JANUARY 2020, PAGES 32, Rs. 60 VOL. 2, ISSUE. 12

CANADAFor an ultimate winter escape

IS MICE TOURISM ALL ABOUT ASSURANCE OR ANTICIPATION IN 2020?

PAVING THE WAY AHEAD

Plot No. 25- 27 and 28-29, Knowledge Park-II, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

Email: marketing@indiaexpocentre.com Ph: +91-120-2328011-20, Mob: +91 9717790583

THE BEST STANDALONE CONVENTION CENTRE IN INDIANational Tourism Awards, 2017-18 by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

We have hosted some of the largest conventions and expos in India such as INDIA HANDICRAFT AND GIFT FAIR, AUTO EXPO - The Motor Show, ELECRAMA, PRINTPACK INDIA, INDIA ITME, CPhI & PMEC, REI and UNCCD COP 14

that have seen over 1,00,000 visitors and dignitaries in a day.

With 3 presidential helipads and multi-tier security, our venue has hosted The Honourable President of India, The Prime Minister of India as well as VIPs from across the globe.

M E T R O S T A T I O N 5 - M I N W A L K | I G I A I R P O R T 6 0 - M I N D R I V E | P A R K I N G 1 2 , 0 0 0 + C A R S

I N D I A ’ S L A R G E S T I N T E G R A T E D E X H I B I T I O N A N D C O N V E N T I O N C E N T R E

FEATURES OF INDIA EXPO CENTRE & MART

• More than 80,000 sqm. Indoor Exhibition Area across 14 Exhibition Halls • Total Area 232,847 sqm. • Outdoor Exhibition Area 100,000 sqm. (5 Outdoor Areas) • Storage & Warehousing Facilities 10,000 sqm. • Retractable Sound-Proof

Meeting/Conference Halls 29 • 37 MW Power Back-Up • Conference & Exhibition Facilities for Upto 200,000 Visitors • 128 Bedded Hotel by 2020

India Exposition Mart Limited

E X H I B I T I O N S A N D E X P O S C O N F E R E N C E S C U LT U R A L E V E N I N G S

www.indiaexpocentre.com

Editorial & Marketing Office: Versatile Media: 207, Satya Mansion, Commercial Complex, Ranjeet Nagar, New Delhi-110008Contact: 011 - 45530380/83 • varun@versatilemedia.inAll information in MiceInsiders is derived from sources we consider reliable. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. Opinions/views expressed by third parties in abstract or interviews are not necessarily shared by us. Material appearing in the magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part(s) without prior permission. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian Advertisement Code. The publisher will not be liable for any loss caused by any delay in publication, error or failure of advertisement to appear.Owned and published by: Varun Malhotra, Editor & Publisher, EB-63, Maya Enclave, Hari Nagar, New Delhi - 110064 and printed on his behalf at Acme Tradex India Pvt. Ltd. ( Unit : Printing press) B - 70, Sector - 80, Noida - 201305

Dear Readers,

The New Year marks a new beginning as we look into the way forward for MICE tourism in 2020. India’s outbound MICE tourism market is expected to reach USD nine billion by 2025, as per a report. For that to smoothly happen there needs to be support from government and private stakeholders should do their bit to further leverage MICE tourism. We shall see if in the year 2020, MICE will just survive or thrive?

For our January issue, we slip and slide our way into Canada, a country that embraces winters and makes for a perfect destination to enjoy an amazing winter getaway. Make the best out of this season with outdoor activities and awesome festivals in Canada. We converse with Debashis Sen, I.A.S, Chairman and Managing Director, WBHIDCO to understand how this state-of-the-art MICE facility Biswa Bangla Convention Centre (BBCC) is reshaping the conference and convention scenario of Kolkata.

Moving ahead, we take our readers

to a destination with alluring view of the Himalayas and vibrant culture Uttarakhand. It is a land of scenic and serene landscape with a host of destinations that can be explored on your trip to Uttarakhand.

Other than this, we bring to you the latest and on-going news from across the segments of the industry including the names that join the travel and tourism clan.

I thank you all again for your kind support. We value your feedback and suggestions so please do write to us at varun@versatilemedia.in

Happy Reading!

Varun Malhotra

Publisher & CEO

P u b l i s h e r ’ s N o t e

PUBLISHER & CEO

Varun Malhotra

varun@versatilemedia.in

DIRECTOR

Pranav Khullar

pranav@versatilemedia.in

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Gagneet Kaur

ASST. EDITOR

Sayanti Halder

REPORTER

Kritika Dua

REPORTER & MARKETING ANALYST Lokesh Tuli

BUSINESS HEADShilpi Sharma

AGM SALES & MARKETING (MUMBAI) Aarti Rajkhewa

BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP MANAGERNitika Bisht

CONSULTANT

Anindya Malhotra, Jitin Mann

DESIGNERShivnath

ADMIN HEAD

R Prem Lata

ASST. MANAGER ADMIN Deepa Kaur

EXECUTIVE-CIRCULATION

Hari Puri, Raja Rari

4 JANUARY 2020

IN CONVERSATION

HOMEWARD

HOTEL FEATURE

14 “WE NEED TO MAKE BUSINESS AND PLEASURE TOURISM CONVERGE SOON”Reputed to be “biggest in the country”, the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre (BBCC), managed by West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (WBHIDCO) and NKDA is presently moulding the very conference and convention scenario of Kolkata and its satellite cities thus, bringing more global attention to the ‘City of Joy’. Debashis Sen, I.A.S, Chairman and Managing Director, WBHIDCO further explains this state-of-the-art MICE facility is simultaneously building its stature and that of Kolkata’s tourism affair for a more prosperous future

28 UTTARAKHAND WHERE DREAMLAND IS RIGHTFULLY EXHIBITED ON SOIL

Bordering Nepal and Tibet and set amidst the mountains of the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, the versatile state of Uttarakhand rises from the fertile sub-Himalayan plains. The region is noticed to have its distinct languages and cultures and successive deep river valleys shelter to fascinating micro-civilisations, where Hinduism and Buddhism meet animism, thus gathering an increasing nature and religion-prone travellers. MICEInsiders brings a whole new list of destinations and alternatives that one may experience in the rich land of the Garhwal

19 HOTEL CLARKS SHIRAZ, AGRATHE SUPREME BLEND OF WARMTH AND MAGNIFICENCE

For over five decades, Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Agra has been synonymous with world-class hospitality, delivered with the warm touch of service and grandeur. Having the honour of serving several distinguished guests, this five-star luxury hotel, which combines business with pleasure, style with substance along with form with function, takes the definition of lavishness to a notch higher as it overlooks the mighty Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, presenting an utmost fine example of providing bliss during work

The combination of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) is now an integral part of the global hospitality industry and India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound tourism markets in 2019. Despite multiple challenges post-Jet Airways grounding and the imbalance in supply, this capacity constraint has now been levelled out. It is believed that the MICE segment is poised for dynamic growth if the lucrative India market is optimised by way of investment in infrastructure and marketing. Business sectors such as technology, pharma, electrical, engineering offer a significant opportunity for MICE corporates for both meetings and incentives. According to figures at the 7th Annual MICE and Luxury Travel Congress, the tourism market is expected to reach USD nine billion by 2025, which clearly shows how important 2020 is going to be for the tourism segment in India. Therefore, MICEInsiders gathers some of the noted contributors of this segment of travelling in India to comprehend which side of the see-saw would the MICE slice be on this year

6 ........................................................................................................................ Inbound8 .............................................................................................................................Trade20 ..................................................................................................................Outbound24 ............................................................................................................... Hospitality 26 ..................................................................................................................... Aviation30 .........................................................................................................Appointments

OVERSEAS

22 CANADAFOR AN ULTIMATE WINTER ESCAPE

Canada offers incredible destinations and enjoyable activities, winter is the best time to explore its outdoors. Travellers can watch in awe the unique frozen bubbles on Abraham Lake or frozen Niagara Falls as well as visit Banff National Park or Ice Castles in Edmonton. They can try dog sledding in Canmore, Maligne Canyon ice walk, climb the ice pillars in Haffner Creek and enjoy many more winter activities. Visitors can be a part of winter celebrations such as Festival du Voyageur, Winterlude and Snowking Winter Festival

REGULAR NEWS

CONTENTSPOTLIGHT

IS MICE TOURISM ALL ABOUT ASSURANCE OR ANTICIPATION IN 2020?

PAVING THE WAY AHEAD

Page No. 10

6 JANUARY 2020

The Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (IC), Prahlad Singh Patel launched the Indian Culture web portal on December 10 in New Delhi. The Indian Culture portal was envisioned by the Ministry of Culture and was developed by a team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay while the curation of the data has been done by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Culture Secretary Arun Goel, DG ASI Usha Sharma and other senior officials of the ministry were also present on this occasion. Indian culture portal is the first government authorised portal where knowledge and cultural resources of various organisations of the Ministry of Culture are now available in the public domain on a single platform. Speaking on the occasion Union Minister said that this project is a part of the Prime Minister’s Digital India initiative to showcase information about the rich tangible and intangible cultural

heritage of India both at home and abroad. He added that India is one of the most diverse countries in the world. We have a rich cultural heritage but unfortunately, we are just able to showcase 10 per cent of it to the word. This portal hosts documents, images, audio-video files and other data from archives, museums, academies and libraries across the nation. On this portal information about more than 90 lakhs items are currently available.

Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel launches Indian Culture portal

Sign boards in the Chinese language have been set up at five ASI protected archaeological sites

MoT has sanctioned 18 projects covering NE states for INR 1456 cr for tourism development and promotion

Cabinet approves funds of INR 627.40 crore for 10 projects sanctioned during 2018-19 in Swadesh Darshan Scheme

Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (IC) Prahlad Singh Patel has said that sign boards in Chinese language have been put up at five ASI protected archaeological sites located in Uttar Pradesh. They include the archaeological site at Sarnath, the Buddhist relics at Chaukhandi Stupa, Kushinagar and the Mahaparinirvana Temple, Piparahwa and Shravasti. Patel said that keeping in mind the convenience of foreign travellers, Ministry had instructed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that sign boards of foreign languages will be installed at all the iconic archaeological sites in India where more than 1 lakh tourists from a particular country visit those places every year. A total of five

such foreign country languages can be included in it. He told that in this series, the work of installing sign boards in Sinhala language has been completed in November 2019 given the large number of Sri Lankan tourists visiting Sanchi. Prahlad Singh Patel said that their objective is to increase the number of tourists both foreign and domestic, under the Prime Minister’s Vision 2020. He said that the Prime Minister is the biggest brand ambassador in our country. The Union Minister said that to increase the number of domestic tourists, the Ministry of Tourism is considering various cultural fairs and other events through which the people of India will get to know India in a better way.

The Ministry of Tourism is focusing on development and promotion of tourism in the North Eastern Region. For development Ministry under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD Schemes has sanctioned 18 projects covering all the North Eastern States for INR 1456 crore. The Ministry of Tourism undertakes various activities for the promotion of North Eastern region of the country as a tourist destination. These activities include release of television campaigns on Doordarshan and private channels in the country; production of publicity material, creatives and television commercials/promotional films on the region; the North East region is the theme of the India Pavilion set up by the Ministry at the South Asia Travel and

Tourism Exchange (SATTE) in which the Ministry participates annually; complimentary space is provided to the North Eastern States for their participation in the India Pavilion set up by the Ministry at major international travel fairs and exhibitions; the Ministry organises an annual International Tourism Mart in the North Eastern region with the objective of highlighting the tourism potential of the region. The projects under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes are identified for development in consultation with the State Governments / Union Territory Administrations and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilisation of funds released earlier.

INBOUND

News

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to release funds to the tune of INR 627.40 crore for the 10 projects sanctioned during 2018-19 and additional INR 1854.67 crore for sanctioning of new projects during 2019-20 in Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, Ministry of Tourism is developing critical tourism infrastructure in the country sustainably and inclusively to make India, a world-class tourist destination. The

provision of this critical infrastructure will catalyse the private sector investment in revenue-generating projects which in turn would lead to positive enhancement of overall experience to the tourist resulting into increased footfalls in the areas, growth of revenue and employment.

8 JANUARY 2020

News

IBM, Google and Klook to headline at Travel Technology Europe 2020

Events Industry Council launches new online learning hub

OTOAI announces its 5th convention from March 15 to 18 in Antalya, Turkey

Europe’s dedicated event for travel technology, Travel Technology Europe, has announced that industry experts from IBM, Google and Klook will be headlining its 2020 conference. Sharing their expertise on the future of travel technology and innovation, experts Thierry Gnych (IBM Watson), Chris Anstey (Google) and Matt Cuckston (Klook) will be joining 50+ other leading industry figures on 26th & 27th February 2020, when the show returns to London Olympia for its 17th year.

In the first of three keynote sessions to be held across the two days, IBM’s European Leader of Industry and Cognitive Solutions, Gnych, will be asking ‘Is 2020 the year for AI in travel?, as companies embrace machine learning and other AI technologies. His session will focus on how to harness the power of cognitive, analytics, blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the transportation and travel industries. Anstey meanwhile, will be taking a fascinating look at how crucial site speed is to coming up at the top of the search, as well as sharing how major travel brands are creating an engaging mobile experience. His session, entitled ‘Milliseconds make millions: how your site speed impacts your business’ marks the 25th year of the smartphone and will

explore how increased usage of this familiar technology has transformed the travel sector.

The third keynote session, ‘How tours and activities turned Klook into a unicorn’, hosted by Klook’s European Director Cuckston, will focus on the importance of user experience when it comes to achieving success in-destination. Tours and activities are a USD 150 billion global market and having staked its claim within the sector, Cuckston’s first-hand experience is not to be missed. “Visitors to Travel Technology Europe have a huge appetite for learning and we are delighted yet again, to offer them the opportunity to hear from such knowledgeable and inspiring individuals”, said David Chapple, Portfolio Director UK, Northstar Travel Group, which owns Travel Technology Europe. He continued, “All our speakers have invaluable experience and examples of best practice to share, which will not only enable visitors to refresh their thinking but provide them with inspiration and actionable insights into how they can grow their own business through innovation.” In addition to the keynote sessions, attendees will hear from expert speakers on the hottest topics affecting the travel technology sector today; from blockchain, digital transformation, hyper-personalisation, online influencers, multi-generation marketing and much more. The Events Industry Council

(EIC) announced the launch of a new online learning hub, the EIC Knowledge Hub, providing event professionals with the latest education, courses and trends, in addition to the organisation’s extensive archive. Amy Calvert, CEO, Events Industry Council, shares, “The new hub allows current and those interested in becoming Certified Meeting

Professionals (CMPs) the opportunity to easily access, track and advance their learning. Education is the hallmark of the EIC and it’s a testament to our industry that it is a priority of our members.” Enhanced features of the new hub include single sign-on (SSO) technology, personalised online experience and the ability to access content whenever, wherever, on multiple devices.

TRADE

The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) recently announced that its 5th Annual Convention will be held from March 15 to 18 in Antalya, Turkey. It will be accompanied by optional pre and post convention tours (three days each) to experience places in and around Antalya such as Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Izmir. The convention’s airline partner is Turkish Airlines. Himanshu Patil, Vice President, OTOAI and Convention Chairman 2020 said, “The travel and tourism industry is going through a challenging phase. The theme and mood of the convention will focus on how to make consumers have more faith and confidence in an outbound tour operators and suggest and work on ways and plans to help an agent/tour operator grow his business in these challenging times. A travel

agent must realise that if he can win the trust of the customers, they will never go elsewhere for their travel booking needs.” Along with Himanshu Patil, Vineet Gopal, Joint Secretary, OTOAI will be Co-Convention Chairman. The theme is yet to be finalised along with topics for business sessions and list of panellists who will discuss and debate on issues prevalent to the industry. “Our aim at OTOAI is to bring the outbound tour operators from various parts of the country together and showcase a new destination to them each time. Antalya and the region around it have much to offer to the discerning traveller and once our tour operators will experience the destination first hand, they will be able to sell it better to their clients in India,” said Riaz Munshi, President, OTOAI.

JANUARY 2020 9

Corporates from all sectors are increasingly travelling to host an event in a

destination that offers state-of-the-art facilities, new experiences and added value of travel. Swosti Group has become the hub of MICE business in Odisha with facilities such as the largest convention hall (Chanakya) at Swosti Premium Bhubaneswar, which is now classified as five-Star and Swosti Chilika Resort which is an exclusive MICE venue in one of the most pristine locations in the country on the banks of the largest lake in Northern Hemisphere Chilika Lake. These are renowned for their banquet and conference facility coupled with warm welcoming hospitality. Guests can host here memorable

weddings and celebrations as they provide excellent services and a dedicated team to take care of the guests’ requirements to make their wedding dazzling and extraordinary. Swosti Chilika Resort is the ideal venue to plan conferences, meetings, corporate get-togethers, MICE events or other business meetings. Its conference hall and meeting room are furnished with modern amenities and accompanied by a dedicated team for seamless corporate events. Swosti Group, managed by professionals, offers tour and travel Management, MICE management, conference venue, accommodation of delegates (venue hotel and other star hotels), transportation, cultural programme, pre / post convention tours, photography, videography services, guest welcoming (airport/railway station to conference venue and other hotels), guides and hostess assistance and many more. Modern technologies, video conferencing facility and wi-fi connection and more are some of the added services. Additionally, they have transport with a fleet of coaches

and cars with professional guides and drivers of Swosti Travels.

Corporate sectors such as Medical, IT, MNCs, Banks, Medicine and many more have experienced the professional services of Swosti Group. Though there have been many changes in customer lifestyle and expectations, Swosti Group has always delivered on the promise and the secret to this success is the philosophy at the core of it, every employee is driven by a passion to deliver. This passion makes Swosti Group stand apart and continue to add value to customer

experiences. The Group has successfully handled large national and international conferences of up to 3000 delegates in Bhubaneswar and Chilika several times and Swosti Travels has taken care of providing transport services. F&B is the speciality of Swosti Group, dishes served are unique and authentic with cuisine ranging from Indian, Continental, Chinese, Oddisi and Bengali, they have something for guests of varied taste and age and everyone is served by professionals with great human touch promptly and efficiently.

SWOSTI HOTELS Making impact with MICE

PAVING THE WAY AHEADIs MICE Tourism all about assurance or

anticipation in 2020?The combination of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) is now an integral

part of the global hospitality industry and India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound tourism markets in 2019. Despite multiple challenges post-Jet Airways grounding and the imbalance in supply, this capacity constraint has now been levelled out. It is believed that the MICE

segment is poised for dynamic growth if the lucrative India market is optimised by way of investment in infrastructure and marketing. Business sectors such as technology, pharma, electrical, engineering

offer a significant opportunity for MICE corporates for both meetings and incentives. According to figures at the 7th Annual MICE and Luxury Travel Congress, the tourism market is expected to reach

USD nine billion by 2025, which clearly shows how important 2020 is going to be for the tourism segment in India. Therefore, MICEInsiders gathers some of the noted contributors of this segment of

travelling in India to comprehend which side of the see-saw would the MICE slice be on this year

TRADE

Spotlight

By Team MI

10 JANUARY 2020

JANUARY 2020 11

Spotlight

MICE tourism is seeing increasing traction, day by day and is expected to contribute largely to the Indian economy. The events are not only being increased in numbers but also in size, as well. Even though the trend is increasing, MICE still plays a small role in comparison to the world. The country, alone, is estimated to generate over two million outbound luxury and MICE tourists annually in 2020, reinforcing the country’s influence as a key source market for both MICE and luxury travel. Although the MICE business in India was pegged at INR 25,000 crore and growing at eight per cent, year-on-year, it has a minuscule 0.5 per cent share

of the global industry, which is estimated to be around USD 808 billion (INR 5,814,570 crore).

To ensure the momentum of growth, the entire ecosystem needs to innovate and invite greater participation from convention centre builder to hoteliers to event planners. Recently, MICE travel is seen to be led by millennials by gaining to be the prime customer and all set to be the biggest group of the business traveller by 2024. This lot of travellers aim to gain experience and like to participate.They not only attend events buts actively participate in it and personalise their trip by extending their stay.

Over the past few years, we have seen a major shift in terms of trends and experiences for MICE tourism in India. With corporates now increasingly focused on unique itineraries and immersive experiences, Thomas Cook India has observed a growing demand of 25 per cent for this segment. While outbound MICE trips will continue, we foresee the viable potential for the MICE domestic opportunity and cruises has been seeing strong uptake too. At Thomas Cook India, we have observed a growing demand of 20 per cent over last year for MICE travellers and with domestic MICE being our key focus, we are expecting about 30 to 40 per cent growth in 2020 for Delhi NCR, Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Goa and Cochin being the destinations

of prime choice.With international hotel

chains increasing their presence in the country and increasing both room capacity and event spaces with MICE facilities, this will catalyse the demand trajectory for MICE business in India. Subsidies and incentives from India tourism boards at both the centre and state level would also give a strong fillip to the MICE sector and this has worked very well in the outbound space, as well. Indian weddings are also a major and yet underleveraged opportunity and we plan to maximise this potential with our new business line- ‘Art of Weddings’ that will form part of our MICE portfolio. We have had a very encouraging start and are truly excited with the prospects that destination weddings offer!

Jonathan Mills, Managing Director, RCI APAC

Meera Charnalia, Senior Vice President and Head-MICE, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd.

12 JANUARY 2020

Spotlight

MICE is growing year and year and that is the trend forecasted for 2020. However, the dynamics have changed drastically as MICE is not about just providing a destination, hotel and a meeting room. The MICE providers have to now provide more customisation to the client. To achieve this one has to understand the participants’ interests while also allowing their schedule to be updated at all times in which technology plays a vital role. Along with customisation, the guests are also looking for unique experiences. While it is true that their priority is attending the conference or meeting, they also get to stay in the city and it is very likely that it is not their first time in it. Therefore, it is crucial that each stay provides

something unique and it is not only about the activities they can enjoy but that allows them to feel reinvigorated by the end of the trip. Also along with the traditional MICE destinations, the end client is now looking at secondary destinations which are new upcoming cities.

Tourism is one of the biggest industries in the world and one of those with the potential of greatest growth. MICE brings together different industries under the same umbrella in which hotels, restaurants, transport system, shopkeepers, cleaners, tour guides and many other people have a significant role to play. This segment helps revitalise the economy and it will continue to do so in the coming year as well.

In 2020, I would expect the family clubs in India to grow further as families are trying to increase the quality time that they spend with each other, which is currently on the decline. Thus, family clubs will have to cater to all members of the family wherein, they can enrich their lives by learning something new and also have activities that involve all the family members to ensure more interaction among them. The club will act as a lubricant, bringing the family together and creating memories in the future days to come.

Disha Shah, Director and COO, iCEGroup India

Rajesh Shetty, General Manager, The Acres Lifestyle Club

14 JANUARY 2020

In Conversation

How has the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre augmented the MICE scenario in Kolkata?BBCC is like a lighthouse whose lights attract events of various sizes and specialities, from across the world. This is so not only because of its dazzlingly spectacular design but also because there is a bouquet of choices that fits everyone’s needs and necessities. Also, because of the co-located five-star hotel named ‘Zone by the Park’ in the vicinity, where delegates can stay with zero transfer needs, the footfall and demand have gradually augmented, simultaneously. Coupled with the nearby nine-hole golf course, the densely-visited Eco Park, Eco Urban Village, Banglar Misti Hub, Seven Wonders, Wax Museum and Biswa Bangla Gate, with its hanging restaurant, the destination becomes quite enticing.

Briefly explain the key facilities of the convention centre that are garnering the prime source of revenue.The convention centre boasts of the main conference hall that can accommodate up to 3,200 people

and two mini conference halls with a capacity of 400 people, respectively. Alongside, two banquet halls for approximately 350 people, each and two additional banquet halls for 200 people, each, are available for any and every size of events or gatherings. Other than this, six pre-function areas at two respective floors and one meeting room for private scale meetings are available. Additionally, there is a multi-level car parking facility with an external vehicle parking zone and a neighbouring space, of almost seven acres, for exhibition purpose. Speaking of new developments of an open space of five acres adjacent to the venue, BBCC has augmented the facility of accommodation with ‘Zone by the Park Kolkata’ proving 117 keys, in total. For further revenue generation, we aim to develop a Golf course, swimming pools, walking course, cycling tracks, Lawn Tennis ground, Badminton course and Executive Club in and around BBCC.

As New Town is rapidly becoming the new MICE hub of Kolkata, do you feel that the number hotels in and around the area are sufficient

to accommodate a large number of delegate, visiting Kolkata?With the operations starting in several new hotels including ibis, Novotel, Lemon Tree, Westin, Fairfield, Holiday Inn, Swissôtel, Pride Hotels and many more already in operation, the availability of rooms within the area of New Town has improved, substantially. More budget and star-based hotels are coming up in the vicinity and many are in the advanced stages of construction. I would say that Kolkata and New Town are fully prepared to handle the demands of large-scale MICE tourism.

How can the West Bengal Tourism work hand-in-hand with HIDCO for developing a sound marketing/ promotional tool to preach Kolkata as the new MICE destination? We need to make business tourism and pleasure tourism converge soon and create a new space for ‘Experience Tourism’. Robots with Artificial Intelligence (AI) can create the preferred smart AV network for a meaningful interaction within and outside the centre while analytics data coupled with smart devices

can optimise the satisfaction level by, for example, slotting people’s non-business hours for Yoga at Upasanasthal or Golf at the Eco Park alongside Squash/Tennis/Badminton facilities at the neighbouring New Town Business Club or else to dive into the centres of culture at the Rabindra Tirtha and Nazrul Tirtha, respectively.

What are the next projects that BBCC is looking forward to in 2020?On an average, per year, our property is receiving occupancy of 170 with a total footfall of around 2, 26, 603, which we aim to surpass from the beginning of this year. In 2019, around 247 events were hosted in BBCC where the total footfall exceeded three lakhs. As on date, the number of bookings made for 2020 is over one hundred already. We expect the achievements of 2019 to be exceeded this year. Among some of the prestigious government events, a two-day ‘Education Fair’ (April 2020) and a two-day ‘Bengal Global Business Summit’ (December 2020) are expected to be the star attractions, to begin with.

“We need to make business and pleasure tourism converge soon”

Reputed to be “biggest in the country”, the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre (BBCC), managed by

West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (WBHIDCO) and NKDA is presently

moulding the very conference and convention scenario of Kolkata and its satellite cities thus,

bringing more global attention to the ‘City of Joy’. Debashis Sen, I.A.S, Chairman and Managing Director, WBHIDCO further explains this state-of-the-art MICE facility is simultaneously building

its stature and that of Kolkata’s tourism affair for a more prosperous future

By Sayanti Halder

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Outbound

Tourism Enterprises expands services in Azerbaijan and Poland

The leading DMC representation brand, Tourism Enterprises that

brings reliable DMCs to the Indian outbound space continues to snowball into profits and Ravi Gosain, Managing Director of Tourism Enterprises credits its success to taking well-thought-out risks as well as maintaining clear communication and honest approach with their clients

With the clear motto of simplifying the business dealings between Indian tour operators, travel agents and their DMC partners, Tourism Enterprises is touching great heights and taking flight into new skies. Gosain believes that this very fact sets them apart from the various other marketing companies and they have been successful in gaining their customer’s trust. He comments, “We act as a bridge and provide a seamless connection between these two crucial points of outbound tourism. We not only have a marketing team but also have engaged sales and operation staff in our Delhi office to aid our clients to materialise business. Also, Kumar Utkarsh, General Manager- Sales, Tourism Enterprises is a strengthening pillar of our company.” Tourism Enterprises is gradually progressing in the

India outbound market by offering international DMCs from exclusive destinations worldwide. Having successfully launched DMC for Indo-China as well as Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar last year and boasts of an ever-increasing success rate. Gosain exclaims, “We received tremendous support from our partners across India and now with the direct connectivity between India and Vietnam we are

sure the traffic will witness multifold growth.” Continuing further, he says, “Likewise our DMC Saffron World B.V. that is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands is doing well and making inroads to Indian tour operators and providing them with services in Benelux as well as other European destinations.” Tourism Enterprises has recently opened a branch office for Saffron World in Krakow, Poland as there

is great demand coupled with an increase in MICE business from India to Poland. The LOT Polish airlines connecting Delhi with Warsaw will indeed give a push to the business in the coming months. He exclaims that recently, they have also signed a DMC named GE Travel from Azerbaijan and are diligently working on it. Under the supervision of Gosain, Tourism Enterprises has been standing tall and strong in the market for the past seven years withstanding the changing seasons. They have built great reputation overtime of bringing reliable DMCs to the India outbound market. He elucidates that they maintain clear communication and honest approach with their clients. “I believe that if the customer is well-versed with the product and its value then it will be easier for us to sell our products, so enhancing

their knowledge base is among our main priorities.” In terms of marketing, the company is actively involved in online platforms and local city-based B2B travel trade shows. But personal meetings are still quite crucial for this segment of customers, which is their key thrust area. Expressing his views about the future of destination marketing organisations, Gosain opines, “The destination marketing companies will have several challenges in future unless they move on to a different approach as India is a huge market and it’s not feasible for any DMC to handle business more than their carrying capacity. Thus there it’s a possibility that they may not be interested to keep a destination marketing agency in the coming times and only maintain their existing business on their own. Keeping pace with changing times, we have to be more innovative and eye more opportunities by expanding the scope of activities rather than relying on existing business.” Concluding on a positive note, he assures that there’s no immediate threat as immense growth opportunity is in outbound tourism from India currently and there are also a vast range of new destinations across the globe that will enter to further capture this market.

Thailand welcome its 38.26 millionth tourist to the Kingdom Thailand welcomed its 38.26 millionth tourist to the Kingdom on December 20, a record high for the country that surpasses last year’s 38.17 million arrivals. Travelling from Mumbai, India, Devanshi Deepak Kesaria along with three friends arrived on Spice Jet flight SG081 at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to a pleasant surprise. The group travelled to Thailand for the first time, with plans to enjoy travel experiences in Bangkok and Pattaya. After clearing immigration, she was invited to

a welcome ceremony and was greeted by senior officials and VIPs from Thailand’s tourism industry, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Suvarnabhumi Airport, Immigration Bureau and Thai Airways International.

Tanes Petsuwan, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications said, “On behalf of TAT, I am delighted that Thailand remains the preferred destination among world travellers and has once again achieved a new record high number of arrivals this year

with already 38.26 million arrivals as of December 20. “But the good news is still to come. Thailand is expected to welcome the 39 millionth tourist on December 27, or in a week from now.” A ‘Luckiest Visitor’ jacket was presented to Devanshi in addition to a certificate commemorating the occasion, round-trip economy air tickets for two between her original destination and Thailand valid for one year and a five-night accommodation voucher.

She also received gifts and

souvenirs from representatives from Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Thai Tourist Police, and Immigration Bureau. She was then whisked away to their hotel in Bangkok in an exclusive airport limousine provided by Thai Airways International. TAT and the public and private sector partners initiated the “Thailand’s Luckiest Visitor, The Amazing Smashing Success” project back in June 2015, starting with welcoming the 13 millionth tourist. The project has since been carried on every year.

Ravi Gosain Kumar Utkarsh

16 JANUARY 2020

WHIMSY LOCALE:Marvel at the breath-taking architecture of Dubai Marina, take a dip in the Arabian Gulf and experience the world class dining and night life options all just a short walk from the hotel. Surrounded by the waters of the world's largest man-made marina, the hotel provides convenient access to famous landmarks and top attractions such as Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Mall, Emirates Golf Course, Palm Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab.

THE ASSORTMENT OF GASTRONOMY:The hotel offers a tantalising selection of bars and restaurants including The Blacksmith Smokehouse which offers authentic South

American smoked meats, while the Italian restaurant Alloro serves up traditional Italian favorites in an ambient setting. Hello Café is the perfect option for grabbing a coffee on the go and Chillz Bar is a rooftop pool bar the offers light bites and refreshing beverages.

BRACE YOURSELF FOR BLESIURE:If you need to plan a successful meeting or event look no further than Wyndham Dubai Marina. Renowned for its catering and event management, the upscale property can host events and celebrations of all descriptions. When there’s time for leisure, guests can enjoy a pampering session at the Dreamworks Spa, unwind at the sauna and steam room or enjoy a dip in the rooftop pool.

Experience accessible luxury at Wyndham Dubai Marina with stays in their 495 well-appointed rooms and suites. From the moment you step into the spectacular marble lobby, you’ll know you’ve chosen somewhere special. Situated in the heart of Dubai Marina, one of the city’s most vibrant locations, the hotel offers guests the perfect opportunity to explore land and water.

COMFORT PERFECTEDWYNDHAM DUBAI MARINA

18 JANUARY 2020

Report

Global hotel rate rise of one to three per cent and airfare increase of one to two per cent: BCD Travel’s 2020 Industry Forecast

Global hotel rates will increase by one per cent to three per cent and airfares by one

per cent to two per cent in 2020, according to a business travel management company BCD Travel’s newly released 2020 Industry Forecast. The increase in global hotel prices is being driven by solid demand keeping occupancy high in most regions. Rate increases will be higher in Asia—particularly Japan, host of the 2020 Summer Olympics, and Vietnam, where both leisure and business travel demand is strong.

Meanwhile, airlines will raise average fares in most markets to help offset higher fuel and labour costs. Globally, average ticket prices are expected to rise between one per cent and two per cent in 2020. The latest edition of BCD Travel’s

annual report on what’s ahead for business travel also analyses individual regions. Among the findings:

• Hotel rates in North America will climb two per cent to four per cent in the U.S. and Canada and zero per cent to two per cent in Mexico

• Hotels will keep adding new properties in Asia, but demand will continue to outstrip supply. Rates will rise by two per cent to four per cent

• Strong demand in Europe will push meetings costs up three per cent to four per cent

• Meetings costs also will increase sharply in Sydney and Auckland, New Zealand.

• Regional airfares will rise by three per cent in Latin America as demand recovers.

• Airfares will rise one per cent to two per cent on regional routes in Africa, with higher increases on flights between the continent’s fastest-growing economies.

• Uber’s bid to buy Careem could create a dominant ride-hailing

force in the Middle East.“As we approach 2020, corporate

travel buyers face the prospect of a slowdown in advanced economies, while the performance of emerging markets improves,” said Mike Eggleton, Director of Research & Intelligence for BCD Travel. “We believe this will restore the traditional growth gap that had recently narrowed between mature and emerging markets.” As an example, Eggleton cited BCD’s assumption that the North American economy will expand by 1.6 per cent while Asian growth will be much stronger, possibly as high as 4.5 per cent. Slower global economic expansion has resulted in weaker growth in demand for air travel year over year. Despite this, demand will be strong enough for airlines to

raise fares in most markets to help offset higher fuel and labour costs. Air capacity expansion will limit fare increases—with some exceptions. In China and India, strong demand, competitive changes and regulatory developments will lead to higher fares.

Globally, average air ticket prices for intercontinental travel in both business and economy classes are expected to rise one per cent in 2020. Intercontinental business class fares will be flat in Latin America and will fall one per cent in Southwest Pacific, where increased competition on transpacific routes will drive down prices. In 2020, economy fares for regional flights are expected to rise by one per cent, while business class fares will increase by two per cent. Average ticket price increases

will range one per cent to three per cent across the regions. The sharpest increase, at three per cent, will be for flights within Asia and Latin America as demand recovers. In Europe, regional economy fares should remain flat because of low-cost carrier competition.

Hotel demand will boost occupancy rates in 2020, resulting in average daily rates (ADRs) increasing by one per cent to three per cent. Asia will see hotel rate increases averaging two per cent to four per cent as demand outpaces supply. Latin America will have the lowest ADR increase at zero per cent to two per cent, as demand in the region slowly recovers from a period of weakness.

The 2020 Industry Forecast provides travel and procurement managers with projected prices, insights and guidance to prepare for new sourcing strategies, supplier negotiations and budgeting. In addition to providing global supply, demand and pricing trends for the air, hotel, ground transportation and meetings categories, the Industry Forecast includes in-depth reports on Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Southwest Pacific. A global economic overview includes a focus on travel risk and security.

TIDEALLIC LOCATION Located only two kilometres from the globally-reputed Taj, in the heart of Agra and yet free from its din and bustle, Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Agra is just seven kilometres away from the airport and three from the nearest railway station. This five-star resort, spread over eight landscaped acres, caters with utmost efficiency to the multifarious needs of the corporate travellers as well as the business clientele.

MAXIMISING MEETINGSDefining the perfect example of ‘bleisure’ in the northern slice India, the property boasts of a vast alternative for hosting mid- to big-scale conferences and social events, thus offering the corporate with a plethora of amenities and choices to choose from to have the conference of their need and desire. With more than 5000 sq.ft area, overlooking green lawns and water bodies, the freshly renovated ‘Shehnaz Hall’ has two sections with state-of-the-art interiors, customised menus to exquisite décor. With

impeccable service, the Shehnaz Hall provides an ideal setting for any and every major event, weddings and conferences. The cosy ambience inside the hall offers a welcoming respite to help one get the most out of the meetings. Followed by this and situated at the lobby level, the 2940 sq. ft. outsized ‘Akbar Hall’ offers an expansive array of options so one can plan seamless meetings, events, weddings and get-togethers of any size.

Followed by this is the ‘Mariyam Hall’, a relatively small banquet space with around four pillars while the ‘Tower Hall’, of around 2184 sq.ft. the area is situated at the lobby level, ideal for those in search of a private and intimate venue, which may also be used in conjunction with the property’s other meeting spaces. Additionally situated on the mezzanine floor, this comfortable ‘Arjumand’ room is ideal for board meetings up to 35 people with an in-built LED TV, LCD projector/screen and has all the attributes of a comfortable and cosy atmosphere. The second ‘Board Room’, again

situated on the mezzanine floor is ideal to accommodate 12 people with a built-in LED television and for comfortable handling of a lighting system with remote-controlled features.

NURTURING NUPTIALS Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Agra understands that a wedding is a momentous chapter in the book of life. It is an exclusive celebration and the lawns and patio are adaptable spaces that can be moulded to suit wedding celebrations and other functions that will encompass everything

that you would expect of a dream wedding. Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Agra is the ideal venue for international and regional conventions, conferences, exhibitions, seminars and concerts. The ‘Shehnaz Hall’ has an integrated support system providing state-of-art facilities serviced by a dedicated and experienced team. The hotel’s dedicated events team pulls out all stops to host a destination wedding that sets the benchmark. The hotel is reputed to plan a grand wedding at Agra where every detail is handled with flair. Re-live the glamour of a bygone era during a lavish stay at Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Agra as the hotel is an ultimate gastronomic destination offering international cuisines ranging from Mughlai, Continental and Chinese. The bar pours rare spirits, hand-crafted cocktails, fine wine and champagne. Special social events’ or conferences’ packages are tailor-made for companies or clients, which would include exclusive theme evenings such as Mughal, Brij, Hyderabadi, Avadhi, to name a few.

HOTEL CLARKS SHIRAZ, AGRAThe supreme blend of warmth and magnificence

For over five decades, Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Agra has been synonymous with world-class hospitality, delivered with the warm touch of service and grandeur. Having the honour of serving several

distinguished guests, this five-star luxury hotel, which combines business with pleasure, style with substance along with form with function, takes the definition of lavishness to a notch higher as it

overlooks the mighty Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, presenting an utmost fine example of providing bliss during work

TRADE

Hotel Feature

JANUARY 2020 19

20 JANUARY 2020

News

Henan Provincial Culture and Tourism Department showcases its latest developments and various offerings at an event in New Delhi

Maldives welcomes 1.5 millionth tourist of 2019

Henan has a rich culture and history dating back to thousands of years. Henan is the birthplace of the Chinese nation and civilisation. Henan is also the birthplace of the famous martial arts the Shaolin Kung Fu. Shaolin Kung Fu originated from the Shaolin Temple of Henan province. Over 200 emperors from over 20 dynasties have built their capitals in the Henan province and have left Henan with numerous cultural relics. The premium

integrated destination met potential agents in Delhi to present its latest developments and various offerings in Henan’s hidden gem with a thrilling performance of Shaolin Kung Fu staged at The Leela Palace, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi on December 23, 2019. Zhang Jianxin, Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in India, Ashwani Sharma, TAFI and representatives from China Airlines, China Southern Airlines and China

Eastern Airlines were present at the event

“Henan is one of the best places to experience China’s long history and rich culture,” said Song Liping, Director General of Henan Provincial Culture and Tourism Department. She added, “We sincerely welcome Indian friends to come to Henan to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery and to understand more about Chinese history and culture.” Liping noted that four out of China’s top eight ancient capitals are situated in

Henan, which are Luoyang, Kaifeng, Anyang and Zhengzhou. Meanwhile, it’s also the birthplace of world-famous Shaolin Kung Fu. She also mentioned that in June this year, Henan province and Indian Embassy in China jointly held China-India cultural exchange exhibition under the theme of ‘When Kung Fu meets Yoga’. Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India and there will be celebrations with 70 events to deepen bilateral exchanges in every field between two countries.

The Maldives welcomed the 1.5 millionth tourist of 2019. The event was held at Velana International Airport. The 1.5 millionth tourist Marina Kazakova arrived from Aeroflot Airline SU320. She was received by officials of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), together with the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives

Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), Maldives Immigration and representatives of the Maldives tourism industry. The commemoration of the event started with the stamping of the 1.5 millionth tourist’s passport by the Maldives Immigration officer. Marina Kazakova and her husband were escorted with a

traditional Maldivian Bodu Beru performance to the VIP lounge area. They were welcomed by the Ali Waheed, Minister of Tourism, Thoyyib Mohamed, Managing Director of MMPRC, Moosa Solih, Acting Managing Director of MACL, and Chief Guest Ahmed Nazeer, Secretary General of MATI. The venue was decorated for the ceremony and the couple was awarded a congratulatory certificate and special gifts representing traditional Maldivian culture and tourism.

Marina Kazakova and her husband, from Russia, were awarded a complimentary holiday package for six nights sponsored by Mirihi Island Resort

with return tickets sponsored by MMPRC. This is their seventh time to the Maldives. This milestone was achieved 38 days ahead of the estimated time and would not have been achieved without the marketing efforts to promote Maldives within the year. A total of 130 events were held including fairs, roadshows, media FAM trips and joint campaigns among them. By the end of September 2019, a total of 1,251,690 tourists had arrived. This is an increase of 13.68 per cent from the same duration last year, with a total of 1,080,459 tourists. By the end of 2018, more than 1.4 million tourists visited the Maldives.

OUTBOUND

By Team MI

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22 JANUARY 2020

CANADAFor an ultimate winter escapeCanada offers incredible destinations and enjoyable activities, winter is the best time to explore its outdoors. Travellers can watch in awe the unique frozen bubbles on Abraham Lake or frozen Niagara Falls as well as visit Banff National Park or Ice Castles in Edmonton. They can try dog sledding in Canmore, Maligne Canyon ice walk, climb the ice pillars in Haffner Creek and enjoy many more winter activities. Visitors can be a part of winter celebrations such as Festival du Voyageur, Winterlude and Snowking Winter Festival

By Kritika Dua

The stunning and ethereal Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis is commonly seen during winter time but it’s possible to see these Lights in certain provinces of Canada during all four seasons. The best place to see Aurora Borealis in Canada during winter are Yukon and Nunavut. Aurora Village, a teepee village just outside Yellowknife, where you can experience camping, see a fireworks display and enjoy roasted marshmallows. Specially designed for aurora observation, Aurora Village is equipped with spacious wood-stove heated teepees, fur-lined sofas, and warmed viewing capsules that recline.

Overseas

NORTHERN LIGHTS

TRADE

JANUARY 2020 23

Overseas

Every year, Quebec’s Hôtel de Glace is constructed from 15,000 tonnes of snow and 500,000 tonnes of ice for the three-month winter season. With blocks of ice as beds, there are mattresses and sleeping bags in the rooms. It is fun to stay in a room built with ice cosying up by the fireplace. There is a choice of 44 theme rooms and suites. Hot tub under the stars, ice chandeliers, ice sculptures in some of the theme suites which are illuminated by artistic lighting, a frozen chapel, cocktail glasses made of ice and gloves are provided, all of this surely enhance the experience. There’s also an outdoor spa and saunas.

ICE HOTEL

ICE MAGIC FESTIVAL

CARNAVAL DE QUÉBEC

A magical winter experience waits in the spectacular setting of Lake Louise, at Ice Magic Festival ice serves as a fascinating medium of artistry and architectural design. Gaze at the incredible ice carvings taking shape under the craftsmanship of artists from the world over. The lustre of these frozen forms and the iconic ice castle sparkling in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is simply splendid that can be enjoyed throughout Snowdays. Here you can enjoy skating past alluring ice sculptures, a drink at the frozen bar and more.

At Carnaval de Québec you can witness winter jubilation in its full glory where locals and visitors are seen sledding , sliding and feasting in an Ice Palace, parade through the cobblestone streets, race canoes on the frozen river, polar bear swims and dress up for an extravagant masquerade ball.

HIGH ON ICE WINTER FESTIVAL

The High on Ice Winter Festival is an annual celebration held in Fort St. John over the Family Day long weekend. The festival features a variety of winter-themed events including professional ice carving and ice slides in Centennial Park besides other activities such as ice skating, toboggan and snowshoe racing, winter bike demos, sleigh rides, an ice fishing derby, and cultural performances.

News

24 JANUARY 2020

Chief Minister of Punjab Capt. Amarinder Singh recently inaugurated the latest addition to Punjab’s hospitality scene, Welcomhotel Amritsar that promises to further enrich the vibrant tourism landscape of Punjab. He said that the property build around century-old Haveli will further strengthen Punjab’s industry and tourism. Spread across eight acres of manicured greens, the magnificent Welcomhotel Amritsar is centred around a colonnaded mansion, Sandhanwalia Haveli, which traces its origins to the early 1900s and has been lovingly restored with all modern comforts while preserving cultural, architectural and culinary nuances of a splendid era. The splendour of this century-old heritage property which ITC has aesthetically restored is set to redefine the tourism landscape of Punjab and will make a meaningful contribution to the tourism potential of the state. Located close

to the airport and a short drive from Golden Temple ‘Darbar Sahib’, the 101-room hotel blends Amritsar’s famed exuberance alongside the tranquil calm of the rustic Raja Sansi. Historically also known as Ramdaspur and colloquially as Ambarsar, Amritsar is home to The Harmandir Sahib or Golden temple. The exquisite hotel promises to offer an experience of timeless traditions, rejuvenating therapies, curated dining experiences and more at the property that celebrates the warm and joyous spirit of this city.

TRADE HOSPITALITYChief Minister of Punjab Capt. Amarinder Singh inaugurates Welcomhotel Amritsar

Lords Hotels and Resorts forays in North EastLords Hotels & Resorts has recently added a new property in Guwahati, Assam. To be launched under the ‘Eco Inn’ branding, the property is expected to commence operations after implementation of Brand Standards and refurbishment. Lords Eco Inn will feature well-appointed rooms, multi-cuisine restaurant and

a banquet hall. The property is at a distance of 22 km from Guwahati Railway Station and walking distance from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport. Commenting on the occasion Pushpendra Bansal, Chief Operating Officer, Lords Hotels and Resorts said “Guwahati is a gateway to seven sisters in North East and increasingly emerging as a commercial and tourism hub. We see immense potential for business and leisure tourism in Guwahati and are proud to introduce Lords Eco Inn in this region”.

Bhuban Pradhan and Rinchin Droma promoters of Lords Eco Inn, Guwahati further added “It is indeed a pleasure for us to partner with Lords Hotels and Resorts to introduce the first Lords Hotel in North East Region of India. We are proud of the team that has been put together and are confident that our guests are going to be delighted every time they step into this property”.

Anantara Debuts in North Africa with Launch of Anantara Tozeur Resort in TunisiaAnantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has marked its debut in North Africa with the opening of Anantara Tozeur Resort in the southwest of Tunisia. Offering a luxury gateway to ancient cultural and desert wonders, the new-build resort showcases exquisite Arabian and North African design, surrounded by the majestic desert, towering palms and endless salt lake views. World-class facilities include 93 luxurious accommodation options, five dining outlets including an Arabian Cultural Village, an Anantara Spa, a Kids Club, floodlit tennis courts and a fitness club with yoga studio. Commenting on the launch, Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Anantara’s parent company, Minor Hotels, said, “We are so proud to debut our luxury Anantara brand in North Africa with the launch of this spectacular resort in the desert in Tunisia. Anantara Tozeur is truly a world-class resort and will bring new levels of Arabian hospitality and luxury to this stunning country.”

Meliá Hotels Signs Two New Hotels in ChinaMeliá Hotels International continues to maintain its robust momentum in the Asia Pacific Region and announced its further growth in China with the new Meliá Arxan Hot-Spring Resort in Inner Mongolia and Meliá Qinhan New Town in Xi’an, which are expected to open by 2022, expanding the group’s footprint in the country up to 11 properties (five operating hotels and six in the pipeline).

With an hour drive from the renowned Arxan National Forest Park, the Meliá Arxan Hot-Spring Resort is nestled in Arxan, Inner Mongolia. Arxan City is endowed with natural ecological resources and complete tourism infrastructure. It has been awarded as China’s ‘Natural Oxygen Bar’ by China Meteorological Service Association. Arxan is also among the first few National Climate Symbol Cities in China and certified as the first Climate Ecological City in China. The location naturally makes Meliá Arxan Hot-Spring Resort an attractive holiday destination.

News

JANUARY 2020 25

Leisure Inn and Park Regis hotels open in CocobayTwo popular Australian hotel brands have further cemented their expansion into the international market, with Park Regis and Leisure Inn both opening their doors in Vietnam’s premier entertainment destination and tourism mecca - Cocobay, Da Nang. Billed as one of South-East Asia’s ‘must-do’ destinations, Da Nang has been uncovered as the tourism capital of Vietnam, offering a unique beachside setting backed by the breath-taking Marble Mountains and featuring sweeping 360-degree views. The properties, which are part of Global International Hotel group StayWell Holdings, are conveniently positioned between Hoi An and Da Nang beside one of the six most beautiful beaches in the world - serviced by a convenient “Hop On, Hop Off” double-decker bus for hotel guests to explore.

Simon Wan, President and Director of StayWell Holdings said the hotel openings marked key milestones for the organisation’s rapidly growing international portfolio. “Tourism numbers into Vietnam are at an all-time high, as tourists are travelling from all over the globe to get their slice of paradise, including more than380,000 Aussies and 820,000 Japanese last year alone, representing two of the top ten inbound tourist nations for the South East Asia hot spot,” he said.

Lemon Tree Hotels Limited announced its latest signing – a Lemon Tree Hotel in Darjeeling. The Hotel shall be operated through its subsidiary and management arm, Carnation Hotels Pvt. Ltd. The hotel project, owned by SGB Developers Pvt. Ltd., is in the Greenfield stage and is expected to open in September 2022. Located on Hill Cart Road in Darjeeling, the hotel will feature 55 well-appointed rooms and suites, complemented by a multi-cuisine restaurant, a bar, meeting and conference spaces and recreational facilities.

Speaking on the occasion, Rattan Keswani, Deputy Managing Director – Lemon Tree Hotels and Director – Carnation Hotels commented, “We are delighted to enter the charming region of Darjeeling with this hotel. It will be our first hotel in this town, which we feel

holds immense business and tourism potential, with its scenic locales and stunning tea plantations. The addition of this hotel will help expand our reach in West Bengal, where we will be able to offer guests our already operating hotels in Siliguri and Kolkata. It will also add to our repertoire of hotels in the region, which include our existing hotel in Gangtok, and upcoming international launches in Thimphu, Bhutan and Kathmandu, Nepal.”

Lemon Tree Hotels signs new hotel in Darjeeling

Sarovar Hotels & Resorts expands in Andhra Pradesh with RVR Sarovar Portico, DindiSarovar Hotels and Resort announces the opening of a new hotel in the Godavari Delta of Andhra Pradesh. Dindi is in the intersection where the Godavari joins the Bay of Bengal. A destination known for its coconut plantations, serene backwaters, vast lakes and palm-fringed canals making it the ultimate location for a perfect riverside holiday. RVR Sarovar Portico, Dindi has aesthetically designed rooms and Suites, with a view of beautiful lilies and lotus plants. With its gorgeous interiors, The Godavari Banquet hall offers the ideal venue for events of any sort, from weddings to private parties, leisure events to corporate retreats for up to 150 guests. Flavors is RVR Sarovar Portico’s multi-cuisine restaurant which serves popular dishes from around the world along with authentic local delicacies of Dindi. In addition, the hotel has a well-equipped fitness center, Lake view and complimentary Wi-Fi.

The admirers of picturesque scenic beauty and pristine backwaters have

a bounty of options to choose from Antervedi beach to Peruru Heritage Village, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary to Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, surely not to miss a boat ride on the Godavari. Commenting on the development, Anil Madhok, Executive Chairman, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, said “We are delighted to expand our leisure portfolio. Our vision is to deliver uncomplicated travel experience for our business and leisure travellers. We see great growth potential in this market and look forward to offering the best value to business and leisure travellers in sync with Sarovar’s signature hospitality.”

HOSPITALITY

Sowaka Hotel, Kyoto opens to an International AudienceSowaka, a unique 23-bedroom luxury hotel, is now open for international guests. This innovative hotel in the heart of Kyoto is a revolutionary new interpretation of the Japanese ryokan style of accommodation, skilfully blending centuries of tradition with an exquisite contemporary finish.

Sowaka was created through the meticulous renovation of a century-old sukiya-style building. The hotel is centrally located in Kyoto’s famous geisha district, Gion, known for its Buddhist temples, lush gardens, ancient shrines and picturesque cobbled alleys – a place where geisha glide effortlessly through the streets and history is embedded in the city’s very foundations. The hotel is ideally located just steps from the bustling Yasaka Shrine and minutes from some of the city’s most famous landmarks and heritage sites.

26 JANUARY 2020

News

AVIATIONAir passenger traffic to drop to a six-year low in 2020: ICRA

Vizag may soon get back its flight connectivity to Bangkok

Domestic air passenger traffic growth is expected to reduce to a six-year low of 4.5 per cent in fiscal 2020 after five years of double-digit growth, according to ICRA. The temporary suspension of operations by Jet Airways, the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and technical issues with the Airbus A-320 New Engine Option (NEO) have impacted the industry’s capacity and passenger growth, ICRA said in its recent study.

The study also pointed out that many domestic airlines are focusing on expanding their international routes and fiscal 2020 will witness a muted domestic capacity growth, as measured by available seat kilometre (ASKM) of about three per cent during the fiscal. While the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price has been benign in the current fiscal, the yields continue to be under pressure. Coupled with rupee depreciation, this has squeezed the Revenue per Available Seat Kilometre — Cost per Available Seat Kilometre spread — exerting significant pressure on airlines’ operating profitability.

Gulf Air and Turkish Airlines expand codeshare partnershipGulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Turkish Airlines announce a codeshare expansion following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two airlines. Gulf Air will place its ‘GF’ code on Turkish Airlines’ flights from Bahrain to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and from Istanbul Airport to Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen,

Munich, Berlin, Zurich and Thessaloniki. On the other hand, the agreement will see Turkish Airlines place its ‘TK’ code on Gulf Air’s flights from Bahrain to Dubai, Faisalabad, Multan, Sialkot and Manila.

Back in November 2017, Gulf Air signed the main codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines which doubled the travel opportunities for Gulf Air and Turkish Airlines passengers with

two jointly operated daily flights between Bahrain and Istanbul at the time. Today, Gulf Air connects the Kingdom of Bahrain and Turkey with double daily flights as well as a third frequency which is operated by Turkish Airlines.

According to recent reports, the city of Visakhapatnam (Vizag) may soon get its direct flight to Bangkok back over the next few months. A few months ago, Thai Air Asia decided to withdraw its direct flight to Bangkok. According to members of the Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers’ Association (APATA), in a meeting with representatives of SpiceJet, the need for a direct flight to Bangkok was discussed. K Vijay Mohan of APATA said, “Loads to Bangkok were at 79 per cent when Air-Asia withdrew its flight. The flight was withdrawn because of wrong revenue management by the airlines as the tickets were sold at a cheap rate and losses were incurred. Hence, it was suggested at the meeting to not sell tickets at low fares and have a fare of around INR 12,000 to 14,000.”

Lufthansa airlines carried 10.4m passengers in November’19The Lufthansa Group airlines welcomed around 10.4 million passengers on board during November, marking a decrease of 2.3 per cent compared to the previous year’s month due to declining passenger numbers on flights within Europe. The available seat kilometres were 1.4 per cent lower than in the previous year. At the same time, sales increased by 1.3 per cent. Also as compared to November 2018, the seat load factor increased by 2.1 percentage points to 80.2 per cent. Cargo capacity increased by 2.3 per cent year-on-year, while cargo sales decreased by 1.8 per cent in revenue tonne-kilometre terms. As a result, the cargo load factor showed a corresponding reduction, decreasing by 2.7 percentage points to 65.4 per cent.

It is believed that Network Airlines including Lufthansa German Airlines, SWISS and Austrian Airlines carried around eight million passengers in November – 0.8 per cent less than in

the prior-year period. While the number of passengers on flights operated by network airlines within Europe (incl. domestic flights) declined, the number of passengers on flights to and from Asia remained the same and increased from and to America, the Middle East and Africa. Compared to the previous year, the available seat kilome tres increased by 0.1 per cent in November. The sales volume was up by 2.4 per cent over the same period, with an increasing seat load factor by 1.9 percentage points to 80.5 per cent.

News

JANUARY 2020 27

Delta Air to start direct India flights; signs agreement with Vistara Airlines American carrier Delta Air Lines, which is soon starting its direct flights to India after a decade this Christmas eve, has signed an interline agreement with Vistara and is open to looking at other commercial agreements, a senior executive said. The flight to India “fills the last remaining hole in our worldwide network,” said Jimmy Eichelgruen, Director - Sales for India, Africa and the Middle East, for the Atlanta-based airline. He added that around 1.3 million people travel between the US and India (one way), every year. Air India and United Airlines are the only two other carriers offering direct flights between India and the US.

Delta will now connect New York to Mumbai on daily flights starting December 24, 2019. The flights will take off at 12:55 am from Mumbai and land at the JFK airport, New York at 6:35 am. A passenger landing at that time would have connections to more than 50 US cities on Delta flights in the subsequent four hours, as per the official announcements.

Boeing suspends its 737 MAX’s production

Boeing said it has decided to prioritise the delivery of stored aircraft and temporarily suspend production on the 737 programmes beginning in January following certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) moving

into 2020. Throughout the grounding of the 737 MAX, Boeing has continued to build new aeroplanes and there are now approximately 400 aeroplanes in storage, said a statement from the aircraft manufacturer.

“We have previously stated that we would continually evaluate our production plans should the MAX grounding continue longer than we expected,” it added. As a result of this ongoing evaluation, the report further stated, “It is our plan that affected employees will continue 737-related work or be temporarily assigned to other teams in Puget Sound.” As Boeing has throughout the 737 MAX grounding, “keep our customers, employees and supply chain top of mind as we continue to assess appropriate actions. This will include efforts to sustain the gains in the production system and supply chain quality and health made over the last many months.”

Air France-KLM firms up order for 60 Airbus A220sThe Air France–KLM Group has firmed up an order for 60 Airbus A220-300 aircraft to modernise its single-aisle fleet. The aircraft is intended to be operated by Air France. “We are glad to see that Air France is endorsing the A220 as a great step towards fleet optimisation for large network carriers. The largest Airbus A220 order from a European carrier to date speaks volumes on Air France’s ambitious sustainability drive,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). “The modern and fuel-efficient Airbus A220 will contribute to lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions significantly compared to older generation aircraft. We thank Air France for the confidence placed in Airbus and for its investment in our latest technology aircraft,” he added.

Air France-KLM currently operates a fleet of 159 Airbus aircraft.

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market; it delivers significant fuel efficiency and wide-body passenger comfort in a single-aisle aircraft. The A220 brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer at least 20 per cent lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft.

AVIATION

Oman Air announces the partnership with Booking.comOman Air will now deliver easy access to millions of accommodation choices and a new opportunity to earn frequent flyer miles through its partnership with Booking.com. To celebrate this new partnership, members of Sindbad, Oman Air’s award-winning frequent flier programme, will earn triple miles for accommodations made on hotel bookings through Oman Air’s website by December 31, 2019, and completed by March 31, 2020. Paul Starrs, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Oman Air said, “We

are delighted to welcome Booking.com as a valuable new partner and make it easier for our guests to create the journeys of their choice while adding substantial value to Sindbad, our award-winning frequent flier programme. This is one more partnership initiative that improves our guests’ travel experiences by offering an exceptional range of choices and frequent flyer miles, in addition to expanding our reach by targeting new customers by working with industry-leading partners.”

28 JANUARY 2020

Homeward

UTTARAKHAND Where dreamland is rightfully exhibited on soil

Bordering Nepal and Tibet and set amidst the mountains of the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, the versatile state of Uttarakhand rises from the fertile sub-Himalayan plains. The region is noticed

to have its distinct languages and cultures and successive deep river valleys shelter to fascinating micro-civilisations, where Hinduism and Buddhism meet animism, thus gathering an increasing

nature and religion-prone travellers. MICEInsiders brings a whole new list of destinations and alternatives that one may experience in the rich land of the Garhwal

By Team MI

At a distance of 16 km from Joshimath, 56 km from Badrinath, 262 km from Rishikesh, 304 km from Dehradun and approximately 495 km from Delhi, Auli is a delightful hill station in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is considered as one of the best ski resorts in India and one of the top tourism destinations of the state for adventure sports and activities. Known for its snow-clad environs and panoramic views, Auli is one of the best places preferred by many Indians. Auli, also known as Auli Bugyal (which means meadow in Garhwali) is located at an average altitude of 2,800 m in the Garhwal Himalayas. Skiing in Auli attracts a large number of tourist and has been the venue of Skiing Festivals since 1986. Today, it also hosts national championships, organised by Winter Games Federation of India, in February and March.

AULI

TRADE

Uttarakhand is a salver of numerous overlooked or never-seen-before regions that now requires serious attention for revealing its preserved beauty of nature and one such spot in Uttarakhand is Chopta. It is an unspoiled natural destination lying in the lap of the Uttarakhand Himalayas that offers views of the imposing Himalayan range including Trishul, Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba. It is located at an elevation of 2,680 metres above sea level. Chopta village is surrounded by forests of pine, deodar and rhododendron and is rich in flora and fauna include rare species of birds and musk deer. Noted as a small region of meadows and evergreen forest area, attached as a part of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Chopta can be considered as a serene hamlet acting as a base for trekking to Tungnath, third temple of Panch Kedar, which lies 3.5 kilometres away from the hub.

CHOPTA

UTTARKASHI

At a distance of 64 km from Nainital, 50 km from Ranikhet, 357 km from Dehradun and around 364 km from Delhi, the scenic hill station in the Almora district are famous hill resorts in Uttarakhand. Almora lies at an altitude of 1,651 m, amidst the southern part of the Kumaon Hills. It is one of the popular hill stations near Delhi and also of one of the top tourist places in Uttarakhand. Almora is located on a five km long horseshoe-shaped ridge, the eastern portion of which is called the Talifat and the western one is known as Selifat. The Kosi and Suyal rivers run alongside the town adding to the beauty of the place. Considered as the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Almora got its name from ‘kilmora’, a short plant found in the nearby region, which was used for washing the utensils of Katarmal Temple. Almora has been an important location for shooting Bollywood movies because of its exquisite landscape.

Uttarkashi, meaning Kashi of the north, is a petite town in Uttarakhand that is also the district headquarters of Uttarkashi district. Uttarkashi is situated on the banks of river Bhagirathi at an altitude of 1,158 m above sea level. It is generally known as a holy town close to Rishikesh and is home to several ashrams and temples. Uttarkashi also houses the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. The very name of the town reflects its similarity to and location the city of Kashi. Similar to Varanasi, the town of Uttarkashi is situated on the Ganges that lies next to a hill named Varunavat, on the confluence of two rivers Varuna and Asi. The town boasts of a ghat named the Manikarnika Ghat and has a temple dedicated to Shiva similar to in Varanasi, in the centre of the town, thus blending the calmness of nature and harmony of pilgrimage.

TRADE

Homeward

ALMORA

JANUARY 2020 29

News

30 JANUARY 2020

ANDREW CRAWLEY American Express Global Business Travel has announced that Andrew (Drew) Crawley will join as Chief Commercial Officer on April 1, 2020, based in London. He is currently Chairman and CEO of Avios Group, the loyalty company owned by International Airlines Group (IAG), and a member of the IAG management committee. Crawley’s previous roles include Chief Commercial Officer of British Airways.

SHYJU TV Sterling Holidays appoints Shyju TV as General Manager of Sterling Munnar. TV brings with him over 19 years of operational experience from hotel industry. He has been associated with Sterling since May, 2016 and his last assignment was with Sterling Thekkady as GM. Prior to this, he has worked for Best Western Resort Country Club, EVM Group of Hotels and Al Sadhara Hotels, Oman.

SUMAN JULKA The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel Delhi has appointed Suman Julka as its Director of Sales and Marketing. Prior to joining The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel Delhi, she was the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Westin Kolkata. With over 20 years of experience, Suman has spent a major part of her career with The Marriott and Hyatt group of Hotels.

RAGINI OJHAOneAbove Destination Management Services appoints Ragini Ojha as its Sales Manager- AP & Telengana. Ojha comes with an experience of 15 years. She started as a part time sales coordinator with TATA teleservices, later entered travel industry as operations executive gradually moving to sales, learnt ticketing, visa and insurance handling, product training and handled HR work as well.

CHIKAKO SHIMIZUAndaz Macau has appointed Chikako Shimizu as its General Manager.In her new role, Shimizu will serve as brand ambassador to bring the lifestyle hotel’s culture to life. She will also proactively promote the Andaz philosophy of providing each guest with an authentic local experience. Shimizu has more than 25 years of experience in hospitality industry.

EDYTA PESZKO Seaside Finolhu appoints Edyta Peszko as its Director of Sales and Marketing. Peszko will be responsible for leading and further improving all aspects of commercial, marketing and brand positioning of Seaside Finolhu. She joins from Minor Hotels, where she held position of Cluster Director of Sales and Marketing at Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli and Naladhu Private Island Maldives.

CARL VOLSCHENK Sheraton Grand Danang Resort appoints Carl Volschenk as its General Manager. A veteran of the Marriott family for nearly 20 years, Volschenk brings an ideal mix of both sales and operations expertise. He started his career with Marriott International with Le Meridien Dubai Complex and has over the past 19 years moved from across a variety of S&M and Operations roles.

SASCHA LENZ Park Hyatt Chennai appoints Sascha Lenz as its General Manager. Originally from Germany, he started his career with Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Lenz’s career with Hyatt began with Grand Hyatt Berlin. He moved to Russia to assist with the opening of Hyatt Regency Ekaterinburg and later transferred to Hyatt’s first Andaz brand hotel at Liverpool Street in London.

APPOINTMENTS

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Taiwan’s growing MICE market enjoys advanced infrastructure, great hotel rates and service excellence… plus WOW tourism experiences to remember! World-class exhibition halls and multi-function convention centres, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and professional support services, are available in all the major cities.

Get ready for a world of fascinating contrasts – where modern and traditional come together with a generous dash of energy and friendly smiles to make this one of your most memorable MICE trips.

Make time for Taiwan!

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Make time for Taiwan. The perfect place to combine business with pleasure

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