Category Archives: Associations

IATO President, Rajiv Mehra has said that WhatsApp groups for efficient communication with all members are getting ready and he is hopeful that the first group will be functional in next 72 hours. “It takes time since manual feeding of all numbers has to be done to add members in the group. The data work is being done at the moment and it should be done very soon,” he said. The WhatsApp group for efficient communication with members was one of promise made by the new IATO President.

IATO says that for members who have paid their annual subscription for FY2020-21, membership will be automatically renewed for FY2021-22 and they will not be charged the annual subscription fee. The Association also says that members who have not yet paid their annual subscription for FY2020-21 can pay till March 31 this year or even the next.

Reacting to a social media post by Air India on March 18, Pradip Lulla, Acting President, TAFI, said that the association has written to the national carrier, asking for clarification. The post said, ‘Passengers traveling on AI flights to Rome, Toronto and Vancouver from India may kindly note that booking for these flights will not be available through travel agencies based in India.’

FHRAI and IRCTC have come together to offer hotel accommodations to tourists. The collaboration will allow hotel members of the FHRAI and its Regional Associations to provide their inventory for sale as online Accommodation Partners through the IRCTC tourism website and its associate portal. As part of the special partnering offer, a discount of 2 per cent on the commission payable to IRCTC is offered to the hotel or chain of hotels in the 3-star category or with equivalent facilities.

Vishwas Makhija, President, ATOAI said that the Adventure Travel Operators Associations of India (ATOAI) has reviewed and restructured its sub-committees. “ATOAI Committee Formations have been completed, we need more active participation in our committees as we move ahead.” He also informed about the total revamp of the ATOAI website for which the work has already begun.

Indiatourism Port Blair, in collaboration with Association of Andaman Tour Operators (AATO), has launched ‘India@75’, an industry-led movement which brings together different stakeholders of society to create a morally, economically and technologically advanced country. The programme, called ‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav’ will commence 75 weeks prior to August 15, 2022 – the day independent India turns 75 – and end on August 15, 2023. The programme will also promote 2022 as ‘Visit India Year’ through various promotional campaigns highlighting India’s strengths like heritage, culture, art, wellness and yoga.

TAAI in association with Gujarat Tourism is organising the TAAI Tourism Conclave at Statue of Unity, Kevadia from 9-12 March. The Conclave scheduled today is aimed to bring members together and brainstorm on importance of Domestic travel & new ways & opportunities for the industry. Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI said, “TAAI is constantly involved with the government to establish correct procedures & support our membership to adopt transformation & to continuously improve our ability to explore, achieve & prosper.”

The IATO members today have voted a new team to power for term 2021-23 during the election process conducted physically in New Delhi. Rajiv Mehra, Uday Tours & Travels has been elected as the new President while EM Najeeb, Air Travel Enterprises was voted again as the Senior Vice President of the association. Ravi Gosain, Erco Travels, is the new Vice President. Rajnish Kaistha,  Paradise Holidays India has been elected as the Honorary Secretary while Sunil Mishra, Cosmos Tours & Travels is the new Treasurer. Sanjay Razdan, Razdan Holidays will be the new Joint Secretary of the association. The voting was also conducted for the positions of  Executive Members in both active and allied category. A total of 322 votes were casted out of 352. The new EC Members are: Active: Deepak Bhatnagar, Aamantran Travel Company Manoj K Matta, Oriental Vacations & Journeys Harish Mathur, Concord Travels & Tours Tony Marwah, Indian Travels Promotion Company Vishal Yadav, Incredible Destination Management Service Allied:  P Vijayasarathy, Benchmark Hotels Zia Siddiqui, Alliancec Hotels & Resorts Ashok Dhoot, Harsh Travels The returning officer for the election was Homa Mistry of Trail Blazer Tours India.

The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), has suggested to the Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of the state, to allow chartered flights in the state from ‘safe destinations’ under an ‘air bubble’ agreement to boost tourism. In a memorandum, they have suggested to form travel bubbles with Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, other CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries, the UK, Poland and Finland for commercial flights.

FHRAI has written to Home Minister Amit Shah and Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan,  and has requested for recognition of hospitality workers in the country as ‘Frontline Corona Warriors’ and be nominated for priority vaccination. In its letter, FHRAI stated that hotels and restaurants across the country provided their support to the Government by offering rooms for housing quarantined passengers, doctors, health workers and the police, among others while restaurants served over 3 lakh meals per day to the needy.