Express Travelworld (Vol.12, No.5) June, 2017

01 ETW-Cover.qxd

5/30/2017

6:51 PM

Page 1

EDITOR’S NOTE

Some meditative thoughts

T

he big wait is finally over. Like the other sectors, the tourism and hospitality industry awaited with much anticipation and optimism for the GST rates announcements. Today, we hear of mixed reactions from various quarters while the budget hotel category (like OYO Rooms) are naturally elated with the lower tax rates, the luxury segment and restaurants are shocked by the high rates. For the airline industry, the economy class segment is expected to benefit. While some industry experts believe that GST implementation is a great leveller, the fact however remains that the complexity of the scenario will adversely affect the industry. Many comparisons are being made to GST rates in other countries in Asia, and how the high rates in India will further make India an uncompetitive destination. At the time of going to the press, there is a 12 hour bandh by hotels and restaurants in South India, in protest against GST. Let us

HEAD OFFICE MUMBAI EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD® The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division 2nd Floor, Express Tower, Nariman Point Mumbai- 400 021 Board line: 022- 67440000 Ext. 527 Branch Offices NEW DELHI Prabhas Jha The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division Express Building, B-1/B Sector 10 Noida 201 301 Dist.Gautam Budh nagar (U.P.) India. Board line: 0120-6651500. Mobile: +91 9899707440 BANGALORE Mathen Mathew The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division 502, 5th Floor, Devatha Plaza, Residency road, Bangalore- 560025 Mobile: +91 9840826366

While some industry experts believe that GSTis a great leveller, the fact however remains that the complexity of the scenario will adversely affect the industry. Many comparisons are being made to GSTrates in other countries in Asia

6-3-885/7/B, Ground Floor, VV Mansion, Somaji Guda, Hyderabad – 500 082 KOLKATA Ajanta Sengupta The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division JL No. 29&30, NH-6, Mouza- Prasastha & Ankurhati, Vill & PO- Ankurhati P.S.- Domjur (Nr.Ankurhati Check Bus Stop), Dist. Howrah- 711 409, Mobile: +91 9831182580 Email id: ajanta.sengupta@expressindia.com KOCHI Mathen Mathew The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Ground Floor, Sankoorikal Building, Kaloor – Kadavanthra Road Kaloor, Kochi – 682 017 Mobile: +91 9840826366 COIMBATORE The Indian Express (P) Ltd. No. 205-B, 2nd Floor, Vivekanand Road, Opp. Rajarathinam Hospital Ram Nagar, Coimbatore- 641 009

hope there is a rethink on the rates, in particular for hotels and restaurants. Among our many unique offerings to the world is the living heritage of yoga. In terms of tourism, India's many unique yoga hotspots need to be promoted across the world and in India. We have featured some of these destinations in this issue, which need to be packaged and promoted well, for both inbound segment and the new age experiential Indian traveller. We hear Yoga Retreats in the Canadian Rockies are becoming more and more popular, some with interesting additions like helicopter tours. Why not have our own indigenous brands of yoga tourism products, both for midscale and HNI segments – we have the destinations, the range of accommodation options and the best yoga experts in the world, what is needed is focused strategy by concerned stakeholders and some clever marketing. editorial.etw@expressindia.com

AHMEDABAD Nirav Mistry The Indian Express (P) Ltd. 3rd Floor, Sambhav House, Near Judges Bunglows, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad - 380 015 Mobile: +91 9586424033 BHOPAL Prabhas Jha The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division 2nd Floor, Express Tower, Nariman Point Mumbai- 400 021 Board line: 022- 67440000 Ext. 527 JAIPUR Prabhas Jha The Indian Express (P) Ltd. S2,J-40, Shyam GHP Enclave, Krishna Marg, C-Scheme, Jaipur - 302 001 Mobile: +91 9899707440

Important: Whilst care is taken prior to acceptance of advertising copy,it is not possible to verify its contents.The Indian Express (P) Limited cannot be held responsible for such contents,nor for any loss or damages incurred as a result of transactions with companies,associations or individuals advertising in its newspapers or publications.We therefore recommend that readers make necessary inquiries before sending any monies or entering into any agreements with advertisers or otherwise acting on an advertisement in any manner whatsoever.

HYDERABAD The Indian Express (P) Ltd. Business Publication Division

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

3

June 2017

CONTENTS MANAGEMENT Vol 12 No 5 June 2017 Pages 40

28

Chairman of the Board

Viveck Goenka Sr Vice President - BPD

Neil Viegas Editor

Reema Lokesh* Assistant Editor

MICE IN DUBAI: FUTURE PERFECT Dubai Business Events recently organised an India Study Mission for greater understanding of the emirate's present and future positioning as a leading global MICE destination

Steena Joy Sr. Associate Editor

Sudipta Dev CONTENT TEAM New Delhi

Saloni Bhatia DESIGN

32

National Design Editor

Bivash Barua Assistant Art Director

Pravin Temble Senior Artists

Ratilal Ladani, Rajesh Jadhav SCHEDULING & COORDINATION

SAYING ‘BULA’ TO BUSINESS AT FTE For the first time in Fiji Tourism Expo’s (FTE) history, the president of the Republic of Fiji, inaugurated the two-day tourism trade event held recently at the Denarau Island Convention Centre, Sheraton Fiji Resort. FTE is the island destination's premier tourism event hosted by Tourism Fiji

Ashish Anchan Photo Editor

Sandeep Patil MARKETING Regional Heads

Harit Mohanty - East & West Prabhas Jha - North Marketing Team

Debnarayan Dutta Ajanta Sengupta Mathen Mathew CIRCULATION

Mohan Varadakar

India, the birthplace of yoga, has several unique holistic destinations that can be packaged as niche tourism products, both for the inbound and domestic markets

LIFE

(22-27) 34

PRODUCTION General Manager

MARKETS

B R Tipnis Manager

Bhadresh Valia Express TravelWorld® POSTAL REGD. NO. MCS/163/2016 – 18 RNI Reg. No.MAHENG/2005/15993

6

INDUSTRY HAILS GST RATES GOOD FOR BUDGET SEGMENTS

8

Printed by The Indian Express (P) Ltd. and published by Ms Vaidehi Thakar on

INTERVIEW WITH T A RAMALINGAM SR PRESIDENT AND CHIEF DISTRIBUTION OFFICER, BAJAJ ALLIANZ GENERAL INSURANCE

9

behalf of The Indian Express Press, Plot No. EL-208, TTC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai - 400710 and Published from Express Towers, 2nd Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400021. (Editorial & Administrative Offices:

P03 : EDITOR’S NOTE P35 : MOVEMENTS

Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021)

P36 : WEEKEND

INTERVIEW WITH RAJENDRA DESHPANDE, CIO, INTELENET GLOBAL SERVICES

GOING BEYOND BOUNDARIES Lemon Tree Hotels has launched twin properties in Sector 60 in Gurugram as part of its dream project. Going beyond its usual HR strategy of hiring 12-15% employees with disability, over 70% of the workforce at these hotels are Opportunity Deprived Individuals (ODI) – either differently-abled or from economically and socially marginalised segments of society.

Copyright © 2017 The Indian Express (P) Limited. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. *Responsible for selection of news under PRB Act

IN THE NEWS

Industry hails GST rates good for budget segments Mohit Rathod Mumbai FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT of GST rates, the tourism and hospitality industry has showed mixed reactions. The development is expected to result in a plunge in economy class air fare, however business class fares will see a surge. GST on the economy class air travel has been finalised at five per cent. However, GST on business class air travel has been announced at 12 per cent, three per cent more than the existing service tax rate. Credit rating agency ICRA has said these rates changes are not material, and should not have any major impact – positive or negative – on the air passenger growth. However, the lowering of tax rate on economy class travel is in line with the focus of the Ministry of Civil Aviation to make flying affordable for the masses. Kinjal Shah, AVP and cohead – corporate sector ratings, ICRA, said, “With airlines generating a major portion of their revenues from economy class, disallowance of input tax credit on inputs (excluding services) for economy class would result in an additional cost to the airlines. In the current scenario of pressure on yields due to increasing capacities and competitive intensity, the ability of the airlines to pass on the increased cost to the customers too will be restricted.” Indroneel Dutt, CFO, Cleartrip, commented, "GST implementation is a great leveler not just for rate rationalisation but for predictability it brings to our industry. The GST council’s decision to pull down the tax rate for economy class tickets should incrementally benefit the segment and help sustain sector growth. Coupled with the broader aviation strategy of

6

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

June 2017

promoting regional travel, we believe the direction will help usher in a new era in India's aviation." While the aviation industry is not likely to be affected, industry players have raised concern that tourism and hospitality industry will be hit. One of the major factors affecting the tourism and hospitality sector is said to be the GST rates for hotels and restaurants. The hospitality industry has expressed disappointment over the GST rates for hotels and restaurants. The GST council has pegged GST for AC eateries and those with liquor licence at 18 per cent, non-AC restaurants at 12 per cent, hotels charging room rentals between `1000 and `2500 at 12 per cent, `2500 and `5000 at 18 per cent and above `5000 at 28 per cent. Terming the rates as complex, high and uncompetitive, the hotel industry has declared that it will make representation to the Finance Minister and Tourism Minister to review the rates once again.

“The government should realise that while neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and others levy taxes ranging from 5 to 10 per cent, we cannot afford to have these kind of complex and high GST. This is simply not viable. Tourists will simply skip India,” said Dilip Datwani, president, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI). HRAWI was expecting it to be placed in the five per cent slab. “The long awaited tax slabs on GST in the travel and hospitality sector have been announced. Overall this seems like a good move for the sector and should help the growth momentum continue. Budget hotels have been kept insulated from any increases in tariffs, while the luxury segment might see an increase due to the GST rates announced,” stated Sharat Dhall, COO (B2C), Yatra.com. Vikas Bhola, head – Indian sub continent, Booking.com, commented, “The GST rates

will provide an opportunity to the hotels operating in the budget travel segment to upgrade their services and give them more competing opportunities in the Indian market. The number of budget travellers will improve in the country and we will see a lot more properties catering to this segment. As far as luxury travel is concerned, we believe that it will continue to remain on par and the GST rates will not make a huge dent in their sales.” Ankur Bhatia, executive director, Bird Group, expressed, "Recently the industry has already been severely impacted by the Supreme Court liquor ban and GST rates have come as another shocker. These high and complex GST rates will create further impediments to the industry’s growth which is still maturing." On another note, the budget hotel sector has welcomed the GST rate, Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO, OYO, said, “A lower tax rate for budget hotels sector will ensure that the in-

dustry’s quality upgrade continues while delivering standardised accommodation to millions of middle- class travellers.” Adding to that, Sidharth Gupta, co-founder, Treebo Hotels, said, "We welcome the lower tax rates introduced for budget hotels. Around 75-80 per cent of Treebo's inventory lies in the `1,000-2,500 price band. The GST applicable in this band is 12 per cent as opposed to 17-20 per cent applicable earlier. This means that our rooms will now be even more affordably priced." The NDA government also recently completed three years of governance, and has taken a number of steps for the aviation, tourism and hospitality industries. Commenting on that, Rakshit Desai, managing director, FCM Travel Solutions, said, "Reinforcing India's image as a tourist destination internationally, the Modi government in the last three years introduced several initiatives that have strengthened and enhanced tourism in the country. Initiatives such as sanctioning visa on arrival and extending electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to more countries, developing a mobile application for tourists, introducing the Incredible India multilingual tourist helpline and the launch of new schemes like Swadesh Darshan and Prasad have definitely been recognised as agents of progress and socioeconomic growth. Connectivity is a very significant feature in tourism. In the coming years the government should focus on building strong infrastructure with significant investments in roads, railways and airports in Tier II cities to boost regional connectivity. This, we believe, will encourage domestic tourism and will help push inbound arrivals."

IN THE NEWS

Kerala Tourism to give thrust to North Kerala destinations Mohit Rathod Mumbai KERALA TOURISM IS PLANNING to place North Kerala on its promotional campaigns this year, in order to reach a target of increasing domestic tourist arrivals by 50 per cent and international tourist arrivals by 100 per cent, by 2021. Kerala Tourism will leverage upon the established destinations in South Kerala, whilst giving thrist to North Kerala destinations such as Bekal, Kannur, Calicut and Manappuram. Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, P Bala Kiran, director – Kerala Tourism, said, "To achieve this target, the present core tourism circuit will not be able to hold these numbers. We don't want to indulge in mass

tourism, but we will concentrate on North Kerala this year, which is still untapped. We will add Bekal, Kannur, Calicut and Manappuram to our promotion campaigns. North Kerala is also well served by international airports." Kerala is also banking upon air connectivity and airport infrastructure to boost tourism. "We are a small state and we already have four international airports and the fifth is underway in Kannur. There is a lot of potential and we believe that increasing direct flights will boost tourist arrivals from various countries," he added. In FY 2016-2017, Kerala Tourism received a record one million foreign tourist arrivals. Additionally, the Middle East has been emerging as a growth market fot Kerala

Tourism, which is also attributed to direct air connectivity to the region. Kiran commented, "The final statistics of FY 2016-2017 has showed a good growth in tourism, inspite of demonetisation and liquor policy. We were expecting no growth, but international tourist arrivals have crossed one million for the first time and domestic tourism has also shown a good growth. There has been continous increase in tourist arrivals – six per cent growth in domestic and 6.5 per cent in international." The state tourism board is further leveraging upon social media and technology for promotions. At the second edition of International Conference on Tourism Technology (ICTT), to be held in Kochi from June 8-10 this year, Kerala Tourism

social media and we have been using techonology for a long time. But this conference is not for the government; it is for the industry to get hold of technology."

P Bala Kiran

team will meet industry stakeholders from across the country. Kiran stated, "We are also getting 12 speakers from across the world. A large part of travel and hotel bookings are now done online. We want to leverage internet and social media for tourism promotion. We have a huge presence on

Kerala Tourism is also focusing on the homestay segment and will provide support to homestay providers and mutually develop the space in the state. "Kerala Tourism works as a private office and we had realised the significance of PPP model a long time ago. Kerala government believes in being a promoter of the industry, rather than a regulator. We do 15-20 roadshows each year, internationally and within India. Western Europe has been our core focus internationally; most of foreign traffic comes from this region," he added.

MHRILon expansion mode for member addition Mohit Rathod Mumbai LEISURE HOSPITALITY COMPANY Mahindra Holidays and Resorts India (MHRIL), part of the US$ 17.8 billion Mahindra Group, is leveraging upon domestic tourism and expanding its property portfolio to add more members. MHRIL recently announced its consolidated and standalone financial results for the quarter ended and year ended March 31, 2017. The company has marked an increase in member addition by 14.7 per cent at 18,557, whilst also marking an increase of 14.7 per cent in turnover at `1,105 crore. The standalone results for FY17 posted a total income of

8

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

June 2017

`1,105.9 crore, which was 14.7 per cent higher than the previous year's `963.9 crore. Profit before tax (PBT) for FY17 stood at `200.9 crore, 19.5 per cent higher than `168.1 crore in FY16. Whereas, profit after tax (PAT) stood at `130.6 crore, 15 per cent higher than `113.6 crore in FY16. Whereas, in the consolidated results for the year ended March 31, 2017, the company’s total income at ` 2309.9 crore was 43 per cent higher than `1612.9 for the previous year. PAT for the year FY17 at `145.5 crore was 39 per cent higher than `105.0 crore in the previous year. In its standalone results for Q4FY17, MHRIL posted a total income of `315.7 crore, a surge

of 26.3 per cent from `249.9 crore in in the same period last fiscal. After making certain provision arising out of the company's new accounting standards, PBT for Q4 FY17 has been marked at `49.6 crore, 10.1 per cent higher than `45.0 crore in Q4 FY16 and PAT for Q4FY17 stood at 31.8 crore, which was 4.5 per cent higher than `30.5 crore in Q4FY16. Kavinder Singh, managing director and CEO, MHRIL, said, "Entering into untapped destinations and creating a new destination has been our success factor. In business hotels, guests stay for a short period, but we have the advantage of long stays as we are entirely a leisure hospitality company. We can increase our market and

add more members by adding properties to our portfolio. Travel and tourism sector is booming in India, which is a sunrise factor for us. We have also introduced our new concept, 'Heart-to-heart', wherein we offer multiple experiences and activities to our guests." MHRIL, having a global footprint with over 218,000 members, sees domestic tourism in India as a significant factor which contributes to 83 per cent of its business in the country. The company, which added five resorts in Q4FY17, has a four projects in India lined up in its pipeline, including a property in Goa and a 115room property in Nandhera, Rajasthan. Commenting on expansion,

Singh said, "Following the Finland acquisition, our focus right now is on consolidating that and get that going. Our expansion plans are within India and South East Asia. We continue to look for opportunities of acquisition in these markets and even in Mediterranean, if there is an opportunity for acquisition." The board of directors also announced the issue of bonus shares in the ratio of 1:2, subject to shareholders' approval. Commenting on this announcement, Vasant Krishnan, exective director and CFO, MHRIL, said, "This will increase interest of investors and it is a good opportunity to reward the management confidence."

IN THE NEWS

'WE EXPECT35% GROWTH IN THE DOMESTIC TRAVELINSURANCE SEGMENT' Bajaj Allianz General Insurance recently launched the Bharat Bhraman domestic travel insurance plan, covering all modes of transport. T A Ramalingam, senior president and chief distribution officer, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, highlights the uniqueness of this new plan By Sudipta Dev What is the USP of Bharat Bhraman travel insurance plan ? Key USPs of Bharat Bhraman domestic travel insurance plan are – it covers all modes of transportation such as flights, trains, bus, taxis, private vehicle as well as cab service provided by e-commerce aggregators; flexibility to choose the tenure of the plan from – single trip, single or multiple number of days or an annual cover; offers 17 optional covers such as adventure sports, emergency medical evacuation, home burglary insurance, trip cancellation, missed connection and loss of baggage etc. There is no age limit, the policy can be availed by anyone. What are your growth expectations from the domestic travel insurance segment ? With the advent of back-

driving growth in domestic travel market and we are expecting 35-40 per cent growth in this segment. What are your other key travel insurance plans and what kind of traction you have seen in the last few years ? Our other key travel products for international travel are Travel Prime and Travel Elite. In recent years, we have observed 10 per cent growth in our travel insurance portfolio.

T A Ramalingam

packer’s culture in India, the number of tourists exploring unique experiences by travelling to offbeat destinations and

trying road trips or adventure sports, etc., has increased. This coupled with increased awareness amongst customers is

Your focus on engagement with travel agents and OTAs ? We are focusing on increased engagement with travel agents and OTAs. As number of domestic travellers increase, the Bharat Bhraman product is helping OTAs and travel agents to offer value add

packages for travellers which not only offers great holiday destinations but also cover domestic travellers against any exigencies. Have you observed any interesting trends in terms of traveller profile / buying patterns ? We have observed that 70 per cent of travellers purchasing travel insurance belong to an age group of 25 to 40 years. Moreover majority of policies, about 53 per cent, were issued for solo travellers. The most preferred sum insured is of US$ 50,000 followed by US$ 2,00,000. Also we have registered 8 per cent increase in travel insurance being issued for travel to countries where insurance is not mandatory. The US, Australia and UK are the top destinations for which travel policies are availed.

Tourism Malaysia to revive Indian tourist arrivals Mohit Rathod Mumbai Tourism Malaysia is directing its efforts in the India market towards recovering growth of Indian tourist arrivals, which witnessed a plunge in 2016, compared to 2015. According to statistics, Malaysia received 722,141 Indian tourist arrivals in CY2015, which declined to 638,578 in CY2016, marking a 11.6 per cent decrease. Singapore, Indonesia and China are

currently the top three source countries for Tourism Malaysia. Despite the decline, Tourism Malaysia’s revenue increased last year due to the extended length of stay of Indian travellers. In 2015, the average length of stay was 6.7 nights, but last year it was seven nights, which increased tourist spendings, thereby posting a positive revenue for the destination. Commenting on the decline, Mohd Hafiz Hashim, director, Tourism Malaysia – Mumbai,

Mohd Hafiz Hashim

said, “There are several factors behind the decline. The opening of Bollywood Parks has diverted a proportion of Indian tourists to Dubai. Demonetisation was also a factor a significant factor. Additionally, Malaysia receives a large part of middle income class travellers, but with rising incomes, Indians travelled more to Europe. In Q1 this year, the numbers still remained low. We received around 160,000 Indian tourists in Q1 last year, but only

around 100,000 during the same period this year; this may also be due to demonetisation.” While acknowledging that the tourism board has to work harder to recover the growth in Indian tourist arrivals, Hashim added, “We are tapping into Tier II and III markets. AirAsia’s recent launch of Bhubhaneswar-Kuala Lumpur flight will also help in strengthening Indian tourist arrivals. We are trying to focus on family segment this year.”

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

9

June 2017

IN THE NEWS

'INFUSING ARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCE INTO SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES HELPS AVIATION COMPANIES' Intelenet Global Services is a large global Business Process Services player offering an innovate toolkit for the travel industry, including the iFARE tool that can interact and integrate airline ticketing fare rules from across multiple GDSs and websites. Rajendra Deshpande, CIO, Intelenet Global Services highlights the new technologies for the aviation sector By Sudipta Dev What are the key features of iFARE that benefit the airlines? Intelenet’s iFARE tool has the ability to interact and integrate airline ticketing fare rules from across multiple Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and airline websites (this feature is a part of future enhancement). It enables faster calculation of amounts related to ticketing and schedule changes/related to changes and cancellation of a ticket, while reducing retail losses through automation of fare calculation. Moreover, it is able to considerably improve the turnaround time for customer queries, while reducing customer service costs by approximately 30 per cent. This unique proposition improves customer experience, which is paramount in service oriented industries such as travel and hospitality. What role can AI play in streamlining processes in the aviation sector? Organisations or teams in charge of fulfilment within the travel industry have to deal with scheduling across multiple time zones, queues, POS, GDS and also cater to inquiries across different languages. The most significant challenge is to service these varied time zones in the most efficient manner, to ensure that no customer or travel agency is affected by the limited multitasking ability of the human mind. In line with

10

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

June 2017

fying or adding new services to enhance the air travel experience for passengers, or by initiating new processes to ensure greater safety and security for the air travel sector. Which airlines have implemented the tool in India? What have been your global deployments? Our client base comprises a mix of UK, US and Indian entities operating in this industry. We are unable to divulge specific names due to client confidentiality.

Rajendra Deshpande

these requirements, infusing artificial intelligence into the systems and processes helps aviation companies improve efficiency and achieve scale, while reducing costs and human intervention for mundane tasks that can be programmed. According to a recent Accenture report, more than 85 percent of airline executives said that technology-driven change will increase rapidly in the airline sector over the next three years. This report also emphisises that more than half of all airlines have realised savings through the use of such

technologies, ranging from online self-check-in systems to automated passport control and customs clearance. Other new technologies destined for the airline industry include drones used to fly over planes which would send data to help make better assessments of a plane’s reliability, or sensors embedded inside the planes that could send reports on airworthiness, stability and fuel efficiency to an airlines’ central control system. Airline carriers are also exploring new technologies as a means of gaining a competitive advantage, through modi-

How does it benefit the airline customer? The iFARE tool devised by Intelenet is able to communicate across multiple GDSs to retrieve PNR details, fare rules basis applicable conditions, applicable charges or refund due post amendment or cancellation that considerably eliminates the time spent in toggling, reading conditions, manually calculating the charges/refunds due, etc. From a customer service standpoint, we have enabled clients to improve first contact resolution and boost productivity through a 30 per cent increase in efficiency/services. The tool has also helped clients garner an 11 per cent reduction in terms of costs associated with servicing customer requests. Our clients have been able to significantly enhance customer experience, thereby leading to repeat business.

Which are the other sectors in travel and hospitality vertical where iFARE can be implemented? The iFARE tool has the potential to transform a variety of business functions, such as marketing, sales, customer service, finance and accounting and fulfilment and contract loading, within the travel and hospitality vertical, by infusing a higher degree of efficiency. For instance, it has the ability to provide high end complex services such as the Retention & Resolution Desk (RRD) for resolution of customer service escalations, complaints, claims and tier-2 backend service support. What are your other products and solutions for travel and hospitality? Intelenet, a leading provider of services and solutions designed to drive more profitability, offers a creative and innovate toolkit for the travel industry that is designed to increase profitability and customer loyalty. Apart from iFARE, the toolkit also consists of iSAFE, a fully integrated Robotics workflow solution; and iCAN, an intelligent communications management tool. I-Load for hotel contract loading, I-Unify to bring multiple applications under single screen, Insight for Quality management and I-Schedule for automation of Schedule Change Process.

IN THE NEWS

AirAsia X Mumbai-Bali service to drive leisure tourism from India Mohit Rathod Mumbai FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH of AirAsia X Indonesia's Mumbai-Bali daily flight, Indonesia is expecting a boost in leisure tourist inflow from the India market. This launch will leverage upon the increasing demand of tourists from India going to Bali. "We were looking at this operation for a long time and now it has been launched. We received a lot of support from the Indonesian Consulate and Indonesian government," said Sulistyo Nugroho Hanung,

CEO and director of flight operation, AirAsia X Indonesia. The inaugural flight XT853, from Mumbai to Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, witnessed a passenger load factor of 90 per cent. However, Nugroho Hanung emphasised that the airline is not stressing on load factor because the passenger traffic on this route is high and a lot of Indians travel to Bali. "Indian arrivals to Indonesia has been strong, even prior to this development. This flight launch will further give boost to tourist arrivals from

India. This is also a good way to increase B2B contact between India and Indonesia," commented Saut Siringoringo, Consul General of Indonesia in Mumbai. When asked about MICE tourism, Siringoringo said that the recently launched Garuda Indonesia flight on Mumbai-Jakarta route is more MICE-centric. Bali being a leisure destination, AirAsia X Indonesia flight is focused more on the leisure segment. AirAsia X Indonesia is looking to garner business and create a bigger market for itself

through dynamic fares on this route. With its low-cost longhaul service that connects the two destinations coupled with short-haul connectivity of AirAsia Indonesia, the airline also aims to support Indone-

sian government to bring in 20 million tourists by 2019. The flight is operated on Airbus A330-300, offering a configuration of 377 seats – 12 Flatbed and 365 Economy seats.

Civil Aviation Ministry seeks flexibility in RCS ETW Staff Mumbai CIVIL AVIATION MINISTER P Ashok Gajapathi Raju has announced that his ministry would soon be launching the second round of bidding under RCSUDAN. The minister informed that airline operators have shown keen interest in undertaking operations under the scheme and on the basis of the experience of the first round of bidding, the ministry wanted to make the process simpler and attractive. A stakeholders’ consultation meeting will also be organised on June 7, 2017 to discuss the proposed amendments and key aspects of the scheme for the second round of bidding. Following this, the stakeholders will be expected to submit their inputs and observations by June 9, 2017. The secretary for civil aviation, R N Choubey highlighted the six aspects of the scheme for which suggestions have been invited from stakeholders. ● Aspect 1 proposes to consider

routes between two airports which are neither under-served nor un-served. This is being proposed to further encourage intraregional connectivity ● Aspect 2 deals with whether fixed wing aircrafts should be allowed to operate below 150 km for specific areas/regions ● Under Aspect 3, the exclusivity clause is sought to be made more flexible depending upon operators and certain rules ● Under Aspect 4, the ministry has sought suggestions with regard to minimum number of RCS seats. Also whether the minimum number and maximum number of RCS seats could be stretched over a period of a week instead of a particular flight. Opinions have also been sought whether seasonal flights should be permitted under RCS ● Aspect 5 asked stakeholders to see whether non-RCS routes should be included as part of the network proposal ● Aspect 6 seeked suggestions from stakeholders to incentivised helicopter operations under RCS

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

11

June 2017

IN THE NEWS

AI's new direct flight to boost outbound to Sweden Sudipta Dev Mumbai WITH THE START of Air India's direct flight between New Delhi and Stockholm, Visit Sweden is expecting a further increase in visitor arrivals from India. In the last five years (from 2011 to 2016), Sweden has witnessed a 128 per cent growth in total from India. “We are expecting continued growth moving forward given higher accessibility with Air India’s new direct flight from Delhi to Stockholm this year. We also see an increase in interest among the Indian target group,” said Lotta Thiringer, regional director, growth & development, Visit Sweden. The first flight takes off on August 15, India's Independence Day, which also marks the start of the Stockholm culture week, which this year will have India as theme. Visit Swe-

den together with the City of Stockholm and Swedavia will partner with Air India to increase awareness about the destination. Stockholm receives the most Indian visitors overall in Sweden, catering to luxury visitors with upscale hotels, Michelin Star restaurants, exclusive excursions and world-class shopping. “An area of growing interest for this segment is Swedish Lapland, a nature escape with once in a lifetime experiences like a night at the ICEHOTEL, a design hotel built entirely out of ice and snow, and the Northern Lights. This is the luxury of authenticity, a stress free life, fresh air and pure nature. Sweden does not position itself as traditional luxury destination, but is a place for people seeking something else, something new and unexplored,” mentioned Thiringer. Pointing out that Visit Sweden as the national

destination marketing organisation is primarily concerned with leisure travel, and is not actively targeting the MICE segment, Thiringer added, “However, many hotels and businesses in the Swedish tourism industry are seeing more MICE visitors from India.” Visit Sweden's promotional strategy in India is focused on the travel trade - increasing awareness and in-depth knowledge among agents and operators to get more packages and customised trips to Sweden and Scandinavia on the market. “In this way we aim to leverage the growing interest that we are seeing. We have partnered with Visit Norway and Visit Denmark in a joint effort by the Scandinavian Tourist Board to get the message out to the trade and support the agents and tour operators with destination knowledge, contacts and

Lotta Thiringer

content,” stated Thiringer. Visit Sweden's partnership with Airbnb to turn the entire country into an Airbnb listing has a broad and long-term initiative aiming to get more travellers to discover Sweden. “The

initiative in itself is about creating awareness and engagement and is primarily targeting US travellers but has already received a lot of attention around Europe and parts of Asia,” said Thiringer.

Beverly Hills Convention Bureau launches new campaign Saloni Bhatia New Delhi BEVERLY HILLS CPNFERENCE and Visitor's Bureau recently launched a campign, 'City of Wellth' in order to attract more tourists in the luxury wellness segment. The India market has seen 50 per cent growth in overnight stays in 2016 over 2015, which shows the potential of the market, stated Julie Wagner, chief executive officer, Beverly Conventions Bureau. She informed, “We have witnessed that the Indians spend more at a destination as compared to our other Chineses visitors, one of our major source markets. Despite the actual numbers might not be very high, large percentage of Indians stay overnight at our hotels which contributes a lot. We feel that the expansion of the Middle East carriers have really helped the growth.” Further explaining the special initiative which has been launched to add to the luxury offerings of the area, Wagner informed. “The shifting status quo of how success is now perceived in terms of health and

12

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

June 2017

wellbeing, rather than through material and financial wealth, means the desire for WELLTH is now a key factor in people’s choice of travel destination. Beverly Hills: City of WELLTH exemplifies the destination’s continual innovation to create inviting options for visitors, and places wellbeing at the forefront of its worldclass accommodation, dining, and spa and offerings.” Talking to Express TravelWorld about the new initiatives, Wagner added, “The hotel packages being offered will have special wellness programmes in order to indulge the guests to have new healthy experiences. The restaurants will also have special diet menus or items in order to promote the wellness campaign.” Majority of the hotels have gone under renovation or some new ones have come up at the destination which adds to the initiative. Another major aspect that the destination is highlighting in their campaigns is the move to keep the retail stores open for extra hours on special days. Known as BOLD (Business Open Late Days), retail stores and dining outlets will provide incentives for guests to encourage late hour shopping and dining.

IN THE NEWS

Photography tours see rapid growth in outbound segment Sudipta Dev Mumbai BENGALURU BASED TRAVEL and photography company, Toehold, that has been conducting photography tours since 2010, has seen significant growth in the niche segment in recent years, not only in terms of customer profile but destinations covered. “We estimate that there are almost 25000 photography enthusiasts who travel within India and abroad with just photography on the mind. The outbound market is growing rapidly,” said Jayanth Sharma, co-founder & CEO, Toehold. Initially the company used to operate 20-25 tours each year and most of the tours were within India except Africa and Sri Lanka. “But now, we have

clients across the nation and also countries like US, France, UK and UAE. Clients are travelling to remote corners of the world like Antarctica, Arctic, Patagonia in South America, Far-east of Russia and to the corners of the African continent,” stated Sharma. While most of the clients are between the ages of 25-50, there are a few elderly photography enthusiasts also. “Mostly are employees of tech companies, doctors, businessmen. We currently get 20 per cent women on such tours and many of them travel solo,” he remarked. Within India, the popular destinations are Ranthambhore, Kabini, Bandhavgarh, Corbett and Tadoba, while Ladakh is in great demand for adventure and nature lovers.

Jayanth Sharma

According to Sharma, Toehold's Antarctica and Arctic trips are seeing a larger interest base while people are starting to travel to central and South America which is an emerging market. “We do a lot in Africa and it is a very popular part of the world for photography tours. There are a lot

of destinations within Africa that are emerging like Botswana and Rawanda, apart from the obvious Kenya and Tanzania,” remarked Sharma, adding that Iceland is currently one of the most popular international destinations. “We have exclusive contracts to do photography tours in destina-

tions like Iceland, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Pantanal, Kamchatka, Svalbard and Patagonia,” he stated. A part of Sharma's business is camera rental service for the photography tours, which is required by more than 40 per cent of his clients.

Sarovar Hotels opens Kenya’s first airport luxury hotel ETW Staff Mumbai SAROVAR HOTELS HAS launched The Lazizi Premiere Nairobi, a luxury hotel positioned inside the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The hotel, managed by Sarovar Hotels, was inaugurated by H E Uhuru Kenyatta, the current President of Kenya. The tourism and hospitality industry of Kenya has received a boost following the launch of this hotel which is the country’s first five-star airport hotel. President Kenyatta officially opened the 144-room premium hotel as part of the government’s tourism and hospitality transformation strategy. Ajay K Bakaya, managing director, Sarovar Hotels, said, “Kenya is the business hub for

Africa and has one of the most diverse accommodation facilities. Nairobi being the hub of East Africa offers a great launch pad for our expansion and growing our footprint in the African region. Travellers in transit, airline crews and

other local and international visitors intending to avoid traffic enroute to the airport have not had much luck as most hotels are still quite a distance from the main international airport in the capital city. We are aiming to tap that segment

with The Lazizi Premiere.” Kiran M Patel, hotel promoter and chairman, Lazizi Premiere, commented, “The entry of The Lazizi Premiere Nairobi into the Kenyan market seeks to complement the ever-increasing demand for ho-

tel rooms in Nairobi especially during peak tourist seasons, local and international conferences. Our intention is not only to contribute significantly to the country’s growth and Vision 2030 but also to create over 1000 job opportunities in the hospitality industry, directly and indirectly.” The launch of The Lazizi Premiere Nairobi is said to tap into the 900,000 annual international arrivals, the government’s initiatives to promote the local hospitality industry and the business environment in Kenya. The hotel houses five F&B venues – Kitchen 9, Aroma, Velocity Bar, Sky View Lounge, and The Pool Deck. The hotel also seeks to tap into the country’s MICE tourism segment through its over 200-capacity offering.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

13

June 2017

IN THE NEWS

Romania to tie up with Indian trade partners for destination promotion ETW Staff Mumbai ROMANIA TOURISM OFFICIALS recently visited India, in order to understand the needs of the India market. In order to grow tourism numbers from the Asia market, the officials visited a few countries to tie up with trade partners. Romania set up its tourism office in Beijing which also looks after the India market in coordination with the embassy here in Delhi. While talking to the media during a special event organised by the

PHD Chambers in New Delhi, Cristina Tarteata, secreatary of state, ministry of tourism, stated, “We are looking to promote Romania in a big way and since India, China, South Korea, Japan are the top Asian markets, we feel it is important to understand the traveller's needs here.” Further talking about the country's offerings she added, “Romania is a beautiful country which offers everything from natural landscapes , adventure sports to nightlife. Apart from the country side which offers ancient customs we also have rural tourism,

wellness tourism in untouched areas. We are looking to tie up with partners in order to package the right kind of product.” When asked about any

ease in visa regulations, Radu Dobre, Ambassador of Romania to India stated that Romania accepts 'Schengen visa' despite not being part of the same region. However they

will ease the process for visas in the coming time. He also informed that around 20,000 Indians visited Romania last year and they are hoping to increase this number.

Thailand records 17% growth in Indian tourist arrivals ETW Staff Mumbai THAILAND’S MINISTRY OF Tourism and Sports has released figures showing that during the first four months of this year, 12 million visitors came to Thailand spending around 620 billion baht, an increase of 4.71 per cent when compared with the same period in 2016. Domestic tourism generated over 220 billion baht. The country attracted 12,021,617 international visits for the first four months compared to 11,682,144 visits during the same period last year. The kingdom witnessed a growth of 17 per cent from India compared to 2016. Yuthasak Supasorn, governor, Tourism Authority of

14

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

June 2017

Thailand (TAT), said, “Thailand attracts many tourists because it offers experiences that are new and unique, no matter how many times you visit. In the first few months of the year, the combination of lovely weather and amazing festivals; such as, Songkran or the Thai New Year celebrations means there’s much to enjoy for travellers, not to mention locals. We are delighted to be doing so well in 2017 and will continue to offer a warm Thai welcome to visitors yet to come.” Soraya Homchuen, director TAT Mumbai, commented, “Compared to 2016, this year witnessed a growth of 17 per cent from India. Thanks to the visa policies and extra international flight connectivity, we witnessed a

phenomenal growth in the arrival numbers from India. The reason why Thailand is one of the most preferred destinations among Indians. The most visited cities by Indians in the first quarter were Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. We are delighted about this positive outlook and are hoping that the momentum continues for the rest of the year.” The ministry projects Thailand’s tourism-related revenue in 2017 will reach THB 2.71 trillion. Of that, THB 1.78 trillion will come from foreign visitors and THB 930 billion from domestic travellers. In 2017, Thailand intends to focus on specific tourism segments such as sports tourism, medical and wellness, weddings and honeymoon.

IN THE NEWS

'NEXTFIVE YEARS WILLBE EXCITING FOR US AS ACOMPANY' Wyndham Hotel Group, which currently has 28 properties in India, has ambitious plans to expand its footprint across the country. Deepika Arora, regional vice president – Eurasia, Wyndham Hotel Group, speaks about the evolution of the brand in India and some key projects coming up in many of the 16 countries she is in charge of By Sudipta Dev What according to you have been the key milestones for Wyndham Hotel Group in the region – from expansion to brand awareness ? Wyndham Hotel Group has a strong presence across tier I, tier II and tier III cities across India. In Chennai, the third property is opening soon. In Bengaluru there is Howard Johnson, and Days Inn is opening in a few months time, and we have an Encore. Howard Johnson does a lot of F&B events. In Mumbai, we are in Juhu, Powai and Navi Mumbai. In Gurgaon, there is one property and another under construction. One of the key successes is that operationally we have grown our footprint from five to 28 hotels in India and 36 in the region I look after. I started with three countries and today I need to look after 16 countries. That is another big milestone. We have gone from 1000 rooms to 2800 rooms in India to 3800 in the region I take care of. We have grown from one Ramada brand to now Howard Johnson, Days Inn, Encore, Ramada Plaza. Another milestone is evolving the brand image. Six years back, when I would go and sell any of my brands, people would not know about Wyndham. Till date it is a bit of a challenge, people do not relate to Wyndham as they relate to Ramada, because of visibility. That was my biggest challenge. We revamped the look and feel of the brand, so you see beautiful products including one which we recently opened in Kumbhalgarh. Encore is a

tions. The first hotel will be in Dwarka. It will be a 160 rooms property. Pilgrim tourism is such a significant segment. Are there any more locations you are looking to enter ? We are opening a hotel in Jammu (for Vaishno Devi), there will always be a demand in religious locations, not just for the brand but investment perspective. As a group we are never scared to go into a market that others are hesitant to enter - whether it is any city in India or Africa or the Middle East. Deepika Arora

brand we opened in a market in Jalandhar, and the customers have taken it positively, in addition to the Ramada brand in Jalandhar. Another property that has upped the benchmark for our Ramada brand is the Ramada Lucknow. Lucknow is one market where everyone wants to be. The challenge is connectivity from the airport to the city, which take a along time. The property is near the airport with large meeting and banquet spaces, restaurants, pools. It is a large complex. The lawns can accommodate 6000 people. These are the milestones we have created in the region, in terms of growing our footprint 100 per cent, growing our pipeline to almost 200 per cent. In the future, like Jalandhar and Lucknow, will the Tier II/III and tertiary markets

be your key locations for growth ? I have always believed in the right partners, and that has worked for me. I have gone where the partner has believed in, whether it is Dehradun, Kasauli, Darjeeling or Kumbhalgarh, Tirupati or Trivandrum, we have just gone with the partners. It is very essential. They are investing crores and crores of money. We see growth potential in these markets. We recently concluded a large deal and we are venturing into religious destinations with that partner. Can you tell us more about this partnership ? It is a multiple hotel deal for our brand called Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, and they are focusing to come up in leisure and religious destina-

You are incharge of the market in many countries, are you following the same policy for expansion at those destinations also ? India is the largest, but now I am also trying to focus more on the neighbourhood. We have strategic partnerships in these countries. I see a huge potential in Nepal, we have an Encore coming up there. I see a huge potential in Bangladesh, we have eight hotels coming up in the country, many in Dhaka, Chittagong, Cox's Bazaar. Sri Lanka is another country which we are enthusiastic about. I am keen to develop more brands in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, where we have existing properties but look at five-six hotels in these destinations. Then there is Maldives, which is attracting many Chinese travellers and I see upsurge of mid market hotels in that country. We already have RCI affiliated resorts there,

which are part of our group. Looking ahead, what are your expectations from the Indian market ? I am excited that this year, the industry will see an upcycle, the last two years have been stressful. Things will move up in terms of occupancy and rates. India has become transaction friendly, there is investment coming in. We are also keen, given an opportunity we would like to invest in a market like India. Next five-six years will be exciting for us as a company. As a woman leader in hospitality, what would be your message for those who aim to reach the top of their profession ? It is easily said that do what you believe in, but it is most difficult to implement. As women we have multiple responsibilities, if you are able to believe what you want to do you will be able to manage these responsibilities. That is the most important. If you really believe in something go for it, everything will fall in place. What is the work culture you have tried to implement in the organisation ? I have killed the tiers. It has to be an environment where everybody is happy to be at the workplace. We all leave our families for 8 to 10 hours to come to office and serve our customers, serve our owners, make sure we are running the organisation in a healthy way. We cannot do it if we are stressed.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

15

June 2017

IN THE NEWS

Lufthansa Group launches ‘Book-a-Group’tool for travel trade ETW Staff Mumbai THE LUFTHANSA GROUP has developed and launched its ‘Book-a-Group’ tool as an integrated platform for flights with Austrian, Lufthansa and Swiss. It is exclusively accessible to tour operators, consolidators and travel agents. With just one online tool, they will be able to request group journeys for 10 people or more with the three network airlines – in any combination – and bookings can then be made with immediate confirmation. It includes groups of private individuals, business travellers or tourists. Following the enquiry, the ‘Book-a-Group’ tool, which is available in 14 different languages, will then deliver an offer and price quote in real time. The commercial conditions for group journeys have once again been improved and have now been standardised in one single contract valid for all the group’s hub airlines. This will be used for new

bookings with the introduction of the Lufthansa Groupwide ‘Book-a-Group’ tool. One significant improvement, for example, is said to be the introduction of a booking option

for short term bookings. In future, it will be possible to cancel bookings within the last 60 days before the actual flight, at no charge, from 72 hours after the booking. The service

will now be provided through just one point of contact instead of having separate contact persons for each airline. “With the new, integrated ‘Book-a-Group’ tool, we have

been able to implement a further step in the harmonisation of our products and services across all network airlines. This will make it even easier for our ticket intermediaries to make group enquiries and bookings with the Lufthansa Group,” said Dieter Vranckx, vice president – sales, Asia Pacific, Lufthansa Group Airlines. It will likewise be possible to use the ‘Book-a-Group’ tool to make enquiries for bookings involving combinations of flights with further members of Lufthansa Group Airlines (Brussels Airlines and Eurowings), as well as with many other Lufthansa partner airlines. This will allow ticket intermediaries and travel agency staff to offer their customers an even wider network of routes, as well as improved availability. Even after the booking has been made, the travel professionals will still have access to all the important data and can deal independently with the administration for the travelling group.

Vistara takes delivery of its first Airbus A320neo ETW Staff Mumbai VISTARA HAS TAKEN delivery of its first Airbus A320neo (new engine option) aircraft at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, making it the 14th aircraft in the airline’s growing fleet. Apart from the technical advancements that come with the A320neo, Vistara has unveiled several enhancements to the product on the Neos. Vistara’s A320neo features mood lighting (first time in India for an Airbus A320 operator), more comfortable seating with a new

16

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

June 2017

seat bottom and seat back design and softer cushion, and a new look across all three cabin classes. Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara, said, “We are in the aviation business not merely to provide transportation for people, but also to create memorable flying experiences. For today’s discerning air travellers, it is imperative to offer an in-flight experience that pleases all senses. The interior changes in our first A320neo is a manifestation of this thought. We have paid attention to the smallest of details; from the look and feel of our

newly designed seats in fine leather upholstery and mood lighting to the aroma of a cup of freshly brewed Starbucks coffee onboard, Vistara ensures delight at every touchpoint. The A320neo also ensures operational enhancement as well as cost leadership for us, with an extra payload capacity and greater fuel efficiency, perfectly aligning with our growth strategy.” Vistara has selected CFM International’s advanced LEAP1A engine to power its A320neo aircraft, with engine features such as its fuel efficiency, reliability, and operating economics.

IN THE NEWS

Israel marks record tourist arrivals; Indian arrivals up by 26% ETW Staff Mumbai

industry and its tremendous contribution to the Israeli economy and workforce. This important and exciting milestone is part of a positive trend that has been taking place over the last half year or more. I hope and believe that, with hard work, we will continue to reap the benefits of this investment.” In January- April 2017, 1.09 million tourist entries were recorded, an increase of 26 per cent on the same period in 2016 (850,000). A total of 964,000 tourists arrived by air, 24 per cent more than the same period in 2016. Israel received 15,000 visitors from India in January – April 2017, an increase of 26 per cent on the same period in 2016.

ISRAEL HAS MARKED its historic record in tourism with 349,000 tourists visiting Israel in April, 2017 – the highest ever figure for any month since 1948 and an increase of about 40 per cent over last year. Since January 2017, tourism has injected a record NIS 6 billion into the Israeli economy. This achievement is attributed to marketing budgets and a shift in Israel’s international marketing policy. Israel’s tourism minister Yariv Levin said, “When there is clear policy, we see results. Every month, we are witnessing exceptional statistics that illustrate the progress we are spearheading in the tourism

TripAdvisor upgrades iOS app ETW Staff Mumbai TRIPADVISOR HAS announced a new streamlined experience for its native iOS app, allowing travellers to more easily plan their trip on the app, including finding competitive prices for hotels, as well as get value deals on flights, holiday rentals, restaurants and other things to do in-destination. With advice from global travellers, the newly redesigned app empowers travellers with the insights they need to make informed travel choices. “Travellers want to know they’re getting the best value on a hotel and other parts of the trip, and we have now redesigned our app to make sure they do just that. The new TripAdvisor app experience allows travellers to

effortlessly compare prices and book their hotel, find great things to do on the go, and unleash the full potential of their trip,” said Stephen Kaufer, chief executive officer and co-founder, TripAdvisor. The new app better supports the needs of hotel shoppers to compare prices, discover what to do in-destination and make decisions on their travel. The new app features a simpler and more streamlined design, as well as greater consistency across TripAdvisor’s various travel categories. TripAdvisor has also updated its “Things to Do” and “Restaurants” categories pages, which now adapt to user preferences and make customised recommendations based on machine learning. Travellers can also access essential travel insights, including more than 500

The new app better supports the needs of hotel shoppers to compare prices, discover what to do in-destination and make decisions on their travel million reviews and opinions covering seven million accommodations, airlines, restaurants and attractions globally. Features of the new app include: ● “Best Value” hotel rankings: To ensure travellers get the best value on places to stay, hotels are now ranked and sorted based on a combination of a number of proprietary factors, including

traveller ratings, hotel rates, booking popularity, brand affinity and location. A “Traveller Ranked” filter also remains available to help travellers search for top-rated hotels based on quality, quantity and recency of reviews on the site ● Itinerary and trip collaboration: Travellers now have the ability to save and create trips, and collaborate with friends and family on the must-dos through a new

feature called “MyTrips” ● 360-degree photos: In addition to the more than 98 million candid traveller photos available on the site, new 360-degree photos give travellers a first-hand look inside hotels around the world ● Safe and secure booking: A vaulted credit card feature makes TripAdvisor’s instant booking platform safe, easy and quick for users looking to save money on the right hotel room for them The new iOS app is available across all 48 markets where TripAdvisor operates. TripAdvisor will roll out a redesigned user experience with the new features and design elements on TripAdvisor’s Android native app, as well as the company’s mobile and desktop websites in the future.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

17

June 2017

IN THE NEWS

FCM Travel Solutions expands scope of foreign exchange business ETW Staff Mumbai FCM TRAVEL SOLUTIONS, Indian subsidiary of Flight Centre Travel Group, can now undertake various permissible outward remittance activities for travellers across segments. The upgrade comes into effect post receiving the Authorised Dealer Category II (AD-II) license, as granted by the Reserve Bank of India. In addition, FCM Travel Solutions will be able to release / sell foreign

currency in form of multi-currency prepaid travel cards, currency notes and travellers cheques for visas, emigration and emigration consultancy fees, employment and processing, assessment fees for overseas job applications, students who intend to study overseas or seek to apply for proficiency examinations, international film shootings and medical treatments abroad. Authorised Dealers Category II license holders are Authorised Money Changers

We are pleased to be a part of the few AD-II license holders in travel fraternity. This not just widens the scope of availability of foreign exchange but also makes the pre-trip process more convenient (AMCs), accredited by the Reserve Bank under Section 10

of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 to deal in

foreign exchange for aforementioned purposes. Gagan Malhotra, national head – foreign exchange, FCM Travel Solutions India, said, “We are pleased to be a part of the few AD-II license holders in the travel fraternity. The elevation not just widens the scope of availability of foreign exchange through different channels but also makes the pre-trip process more convenient and hassle-free for our customers. It will also help us seek better currency rates.”

AccorHotels debuts Novotel in Lucknow ETW Staff Mumbai ACCORHOTELS HAS ANNOUNCED the opening of Uttar Pradesh’s first Novotel in the capital city of Lucknow, Novotel Lucknow Gomti Nagar. The business hotel is located in the heart of the city’s commercial hub – Gomti Nagar, a short drive from Lucknow airport and railway station. The first AccorHotels property to open in Lucknow, Novotel Lucknow Gomti Nagar is designed by Mumbaibased architect, Ahmed Shaikh of Ahmed and Associates. The hotel features 106 rooms, including two suites. Jean-Michel Cassé, chief operating officer, India and South Asia, AccorHotels, said, “The cultural capital of North India, Lucknow has traditionally been the epicentre of literature, cuisine, and performing arts. The city’s radial expansion has given way to new growth corridors, attracting plentiful invest-

18

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

June 2017

ments. It is this confluence of culture and business that makes Lucknow a compelling destination for travellers and we are delighted to open our very first Novotel property here.” Novotel Lucknow Gomti Nagar is home to four F&B outlets – The Square, Novo-

tel’s flagship all-day dining restaurant; The Bar; The Rooftop Restaurant, which overlooks the pool; and The Deli at the lobby level. For meetings and events, the hotel features two meeting rooms – The Ball Room and The Celebrations. Whereas, leisure facilities

include a fitness centre, a rooftop infinity pool, a recreational area for kids and a spa. Raj Singh, general manager, Novotel Lucknow Gomti Nagar, added, “Lucknow is an established tourist destination where art and culture have contributed significantly

to the growth of the city. With Novotel Lucknow Gomti Nagar’s contemporary ‘home away from home’ stay experience, assortment of dining outlets and meeting spaces, we are set to define new paradigms in the hospitality industry to meet the city’s tourism growth.”

IN THE NEWS

Railways to offer connectivity for Char Dham pilgrims ETW Staff Mumbai THE INDIAN RAILWAYS will commence the final location survey for providing rail connectivity to the four important Hindu shrines in the hills of Uttarakhand at an estimated cost of over `40,000 crore. The Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL), a railway PSU, has been entrusted with the task of undertaking the final survey for rail connectivity to Chardham – Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath – through Dehradun and Karanprayag. Earlier, RVNL had undertaken a reconnaissance engineering survey in 2014-15 and submitted a report in

October 2015. As per the reconnaissance survey, the total route length is 327 kms and will cost `43,292 crore. The REC survey recommends 21 new stations, 61 tunnels totalling into a tunnel length of 279 kms and 59 bridges. As the alignment will pass through the rugged mountainous terrain of the Himalayas, the Railways has to meet the challenges of rail construction. The existing rail heads or the nearest railway stations to the proposed Char Dham are Doiwala, Rishikesh and Karanprayag. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu shall lay the foundation stone for the final loca-

As per the reconnaissance survey, the total route length is 327 km and will cost `43,292 crore. The REC survey recommends 21 new stations, 61 tunnels (tunnel length of 279 km) and 59 bridges tion survey for single broad gauge line in Badrinath on May 13. The four Dhams have their varied and distinctive elevation levels along with spiritual significance. The Yamunotri tracing the origin of the river Yamuna is

situated at 3,293 metre above sea level while the Gangotri tracing the origin of the river Ganga is situated at 3,408 metre above sea level. Kedarnath, housing the shrine of Lord Shiva, is one of the 12 Jyotilingas at 3,583 metres’

height, while Badrinath housing the shrine of Lord Vishnu is at 3,133 metres height above sea level. Besides pilgrims, a large number of foreign and domestic tourists throng the state. The Indian Railways is also pursuing its project of constructing a new rail line between Rishikesh and Karanprayag and efforts are underway to fast-track the project. These rail projects are said to add momentum to the progress of the state by connecting far-flung areas besides boosting opportunities for tourism and economic development. (PTI)

Hotel Janpath to be transformed into government office ETW Staff Mumbai THE CABINET HAS approved the closure of India Tourism Development Corporation’s (ITDC) Janpath hotel in the national capital and the property will now be used for setting up government offices. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has gave in-principle approval for the transfer of property of Hotel Janpath to the ministry of urban development. “Hotel Janpath is located in a prime central location of the city. The property can be con-

sidered for construction of government offices and similar purposes which would save government funds spent in hiring of government offices,” an official statement said. The decision to close down Hotel Janpath was taken by the government within a month of deciding to exit three ITDC hotels in Bhopal, Guwahati and Bharatpur. The Committee of Secretaries, under the Cabinet Secretary, will take a decision on details of implementation of the project and land use. “The building of Hotel Janpath has to undergo major rehabilitation work since the building structure of Hotel Janpath has been found to be un-

serviceable, in distressed condition and deficit in the context of seismic requirements, according to the inspection report of IIT Roorkee,” the statement said.

The government has initiated the process of disinvestment of hotels/properties of the ITD) as it feels that running and managing hotels on professional lines is not the work of

the government or its entities. As part of the disinvestment policy, it has been decided to lease / sub-lease the hotels / properties jointly with the states concerned or return the properties to them, after fair valuation. States would then have the option to upgrade and operate the hotels by involving the private sector or to utilise the properties as per their requirements. In the first stage, it has been decided to disinvest three hotels – Hotel Lake View Ashok, Bhopal; Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok, Guwahati and Hotel Bharatpur Ashok. (PTI)

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

19

June 2017

IN THE NEWS

GMR in race for airport project in Philippines ETW Staff Mumbai THE GMR-MEGAWIDE CONSORTIUM which is currently operating the Mactan Cebu International Airport in the Philippines, is in race for the Davao Airport in the Far Eastern nation. The Davao Airport, also known as the Francisco Bangoy International Airport, is the third busiest airport in the Pacific island nation and is located at Catitipan in Davao City in the Mindanao province. According to the Philippines government, the GMR-Megawide consortium has emerged as a pre-qualified bidder for the 40.57 billion pesos (around US$ 810 million) airport project. According to prequalifica-

The Davao airport, which has been operational for more than 15 years now, handled over 3.5 million passengers in 2016, and has been growing at 10 per cent CAGR, it said. The GMR-Megawide combine currently manages the Mactan Cebu International Airport in the Philippines since 2013 tion bid document, the contract is for developing and running the operations as well as maintenance of the existing airport facilities. It also includes expansion/construction of new passenger terminal, along with all associated infrastructure,

facilities and equipment as per applicable standards. The winning bidder will also have to enhance/develop operations and maintain the landside facilities (new and existing terminals) and airside facilities (including apron, runway and

taxiway) to meet the growing demand. However, air traffic control and air navigation services are not part of the project, the Philippines government said in the scope of the project. GMR officials were not immediately available for comments.

The Davao Airport, which has been operational for more than 15 years now, handled over 3.5 million passengers in 2016, and has been growing at 10 per cent CAGR, it said. The GMR-Megawide combine currently manages the Mactan Cebu international airport in the Philippines since 2013. In December 2013 GMR Infrastructure in partnership with Megawide Construction Corporation of the Philippines emerged as the highest bidder after offering a bid premium of 14.4 billion pesos or around US$ 320 million. The GMR Group manages two international airports – New Delhi and Hyderabad – and has won the bid to build a greenfield airport at Mopa in North Goa. (PTI)

Airbus launches corporate version of A330neo ETW Staff Mumbai AIRBUS CORPORATE JETS has launched a private jet version of the A330neo, which will be able to fly 25 passengers for 20 hours, enough to fly nonstop from Europe to Australia. Featuring a very spacious cabin, the ACJ330neo can readily accommodate conference/dining areas, a private office, bedroom, bathroom and guest seating, and can be fully customised to suit customer needs. “For customers, such as countries needing to fly heads of state and delegations worldwide on government business, the ACJ330neo offers an unbeatable combination of modern design, proven capability and productivity, as well as being part of the world’s best-selling widebody family,” said John

20 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD June 2017

Leahy, chief operating officer – customers, Airbus. Recent A330 advances include new-generation RollsRoyce Trent 7000 engines, Sharklet wingtips and improved maximum take-off weights. Other new features include the option of an onboard airport navigation system (OANS), similar to GPS in cars, and a runway over-run prevention system (ROPS), for which insurance companies offer reduced premiums. Like all Airbus aircraft, the ACJ330 features Category 3B autoland and other enriching features as standard and, like all Airbus aircraft in production today, it has a common cockpit, on which more than 100,000 pilots are already qualified. The ACJ330 also has optional dual head-up displays (HUDs).

IN THE NEWS

Carlson Rezidor targets mid-scale segment for India expansion

ETW Staff Mumbai CARLSON REZIDOR HOTEL Group is targeting the mid-scale segment in Tier II and III cities in India to be the main drivers of its future growth in the country. The company currently has 84 operating hotels in the country and expects to have 170 hotels

by 2020. “Our focus is on the state capitals where we are not present and on the secondary and tertiary cities where demand for mid-scale brands is very high,” said Raj Rana, CEO – South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, adding that at present, the strongest growth potential in India is in mid-scale segment and that is mostly in the sec-

ondary and tertiary cities where international brands do not have much of a presence. “In these cities the demand and branded hotels supply imbalance is higher. So return on investment and feasibility works out to be more favourable in these cities,” Rana commented. He was speaking on the sidelines of the rebranding of Park

Plaza Noida as Radisson Noida. “We are keenly following the recently launched UDAN programme relating to the regional connectivity and if it gains momentum we have perfect mid-scale brands Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns and Suites to fit in to in these markets,” he said. Carlson Rezidor Hotel

Group currently has 1,440 hotels in operation and under development with more than 2,30,000 rooms and a footprint spanning 115 countries and territories. Its portfolio includes global brands such as Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson Red, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson.

IHG plans to debut Kimpton hotel in India ETW Staff Mumbai INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP (IHG) has opened the first Kimpton property outside of the Americas, in Europe – The Kimpton De Witt in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. IHG also aims to bring the US-based lifestyle hotel Kimpton to India. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants introduced the boutique hotel concept to the United States when it opened in San Fransisco in 1981. Sudeep Jain, vice president – development, South West Asia, IHG said, “The concept of lifestyle hotels is about stimulating a diverse, innovative environment enhanced by a sense of belonging and style. It is encouraging to see the signature Kimpton experience being introduced to Europe. Lifestyle hotels have been trending for

over 20 years, and now is the right time to accelerate our growth in India through the lifestyle segment.” Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants was acquired by IHG in 2015. IHG announced the further expansion of the brand across Europe with its second Kimpton hotel set to open in Paris in 2020. There are cur-

rently over 60 Kimpton hotels and more than 70 Kimpton restaurants, bars and lounges in 33 cities across Europe and the Americas. The Kimpton De Witt offers 274 rooms, which include nine signature suites in the original Golden Age buildings. Within the property stands a threestorey ‘Little House,’ which

dates back to the 1600s and was once the childhood home of the Dutch playwright, P C Hooft. Little House can be rented for groups. Kimpton De Witt’s signature suite, Penthouse De Witt, is split over two storeys and its 30-square-metre roof terrace offers views of the city. Guests have access to a fitness centre, Gaiam yoga mats

in every room and a complimentary all-day tea station in the lobby. “Europe was the original inspiration behind Bill Kimpton founding the brand and now we’re bringing the brand home again. Opening in Amsterdam, gives us the perfect opportunity to indulge in the playful, creative and innovative approach to luxury that the city inspires in Kimpton’s unique and special way. Amsterdam as a city is effortless in design, highly diverse and a hotbed of creativity, making it the perfect match for our first Kimpton hotel in Europe. We’ll be bringing Kimpton to Paris next and have big plans for other cities across the continent,” commented Angela Brav, CEO – Europe, IHG. This is IHG’s 20th hotel in The Netherlands and is an addition to the 675 IHG hotels across Europe.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

21

June 2017

cover story)

India, the birthplace of yoga, has several unique holistic destinations that can be packaged as niche tourism products both for the inbound and donestic markets

22 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD June 2017

(

THE MAIN FOCUS

DARJEELING D

arjeeling, a small hill town in the state of West Bengal used to be the summer capital of India under the British Raj. Over the years the place became popular for its tea plantations and beautiful weather, attracting all kinds of tourists from across India. The toy train which was established in 1881 has become one of the most iconic sites since it was listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Due to its British connect, the town is dotted with colonial architecture reflected in the mansions and churches. Nestled at an elevation of 2042 km above the sea level, the town has countless tourist places to visit. Each place provides a wide angle view of the mountains where tourists flock to enjoy the view. One can visit the Buddhist monasteries, historical churches, temples, rolling tea estates on mountain slopes, museums, art galleries, parks and gardens, waterfalls or take the cable car ride to capture all the scenic views of the small town. Adding to its offerings today is yoga retreats. The town's pleasant environs and refreshing views have played a significant role in opening of yoga centres in the area. One such centre is Himalyan Yoga Bliss. The 500 hours registered Yoga Teacher Training school is affiliated to the Yoga Alliance. It was one of the first of its kind to start yoga teacher training in India over the Himalayas. Located in the beautiful mountains of the world famous tea growing town of Darjeeling, the school offers internationally recognised residential yoga teacher training with a multi style exposure. They immerse it into traditional Hatha Yoga and its contemporary styles of the primary series of ashtanga yoga and Vinyasa. The school is located in the lower Himalayas overlooking the peaks of Kacnhenjunga, the tallest mountain in India. The serenity of the place is ideal for practicing yoga and meditation. The nearest airport is Bagdogra and the nearest major railway junction is New Jalpaiguri (NJP). It takes about three hours to reach Darjeeling from both these locations by car.

DEHRADUN T

he scenic state of Uttarakhand is globally popular for its mountains, rivers and lakes, culture, flora and fauna. Uttarakhand is a diverse tourist destination with offerings including pilgrimage, adventure, wildlife, excursion and wellness. Uttarakhand is also one of India's top yoga destinations, with its association with yoga since the ancient times. With a long history of Ayurveda, yoga and meditation, Uttarakhand has become an ideal destination to learn, practise and master these ways of life. The state has lately come to be known as the "yoga country" on account of the number of ashrams, health centres, retreats and high-end spas, it is home to. Like Rishikesh, various other parts the state are also strongly associated with yoga and wellness. Uttarakhand has been a top pick of foreign tourists who seek yoga experiences in India; for instance, legendary English band The Beatles' visit to Rishikesh for learning yoga and meditation. The state capital Dehradun is nestled in the mountain ranges of the Himalayas. Dehradun is one of the most visited tourist destinations in India and houses a number of tourist attractions such as Robber's Cave, Forest Research Institute, Malsi Deer Park, Tapovan, Sahastradhara, Sai Darbar, Tapkeshwar Temple amongst others. One of the most famous yoga retreats in the country, Vana in Dehradun explores each aspect of wellbeing – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Bringing together ayurveda, sowa rigpa, yoga, natural therapies, spa, fitness and aqua, the retreat provides many wellness offerings. The 21-acre retreat is near clusters of reserve sal forest with the hills of Mussoorie to the North and the Dehradun town to the East. Vana does not follow a particular school of Yoga, but instead looks at it in its pure, undiluted form. In addition to bespoke private and group sessions at yogashala, Vana offers daily morning sessions at the outdoor yoga temple and evening sessions at the Yogasala that are open to all its guests. At Vana, a nutritious culinary experience is considered vital, and the cuisine is put together to complement each guest’s retreat.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

23

June 2017

cover ) GOA O

ne of the most happening tourist destination in India, Goa is globally popular for its beaches, nightlife, fairs and festivals, history, cuisine and much more. The smallest state in India, Goa attracts a large inflow of tourists, both domestic and international. Tourism is a major part of Goa's economy. Goa is gaining further impetus to tourism and hospitality due to emergence of numerous international hotel brands in the state. Over the years, Goa has also established itself as an eco tourism destination, but one of the lesser known aspects about Goa remains its wellness offerings. Goa is endowed with innumerable varieties of medicinal plants and hence the medicines needed for Ayurvedic treatments are easily available and taken directly from nature without any adulteration. The weather also is warm enough to perform Ayurvedic therapies and yoga. There are various yoga retreats and resorts across Goa, which offer yoga courses and trainings to visitors. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts on imparting ysogic knowledge across the world, foreign tourists are increasingly adding yoga experiences to their itineraries in Goa. Located on Palolem Beach in South Goa, Earth Yoga Village has open-plan yogashala largely made of organic and natural materials and offers a peaceful healing room in a private setting. The yoga village also has a small eco-bath for relaxation after yoga. Earth Yoga Village offers three retreats – Yoga Holiday, 15-day Mindfulness Yoga Retreat and 30day Conscious Living Yoga Retreat – alongside teacher trainings. Sampoorna Yoga Village in Goa is located on Agonda Beach. It has two facilities in Agonda located next to each other. The retreat is located in a 10,000-sq-m coconut grove. It has two yoga platforms, one each on the lower part and hilltop with open sea view. Campoorna Yoga Village offers 300/500 hour yoga teacher training and yoga retreat studios. It also has 20 eco-cottages.

KANGRA L

ocated in the lower Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, Kangra is known as one of the most picturesque valley. Amongst the most populous districts of the region, it is famous for its handicrafts, miniatures, shawls and hiking spots. It is full of greenery and offers some unique spots for practicing yoga. Surrounded by mountains, the place is now emerging for yoga retreats. One of the places offering yoga teaching courses is Basunti Yoga Retreat. Situated in the heart of a wildlife reserve, Basunti offers a very serene environment to escape the daily life and lead a healthy one. The yoga sessions are designed to suit the time of the day, season, inclination and ability. The sessions are held both in open air thatch roofed shala or on the roof of the main house. In order to make the best of the natural environment, the shala is set amidst the extensive gardens overlooking the beautiful views. On the other hand, the main house flat enjoys 360 degree views over the lake, wooden ridge and on a clear day, the Himalayas beyond. The day includes at least four hours of yoga practice divided into two or three sessions, leaving plenty of time for swimming, bird watching, and exploring on foot or by canoe. One can also take the yoga teaching sessions, to qualify as yoga teachers. Tuition is provided by qualified, experienced yoga teachers who speak fluent English and many are multi-lingual. Sessions are mainly open level, providing tuition for both complete beginners as well as more experienced practitioners and they also provide yoga equipment. Kangra is also well known tourist spot being the home of Masroor Rock Cut Temple or the Himalayan Pyramids. The town is 18 km from Dharamshala and makes up for a good day trip from Mcleodganj. It is easily accessible through trains, air and road. There are direct buses from Delhi and the journey takes about 10 hours. The nearest railhead is at Ambala Cantt from where you can further take a bus to Kangra.

24 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD June 2017

(

THE MAIN FOCUS

GOKARNA O

pen beaches, coves, sunsets, cliffs, temples and culture are some of the highlights of Gokarna in Karnataka. This coastal town draws Hindu pilgrims, Sanskrit scholars and leisure tourists. Apart from its famed beaches and the Centre for Sanskrit Learning, it is home to the ancient temple of Mahabaleshwara. Cliffs separate each of Gokarana’s five beaches from the other and offer views far out into the Arabian Sea. Gokarna natural bounty and location make it an ideal location for yoga and wellness experiences. Realising this, CGH Earth set up SwaSwara on the fabled Om Beach, amidst 26 acres of green lawns, gardens and hills. Wellness is an integral part of CGH Earth properties across India. With yoga at its core, SwaSwara targets those segment of travellers wanting to combine vacation with wellness and spiritual experiences. A stay at SwaSwara is aimed at providing a journey to discover one’s true self through yoga. SwaSwara has dedicated spaces for yoga and wellness activities, for instance, the Meditation Hall and poolside. SwaSwara offers 24 Konkan villas for accommodation and offers healthy vegetarian and fresh sea-food, alongside a selection of Indian wines. Facilities at the property include swimming pool, meditation dome and an Ayurveda centre. Guests can indulge in wellness and spiritual experiences through of yoga, pranayama, meditation and Ayurveda. Moreover, guests can also enjoy boat rides and excursions. The yoga destination is 170 km from Goa’s Dabolim Airport and 240 km from Mangalore Airport.

MUNGER B

ihar is known for its spiritual significance which emerged from the ancient times, especially due to its association with Gautam Buddha. The fifth largest city of Bihar, Munger is historically known as an ancient seat of rule. Munger has several places of tourist interest such as Munger Fort, Chandika Asthan, Kastaharni Ghat and Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, although Munger is not well known as a mainstream tourist destination. Munger, however, has established itself as a yoga destination amongst Indian and foreign tourists. Bihar has give the world its first yoga university. The epicentre of many social, cultural and spiritual revolutions lies in Bihar. Bihar is blessed to be the place of Swami Satyananda Saraswati the modern yogic visionary and reknowned sage. Ganga Darshan Yogashram stands on a hill overlooking the Ganga river, in Munger, 175 km from Patna, the state capital, and 500 km from Kolkata. Ganga Darshan Yogashram commands a 180-degree panoramic view of the river Ganga, which itself is considered a symbol of yoga. In the ancient past, the site of Ganga Darshan Yogashram was the seat of King Karna of Mahabharata fame. Here, Swami Satyananda Saraswati had the vision of Swami Sivananda Saraswati blessing him at exactly the same time that Swami Sivananda left his mortal body in Rishikesh. It is the site where he perfected his sadhanas and had the vision of the future role of yoga for humankind. Founded in 1964 by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Bihar School of Yoga imparts yogic training. The yoga techniques developed there are a synthesis of numerous approaches to personal development. Today, these techniques are taught by Bihar Yoga Bharati through various programmes. Bihar School of Yoga also guides yoga projects and medical research in association with hospitals, organisations and establishments. Ganga Darshan is home to the various institutions dedicated to yoga, including Bihar School of Yoga, Bihar Yoga Bharati, Yoga Research Fellowship and Yoga Publications Trust. Casual visitors who are interested only in sightseeing or tourism and who have no spiritual intention are usually not encouraged to stay in the ashram. Guests are required to remain within the ashram during the entire period of their visit, without access to external services, including email, banking and shopping. Basic provisions and personal items can be purchased on campus. Foreign exchange is also available.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

25

June 2017

cover ) NAGAUR N

aguar is not primarly known as a yoga destination by many but the place offers a unique location for a yoga retreat. Situated between the famous cities of Bikaner and Jaisalmer, this small district even finds mention in the Mahabharata. The place has a deep historical connect as it was the birthplace of Meera and Abdul Fazal. A temple and shrine have been built in dedication to the two. Nagaur also witnessed the valour of Great Rao Amar Singh Rathor who challenged the mighty Mughal Empire. The large old fort has many glorious tales of bravery of the erstwhile rulers of the states. Though there is only one major centre of yoga, the places offer a completely different experience than the mountain retreats. The Hath Yoga Institue is housed in Shri Jasnath Asan, a 500 year old ashram. Right on the edge of the Thar desert, it delivers yogic wellness practices, education and spiritual upliftment. Over the years, the institute has become more of a self sustaining community also equipped with modern amenities like ayurvedic spa and organic farm gardens. Instead of just yoga courses, the institute teaches how to live the yogic lifestyle. The yoga institute is located in the heart the heart of the Marwar region of Rajasthan. The 16th century fort where the institute is built now was made by the King of Udaipur and blessed by the yogis of Nath tradition. It is one of the oldest educational, social, and religious institutions in the Marwar region – the trading hub of ancient India. Along with certified courses there are also the free classes and programmes that help one to learn the basics of yoga. Some other places to see the history of Naguar are the Nagaur Fort, Tarkeen Dargah, Jain Temples, Cenotaph of Amar Singh Rathore, Bansiwala Temple, Nath Ji ki Chhatri, Barli etc. The nearest airport is in Jodhpur (134 km) or Jaipur (182 km). However, Nagura is well connected to major places like Delhi, Agra, Hisar, Chennai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer by regular trains.

RISHIKESH T

he small town in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand has gained huge popluarity as a yoga destination in India. Set in the foothills of Garhwal Himalayan range, it came to be known as the yoga capital of the world as many early settlers practiced meditation here. Even the famous band, The Beatles came to Rishikesh in the 1960s to learn and practise yoga. Situated 409 metres above sea level with multiple yoga centres, many foreigners now prefer the destination for their yoga retreats. As Rishikesh offers a peaceful and serene environment away from the city, many centres opened up in the last few years. These centres now provide multiple courses for yoga learning and also certifies them as teachers. Some of the traditional ashrams are considered the best way to learn yoga in case one plans to stay for a long time. Among the most famous places are Himalayan Yog Ashram, Ajarya Yoga Academy, Parmarth Niketan, Sivananda Ashram, Yog Niketan, Aurovally Ashram, Phool Chatti Ashram, Anand Prakash Ashram, Omkarnanda Ashram and Swami Ram Sadhak Gram Ashram. The Ajarya Yoga Academy is known for its eastern plus Western mix of courses. One cannot simply learn yoga but also be part of teacher training programs and certify as teachers. Similarly the Himalayan Yog Ashram provides ayurvedic healing programmes along with yoga courses. The healing programmes include detoxification programs and anti stress programmes. All programmes are done under the proper guidance of trained professionals who help the trainees to understand things deeply. Even during the month of March, a week long festival is hosted to practise yoga. Always known as the holy town, Rishikesh is slowly becoming the hub of yoga in India with its multiple centres and courses. The place is now booming with new German cafes which attract majority of foreign traffic. Located merely 250 km from from the capital, New Delhi, it is easily accessible through a six hour drive or one hour flight.

26 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD June 2017

(

THE MAIN FOCUS

VRINDAVAN L

ocated in the Mathura region near Agra, the town is known as the place where young Lord Krishna grew up. There are dozens of temples and many pilgrims from India and across the world travel to the small town seeking blessings. The entire town is considered sacred and people stay here for days chanting the name of Lord Krishna. Nowadays the destination has also gained favoritism among foreign national as many come for yoga retreats. Since many people travelled here to devote time to worship, it became a centre of learning. It has come to be known as a sacred place and many people come here to renounce their worldly life permanently. Therefore now the town is dotted with ashrams and learning centres where majorly the elderly people come to work. One of the well known ashrams for yoga retreats is the Sree Bindu Sewa Sansthan. It is a family run ashram in Vrindavan. They are known for their flexible courses and retreats. Not following a strict regime on rules, the place offers ayurvedic treatments, weight loss, gain strength and a complete experience of Indian culture. The ashram focuses on personal contact and pays attention to every individual separately. Additionally the ashram also runs a school for poor completely free of cost. Some of the famous temples like Banke Bihari Temple, Iskon Temple, Prem Mandir receive maximum number of tourists. People also visit Radha Damodar Temple, Kesi Ghat, Madam Mohan temple, Mata Vaishno Devi Dham and other local temples over their stay here. The town is about 11 km away from Mathura on the Agra- Delhi highway. It takes roughly three hours from Delhi to reach Vrindavan by road. A direct train from Delhi to Mathura takes two hours while it is also well connected to Mumbai and Agra.

PUNE O

nce known as a "pensioner's paradise", Pune has been tranferred into a vibrant metro, a hub of education, industry, information technology, entertainment and more. Amidst urbanisation, Pune has still retained some of its natural offerings. Travellers can also plan several trips to hill stations, forts, and places of pilgrimage. Pune is home to Osho International Meditation Resort, one of the top yoga, wellness and spiritual centres in the country. Brainchild of a renowned spiritual leader Osho, the resort is frequented by thousands of foreign and domestic tourists. Osho International Meditation Resort offers a number of courses, programmes, individual sessions and classes on diverse dimensions of wellness. From 6.00 am until 10.30 pm every day, Osho International Meditation Resort offers a variety of meditations for every type of person, including methods that are active and passive, traditional and revolutionary, and in particular, the Osho Active Meditations. Another renowned place for yoga in Pune is Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI). The institute was established on January 19, 1975 and is dedicated to Ramamani Iyengar, the wife of Yogacharya B K S Iyengar. Students from all over the world come here to receive the essence of yoga. There is a significance behind the unique design of RIMYI. The three floors represent the body, mind and soul. It’s height is 71 feet and has eight columns which represent the eight limbs of ashtanga yoga – yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. The institute conducts regular classes and special classes for ladies, children and individuals having medical problems. Both Osho International Meditation Resort and RIMYI are easily accessible. Visitors can also combine their yoga itinerary with sightseeing in and around the city, including Sinhagad Fort, the backwaters of Khadakvasla Dam, Aga Khan Palace and more.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

27

June 2017

SPOTLIGHT

MICE IN DUBAI FUTURE PERFECT Dubai Business Events recently organised an India Study Mission for greater understanding of the emirate's present and future positioning as a leading global MICE destination By Sudipta Dev

D

ubai is the leading events destination in the Middle East. Dubai Business Events which is the official convention bureau of Dubai recently hosted India Study Mission, which saw participation from leading tour operators, travel agents, corporates and select media. Welcoming the delegates, Steen Jakobsen, director, Dubai Business Events, said, “The Study Missions are key components of Dubai, which as a destination has evolved from being a small trading post to a leading business and events city. We look at welcoming 20 million visitors to Dubai by 2020.” This year the emirate attracted several large incentive groups. It is also the top destination in the region for association meetings. Expo 2020 will be the largest event hosted in Dubai and will attract 25 million visitors in six months. “It will leave a legacy that will make our business events offerings more extensive,” mentioned Jakobsen. Dubai is part of 12 world class convention cities, and a member of Best Cities global alliance. “It is a top meetings destination in the Middle East, our aim is to establish knowledge base economy in coming years,” stated Jakobsen, adding that there are several hotels with large meetings space and rooms inventory. In Dubai, as far as accommodation options are concerned there has been a strong focus on four star and five star cate-

28 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD June 2017

gories, now there is focus on three star category also. There are more than 104,000 rooms. The emirate also boasts of excellent gastronomy options, with more than 5400 restaurants. There is thriving nightlife, gold and spice souks, museum of pearls, and diversified attractions to entertain and engage visitors. While Dubai Parks and Resorts is the Middle East's largest entertainment centre, there are more than 95 shopping malls, including the Dubai Mall.

Leadership Forum At the Dubai Business Events Leadership Forum, industry experts discussed the various factors related to organising MICE in Dubai. A panel discussion on 'Decoding the Indian corporate mindset',

SPOTLIGHT

highlighted many interesting aspects. The panel members were Capt Rajesh Sharma, VP, office services, Re:Sources; Oum Pradutt, founder & MD, Phase 1 Events, Amit Kaul, head - corporate real estate & administration, Canara HSBS Bank of Commerce Life Insurance; Navneeth Mohan, CEO & business head, Laqshya LIVE Experiences; Naveen Rizvi, regional director - India and Indian Ocean, Pacific World. Pointing out that corporates try to pamper their stakeholders and employees, Pradutt shared, “We curate experiences for them. It is not easy as there is a certain budget. We try to create experiences and not just a transactional event.” Mohan mentioned that his company has gone to the corporates with a different approach, “We go with the idea – once we crack the idea we look at destinations that fit the idea. We are a creative and ideas company and it has given us good results,” he said. Rizvi averred that it is less challenging for his company as many of the clients are global and work with them in different parts of the world, however it is important to incorporate global policies and processes. “80 per cent of the industry looks at

competitive rates,” pointed out Capt Sharma. They also discussed about destinations being partners, which has scaled up the events. 'How to plan 'AWESOME', in Destination Dubai' was another insightful panel discussion which included Steen Jakobsen; Sushil Shamlal Wadhwa, founder & CMD, Platinum World Group; Naveen Kundu, founder & MD, Leisure Corp; Daryl Sheldon, director, 7ty7 Experiential, 9ty9 Travel & Var Vadhu; Jestine Alfred, assistant GM, Travco. “The key strength about Dubai is that the city keeps evolving with new attractions and venues,” stated Jakobsen. Wadhwa shared, “We have been doing events in Dubai since last 15 years, it is the closest international destination. Visa is not a challenge , but now there are a lot of licenses for events. In terms of experiences, there is no dearth. Dubai has no dearth of local talent, it also attracts international talent.” Kundu pointed out that from hospitality to culinary to transportation, there is a lot of operational excellence, enabled by Indians present in Dubai. “It is an extension of India,” said Kundu. The panel discussion also focused on the unique advantages an Indian planner has

while planning an offsite event in Dubai, ensuring fresh itinerary with consecutive visits, ideas on how to integrate out of the box as part of the itinerary, etc.

Future vision The media roundtable saw Jakobsen highlight the tourism vision of Dubai, which includes the destination being the number one in the world for families, the most visited for business travel and events, and many other ambitious targets. “Dubai's destination offerings are continuously being enhanced and the city's connectivity is continuously improving,” remarked Jakobsen. The strategic goals include increasing marketshare across existing source markets, encourage investors to stay longer, etc. India is a key source market, followed by Saudi Arabia, UK and Oman. Along with being the leading business events destination in the Middle East, 50 per cent of all trade exhibitions and 42 per cent of all association conferences are organised here. Omar Abdulaziz Khan, director - International Offices, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry revealed that his organisation which has eight

offices worldwide is opening the very first office in India (Mumbai) soon. Expo 2020 in Dubai is one of the big drivers, expected to attract 25 million visitors. Tala Al Ansari, senior manager – International Participants at Expo 2020 gave an informative presentation on the extensive plans for Expo 2020, which will see 60-80 events happening every day for six months. The themes are – Opportunity, Sustainability, Mobility and the UAE Pavilion. “Ïndia is a key and priority market for us,” asserted Ansari. The Smart Dubai project is enabling and unifying Dubai's city-wide smart transformation. Alia Al Mur, head – Marketing & PR, Smart Dubai gave a presentation on the various processes that will make Dubai the 'smartest' city in the world. Dubai Airports connects with 20 cities across India, and over 1232 flights / week. Lorne Riley, director of corporate communications at Dubai Airports disclosed that Dubai Airports Masterplan is in place for 140 million travellers by 2025.

MICE highlights The Polynesian themed Lapita Hotel at Dubai Parks and Resorts is the newest addition to Dubai's exclusive luxury

accommodation options. In fact, Dubai Parks & Resorts that has created a lot of interest in the Indian market, has many unique venues for MICE. In terms of F&B, at a short distance from the park is Qasr Al Sultan, the newest Arabian themed dining venue (with live entertainment), which is perfect for large and small groups. From three star stay at Rove Downtown to the choice of five star hotels (The St Regis Dubai, W Dubai and Westin Dubai) at Al Habtoor City Complex, there are wide ranging options for groups, ranging from quirky meeting spaces (at Rove) to elegant boardrooms (at St Regis). Offering unparalleled views of Burj Khalifa from its rooms is the Taj Dubai with its many celebrated restaurants. Then there is the tallest hotel in the world, JW Marriott Marquis, which is already a favourite with MICE groups from India. Dubai offers many unique experiences for MICE groups, from helicopter and sea plane aerial tour of Dubai city to dining at Jumeirah Al Qasr with Abra ride to the ever popular visit to At The Top Burj Khalifa. The Le Perle show at Al Habtoor City Complex will be another grand addition by the end of this year.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

29

June 2017

SPOTLIGHT

ON THE WILD SIDE Embraced by Kanha National Park, Singinawa Jungle Lodge leverages upon its ideal location with utmost care for mother nature By Mohit Rathod

P

roviding a well curated experience, Singinawa Jungle Lodge has established itself firmly on the preferences of wildlife and nature enthusiasts. Ideally located in one of the most renowned wildlife regions of the country, Singinawa Jungle Lodge is nestled in the forest of Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, just off the buffer area. True to its name 'Singinawa', meaning 'protectors of the sacred forest' in Nepalese language, the jungle lodge has also made its mark in conservation activities through Singinawa Conservation Foundation. Singinawa Jungle Lodge offers spacious accommodation options with its 12 cottages and two bungalows of one and two rooms respectively. An interesting thing is that each of the 12 cottages signifies the wildlife diversity of Kanha National Park. The cottages are named after animal species such as tiger, barasingha, leopard, gaur, sloth bear, jungle bear, Indian wolf, jackal, sambar, cheetal, dhole and Bengal fox. The present owner and management company of the property, Wild India Resorts Kanha, took over the lodge in 2015 and since then has made numerous changes to the property with a view to reflect local tribal culture and arts.

Art connect The refurbished lodge houses an art meseum, Kanha Museum of Life and Art, unique to Singinawa Jungle Lodge and dedicated to showcase the tribal art of the region. The museum is curated by Dr Alka Pande, a leading authority of art in India. The

30 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD June 2017

1,000-sq-ft museum is an ode to the indigenous Gond and Baiga artisans and their artworks. The entire museum is powered by a solar energy facility which generates 10 kilowatts of electricity and also powers several parts of the property, alongside the museum. Sharing more, Ghanshyam Singh, manager – operations, Singinawa Jungle Lodge, says, "The museum is our unique selling point (USP). The new management is keen to promote local tribes through showcasing their art and culture."

Nature's haven Whilst leveraging upon nature's offerings, Singinawa Jungle Lodge believes in returning back to nature and society in as many ways it can.

Singh comments, "Apart from solar power, we try to use less plastic and more organic products wherever possible. Our major focus is on conservation activities, not on pure business." All cottages and bungalows feature products that are made organically and a wood boiler heating system is used to reduce electricity consumption. The Singinawa Conservation Foundation is involved in various wildlife conservation activities and awareness programmes. The foundation has in the past built five water holes for the core area of the park, held health camps for 56 villages in the buffer zone of the park treating 2300 people, helped procure seven 4x4 vehicles for each of the forest ranges within Kanha and is now working closely with the

SPOTLIGHT

government authorities in connection with health care, education and other activities. It is also associated with TOFTigers, a collective action initiative to save tigers and forests across the Indian subcontinent, involving travel operators, providers, parks, communities, governments and visitors. Time spent at Singinawa Jungle Lodge is not a mere stay experience. Jungle safari is a major activity for guests, which gives an opportunity to immerse in the wild amidst the forest's flora and fauna. However, the list isn't confined to safaris. The lodge offers numerous activities such as night safaris, village visits, buffer zone and nature walks and cycling tours. The lodge has a team of six trained natu-

ralists to guide guests and share their local understanding. Providing a memorable experience, local Baiga dance performance is also organised, which in turn helps them preserve their tradition and earn a livelihood. Additionally, 80 per cent of the staff at Singinawa Jungle Lodge is local, in line with its objective to work for the welfare of local populace. Its CSR activities also include health camps, educational camps, and providing support to villagers in terms of resources. Tulika Kedia, managing director, Singinawa Jungle lodge, shares, "The evolved traveller in today's time looks at travel more as an experience rather than just stay and F&B experience at resorts. The various activities like the

jungle walks, cycling trails, village interactions, the aromatic cooking trail at Singinawa go a long way in making our guests experience the environment they are in. Since the beautiful forests are a complete opposite of the city life, all our guests are charmed by these activities. We have a lot of instances where guests after having done two-three safaris, ask us to do an activity instead of a pre-booked safari; and it is these experiences and stories that pull them back for their second or third visit to our Lodge." The lodge houses two indoor F&B venues, Bhaat Kholi and The Lair, which also aim to showcase local cuisine. The property also features two multi-functional outdoor areas – Chougan and Leopard Rock

– which serve as ideal venues for gatherings and candlelight dinner. Wellness offerings at the lodge include Meadow Spa, which overlooks the lodge's swimming pool, The Wallow. Revealing future plans, Kedia informs, "As part of the upcoming season, Singinawa is launching a first-of-its-kind Yoga Safari on October 2 this year. This will be a six-day programme, guided by a leading wellness expert from Delhi. On the itinerary are various Yoga and meditation sessions, forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku), mindful bird watching, eating and learning about healthy food and of course some tiger safaris. We truly believe that wellness tourism fits well with the natural environs of our forests. We are also planning

to build a wellness centre with various rooms to do these wellness activities within the lodge premises." The team behind Singinawa Jungle Lodge believes in 'word of mouth' and considers it the best form of marketing. "Our whole focus is on providing top-notch experience at the lodge in all aspects, and introducing innovative programmes like the Yoga safari, Young Rangers programme for kids, and long stay wildlife research itineraries. We get a lot of support from the travel agent fraternity, as they send us foreign and domestic guests who are looking for a complete luxury wildlife experience, many notches above the standard jungle experience which is a norm at many other lodges," adds Kedia.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

31

June 2017

IN FOCUS

Saying ‘Bula’ to business at FTE For the first time in Fiji Tourism Expo’s (FTE) history, the president of the Republic of Fiji, inaugurated the two-day tourism trade event held recently at the Denarau Island Convention Centre, Sheraton Fiji Resort. FTE is the island destination's premier tourism event hosted by Tourism Fiji By Steena Joy

W

hen you land at the Nadi International Airport, you are greeted with smiling faces that chant 'Bula'. Bula (pronounced as boolah) is a word in the Fijian language that literally means ‘life’ and is most commonly used as a greeting. Offering perfect weather all year-round, this sun-kissed collection of more than 300 volcanic islands surrounded by azure-seas and coral atolls, Fiji is home to the friendliest people on the planet. To drive tourism to the islands, Tourism Fiji organises the Fiji Tourism Expo (FTE) every year. The event provides a cross-sectoral platform for partners in the tourism industry to engage directly with existing and new international industry partners. For over two busy days of appointments and schedules, international buyers

32 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD June 2017

from nearly 21 countries including new markets like India had the opportunity to meet and engage with the Fijian tourism industry. Speaking at the FTE opening ceremony held at The Waitui Beach Club, Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, H E Major General (retd) Jioji Konrote said, “Fiji has seen an increase in number of visitor arrivals to 792,300 with an increase of 2.7 per cent in visitor spend. Nearly 21

countries are participating at FTE and I am glad the Fiji tourism industry is using this platform to strengthen existing partnerships. The Fiji Rugby team which won the Olympic gold in Rio (the country’s first) are a fine example of working together as a team to achieve our goals.” Andre Viljoen, chairman, Tourism Fiji and managing director and CEO, Fiji Airways said, “Tourism is vital to Fiji’s

economy and we have tremendous advantage of being Fiji's national carrier – the natural hospitality of Fijians combined with delivery of new aircraft, making it the youngest airline in the region.” He added, “2016 was a record year for visitor arrivals. Our target is to reach FJD 2.2 billion in 2021 and for this we have a strategy in.place. Fiji Airways will soon be flying directly to Adelaide and other

cities in Australia and we expect that the recent agreement with Indian carrier, Jet Airways will connect a lot of Indian cities to Fiji and increase tourism numbers.” Speaking on the sidelines of the FTE 2017 in Nadi, Fiji tourism minister, Faiyaz Koya said that Tourism Fiji sees great growth from emerging markets like India and China. Koya said, “We see India as a country with a lot of potential

IN FOCUS for Fiji Tourism and we have been concentrating on growing the India market. But we wanted the right connectivity. Now with Jet Airways which connects more than 20 Indian cities, we have the right partner to push numbers to our country.” Mathew Stoeckel, CEO, Tourism Fiji, informed that 2016 was a great year for Tourism Fiji. “We saw a five per cent growth in visitor arrivals. And this was despite challenges like Cyclone Winston. So we are looking at 2017 with a positive outlook. We have lots of new products in the luxury segment like Sheraton Tokoriki Beach Resort, Marriott Momi Bay, among others. Fiji is not just about family holidays but also high end luxury products.” He added, “The recent modernisation project at Nadi Airport is in line with our tourism focus. We also expect to drive tourism from emerging markets like India on the back of our new Fiji Airways service from Singapore.” Stoeckel also revealed that as part of Tourism Fiji’s digital marketing strategy, a famed Bollywood celebrity will be flown in courtesy Fiji Airways to be taken around the islands and the video will be run on social media like YouTube to promote the destination in India. “We are investing big resources in the emerging markets. This digital campaign will give a big lift to our brand awareness,” he added. Koya stated that the ministry is interested in promoting cruise tourism especially in Suva. He said, “But our first priority will be to focus on developing port infrastructure. We are also looking at investment. We want more and more people to invest in Suva.” Fiji is also getting to be known as a sports tourism destination. The country’s first Olympic gold medal was brought home by the Fiji Rugby team who made a brief appearance at the FTE. But the tourism minister was quick to point out that all development will be done in a sustainable manner. “Growth in all our destinations will have to be eco-

nomically viable and must be sustainable,” he emphasised. Renowned tour operators from India including Cox & Kings, Veena World, Flight Shop, Wingspan Holidays and Glotrip participated in FTE this year. Navina Bhade, incharge – destination management (Signature Holidays), Veena World, opined, “Fiji being an expensive destination,

we would have to combine the package with Australia or New Zealand in order to make it appealing to the India market.” Rakesh Pandey, assistant manager (product & operations) felt that FTE as a trade show provides opportunity to know more about Fiji as a destination and the service providers in Fiji which helps tour operators provide

better services to their customers. Visitor arrivals from India to Fiji presents huge opportunities for Fijian tourism, especially after the recent signing of the codeshare agreement between Fiji Airways and Jet Airways. FTE saw participation from leading Fiji tour operators and DMCs including Rosie Holidays. Started in 1974 by Rosie

Gockhai and husband Roy Whitton, Rosie Holidays has become an iconic organisation in the tourism industry, both within Fiji and internationally. It is a family owned DMC providing professional and personalised ground services including airport welcome, world class ground transportation, online hotel bookings and tour desks at all major resorts.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

33

June 2017

HUMAN RESOURCES

Going beyond boundaries Lemon Tree Hotels recently launched twin properties in Sector 60 in Gurugram as part of its dream project. Going beyond its usual HR strategy of hiring 12-15 per cent employees with disability, over 70 per cent of the workforce at these hotels are Opportunity Deprived Individuals (ODI) – either differently-abled or from economically and socially marginalised segments of society. By Saloni Bhatia

I

n a first-of-its-kind initiative, Lemon Tree Hotels has launched twin properties with over 70 per cent staff from the Opportunity Derived Individual (ODI) segment. Additionally, the twin hotels, Lemon Tree and Red Fox have been designed on the principles of universal design, offering specially designed rooms and suites for people of all abilities. Inclusion, which has been part of the unique initiative by The Lemon Tree company reached a new benchmark with this dream project opening its doors to people this year. A total of 70 per cent of the hotel staff in Lemon Tree Hotel, Sector 60 is either from the economically and socially marginalised segments of the society (EcoSoc) or differentlyabled (employees with disability). Aradhana Lal, vice president – sustainability initiatives, Lemon Tree Hotels, explains, “We truly believe in mainstreaming and including people with disabilities and those from the marginalised segments in our employee base and provide them the same opportunities as others in order to realise their full potential. This launch is special to us. We are proud to introduce our new hotels in Sector 60, Gurugram run by a truly special team.” Speaking to Express TravelWorld about the concept, Lal further explains, “We initially thought of operating the hotel with 100 per cent ODI staff but shifted to over 70 per cent so we could get in people with hospitality training. The 30 per

34 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD June 2017

cent are now able to train the others and guide them in their work. This overall also helps in maintaining the service standards of the hotel.” Several details are taken care of in order to make the hotel

more disable friendly for the employees. It is made sure that the common areas are wheelchair friendly and there is wider access through the doors. Proper signages and regular training programmes help the

employees to easily navigate their work on a day-to-day basis. The work for them will be spread across the two properties with proper delegation. The properties which have only been functioning for two

months have already witnessed business seminars and multiple meetings. Vikramjit Singh, president, Lemon Tree Hotels, says, “Gurugram is home to 40 Fortune 500 companies and is set to be a hub of business in the coming time. As it continues to attract business and leisure travellers, this launch will add to Lemon Tree's expansion in the area. We are glad to have a special team working here.” The 3.2-acre area also houses a 20,000-sq-ft convention centre, with commercial and office space, making it the largest accessible MICE destination in Delhi NCR. The hotels will have a collective inventory of about 400 rooms and also separate meeting rooms within each hotel. Strategically nestled between high-end residential societies, the twin hotels offer easy access to Huda City metro station, Leisure Valley and Sector 29, the entertainment district of the city, besides being 20 minutes away from Signature Towers, IFFCO Chowk and the mall mile on MG Road. With the opening of these two hotels this year, The Lemon Tree Hotel Company becomes the largest owner of hotel rooms in the millennium city. In line with the fresh, fun and spirited ambience of Lemon Tree, these properties promise to delight its guests with vibrant interiors, scrumptious food, impeccable facilities and the distinctive warm and friendly services that Lemon Tree is known for.

MOVEMENTS Ministry of Tourism, India

with The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur in 2003 and his experience varies in business development, operations, cost management etc. Under the new role, Srivastava will leverage and enhance the ongoing and future work of the hotel.

Regional and Virgin Australia. Kamark's 17 years' experience includes a range of strategy, commercial and general manager roles at SAS Group. For the last five years, he has been executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Storebrand ASA, a Nordic financial services business.

JW Marriott Pune

Fiji Airways

Rashmi Verma

In a recent development, the government has announced appointments of several top level officials. As part of this, IAS officer RASHMI VERMA has been appointed as the new secretary of Ministry of Tourism. Prior to this, Verma served as the secretary of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Verma has replaced N K Sinha who was given additional charge as secretary of tourism.

Etihad Aviation Group

Robin Kamark

Etihad Aviation Group has recently announced the appointment of ROBIN KAMARK as chief executive officer, Airline Equity Partners. Kamark will be responsible for leading and developing the group’s minority equity investment strategy, which includes stakes in Airberlin, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Etihad

Marc Cavaliere

Fiji Airways has appointed industry veteran, MARC CAVALIERE, as chief marketing officer. Cavaliere joins the airline’s executive leadership team, reporting directly to the CEO, and will be responsible for the new, dedicated global airline alliances and partnerships, as well as all sales channels, marketing activities, and related commercial functions. Cavaliere’s professional background includes 37 years of airline industry experience, with extensive international assignments, leading airlines in various regions of the world including the United States. His key areas of expertise include commercial strategy, marketing, sales management, ecommerce, distribution and collaborative tourism development.

American Airlines American Airlines has promoted PATRICK O’KEEFFE to the position of senior vice president-People. O’Keeffe most recently served as vice president – Information Technology and has held a wide range of leadership positions across the airline during his more than 28 years at American. In his new role, O’Keeffe

Patrick O’Keeffe

Ross Sanders

will lead the global human resources team responsible for talent acquisition and development, team member training and support, compensation, benefits, and diversity. O’Keeffe began his career at American in the market planning department and then assumed a number of leadership roles in numerous departments including sales planning, customer research, onboard service, and food and beverage.

Phuket in Thailand. His strong career in food and beverage included roles as F&B manager at The Westin Turnberry Resort in Scotland and the director of Restaurant and Bar Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Whereas, ROSS SANDERS has been announced as the general manager of Aantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort. He brings to the role 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He started his hotel career as a guest relations manager at Pangkor Laut Resort, Perak, Malaysia.

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas

Debarati Bose

Hyatt Regency Delhi

Aparajita Das

Giles Selves

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas recently announced the appointments of two new general managers in Sri Lanka. GILES SELVES was announced as the area general manager overseeing Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Anantara Kalutara Resort and AVANI Kalutara Resort. Selves joined the luxury brand in August 2015 as general manager for Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas & Anantara Vacation Club

Rohit Srivastava

Hyatt Regency Delhi has recently announced the appointment of ROHIT SRIVASTAVA as director of F&B. With 14 years of experience in hospitality industry, Srivastava has worked with The Oberoi Rajvilas at various positions and is with Hyatt Regency Delhi since nine years. His career began

DEBARATI BOSE has been appointed as the director of sales and marketing for JW Marriott Pune. Under this role, Bose will be spear heading responsibilities such as setting annual budgets, forecasting, analysing revenue reports and strategy building to increase the hotel’s revenue and the banquet sales, amongst others. tels. In another announcement, APARAJITA DAS has been appointed as director of services of the hotel. In her new role, she will be responsible for maintaining high standards of cleanliness and aesthetics at the hotel as well as developing new systems and procedures for overall process efficiency.

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

35

June 2017

weekend

E V E N T S

BUSINESS FOCUS Visit Indonesia Tourism Office (VITO) India, in association with AccorHotels, organised a seminar for travel agents in Delhi at Pullman, Aerocity

PASSENGER'S DAY Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) recently celebrated the 11th Passenger's Day, an initiative started by the airport in order to create a tradition of appreciation towards passengers

BIG FAT INDIAN WEDDINGS Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), in collaboration with Air Mauritius, recently hosted a familiarisation trip for top 10 wedding planners from Western India

BIG 10 Etihad Airways and Airbus employees celebrating the handover of the airline’s 10th and final Airbus A380 at Hamburg Finkenwerder

TECH FOCUS VFS Global has received the 'IMC Digital Technology Award'

MUSEUM SAFARI Maharashtra Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal (right)

for its Dubai Visa Processing Centre (DVPC) mobile app

recently inaugurated Jaya He ‘Museum Safari’ at Mumbai’s Terminal 2

36

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

June 2017

weekend

E V E N T S

BE MY GUEST Actor Shah Rukh Khan being welcomed by Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), upon his arrival in Dubai to shoot the sequel to #BeMyGuest film

FESTIVE FERVOUR India City Walks recently hosted its 'Shaam-e-Iftar' event at Jama Masjid in Delhi

Air India, has announced completion of a major maintenance ‘C-1’ check of Jet Airways A330 at its Mumbai facility

STRATEGIC COLLABORATIONS AirAsia Berhad has signed an MoU with Everbright and Henan Government Working Group to establish a low-cost carrier in China

JOINT EFFORTS Kerala's Department of Tourism recently signed an MoU with

MAXIMISING TRAVEL Middle East Airlines and Turkish Airlines recently

SilkAir to jointly promote tourism to Kerala

signed a codeshare agreement, covering routes between Turkey and Lebanon

MAJOR COMPLETION Air India Engineering Services, a subsidiary of

EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD

37

June 2017

REGD.WITH RNI NO. MAHENG/2005/15993,POSTAL REGD. NO. MCS/163/2016 – 18,PUBLISHED ON 11TH EVERY MONTH, POSTED ON 12TH,13TH,14TH OF EVERY MONTH, POSTED AT MUMBAI PATRIKA CHANNEL SORTING OFFICE,MUMBAI – 400001.