By BW Hotelier ACCORDING TO monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) compiled by Ministry of Tourism, the FTAs during November 2015 were 8.15 lakh as compared to FTAs of 7.65 lakh during November last year and 7.34 lakh in November 2013. There has been a growth of 6.5 per cent in November 2015 over November 2014. FTAs during the period January-November 2015 were 71.03 lakh with a growth of 4.5 per cent, as compared to the FTAs of 67.94 lakh with a growth of 10.5 per cent in January-November 2014 over January-November 2013. The percentage share of FTA in India during November 2015 among the top 15 source countries was highest from USA (15.76 per cent) followed by Bangladesh (12.27 per cent), UK (11.00 per cent), Canada (4.52 per cent), Australia (4.22 per cent), Malaysia (3.43 per cent), Russian Fed. (3.42 per cent), Germany (3.34 per cent), France (2.93 per cent), Sri Lanka (2.89 per cent), China (2.83 per cent), Japan (2.51 per cent), Singapore (2.19 per cent), Nepal (1.77 per cent) and Thailand (1.58 per cent). These top 15 countries account for 74.66 per cent of total FTAs during November 2015. Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism in India during November 2015 were Rs 11,610 crore as compared to Rs 12,988 crore in November 2014 and Rs 11,994 crore in November 2013. The FEEs during November 2015 registered a decline of 10.6 per cent over November 2014 as compared to positive growth of 8.3 per cent in November 2014 over November 2013. FEEs from tourism during January-November 2015 were Rs 1,12,958 crore with a growth of 1.0 per cent as compared to the FEE of Rs 1,11,889 crore with a growth of 15.3 per cent during January-November 2014 over January-November 2013.
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By BW Hotelier THOMAS COOK (India) Ltd., delivered on its aggressive expansion strategy 2015, with a strategic clicks and bricks model to penetrate Tier II & III source markets via its hybrid solution of technology assisted outlets. 33 new consumer centres were set up across the country, including- Amritsar, Ahmednagar, Bareily,- Nellore, Ranchi, Palarivattam, Ludhiana, Valachery, augmenting Thomas Cook’s pan-India distribution reach to 233 locations (including 23 airport counters), supported by a strong partner network of 116 franchise outlets (Gold Circle Partners) and 112 Preferred Sales Agents. Thomas Cook’s internal research has revealed the powerful potential of Middle India: A travel hungry consumer base with a clear need for a trust worthy brand to fulfil their travel aspirations. The Company’s research also reveals that while Indian travelers research online and may buy tickets online, when it comes to complex and expensive transactions like holidays, especially international, they prefer to have a human interface. The McKinsey report reiterates the size and exponential growth of Middle India: currently at 8.8 million households; expected to reach 43.6 million by 2025. Hence, in a strategic move to leverage this untapped market potential, Thomas Cook India’s innovation of leaner, more efficient, technology-assisted outlets was deployed. Thomas Cook’s hybrid technology assisted outlets offer a 3 pronged consumer benefit: 1) Door-step access to a range of holidays and travel related products-services (like foreign exchange, visas, insurance) 2) The reassurance and comfort of a human interface via Thomas Cook’s travel experts 3) Smart technology, ensuring real time access to available inventory coupled with online bookings; equally CRM benefits of seamless customer data for transactions; also tablet apps in key outlets- with critical content like destination info, tour options, day-wise itineraries, visa assistance, etc. Commenting on the strategic expansion, Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., (see photo) said, ’At Thomas Cook India, we foresee significant growth emerging from Middle India and hence were quick to transition to online and online-assisted selling via our focused hybrid omni-channel ’brick and click’ model. Our technology assisted outlets will operate via tablets and mobile apps that enable transactions across the Thomas Cook range of products and services, including domestic and international holidays, flights, hotels, insurance and foreign exchange.’ ’Middle India will continue to be a powerhouse in our success story and our extensive network now offering travel hungry customers enhanced access, convenience and the reassurance of human touch via our Thomas Cook experts, is timed perfectly for our Summer 2016 launch,’ he added.
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By Rashmi Pradhan IN RESPONSE to the changing nature of family travel in Asia, including the rise of multi generational travel and parents’ desires to provide their children with learning experiences even when on vacation, Marriott Rewards, Marriott International’s loyalty program has launched MAX. A new and exclusive kids program which aims to enrich the travel experiences of children through holistic activities. Entitled to the kids of Marriott Rewards Members, MAX is a holistic children’s program that truly elevates the family holiday experience. The program will be available to members staying at participating Marriott International properties throughout the Asia-Pacific region starting from the 21st of this month. Launched in Mumbai at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, over 100 kids, (see photo) whose parents are Marriott Rewards Elite Members, sampled MAX at this exclusive event. Chef Surjan Singh Jolly, Director of Food and Beverage, JW Marriott Bengaluru guided kids in cooking classes creating culinary delights and learning the nutritional value of their products. Sucheta Pal, a master Zumba trainer took kids through a mix of music and dance. Created for children between five to twelve years, MAX is founded on four activity pillars: Be Active offers action-packed sessions, ranging from pool activities to dance lessons; Stay Curious encourages intellectual curiosity with activities such as cooking and arts-and-crafts; Go Explore will appeal to children’s sense of adventure; while Just Relax offers more tranquil pursuits. The four pillars are consistent throughout all offering properties; however, the specific activities will be curated by each property, making the experience authentic to the location and culture. Speaking to BW Hotelier on how the program was evolved, Anka Twum-Baah, Vice President, Customer Loyalty & Content, Asia Pacific, Marriott International, said, ’About a year ago, the Marriott operations team had a question on whether they should do something for children staying at Marriott properties. When I joined Marriott (less than a year ago), we started by asking our members and associates on what are things they expect in a hotel when travelling with kids. We received many interesting feedbacks, however the four pillars of MAX really standout. Based on input from its current members, Marriott Rewards developed this unique program that caters to these evolving demands and offers activities that are both educational and fun, nourishing children’s innate desire to learn and stay active. We are launching MAX with the aim of inspiring children to enjoy a range of memorable experiences that they can share with their family and friends. It is more about a holistic development of a child.’ On asking why India was chosen to launch the program in Asia Pacific, Twum-Baah said, ’In Asia Pacific, the rise of the middle class, changing consumers’ behavior and increase in desire to travel especially in India inspired us to choose India for the launch. India was on top of the lists. India from a population perspective is growing rapidly and is an emerging market and thirdly, we saw a need for such program in India. There are certainly activities in the school but we don’t see activities in the hotels at this level. We looked at a lot of different places but we wanted to do it in a JW Marriott hotel that was important to us. It was important to have it in a place that has vibrant and rich culture and a hotel that was supportive. We have always received great support from the India team.’ Similar events will be organized in Hong Kong and Thailand By introducing MAX, Marriott Rewards aim to exceed the high expectations parents have when they choose a hotel for their family vacation. Providing children with enriching experiences has a positive effect on their lives. Twum-Baah added, with MAX parents are assured that their children’s sense of curiosity and desire to learn about their surroundings will be encouraged and celebrated. She informed, ’We were contemplating whether to keep the upper limit to 13 or 15 years but after having discussions with them we released that child in their teens don’t want to get associated with kids program.’ The MAX program roll-out will begin at resorts of all brands and JW Marriott Hotels in Asia Pacific and continue to all other hotels in the Marriott International portfolio with the exception of The Ritz-Carlton and Bvlgari brands. The MAX programme extends to 43 hotels across Australia, Greater China, India, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. In India JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru, JW Marriott Hotel Chandigarh, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai Sahar, JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity, JW Marriott Hotel Pune and Goa Marriot Resort & Spa.
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By BW Hotelier ABSOLUTE HOTEL Services India has appointed Sangay Rinchen as General Manager of Eastin Easy Kurseong Darjeeling first International brand in Kurseong, Darjeeling opening in March 2016. In his new role, Sangay will be responsible for overseeing the pre- opening and operation of the hotel, ensuring the optimal level of guest and employee satisfaction and achieve the budgeted profits. Sangay Rinchen, amiable Bhutanese National, brings along with more than 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry, his last assignment being Hotel Manager of Hotel Migmar in Thimpu, Bhutan. He holds a Diploma in Hotel Management from HWZ University, Zurich. Food & Beverage is his core competency and has worked closely on tourism projects with the Government of Bhutan. Shalil Suvarna, VP - Operations & Pre-Opening ’ Indian continent & Middle East, Absolute Hotel Services India, said, ’We are delighted to have Sangay lead the team at Eastin Easy Kurseong Darjeeling. Along with his ability, attitude and experience his strengths include working in a mountainous habitat, proficiency in Nepalese language, which is the local language. This together would be key in moving the pre-opening phase into operations, thereby showcasing Eastin Easy Kurseong Darjeeling as first International Brand, creating a new destination in Darjeeling, West Bengal.’
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By BW Hotelier THE CONSTRUCTION of Indian Culinary Institutes (ICIs) at Tirupati and Noida is all set to begin, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Culinary Institute (ICI) Society and the National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd. (NBCC) at the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), New Delhi. The MoU was signed by Dr. Preeti Srivastava, Joint Secretary & Ex-officio Director, ICI on behalf of ICI Society and Rajendra Chaudhari, Director (Commercial) on behalf of NBCC Ltd. Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, MoT and Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, MoT also graced the occasion. Indian Culinary Institute (ICI) at Tirupati with its Northern Regional Chapter at Noida are being set up by the Ministry of Tourism. Foundation Stones for both the Institutes have already been laid. The Govt. of Andhra Pradesh has transferred land measuring 14.21 acres at Tirupati in favour of ICI Society for construction of ICI Tirupati. The main objective of setting up of ICI is to institutionalise a mechanism to support efforts intended to preserve, document, promote and disseminate the Indian Cuisine, meet the sectoral requirement of specialists specific to Indian Cuisine, as also of teachers, and promote Cuisine as a Niche Tourism product. The ICIs are proposed as Institutes of Excellence that will offer structured regular programmes of study specific to culinary arts leading to graduate and post graduate level degrees, promote research and innovation, organize demand driven certificate and diploma courses, document and create data base specific to Indian cuisine and commission studies and survey on cuisine. The need for ICI is felt as the formal education specific to Indian cuisine, a culinary art, with pan-India sweep is conspicuous by its absence. There is no regular credible institutional source at apex level for supply of cuisine specialists to the sector. Also, at present there is no institutional mechanism to document and disseminate information related to cuisine. In India at present, there is dearth of ideal training ground to groom chefs of international standards. To fill this void, the ICIs would provide the appropriate training ground at par with the culinary schools functioning in different parts of the developed world. The edifice to be created would be exclusive and one of its kind at selecting and training the best talent through intensive programmes of one to three years duration. This effort will facilitate building a super-speciality food production work-force to assure positions of Chefs and beyond in the hospitality industry Photo:-The Joint Secretary & Ex-officio Director, ICI Society, Dr. Preeti Srivastava and the Director (Commercial), NBCC Ltd., Rajendra Chaudhari signed a MoU between the Indian Culinary Institute (ICI) Society and the National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd. (NBCC) for construction of Indian Culinary Institutes (ICIs) at Tirupati and Noida, in the presence of the Secretary, MoT, Vinod Zutshi and the Joint Secretary, MoT, Suman Billa in New Delhi.
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By BW Hotelier THE PARK Hotels, have entered into management services and marketing agreement with Moroccan property, Sahara Palace Marrakech. This property opened under the new management effective Sept this year. Sahara Palace Marrakech features splendorous Moorish, Indian and Venetian architecture, is home to 89 guest rooms, 15 luxurious suites, and four exclusive Riads. Priya Paul, Chairperson, The Park Hotels, said on the acquisition, ’We are delighted to be managing this beautiful palace hotel in Morocco. Along with the strong Moroccan accents throughout the property, there are a number of Indian design influences, making the hotel a great fit for us as hoteliers from the subcontinent.’ Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, The Park Hotels, said, ’Sahara Palace Marrakech is our first international hotel. We are excited about managing this beautiful and serene royal palace. It is indeed an exotic escape for business and leisure travelers with secluded retreat and Moroccan sunshine.’ The hotel is set amongst 54 hectares of landscaped gardens, surrounded by tranquil palm trees and olive groves. All rooms and suites enjoy stunning views across the Atlas Mountains, the Palmeraie desert or the properties’ tranquil pool and gardens. Each part of the property has been meticulously crafted with a vivid blend of captivating Moroccan and exotic Indian themes. Built in pure Moroccan architecture, in hues of bronze and orange, the Riads are their own hotels within the Sahara Palace property. Each Riad consists of 36 rooms, including four luxury suites and one family suite, complete with a private outdoor space and gardens. There are four restaurant offerings within the property: Rumi Restaurant, Mantra Restaurant, Bombay Veranda and Menzeh Restaurant. Rumi offers diners a true taste of Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine, using the best local ingredients. The burgundy colored walls are hand polished and wax plastered using the craft Tadlekt, a traditional lime plaster. Set in a vibrant open kitchen, Mantra offers guests Indian and Asian cuisine through a journey of traditional spices. The Bombay Veranda is a unique outside fine dining brassiere, with a Moroccan touch. Menzeh is a more relaxed approach to dining, located by the pool, overlooking the landscaped gardens. Sahara Palace offers two grand and splendid bars; the Jade Room and Bombay Bar. The Jade Room is artistically furnished with opulent high ceilings and two fireplaces, the perfect setting for a high tea experience. Bombay Bar offers a more traditional and Colonial experience, with a lounge and pool tables creating an area to relax and unwind with a cigar in hand. The Sahara Palace offers the ultimate destination to relax and rejuvenate in a beautiful Moroccan setting, with a luxurious 3800 sq mtr spa. The spa features an indoor heated pool, 14 treatment rooms, as well as two impressive Turkish Hammam baths. The hotel also features a Techno gym cardio-training room and a Yoga temple. Photo: The Sahara Palace Marrakech.
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By BW Hotelier ZIPROOMS, PROMOTED by Spree Hotels promoter Keshav Baljee (see photo), announced today that it has reached the milestone of 100 hotels under its technology enabled franchising model. ZipRooms is now present in most leisure and business locations across the country, offering budget and mid-market travellers a standardized, quality assured hotel or serviced apartment stay. Commenting on the achievement Ziprooms founder and CEO Mr. Keshav Baljee said, ’We are extremely proud of achieving this-milestone-of 100 hotels, pleased to have associated with some of the finest hoteliers across the country. With over 50 cities across India, we are trying to build India’s most reliable chain of budget hotels.’- ZipRooms also announced three new segments in which its hotels are now categorised based on their facilities and amenities. The ZipRooms Luxury collections are hotels in the 3 star category. The ZipRooms Comfort collection are budget hotels in the 1 and 2 star category. The ZipRooms apartment collection is the newly launched category, with serviced apartments and serviced guest houses. With these three categories, ZipRooms can now cater to a wider spectrum of corporate and individual travellers’ demands. With this 100th addition, ZipRooms is now present in nearly 50 cities across India, with over 3000 rooms in its franchise portfolio.
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By BW Hotelier SHANGRI-LA HOTELS Bengaluru, was conferred with the prestigious WB Honours 2015 by Washrooms and Beyond in the category ’Exclusive Light Design for Fine Lighting Design in the Spa’ at a function held at The Trident in Mumbai today. The WB Honours is presented every year in December for excellence in design in the washroom and related segments. The ceremony, this year, was attended by top designers, architects, corporates and professionals from the hotel industry and the washroom industry. Gaurav Arora accepted the award on behalf of Shangri-La Hotel Bengaluru. The recognition, bestowed during the fifth anniversary celebrations, is about superior light design that is technically efficient and lends an aesthetic aura to the spa and also at the washrooms in the guest rooms. Jens Corder, general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Bengaluru said, ’It is with great pride that we accept this prestigious award for ’Fine Lighting Design in the Spa’ by Washrooms and Beyond. In keeping with our brand’s desire to deliver our guests excellent standards of hospitality today, we are very happy to receive this recognition from our peers in the industry and we hope to continue providing our distinctive brand of Asian hospitality to guests.’ Shangri-La Hotel, Bengaluru is designed by Adarsh Design Studio and the interior design is done by Singapore-based Wilson Associates. The 19-storey hotel features CHI, The Spa (see photo) which is also the first CHI Spa in India, with a dedicated Ayurveda room. CHI is the signature spa of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts worldwide. This luxurious sanctuary, located on the hotel's dedicated wellness and lifestyle floor features nine luxurious treatment suites outfitted in soft neutral tones, including three couple suites to share their spa experience together.
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By BW Hotelier INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS Group (IHG) and Uber has a new collaboration designed to make it easier and more rewarding for guests to get to and from their hotels. From this week, anyone who is traveling within the US and signs up as a new Uber rider can earn 2,000 IHG Rewards Club points and USD 20 off their first ride with Uber. Now, travelers can conveniently request a ride from the award-winning IHG App through the Uber API and in early 2016, they will be able to set Uber ’Ride Reminders’. Lara Hernandez, Vice President, Digital, Loyalty and Partner Marketing, The Americas, IHG, (see photo) said, ’IHG Rewards Club is constantly evolving, based on member and consumer insights, to ensure we are delivering the most innovative, relevant and rewarding experiences for our guests. Our strategic relationship with Uber coupled with our digitally-driven innovations already in market, allow our guests to have a seamless experience throughout their travel journey.’ Jonathan DiOrio, Head of Travel, Entertainment and Venue Partnerships, Uber, said, ’Both Uber and IHG are focused on combining travel with technology to provide a better experience for users. We are excited to offer Uber’s rapidly growing service to the millions of IHG Rewards Club members traveling throughout the US each year.’ > Guests can enjoy the benefits of this new partnership by following these simple steps: > Update the IHG App or download it. > Book a stay at an IHG hotel anywhere in the US. > To get to your destination, select the Uber button in the IHG App to request a ride. > Guests will be directed to the Uber App where the hotel’s address will be pre-populated. If the Uber App is not installed on the guest’s mobile device, they will be directed to an app install link. > New Uber riders will receive USD 20 off their first ride and a digital voucher code from Uber via email to deposit 2,000 IHG Rewards Club points into their member account. Points can be redeemed toward a future stay at any of the more than 4,900 IHG hotels in the world. IHG Rewards Club continues to make earning and redeeming points simple and rewarding for members. IHG’s 2015 Trends Report showed that consumers are looking for more than an effortless transaction with their chosen brands. They want a rewarding relationship built on trust and respond best to efforts focused on building real brand loyalty over a sustained period of time.
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By BW Hotelier The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is exploring possibility of obtaining statutory status for the National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology and the Indian Institute of Travel and Tourism for awarding degrees in the field of Hospitality and Tourism education, respectively. This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (I/C) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma (see photo) in a written reply in Lok Sabha. The skill development programmes of MoT are implemented through the Institutes of Hotel Management and other identified institutions under the Scheme ’Capacity Building for Service Providers’. Development of tourism is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. MoT provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for tourism infrastructure projects as per the relevant scheme guidelines subject to availability of funds and receipt of due utilization certificates.
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