Monaco is Modern, Magical and More!

A PIONEER in the field of travel and tourism representation, marketing and media relations with decades of experience and many successful assignments to his credit, Rajeev Nangia, COO, TRAC Representations has developed dynamic national and global alliances for servicing the clients in the most effective manner and has continued to deliver maximum value to clients and contribute towards the growth of travel and tourism.

BW Hotelier spoke to Nangia, who is also India Director for Monaco Government Tourist Bureau, to discuss the growth potential of Monaco in India. He said, “We have worked towards making Monaco as top of the line destination for Indian travellers who are looking for unmatched quality, culture and tranquillity. A perfect blend of heritage with modern culture, the place is apt for destination weddings and luxury experiences. India is an emerging market and currently among the top 20 countries visiting Monaco where people travel from metro as well as tier-II cities.”

Monaco focusses on ‘Green is the New Glam’ in which the destination is being promoted as an eco-friendly destination. The new redesigned website www.visitmonaco.com exhibits images and new innovative tools such as the initiation of the augmented reality plan which will support virtual graphics. “To focus more on this aspect, we will be incorporating interactive video projects that will allow visitors to create paperless and personalised itineraries,” added Nangia.

The government of Monaco has come out with a number of measures to meet targets for sustainability. This includes Michelin-starred Blue Bay restaurant at the Monte-Carlo Bay hotel which grows much of its produce in its onsite kitchen garden run by urban agriculturalists Terra de Monaco. “We intend to project Monaco as world sustainable laboratory so that the other countries can imitate our endeavours,” he said.

Other key initiatives include the recent installation of beehives at the four-star Novotel Monte-Carlo while the iconic Fairmont Monte-Carlo’s entire central heating and air conditioning system is powered by four underground heat pumps, a renewable energy source which draws heat from the seawater surrounding the hotel. New transportation options have made it easier for citizens and tourists to commute on car sharing service like Mobee with 17 bike stations, a solar powered bus boat and a dozen hybrid buses are available to experience the thrill of Monaco’s iconic roads.

According to Nangia, a major challenge in promoting the destination is that most Indian decide at the last minute and it’s difficult to accommodate them due to limited inventory.

This year Monaco is working towards attracting segments like Indian weddings, MICE and high networking travellers. “We hope India to be among the top 15 countries in the next 3 to 5 years,” he said.

Destination Monaco is best suited for MICE activities as it offers world class meeting facilities including, the famed Grimaldi Forum conference and the congress centre. With 300 days of sunshine, Monaco offers a bouquet of quality customization options packed with elegance and excitement for boardroom meetings to big incentives and conferences.

As per the trends, Nangia believes that Indian travellers have become tech savvy and are beginning to book trips online and not through travel agents or even seek social media recommendations. Bollywood continues to influence the potential Indian traveller by means of locations, cultures and trending holiday spots. However, Nangia does not recommend a day trip to Monaco, “As travellers are unable to soak in the vibe of the city so we recommend at least 2-3 nights minimum stay.”