By BW Hotelier WITH SAFARI tourism in India growing by up to 20 per cent per year, the nature travel charity, Travel Operators for Tigers (TOFTigers) has published a new, free Good Wildlife Travel Guide to India and Nepal offering a wealth of sustainable wildlife holiday options. Tiger Park Directors and tourism entrepreneurs are increasingly learning from many of Africa's best conservancies and tourism models with a range of newly launched initiatives, including new wildlife conservancies, putting the Indian subcontinent, originally known as the land of big game, back on the map as one of the world's great destinations for safari goers. Famous for the tiger, the Indian subcontinent hosts an abundance of fauna including the 'big five' - lions, rhinos, elephants, leopard and buffalo - four bear species, wolves, an ape species, a prolific range of birds and even squirrels and snakes that can fly. Julian Matthews, Chairman, TOFTigers, said, ’With tourism one of the Indian Prime Minister's five stated economic tools to lift its country out of poverty, the quest for sustainable tourism has taken on a new urgency. It's heartening to see India looking to some of the superb community benefitting wildlife conservancies bordering parks in Kenya and other areas as new models of safari tourism. This gives real hope that safari-goers visits will stimulate protection and community support. The Good Wildlife Travel Guide is aimed at steering travelers towards the right choices to make a difference while having their holiday of a lifetime.’ The Good Wildlife Travel Guide profiles 23 wildlife parks with over 200 eco-rated accommodation options and nature-related travel companies, including prestigious International names such as Abercrombie and Kent, Cox and Kings, with other well respected Indian based operations like Banyan Tours, IWX, Naturetrek and others.- The Guide is designed to enable travellers' to experience the Indian subcontinent's incredible natural heritage, in the knowledge that they are helping to safeguard its future.
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By BW Hotelier WITH OVER 40,000 rooms in its network in India, OYO Rooms has announced its foray into Southeast Asia through launch of operations in Malaysia. OYO Rooms offers standardized stays at hotels across India, with features such as an air conditioned room, complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi with 24x7 customer service support. Guests can use the OYO Rooms App (over 2.5 million downloads) for booking rooms, ordering room service (food and beverages), booking a cab and searching nearby restaurants. Sharing company’s plans for this year, Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, OYO Rooms, (see photo) said, ’Unbranded hotel room supply accounts for a majority share of hotel supply worldwide. Taking the company international has always been on the cards but we wanted to achieve clear market leadership in India before heading overseas. OYO’s model is suitable for markets with large share of unbranded budget supply such as Southeast Asia, Africa and South America. Malaysia is our first port-of-call given the attractive characteristics of the market such as higher-than-average mobile penetration and a large internet population.’ Speaking on what this means for Indian professionals engaged with the start-up space, Agarwal added, ’I am also excited that OYO can provide a global platform for Indian talent to showcase their passion and execution-focus on entrepreneurial projects. As one of the few Indian start-ups to have gone international, our current and future employees can look forward to exciting learning and development opportunities across various international markets.’ In addition, OYO Rooms has partnered with merchant discovery and privileges platform Crown-it. The strategic alliance between Crown-it and OYO Rooms is aimed at providing the finest budget stays and cashbacks to Crown-it users by adding OYO Rooms’ selection to its ’Hotel’ category. The latest partnership will allow Crown-it users to book discounted lodging across various cities, for both business and leisure trips. The API integration between Crown-it and OYO Rooms is set to simplify the entire process of searching, selection and booking a room. With nearly 500+ OYO properties going live with the launch of this integration, the company will bring added value to its users’ hotel reservations as well as increased convenience, right at their fingertips. Abhineet Sawa, VP ’ Marketing, OYO Rooms, said, ’We are thrilled to bring OYO Rooms’ exciting value-proposition to Crown-it’s young and engaged user-base. Our standardized offerings priced affordably will enable Crown-it users to plan more journeys, get rewarded and discover the joy of travel with OYO Rooms.’ Sameer Grover, Founder, Crown-it, added, ’Value addition and consumer convenience were a few reasons for which Crown-it was established. This partnership with OYO Rooms gives us a chance to add to our range of options in our Hotel category, and allows us to assist our users in their search for affordable, value-for-money hotel reservations. Given the popularity of OYO rooms, we are confident that our users will benefit from this association.’
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By BW Hotelier ACCORDING TO the Ministry of Tourism, the Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) December 2015 were 9.13 lakh as compared to FTAs of 8.85 lakh during December 2014 and 8.22 lakh in December 2013. There has been a growth of 3.2 per cent in December 2015 over December 2014. FTAs during the period January-December 2015 were 80.16 lakh with a growth of 4.4 per cent, as compared to the FTAs of 76.79 lakh with a growth of 10.2 per cent in January-December 2014 over January-December 2013. The percentage share of FTAs in India during December 2015 among the top 15 source countries was highest from USA (18.67 per cent) followed by Bangladesh (11.64 per cent), UK (11.60 per cent), Australia (5.25 per cent), Canada (4.23 per cent), Russian Fed. (3.68 per cent); Malaysia (3.13 per cent), Germany (2.61 per cent); China (2.48 per cent); Sri Lanka (2.39 per cent); Singapore (2.01 per cent), France (1.99 per cent); Japan (1.85 per cent); Thailand (1.68 per cent) and Pakistan (1.60 per cent). These top 15 countries account for 74.81 per cent of total FTAs during December 2015. Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from Tourism in India in December 2015 were Rs 13,253 crore as compared to Rs 12,988 crore in December 2014 and Rs. 11,994 crore in December 2013. The FEEs in December 2015 registered a positive growth of 2.0 per cent over December 2014 as compared to positive growth of 8.3 per cent in December 2014 over December 2013. FEEs from tourism during January-December 2015 were Rs 1,26,211 crore with a growth of 2.3 per cent as compared to the FEE of Rs 1,23,320 crore with a growth of 14.5 per cent during January-December 2014 over January-December 2013.
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By BW Hotelier ONLINE TRAVEL portal, Yatra.com has conducted their annual winter survey which showcases the outlook of Indian travellers planning their holidays this season. One of the key findings was that the propensity of Indians to spend on travel has clearly increased with more than 30 per cent people willing to spend above Rs 50,000 as against 25 per cent last year. Another observation was how people’s preference to choose an international destination over a domestic destination has risen. Over 30 per cent people are willing to opt for an international destination while the remaining looked at domestic travel this winter. Kashmir and other hill stations topped the list for domestic travel showcasing that winter destinations are not off the list during this time of the year. South East Asian countries were international favourites and were pitted at the same percentage as Goa for a holiday this season. The advance booking streak continues with most people looking at finalizing their plans one to three months before travel. This year has been about budget accommodation and the survey also brought forth similar facts. Budget hotels were the obvious choice of accommodation with almost 60 per cent opting for lodging options under Rs 4,000. The rest were divided between star properties, friends and family, home stays and ultra-luxury hotels, in the same order. Contrary to last year’s winter survey, family was the more obvious choice as travel partners followed by spouses, friends and solo travel. With the smart phone revolution, there has also been a marked increase in mobile bookings this winter as well. Yatra’s survey showcased that more than 30 per cent have started using apps for their travel bookings and only a mere 10 per cent prefer travel agents, while the remaining book holidays on their desktops. Sharat Dhall, President, Yatra.com, (see photo) commented, ’Vacationing in winters has become an accepted norm similar to summer travel. We have seen a number of takers opting for not only domestic but also international destinations for their winter vacations. Indians are holidaying more frequently and that’s a trend that has been on an increase over the past few years. Mobile bookings and budget accommodation are two areas where we made tremendous progress in the winter season.’ On a lighter note, skiing topped the charts as the favourite winter sport and boots won as the most favourite winter accessory. The survey was conducted amongst 10,000 respondents from Yatra’s customer base. Top Choice for Domestic Destinations Kashmir or other Hill Stations (22.1 per cent) Goa (19.7 per cent) Kerala (13.3 per cent) Andamans (8.2 per cent) Top Choice for International Destinations Thailand/Singapore/Malaysia (19.4 per cent) Europe (13.7 per cent) Dubai (11.5 per cent)
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By BW Hotelier THE FOURTH edition of 'The Indian Wine Consumer's Choice Awards, 2016' by All Things Nice, an annual premium wine competition conceptualized by Sommelier Nikhil Agarwal with an aim to propel wine culture in India to new heights will be held on January 9, 2016 at Sofitel Hotel, Mumbai. The aim of the Indian Wine Consumer's Choice Awards (IWCCA) is to give Indian consumers an opportunity to judge for themselves and on behalf of other consumers the best Indian wines available in the country. This annual accreditation opens the doors for consumers to acknowledge and celebrate new vintages and new wines launched in the market as well as provide insight to wineries about what the burgeoning Indian market is inclined towards. The modus operandi involves bringing together all domestically produced wines in the premium category, have them efficiently categorized into a systematic tasting and then invite the actual wine consumer/enthusiast to judge the wine. ’The Indian Wine Consumers Choice Awards or IWCCA has quickly become a guide for consumers who are interested in purchasing Indian wine. It brings to light, brands and styles that deserve recognition. With more wineries starting up in India and more wines being launched by existing wineries, the IWCCA creates an independent list of quality wines chosen by consumers themselves’, said Nikhil Agarwal, Sommelier and CEO, All Things Nice and the mastermind behind the IWCCA. This competition thereby unearths an independent list of India's finest wines judged by the very people who drink them. The consumers taste the wines blind, unaware of the brand name or price point thereby allowing an unbiased judgment based purely on the quality of the wine itself. The only information provided would be the grape varietal and the wine will be judged on the basis of its aroma, color and palate. The winners of each category of the competition will be announced a week post the judging through the All Things Nice website and other media channels. Winners are accredited with IWCCA Gold, Silver and Bronze certifications and IWCCA medals. The IWCCA takes place on the 9th of January 2016 at Sofitel Hotel, Bandra Kurla Complex. All Things Nice members usually have access to the judging panel however external entries to enrol as a potential judge are also accepted. So if you are a wine enthusiast or simply a regular wine drinker, we-recommend you to contact us to be part of this consumer driven-initiative. Later in the month, winning wines will also be showcased to all consumers at ’Celebrating India’s Finest’ also hosted by All Things Nice. Photo: Sommelier Nikhil Agarwal (standing, middle) with the judges at The Indian Wine Consumer's Choice Awards.
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By BW Hotelier STARWOOD HOTELS & Resorts has announced it closed 2015 with 220 new signed hotel management and franchise agreements, a 26 per cent increase over the prior year, marking the sixth consecutive year of increased signings and the most incremental signings in its history. The company also opened a record of 105 hotels in 2015, representing approximately 22.5k rooms in 30 countries, also the highest number of openings in its history. Thomas Mangas, CEO, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, (see photo) said, ’Our continued commitment to brands, design and innovation this past year allowed us to accomplish much on behalf of our shareholders, which is a true testament to the great work of our associates and something our team should be proud of. As we begin 2016 and work towards our merger close with Marriott to become the world’s largest hotel company, we will continue to vigorously compete in the marketplace, deliver value to our owners, delight our guests and grow our brands into new markets around the world.’ ’This was a remarkable year of record-breaking growth for Starwood Hotels & Resorts with the highest number of both signings and organic openings in any single year in the company’s history,’ said Simon Turner, President of Global Development. ’We continued to enjoy balanced growth across both mature and emerging markets and across all of our brands, with a notable increase in the number of conversions. Approximately one-third of our openings in 2015 were conversions.’ The select serve or mid-market segment drove last year’s signings, accounting for slightly more than 50 per cent. While Four Points by Sheraton continues to maintain the company’s largest pipeline, Aloft experienced incredible growth momentum last year with a 65 per cent increase in signings over the prior year. At the same time, Starwood lengthened its lead in the luxury and lifestyle segment, with 29 deals across its St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels brands, an increase of almost 40 per cent over the prior year. The company continues to see luxury demand in all corners of the world with new hotels coming to sought-after destinations like Dubai, Maldives, Punta de Mita and Shanghai, following flagship openings last year in Amsterdam, Mumbai, and Prague. In the upper-upscale segment, Sheraton, Starwood’s largest and most global brand, had signings that were up over 40 per cent compared to the prior year. The company’s newest brand, Tribute Portfolio, which launched in Q2 2015, finished the year with 16 hotels either operating or with signed agreements. Starwood’s strongest year of organic openings in history allowed the company to reach the following milestones in 2015: 700th hotel in The Americas 250th hotel in Europe, Africa and the Middle East 300th hotel in Asia Pacific 150th hotel in Greater China 300th Mid-Market hotel 200th Four Points by Sheraton hotel 100th Aloft hotel 100th The Luxury Collection hotel
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By BW Hotelier RADISSON UDAIPUR opens its door today to welcome guests visiting Udaipur. The hotel is located in the heart of Udaipur, situated along the city centre at the Lake City Mall of Riddhi Siddhi Group. Radisson is Carlson Rezidor’s upscale brand. Raj Rana, CEO, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, said, ’Radisson Udaipur- is our second hotel in the city of Udaipur and we are honored to be partnering with Riddhi Siddhi Group for this beautiful addition to our portfolio of 75 operational hotels and 45 under various stages of development.’ The hotel is strategically located with close proximity to key attractions such as the historical City Palace, Lake Pichola, Lake Fateh Sagar, man-made lakes and city’s shopping centres in Hathi Pole and Malda Street. The hotel is less than an hour’s drive from the airport and ten minutes’ from the railway station. Shyam B Gupta, Managing Director, Riddhi Siddhi Group, said, ’This is our first hospitality venture in India and we are happy to have tied up with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.- We are confident, their management and marketing expertise will benefit the hotel.’ Mahesh Kumar Tak, Managing Director, Riddhi Siddhi Group, said, ’The hotel enjoys a superb city centre location, ideal for business and leisure travellers.’ ’I look forward to a mutually rewarding long-term association with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’ added Saurabh Tak, Managing Director, Riddhi Siddhi Group. Radisson Udaipur features 56 well-appointed rooms and suites. The hotel has flexible meeting spaces including a banquet hall measuring above 3,000 sq. ft., one multi-cuisine restaurant, a Lounge Bar, 24-hour In-Room dining service and a Fitness Centre. The All Day Dinning restaurant ’ Season’s Caf- at the hotel, serves mouth-watering Indian and continental cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as drinks to cap your day.
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By BW Hotelier SAMHI HOTELS Pvt. Ltd. has announced today that it has received an investment of Rs 441 crores from Goldman Sachs, a global investment bank. SAMHI Hotels will utilise the funds to expand its footprint through acquisitions across India. Ashish Jakhanwala, Founder & CEO of SAMHI Hotels, (see photo) said, ’This investment from Goldman Sachs, an experienced investor in India, will accelerate our firm’s platform across the country and catalyze further acquisition-led growth.’ Sonjoy Chatterjee, Chairman, Goldman Sachs India, said, ’On the back of reform momentum, India is witnessing a steady recovery in economic activity driven by domestic demand. We anticipate this to lead to an upturn in the hotel sector. This investment is consistent with our strategy to invest in sectors and infrastructure that assist in the continued growth and development of India.’ Goldman Sachs is an active investor in India, where the firm has deployed more than USD 2.5 billion since 2006. Established in 2011, SAMHI Hotels specializes in development, acquisition and ownership of branded hotels which are located in prime markets and locations throughout India. Partnering financially with global hotel groups, such as Marriott and Accor, and operators, such as Starwood Hotels and Hyatt International, SAMHI Hotels owns 16 hotels operating under brands that include Courtyard by Marriott, Hyatt Place, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton and Formule1 as of December 2015. Currently, 10 additional hotels are under advance stages of development and are due to open in the next 12 to 18 months, which will equal a collective nationwide footprint of 26 hotels with 3,900 rooms under five brands in 12 cities.
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