Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has said that mega projects being implemented in the UAE are reinforcing the country’s profile globally as a model for sustainable growth. HH Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came as he approved the ‘Dubai Cruise Terminal’ as the main hub for cruise tourism in Dubai. He also attended the signing ceremony of a strategic partnership agreement between Meraas and Carnival Corporation & plc that aims to transform Dubai into a major regional maritime tourism hub. Under the agreement, signed by His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai, Group Chairman, Meraas, and Arnold W Donald, Chief Executive Officer, Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest leisure travel company, the companies will collaborate across several strategic areas including port development, terminal management and new cruise development opportunities at Dubai Harbour and the broader region. Dubai is set to become central to Carnival Corporation’s operations in the region. The agreement mandates Carnival Corporation to assist Meraas in ensuring the cruise terminal meets the highest international standards of the cruise industry, while the relevant authorities will be responsible for security, immigration and customs. The agreement highlights Meraas’ support for Dubai Tourism Vision 2020, which aims to attract 20 million visitors a year to the emirate, and strengthens the company’s contribution to Dubai Plan 2021, the strategic roadmap to establish Dubai among the world’s best cities.  

Marriott Hotels hosted its South Asia Market Place at Westin Gurgaon. Representatives from a total of 53 hotels across the region were present at the event with 120 customers for one-on-one meetings. The customers included travel trade, MiCE agents as well as corporates. Hema Hariramani, Area Director, National Sales- India, Marriott International said, “We started this concept last year. The first edition of  South Asia Marketplace was held last year in November and we started with JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity. We saw overwhelming response over there and the latest edition happening at Westin Gurgaon for the first time again is bigger and better, because we have changed the format a little bit. Last year we started with the trade in the morning and then we went on to one-on-one meetings, which was only for two hours. However, after doing a survey and customer feedback as well as discussion with internal partners, we were told to have more time for one-on-one meetings, and hence we have extended the time for the same to three and a half hours and everybody has liked this format and has been well received. We will make more changes in it next year and hope to make it bigger and better.”

Tourism Fiji will have a refreshed Matai specialist programme with enhanced tools for agents with a more dynamic interface that will be launched soon. Revealing this is Seema Kadam, Country Manager – India, Tourism Fiji, who adds, “We are already in the process of doing a lot of trade and consumer engagement programmes via our key stakeholders, and through conducting  trade trainings and trade famils. We are also keen to work on B2C platforms like radio, television and host bloggers and travel journalists on a famil which will help spread awareness about Fiji’s offerings.” Fiji started the year with the announcement of its Brand Ambassador actor Ileana Dcruz and the appointment of Kadam as the Country Manager for India. “The focus for 2018 is both on driving awareness of the destination through the B2C medium as well as driving conversions with our trade partners. We have a comprehensive trade calendar planned to achieve this in 2018,” she adds.

Yatra Online, Inc and Chrome River Technologies, Inc a global provider of expense management and supplier invoice processing software, have announced an agreement to deliver streamlined, integrated expense automation solutions for companies based out of India. Yatra will resell Chrome River EXPENSE as part of an integrated travel booking and expense management solution with Yatra’s Self Book platform. Chrome River EXPENSE will empower Yatra’s corporate customers to better enforce expense policies, provide an optimal traveler experience, and reduce wasteful spend. Commenting on the partnership, Dhruv Shringi, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Yatra Online, Inc said, “As we continue to grow in the corporate travel segment, we are teaming up with Chrome River, to further drive efficiencies in travel bookings by automating the expense management process. The depth and reach of its network and solutions is unparalleled in the industry. Our technology platforms complement each other, and together we will offer services best suited to the needs of Indian travellers to ultimately enhance their travel booking experience. We look forward to growing with Chrome River.” “India is one of the fastest-growing business travel markets, and corporate travel spending is increasing at 12 per cent per year, which is more than double that of the U.S. and almost five times the growth seen across Europe. This growth, combined with a need for many Indian companies to improve business processes in areas such as travel booking and expense management, offers an excellent opportunity for Chrome River and Yatra,” said Alan Rich, CEO, Chrome River.

Nirupa Shankar, Director, Brigade Hospitality, has become the Face of the Future. As an entrepreneur, Shankar has been instrumental in launching five hotels, with 12 more in the pipeline. She has been associated with the company for eight years and has tremendously contributed to its growth. Apart from hospitality, she oversees the office of Public Relations and Innovations for the group. She recently completed a triathlon, half marathon and swimmathon and is also trained as a six sigma Black Belt. Her industry experiences are strongly underscored with education; she is an Economics graduate with a Master’s degree in Hospitality.

Vivek Kumar, Managing Director, Clarks Brij Hotels, Pride Hospitality and Brijrama Hospitality, also bagged the DDP Trailblazer award. An astute businessman and philanthropist, with the mind of a creative thinker, Kumar comes from a family steeped in retail, textile and hospitality. In 1935, his grandfather established one of the first five-star group of hotels in India, as well as the Indian Textiles Company. He diversified his grandfather’s company into unchartered territories by establishing a manufacturing unit and has been instrumental in the establishment of renowned global retail brands.

Ronaldo Colaco, Owner, Clarks Exotica Convention Resort & Spa, Bengaluru received the DDP Trailblazer award. An NRI based in Dubai, Colaco started his career in Oman in 1975 as an accountant and then moved on to become a financial controller. He also held some key positions in the past; he was Commercial CEO for a consortium of three multinational corporates based in Greece, Germany and Italy. Apart from being a successful entrepreneur, he is also a pioneer in providing infrastructure facilities for the public. Many MNCs and corporates have followed his footsteps to carry out their CSR activities. In 2015, Colaco was awarded the International Recognition Award for Leadership in Service Excellence from the office of The Prime Minister of Australia.

Raj Andrade, Vice President—Business Development, Marketing & Strategy, Bangalore International Airport, becomes the DDP Game Changer this year. Having spent three decades in aviation management and leadership, Andrade is a veteran of the aviation industry. From being a key start-up member of Star Alliance, he was subsequently appointed to the One World Alliance Management Team. Andrade joined Bangalore International Airport in 2013 and today, he is responsible for the development of the airline network—passenger and cargo business, aviation services, general aeronautical business strategy and development of the airport. He also heads the brand and marketing functions of the airport.

Sherif Salman, Chairman, Sherif Travel & Cargo Services, has been conferred the Gallery of Legends trophy at the India Travel Awards South. Having taken over the reins of the company from his father, Salman started his job in the company as a cashier before venturing into Sales & Marketing. He then went on to lead the company to new heights on which the company continues to grow till date. Sherif Travel and Cargo Services has been awarded the highest revenue contributors by British Airways, Lufthansa, Air India, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. From Chennai, he expanded the company, developing a strong PAN India network and has been instrumental in growing the tourism industry over the years.

The fifth edition of India Travel Awards South concluded on May 14 at Clarks Exotica Convention Resort & Spa, Bengaluru amidst the presence of stalwarts of the travel and tourism industry. The Chief Guest for the ceremony was Kumar Pushkar, an IFS officer and Managing Director, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation. Anita Mishra, Gladrags Mrs India Maharashtra 2018, was the guest of honour for the occasion. The India Travel Awards South recognises the hard work and effort put in by regional industry players to grow the tourism and hospitality industry. The awardees are selected based on a non-biased system of voting.