2019 10:29:08 AM 18 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 India as a summer destination The winners of India Travel Awards – South list out both the popular and the unconventional tourist spots to visit during summer whilst reiterating the country’s significance as a year-round destination.

Best Tour Operator- Inbound Best MiCE Destination Best Corporate Hotel Best Luxury Hotel Cholan Tours Clarks Exotica Convention Resort The Oterra Park Chennai & Spa According to Pandian Kumaraval, Director, Raghu Nair, General Manager, The For Vishal Mehra, General Manager, Park &KRODQ7RXUV,QGLDLVGHÀQLWHO\DPRQWK M Balaji, CEO, Clarks Exotica Convention Oterra feels that hotels must work on seasonal Hyatt Chennai, hill stations across all states destination. “We have everything here com- Resort & Spa, said that lesser known places packages to cater to the needs of discerning boast of pleasant climate throughout the year, pared to other places in the world. We have like Anegundi, smaller temples with historic travellers. He explained, “To promote India as a and with the summer, most of these places serene beaches throughout India that can be importance in and around Karnataka espe- summer destination, we must focus on cultural become the perfect getaways from the heat and experienced during summers. Prices work out cially near Mangalore, Coorg, Malnad, etc, festivals and pleasant weather in the colder clamour of urban tourist spots. “From scenic comparatively cheaper during summer season need to be promoted. “The government needs regions that are sure to lure tourists wanting to hill stations to sunny beaches, from heritage which is an added advantage to promote India to focus not only at showcasing a destination HQMR\VHDVRQDOVSHFLDOWLHVRIWKHUHJLRQ)URP VLWHVLQXUEDQGHVWLQDWLRQVWRWKHOXVKÁRUDRI during summer. Apart from Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, but also in creating an experience through hill stations to beaches to monuments to back- Himalayas, Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats – other destinations haven’t been showcased local art forms or other musical and cultural waters to pilgrimage sites and wildlife, India choices for travellers can truly be found at each properly,” he said. shows,” he mentioned. offers a bounty of destinations travellers.” and every corner of India,” he said.

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 18 4/26/2019 10:29:14 AM NTO May 1st Fortnight issue 2019 T ravTalk 19 Provence catches Indian fancy The region, new to the Indian outbound, is leveraging Paris’ popularity to attract attention and eventually footfalls through its gastronomy, culture and diverse topography.

Hazel Jain from Provence diverse offerings in terms of The biggest international every year. “Provence Sheetal Munshaw, Director due to the different gastronomy, topography with source markets for Pro- also has a lot of – India, Atout France, says, kind of experiences his year’s Goût de France quaint villages, mountains vence right now is the USA, vegetarian food options “While Paris is still the undis- France offers. There is T(Good France) 2019 has and the sea. Having met a lot Canada, and Korea, Japan since it is an agricultural puted leader, Rhone-Alpes, also a Telugu film that is being chosen Provence as the of Indian buyers at this and China in Asia. Its big- territory and vegetarian food Occitanie, and Northern shot in the South of France. featured destination that will year’s Rendezvous en gest city of Marseilles is a way of life here,” she France are picking up now India is a priority market and be showcased at the various France, I understand that also benefits from cruise adds clarifying a query with lots of growth in the we have not seen a slump in events in France and in India Indians want high-end tourism welcoming almost about food options available FIT numbers. There is numbers in the last through this platform. And luxury products.” two million passengers for Indians. also a larger night share five years.” about time too that locations other than Paris and South of France get some much- deserved attention from the Indian audience. While Provence is also in the south, it is in the south-east and so therefore gets ignored by the Indian outbound.

Isabelle Bremond, Director General, Provence Tourism, says, “We get very little traf-

Isabelle Bremond Director General Provence Tourism fic from India – maybe about two per cent of the total number that visits France. For now, we are benefitting from Paris’ popularity. We see huge potential in the India market and it is one of the international markets we want to develop and do more work here. The outbound numbers from India are huge and we would like to come to India to tap this. We are definitely preparing a suitable strategy for this.”

The tourism board has an online programme but it is only for its local vendors for them to understand the international markets. Bremond adds, “We have

Did you KNOW 1 in 5 new jobs were created by travel and tourism over the last five years, as per a latest annual research by World Travel & Tourism Council 20 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 EXHIBITIONS Sustainable take on exhibitions At a time when exhibitions are getting bigger and grander, Très 2019 held at Andaz Delhi came as a breath of fresh air, bringing together around 50 hotels and 150 tour operators in settings that reflect sustainability at every step, right from décor to concept. Perhaps a wise model to follow for many shows!

Nisha Verma ences, and we have another The event this year was Even in terms of décor, the set of people who are perhaps much bigger not only in event followed sustainability oving beyond RARE, Très interested in these experi- terms of exhibitors but also to the core—a lesson for M2019 has certainly cre- ences but don’t know where in participation, shared many other exhibitions with ated a niche for itself in terms WRÀQGWKHP6LQFHWKHVH 9LMD\PRKDQ´%HVLGHVSUH grand stalls using flex and of offerings as well as ethos. A small properties and individual scheduled appointments, we plastic in abundance. “Unlike different entity altogether, Très stand-alone properties don’t also had around six FTOs last year, this year was held 2019 brought together a total have the wherewithal to be from different countries. One indoors and we liked the flow of 50 hotels under one roof, all part of all the shows, we have of the biggest manifestations of the studios whilst getting following the same philoso- managed to get these people of our success lies in having constant light in the space. phy and principal. Sowmya to meet each other. Très is the FTOs who fly all the way by We used glass bottles and Vijaymohan, Founder-Partner, celebration of that.” Sowmya Vijaymohan Shoba Mohan paying their own fare without recycled cardboards, and Très, shared the idea behind Founder-Partner Partner being hosted by anyone. We tried to do away with plastic Très Très the event, saying, “When I Tracing the origin of the idea, did host their stay but com- as much as possible. Even MRLQHG5$5(,QGLD,IHOWWKH Shoba Mohan, Partner, Très, ing all the way from the UK, for the lanyards, we used need to have a large format UHYHDOHGWKDWLWZDV9LMD\PR- but Sowmya really powered it. two-day exhibition had around Singapore, Germany, France paper and a traditional ‘mauli’ for not only the RARE hotel han’s larger idea that has been /DVW\HDUZDVWKHÀUVWVWHSLQ 50 per cent RARE properties or Sydney, is in fact a great instead of plastic ribbons. partners but also those who in conceptualisation for the that direction which has now while the non-RARE hotels expression of interest. In Through our years together, were categorised under the last three years. “The agenda evolved to become a much ZHUHDJDLQIURPWKHÀHOGRI the evening, we opened the Soumya and I have learnt concept of small individually- was to organise an event that’s larger perspective,” intimate boutique, concept exhibition to larger number a lot and we know what’s owned properties specialising not restricted to RARE and its she shared. and experience-led properties of people, whilst having Très working. Of course, the tour in sustainability. With Très partners only but also other in the Indian subcontinent. So Discover sessions meant operator fraternity has 2019, we are trying to facilitate properties and people who 9LMD\PRKDQDGGHG´$OOWKH there were many people com- to discover trends, discuss been a big support, and this one set of people who put love to work with RARE. It’s 50 properties showcasing at ing from Nepal, Bhutan and Sri ideas and get insights into a there is no doubt about it,” out these beautiful experi- been ideated for a long time Très was by invite only. The Lanka too.” destination with an expert.” stressed Mohan.

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 20 4/26/2019 10:29:18 AM TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 21 4/26/2019 10:29:20 AM 22 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 QUICKBYTES Visa fee hike deters Indian inbound The marked increase in visa charges for visiting India has not gone down well with tourists across the world as well as inbound agents who claim that business has been affected whilst also expressing the impossibility of achieving the government’s target of 20 million tourists by 2020.

TT Bureau It is harsh on visitors for the Inbound travel to India is facing government to be asking for a visa multiple challenges in terms of the The increase in visa fee has impacted fee. Even if it is looking to make some cost of travel as compared to other business to India from across the world, money out of it, the visa fee shouldn’t neighbouring countries with taxes on especially from the Southeast Asian be more than 25 dollars. The hike does accommodation going up to 28 per countries. We, as IATO, have taken up impact the business as a tourist, while cent. The hike in the visa fee will only the matter with both Ministry of Tourism making a booking, would not choose add to their woes, thereby making India over destinations like Turkey or India an unattractive destination to and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Dipak Deva Suresh Periwal Last year in December, we were called Managing Director Egypt, because of the high visa fee Managing Director consider. The recent turbulence in the Clubside Tours and Travels for a meeting by Secretary Home, MHA. Travel Corporation (India) here. In fact, there has been a decline aviation sector is terrible news for Rajiv Mehra in the number of tourists visiting Goa Vice President Principally, it was agreed that the visa tourism. The reduction in the number Indian Association of Tour fee should be reduced and there shoud this year due to the high visa fee. If we need to increase inbound of seats is making travel to India very expensive. We totally Operators be no visa fee at all during the summer growth, the visa fee needs to be reduced. Multiple representations support IATO in its demand for a reduction in the fee. This is a months. I think it should be implemented after the new government are being made by trade associations to the government urging vital step to be able to attract a larger number of tourists and takes over, and this is set to certainly boost inbound tourism. them to reconsider and lower the visa fees. make India an attractive destination to travel to.

Visa fee hike is always a deterrent The visa fee for India ranges The hike in visa fee has always for people coming to India. If the visa between $70-80 approximately with an desisted travellers. India in comparison fee is between $70-80 for India, it increase in validity from 90 days to a to other countries has a long list of doesn’t look like inviting tourists as year. An increase of $30 each on aver- categories of travellers for this. And compared to other South Asian destina- age on visa for a family of four would interestingly, the rates are exorbitant in tions. India is an attractive destination mean an increase of around $120 in each category (including Medical Visa for international travellers for its herit- the cost of travelling to the country. Attendant category). Firstly, we should age and culture. Hence, to encourage Ravi Gosain This is at a time when our neighbouring Rajnish Kaistha know our USP – i.e. tourism, medical, Sunil B Satyawakta tourists to come to India, the visa fee Treasurer, Indian Associa- destinations like Thailand and Indonesia Joint Secretary, Indian conferences, MiCE. If at all we wish to Chairman—Uttar Pradesh & tion of Tour Operators Association of Tour Operators Uttarakhand Chapter, Travel needs to be in check. MOT recently are even offering free visa-on-arrival increase the numbers into our country, Agents Association of India invited representatives from various associations to get their during their lean periods to attract tour- we should be more liberal about the visa feedback on visa fee hike. IATO proposed a reduction in the fee to ists around the year. To attract tourists from around the world, fees we charge. Countries all over have realised that charging a make India a competitive destination. We also suggested that in MOT has to work out a gimmick with regards to the visa. Offering fee for visa to the tourist discourages them as it adds to his initial low season, there should be no visa fee to encourage tourists to IUHHYLVDLQOHDQVHDVRQZRXOGEHQHÀWDVKRWHOVWUDQVSRUWHUVDV tour cost. We need to understand that every visitor adds more to YLVLW,QGLDGXULQJVXPPHUVMXVWOLNHZKDW7KDLODQGKDGGRQH well as guides are comparatively free during summers. the economy by his or her spends when in the country.

The recent hike in the visa fees Increasing the visa fee to enter India Visa fee is not a bigger issue but is not entirely counterproductive as long the security of the traveller visiting India might have an adverse effect on the tourism industry as people will be as the facilities become seamless and is. There has been a lot of negative apprehensive in choosing India as a quicker. Many of my guests complain preaching in the outside world that India destination because of the additional of long waiting hours for getting the is unsafe. We have spent a huge budget cost supplement. Many countries are visa stamped at many Indian airports on improving our goodwill throughout exempting visa fees for tourists to lure as there are long queues at arrival the globe. Thailand waived off the visa them into visiting the respective coun- terminals. Hence, more visa process- Deepak Gupta fee and witnessed a rapid hike in the Sandipan Ghosh Hector D’souza Chairman—Sikkim & North General Secretary, Eastern tries. Case in point is Thailand which Director ing counters are needed with clear Bengal Chapter, Indian As- number of tourists travelling to the Himalaya Travel and Tour L’Orient instructions to carry a copy of sociation of Tour Operators Operators’ Association KDVVHHQDVLJQLÀFDQWULVHLQWKHLQÁRZ country. The government needs to take of inbound tourists and has resulted in a the visa approval letter prior to board- immediate steps or provide lucrative options in terms of visa. A VLJQLÀFDQWLQFUHDVHRIFDVKLQÁRZDQGWRXULVPJURZWK/RRNLQJ LQJDÁLJKWWR,QGLDLQRUGHUWRUHGXFHSURFHVVLQJDQGZDLWLQJ country like Bhutan marks friendship with Japan by reducing the at the current scenario, steps are being taken by leading trade time at the airport. The effect for individual tourists travelling as royalty fee for tourists every year that results in huge number of associations like IATO to coax the government into reviewing the FITs is minimal as compared to MiCE and group travel which is Japanese travelling to Bhutan. current policy. price-sensitive. Grounded: Trade voices concern over Jet crisis It is very unfair of the agents who have booked tickets on Jet Airways, and in Jet Airways has been suspended from the IATA Settlement Systems this situation, there is a need to protect the customers’ rights. Since travel agents following the airline’s announcement of the temporary suspension of work as intermediates for a very small fee, their role is to advise customers. One ÁLJKWRSHUDWLRQV-HW$LUZD\VKDGEHHQSDUWLFLSDWLQJLQRYHU%LOOLQJDQG cannot put an airline off air suddenly. The government and the DGCA must wake Settlement Plan (BSP) and 19 Cargo Accounts Settlement Systems (CASS) up. The lenders at this time should have put the customers’ interest forward. around the world. Passengers who purchased Jet Airways tickets through There is a need to regulate the airlines and address the issues at hand. TAAI has IATA accredited travel agents are advised to submit their refund through the written to IATA to stop all payments to Jet Airways and has asked IATA IATA accredited travel agent they bought their tickets from, as soon as to work with agents to get customers’ refunds. I have written to possible. The travel agent will then liaise with IATA and Jet Airways to 0DGULG6LQJDSRUHDQG,QGLDRIÀFHRI,$7$RQWKHLVVXH process the refund. Sunil Kumar Albert Tjoeng President, TAAI & Vice Chairman, FAITH $VVLVWDQW'LUHFWRU&RUSRUDWH&RPPXQLFDWLRQV³$VLD3DFLÀF International Air Transport Association

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 22 4/26/2019 10:29:24 AM TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 23 4/26/2019 10:29:26 AM 24 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 HOTELS ‘India is millennial-driven’ Having taken over the leadership position at one of the top hotel groups worldwide just four months ago, Zubin Saxena, MD and VP Operations—South Asia, , has no time to settle in, he is already steering the team to launch its sixth brand in India.

TT Bureau a 350-room in make for a great location. right location and partner for side any time soon. Saxena ex- to outbound Indian guests. And Noida which will open in four to this, we will announce it,” plains this and says, “India has Saxena is overseeing e has been with the hotel ÀYH\HDUVµKHVD\V Close on its heels is another Saxena reveals. always managed to exceed this strategy. Hgroup since February 2018. brand of Radisson that is get- supply growth. You can see Zubin Saxena, Managing Direc- The Radisson Red brand caters ting ready to announce its Focus on tier cities continues that trend over the last several tor and Vice President Opera- to the millennial customer debut in India – Radisson However, Radisson’s focus years. I see that trend continu- tions—South Asia, Radisson which is one of the fastest- Collection, which is in the on tiered cities will continue. ing this year as well. Demand Hotel Group, was appointed in growing segments in India. luxury space above Radisson Replying to a question as to will continue to outpace supply his new role only in December Why Mohali? “Located near Blu. “We would love to have which brand is performing in the next few years. In the 2018. He is fortunate to be at an IT Park, this hotel is being the Radisson Collection brand well in India, Saxena says, “All immediate future, we should this position at such an interest- ÀYHEUDQGVLQ,QGLDDUHGRLQJ see an increase in occupancy LQJMXQFWXUHIRUWKHJURXSDQG well. We were 1.2 per cent rates as well as ARRs.” he voices it. “This is a very The 160-room Radisson Red Mohali, that above RevPAR in India. India H[FLWLQJSRLQWLQP\MRXUQH\ is in its advanced stages of construction, will is certainly growing in Tier II, Initiatives We are excited about Radisson III locations and almost 50 per The group recently launched a Red Mohali, which is our new be launched in the next 12 months cent of our pipeline is coming new programme in South Asia lifestyle, select service brand. up in these locations. So, dif- called a ‘Hotel Center of Excel- It will be a 160-room property developed along with Bestech. DVDSDODFHLQ5DMDVWKDQRUD ferent segments are growing in lence’ – a workshop for Gen- and is currently in the advanced The average age of India today high-end resort in Goa, or even different locations. Our focus eral Managers in India. The stages of construction. We is 29 years who take about 15 a city hotel in Bengaluru with will be on increasing our aver- group is also rolling out are looking to launch it in the vacations per year. This is the a large convention centre. We age rate growth through robust seven new global brand next 12 months. This will be segment we want to target with see the brand being successful revenue management.” programmes including WKHÀUVW5DGLVVRQ5HGLQWKH Red,” Saxena explains. This in various formats across Tier Rad Family, Radisson $VLD3DFLÀFUHJLRQDQGLQ,QGLD means any city which has a lot I, II markets as well as resort 7KHÀJKWEHWZHHQURRPVXSSO\ Meetings and Welcome We have also recently signed of young, corporate base would locations. Once we have the and ARRs is not likely to sub- India, which is dedicated Insight into Accor’s products Over 1,400 attendees interacted with Accor representatives from hotels and resorts in India and abroad at Accor Showcase this year. The event, held in Mumbai and Delhi, offered insights to discover accommodation trends and explore the latest and newest Accor hotels and resorts from around the world. It concluded with an entertainment packed evening over a selection of the finest food and beverage offerings.

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 24 4/26/2019 10:29:32 AM TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 25 4/26/2019 10:29:35 AM 26 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 TECHNOLOGY Tech helps drive biz value Enabling information technology to bring in business value to its clients, TI Infotech is looking to focus on promoting its existing products like Travel Assist and Travel Cloud Suites as well as new products like Lakshya CRM, CSBT, mobile apps and car rental booking system.

Manas Dwivedi industry, she says, “As a CMMI company is looking for bringing soon are big data, cloud diverse needs of OTAs, travel Level 3 appraised company, in the unique and personalised technology, chatbots, person- agencies and travel management s a premier travel technol- we follow a ‘Total Solution experiences to each traveller. alisation and voice activated companies. An all-in-one suite Aogy company with over Approach’. This further This gives rise to tools such devices,” she further adds. to automate the travel business 14 years of rich experience, TI results in streamlined busi- as mobile apps, video-related ranging from content acquisition Infotech has basket of solutions QHVVSURFHVVHVDQGHIÀFLHQW content, multi-lingual voice Travel Assist and Travel Cloud to the complete distribution for the travel domain. Its two ZRUNÁRZWRSURYLGHLPSURYHG search options and data- Suite have been pioneers in process, it easily connects with signature products—Travel As- customer satisfaction.” driven personalisation.” providing travel tech solutions multiple GDS and third-party sist and Travel Cloud Suite have to the industry. Travel Assist is a suppliers to fetch worldwide transformed the use of travel Taking a note on the growing “Nowadays, the industry is comprehensive tour manage- content for different channels like technology in India. Meenu Meenu Sachdeva technological needs, demands focusing on smart tech trends ment software that enables ÁLJKWVKRWHOVDQGSDFNDJHV Managing Director Sachdeva, Managing Director, TI Infotech of Indian travellers and chang- to provide unique travelling DQRUJDQLVDWLRQWRHIÀFLHQWO\ TI Infotech says that the com- manage the complete tour cycle pany’s existing products have Similarly, car rental book- The recent additions in our product list IURPSURGXFWSODQQLQJWRSURÀW- The observed a version upgrade ing engine is designed for able operations to accounting Provence region, that are in line with some of the travel agents and companies are Lakshya CRM, a car rental booking to MIS suite for all levels of located in south-eastern latest travel technology trends. WRPDQDJHWKHLUFDUÁHHW2XU the business. This application France, includes Provence, Corporate Travel Management engine and corporate self booking tool enables a tour company to man- Alpes and Côte d'Azur. “The recent additions in our Solutions (CSBT) is made to age operations of all business Among the 28 cities product list are Lakshya CRM, simplify the complex travelling ing trends, Sachdeva says that experience to customers. segments - FIT, GIT, series, ad a car rental booking engine and process for corporate clients,” today’s travellers are extremely Some of these updates are rich hoc, charters, MiCE and excur- in the region, the corporate self booking tool. says Sachdeva. tech savvy as they go online for NDC content, rise of millennial sion management. Travel Cloud largest city is It is a cloud-based customer their travel-related search and travellers, use of apps and user- Suite is a state-of-the-art internet Marseille relationship management tool Terming these products very bookings. “This is the reason generated content. Most talked booking engine and a travel to automate the sales process. EHQHÀFLDOIRUWKHWUDYHOWUDGH every travel management advancements to be adopted technology platform catering to THINk Up, close & personal with members The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) recently conducted a Members Meet in Ahmedabad. A team from Accor delivered a presentation showcasing the brand’s product portfolio and loyalty programmes. Close to 50 agents, including members, as well as prospective members attended the event.

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 26 4/26/2019 10:29:38 AM AVIATION MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 TRAVTALK 27 takes the ‘Spice’ route Jazeera Airways has partnered with SpiceJet to allow agents to issue tickets to connect seamlessly on a single ticket. It will also launch a direct, non-stop service from Kuwait to London Gatwick this summer.

Hazel Jain Kochi and Mumbai. To this, he When asked if the airline would Bengaluru, Chennai, Jaipur, added that the airline is seeing Our integration with SpiceJet will allow ask for more routes whenever Amritsar and even Lucknow.” ow-cost carrier head- current seat factors of up to passengers on its network to connect possible, he said, “We would The airline will be launching Lquartered in Kuwait, 85-90 per cent, the lowest immediately increase serv- direct, non-stop, low-cost Jazeera Airways, is engaging being 86 per cent out of India. seamlessly to ours with one ticket ices into India. I can foresee service from Kuwait to London with like-minded low-cost “We would love to add more Jazeera Airways being inter- Gatwick this summer. “This carriers across countries to capacity to New Delhi but countries which right now are There is more demand than ested to operate services to at ZLOOEHWKHÀUVWORZFRVWDLUOLQH allow seamless travel to its we are restricted by bilateral maxed out to 10K seats and supply which calls for a more least 10 more cities like Trivan- service connecting the GCC to passengers. Sharing this is agreements between the two is being utilised 100 per cent. liberal approach,” he added. drum, Kochi, Calicut, Kannur, the UK,” he said. Rohit Ramachandran, CEO, Jazeera Airways, who was in Mumbai recently to meet the airlines’ stakeholders during a networking evening and thank them for their support. He said, “Instead of investing in expensive systems as legacy carriers do, we are engaging directly with other like-minded low-cost carriers around the

Rohit Ramachandran &KLHI([HFXWLYH2IÀFHU Jazeera Airways

world. In India, we are working on an integration with SpiceJet which will allow passengers on its network to connect seamlessly to ours with one ticket without going through the complicated process of code-sharing and interlining in the traditional sense that the full-service carriers do.”

This means that the travel agents would be able to seam- lessly issue tickets on one document from SpiceJet onto the Jazeera Airways’ network. He added that the airline is looking to work out similar relationships out of London Gatwick. For instance, it is working on one with Norwe- gian in Norway which in theory would allow passengers to go from New Delhi to Los Angeles all on low-cost carriers on one ticket. “This was not possible in the past. This will be announced soon,” Ramachandran revealed.

7KHDLUOLQHFXUUHQWO\ÁLHVÀYH routes in India, the latest one being New Delhi started in December 2018. The others are Hyderabad, Ahmedabad,

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 27 4/26/2019 10:29:40 AM 28 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 STATISTICS Indians spend $75-150/day per room More than 50 per cent of Indian travellers budgeted USD75-150 per room per night for leisure travel, reports a study by CAPA India and Expedia titled ‘The Inflection Point for Indian Outbound Travel’. Indian travellers’ average spend per day per room on overseas holidays Hotels have been the standard option for the Indian traveller in the past, however, travellers are now exploring other accommodation options, with 38% of survey respondents having rented a villa or apartment while travelling overseas. This has been made more accessible by online platforms such as Airbnb and others, which offer homestays. Traditionally at short-haul destinations, Indian travellers spend one-third of their holiday budget on accommodation. Indians visiting Singapore spent around 35% of their trip cost on accommodation, compared to Chinese and Indonesians who spent only about 18% in 2015. For medium to long-haul destinations, the spend on accommodation can increase to up to half of the total trip budget. Indians visiting Mauritius in 2016, spent around 56% of expenses on accommodation while those visiting Switzerland spent around 48% of their budget on accommodation. International leisure travellers from India are drawn mostly from high and upper-middle income economic segments. They are used to a certain standard of living and expect similar conditions and conveniences when travelling.

Source: CAPA India Research $24 bn more on online bookings Online bookings in India are projected to rise from 25 per cent to 35 per cent as internet penetration increases from 33 per cent to 50 per cent, according to a latest study by Bain & Company and Google.

As India’s travel spending is set to grow from $94 billion in travel spending to $136 Online Travel billion by 2021, around $24 billion (or 57 per cent) of the incremental bookings will spending as a EHRQOLQH7KHUHSRUWVWDWHVWKDWIUHTXHQWÁ\HUVUHVHDUFKRQOLQHDQGPDNHGHFLVLRQV percent of total travel RQWKHEDVLVRIEXVLQHVVQHHGVDQGDYDLODELOLW\RIÁLJKWVDQGKRWHOV spending (2018) They rely heavily on travel provider websites online (59 per cent) and price comparison websites (51 per cent) for airline and hotel reviews and availability with a tendency to VHDUFKÀUVWE\PRELOHGHYLFH SHUFHQW DQGWKHQE\ODSWRS SHUFHQW  Internet penetration Note: Total travel spending in India includes transport & lodging aRQOLQH DQGFRQVXPSWLRQVSHQGZKLFKLVODUJHO\RIÁLQH as a percent of total Sources: Bain, Google, Omidyar report ‘Unlocking Digital for population (2018) Bharat: $50 Billion Opportunity’; World Bank data; Emarketer; Euromonitor Narrowbodies account for ¾ of fleet Composition of India’VFXUUHQWDLUFUDIWÁHHW Narrowbodies account for ¾ of the current aircraft fleet in India, with widebodies contributing a further 10 per cent, as per a recent ‘Project Rupee Raftaar’ report by MoCA.

7KHUHPDLQGHUFRQVLVWVSULPDULO\RIWXUERSURSVDQGUHJLRQDOMHWDLUFUDIW5HÁHFWLQJWKHUHODWLYH VL]HRIWKHGRPHVWLFDQGLQWHUQDWLRQDOPDUNHWVWKHFRPSRVLWLRQRIWKHFXUUHQWLQVHUYLFHÁHHW is heavily tilted towards narrowbody aircraft. India, which has the third-largest aircraft order book (including wide-body and narrow-body aircraft) after the US and China, now has more narrow-body orders than China, CAPA India said in one of its reports.

Source: CAPA

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 28 4/26/2019 10:29:40 AM AGENTS MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 TRAVTALK 29 Educate agents for conversions At Renuka Natu Travel Relations, the focus will be to educate the travel agents about different destinations through training and help them achieve conversions.

TT Bureau albeit gradually. “Kenya erate in the tourism sector in Natu expects a healthy 2019, conventional Indian summer In terms of new signings, Natu and Tanzania always live these countries as well as the saying, “As the year began, we season of April to September. believes in organic growth. enuka Natu Travel up to their potential owing promise of the numbers of were slightly concerned about Should there be any drastic “In case of any opportunities RRelations is a tourism to several factors such as the wildlife. For the refreshing the impending elections in our changes in policies in the in the regions I am already representation and consulting awareness, ease of doing Swiss mountain Brunni, country, and the subsequent period post the formation of the active in or in the segments service, effectively handling business due to the under- the awareness is growing effects and repercussions. new government, the effects such as wildlife, conservation, international travel brands on standing of Indian require- and will soon translate into As of now, there seems to be will be sensed in the adventure, luxury that I already the Indian turf since 2010. ments, given the ethnic decent numbers as well,” no adverse effect as business Diwali/winter season of operate in, I will be open to Renuka Natu, Director, Renuka Indian communities that op- she shared. has been promising for the October’19to March’20.” explore,” she added. Natu Travel Relations shared, “We are working closely as a catalyst between distinguished international travel partners and focused travel fraternity within India, Sri Lanka, Nepal as well as within areas with high density of NRI population. Cur-

Renuka Natu Director Renuka Natu Travel Relations

rently the portfolio comprises DMC Tourvest for South Africa; DMC Sense of Africa for East Africa; Property Management Company – AHA in South & Southern Africa; Governors Camp Collection Kenya & Rwanda; Wilderness Safaris active in eight African countries; and Brunni-Bahnen, mountain excursion in Switzerland.”

She claimed that 2018 has been a reasonably good year for them. “The competition is tough on all platforms, levels and market segments, especially for destination South Africa. The market share for the destination in entirety hasn’t grown, however the number of service providers have multiplied manifold, thus shrinking the pie for everybody. It is a completely open market. Despite this scenario, we have PDQDJHGWRVWD\DÁRDWZHOO by creatively modifying our services to open newer market segments,” added Natu.

She claimed that for destina- tions such as Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda and Uganda, they have discovered that there definitely is a market which will only grow in the future

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 29 4/26/2019 10:29:41 AM TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 30 4/26/2019 10:29:43 AM AGENTS MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 TRAVTALK 31 Erco to add new products Ravi Gosain, Managing Director, Erco Travels & Tourism Enterprises, believes in nurturing his existing foreign tour operator partners by offering them new circuits and activities.

TT Bureau inbound tourism is a great sure that the current exhibitors According to Gosain, his ism Enterprises’ products in interest to Indian tourists. We step. Erco Travels has actively are sharing their experiences DMC representation brand, Western India. We are covering are also working on plans to he inbound business exhibited in earlier editions but with organisers of the show Tourism Enterprises, which most of India with a strong offer exciting products for the Tof both Erco Travels & it no longer does because the for the quality to improve markets and represents some presence in North, Central, middle-aged generation which Tourism Enterprises has been quality of foreign buyers has in order to provide value to foreign DMC brands in India, East and West India. We con- are different from the usual stable in the last one year as deteriorated. What I observe sellers. Overall, GITB is a is growing day by day. “We tinue to bring new destinations tourist programmes. This will they ventured into different QRZLVHLWKHUWKHMXQLRUVWDII good platform for both buyers have recently appointed a to Indian tour operator and be done in co-operation with segments and expanded their or non-decision makers are DQGVHOOHUVZLWKÀ[HGPHHWLQJ senior marketing staff based educate them about various our existing DMC partners business to varied geographi- visiting GITB as buyers. I am schedules,” he said. in Mumbai to spearhead Tour- products which can be of great overseas,” he concluded. cal regions. Underlining the im- portance of inbound market for the Indian travel and tourism industry, Ravi Gosain, Manag- ing Director, Erco Travels and Tourism Enterprises said, “Inbound market to India is not taking a desired take off despite an overall increase in visa numbers as per the Ministry of Tourism. This is

Ravi Gosain Managing Director Tourism Enterprises

due to spike in the number of business travellers as per my observation. Tourism industry feels otherwise because it is more dependent on leisure travellers which will ultimately increase business for them. Going forward, we will focus more on experiential holidays in India to attract more busi- ness,” he said.

Talking about his plans for 2019, Gosain said, “We will FRQWLQXHWRSDUWLFLSDWHDWPDMRU international tourism fairs, net- working events, social media promotions and door to door marketing. At a moment when the world is waiting for a new government in India, continuity of the present government at the centre will give the country DVHQVHRIVDIHW\DQGFRQÀ- dence in FTOs to send tourists to India. I believe that India will continue to surge as one of the most exotic destinations rich in culture, traditions, festivals, rituals and a haven for food.”

Gosain expresses concern over the quality of foreign buyers at GITB in Jaipur. “The concept of GITB for promoting

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 31 4/26/2019 10:29:45 AM 32 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 STATES J&K gears up for another season Safe to welcome tourists, Jammu & Kashmir is now set to witness a major influx of tourists during the summer season as the state promotes new unexplored destinations.

TT Bureau with Ladakh, particularly in Leh, One of the challenges for J&K, IRUWKHÀUVWWLPHIRUWUDYHOOHUV ties. Very soon, you will see the number of tourists in the according to Samphel, is the Hopefully, we’ll be seeing more a lot of advertisements from ammu & Kashmir (J&K) last calendar year was three problem of plenty. “We have tourists in these areas. Same the Department of Tourism in JTourism partnered with lakhs, while the population of many destinations but what is the case with Kargil; Suru television as well as in All Ladakh Tour Operators Leh is about 1.3 lakhs. This is important is that we push Valley is multiplying Pahalgam print media.” Association of India (ALTOI) to ZDVWKHÀUVWWLPHWKDWWKHWRXULVW tourists towards Gulmarg, Pa- 10 times in a stretch, and so is organise Ladakh Travel Meet number crossed three lakhs. In halgam or Leh, to areas which the case withith ZanZanskaar.skaar. ThTheseese in Delhi recently. Represent- the Kashmir valley, the number are worth visiting, but not pro- are the areasas we are trying ing J&K Tourism at the event. us a lot of hope to be able to of foreigners, who are known to moted. For example, there is a to promote.”.” Rigzin Samphel (IAS), sail through the momentary exercise a lot of due diligence beautiful place called Butapatri Secretary Tourism, Jammu & phase. We are positive that the Insisting thatat the role of the Kashmir, said, “The idea behind season should be good,” governmentnt is to facilitate in sponsoring this event was to he claimed. J&K has always been safe. The idea is to creating thee environment and facilitate the local association in clear the misinformation. In fact, goes by any to promote tourism, he said, coordinating with stakeholders The department is working to- “We are goingoing throthroughugh a veryvery in Delhi whilst promoting J&K. wards making people aware of of government’s data, all three regions are aggressive promotion and adad-- This was one of the events in how safe the state currently is. very safe—Ladakh, Kashmir & Jammu vertising campaign.ampaign. the series of events that we are “J&K has always been safe. The This is partt holding in Maharashtra, Delhi idea is to clear the misinforma- of the pro- and Ahmedabad.” tion. In fact, even if one goes before visiting a place, was high near Gulmarg and another vil- motional by any of the government’s by 45 per cent. In Jammu, we lage called Aro near Pahalgam. campaign After the recent Pulwama data, all three regions are very are grateful to the Mata Vaishno The same is the case with that we terror attack, a lot changed for safe—Ladakh, Kashmir and Devi shrine because of which Ladakh-Leh in particular—the are con- tourism in the state. “There Jammu,” shared Samphel. we get almost a crore of tour- Shum area is on the way to ducting was a lull immediately after the ists. Of late, we have been trying Srinagar and the entire area is along unfortunate event. But now we When asked about the number to promote the western part of yet to be explored. Recently, with are quite optimistic as of late, of tourist arrivals in the state in -DPPXZKLFKLQFOXGHV5DMRXUL the Prime Minister opened outreach the increase in bookings gives 2018, he revealed, “To begin 3XQMWKH0XJKDOURDGHWFµ nine tourist and travel routes activi- Customer is king for Al Tawfeeq With a mission to offer superior customer experience, Al Tawfeeq Travel, Doha, sets its service standards through a process of continuous training of its staff, reveals the company’s CEO, Rehan Ali Syed.

The last 10 years of VPDOORIÀFH\HDUVDJR$O that gives us an opportunity and leisure products from What do customers in are seeking beach geta- QAl Tawfeeq has been Tawfeeq has witnessed sig- to scale new heights. Our around the world. QQatar value the most ways, adventure, culture an eventful journey. QLÀFDQWJURZWKWKDQNVWRWKH success mantra has been to about your service? H[SHULHQFHRUMXVWVKRSSLQJ What have been the key vision of the Chairman Abdulla set high standards of service What do you love How do you manage to and family entertainment. milestones? Al Mustafawi Al Hashemi and and ensure that our customers Qmost about your job? maintain excellence in The Qatar National Tourism From humble beginnings the support of our skilled have access to the best Having spent over 20 years in your service? Council has taken various with only seven staff and a team. With customer require- travel products from around the travel industry, I am very Some of the hallmarks of initiatives to promote ments as our key focus, the the world. passionate about this industry Al Tawfeeq are professional inbound tourism. entire team had a single- and my passion for all things skilled team, staying con- Now 83 nationalities PLQGHGYLVLRQRIIXOÀOOLQJWKHLU What is your travel drives me to continually nected to clients at all times, can get visa on arrival requirements by providing Qvision for Al look for innovative travel solu- offering CRM solutions for our in the country. complete travel solutions. Tawfeeq Travel? tions. My team of over 100 corporate clients and providing For instance, one of Al Tawfeeq’s success lies in staff is the backbone of accessibility and extensive Qatar’s most iconic :HDUHMXVWLÀDEO\SURXGRIWKH its ability to adapt, innovate our operations and I coverage with nine retail loca- spots — the mangroves of VXFFHVVIXOMRXUQH\WKDWZH and deliver quality customer consider them as an tions. We take immense pride Al Thakira is a large embarked on 10 years ago experience and that is the vi- extended family whilst in the way we set customer area of greenery and water and look forward to a future sion for our continued growth ensuring their welfare. service standards through a offering kayaking as a best RYHUWKHQH[WÀYH\HDUV7KH process of continuous training way to see the mangroves. scope of our activities is The travel industry is all about of our staff. Some other attractions like considerable and plans are people and building lasting re- Qatar National Museum, already underway to diversify lationships with your custom- Qatar has grown Museum of Islamic Art, into other verticals, establish ers; this is one aspect that I Qtremendously in the Souq Waqif, world-famous inbound DMC operations, build ORYHPRVWDERXWP\MRE(DFK GCC. What can a first- restaurants and luxury and enhance our extensive day is a new challenge and time visitor expect from hotels are sure to create network of partnerships and ÀQGLQJLQQRYDWLYHVROXWLRQVWR this destination? a memorable holiday continue to bring to Qatar mitigate the challenges is what Qatar has lots to offer experience for any tourist best in travel technology ,ÀQGH[FLWLQJ to all tourists whether they visiting Qatar. Advertorial

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 32 4/26/2019 10:29:46 AM NTO MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 TRAVTALK 33 MiCE, weddings take centre stage Qatar is engaging with Indian MiCE operators and wedding planners to grow numbers from this segment. In fact, the country has already received confirmation for six weddings.

TT Bureau groups and leisure travellers,” coming up in Qatar, Al- art and architecture to even the ease of facilitation, along therefore provides ease for shared Al-Qurese. Qurese, said, “In March-end, urban offerings like shopping with free visa, connectivity ELJJHUJURXSVWRÁ\IURP he Indian market is one Qatar National Museum and F&B.” DQGSUR[LPLW\(QMR\LQJD various cities within a few Tof the most important Currently, Qatar is looking opened its doors. We are convenient location, Qatar is hours. Also, MiCE venues growth markets for Qatar. to capture the demand from also hosting the IAAF world For the MiCE market, he only two-and-a-half to three in Doha are in abundance, “India was the number one the Tier-I cities and will later championship by the end of believes that though Qatar is hours from the west coast including convention source market for us in 2018 target Tier II, III markets start- September this year. We have a new place, it is a boutique LQ,QGLDDQGDERXWÀYHKRXUV centres as well as hotel facili- with over 400,000 Indian ing 2020. Claiming that there many offerings for the Indian destination. “The number one from the east coast. We are ties for groups,” concluded visitor arrivals. Operating in will be many new destinations market, right from desert, sea, attraction for MiCE groups is connected to 13 cities, which Al-Qurese. the Indian market since March 2018, we’ve registered 20 per cent growth from the market in one year. we want to build

Rashed Saeed Al-Qurese &KLHI0DUNHWLQJ 3URPRWLRQ2IÀFHU Qatar Tourism Authority

on this success and continue with double-digit growth this year too by exploring other segments like weddings and MiCE,” said Rashed Saeed Al-Qurese, Chief Marketing 3URPRWLRQ2IÀFHU4DWDU Tourism Authority.

The tourism board has an RIÀFHLQ0XPEDLWKDWFRYHUV most of the Tier-I cities in India. “We work with MiCE planners, tour operators and wedding planners for promo- tions. We also run multiple marketing initiatives, owing to the budgets associated with the market as well as communicate various value propositions that Qatar offers for different segments of tour- ism,” he added.

He informed that they already KDYHVL[ZHGGLQJVFRQÀUPHG for Q1 2019. “Other leads for the rest of the year are H[SHFWHGWREHFRQÀUPHG Doha is a new destination for Indians in particular, VSHFLÀFDOO\IRUZHGGLQJV Indians can travel visa-free to the country. We are connected YLDÁLJKWVZHHNO\DFURVV 13 cities in India through airlines like Qatar Airways, Jet Airways, Indigo and Air India Express. All the hotels in the country offer great value IRUPRQH\VSHFLÀFDOO\IRU weddings, as well as for MiCE

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 33 4/26/2019 10:29:47 AM ASSOCIATIONTALK IATO discusses challenges upfront Media Partners: IATO focused on its sub-committee proceedings and shared the progress with Services Export Promotion Council/Directorate General of Foreign MAY 2019 Trade license renewal, visa fee and MOT Fam trip at its luncheon. Africa’s Travel Indaba Durban 6-9 PATA Annual Summit 2019 Cebu, Philippines 9-12 TT Bureau Germany Travel Mart Wiesbaden 12-14 he Indian Association of ILTM Latin America Sao Paulo 14-17 TTour Operators (IATO) Taiwan Tourism Roadshow Delhi 16 discussed the concerns of members, sub-committees and ITB China Shanghai 15-17 shared the progress that the Taiwan Tourism Roadshow Kolkata 20 Executive Committee had made IMEX Frankfurt 21-23 in the last month at its recently- held monthly luncheon meeting. Taiwan Tourism Roadshow Hyderabad 22 EM Najeeb, Senior Vice ,/70$VLD3DFLÀF Singapore 27-30 President, IATO, said, “We had India Travel Awards- South Chennai 27 lots of queries on GST matters IDUHZHOORI*DXU.DQMLODOZKR Informing about the meeting Oman Tourism Roadshow Bengaluru 27 as well as the visa fee. The gov- served as its Executive Direc- which IATO had with MOT, ernment’s decision to double tor for the last 14 years. Ministry of External Affairs Oman Tourism Roadshow Pune 29 the visa fee for foreign tourists (MEA) and MHA in December IBTM Americas Mexico City 29-30 has been strongly taken up Updating about the SEPC/ last year, he said, “We had a Oman Tourism Roadshow Mumbai 31 with Ministry of Tourism (MOT) DGFT issue, Rajiv Mehra, Vice positive reaction from MHA and Ministry of Home Affairs President, IATO, shared, “We RIÀFLDOV:HPHWWKHPIRUWKH (MHA). We have also decided can now apply online to get the ÀUVWWLPHDQGKDYHKHDUGIURP JUNE 2019 to activate our sub-committee SEPC license renewed. As soon them too. We have written back reports and recommendations as the new government comes the payments still needs to be sharing our problems which 75th IATA Annual General Meeting Seoul, South Korea 1-3 and bring everyone at the in and we have the new rates achieved. We have written to need to be addressed soon. A Best of Australia roadshow Pune 4 same level and take the IATO available, we would be able to the MOT for the same to avoid regular correspondence has Best of Australia roadshow Ahmedabad 5 activities forward.” apply for DGFT. The revised delay in payments.” started with them.” Dubai MiCE Workshop Hyderabad 10 rates for MOT Fam trips have IATO also announced the also been circulated to all the Mehra also shared that the as- The association is also gearing Dubai MiCE Workshop Chennai 11 appointment of Rahul Chakra- PHPEHUV7KHVLPSOLÀFDWLRQ sociation hopes for a reduction up for IATO Convention to be Dubai MiCE Workshop Bengaluru 13 varty as its CEO and the of the procedure of getting in visa fee after the elections. held in September. Dubai MiCE Workshop Kolkata 14 %HLMLQJ,QWHUQDWLRQDO7RXULVP([SR Beijing 18-20 Asian Destinations Expo 2019 Malaysia 21-24 Asian Destinations Expo 2019 Singapore 26-29 Exciting times ahead for ICPB India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) has planned a line-up of JULY 2019 interesting initiatives including the 12th Conventions India Conclave in Asian Destinations Expo 2019 Indonesia 2-5 International Conference on Singapore 4-5 Kochi. The association also plans to open two more State Chapters. Tourism and Hospitality (ICTH) TTF Hyderabad 5-6 Manas Dwivedi of activities throughout 2019. theme ‘Mapping the Sustain- Kiwi Link India 2019 Mumbai 8-9 “We have planned an interac- able MiCE Future of India’. Kiwi Link India 2019 Kolkata 11 rganising a productive tive session with our members Sharing more information, he international roadshow for providing legal guidance says, “We have already initi- Kiwi Link India 2019 Delhi 12 O with 118 MiCE buyers in and answer queries related to ated the process to organise TTF Kolkata 12-14 Europe covering Paris, Brus- issues pertaining to GST on the conclave with Kerala Travel Wedding Show Mumbai 13-14 sels, Geneva and Zurich in April 25. We are also organ- government. The theme is in 2018 was quite an achieve- ising the International Residen- line with the importance of MICE INDIA and Luxury Travel congress Delhi 17-18 ment in promoting India as a tial Training Programme with MiCE and its economic and Amazing Thailand Roadshow to India Ahmedabad 22 popular MiCE destination, feels International Congress and social impact on the industry. MICE INDIA and Luxury Travel congress Mumbai Chander Mansharamani, Vice Chander Mansharamani Convention Association (ICCA) We have chosen Kochi 23-24 Vice Chairman Chairman, India Convention on July 26-27 at Vivanta keeping in view the growing Amazing Thailand Roadshow to India Pune 24 India Convention Promotion Bureau Promotion Bureau (ICPB). 6XUDMNXQGZKHUHHPLQHQWLQ- upcoming MiCE infrastructure TTH Expo Vadodara 26-28 He says, “2018 has been membership in the last one ternational speakers will share in South India. I believe that TTF Ahmedabad 30-1 Sept very fruitful with year-long year. The one-time member- their knowledge and experi- Kochi is also emerging as a activities organised by the ship of nine state governments ence on three most relevant preferred MiCE destination in bureau. The 11th Convention has not only given us the topics — How to maximise the country.” India Conclave in Kolkata was ÀQDQFLDOEHQHÀWVEXWDOVR ROI during exhibitions and AUGUST 2019 a successful event as we not enhanced the status of ICPB trade shows, marketing of ICPB is also planning to IITM Bengaluru 2-4 only had a good number of as we can now call ourselves conference: sponsorship conduct a roadshow in Bhu- Qatar Tourism Roadshow Mumbai 6 foreign buyers but also Indian a pan-India bureau. The other generation and delegates ac- baneswar in July and an inter- Qatar Tourism Roadshow Delhi 7 buyers from various segments initiatives we have taken is to quisition, research and bidding national roadshow in the UK of corporate and associations. have a planner on the conven- for international conferences,” and Europe towards the end of Qatar Tourism Roadshow Ahmedabad 8 The proud moment was to tion facilities in India which will informs Mansharamani. September 2019. The bureau Tourism Australia India Travel Mission Kochi 8-11 ODXQFKRXUÀUVW,&3%VWDWH be ready by the middle of May is also looking at greater par- IITM Chennai 9-11 chapter in Kolkata.” 2019,” he further adds. The 12th Conventions India ticipation at world trade shows Conclave will be held in Kochi such as IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX Tourism Australia India Travel Mission Mumbai 12 “We are also pleased to inform Moving forward, the associa- from August 29-31 at Grand Las Vegas, EIBTM, AIME and For more information, contact us at: [email protected] the substantial increase in our tion has planned a calendar Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty on the CONFEX London.

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 34 4/26/2019 10:29:49 AM CLIPBOARD MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 TRAVTALK 35

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 35 4/26/2019 10:29:51 AM 36 TRAVTALK MAY 1ST FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2019 MOVEMENTS Sabre Rail Europe Cygnett Hotels and Resorts Bengaluru Mumbai Delhi Sabre Corporation has appointed Jaya Kumar K as Vice President Srijit Nair KDV UHFHQWO\ MRLQHG 5DLO (XURSH·V IDPLO\ DV D 5HJLRQDO Cygnett Hotels and Resorts appointed Ankur Chandra as its and Managing Director for Sabre Global Development Centre in Sales Director, Greater India (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Director—Operations & Development. Chandra will be responsible Bengaluru. In his role, Kumar will be responsible Pakistan). He worked previously as a General for leveraging hotel operations and for propelling the Centre’s innovation Manager - Sales heading the NRI business expanding the brand in new markets. capabilities as well as attracting key talent to (International Markets/Non-Resident Indian) in He will also be responsible to keep a deliver cutting-edge technology solutions. the B2B and B2C sales structure at Thomas FKHFN RQ WKH SURÀWDELOLW\ RI RSHUDWLRQV He will spearhead Sabre’s efforts in driving Cook India. Prior to that role, Nair was and supervising all aspects of hotel the industry toward next generation retailing, responsible for leading the B2B business management to ensure compliance with GLVWULEXWLRQDQGIXOÀOOPHQW+HFRPHVWR6DEUH channels for the western and southern quality standards. With over 20 years of from Walmart, where he was Managing Director regions at Thomas Cook India. He was actively experience in handling multiple clientele and Vice President, Global Technology involved in building the franchisee model, new and expertise in various facets Services, where he grew Walmart acquisitions of franchisee partners and of hotel management, /DEV ,QGLD VLJQLÀFDQWO\ DQG with a focused approach on B2B Chandra is a result- established Centres of Excellence space specially with the Preferred oriented professional. for analytics. Sales Agents and travel agents.

Hyatt Regency Lucknow Holiday Inn Resort Kolkata NH6 Holiday Inn Chennai OMR IT Expressway Lucknow Kolkata Chennai Ashish Kumar has been appointed as General Manager of Hyatt Projjwal Ghosh is designated as Director of Sales and Marketing Radhika Dhruv has been appointed as Marketing Manager of Regency Lucknow. With more than 20 years in the hospitality at Holiday Inn Resort Kolkata NH6. Ghosh comes with over nine Holiday Inn Chennai OMR IT Expressway. In her current role, she industry, Kumar has acquired a deep knowledge \HDUV RI H[SHULHQFH LQ WKH ÀHOG RI VDOHV DQG shall head the overall responsibilitysponsibility of marketing of diverse aspects of hotel management marketing. His key task is to launch the communication, Public RelationsRelations and lead and has gained experience in dealing with resort successfully while creating adequate the team to drive the growthowth of the hotel. different cultural backgrounds while working awareness and business opportunities Dhruv is committed to ensuringnsuring the best across India. However, his true passion through various sales and marketing efforts. positioning of the hotel andnd its outlets bbyy remains with Rooms and Administration. He is also responsible for the smooth working closely with herr associates at He also possesses the knack of managing execution of the hotel business and marketing all the levels. With a broadad spectrum of negotiations, forecasting and plan along with meeting the revenue goals of hospitality experience overer the yeyears,ars, revenue management, crisis the hotel. Prior to this, he was associated her last role was with Marriottriott aass an management, and various other with Hilton for seven years. Assistant Manager – Marketingarketing operation services. Communications.

Radisson Blu Atria Bengaluru Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru TGI Group of Hotel and Resorts Bengaluru Bengaluru Bengaluru Sanatan Sharma has been appointed as the Financial Controller Ashish Nehra has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage TGI Group of Hotel and Resorts has appointed Deleeph Nair as its at Atria Bengaluru. With over 13 years of experience, at Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru. In his current role, he is Corporate HousekeeperHousekeeper.. In his new role, he will be responsible for the Sharma comes in as a seasoned professional in responsible for overseeing Food & Beverage developmentdevelopment andand implementation of housekeeping the hospitality sector. In his current role, he is operations at the hotel. Nehra has worked standardsstandards forfo the hotel which are aligned with spearheading the overall operations. He started with The Leela Palaces Hotel and Resorts, the brand’brand’s overall mission, vision values, his career in 2005 as Accounts Assistant at Gurgaon; JW Marriott Kolkata and Delhi; The andand stratestrategies.g Kumar comes with over 14 The Oberoi Grand Kolkata. Later, expanding his 2EHURL8GDLYLODVLQ8GDLSXU:LOGÁRZHU+DOO years of experienceex in the hospitality industry horizons in Finance, he worked with some of the Shimla; The Oberoi New Delhi, The Oberoi andand is all sets to streamline the functioning of well-known luxury hotels like Hyatt Hyderabad 5DMYLODVLQ-DLSXUDQG7KH2EHURL$PDUYLODV the hotel’s housekeeping standards. Prior to and Park Hyatt Maldives as Assistant Manager in Agra in the past. He started his career as a this, he hhelde various managerial positions Finance. He has extensive experience trained Pastry Chef in Switzerland during in housekehousekeeping operations with some of working across Asia with brands his formative years. Nehra sees his the coucountry’sn most renowned hospitality such as Marriott Bangkok, role as weaving a common thread groupsgrou like Radisson, IHG, Residency Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok between the outlets by focusing Group,Gro to name a few. before he took up the role in on consistency and quality. Radisson Blu Atria Bangalore.

Sid Savkur &(2 5HDOP +RVSLWDOLW\ HQMR\V WU\LQJ Mit Bhatt, Managing Partner, The Grand Vacationist, Singing, sketching and playing table tennis are what new cuisines and restaurants. “One thing I am most de-stresses by thinking about his next adventure. “My makes Nivedita Avasthi, General Manager, Crowne passionate about is supporting and promoting the bucket list has many items. One of them is going Plaza New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida, happy. “I love destination where I am based – which faster and higher than what I have chilling out with old friends at home is Bhutan – in any way that I already gone. My record is now over dinner and drinks. Attending can. Early in my career, I had touching Mach 3 and 31,000 OLYH FRQFHUWV HVSHFLDOO\ 6XÀ left the hospitality industry and feet. But before I can attempt music is another thing which MRLQHG D %32 , ZDV VXUH WKDW , that, I need to do some ,GHÀQLWHO\WDNHRXWWLPHIRUµ would never return to hospitality. preparations – get my private Avasthi mentions. The Look how that turned out!” he pilot’s license and undergo a picturesque Evian village exclaims. One amazing holiday ZHHN·V WUDLQLQJ RI HMHFWLRQ ,W in France, according to moment was on a trip LV D 5XVVLDQ ÀJKWHU DQG LW her, is the destination to Moscow when is by invitation only embedded very Savkur’s Airbnb so I will need the strongly in her host took him right credentials mind. out for a pub for it,” he crawl and to shares. sample some restaurants.

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 36 4/26/2019 10:29:58 AM TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 37 4/26/2019 10:30:03 AM INTERVIEW The right tech for agents Sandeep Dwivedi, Chief Operating Officer, InterGlobe Technology Quotient, shares how ITQ and Travelport are keeping abreast of the needs of travel agents across the country and offering just the right technology to help equip them with the best solutions.

Nisha Verma solutions for travel agen- are looking for. An interesting cies. “For instance, we have study by Google has suggest- nterGlobe Technology Quotient a product called VR3 (Void, ed that any traveller and any I(ITQ) as well as the entire avia- Reissue, Refund, Revalida- e-commerce site visitor visits WLRQLQGXVWU\KDVHQMR\HGJRRG ITQ looks forward to close tion), which can automate to a minimum 29 websites growth in India, claims Sandeep 2019 on a high note. Dwivedi everything from re-issue, before taking a decision to buy. Dwivedi, Chief Operating mentioned, “From a Travelport refund and cancellations With NDC, I am sure all the 2IÀFHU,74´,QGLDLVRQHRIWKH perspective, we aim to provide of a travel agency. Usually, content is going to be available fastest growing markets with a services to the customer and chances of errors are high in at the same place for the travel double-digit growth of 18-20 per agent,” said Dwivedi. cent on a CAGR basis, and this We will continue to enhance our is being captured by LCCs as In a dynamic market like well as regional carriers under solutions for the market. The entire process India, Dwivedi claims that ITQ the UDAN scheme. From a GDS is automated for travel agents in Tier II, III will be relevant more from a perspective, India became the technology perspective. “We second largest market across cities as well as OTAs will continue to enhance our the globe last year after the US, technology and solutions for and we expect the same from an be relevant in the market. The these cases but VR3 can the market. The entire process aviation outlook too. By 2025, case in point here is if we are take care of all the is automated, especially for India is going to be the third larg- ready for NDC, which is going challenges,” he said. travel agents in Tier II, III cities est aviation market after USA, to be a reality very soon. By as well as OTAs who have spe- &KLQDVXEMHFWWRWKHFKDOOHQJHV 2020, we expect many airlines Agreeing that there are initial cialised processes. That’s why we have in the market,” to be part of it. Unfortunately, apprehensions amongst travel we rolled out Smartpoint. Travel he shared. not a single carrier from India agents and airlines for NDC, he agents can keep on giving isis a partpart ofof NDC yet.yet. In fact, insisted that it’s human nature cryptic commands of different internationallyinternationally ticketstickets have to be sceptical about anything GDSs even when they are not been issued under NDC new. “The clarity would come aware about Travelport com- andand we are going tot see once the entire set up of NDC mand. He can give Amadeus that trend catchingcatching up in would be completed by 2020. or Sabre commands there IndiaIndia asas well.well. All theseth Travel agents will be relevant if and the system is intelligent airlinesairlines are diredirectlyc they are able to provide all the enough to convert those into approachingapproaching bibiggerg solutions for what travellers Travelport commands.” agaggregatorsgregators and OTAs foforr dirdirectect APIs.APIs. WWe hhopeope to address theseth cchallengeshallenges through Offering multi-modal services ouourr sosolutions.”lutions.” Travelport has announced a sea connections to cities Apart from Travel- new agreement with Airport throughout the Guangdong- pport,ort, DwivediDwi Authority Hong Kong (AA) Hong Kong-Macao Greater rrevealed,evealed ITQ to promote the multi-modal Bay Area, which includes cocontinuesntinu to connectivity services at Macao, Zhuhai, Shenzhen, inninnovateova new Hong Kong International Air- Guangzhou and beyond. The pproductsrodu port (HKIA) to travel buyers technology allows overseas inclincludingu in Asia, Europe and North travel buyers to pre-book ccorporateor America. As a regional the airport’s multi-modal bbooking hub and a multi-modal transport services for their ttools transport centre, it offers customers in 18 markets and travellers extensive land and from across the world.

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 38 4/26/2019 10:30:05 AM TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 39 4/26/2019 10:30:10 AM Postal Reg. No.: DL(ND)-11/6044/2018-19-20; WPP No.: U(C)-178/2018-20 for posting on 1st-2nd and 16th-17th of the same month at NDHO, New Delhi - 110001, RNI No.: 53492/1991 Date of Publication: 30-04-2019

TT_May-1st-2019_FINAL.indd 40 4/26/2019 10:30:12 AM