The Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), proudly announces the Indian team for the upcoming WorldSkills Competition 2024, scheduled to take place in Lyon, France, from 10 to 15 September. THSC conducted extensive competitions across the country, leading to the selection of 102 top competitors in the hospitality skill categories of Bakery, Cookery, Restaurant Services, Patisserie and Confectionery, and Hotel Reception. Competitors from various regions demonstrated exceptional skills through multiple selection rounds to earn their place in the IndiaSkills National Competition. To represent India at the WorldSkills Competition, these candidates underwent a rigorous selection process, including 16 hours of hands-on competitions. The finalists were chosen during the IndiaSkills 2024 – National Competition for Hospitality Skills in Delhi. The primary goal of these competitions was to identify and nurture the right talent. Each finalist is being trained and mentored by a dedicated expert from the skill management team, providing specialized training to ensure the competitors are well-prepared to represent India on the global stage. “Our aim is to offer a platform for young professionals to showcase their talents and skills, contributing to the growth of the hospitality industry. By competing on a global stage like WorldSkills, these individuals not only bring pride to our nation but also set a benchmark for excellence in hospitality. We are committed to providing them with the best training and mentorship to ensure they are fully prepared to meet the high standards of this prestigious competition. Their success will inspire future generations and reinforce India’s position as a leader in skill development,” said Rajan Bahadur, CEO, THSC. The Indian contingent for WorldSkills 2024 includes: Bakery: Sasmita Bardhan …

The vibrant travel industry is abuzz today as TripJack, one of India’s fastest-growing B2B travel platforms, celebrates its travel partners in a grand event in Lalit Hotel, New Delhi to empower them to achieve their financial freedom. The team celebrated the success of their travel partners and recognised their hard work and dedication through their ‘Rewards & Recognition’ event. Hotel Bonanza is a Target vs. achievement rewards program designed to inspire and engage travel agents to exceed their goals by incentivising them to meet specific booking targets, unlocking rewards such as gadgets, vouchers, and TripJack Cash. Under the program, travel agents who have excelled in this campaign were felicitated with rewards like iPhones, gold coins, smart TVs and a lot more. This occasion is a testament to the company’s dedication to its travel agent community, offering rewards, incentives, and unmatched support. This event marks the culmination of the Hotel Bonanza Scheme, launched during the peak travel season in June and July. In a conversation with TravTalk, Vishal Lagad, Vice President, Sales & Strategy and Abdul Thingna, Vice President, Hotels & Holidays, TripJack, said, “We believe in empowering our travel agents and providing them with seamless tools and opportunities. This event is about honouring their hard work and celebrating their success.”

Pradeep Shetty, President, HRAWI & FHRAI won the DDP Trailblazer award at the India Travel Awards. Upon receiving the award, he said, “Awards like these play a vital role in boosting the morale of the younger generation and inspiring them to consider careers in hospitality. This recognises the efforts made by the hospitality industry at large, by the owners and associations, all of whom are behind me and supporting me. It also inspires us to do much more.”

Addressing the inaugural session of the 39th IATO Annual Convention that witnessed around 1,200 delegates, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism, GoI, said, “We need to understand the changing needs of tourists and need to develop products and new destinations from the perspective of the people. With growing opportunities, India is going to become the largest market for tourism in the world.”

Keeping with the Indian tourism industry’s objective of positioning India as a global tourism brand, Mugdha Sinha, DG, Tourism, GoI, urged the tourism stakeholders to work together with the government while inviting them to come up with a draft of code of best practices and ethics by 27 September which is ‘World Tourism Day’ so that the MOT will try to adopt it and advertise and popularise it.”

Spain Tourism’s India office invites the travel trade to attend an exciting webinar on Ibiza, its biodiversity and culture as it celebrates 25 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The top scorer of the Ibiza quiz will win a self-drive trip in Ibiza, sponsored by the Ibiza Tourism Board. For more information, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call 9650196532.

SriLankan Airlines turns 45, celebrating a trailblazing journey that took off on September 1, 1979, with just two Boeing 707 aircraft. A pioneer in the region, the airline has always remained resilient in the face of turbulence and has consistently championed true Sri Lankan hospitality globally. Over the years, SriLankan Airlines has proven its versatility in an ever-evolving and testing environment. Today, SriLankan continues to be one of the major international airlines from South Asia, having achieved numerous milestones and accolades along the way. Key Milestones and Achievements: 1979 – Launch of Air Lanka with two Boeing 707 aircraft (1st September) 1979 – Maiden flight to Bangkok on 1st September 1979 – Services are launched to Bahrain, Frankfurt, London, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Paris, Zurich, Madras and Male 1980 – Launch of Air Lanka Catering Ltd 1980 – First Lockheed L1011 Tristar acquired 1984 – Boeing 747-200 acquired 1990 – Air Lanka becomes a member of IATA (International Air Transport Association) 1990 – Three Ilyushin IL-86’s leased to operate mercy flights for Sri Lankans fleeing Gulf War 1991 – First international airline to obtain IATA accreditation for its Centre for Training 1992 – Launched frequent flyer programme “The Serendib Club” 1993 – First Airbus A320-200 acquired 1994 – First Airbus A340 acquired, becoming the first in South Asia to operate Airbus A340 1998 – Enters into a strategic partnership with Emirates 1999 – Air Lanka rebranded as SriLankan Airlines 1999 – First Airbus A330-200 acquired 2000 – Phased out Lockheed Tristars for an all-Airbus fleet 2000 – The cargo arm rebranded as ‘SriLankan Cargo’ and as a separate entity 2000 – SriLankan Cargo launches dedicated freighter service using Antonov AN12F …

Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, won the DDP Game Changer award for playing an instrumental role in propelling Akasa Air to new heights. “This award is a testament to the power of hard work of our company in achieving remarkable milestones and becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines”, he said after receiving the award.

Bintan Resorts in Indonesia has partnered with VFS Global to promote its exciting offerings in the Indian market. The collaboration aims to enhance the visibility and appeal of Bintan Island, positioning it as a top choice for Indian travellers while making it a 2-3 night destination along with Singapore.

Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) Annual Convention is set to kick off in Bhopal today. With over 1,000 participants expected, the convention aims to generate significant takeaways for IATO’s membership, advance inbound tourism for Madhya Pradesh, and enhance the marketing of the state’s destinations in alignment with state government policies.