Vol XVI Issue I Pages 48 November 2018 Rs 60

Vol XVI Issue I Pages 48 November 2018 Rs 60

HYDERABAD23, 24, 25 NOV

PUNE30 NOV, 01, 02 DEC

KOCHI03, 04, 05 JAN

KOLKATA22, 23, 24 FEB

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A lot has happened in the Indi-an tourism sector over the past

few weeks. Not only is the govern-ment taking steps to sell India as a must-visit destination, but prepara-tions are also in full swing to make the country tourist-friendly. Earli-er this month, Union Minister for Tourism K.J Alphons inaugurated the Tourist Facilitation and Infor-mation Counter at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The objective is to provide a 24x7 help desk, where information can be provided to both domestic and inter-national visitors arriving at IGI Air-port. Similar counters will be set up in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Gaya, and Varanasi. The counter will also be stocked with literature and bro-chures that tourists can use to navi-gate the country.The tourism ministry has also rolled out the Incredible India Tourist Fa-cilitator Certification (IITFC) Pro-gramme. Those interested can now register for this programme through an online digital platform. The goal of IITFC is to enable Indian citizens to develop and enhance the skills associated with tourism, and where one can incorporate knowledge about facilitating tourists across the country. According to the press release issued by the tourism min-istry, “the IITFC program aspires to reach out to a far-flung audience encompassing a diversity of candi-dates ranging from an enthusiastic student who has recently qualified for higher secondary to an ambitious homemaker willing to grasp tourist facilitation skills from the comfort

of their home. It will also act as an enabler for transforming a local cit-izen with no specified skills having proficiency in a regional language into a potential bread earner for their households.”Meanwhile, state tourism depart-ments have been arranging FAM trips to promote their respective des-tinations. For instance, Department of Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir, recently hosted over 200 delegates from India to witness the beauty of Kashmir. The intent was to not only promote Kashmir’s idyllic landscape but also emphasize how safe and se-cure the state is.Plans are on to boost tourism traffic in the Northeast. According to the figures cited by the tourism ministry, the region received a total of 1.69 lakh foreign tourist visits during 2017 as against 1.45 lakh in 2016

registering a growth of 16.7% over 2016. The Domestic Tourist Vis-its reached to 95.47 lakhs in 2017 against 77.71 lakhs registering an impressive double-digit growth of 22.8% over 2016. This has resulted in better employment opportunities for the local population in the region.Meanwhile, as part of the bilateral cooperation, the Ministry of Tour-ism has signed an MoU with the South Korean government to en-courage both inbound and outbound tourism. A similar agreement was signed with the Romania and Uz-bekistan recently.Industry veterans believe that these slew of initiatives will definitely boost tourism in the country.

How India is being tourist-friendly

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Exploding room inventory & dipping

weekend occupancies

Reviving tourismin Kashmir

Bleisure:A big opportunity

Of sea, shore, and

sights

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• 2 nights deluxe accommodation at one of the above signature hotels • Daily Breakfast at Café Deco or Lunch at Bambu or Golden Peacock at The Venetian Macao OR Daily Breakfast at Le Buoet at The Parisian Macao• Macau city tour with Indian Lunch on SIC: Ruin's St. Paul Church, Na-Tcha Temple, Mount Fortress, A-Ma Temple • One-Way Cotai Water Jet Cotai Class tickets• Coach transfer in Macau by hotel free shuttle bus (Pier – Hotel – Pier)• Redeem ferry ticket (India wholesale package and India special ooer 2 nights) (Macau TAIPA – HKIA)

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Voyager’s World | September 2018 | P9

The Fern Hotels & Resorts has launched three new properties in Jaipur, Dwarka and Bhuj. The first of these new properties to open its doors to guests is The Fern Residency, Jaipur, with 85 well-appointed rooms with contemporary design offering the highest level of comfort. The second hotel The Fern Sattva Resort, Dwarka is an eco-friendly luxury resort in this temple town, the abode of Lord Krishna, spread over three acres with 81 luxurious rooms and suites, and offers holistic experiences. The third hotel is The Fern Residency, Bhuj, a mid-scale 43-room hotel offering contemporary accommodations with chic interiors. The hotel is situated in the Madhapar area, just five km from the city centre with easy access to public transport and major sightseeing attractions in town.

Etihad Airways welcomed its guests travelling to India with various celebrations to mark the week-long festive season of Diwali. Guests travelling from Abu Dhabi to Ahmedabad were presented with specially designed boarding passes to mark the festival. Upon arrival at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Etihad Airways’ guests were encouraged to create an enormous Rangoli using their festive boarding passes, which contained a part of the larger design. The Rangoli showcased an airplane in the centre and the airline’s signature ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ design. To add to the festivities, guests were greeted with traditional Indian sweets prepared by Etihad Airways’ catering team. Meanwhile, Etihad has also been in the news for other reasons. Etihad Airways will have retrofitted its 10 Airbus A380s with Economy Space seats, which feature an increased seat pitch of up to 36 inches. The redesign increases the number of extra legroom seats in Economy from 20 to 80 on this aircraft type.

Fern Hotels & Resorts opens three hotels

Etihad Airways celebrates Diwali with guests

Sarovar Hotels announces new project Sarovar Hotels & Resorts expands its portfolio in the Delhi-NCR region, with the signing of a new project in Greater Noida West. The Gaurs Sarovar Portico Greater Noida West is owned and developed by Gaursons. The hotel is part of an 18-acre Sports Club and adjoins a sports stadium. Upon completion in mid-2019, The Gaurs Sarovar Portico will offer its guests 72 rooms with all upscale amenities, a specialty restaurant and bar, a banquet hall and party lawns with a capacity of over 10,000 people. For the wellness enthusiast, the project has a spa, indoor activity area and access to an in-ternational fitness centre.

InterGlobe Air Transport and Hertz join handsInterGlobe Air Transport (IGAT) Ltd has been appointed as the exclusive General Sales Agent in India by car rental firm Hertz fol-lowing a year of successful collaboration in India between the two companies. The ap-pointment will cover all of Hertz’s brands including Dollar, Thrifty, ACE and Firefly for outbound rentals. Commenting on the part-nership, Siddhanta Sharma, President and CEO, InterGlobe Air Transport, said, “Hertz’s global expertise and modern fleet, coupled with our strong footprint across the Indian market will help us pave substantial inroads with both corporate and leisure holiday trav-elers. Our discerning network in India very much welcomes our ongoing collaboration with a renowned, truly global player such as Hertz.” Eoin MacNeill, Vice-President, Hertz Asia Pacific, added, “IGAT has 29 years’ of ex-perience in the Indian travel industry and is perfectly placed to grow Hertz’s presence, by providing consumers with mobility solutions that suit their needs, regardless of if they’re travelling for business or leisure.”

AP government to partner with IndiGoIn association with the Andhra Pradesh gov-ernment, IndiGo is all set to operate its first international flight from Vijayawada to Sin-gapore. IndiGo will operate two weekly non-stop services between Vijayawada and Sin-gapore effective December. William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo, said, “These twice, weekly non-stop flight services between Vijayawada and Singapore will fur-ther augment our regional connectivity that we aspire to provide across domestically and internationally.”

JW Marriott Hotels to eliminate plastic strawsCommitted to sustainable practices, JW Marriott Hotel Macau and The Ritz-Carlton, Macau have implemented a plan to remove disposable plas-tic straws and plastic stirrers from the properties. Globally, Marriott International has implement-ed an initiative to remove plastic straws from over 6,500 properties by July 2019. In addition, JW Marriott Hotel Macau has partnered with Ne-spresso Coffee to motivate staff to recycle via a Nespresso coffee capsule challenge. Each guest room is equipped with a Nespresso Pixie ma-chine, and housekeeping associates collect the used capsules and recycle them into designated boxes throughout the week.

Global hospitality chain, Hilton, in October expanded its footprint in India by launching a 160-room hotel replete with nine suites, DoubleTree by Hilton in Panaji, Goa. This launch marks Hilton’s 18th property in India. The resort features environmentally friendly smart lighting with motion sensors. The rooms have outdoor balconies and walk-in showers. The resort offers a 24-hour fitness center, an outdoor infinity pool, a steam room and a full-service spa – Serena, extending both Ayurveda and international treatments. Double Tree offers a number of choices of indoor and outdoor venues for conferences and events - a grand ballroom, two boardrooms and Sunset lawns along with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology. This resort will also be the first in Goa to offer Mangalorean cuisine at its specialty restaurant Feliz.

DoubleTree by Hilton opens in Goa

INDUSTRYBUZZ

Resort chain So Sofitel Hua Hin has added to its repertoire 31 guest rooms, a kids club and Thailand’s first Wibit Signature Pool (inflatable adventure course). This new wing comes with one-bedroom pool villas and family suites complete with bunk beds, a dedicated kid’s pool area, a sundae poolside ice cream bar, kids tent, kids club and the like. For the adults, you have the mini 18-hole golf course, other options being tennis or basketball at the multi-purpose court that opens on December 1. For bike enthusiasts, there’s the 627-meter bicycle track that opens year-end with bikes being available to rent. The resort’s beachside Event Lawn provides the perfect backdrop for romantic weddings replete with fancy dinners, dinner, dance and corporate retreats.

Air India has added a fifth weekly flight to the New Delhi-Tel Aviv sector starting No-vember 26, departing from Delhi at 16.50 and arriving in Tel Aviv at 20.45 (local time). On its return leg, the flight departs from Tel Aviv at 22.15 and lands in Delhi the next day at 8.15. Meanwhile, Israeli carrier El Al has introduced a Boeing 777-200ER air-craft on its Mumbai-Tel Aviv route with a capacity of 279 seats. El Al flight departs at 12.20 pmevery Sunday, Monday and Thurs-day from Mumbai and arrives in Tel Aviv at 16.50 pm (local time). On its return leg, the plane departs from Tel Aviv at 20.15 pm ev-ery weekend to land in Mumbai the next day at 7.30 am. On Thursdays, the flight takes off at 8.30 am from Tel Aviv to reach Mumbai at 19.45 pm.

AccorHotels is rewarding its loyalty members with an Asia Pacific Sale that offers discounts of up to 40 per cent plus the chance for 30 members to win five lakh points each. This equates to more than €10,000 (or over $11,000 USD) for each of the winners, who could choose from a host of amazing holiday experiences across the AccorHotels global network. You could enjoy seven nights in a beach sunrise villa at the beautiful Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi; nine days in one of the newly restored Raffles Singapore in a luxurious suite, complete with sumptuous daily breakfast and limousine airport transfers; 14 nights in a luxury riverfront tent at the tranquil Fairmont Mara Safari Club in Kenya; or eight nights in a stunning river view suite at the Savoy London.

SO Sofitel Hua Hin launches new wing

Increase in India-Israel flights

AccorHotels to award massive discounts

Preferred Hotels adds 17 new membersPreferred Hotels & Resorts announced the addition of 17 new members between July 1 and September 30 to its global portfolio of more than 700 distinctive hotels, resorts, and residences. From historic villas to all-inclusive coastal resorts, these new member properties promise to deliver #ThePreferredLife – au-thentic, one-of-a-kind independent experi-ences – across exciting global destinations such as the Cote d’Azur (France), Indonesia, It-aly, Mexico, and New York. The hotels include the likes of The Sanchaya (Bintan, Indonesia), Villa del Quar (Valpolicella, Italy) and Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit (Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico).

SAMHI Hotels to add more roomsSAMHI Hotels Pvt Ltd is poised to increase its daily available inventory for sale from 3,000 to 4,000 rooms, registering a 30 per cent surge on the back of its acquisition of Premier Inn portfolio in 2017 and also the acquisition and subsequent rebranding of several hotels to Holiday Inn Express. The company had earli-er indicated an investment of Rs 500 crore to boost its inventory including acquisition and the turnaround expenses and it confirmed that it is well on its way to execute on that plan. “Many investors just look at the size of distress while acquiring assets. We, however, believe in evaluating the potential future op-portunity and not just the discount due to dis-tress. Over years we have demonstrated the ability to re-position and turnaround several hotel assets that we acquired. We believe such opportunities will continue to fuel our growth in the near term,” said Ashish Jakhanwala, Founder and CEO, SAMHI.

The Den Bengaluru launches new restaurantThe Den Bengaluru announced the grand launch of LAYLA, a rooftop Mediterranean Restaurant along with a grand opening recep-tion of the first property by The DAN group (Is-raeli) in India. The guests, who were was a mix of corporates, city celebrities and influencers spent the night grooving to fantastic music while relishing delectable Mediterranean cui-sine and experienced the best of both worlds with Lucky Ali and Eliezer Botzer all the way from Israel, along with The Best Kept Secret and DJ Shuggy. LAYLA’s menu is emphasized on the food habits of the Middle East, Greek, Italian, Spain, South France, Italy, Morocco, Turkey and Israel.

Air New Zealand releases new safety videoAir New Zealand’s home-grown safety video - It’s Kiwi Safety - was launched in November. The video backed by the soundtrack - It’s Kiwi, a remake of the popular RUN-DMC song ‘It’s Tricky’ and ‘In the Neighbourhood’ by Sisters Underground, produced by Josh Fountain of Auckland’s Golden Age Studios. The safety video was filmed at various New Zealand lo-cations in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Bal-clutha, Hokitika and Naseby in Central Otago and features a number of Air New Zealanders including cabin crew, pilots, engineers, load-ers and airline staff from Dunedin Airport.

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P11

If you thought that the famed South Indian movie, Roja, was shot in Kashmir, you are

wrong. Back in the 90s when the acclaimed film director Maniratnam conceptualized the idea, Kashmir was making the wrong sort of headlines. At the time, ‘Terrorism’ was the emerging keyword. While some insurgents wanted complete independence from India, the others sought Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir was so bad that the movie had to be shot in other hill stations like Himachal Pradesh, Ooty, and Manali.Fast forward two decades and things have changed for the better.According to the Department of Tourism, Jam-mu and Kashmir, the state is now a safe haven. To commemorate this year’s Autumn Festival, the enthusiastic officials at the state tourism department hosted a familiarization trip for travel agents, tour operators, bloggers, social

media influencers, and the media.The objective was to let people come and see for themselves how safe and secure Kashmir is. The outcome was favorable. Now, tour operators are keen to sell Kashmir as a safe tourist destination. Bloggers and social media influencers have started using pro-Kashmir hashtags to promote the destination on social media.Kiran Khilwani, founder, KK Tour & Travels, Madhya Pradesh, said that she will do all she can to sell Kashmir to her customers. “Actual-ly the tourism in J&K has gone down in the last couple of years due to negative campaigns by vested interests. The real story is that Kashmir is safe and its people are warm and humble.”Anitha Swamy, the founder of Chennai-based Time Travels & Tours, said that Kashmir would be of great interest to the South Indi-an market. “When people think of Kashmir, they only think of the chaos and commotion. But there’s more to Kashmir than the negative stories we read every day. The FAM trip orga-

nized by the state tourism department changed my mind. Kashmir is a safe place for travel-ers,” she said.Anjuna Dhir, Director-Programmes, Eco-Tourism Society of India, said that the FAM trip organized by the tourism department was a revelation. Dhir, who has traveled across the world, never managed to visit Kashmir for obvious reasons.“I may have still not come to Kashmir for an-other 10 years for various reasons. I came in because of this FAM trip. And it has been a revelation. Revelation—because Kashmir is all one expects it to be. Absolute beauty. And it’s wonderful. They call it Jannat and it’s true. But besides that, there are so many things, which are going right for Kashmir. I can go on record to say that Kashmir is the cleanest place I have ever seen,” she said.Riyaz Ahmad Shah, Deputy Director- Tour-ism, Jammu & Kashmir, said that they are working towards increasing footfall in the state. “J&K has a great potential for tourism.

REVIVING TOURISM INSeeing is believing. The FAM trip conducted by the department of tourism, Jammu & Kashmir, was an eye-opener for many travel agents and tour operators.

J&K has a great potential for tourism. But due to the situations prevailing in the past few decades, we had some limp seasons in the tourist arrivals. But slowly and steadily, because of the intervention of tourism department at different levels, we are helping and hoping to get back the tourism footfall.

But due to the situations prevailing in the past few decades, we had some limp seasons in the tourist arrivals. But slowly and steadily, because of the in-tervention of tourism department at different levels, we are helping and hoping to get back the tourism footfall. We have a tourism footfall of an average level but not to the level which we had in previous years. We are trying our best and promoting Kash-mir at the national and international level,” he said.

Meanwhile in Jammu…SK Attri, Deputy Director, Publicity, Jammu, point-ed out that every country in the world is affected by terrorism. But that hasn’t stopped people from traveling. “Jammu and Kashmir is as safe as any part of the world. No crime has been reported to date against any tourists – be it woman, locals, or anyone. Ba-sically, we are suffering because of the negative perception that media has been spreading saying Kashmir is unsafe. We need to fight against that menace,” said Attri, who visited the J&K stall at India International Travel Mart in Delhi in Octo-

ber. The J&K tourism department is planning to promote destinations like Patnitop, Bhaderwah, Badgam, Sonmarg, Gulmarg, and Verinag.

App for touristsThe state tourism department recently launched an app for Jammu. In the second phase, we are planning to launch the same for Kashmir tourism as well. “We have tried to aggregate all the facil-ities tourists can have at a particular destination. You can look for a destination and the amenities available in that destination. Be it ATMs, hospi-tals, police stations, waiting point and other stuff one can think of. We have a special feature - pan-ic button, which when pushed will send across a message to the related agencies to help or rescue tourists,” said Attri.In an effort to boost tourism in the state, the department is actively participating in travel marts and conducting roadshows. The officials are using social media platforms like Face-book, Twitter, and Instagram to influence mil-lennial travelers.

CAROLINE DIANA

RIYAZ AHMAD SHAHDeputy Director- Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P12

Affluent travelers perceive hotels and resorts as established

authorities and trusted travel guides, reveals a recent report.According to the key findings of Luxury Insights Report commissioned by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, hotels are perceived as pillars in their community, connecting guests, whether from abroad or locally, to the true character of the destination. Luxury travelers view the role of a hotel beyond curating authentic local experiences. It is the combination of destination expertise and recreating the comforts of home that creates this trusted relationship and positions the most desirable hotels in the world at the very heart of the travel experience.“Today’s luxury traveler - although not at home - does not want to sacrifice the comforts of home,” said Blake Morgan, Customer Experience Futurist. He added that the millennial customer values access over ownership. “They crave authentic experiences they can share with their friends and curate the narrative of their digital lives,” he said.Sharon Cohen, Vice President, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, said that this what the brand is aiming at. “Fairmont properties share a special connection to their communities and part of our brand promise is to preserve these diverse and picturesque locations while enhancing their overall welfare,” said Cohen.Fairmont’s Luxury Insights Report is based on data uncovered from Fairmont’s 2018 Global Luxury Traveler Insights Study, an online survey of 2,725 luxury travelers from France, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, China, and United Arab Emirates. Industry leaders across the globe – including consumer experience futurists,

sustainability strategists, association leaders and travel company presidents – also shared their perspectives on the findings to round out the report and facilitate a discussion around innovation leadership and the integral role of experience in the travel sector. The study reveals that guests look to luxury hotels as a key aspect of their travel experience. The influence of hotels goes beyond the traditional expectation of having a place to sleep at night, with guests looking to hotels to provide immersive experiences that are sustainably viable and meet the needs of their entire family.According to Keith Baron, President,

Abercrombie & Kent USA, multigenerational travel continues to

grow as families today are busier and living further away from each other. “Travel has become the best way to spend quality time together. The very definition of luxury is changing.

It is much more about the luxury of experience, rather than just thread count. It’s no longer only about having the top suite in a hotel, flying first-class or dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant. It is increasingly about privacy, exclusivity, and customization.”“Today’s most compelling luxury hotels embody the character of a destination through their history and style, combining distinctive architecture with expressive decor and artistry. Each of these hotels is true to its place and its traditions, incorporating elements of the past and reflecting the local culture.”

Study finds hotels are trusted travel partnersVW BUREAU

HOSPITALITY

WHAT GUESTS LOOK FOR: Privacy, exclusivity, and customization are the key aspects that one looks for in a luxury property.

Luxury travelers view the role of a hotel beyond curating authentic local experiences

IATA also encouraged the govern-ment to look at ways to improve

India’s competitiveness by aligning with global standards and reduc-ing excessive government imposed costs.Exclusive experiences: Travelers prioritize experiences over brands, with two out of three considering it important to have experiences not readily available to everyone (65%).Destination insiders: About 89 percent of those surveyed said that the best hotels have colleagues that are familiar with the area and can provide the inside scoop on things only the locals know.The hotel factor: About 93% of luxury travelers consider the hotel an important part of the vacation experience – so much so that over half (59%) feel that hotel options influence their choice of destination.Generation green: About 84% of re-spondents consider it important that

the hotel provides recommendations of experiences that are not detrimen-tal to the local community. Guests recognize overtourism as a growing concern and that changes need to be made if the beauty that attracts them to worldwide destinations is going to last; travelers look to luxury hotels to help drive change that is positive and sustainable.No flight required: Luxury hotels are not just for the jet-set. For 77%, these remarkable properties pro-vide a memorable option for social and business occasions in their hometown. As pillars in their com-munities, locals seek these institu-tions to celebrate momentous oc-casions and create family traditions.Community connection: Seasoned travelers understand the impact of tourism within a destination. Four out of five think environmentally sustainable practices and locally sourced kitchen ingredients are important.

WHAT TRAVELERS WANT

�e emirate’s clear waters and beautiful landscapes invite you to enjoy your favourite

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to thrill-seekers will find their perfect destination in Sharjah.

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Action-packed to

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P14

Considering the growing number of bleisure travelers around the

world, tour operators, travel agents, as well as hoteliers have a lot to gain. According to the recent findings by Expedia Group Media Solutions, the advertising arm of Expedia Group, the Indian as well as international bleisure travel is booming, and these travelers are invested in making the most of their time away from home.The research titled, Unpacking Bleisure Traveler Trends, shows that on average, across the five countries, bleisure travelers take more than six business trips per year, and more than 60 percent of business trips during the last year were extended for leisure purposes. In the U.S., bleisure travel conversion is consistent with the multi-national average of 60 percent, revealing a nearly 40 percent increase in American bleisure travel since 2016. About 58% of the Indians revealed that 60% of their business trips turned into bleisure. Top domestic destinations for Indian

bleisure travels are Bangalore, Mumbai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune, Chennai, and Goa. International destinations include Rome, Paris, New York, London, Zurich, Bangkok, Dubai, Singapore, Vienna, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, and Amsterdam.On average, 72 percent of bleisure travelers said there are destinations they have visited or will visit in the future for business that they would like to extend for bleisure, but what makes a destination appealing for bleisure travel? About 56 percent said they are more likely to consider a bleisure trip in a destination with great food and restaurants, closely followed by approximately 50 percent influenced by beaches, weather, nature, historical monuments or sightseeing. This further validates the importance of experiences and activities for all travelers, and illustrates an opportunity for marketers to attract bleisure travelers from around the world.Andrew van der Feltz, Senior Director, EMEA & APAC for Expedia

Group Media Solutions, said, “By showcasing unique experiences and activities, which are influential factors during the decision-making process, every destination, hotel, restaurant, attraction, airline, and more, can entice business travelers to extend their trip for leisure.”So, what makes a great Bleisure destination? Every destination has great food; those with unique cuisine or a culinary scene can capitalize on the rise of culinary travel. Sightseeing, both natural and historical, is appealing to bleisure travelers, and can also be promoted in connection with other activities or experiences. Museums, art and culture play a role in drawing travelers to a destination for bleisure. Most travelers spend 1-5 hours researching before deciding to add leisure to a business trip. Bleisure travelers are investing time in planning the leisure portion of their trip, but not everything is booked in advance, creating an opportunity to reach and convert in-market.Converting to Bleisure: Business

trips lasting 2-3 nights are most likely to result in bleisure trips (50 percent), as are trips where the business destination is far away, or more than 400 miles from home (49 percent). Leading factors that influence bleisure travel decisions include traveling to a destination with great entertainment (48 percent) and visiting an iconic or bucket list destination (43 percent); easy-to-navigate destinations, proximity to the weekend and additional personal costs required to extend the trip for leisure are also influential factors.Bleisure research & booking resource: Approximately 80 percent of bleisure travelers spend 1-5 hours on research during both the inspiration and planning phases, which is more condensed than more traditional leisure booking windows. Before deciding to bleisure, 68 percent of travelers conduct research using a search engine, about 47 percent use travel-related websites – including OTAs, airline and hotel sites, and review sites – and 44 percent use destination websites.

VW BUREAU Most bleisure travelers personally research and book accommodations (61 percent), airfare (42 percent) and dining (38 percent) for the leisure portion of their trip.Willingness to travel for Bleisure: Two-thirds of past bleisure trips were in the same city as the business trip, but more than 80 percent of bleisure travelers are willing to travel from the business destination for leisure. On domestic and international trips, more than 50 percent of bleisure travelers are willing to travel 1-2 hours via car from the business destination for the leisure portion of their trip, and more than 28 percent would travel 1-2 hours via plane. When traveling domestically between the business and leisure destinations, 38 percent of bleisure travelers are unwilling to travel via bus and 25 percent are unwilling to travel via plane.Bleisure budgets & payment preferences: Compared to a typical vacation, about 57 percent of bleisure travelers spend the same amount of money or more on a bleisure trip, and

more than 75 percent save money specifically for bleisure travel. When on a bleisure trip, credit cards are the leading preferred payment method (69 percent), followed by cash (47 percent) and debit or ATM cards (44 percent). More than two-thirds of bleisure spend is allocated to hotel, airfare and dining for the leisure portion of the trip.

On average, 72 percent of bleisure travelers said there are destinations they have visited or will visit in the future for business that they would like to extend for bleisure.

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P15

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P16 Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P17

While boutique hotels, also called independent or lifestyle hotels,

were possibly written off 10-15 years ago, it’s undeniable that these hotels are back in favor. In fact, boutique hotels are on their way to becoming the fastest-growing segment in the lodging industry.While boutique hotels, also called independent or lifestyle hotels, were possibly written off 10-15 years ago, it’s undeniable that these hotels are back in favor. In fact, boutique hotels are on their way to becoming the fastest-growing segment in the lodging industry.According to recent data, the supply of lifestyle hotels grew by over 7% in 2012, but in 2017, growth for this sector was recorded at an impressive 11.5%. Between November 2015 and October 2017 bookings at boutique hotels in the US grew 43%, according to 1010data.According to research conducted by

Amistad Partners, independent hotels will still be hot in the next five to ten years but what can one expect to see from these hotels? The Boutique and Lifestyle Lodging Association’s 2017 Sentiment Survey provides some useful insights into trends and future plans.What differentiates boutique hotels from their more mainstream, big-chain competitors? Several factors, including authenticity, luxury, and being nimble.Authentic local flavors are important. “Guests want to experience the ‘place’ and not just the amenities the hotel has to offer.”Independent hotels can respond to customer demand and market trends more quickly. These hotels are used to accomplishing a lot within tight

budgets and are creative in their approach. “We can add in trends faster than chains can, as we’re more mobile – and keep reinventing ourselves.”Boutique hotels recognize that luxury doesn’t mean expensive. There are many relevant definitions of luxury: “service that goes above and beyond”, “the ability to exceed expectations in unique crafted ways that are not expected” and “provide something that money cannot pay for.”Growth and expansionAlmost everyone surveyed (90%) said they are harboring plans to expand their business. 40% of those who responded said they plan to expand their business in the next six months.Guests are expecting more and more tailored services, including online

check-in, keyless entry systems and TV on demand. We expect more hotels to use guest-profiling technology to help service this growing demand.Guests are also looking to immerse themselves into the destinations they are visiting. They want to feel like a local and to truly experience all that a destination has to offer.Instagrammable momentsMillennials, as we know, are into off-the-beaten-track adventures and Instagram inspires more of these adventures than any other social media platform. One famous example is Norway. About 800 people hiked to Norway’s picturesque Trolltunga viewpoint in 2010, while 80,000 people made the hike in 2016. This massive surge of tourism (and rescue missions for those unprepared for the 10-hour trek) was fueled in a large part by social media. Hotels are capitalising on this by showcasing on social media what travellers can look forward to during their stay.

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VISUALLY APPEALING: Hotels are capitalizing on property aesthetics by showcasing on social media what travelers can look forward to during their stay.

HOSPITALITY

According to recent data, the supply of lifestyle hotels grew by over 7% in 2012, but in 2017, growth for this sector was recorded at an impressive 11.5%.

BOUTIQUE H O T E L S

THE FUTURE OF

► The Indian Hotels Company Limited

► Mandarin Oriental Internation-al Limited

► Kerzner International Resorts, Inc

► InterContinental Hotels Group PLC

► Jumeirah International LLC► Hyatt Hotels, Hilton► Shangri-La International Hotel

Management Ltd► Four Seasons Holdings Inc.► Marriott International, Inc► Starwood Hotels & Resorts

(Marriott)► ITC Hotels Limited

MAJOR PLAYERS

BOUTIQUE H O T E L S

THE FUTURE OFHOSPITALITY

Sarova Hotels, Resort & Game Lodges successfully conducted its

four-city workshop in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad in November. Stakeholders, travel agents, and policy makers from these cities attended the product presentations, which was curated specifically for the Indian market.The delegation also interacted with the agents and shared insights on how to promote the property to Indian leisure travelers and MICE groups. The product presentation was followed by a gala reception.Kenya and India enjoy warm relations, which has steadily grown year by year in both scope and depth and spans many different areas of cooperation. The tourism exchange between both the countries has gone upward with Kenya emerging as a hotspot for safaris, MICE, and leisure tourism. According to figures released by the Ministry of Tourism on the state of Kenyan tourism in 2017, international

arrivals hit 1.47 million in 2017, up from 1.34 million the previous year. The Indian market contributed to 6.2% of these arrivals, as the fourth largest source market; behind the United States of America, United Kingdom and Uganda. Uganda only topped the

Indian arrivals by 0.2%.“Sarova has been a well-known brand in terms of luxury, cuisine and the quality of services it has to offer for all travel segments be it leisure, MICE or wedding groups. International arrivals have been on a steady growth since 2015, and the Indian market has been one of the fastest growing source markets. Our 4-city roadshow

in India gives us a better standing in the industry in tapping into this source market”, said Selina Dima, Travel Trade Manager, Global Sales, Sarova Hotels and Resorts, Kenya.Sarova Hotels has a keen understanding of social and cultural nuances of India that helps them to curate services tailored for guests from the Indian subcontinent.

India is one of Kenya’s leading trade partners and a number of Indian companies are using Kenya as a base to grow in the region. The strategic location of group’s business hotels in Nairobi and Mombasa, strengthened by a strong brand showcase in India, would position Sarova as the preferred hotel partner for the Indian business traveler.

Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa has entered the India market

through a market representation agreement with INDIA SALES ASSOCIATES, the hotel’s marketing and consultancy firm for the Indian Subcontinent.“Regarded as a classic Balinese resort with modern facilities, this is an oceanfront paradise in Bali, Indonesia. Expansive green landscape in five acres overlooking a white sandy beach and panoramic ocean views are the setting for a relaxing holiday in the most beautiful surroundings. Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa is located within close proximity to all that Legian and Seminyak are famous for, excellent shopping, traditional art markets, trendy restaurants, and thriving beach clubs,” said Manas Sinha, Director, INDIA SALES ASSOCIATES.With well-appointed accommodation, delectable dining, rejuvenating spa therapies, and pristine beaches, Bali Mandira offers a blend of Bali’s beautiful natural splendor with a vibrant theatre of music, dance, culture and world-class facilities to ensure a truly wonderful stay for every guest.Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa features 187 units of variety stay options from large Superior rooms to Deluxe Cottages, Deluxe Club cottages and suites, Mandira Club tSuite to Pool Club Villas (with private pools). Aside from the club lounge, it boasts of 4 different restaurants and bar. Three pools –

family pool with sunken bar, adults only pool, and separate children pool with water slides and a large kids club. The rooftop meeting and conference facilities provide unmatched sunset view and the ‘Glow Spa’ provides a range of massages and treatments by skilled professional therapists. The resort has multiple wedding venues to cater to 200 to 400 guests. In addition, the resort offers various in-house complimentary activities, including free scuba-diving and surfing lessons, yoga sessions etc.

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Kenya’s Sarova Hotels conducts four-city roadshow

Bali Mandira Beach Resort all set to woo India

The tourism exchange between both the countries has gone upward with Kenya emerging as a hotspot for safaris, MICE, and leisure tourism. MEETING UP: Delegates from Sarova Hotels met with travel agents in Delhi, Mumbai,

Bangalore, and Ahmedabad.

A GREAT COMBO: Bali Mandira offers a blend of Bali’s beautiful natural splendor with a vibrant theatre of music, dance, and culture.

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This one’s for die-hard fans of the book/movie franchise Harry Potter. What if you could relive the fantastic experiences you have had via the books and movies? Warner Bros Studios in London does just that with the tour of the magical school and making of Harry Potter by way of their ‘Hogwarts in the Snow’ tour. The trail is pretty simple – you would first get to experience Yule Ball, which made its debut in the fourth HP book – Goblet of Fire as part of the Triwizard Tournament. You will get a taster of the incredible set dress as the top section of the Great Hall will be transformed with snow-covered Christmas trees, icicles and an orchestra of magical instruments. There’s more - Hogwarts castle model will be transformed with a layer of filmmaking snow. You will also get a ringside view of the Gryffindor Common Room and the Boys’ Dormitory.

Hogwarts in the Snow November 17-January 27, London

This year’s theme of Winterfest that celebrates holidays is ‘Winter Blue Edition’. The Henderson Events Plaza in Nevada transforms into a perfect winter wonderland, with lights, activities, craft vendors, and more. The first day of the festival on December 7 features a tree-lighting ceremony with Santa while the second day concludes with an epic light parade. Additional activities include dance and music performances, gingerbread house display, strolling carolers, and an opportunity to take your picture with Santa from inside a giant snow globe. While entrance to the event is free there are fees for some of the activities. The make & take craft station and petting zoo can be counted among the freebies. Wristbands are available Friday and Saturday for day-of unlimited access to the Ferris wheel, carousel, train ride, toboggan slide, and pony rides.

WinterfestDecember 7-8, U.S

A dusk-to-dawn beach festival in Siloso Beach, Sentosa, ZoukOut runs over 16 hours with the celebration ending at sunrise. About 30,000 fans are expected to throng this year’s festival, which is incidentally their eighteenth. The dance music scene at the festival this year would be spearheaded by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, currently ranked number two on the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll. Other noteworthy names to perform at the fest include Galantis, W&W, Australia’s Timmy Trumpet, legendary producer Jeffrey Sutorius, and electro house gargantuan, KSHMR.

FESTIVALSWORLDof the

Zoukout 2018December 1, Singapore

The Ficksburg Cherry Festival is the oldest crop festival in South Africa. Festivities include cherry tours, a golf classic, a half marathon, cherry product competitions, veteran vehicle displays, equestrian events, food and wine fiesta and beer fests. A must-watch is the ‘ready, steady, bake’ competition as is the making of cherry mampoer (a South African distilled spirit). However, it’s not all about cherries as well-known South African artists provide live entertainment to go along with the merry making. Ficksburg also provides additional entertainment in the form of art workshops, farm stalls, polo schools, hiking trails, some great restaurants, etc, that warrants your attention. A trivia for the traveller - Ficksburg is known throughout the country as the Cherry Town, and the two have become synonymous with each other over time.

Tori no Ichi Fair (open-air market) is a famous annual event held in November on the day of the Tori (Rooster) in Chinese calendar and this event has been around since the Edo period. Held at the Temple of Tori (Juzaisan Chokoku-ji) in Asakusa, Tokyo or various shrines of Washi (Eagle), the fest attracts long queues of people coming to pray for health, good fortune and business. Generally, the first day of the Tori is most important. A traditional part of the festival is Bamboo rakes, which is sold at temples of Tori and other shrines of Washi. Other types of special foods sold include Kashira no Imo (steamed taro) and Koganemochi (Japanese rice cake).

Loy Krathong or the festival of lanterns is celebrated on the night of the 12th lunar month (usually in November), at the end of the rainy season to thank the Water Goddess for a year’s worth abundant supply, as well as an apology for polluting the waters post the culmination of the main harvest season. The festivities take the form of people gathering around lakes, rivers and canals to pay respects to the Water Goddess by releasing beautiful lotus-shaped rafts, decorated with candles, incense and flowers onto the water. The sight of thousands of lanterns and flickering candles truly present a breath-taking vision. The city of Bangkok is also buzzing with dance performances, lantern-making competitions, beauty contests and what not during this period.

An annual, nine day music event presented by City of Melbourne, MMW brings audiences and artists together in celebration of the city’s global reputation as a music capital. Bands/artists to be featured include Blue Black Beatz, Ainslie Wills, Gretta Ray, Angie McMahon, Jeff Mills, Matt Radovich, and more. About 250 acts and 85 music events have been planned. The opening night features Ara Koufax, Sui Zhen and others, and promises to be riveting. Watch out for Sound School 2018 Showcase, which showcases debut performances from emerging local talent, and be sure to check out the synth, DJ and music production superstars from SIGNAL Arts, Phoenix Youth Centre and Footscray Community Arts programs. A not-to-be-missed screening is Jeff Mills’ Woman in the Moon in Australia, which paints a remarkably accurate picture of rocket science and space exploration.

Cherry FestivalNovember 15-17, South Africa

Tori No Ichi

Lantern Festival

Melbourne Music Week

November 13, Japan

November 22, Thailand

November 16-24, Australia

FLIGHTTALK Voyager’s World | October 2018 | P20

INDIA According to a recent report by the International Air Transport

Association (IATA), India ranks among the top three aviation markets.The IATA findings revealed that present global trends in air transport suggest passenger numbers could double to 8.2 billion in 2037.The latest update to IATA’s 20-Year Air Passenger Forecast, shows that an increasing shift Eastwards in the center of gravity of the industry is behind the continued strong growth. Over the next two decades, the forecast anticipates a 3.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), leading to a doubling in passenger numbers from today’s levels.The Association warned, however, that growth prospects for air transport, and the economic benefits driven by aviation, could be curtailed if protectionist measures are implemented by governments.“Aviation is growing, and that is generating huge benefits for the world. A doubling of air passengers in the next 20 years could support 100 million jobs globally. There are two important things that stand out about this year’s forecast. Firstly, we are seeing a geographical reshuffling of world air traffic to the East. And secondly, we foresee a significant negative impact on the growth and benefits of aviation if tough and restrictive protectionist measures are implemented,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO

Eastward shift in aviation’s center of gravity continuesThe Asia-Pacific region will drive the biggest growth with more than half the total number of new passengers over the next 20 years coming from these markets. Growth in this market is being driven by a combination of continued robust economic growth, improvements in household incomes and favorable population and demographic profiles. According to the report, China will displace the United States as the world’s largest aviation market (defined as traffic to, from

and within the country) in the mid-2020s. The rebalancing of China’s economy towards consumption will support strong passenger demand over the long term. The report also suggests that India will take 3rd place after the US, surpassing the UK around 2024. Indonesia is forecast to be a standout performer—climbing from the world’s 10th largest aviation market in 2017 to the 4th largest by 2030. Thailand is expected to enter the top 10 markets in 2030, replacing Italy which drops out of the ranking.

Globalization Reversed or Liber-alization Increased?The 3.5% CAGR to 2037 assumes an unchanged policy framework over that period. Policy shifts, however, are likely over time. Should protectionism continue to expand in a “reverse globalization” scenario, aviation would continue to grow, but at a slower pace and deliver fewer economic and social benefits. Under a liberalized environment connectivity would generate significantly more jobs and GDP growth.“Global prosperity depends on air connectivity. Aviation is sensitive to policies that either support or undermine growth. And these seem to be pointing in the wrong direction. Dampening demand for air connectivity risks high quality jobs, and economic activity dependent on global mobility. This forecast is a cautionary warning to governments. First, the industry will grow but they must clear the infrastructure bottlenecks to bring that growth to their home markets. And secondly, governments must understand that globalization has made our world more socially and economically prosperous. Inhibiting globalization with protectionism will see opportunities lost,” said de Juniac.

Infrastructure and sustainabilityNo matter which growth scenario comes to pass, aviation faces an infrastructure crisis. Governments must work closely with the industry, to be more ambitious in developing efficient infrastructure, fit for purpose, and offering value for money.

“The world stands to benefit greatly from better connectivity. However, at this rate, airports and air traffic control will not be able to handle demand. Governments and infrastructure operators must strategically plan for the future. Decisions made now will have an impact on the value created by aviation for their regions,” said de Juniac.The increased demand to fly creates a responsibility to expand in a sustainable manner. The aviation industry remains committed to its goals of carbon-neutral growth from 2020 onwards and cutting CO2 emissions to half 2005 levels by 2050. “Commercial aviation is one of the only global industries to take on such comprehensive environmental targets. With mandatory emissions reporting beginning on 1 January 2019 under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), this will help rally the industry to invest in more fuel efficient aircraft and sustainable aviation fuels,” said de Juniac. According to the findings, routes to, from and within Asia-Pacific will see an extra 2.35 billion annual passengers by 2037, for a total market size of 3.9 billion passengers. Its CAGR of 4.8% is the highest, followed by Africa and the Middle East. The North American region will grow by a CAGR of 2.4% annually and in 2037 will carry a total of 1.4 billion passengers, an additional 527 million passengers. Europe will grow at a CAGR of 2.0%, and will see an additional 611 million passengers. The total market will be 1.9 billion passengers. Latin American markets will grow by a CAGR of 3.6%, serving a total of 731 million passengers, an additional 371 million passengers annually compared to today. The Middle East will grow strongly with a CAGR of 4.4% and will see an extra 290 million passengers on routes to, from and within the region by 2037. The total market size will be 501 million passengers. Africa will grow by a CAGR of 4.6%. By 2037 it will see an extra 199 million passengers for a total market of 334 million passengers.

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IN F U L L F L I G HT

Voyager’s World | October 2018 | P21

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P22 Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P23FLIGHTTALK

IATA released a comprehensive report on India’s aviation market.

The report focuses on the challenges of realizing the economic and social benefits of an Indian aviation industry that has tremendous potential for continued high-speed demand growth.In 2010, 79 million people traveled to/from/or within India. By 2017 that doubled to 158 million. That number is expected to treble to 520 million by 2037.Air transport makes a significant economic contribution to India. Aviation in India supports 7.5 million jobs: 390,000 directly, 570,000 in the value chain, and 6.2 million in tourism. Aviation contributes some US$30 billion annually to India’s GDP.India will be the third largest domestic market (behind the US and China). Domestic load factors are high, hitting a record 90% in February 2018. The 98 million domestic passenger trips in 2017 equal 7.3% of India’s population. After adjusting for inflation, average domestic fares fell by more than 70% since 2005. The number of domestic airport pairs is 700 (a 50% increase on 2015 levels). Low cost carriers account for about 70% of domestic seats. India’s international market is

growing more slowly than domestic. In 2017 there were about 60 million international journeys to/from India. Low-cost operators account for about 25% of international capacity. India is directly linked to 304 international destinations, up from 230 in 2008. About 41% of India’s direct international connectivity is to the Middle East—much of it to super-connector hubs of UAE and Qatar. The Indian outbound air cargo market topped 1 million tonnes in 2017 (+16.9% on 2016). UAE is India’s largest cargo market (30%); Ethiopia is the fastest growing of the main markets (+114% on 2016). Delhi and Mumbai are India’s largest cargo hubs; Mumbai and Chennai are the fastest growing (+18.1% and +17.2% respectively).

Looking aheadFundamentals supporting Indian market growth are strong. By 2036 India’s population is expected to reach 1.6 billion and average incomes are expected to rise to almost $5,000 per capita (a five-fold increase on 2006). With that, the number of “middle class” households should reach 20% by 2036 (up from 2% in 2006).Domestic markets will continue to drive industry growth. Of the 359 million additional passengers expected to fly in 2036, 228 million will be on

domestic routes and 131 million will be connecting internationally.By 2026 India is expected to be the third largest air transport market in the world (up from its current 7th place ranking).

ChallengesThe study identified several factors that could impact the future growth of Indian aviation:▪ Policy: Baseline growth rate of 6.1% annually is expected to result in a total market of 520 million Indian passengers in 2037. Globally, liberalization and policy stimulus could see India’s growth rate rise to 9.1%, taking the total market to nearly 900 million by 2037. Equally, protectionist and other negative policy impacts globally could hold India’s growth back to 4.9% and the total market would be 400 million in 2037.▪ Ease of Doing Business: Over the last five years India has risen from 132 to 100 on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business survey. Continued improvement in this area will be critical

to sustainable growth of aviation.▪ Travel and Tourism Compe-titiveness: India has also risen from 52nd place (2015) to 40th (2017) place in the 2017 World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index. Improvements in visa policies, infrastructure and preservation of monuments have assisted this rise. Continuous improvements in these areas as well as in human resources development, airport infrastructure density, and tourism infrastructure are among the areas that could further enhance India’s competitiveness.“Meeting the significant growth potential of Indian aviation will also create challenges – for the airlines, its industry partners and policy-makers. For example, this will require the right type of infrastructure at the right time and in the right place. Equally, the broader business and policy environment should not place hurdles which inhibit growth and reduce the level of benefits that aviation can deliver to the nation. The industry, its supply chain partners and the government and policy-makers have a clear mandate to work in collaboration towards the common goal of ensuring that aviation’s economic and social benefits are fulfilled,” said Brian Pearce, IATA’s Chief Economist.

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Aviation contributes some US $30 billion annually to India’s GDP.

INDIA HAS A POTENTIAL FOR HIGH-SPEED GROWTH

Having established a robust domestic network, Indian

carriers are now deploying additional capacity to international destinations from India. BLR airport, with the right traffic potential and ideal geographical location, finds itself in a sweet spot: from Bengaluru, airlines can easily cover all key markets located within a 4-6 hour flying range.This will enable air travelers from Bengaluru to explore more places as Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) — operator of the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru — expands its flight

offerings with the launch of seven new routes and the addition of two airlines during the Winter Schedule 2018, commencing October 28. This five-month schedule will be in effect until March 30.Phuket is the new international destination, with Go Air offering a direct connection to the southern Thai province. With this, Bengaluru will now connect to 82 destinations – 53 domestic and 29 international.Three airlines — Indigo, Air India and Go Air — will launch additional flights from Bengaluru to eight existing international destinations. Indigo will operate daily flights to Male, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Kathmandu; Air India will

fly to Bangkok and London; Go Air will operate to Male. Air India Express will launch a round-trip flight to Singapore – flying four times a week – from October 29.The new domestic destinations are Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Udaipur (Spice Jet); Udaipur and Prayagraj (erstwhile Allahabad) (Indigo); Aizawl via Guwahati (Jet Airways) and Kolhapur (Alliance Air).The new airlines set to make their Bengaluru debut are Turkish Cargo and Air India Express. Turkish Cargo, one of the fastest growing air freight services, will operate two flights a week, flying between Istanbul and Bengaluru – one via Colombo and the other via Daman

– from October 31. A total of 13 Cargo Airlines, including two domestic and 11 international, now operate from BLR Airport.“Resurgent growth translates into the need for new routes and the addition of aircraft to the existing base. We will continue to work with our airline partners to offer passengers attractive routes that connect Bengaluru to some of the most exotic destinations in India and abroad,” said BIAL’s Chief Operating Officer, Javed Malik.“Our new services will further bolster the economy of the City and enhance the reputation of BLR Airport as the gateway to a New India,” Malik added.

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BIAL to see 17% increase in int’l air trafficFLIGHTTALK

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JetPrivilege has announced the launch of ‘Hotel Stay

Redemptions’ that enables members to redeem their JPMiles for hotel bookings. JetPrivilege members can redeem their JPMiles for hotel stays on hotels.jetprivilege.com. While choosing to redeem their JPMiles for hotel stays, members have the flexibility to pay either by redeeming their JPMiles completely or by paying part in JPMiles and part in cash. With over 4,00,000 hotel redemption options to choose from, members are well on their path towards funding their complete travel (flights as well as stay) with JPMiles thus, expanding their overall rewarding experience with the programme.

More varietyMembers can choose from a wide array of hotels, homestays, and BnBs.JetPrivilege members can continue to redeem their JPMiles for free award flights on jetprivilege website or for 1000+ products at the JetPrivilege Rewards store. JetPrivilege’s partnership with Indian Oil, earlier this year, enabled members to also earn and burn JPMiles on fuel spends. With the introduction of this new feature, JetPrivilege members can now redeem their JPMiles for an aspirational reward of their choice.Manish Dureja, Managing Director, JetPrivilege, said, “The online hotel booking platform in the stay category has been one of our strongest program platforms and the launch of ‘Hotels Redemption’ was a natural progression aimed at delivering a seamless, end to end travel experience to our members. At JetPrivilege, we are constantly looking at ways to enhance the overall member engagement and deliver an exceptional and rewarding experience.”

JetPrivilege JPMiles for hotel stays

Voyager’s World | September 2018 | P25

There are many locations that don’t warrant a season – anytime is lucky to pay a visit. Mamallapuram

off Chennai is one such place brimming with a moderate and breezy climate all throughout the year thanks to the close proximity to the sea.

Things to doMost of the architecture in Mamallapuram owes allegiance to the Pallava style, which is characterised by refined stone-cutting and engraving. The style that’s evident in the temples of Mamallapuram is known as the Raja Singha style. Therefore, the Shore Temple and Arjuna’s Penance might be a good starting point of things to explore the quaint, little tourist haven.Shore Temple is believed to have been constructed in the seventh century thereby making it one of the oldest of the south Indian Temples constructed in the natural Dravidian style. Another fact about the Shore Temple that can pique your interest is that it has been listed among the world heritage sites of the UNESCO.Arjuna’s Penance is a wonderful portrayal of art bas-relief monolith and is also known as the ‘Descent of the Ganges’. The rock formation is carved at the back portion of the whale-shaped stone. On either side of the rock, you find birds, beasts, nagas, etc. You also have images of Gods wielding musical instruments such as veena.The Mamallapuram Beach is a miss-it-not, complementing and adding beauty to the Pallava architecture in its own ways. Be sure to catch the sunrise or the sunset, whichever you can manage.One can seek the help of a guide as well if you would like to delve a little deep into the history of Mamallapuram. Tamil and English are widely spoken though considering that Mamallapuram is a tourist town, guides are proficient in other popular languages such as Hindi as well.Not just the Shore Temple or the beach, the many array of shops selling food, art, craft, etc, is a treat as well. Nothing like a stroll along the shops to while away a lazy evening with a munch here and a souvenir in your pocket. Mamallapuram is also famed for its seafood. Be sure to indulge your taste buds in a palette of fish, prawns, squid and the like. Moonrakers is a favourite haunt with food connoisseurs.Besides these attractions, you also have the many

mandapams that the Pallavas built that are of interest such as Krishna Mandapam, Mahishasuramardhini Mandapam and Varaha Mandapam.For ones hoping to take in a bit of nature or looking for something that will fly with children, there’s always the Crocodile Park. Surfing is also popular with the adventure folks with many shops renting affordable gear.

Where to stayFor the luxury traveler, Mamallapuram is dotted with resorts. Radisson BLU Resort Temple Bay, Landmark Pallava Beach Resorts and InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort are worthy mentions.There are also budget options available such as Blue Moon Guest House, Sea Breeze Hotel and Hotel Mamalla Heritage. You could also look at home stays.Tourists seem to be making a beeline to luxury resorts from August till March while budget travelers generally decide to trot in from December to March, say hotel managers. The chunk of visitors from abroad is from European countries.“Peak season for us is from December till mid-March. The numbers go down a bit after that (April-May) despite it being the summer season, but is relatively good. Around this period, there are a lot of visitors from nearby places like Chennai and Bangalore. There is also a lull during June-July considering that schools reopen. Again it starts getting good in August. October is fantastic as well since it’s the onset of Puja holidays and we get a lot of visitors from North India. All in all, I would say it’s a mixed crowd though a lot of Europeans come here,” says Hari Prasad, General Manager, Hotel Mamalla Heritage.Most of the Europeans coming in are routed through the tour operators, accounting to 80 per cent footfall while at other times bookings are via online portals, adds Prasad.Though most of the travelers prefer to be on their own, the hotel arranges for guides if need be.Peak season bookings from luxury travelers begins from August, says John Bosco, General Manager, Landmark Pallava Beach Resort. “Most Europeans prefer to come here from August till March. Bookings are also fairly decent during the Diwali-Christmas-New-Year extended holiday season. There are a lot of dance festivals going on during that period, which catches the fancy of travelers trying to soak in the local culture.”

SHILPA VASUDEVAN

Be it a loaded tour of the Pallava architecture or lazying around the beach, the picturesque town of Mamallapuram has something to offer everyone.

SIGHTSOF SEA,SHORE &

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Atout France - France Tourism Development Agency organized

two of its mega-events in Jaipur in early October. Its flagship event, the annual B2B showcase “Experience France” took place at the Fairmont Jaipur this year. The second edition of this offsite was the biggest in terms of supplier presence with an unprecedented number of 32 French travel companies being represented at the showcase. A total of 87 travel agents attended the event over a span of 3 days allowing for over 1700 one-to-one meetings with the visiting delegates. The delegation comprised of a versatile mix of airline companies, hoteliers, DMCS and regional tourism bodies which ensured a holistic representation of destination France. A selection of thematic soirées ranging from Indian themed events to the France of the 20’s allowed for interactive exchanges between agents and suppliers. Members of the Indian travel fraternity present at the event took back flavourful souvenirs of France in the form of marmalades offered by Bonne Maman.

The Ambassador’s Travel AwardsThe 4th edition of the Ambassador’s Travel Awards took place in the magnificent setting of the Sujan Rajmahal Palace -member of Relais & Chateaux in Jaipur on 8th October. Under the high patronage of the Ambassador of France to India and in partnership with VFS Global, these prestigious awards were instated in 2015 with the objective of recognising and rewarding a selection of travel agents across India for their exemplary efforts in showcasing France as a travel destination both from the itinerary and visa perspective and the prolific penmanship of a journalist who, through their articles, has essayed a versatile presentation of destination France. The winners for this year were Thomas Cook India Ltd, Cox and Kings Ltd, In Orbit Tours Pvt Ltd, Veena World, Eastern Travels Pvt Ltd, and Destination Globe.Sheetal Munshaw - Director Atout France, said, “We are extremely pleased that we were able to integrate the prestigious Ambassador’s Travel Awards as part of our offsite B2B showcase this year. This enabled us not only to have our partners sponsoring the prizes for the winners to be part of our celebrations but also have amongst our midst members of the Indian travel fraternity pan India. Our annual showcase received tremendous support in France and India as is visible from the turnout we’ve had both in terms of partners and agents. We are confident that all our integrated efforts will help us in boosting tourist inflow from India to France and reinforce India’s positioning as a priority market for France.”

Atout France recognizes top performersVW BUREAU

EVENTS

TRIUMPHANT : The winners for this year’s Ambassador’s Travel Awards are Thomas Cook India Ltd, Cox and Kings Ltd, In Orbit Tours Pvt Ltd, Veena World, Eastern Travels Pvt Ltd, and Destination Globe.

Two important projects under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of

Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, were inaugurated at PTSO Lake in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. These projects are “Development of North East Circuits: Bhalukpong- Bomdila - Tawang Project & Nafra- Seppa- Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota- New Sagalee- Ziro- Yomcha Project”. These projects were jointly inaugurated by the Union Minister of State (IC) Tourism, K.J. Alphons; chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu and Minister for Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Jarkar Gamlin. Other important dignitaries were also present on the occasion. Speaking at the event, tourism minister K J Alphons said that the efforts of Ministry have shown positive results and the Foreign Tourist Arrivals in the region have shown an upward trend over the years. The region received a total of 1.69 lakh foreign tourist visits during 2017 as against 1.45 lakh in 2016 registering a growth of 16.7% over 2016. The Domestic Tourist Visits reached to 95.47 lakhs in the year 2017 against 77.71 lakhs registering impressive double digit growth of 22.8% over 2016. The Tourism Minister added that the increased number of tourists in turn has created better employment opportunity for the local population in the region.The project Development of Bhalukpong- Bomdila - Tawang was sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism in March 2015 for Rs.

49.77 Crores. Under this project the Ministry has developed facilities like Accommodation, Cafeteria, wayside Amenities, last Mile Connectivity, Pathways, Toilets, Multipurpose Hall at Jang, Sorang Monastery, Lumpo, Zemithang, Bumla Pass, Gritsang TSO lake, PTSO Lake, Thingbu and Grenkha Hot Spring, Lumla, Sela Lake.The project Development of Nafra- Seppa- Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota- New Sagalee- Ziro- Yomcha was sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism in December 2015 for Rs. 97.14 Crores. The facilities developed under this project includes Helipad, Wayside amenities, trekking trails, Rafting Centre, Log Huts, craft

bazaar, Eco Park, Tourist facilitation centres, parking, multipurpose Hall, festival ground etc.

Development of Tourism in North Eastern Region is prime area of focus for the Ministry of Tourism. The Ministry has taken several initiatives for growth of domestic and international tourism in the region.

One of the many challenges the region faces in development of tourism is the absence of quality infrastructure, services and awareness about the array of tourism products region has to offer.The ministry is carrying out number of activities to handle the issues on above fronts. On one hand the Ministry has given great impetus to the tourism infrastructure in the region under its flagship schemes of Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD. For development of Tourism infrastructure, the Ministry has sanctioned 16 projects for Rs. 1349.04 crores covering all North Eastern States under its schemes of Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD.

There is no dearth of tour operators or travel agents in India, but

what most travelers are complaining about is the lack of service. So how do travel agents win the hearts of their customers?Knowledge and coordination is the key, says Subrata Roy, founder of My Tour Planner based in West Bengal. A tour operator, besides understanding the preference of the customers, has to be well-versed with the destination, its features, pricing, and the itineraries to deliver a perfect package, he explains.Roy is one of the few in the Indian travel business who is promoting Northeast with great passion. On the potential of promoting the region as a must-visit tourist destination, Roy says that Northeast India has its own charm and the scenic beauty of the Himalayan range in the region is unexplored. “There are mesmerizing locales, and beautiful lakes and passes. The region is also home to international borders, valleys,

waterfalls, and living root bridges. Tourists can river cruise on the crystal clear waters of the Mighty Brahmaputra and the Ganges. Also, villages like Mawlynnong in Meghalaya are a must-visit as it is the cleanest village in the country,” he says.He also adds that the local flora and fauna of the Northeast like the one-horned rhino of the Kaziranga adds to the charm not to forget the delight of Buddhist, Tibetian and corresponding local culture, foods, etc, which makes the region a shopping paradise of regional arts and crafts. A particular favorite to the tourists can be the Mask Dance, which throws up a different ambiance, a far cry from the normal life.Roy adds that most people wishing to travel to the Northeast are up to 60 years of age and come from all parts of the country while traffic from international tourists is from Britain, Germany, and Malaysia. Darjeeling also finds favor with the British as it was referred to as the ‘Summer Capital’ of the British rulers.On the challenges that he faces while

promoting Northeast as a tourist destination, he says, “Going by the statistics of the past few years, people

are worried about the strikes and other political disturbances. They are also worried about the conditions of remote places. There are also connectivity issues to the main

destination, which is now being eased in the form of different entrances. Despite the challenges, Northeast is being promoted positively as an upcoming destination.”Roy also acknowledges the importance of the southern market to boost the tourist destination. “South Indian market is one of the biggest travelers market of India considering that it encompasses richest cities of India, and investment on travel and tourism is commendable.”Opening up on interesting travel trends specific to Northeast, Roy says, “Nowadays people know about the Northeast region, which was not the case a few years back. Hardly people were aware of the Northeast. That’s not the case anymore. Besides leisure travelers, adventure travelers are also making a beeline to Sikkim, Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, etc, especially bikers.”Roy departs saying that from their end aggressive promotion for Northeast is being done through trade fairs, exhibitions, telemarketing, email marketing, etc.

NORTHEAST

VW BUREAU

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Going the extra mile to promote Northeast

Government inaugurates two Northeast circuits

Besides leisure travelers, adventure

travelers are also making a beeline to Sikkim, Bhu-tan, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, etc, especial-ly bikers.”

SUBRATA ROYFounder, My Tour Planner

The Foreign Tourist Arrivals in the region have shown an upward trend over the years.

A GO-TO DESTINATION: Arunachal Pradesh received a total of 1.69 lakh foreign tourist visits during 2017.

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The increasing reliance on the internet, social media, and

smartphones for place discovery and travel bookings by Muslim Millennials and Generation Z is driving a US$180 billion online market.The Mastercard-CrescentRating Digital Muslim Travel Report 2018 (DMTR2018) has revealed insights shaping the growth of online purchases by the next generation of Muslim travelers. The research projects online travel expenditure by Muslim travelers to exceed US$180 billion by 2026.Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating and HalalTrip, said “The DMTR2018 reveals important online behavior and preferences of Muslim Travelers. It will equip tourism destinations, tour operators, airlines and other tourism and hospitality stakeholders with insights of online platforms and social networking services to evaluate the potential within the Muslim market.”“With the rapid proliferation of enabling online technologies and payment methods and the rise of Muslim digital natives, as a major segment within the Muslim travel market, the outlook for the digital space is very positive. Destinations need to ensure that their messages reach Muslim travelers through online channels. This report gives the industry a practical and ready segmentation criterion to empathize with different demographics. Digital is real and transcends generations.” he added.Devesh Kuwadekar, Vice President, Market Development, Mastercard, said,

“The Halal travel market continues to be one of the fastest growing travel segments globally, with Muslim visitor arrivals representing about 10 percent of the entire travel industry globally in 2017. Muslim travelers are spending

more time online researching and comparing information before they finally choose and pay for their ideal travel experience. Mastercard works with like-minded partners to create tailored offerings for customers across a wide range of passion points. As consumers explore more countries and regions, Mastercard is also seeing an increase in the use of cashless and digital payments through prepaid and debit options as a safer, more convenient and reliable form 6of electronic payments for greater peace of mind when traveling.”The Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2018, released in April this year, confirmed that the Muslim travel market will continue its fast-paced growth to reach US$300 billion by 2026. In 2017, there was an estimated 131 million Muslim visitor arrivals globally. CrescentRating research indicates that more than 60 percent of the Muslim travelers were either millennials or Gen Z.

GLOBALTRENDS

GoUSA TV has launched the GoUSA TV app. It is now available

for download on iOS and Android devices around the world. The app harnesses the power of entertainment to inspire overseas travelers to consider a U.S. destination. A first-of-its-kind connected TV network, GoUSA TV is the definitive source to find real, authentic, and on-demand video content about travel experiences in the USA. The app launch is an extension of Brand USA’s strategy to immerse audiences in an entertainment-led point of view of the USA and includes two new programs.Ask A Local takes viewers across the United States and its territories, with local residents in each destination sharing travel tips. Whether it’s the most rewarding hiking and fishing in Minnesota or the most thrilling rodeos in Texas, “Ask a Local” provides the inspiration travelers can only get by talking with someone who really knows the destination.

“Bringing best-in-class travel video to smartphone users around the world is a huge opportunity to engage with audiences in a way no other destination marketing organization ever has,” said Tom Garzilli, chief marketing officer of Brand USA. “Audiences today are more engaged than ever before and expect the content they love to be readily available on screens large and small alike. Streaming our content to millions of travelers through just a few taps of their finger is an exciting evolution of our strategy to deliver real, authentic storytelling that can inspire

travel to the USA.”GoUSA TV is the premier travel entertainment channel available at viewers’ fingertips where travelers can watch full episodes, documentaries, and films told from the diverse perspectives of real people with no subscription, fees, or logins required. Over the next few months, the app will sample

GoUSA TV content through multiple touch points including sponsorships, consumer and trade public relations, and paid social media advertising. New programs and episodes will be uploaded weekly and GoUSA TV plans to expand its library to feature more themes and formats, including series, films, and live videos.

VW BUREAUTravelers can watch full episodes, documentaries, and films told from the diverse perspectives of real people with no subscription, fees, or login credentials.

WHAT NEXT? : As GoUSA TV’s global audience grows, the app will enable Brand USA to continue strategically curating and distributing video content across categories.

GoUSA TV launches app for travel enthusiasts

The coveted OTAOI convention kicked off at the picturesque Cape

Town in South Africa with TrawellTag Cover-More protecting all the delegates with specialized travel assistance & insurance.

The old Boy Scout pledge says “Be Prepared”. The convention committee’s foresight to partner with TrawellTag Cover-More for comprehensive assistance services proved to be extremely crucial when June Mukherjee, a senior journalist and convention delegate, set on an adventurous Segway ride. The enjoyable ride turned into a nightmare within minutes when she fell off the Segway and realized her right leg was non-functional.Mukherjee was traumatized from

the accident as she was all alone in a foreign country, far from her family. The Convention organizers, however, contacted the emergency assistance team of TrawellTag Cover-More who then swung into action immediately. After speaking with Mukherjee to comfort and counsel her, the emergency assistance team arranged for her admission into one of the most renowned medical facilities in South Africa, where she was detected with multiple fractures from her right knee to the ankle. The assistance team constantly monitored her heath condition by coordinating with the doctor handling her case while reassuring her that she was in safe hands. Necessary arrangements for Mukherjee’s subsequent surgery were undertaken and all the financial aspects of the procedure were taken care of. Once she was fit to travel, Ms. Mukherjee was flown back to India under expert medical supervision. Throughout this period, TrawellTag Cover-More was constantly by her side, to ensure and assure Mukherjee that she was in the safest hands possible.“We are extremely grateful to TrawellTag Cover-More for their prompt assistance services that ensured our delegate made it back home safe and sound,”said a spokesperson of OTOAI Convention Committee.Mukherjee stated that with the support offered by TrawellTag Cover-More, she was able to receive the best treatment and remained stress-free through the course of recovery in South Africa as well as during her journey back home to India.

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How TrawellTag helped an OTOAI delegate

Going by my expe-rience, global

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JUNE MUKHERJEESenior Journalist

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The Muslim travel market will continue its fast-paced growth to reach US$300 billion by 2026.

Millennial Muslims driving online market

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P32

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How do you solve being missed off world maps? Take a Prime

Minister, a global rock star, a Kiwi comedian and a Hollywood director, create a new map and put yourself at the center of it.New Zealand is back with their ongoing investigation into why the country is missed off world maps, launching a follow-up video to check in on conspiracy theorist Rhys Darby and his attempt to solve the mystery.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern returns alongside Rhys who has been on the trail for six months to solve the unfathomable mystery of how a country bigger than the UK could be missing off so many maps.This time, the duo is backed by world renowned director and fellow Kiwi, Sir Peter Jackson who shares his theory with the world that New Zealand is closer than they think. In fact, it’s in the middle of the earth. Jackson’s involvement in the investigation was a natural connection as the man responsible for bringing Middle-earth to life.British rock star Ed Sheeran even manages a cameo…not surprising given his recent tea and scones date with Prime Minister Ardern and close connection with Jackson, performing the soundtrack ‘I See Fire’ on one of his epic Hobbit films.“I love New Zealand – it stole my

heart, and it feels bonkers anyone could miss it off a map,” he said.Prime Minister Ardern said, “I’ve loved seeing the global response to our campaign. With a little help from Sir Peter, my hope is that people will see New Zealand right where it deserves to be - on the top of their list of places to visit!” The video was created by Tourism

New Zealand as part of its global marketing efforts and is the follow-up to a video launched six months earlier.Meanwhile, in an effort to make tourists care for New Zealand, Tiaki – Care for New Zealand is encouraging Kiwis and visitors alike to experience the country in a way that keeps everyone safe. Tourism Minister Hon Kelvin Davis announced the initiative in Wellington on behalf of the group: Air New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand, the Department of Conservation, Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Local Government New Zealand, New Zealand Māori Tourism and Tourism Holdings Ltd.

Tiaki means ‘to care and protect’ in Te Reo Māori. Under the banner of Tiaki – Care for New Zealand, the group launched the Tiaki Promise, which outlines what travelers can do to care for New Zealand, travel safely and act as guardians of our land, waterways, and oceans. A range of Tiaki Promise materials will be provided free of charge to New Zealand tourism organizations, including a brochure and supporting video. The resources will initially be available in English, Te Reo Māori, German and Chinese, with more languages to follow. The seven stakeholder organizations

will promote the Tiaki Promise to their customers, trade partners and staff, ensuring messaging is reinforced at visitor touchpoints across the country and around the world. Kiwis are able to show their support on social media using #tiakipromise. The Tiaki Promise will be promoted through high traffic site newzealand.com as well as www.tiakinewzealand.com and on Air New Zealand’s international services. Tiaki Promise video content will also be made available to other international carriers to New Zealand, helping to spread the word to visitors as they embark on their journeys.

New Zealand unveils plans to boost tourism

Australia targets Indian cricket fans

Kiwis turn the world upside down in response to ongoing map conspiracy.

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Tourism Australia has announced a new content partnership with

ESPN in India to promote India’s upcoming cricket tour of Australia.ESPN has produced 22 videos with popular TV presenter and actor Shibani Dandekar exploring Australia and providing a new and fresh perspective on things to see and do Down Under. Expected to be viewed by 20 million people, the videos will be played during the match day analysis of the games each day on ESPNcricinfo’s app and website and will also be promoted extensively on their social media.The partnership forms part of Tourism Australia’s current UnDiscover Australia campaign activity in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Meanwhile, Over one hundred Australian tourism operators will meet with 300 specially selected frontline travel sellers from the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada, and New Zealand at Tourism Australia’s Corroboree West trade event in Perth from 8 to 11 October 2019.Meanwhile, Tourism Australia is also getting ready for the Corroboree events that take place annually, alternating between Eastern and Western

markets each year, and include a combination of training workshops and familiarisations exclusively for Aussie Specialists.“Corroboree is a great opportunity for Aussie Specialists to see first-hand a range of extraordinary travel experiences and the professionalism, creativity, and innovation of Australia’s tourism operators,” said John O’Sullivan, Managing Director Tourism Australia.“We want these frontline travel sellers from our priority Western markets to be fully equipped to sell fantastic Australian holidays to their customers.”Corroboree West will be held in Perth and delivered in partnership with Tourism Western Australia.Tourism WA Managing Director Brodie Carr said hosting Corroboree West 2019 in Perth would provide the perfect opportunity to showcase the changing face of the city to key travel industry specialists from around the world.“A lot has changed in Perth over the past few years,” Carr said. “This event will give us the chance to highlight the city’s transformation, including Optus Stadium, Elizabeth Quay, Yagan Square, the growing bar and restaurant scene and our new and refurbished hotels.”

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A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE: The ‘new’ world map issued by New Zealand aims to promote tourism.

WTM 2018 Highlights

Thousands of travel professionals gathered at the World Travel Mar-

ket (WTM) which was held in London from November 5 to November 6. The halls were packed with exhibitors rep-resenting countries and regions from the across the globe, presenting a com-prehensive range of products and des-tinations.The three-day event also fueled new ideas which would help take travel business to the next level. Top brass from several high-profile companies were also present. Instagram and Face-book’s Head of Travel, Neasa Bannon

provided in-depth insight into how Instagram’s audience are passionate, open to discovery and are set to utilize Instagram Stories even more in 2019 as the trend in experiential travel con-tinues to grow.Shedding light on health tourism, Katherine Johnston of the Global Wellness Institute said that the entire industry needs to infuse wellness into their offering.With the new generation of traveler less motivated by the hedonistic expe-riences of the past, Tim Fryer of STA Travel explained that purpose and cul-ture are now key in attracting a young-er audience.

Jeremy Jauncey, Founder & CEO of Beautiful Destinations, opined that tourism boards should be investing their time and money in mobile, social and video.The Asia zone at the event focused on how technology could help boost tourism. Mapping app and audio guide specialist Vox has started working with an Asian airport to enable arrivals to download suggested walking and cy-cling tours off the beaten track. “It’s about moving people away from the hotspots,” said CEO John Boulding.Encouraging tourists to download software on the move also allows des-tinations to create heat maps of where

people go to a city and to help disperse them with suggestions for less-fre-quented attractions.There was a warning note however sounded on the homogenized use of statistics. In a session on leveraging destination brands panelists stressed the importance of differentiation when marketing.“Everyone wants to have a bespoke travel agent in their pocket who knows what they like and doesn’t send them what they’re no interested in – that’s where analytics comes in… but we’ve got to be careful not to lose the emo-tional side…” said South African Tourism’s CEO Sisa Ntshona.

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“People want something that is more personalized. Identify the correct au-dience base and contact them at the right time,” agreed Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing.Engaging the wider population is also important in heavily tourism-re-liant countries delegates were told. South African Tourism has been us-ing the hashtag #wedotourism and has launched awards for those indirectly involved in the sector.Those hoping to court the booming China market were meanwhile told not to underestimate the importance of word-of-mouth via social media.

Travel companies and hotels were ad-vised to check out their existing online reputation by employing a Chinese speaker to search review sites, also to encourage feedback from their Chinese guests – ideally via a QR code. “Use user-generated content as part of your marketing strategy,” said Dragon Trail’s managing director EMEA Roy Graff.While the Chinese have only been able to travel widely in recent years, still closed off North Korea is being em-braced by the Pacific Asia Travel Asso-ciation, which will next year launch an initiative called Peace to Tourism.“With the support of our agencies we hope we can help in the reunification

of North and South Korea and help al-leviate poverty,” said PATA’s CEO Dr Mario Hardy.WTM also picked fourteen winners of the first International Travel & Tourism Awards. The award winners were hon-ored in front of an audience of more than 500 senior industry professionals at the Grade I-listed Tobacco Dock, near WTM London’s ExCeL venue. Judged by an independent panel of experts from around the world, the 14 awards showcase the best in class of the global travel and tourism industry.Nick Pilbeam, Divisional Director at WTM London’s parent company, Reed Exhibitions led the judging panel

alongside UNWTO’s Director of Com-munications, Marcelo Risi.ITTA’s Co-Founder Paul Nelson said; “We have been delighted with the re-sponse from the industry to the ITTAs and blown away by both the quantity and the qualities of the entries. “All the finalists represent what these awards are about: celebrating the success of nation-al, regional and city tourist boards and recognizing outstanding private sector companies and individuals.ITTA’s Co-Founder Charlotte Alder-slade added: “The ITTAs awards cer-emony was a celebration of the best in the class for the travel and hospitality industry. It was a great night.

Voyager’s World | October 2018 | P35

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The countdown to this year’s Regional Finals of the Scottish

tourism Oscars is on, as a group of young rising stars of the industry celebrate their nomination with host Jennifer Reoch.Amy Paton (20) from Falkirk Community Trust and Craig MacDonald (20) owner of Transcend Escape Rooms and Wee Heroes in Falkirk have both been shortlisted for a Scottish Thistle Award in the Regional Rising Star category, sponsored by Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland, in recognition of their passion for the tourism industry.They are shortlisted alongside Becca Buckner (26), from the Scotch Whisky Experience, and Joe Posnett (22) from the Apex Hotel in Edinburgh.TV presenter and former Miss Scotland, Jennifer Reoch, will announce the winner of the Central, Fife & Tayside category, as well as the Lothian & Borders category at the glittering awards ceremony at the Prestonfield House Hotel, Edinburgh.The winners, who will be announced later this month, will also receive a HIT Scotland scholarship.The Scottish Thistle Awards are Scotland’s premier awards for the tourism industry. They celebrate success, innovation, excellence and best practice in Scotland’s tourism and

hospitality industry.They also offer the opportunity to recognize those people who have made valuable contributions to the sector across the country.2018 saw more than 640 entries submitted, including well over a thousand nominations from members of the public keen to recognize hotels, restaurants, B&Bs, visitor attractions and individuals who go the extra mile to provide customers with exceptional service.Joe Posnett from the Apex Hotel in Edinburgh said: “Scottish hotels and tourism institutions have a great sense

of unity that has established Scotland as one of the best locations to visit in the world. And not only that; this unification gives us a great platform and network to build upon to keep growing the Scotland brand. It is a brilliant industry to be a part of with so many opportunities to develop as a person and progress in your career. For me, getting into hospitality after school was the best thing I could have done, and now to have the privilege to be shortlisted for a Scottish Thistle Award is a huge reward.”Rebecca Brooks, Chair of the Scottish Thistle Awards industry panel, said, “Tourism is more than a holiday

experience – it is the heartbeat of the Scottish economy and touches every community, generating income, jobs and social change.”The Scottish Thistle Awards is led by a panel of industry experts from several organizations including VisitScotland, Aberdeen City, and Shire Tourism Awards, Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards, the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA), the Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland, Scotland Food and Drink, Scottish Tourism Alliance, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, sportscotland and Wild Scotland.

Scotland recognizes rising stars of tourismVW BUREAU

GLOBALTRENDS

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MICE-friendly destinations are cropping up across the world. This means more revenue for airlines, hoteliers, travel agents, and destination marketing companies. Corporates, both in India and abroad, are looking at incentives and conferences abroad as a means to motivate employees and boost performance. From the looks of it, MICE Inbound as well as Outbound has a huge market potential. Here are our November findings.

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P38

The global business consultancy, Cushman & Wakefield, reported

that the Indian hospitality sector will add 52,000 new hotel rooms in the next five years. This will lead to a rise of over 65 percent in total hotel inventory in India. The National Capital Region (NCR) alone is expected to contribute around one-third to the total expected hotel rooms supply during the period.Diminishing occupancies, increasing inventory, too much reliance on corporate business has taken the wind out of its sails. The aggression showed by all and sundry in creating wealth in form of building hotels has resulted in the present glut. The last few years have seen India’s city hotels rise out of nowhere and touch record (average room rates) ARRs and occupancy rates, and, soon, the inevitable fall from grace. Some, who justified the prevailing rates due to ‘India Shining’ syndrome, have now conveniently disappeared. In an era of higher occupancies due to limited inventory and a growing economy, what surprises more is the utter lack of foresight to plan for the increase in inventory compounded with a slowing economy. Indian city hotels continue to disregard opportunities to create new markets for their properties. Indian city hotels, other than those in Delhi, have successfully driven

out the leisure market and chased the MICE segment to Bangkok, Colombo, and Kuala Lumpur. In comparison to occupancies from Monday to Wednesday, weekend business in hotels fluctuates wildly. It would be interesting to see the hotels provide their ‘variations in occupancies’ figures, as eagerly as they flaunt their ARRs. The positives from spiraling rates in the early part of the decade have resulted in the mushrooming of alternative accommodation like service apartments, guest-houses, and homestays. Some service apartments offer excellent value for money and have given three-star and four-star properties a run for their money. Companies are also creating their own in-house accommodation options. And truth be told, hoteliering can be outsourced and learned, in order to provide services in a professional manner.Hoteliers should take a cue from markets such as Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur, where it pays to create a larger ‘source market base’ and use sounder yield management techniques. Unlike other industry sectors, like the FMCG, Pharma or the Banking sector, Indian city hotels have been extremely shy of creating and nurturing new market segments, especially targeting MICE!It is surely not rocket science that Indian cities at most times are down

by 60-70% from Thursday to Sunday, i.e., this would be over a minimum of 200,000 unsold room nights. There has been virtually no effort being made by any of the major hotel associations to help hotels tie-up with tourism boards, deal with major MICE networks or even travel companies to help create a transparent room rate mechanism combined with a sound promotional strategy that would help generate business from varied markets such as MICE or leisure.With the expanding hotel scenario, all and sundry see themselves as a hotel owner and the International Hotel brands see an opportunity to fix their brands and get professional management to one of the world’s fastest growing hotel construction markets. In the world changing hotel ownership dynamics from traditional hotel owners and operators to the new real estate developers, who go by the name of ‘Asset Creators’! In a new-found love of creating wealth, hotels are now a big part of the scheme to generate recognition and accrued valuation to raise more funds to expand their real estate ambitions. In such an era where the hotel ownership is myopic towards any long-term business plan, management is pressurized to cater to the whims of making quick money, without a desire to create a market, which involves a bit of patience and hard work!Leafing through newspaper articles

which announce hotel projects in India (especially the ones announced by real estate biggies), it’s quite surprising that some of them have not even moved from the drawing board stage for about a year. The announcement of new hotel projects with leading world hotel brands adds value to the project’s real estate component and gets the necessary ‘pre-public issue’ attention from media. Word is soon bound to get around and hotel brands will get tired of attaching their brands to projects on the drawing board. As more and more hotel builders go in for multi-use models, creating MICE infrastructure will add immense value to their bottom lines.The new age city hotels have created a system of milking the already drained ‘Corporate Cows’ or the

ROHIT HANGAL

EXPLODING ROOM INVENTORY AND DIPPING WEEKEND OCCUPANCIESCity Hotels Get Meeting-Friendly

homegrown revenue manager’s diktats. The revenue manager’s role (primarily an imported concept), was introduced into the Indian hotel system by the big multinational chains to maximize revenue. The revenue manager is accorded with powers to supersede the sales team’s control over evaluating clientele and negotiated rates. Conflicts of interest between the revenue manager’s short-term goals and the end result of creating a long-term sustained business relationship are one of the key factors for hotels to

refuse to look for alternate sources.Apart from the corporate MICE that are always welcome, Indian hotels across sectors have a large portion of revenues arising from Food & Beverage and taking into consideration the penchant for your countrymen to use hotels for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, retirement send-offs, kitty parties and even child-naming ceremonies, the market for MICE will not go out of fashion in a hurry. Irrespective of the size of the hotel or its star category, it would

help if an event venue is incorporated, especially in India. Some European hotel brands, which do not have MICE as part of the standard design plan, are now customizing to take on the Indian desire to celebrate. It does not make so much difference to add an event venue, even if you do not wish to manage it on your own. While doing business in India, there is always ‘Outsourcing.’Of late, there has been a concerted effort by leading hotel brands such as Marriott, ITC Hotels, Hilton, and the

Taj to create separate marketing teams to reach out to the MICE segment. Marketing MICE requires different skill sets that do not necessarily align with that of the revenue managers. Hotels should create a business model, where Event managers, associations and professional conference organizers (PCOs) are partnered with and considered as part of their distribution strategy. And yes! Commissions are important. They work in most international markets and will do good in India as well.

INDIA MICE TRENDS

India inbound tourism market is expected to exceed US$ 38 bil-lion by 2025India is emerging as the fastest growing inbound MICE tourism marketIndia will attract more than 1.4 Million MICE travelers by 2018The United States and China will become the most popular MICE travelers nation by 2025

SOURCE: Skift Research, The World Bank

UNFAVORABLE: SIndian city hotels, other than those in Delhi, have driven out the leisure market and chased the MICE segment to Bangkok, Colombo, and Kuala Lumpur.

DESMOND HATTONGeneral Manager, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi

In 2019, the hotel intends to work more

closely with Department of Tourism & Culture to seize relevant opportuni-ties.

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi recently played host to TAFI 2018. Desmond Hatton, General Manager, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, goes on record about what the Thai brand is doing to emerge as the most sought-after MICE venue in the UAE. What makes Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi an ideal conference and events venue in the city?Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi boasts of a state-of-the-art meeting and events space measuring 3700+ sqm with a large pre-function area and a unique ‘Sky Dome’ feature. The hotel is strate-gically located in the city’s key business district and is in proximity to the inter-national airport. Owing to the easy ac-cessibility for conference delegates, the hotel has carved a niche for itself in the MICE space. Albeit having a spacious main lobby, the hotel has a dedicated entrance to cater to big conferences, events, and exhibitions.

How important is the outbound travel segment from India to the UAE? How is brand Dusit Thani leveraging the potential?Outbound travel from India is incredi-bly important for the UAE, especially the destination Abu Dhabi. The brand Dusit Thani is making all efforts to get its fair share through a much targeted promotional strategy. Working closely with the Department of Culture & Tour-ism (DCT) is integral to the property’s marketing approach. Being the hotel partner for TAFI Convention 2018 is a step in the right direction that speaks volume about the hotel’s synergy with the local tourism authorities. In addi-tion to it, the property is on the verge of launching an Indian cuisine restaurant, Namak, by celebrity chef Kunal Kapur. Times are indeed exciting at Dusit Thai Abu Dhabi.

Have you noticed any interesting trends in corporate travel from India to the UAE?The shared economy is here to stay and is becoming a norm in the corporate travel industry of the UAE. Companies are now smarter when it comes to slash-ing corporate travel costs. To optimize expenses, the corporations of the world have started using Uber and Airbnb ex-tensively. Another interesting trend is the blurring of lines between Business and Leisure, resulting in this phenome-non of “Bleisure Trips”. Corporate trav-elers are making the most of their trips to explore the local area, experience the culture and even invite family along to join them. Companies embrace this approach as it is a saving of money on both business and leisure travel, and, at the same time, help business travelers to relax and enjoy on their trips.

How promising is the MICE segment for the UAE from your perspective?Technology has redefined the MICE segment to a great extent in the UAE. Use of wearable technology gadgets has revolutionalized the way dele-gates communicates onsite during a conference. Smart watches, RFID delegate tags (Radio Frequency IDs), customized conference digital wallets and e-participation toolkits have made it easier for the meeting organizers to schedule events. MICE is now recog-nized as a niche segment in Abu Dha-bi. This has even resulted in the open-ing of a dedicated government office (i.e. Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau) that promotes the Emirates’ capital as an ideal MICE destination on the global map.

How well-positioned is the UAE to make its mark as the most sought-after MICE destination?The regional MICE business has report-edly been witnessing a growth rate of

5.5% annually in meeting attendance since 2000, led notably by the UAE market, followed by Saudi Arabia and Oman. Dubai is host to almost 27% of all events staged in the region. Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, generates USD 700 million from its MICE sector and is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 7% to reach USD 1.4 billion by 2020. (Source: Yas Island MICE Con-ference, 2017).The UAE is one of the safest destinations in the world and has set a great example in that direction. Geographically too it enjoys a strategic location between the East and West with over 2/3 of the world’s population living within 8 hours flight from Dubai and 1/3 lives within 4 hours. The developments in terms of infrastructure in the UAE, connectivity, and facilities taking shape for Dubai Expo 2020 will further boost its global and regional positioning as a MICE destination.

How are you interfacing with cus-tomers via digital?The hotel has a cutting-edge strategy in place when it comes to tapping all essential digital mediums. Social me-

dia channels are closely monitored and capitalized upon to reach out to a target-ed audience. Also, the hotel manages its own database of over 60K+ and keeps existing and potential guests updated about latest happenings and develop-ments. Implementation of LED screen project in the meeting rooms, adds another feather in the digital space en-abling guests to connect faster and in a more effective way.

What kind of partnerships/tie-up do you already have or are looking at?Being part of an international group, the hotel enjoys active partnerships with leading airlines, banks and finan-cial institutions. Collaborations struck with leading players in the OTAs and e-distribution space also help the hotel to optimize leads and channelize rev-enue through multiple platforms. In 2019, the hotel intends to work more closely with Department of Tourism & Culture to seize relevant opportu-nities and promote both destination and the hotel in the run to Expo 2020, which will certainly have a spillover benefiting Abu Dhabi market.

What strategies are you implement-ing to position brand ‘Dusit’ as the preferred property for guests?With the support of the head office, the hotel is putting its best foot for-ward in promoting the brand “Dusit” not only in the UAE but also in the GCC region and beyond. The sales and marketing strategy of the hotel is tailored at driving quality PR and awareness, coupled up with promo-tional collaborations with the local tourism board i.e. Department of Cul-ture & Tourism (DCT). The online and offline marketing strategy of the hotel via regular press visits, editorial features, social media, participation in trade fairs among other activities, reflect the “group’s global approach while leveraging its Asian roots.”

Dusit Thani roots for Indian MICE market

CAROLINE DIANA

From January to October 2018, Seoul successfully secured 40

international conferences, which is estimated to bring more than 35,000 international delegates to the city over the coming years. Of the 40 international conferences, 12 are considered large-scale conferences (i.e., conferences with more than 1,000 delegates), which account for approximately 25,000 international delegates.According to the Union of Internation-al Associations (UIA), International Meetings Statistics Report published this past June, Seoul was the third most popular international meetings city from 2015 to 2017.In 2017, Seoul successfully secured 42 international conferences with a total of 30,325 participants. Of these conferences, there were 11 large-scale meetings with more than 1,000 dele-gates, accounting for 18,500 partici-pants.Other major international conferences coming to Seoul include the Interna-tional Society for Pharmacoeconom-ics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Asia Pacific Conference 2020 (2,000 participants), the IVV Olympiad 2021 (5,000 participants), the Institute of Electronic Engineers, Inc.’s Interna-tional Conference on Communications 2022 (2,000 participants), the Federa-tion of Horses in Education and Ther-

apy International (HETI) Congress 2021 (1,000 participants), and the 2019 Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transportation Asso-ciation (IATA) (1,000 participants).The Seoul Metropolitan Government credits joint marketing and bidding with members of the Seoul MICE Al-liance (SMA), a public-private part-nership between the city of Seoul and 299 companies in the MICE industry, for recent conference wins. This past March, the Korean Society of Ultra-

sound in Obstetrics and Gynecolo-gy, Seoul Tourism Organization, and Coex Convention & Exhibition Center presented a bid proposal at the London headquarters of the International So-ciety of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Impressed by Seoul’s group effort, the board of directors an-nounced that Seoul would be the des-tination for the 2021 conference this past June.The Seoul Metropolitan Govern-ment’s director-general of the Tour-

ism & Sports Bureau, Joo Yong-Tae, said: “Global attention thanks to the inter-Korean summits and the grow-ing power of Hallyu (the Korean pop culture wave) appear to be having a positive impact on preference for Seoul as a meetings destination.” He added, “With the announcement of Seoul’s world top-three ranking as a meetings city, Seoul will strengthen its joint marketing with SMA members to attract even more international confer-ences.”

The Indian outbound market, which comprises 25 million tourists at

present, is all set to double by 2020 according to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). South Africa expects to garner 1.04 lakh tourists from India in 2018 alone. South Africa, because of the healthy economy and rapidly growing international trade, has seen an upsurge of business travelers from India, who have notched up their length of stay from 14 to 19 days. They have also seen a spike in the number

of MICE travelers to South Africa. It’s interesting to note that for the period of 2017, MICE contributed to 28.5% of total Indian arrivals.Digital advances are, quite literally, changing the world. Technology has changed how we connect and inform ourselves. It has encouraged inno-vation and made the world a smaller, well-connected place. It is hence not surprising that the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN-TWO) elected ‘Tourism and Digital Transformation’ to be the global theme this World Tourism Day. The UNWTO

promotes travel facilitation as a means to boost economic growth around the world. “Harnessing innovation and digital advances provides tourism with opportunities to improve inclusive-ness, local community empowerment, and efficient resource management, amongst other objectives within the wider sustainable development agen-da,” UNWTO Secretary-General Zu-rab Pololikashvili said in a statement.Echoing the sentiment in India, Nel-iswa Nkani, Hub Head – Middle East, India, South East Asia, South African Tourism said, “Tourism boards are

now strategically harnessing technol-ogy to innovatively promote their des-tination to potential travelers. In order for us to effectively reach our target audience, it is essential for us at South African Tourism to vividly bring alive the locations and experiences through virtual mediums. An apt reflection of our efforts would be the Google Street View initiative launched in Novem-ber 2017, through which travelers are brought closer to our renowned na-tional parks and reserves by accurate visual representation. These virtual initial experiences drive audience cu-riosity and bring alive the destination to potential visitors. Indian travelers today, mostly millennials, rely heav-ily on social interaction for recom-mendations when considering a new destination and activities for their voyage – we at South African Tour-ism realize this. To tap into the pulse of this growing traveler segment, we forayed into the world of social media in 2017 with a dedicated Facebook page, specially customized for the India market. We also launched our Instagram India handle early in 2018. In fact, South African Tourism is one of the very few international tourism boards in India to have a standalone digital presence in the market.”

MICE-FRIENDLY: Seoul was the third most popular international meetings city from 2015 to 2017.

40 int’l conferences hosted in Seoul in 2018

MICE from India to South Africa on an upswing

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UPSURGE : South Africa has seen an increase in business travelers from India, who have notched up their length of stay from 14 to 19 days.

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P42 Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P43HAPPENINGS

The Grand New Delhi celebrated its annual fruit-soaking/ cake mixing ceremony recently at its all-day dining restaurant - CASCADES. Arindam Kunar, Vice-President, Operations and General Manager of the hotel, briefly addressed the invitees and announced the commencement of the ceremony. The invitees donned aprons, gloves, and caps, and armed themselves with bottles of liquor, ready to tackle the colorful mounds of dry fruits, nuts, and spices. The cake mixture included varieties of nuts and dry fruits and an array of aromatic Indian spices soaked in liquor. Half a Quintal mixture was made, flipped and tossed with cashew nuts, almonds, black currants, ginger peel, orange peel, figs, dates, glazed cherries, raisins, and cranberries. Grand chefs, led by Executive Chef Anuj Kapoor and Pastry Chef Ayub Khan, were merrily joined by the employees and other guests. They generously mixed the rich ingredients, hand-picked to showcase some of the region’s most vibrant flavors. “While the fruits will add an element of natural sweetness, the rich dark color and the intense flavor will come from the liquor added,” briefed Chef Ayub.

Marriott International has once again been crowned the Best Employer Asia Pacific by Aon plc, a global professional services firm for the fifth year running. Marriott was recognized as Aon Best Employer in 17 markets (Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand) across APAC – an increase in four markets from last year. Craig S. Smith, Marriott International’s President, and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, said, “At Marriott International, we put people first and take care of our associates so that they, in turn, take care of our guests. We are thrilled that this commitment to our people, which has been embedded in the company’s DNA from the outset, has been recognized yet again by Aon. We focus on training, developing and retaining our associates, creating a loyal and passionate workforce that is committed to offering the best service and experiences to our guests.”

The Delhi government announced the Mukhya Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojna that offers free travel packages to five key religious circuits for senior citizens from the state. As many as 1,100 senior citizens from every constituency of Delhi will be able to avail this facility and can travel to destinations like Vaishno Devi, Haridwar, Amritsar, Ajmer, Agra among others, commencing mid-December. All the trains would leave from Safdarjung Railway Station. As per the scheme, charted non-air-conditioned trains operated by IRCTC will take over 1,000 senior citizens in each train comprising 15 coaches for the elderly along with three coaches reserved for pantry and luggage. There would also be a doctor and paramedical staff abroad each train. Each coach will be accompanied by one unarmed security guard and a tour escort. Participants above the age of 70 are entitled to have one attendant /escort. The package offers accommodation, meals, and insurance for all participating senior citizens. For details and registration, log on to the Delhi government portal.

Jet Airways on November 5 commenced its new non-stop service between Mumbai and Manchester. The inaugural function of the launch was led by Raj Sivakumar, Senior Vice-President, Worldwide Sales and Distribution, Jet Airways; Tom Mottershead, Deputy Director for Trade and Innovation, British Deputy High Commission while dignitaries and invitees from airport graced the occasion. This new service is the first non-stop service connecting India, via its economic capital with Manchester, the third largest city in the UK. The airline’s first flight to Manchester 9W 130, departed on schedule from Mumbai at 0230 hrs, operated by its modern wide-body A330-200 aircraft. The flight arrives at Manchester’s Terminal 2 at 0755 hrs (Local time). The return flight, 9W 129 will depart from Manchester at 0935 hrs (Local time) and is scheduled to arrive at Mumbai’s Terminal 2 at 0040 hrs. With the launch of its fifth non-stop service to/from the UK, Jet Airways is now the largest carrier between Mumbai and the UK and Manchester.

Cake mixing at Grand New Delhi

Marriott bags ‘Best Employer’ award

Delhi launches free travel scheme

Jet Airways launches Mumbai-Manchester flightCommemorating 18 years of successful journey in Punjab, airliner Virgin Atlantic hosted a celebratory evening in Jalandhar for all its major trade partners and travel agents last month. Virgin Atlantic’s senior management including Dave Hodges, Country Manager, Virgin Atlantic India; Sameer Duggal, Commercial Manager, and Inderpal S Anand, Sales Manager, Punjab, were present. The evening began with the company’s product update and latest offerings such as the new SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) programme called ‘Flying Co’, which offers unique and differentiated reward opportunities. It offers members the chance to earn and spend miles across a range of product and services of Virgin Atlantic and its partners. A grand dinner and cocktails followed the product presentation. It must be noted that Virgin recently floated a campaign ‘Depart the every day’, which extends to the LGBT community in India. “We want everyone to have the opportunity to fly the best service in the skies and look forward to our continued partnership with the Punjab travel market,” said Hodges.

Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister, Delhi, inaugurated Signature Bridge along with Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of the state on November 4. The ‘Signature Bridge’ connects Wazirabad situated across the river Yamuna to the inner city, thereby easing the traffic movement. The Western and Eastern approaches to Bridge will connect nearby areas — Timarpur, Nehru Vihar, Wazirabad, Aruna Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar on Ring Road to Bhajanpura on Mangal Pandey Marg. The distance between two sides of the bridge will be reduced from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes saving travel time and fuel. The bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 1,518 crore including the cost of Western and Eastern approaches. The inauguration event was accompanied by an exhibition showcasing the larger than life journey of Signature Bridge and the work done to give Delhi its new landmark. Kejriwal was quoted as saying, “Like Taj Mahal, an iconic landmark of India, is visited by thousands of travelers from India and abroad, Signature Bridge is going to become one of the must-see tourist attractions of Delhi.”

To celebrate the splendid culture of Macao, the Macao Government Tourism Office in association with High Street Phoenix commenced the ‘Experience Macao Festival’ at High Street Phoenix, Mumbai last month with a lot of fun activities, delicious Macanese food and memorable ‘Macao moments’. The festival kicked off with various interactive activities. The Virtual Reality zone was a big hit as it simulated the scenic beauty and bustling streets of Macao for the Mumbaikars. The biggest attraction of the event was the food trucks showcasing specially curated Macao’s signature delicacies comprising Macanese egg tarts, Macanese minchi, and dimsums. The live Macanese cooking session was led by culinary expert Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal, who demonstrated the preparation of the delicious Macanese dish Minchi. Other unique activities included traditional lion dance and the carnival parade that kept everyone glued to the performances. Children and adults had a gala time getting MAK MAK tattoos (the official mascot of Macao Tourism) and their caricatures at the Experience Macao festival.

Tourism minister KJ Alphons along with a delegation of senior officials at-tended the 109th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Executive Council in Manama, Bahrain, last month. The Executive Council discussed several topics related to the development of the global tourism sector. During the opening day of the Executive Council meeting, Alphons chaired the ‘Programme and Budget Committee’ meeting of UN-WTO. He highlighted the role of tourism in socio-economic development through job creation, enterprise and environment development, and foreign exchange earnings. As the chair of the Committee, the minister informed the session that for the first time, UNWTO had a surplus budget and most of the arrears have been paid. India will be the chair of Programme and Budget Committee of UNWTO Executive Council till 2021. The minister also met the Secretary-General of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, and discussed involving UNWTO in developing tourism as a strong agent for the better future of the world and establishing global public-private partnerships.

Virgin Atlantic completes 18 years in Punjab

Kejriwal inaugurates ‘Signature Bridge’

‘Experience Macao Festival’ unveiled

Minister Alphons presides over UNWTO meet

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P44 Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P45INDIAOUTBOUND

Sachin Shet has been appointed as the new General Manager of Alila

Diwa Goa resort. He brings along over 18 years of experience in the luxury hotel space. A graduate from IHM Goa, he began his career in 2000 and has worked at Taj Exotica Goa, Taj Hotels in Delhi and Jaipur. Prior to joining Alila Diwa Goa, he worked at The Leela Goa, where he worked closely with the General Manager in managing the operations and maintaining service excellence.

Manas Zend has joined Grand Hyatt Mumbai as

Director of Revenue. With over a decade of experience in the financial planning and revenue management, Manas has worked with a number of hospitality brands including Taj Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group, Bharat Hotels Ltd and JW Marriott. A technology specialist, Manas has been a part of the Hyatt family and was associated with Hyatt Regency New Delhi and Hyatt Regency Mumbai in the past.

Piiyush Kapoor has been appointed as the General

Manager of JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort and Spa, Marriott International’s first JW Marriott resort in the country. A seasoned hotelier, Piiyush brings close to two decades of proficiency in the hospitality industry. He has been associated with leading domestic and international brands holding key positions. His journey in the hospitality industry started in 2007 with Holiday Inn, Manali followed by Crowne Plaza, Mussoorie and The Lalit, Jaipur. He takes over his latest mandate as a progression from being General Manager at Radisson Blue Udaipur Palace Resort & Spa.

AirAsia X Thailand CEO Nadda Buranasiri has been appointed

as the new AirAsia X Group CEO and took charge from November 1. Nadda has had stints in sales, advertising, banking and the music industry. He joined the aviation industry in January 2014 as CEO of AirAsia X Thailand and has been instrumental in not only setting up their Bangkok-based long-haul operations but also making it one of the most successful and popular long-haul airlines in Asia.

Sonale Zagade has been appointed as Hotel Manager

of Grand Hyatt Mumbai. With 16 years of experience in the industry, Sonale is a seasoned hospitality professional and has been associated with the Hyatt family for five years in the past. In her new role, she will oversee the hotel operations to ensure the highest level of guest satisfaction and quality. Sonale is known for her analytical problem solving and people management skills. Her ability to implement creative and strategic plans to improve guest experiences has been the key to her success.

Shannon Creado takes charge as the new Area Director of

Sales and Marketing at Banyan Tree Phuket. Creado has about 20 years of experience in sales and marketing. Born and educated in India, Creado began his hospitality career in 1999, rising through the ranks until he became Director of Sales and Marketing for Goa Marriott Resort in 2006. He later took on Sales and Marketing Director positions in other Marriott resorts in Asia, as well as Anantara and MINOR Hotels. These positions, located in South Korea, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand, ensured Creado increased his familiarity with the extended Asian market. Creado has received several awards and accolades during the course of his decades-long career.

Brendan Corcoran General Manager The Westin Maldives -Miriandhoo Resort

Sachin ShetGeneral ManagerAlila Diwa Goa

Manas Zend Director of RevenueGrand Hyatt Mumbai

Born and educated in Mumbai, Anand Yedery has been

working with Cathay Pacific since 2004 and effective October 1, he is responsible for overseeing the business of Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon Passenger sales in the said regions and will be based in Mumbai. He joined the airline in the customer services department at Mumbai Airport. In 2007, he moved to the commercial side of business, heading passenger sales for Southern India based out of Chennai. He moved to Mumbai in 2010 to head passenger sales for the Western India region.

Anand Yedery Regional Head of Marketing and Sales for South Asia, Middle East and Africa, Cathay Pacific

Piiyush KapoorGeneral ManagerJW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort and Spa

Nadda BuranasiriCEOAirAsia X Group

Sonale Zagade Hotel Manager Grand Hyatt Mumbai

Shannon CreadoNew Area Director of Sales & Marketing, Banyan Tree Phuket

EXECUTIVE HIRES

Brendan Corcoran has been appointed as Westin Maldives

Miriandhoo Resort’s General Manager. Brendan’s industry experience spans over two decades in a variety of leadership positions. He embarked on his professional journey at the Hilton Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. From there his passion for embracing new opportunities and experiences saw him excel in positions with leading hospitality brands including Marriott International, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Per Aquum Hotels and Resorts.

Revealed at the World Travel Market trade show in London,

the new brand platform “So Sri Lan-ka”, created by advertising agency JWT Sri Lanka and Landor Singa-pore, is grounded on the insight that Sri Lanka is more than just a des-tination, it’s a feeling. Sri Lanka is the essence of a people renowned for their hospitality; a stunning land-scape, rich biodiversity and a wealth of incredible, immersive experiences on offer for travelers.The rebrand marks the start of Sri Lanka’s fresh approach to destina-tion marketing. Madubhani Perera, Director Marketing SLTPB com-ments: “There has never been a bet-ter time for a rebrand. Sri Lanka has just been named The Lonely Planet’s Number One Destination for 2019. For us “So Sri Lanka” symbolizes our evolution with the digital rev-olution. The modern traveler goes online to seek inspiration and to find the next life-changing travel experi-ence. “So Sri Lanka” helps us evoke the inimitable feeling of our beauti-ful, vibrant, authentic and generous country through the smartphones of potential travelers.”The campaign will target millennial travelers who select holiday destina-tions based on what they can hope to experience there. The “So Sri Lanka” brand platform has a contemporary, social and engaging design to reflect the heart and individuality of the coun-

try. It will roll out across all tourism promotion materials in a multi-chan-nel, international campaign starting early next year – this will be a sig-nificant global campaign that will be amplified across all relevant digital platforms, targeting tourists from key source markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

To drive mass awareness of the new brand platform, the SLTPB is part-nering with award winning* wildlife producer, Nicola Brown, whose pre-vious accolades include David At-tenborough’s Blue Planet II, to create the first-of-its-kind film shot from the viewpoint of Sri Lanka’s rich and di-verse wildlife.

To encourage travelers to choose Sri Lanka for an experience like no oth-er, the film will showcase the coun-try’s unique landmarks, vibrant cities and breath-taking landscapes includ-ing Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy, and Ella through the eyes of the island’s inhabitants who know it best. The film will be distributed across digital and owned social channels, as well as being the focus for an earned me-dia PR campaign across key markets - India, China, and the UK. A sneak peek of the film is released today with the full-length film being re-leased in early 2019.

There is a 23 percent increase in the number of tourists from India to

Sweden. An improved people-to-peo-ple exchange, increased trade between the two nations, a concerted Govern-ment interest from both sides and di-rect flights have contributed to this growth. These results were shared by Visit Sweden and the Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai at a seminar conducted Scandavian Tourism board in Mumbai today.More than a 190 Swedish companies are registered in India including Er-icsson, Volvo, H&M, Scania, DeLa-val, Tetra Pak and the latest entrant being the much-awaited, global home furnishings giant IKEA. In addition, several small and medium enterprises and Swedish startups have India plans. This growing bridge between India and Sweden has impacted tourism positively.“The excellent relations between Sweden and India which have developed over the past few years with PM Löven and PM Modi’s respective visits, the joint declaration, joint action plan and

the adoption of strategic partnership on innovation, are paving the way for increased bilateral visits and people to people contacts,” says Ulrika Sundberg, Consul General of Sweden to Mumbai.“We have noticed the ‘bleisure’ travel trend- a combination of business and leisure travel. In addition, according to Statistics Sweden, there are 17,000 Indian passport holders residing in Sweden today. This along with other factors has led to an increase in tourism from India,” says Michael Persson Gripkow, Chief Brand & Communications Officer at Visit Sweden, Sweden’s Official Tourism.

South Africa has seen an upsurge of business travelers from India, who have notched up their length of stay from 14 to 19 days.

‘So Sri Lanka’ all set to lure more travelers

23% increase in tourists from India to Sweden

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FOR ALL: Sri Lanka is the essence of a people renowned for their hospitality; a stunning landscape, and rich biodiversity.

Increased people-to-people exchange, trade between the two countries, interest from governments and direct connections contributed to the growth.

INDIANS APLENTY: There are 17,000 Indian passport holders residing in Sweden today.

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P46

EVENTS CALENDAR 2018-19

A survey of more than 100 travel brands has found more than 90%

use Facebook as a marketing tool and similar number e-newsletters, with 20% saying they no longer issued brochures.Speaking at WTM London, Lyn Hughes, creative director and Editor-in-Chief of Wanderlust, which carried out the research, said digital communication was taking an increasing amount of time for travel brands, with a quarter of them saying they wished they could ditch Twitter.More than half of those surveyed said e-newsletter open rates had increased in the last year, with the majority boasting a 30% open rate. Hughes said newsletter quality was key. “It can’t be a little puff piece written by someone that has not been to the destination.”The poll found 70% of companies planned to spend more on video content and more than 30% would spend less on brochures. However, Hughes said print was still important: “People surf the net, but swim in magazines. We have seen a resurgence in print in the last two to three years.”The good news for the travel industry generally is that a similar survey of consumers found fewer than 15% said they never used a travel company when booking.Conrad Bird, director of the GREAT Britain Campaign at the UK Department for International Trade, spoke of how competitors had collaborated on the hugely successful initiative that had boosted tourism despite not being dedicated specifically to travel.“It was an integrated campaign of

which tourism was a very important part. We achieved an ROI (Return on Investment) of 20/25 to one,” he said.He added: “We drew heavily on things like 100% Pure New Zealand and Incredible India; they are more than just tourism campaigns, they are establishing a brand over time.”Within the GREAT Britain campaign was a number of micro-campaigns,

including Love is GREAT, aimed at the LGBT sector. “It says something bigger about the values you have,” he said. Another urged young people to go camping, thereby boosting domestic tourism.Both Bird and Paul Nelson, World Travel Market press and PR manager, acknowledged the power of digital campaigns. Nelson said influencers had a role to play in travel marketing: “It takes a lot of work to find the right influencer, but when you do, you can track the results, which makes it a worthwhile relationship,” he said.Abta also featured in the day’s events, with advice on safety abroad and sustainability.Angela Hills, Abta’s senior destina-tions manager, health, safety, crisis, and operations, warned that 22% of

UK travelers were still not using travel insurance.“One of the core messages is the importance of travel insurance,” she said. “Quite often you see people have not got insurance and they are asking for crowdfunding. We want to try and avoid that.”She urged travelers to “buy insurance that’s fit for purpose and not the cheapest on the market”, particularly where activities were concerned: “Travellers need to have the right insurance for the holiday they have chosen. For example, if you are mountain climbing, check the policy is appropriate for the height of the mountain.”Abta’s senior destinations and sustainability manager Clare

Jenkinson said consumers were raising their expectations of what they wanted travel brands to do to be more sustainable. They now expected destinations and hotels to offer recycling facilities similar to what they find at home.“When you can’t let people recycle, you are basically handing them guilt,” she said. Co-presenter Erik Wolf, the founder of the World Food Travel Association, urged travelers to have a militant approach to things like unnecessary plastic bin liners in hotel rooms.“If there’s something that is causing you stress, say something. There’s an attitude that ‘I don’t want to offend’. You know what? We are past that, the earth is dying.”

VW BUREAU

Travel trade must make the best of social media

FEBRUARY

1, 2, 3Tulsa Boat, Sport and Travel ShowTulsa

10, 11, 12, 13Outbound Travel Road ShowMiddle East

22, 23, 24India International Travel Mart, Kolkata

DECEMBER

2, 3, 4, 5MedTravelExpoMoscow, Russia

3, 4, 5, 6Int’l Luxury Travel MarketCannes, France

6, 7, 8Travel Turkey IzmirIzmir, Turkey

MARKETING

NOVEMBER

1, 2, 3, 4Regional Tourism ExhibitionErfurt, Germany

5, 6, 7World Travel MarketLondon, UK

23, 24, 25India International Travel MartHyderabad

About 70% of travel companies planned to spend more on video content and more than 30% would spend less on brochures.

JANUARY

13, 14, 15Nordic Bloggers Experience, Helsinki, Finland

30 Jan – Feb 1ENTER 2019Nicosia, Cyprus

31 Jan-2 FebIITM 2019Kochi, India

VISUALLY RICH: Facebook Live Videos generate watch times 3x longer than those that are no longer live.

Voyager’s World | November 2018 | P48