Tag Archives: DDP Game Changer

Manish Kriplani, Managing Director of Baywatch Travels has been honoured with DDP Game Changer award. He joined his mother’s company in 1995 to learn the ropes of the travel industry. His enthusiasm soon saw him conceive the idea of a new company. Kriplani then travelled worldwide to inspect and identify contract suppliers to service the luxury segment and offer travellers bespoke holidays, MiCE facilities as well as destination weddings. He soon got into the online space where clients can book various services on his site at their convenience. He is the Chairman of the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India—Southern region. He is also on the advisory committee of the Australian High commission.

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.

Hanneli Slabber, Regional General Manager, Asia, Australasia and Middle East, South African Tourism, has been honoured with the DDP Game Changer award. An industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality sector, she served as the Country Head of South African Tourism for the India market. Her in-depth knowledge of South Africa’s beautiful landscape and the right kind of destination packaging has led to the creation of many global marketing campaigns, which helped boost travel numbers to South Africa. Slabber began her career in the hotel industry before moving to sales & marketing. With experiences in both inbound and outbound companies, she then moved to South African Tourism.

Mahesh Shirodkar, Managing Director, Tamarind Global has been honoured with the DDP Game Changer award. An industry veteran with 35 years of experience, Shirodkar has been instrumental in shaping the industry from strength to strength. He started his career with Cox and Kings and soon moved to Dubai. Upon his return he set up his own specialised company which was bought over by Kuoni Travels. Post the integration, he took over as the COO of SOTC, the flagship division of Kuoni. His hunger drove him to start his own entrepreneurial venture focusing on MICE, inbound travel, event management and weddings. Conceptualizing and initiating a ‘celebrity management company’ that changed the face of the industry was yet another of his contribution to the trade. He now has 14 offices spanning 5 countries manned by a staff of 350 people.

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet, has been honoured with the DDP Game Changer award. Previously an advisor to the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, he later joined the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Not only did he successfully launch SpiceJet as a budget airline, he returned to the organisation and gave it new-found glory and a new life under his leadership. SpiceJet is now one of the leading domestic airlines in the country and has been growing exponentially ever since.