Category Archives: Agents

VFS Global announces its achievement of securing a rating of 4.01 on a scale of 5 for 2023 on Glassdoor, a leading platform for employee feedback and company reviews. This significant achievement reflects VFS Global’s unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of its people management and human capital development. With an employee value proposition of developing a ‘fellowship of winners’, VFS Global is deeply committed to best-in-class HR practices and to developing every team member to her/his full potential.  The company has continuously invested in training and development and in building an organisation where people come first, and in creating meaningful work opportunities and building successful careers, in a diverse and inclusive workplace. The six parameters on which Glassdoor assesses companies is based on Excelling in Culture & Values, Work/Life Balance, Senior Management, Compensation & Benefits, Career Opportunities, and Diversity & Inclusion. VFS Global has elevated its standing on all of them. VFS Global has set a benchmark in creating an exemplary work culture that resonates with employee satisfaction and empowerment. This recognition not only celebrates the company’s achievements but also solidifies its reputation as an employer of choice in the global marketplace. This rating is even more satisfying as this reaffirms the company’s employee centric policies and its sharp focus on nurturing the potential of its employees as it has always focussed on Learning and Development programmes which is highly appreciated by its workforce. Over the years, the company has also won recognition by winning the Golden Peacock National Training Award four times since 2017 in recognition for its exemplary learning and development practices. The last it won was in 2023. According to Nirbhik Goel, Chief Human Resources Officer, VFS Global, …

At Travel M!CE and Corporate Show, Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com, said, “We have seen 15% increase in our business when we started selling flights, hotels and accommodation together, so bundle products should be recommended for business augmentation.”

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) roped in DreamSetGo as the official travel partner for the Indian Olympic delegation travelling to Paris. The partnership aims to provide services and ground support to Indian delegation ensuring a seamless experience for athletes, their families and federations.

Travel M!CE & Corporate Show at Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre saw over 1600 meetings with top corporate buyers from across the country. At the event, Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com, recommended that bundle products should be offered to corporates to boost business.

Arago Travels, a DMC noted for its expertise in Nordic destinations such as Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, proudly announces its partnership with Ark Travel Group. This alliance is further strengthened by the appointment of Anjum Lokhandwala as Arago Travels’ representative in India. This initiative is an endeavor to extend Arago Travels’ market reach within India, offering agents access to its premium services in the Nordic region. This partnership heralds a new chapter in Nordic travel, enabling Indian travel agents to seamlessly connect with Arago Travels’ extensive service portfolio. Renowned for their specialization in FIT, GIT, scheduled departures, bespoke private tours, and MICE, Arago Travels is well-equipped to cater to the burgeoning interest in unique, tailor-made travel experiences in Iceland and Scandinavia. Yash Vakil & Tejas Vakil, Director and Founder of Arago Travels, underscored their commitment to delivering top-tier travel experiences. “India represents a crucial market segment for Arago Travels. Our partnership with Outbound Konnections (ARK Reps) is a strategic step in introducing our premier luxury travel experiences to Indian travelers. Outbound Konnections (ARK Reps) deep insights into the Indian travel market and their proven proficiency are fundamental to this alliance. We are enthusiastic about the prospects of this partnership in not only broadening our reach in India but also in redefining luxury travel for Indian tourists with our specialized offerings,” they remarked.  This collaboration marks a pivotal expansion for Arago Travels in the Indian travel market. The partnership with Outbound Konnections (Ark Reps) is poised to facilitate easier access and enhance the visibility of the Nordic region’s enchanting destinations among Indian tourists. For further information regarding Arago Travels and its comprehensive range of services, travel agents and partners …

During the IATO Interactive Luncheon Meeting in Delhi, President Rajiv Mehra announced that the association has achieved a substantial increase in its membership, with a rise of over 300 new members. He attributed this growth to one of the reasons: the special rates for hotels that IATO provides to its members.

Applauding the Atal Setu project, Pradeep Shetty, President, FHRAI, says, “As the longest sea bridge in the country, it not only enhances Mumbai’s connectivity but also symbolizes the nation’s commitment to pushing boundaries in engineering excellence. It is poised to transform not only Mumbai’s landscape but also provide an unprecedented boost to tourism in Maharashtra. With improved connectivity, we foresee a significant surge in tourist footfall to Mumbai’s neighbouring tourism destinations like Lonavala, Matheran, Alibaug, Mahabaleshwar and other scenic locales across the state.”

According to latest analysis from WTTC and ForwardKeys, the leading travel data and analytics company, international arrivals in France for the first half of 2024 are at 93% of the same period in 2019, with France cementing its position as the world’s most popular destination. Olivier Ponti, Vice President Insights at ForwardKeys, added: “With flight bookings on the rise and air carriers set to introduce a record number of seats, France enters 2024 in a strong position. “Capitalising on the successful hosting of the Rugby World Cup 2023 and on the growing exposure provided by the upcoming Olympic Games, the country is set to be one of most thought-after destinations this year for both regional and long-haul markets.”

Mahendra Vakharia, Executive Committee Member, Immediate Past President – OTOAI, & MD, Pathfinders Holidays, says that understanding the WHY before a client’s holiday is key to creating a more meaningful and wholesome luxury experience. “Many times we as luxury advisors have to inform the client that what looks good or luxury on social media is not necessarily what will suit you or you may not fit in well in that luxury getup because of the cultural difference, living lifestyle, food habit etc. Luxury should not force you to change just so that you fit into a particular situation,” he explains.

Darshana Seth recently launched her own passion project called ‘Polaris Tourism’ that caters to the high-end (luxury) tourism brands from a representation, sales and marketing perspective. She has partnered with the following ITO/DMCs for the given destinations to help curate aspirational luxury offerings to elite Indian consumers.   CHR Travel: UK + Europe: Adhoc groups/MICE groups etc  CHR Travel has an enthusiastic team with a combined experience of over 40 years, focusing primarily on handling specialised group tours across UK and Europe. CHR provides services catering to leisure groups, Meetings & Incentives groups, Special Interest groups & European Van tours and much more. https://chr-travel.com/   Take Me 2 The World, New Zealand: High End Luxury customers Take Me 2 The World designs itineraries for the free independent traveller (FIT), upto 30 pax high-end family & friends’ groups. TM2TW provide services catering to honeymooners, family travellers & education & sports tours. With their association with Massey University Sports & Rugby Institute and well-known New Zealand sportsman Jacob Oram, TM2TW can organize tours for sports clubs and academies, with a focus on training in different conditions and playing against New Zealand local teams. https://dmc.takeme2theworld.com/   Take Me 2 The World, Wholesalers for Latin America: FIT+ Luxury Covering South and Central America plus Mexico (Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador & Galapagos, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Mexico). https://takeme2theworld.com/