Category Archives: Associations

Baywatch Travels has launched curated sailing experience brand Baywatch Sailzz. Manish Kriplani, MD, Baywatch Travels, announced the new venture, saying, “Baywatch Sailzz is our answer to fresh outdoor experiences, where we offer curated sailing experiences for birthday, dinner, sunrise, sunset cruise and other celebrations. We have our international medallist skipper Chinna Reddy who will assist with the entire experience around Chennai Harbour and the Bay of Bengal.”

Sunil Kumar, President, UFTAA, has said that the association has initiated a concept of Zero Risk with IATA that can protect the agents and airlines from any future risk to either parties. “The current scenario has reflected our unpreparedness to protect the monies of the stakeholders and the customers, owing to the challenges the agencies had to go through. In an evolving scenario, it is time that such a Zero Risk to either of the stakeholders is envisioned through IATA’s governing resolution and we be better prepared to handle such crisis, if it would ever come up in future,” he says. Towards this, all Global Federations of Associations which are part of IATA’s PAPGJC have come together and a working group is getting created with terms of reference of the committee meeting the expectations of all. “This working group will involve representatives of airlines, agency associations, and IATA. This is anticipated to be finalised by January and thereupon the working group can deliberate to plan a great legacy for the future which does not pose any risk or threat to our customers or agencies. We eagerly look forward to this working group to be able to come up with a favourable solution for the industry and its stake holders,” Kumar adds.

TAFI is preparing to hold its elections in January 2021. Pradip Lulla, Acting President & VP, TAFI, says, “We will first hold all our chapter elections followed by our national elections around mid-January. While chapter elections could be held physically, the national committee election could either be virtual or through postal ballot.”

The Board of Enterprising Travel Agent’s Association (ETAA) has decided to waive the annual membership fee for Financial Year 2020-2021. Members who have paid membership fee for three years, valid till March 2021, will get an extension till March 2022. This was announced at ETAA’s virtual AGM on December 18.

Reuniting together, the members of Enterprising Knot of Travel & Tourism Associates (EKTTA) attended a workshop on ‘Facing the new normal’ at the State Convention Center (Lok Seva Bhavan) in Bhubaneswar. The workshop was organised by Odisha Tourism in association with Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.  

Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), in its recent interactive meeting of members, discussed the highlights of the revised guidelines for tourism service providers by MOT. The virtual event saw members discussing the new criteria and their issues with it, including categorisation of tour operators in five categories, inclusion of green shoots/start-ups, MDA scheme eligibility, etc. The EC clarified members’ queries and looks at taking the same to MOT.

Understand eight pieces of the digital puzzle and learn nine new skills to grow your business in 2021 with IATO’s skill development webinar in association with TravTalk today at 11:30 am IST. Lifestyle Entrepreneur & Digital Media Strategist Siddharth Rajsekar will answer queries. To register, contact Jaspreet Kaur at +91-9650196532 or jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

Hotel Association of India (HAI) has launched its State Chapter for Punjab and appealed to the State Government to accord ‘industry’ status to the hospitality sector, thus enabling hotels across the state to avail the benefits towards lower electricity and water tariff, lower property tax, rationalisation of taxes & licence fees, and simplified approval process for hotel projects and hotel operations.

WTTC has urged that international travel can resume using proven processes without waiting for COVID vaccinations. “Waiting for vaccine and making it a requirement for travel will further delay the revival of the already ailing travel and tourism sector,” it said.  

Ravi Gosain, Hony. Treasurer, IATO, has said that the Government should announce a date for reopening of visa applications for India, whether it eventually happens or not. “If they make the announcement, it will be an important step for inbound market, because it would allow people to plan well in advance. If there is a possibility of doing it in March, the should announce it now, of if they think it can open by June-August, they should announce it as soon as possible, so that professionals can work for promotions and plan something,” he advised.