asian traveller january 2013

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4 ASIAN TRAVELLER | JANUARY 2013

through the pagesVOL. 6. NO. 5. JANUARY 2013

9. Festivals of Japan

18. Philippines- A Dream Honeymoon Destination

26. An Unpolluted Heavenly Land

30. PBD 2013 Concludes in Kochi

40. ATF TRAVEX 2013 - OPENING NEW AVENUES

P 22-23

P 14-15

KANIKA HASRAT SUSAN ABRAHAM

RAMESH RAMANATHAN

Woman of the Month

P 28

First Person

P 41

Interview

P 17

ANAND NAIR

NISHANTHA WICKREMASINGHE THOMAS CHANDY

10 QUESTIONS

P 20-21

Exclusive Interview

P 12

P 14-15

P 22-23Interview

P 6-7

T rr acrin a G. Biju KrishnanEditor & Publisher

[email protected]+91 9447555222

The recently concluded Pravasi Bharatiya Divas ( PBD) was an eye opener for the hospitality sector. According to surveys there is a huge demand for budget hotels in our country to meet the rising tourism sector demands.

Even though we have a large number of high- end hotels ,the concern now is that we lack budget hotels to attract more tourists to our country. To meet this demand six hospitality majors have decided to invest at an estimated $309 million in India and this would add to almost 50,000 rooms in India’s top most cities over the next five years. The giants investing in this sector are Intercontinental Group, Marriot, Accor, Starwood, Premier Inn and Carlson Rezidor.

Many NRIs opined that they need a more investor friendly atmosphere in India for them to come forward and venture into hospitality business. The delay in processing applications and the cold approach towards NRIs’ venture was pointed out by many as the hindrance for them to initiate their business to India. They get a better response in other countries and in contrast 45% of hotels in U .S are owned by Indians wherein we have put all our expertise and ideas in U .S to promote their tourism sector. The government should utilize this opportunity and take more efforts to bring back this expertise into our country to boost our hospitality sector. There are many NRIs who

want to bring their products to India if they get a positive response from the government’s side.

As an initiative from the government’s side a forum can be formed for this purpose to

ensure smooth documentation and approvals and invite NRIs to more investment. It is always

ideal to make hay while the sun shines. After all we need to preserve our own wealth and expertise

for our development.

WOOING NRIS TO THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR

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EDITOR’S NOTE

5ASIAN TRAVELLER | JANUARY 2013

6

Interview

ASIAN TRAVELLER | JANUARY 2013

Sri Lankan Airlines, The National Carrier of Sri Lanka is an award winning Airlines with a high reputation. How could you scale these heights even at a time of aviation crisis?

SriLankan has proven to be a very resilient airline, having survived many crises. Times have changed to the better for us and we have a government that is very futuristic and active working towards an ambitious target of more than doubling our current inbound tourist traffic by 2016.

As the national carrier, SriLankan has been able to sustain our core attributes that have built up the reputation we have today. We believe, that our people, who are reputed to be warm, hospitable and friendly have given us an advantage, that continues to attract customers to fly with us. Our long-haul sectors are served by newly

FLYING WITH COLOURFUL WINGS

The national carrier of Srilanka is flying at its peak with colourful wings. It has spread its operations globally with a commendable record of destinations and while giving an exclusive interview to ASIAN TRAVELLER, Nishantha Wickremasinghe, Chairman of Srilankan Airlines unfolds the heights of glory of the airlines.

refurbished aircraft.

Skytrax has endorsed us with The World’s Friendliest Cabin staff.

Aviation will always survive, as the passion for travel continues to grow globally and it is our challenge to change with the times & provide what the new flying generations demand.

We have several ‘firsts’ too. In the early 80’s we were the first airline to acquire the Airbus A340. Most recently, SriLankan became the first airline in Asia to introduce the ipad manuals for pilots.

We won the IATA Platinum Award for implementing the 2D Bar-coded Boarding Pass (BPBC) in all our online stations far ahead of time.

Launched in 1979, Sri Lankan Airlines is currently on the expansion and diversification process. Brief us about this?

Our Global Network has touched an all-time high of serving 63 destinations in 34 countries and SriLankan is now preparing to join the oneworld alliance end of 2013, which would mean that our passengers would have easier connections to 890 destinations, flying alongside 13 of the world’s biggest & best airlines.

We are expanding in areas such as our impending contribution to implement an MRO facility, Ground Handling Services and Catering to Sri Lanka’s newest airport, Hambantota International Airport scheduled to commence operations this year.

Working towards the government’s tourism target of welcoming 2.5 million visitors by 2016, we hope to have an expanded fleet of around 30 aircraft to facilitate the expected growth. Sri

Lanka received one million visitors this year, for the first time in history.

The airlines Hub is located at Bandaranaike International Airport, in Colombo and spreads its wings with international presence ? Give us the details about your Global presence?

We hope to consolidate our traditional markets even further and expand to the emerging markets such as China where we already serve Beijing, Shanghai, Canton and Hong Kong.

We are also cautiously considering more frequencies to the Middle East, India and the Far East and with fleet expansion, we will be considering new destinations in these regions, as well.

Including our own Mihin Lanka, we are currently code-sharing with six other international airlines, namely


Interview

Air Canada, Alitalia, Etihad, Royal Jordanian, Oman Air and Malaysian Airlines.

Can you brief us about your “Fly Smiles” programme?

Our frequent flyer programme ‘FlySmiLes’ provides a wide range of rewards and benefits to its three tier members, Gold, Silver and Blue. FlySmiLes currently has world-class partners in banking, airlines, star-class hotels and Spas, telecommunications, transport & travel companies, that are equipped to cater to a discerning clientele. The members are also entitled to the facilities in a selected range of airport lounges.

Once SriLankan Airlines’ is inducted as a member of oneworld, FlySmiLes members will be able to earn and redeem rewards on any of one of the world’s carriers with our top tier members being able to use any of the group’s 550 plus airport lounges across 890

destinations. It’s a major benefit that our members can look forward to.

Sri Lanka is a popular destination for business events in the South East Asian Region. Can you elaborate on the Airlines’ contribution to MICE Tourism

SriLankan currently has a dedicated unit to work on MICE tourism where we facilitate delegates air travel. In 2012 alone, SriLankan has facilitated the travel of delegates for over 40 MICE events.

We consider thisas a travel sector with huge potential, as Sri Lanka is being considered as one of Asia’s newest and most exciting countries for small and medium MICE events and prospects for 2013.

Sri Lankan Airlines has a special focus on sports tourism. How does the Airlines take part in this programme ?

SriLankan has its own

signature sports events such as the Golf Classic, Pro Surf, Rugby Sevens as well as a comprehensive plan to support, sponsor and encourage sporting events in the country. The signature events are successful as we combine sport with travel, offering attractive itineraries to visit Sri Lanka’s exciting places all over the island.

As the Chairman of the Sri Lankan Airlines how do you rate the future prospects?

I am optimistic about SriLankan Airlines as we are moving in the right direction with the full support of the government, as we are a fully government owned airline.

Sri Lanka is fast emerging as an exciting destination and we have some very encouraging endorsements from the Lonely Planet which names Sri Lanka as ‘one of the top destinations to visit in 2013’. British Airways, commencing operations

to Sri Lanka soon, has also placed Sri Lanka as the ‘Top destination out of 13, to visit in 2013.

Therefore, with the growth in tourism, SriLankan Airlines’ future looks brighter.

Role of Sri Lankan Airlines in promoting national tourism to destination India?

India has always had a special connection to Sri Lanka and as our closest neighbour, interaction between the people of the two countries, have been very strong.

SriLankan flies direct to 7 cities with 91 flights a week while our budget carrier Mihin Lanka promotes pilgrim traffic to Bodh Gaya and Varanasi and also flies to Madurai and Tiruchirappali which means together we operate 107 flights a week to India promoting leisure, shopping, pilgrimages and visiting friends and relatives.

London-Paris5 nights & 6 days, 3* hotels with continental breakfast. Arrival transfer, Cityrama tour of Paris, Hop on hop off tour of London. Travel from Paris to London on the Eurostar in second class.

Athens6 nights & 7 days, 3* Accommodation All transfers, city tours, Delphi, Poros, Hydra, Acgina Cruise Dinner & folk dance All taxes.

Europe11 nights & 12 days. 3* Accommodation in Paris, London, Nice, Interlaken, Geneva, Lucern. All transfers & Eurail Pass

Russia5 nights & 6 days. 3*/4* accommodation in Moscow and St. Petersburg. All transfers and tours.

Kerala3 nights & 4 days. Accommodation in houseboat, sightseeing and transfers included

Honeymoon in Kerala2 nights & 3 days. Accommodation in Kerala

Ootty2 nights & 3 days Accommodation sightseeing and transfers in Ooty.

Munnar3 nights & 4 days Accommodation, sightseeing and transfers in Thekkady.

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Bengaluru: +91 9343983719 l Chennai: +91 9841008588 l Hyderabad: +91 9441236010 l Mumbai: +91 9702493708 l Indore: +91 9893559563 l Thiruvananthapuram: +91 9946654666 l

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3M, an exclusive tour company, offers a world cruise ingeniously orchestrated to leave you bewitched. It’s a perfect ensemble of exotic destinations, impeccable services, and happy price tags for an unprecedented travel

experience.


Japan

Festivals of JapanJapan welcomes the world

for the 64th Sapporo Snow Festival, one of its

largest winter events, to be held from February 5 to 11 , 2013. About two million people from different parts of the globe flock to Sapporo every winter to see the hundreds of beautiful snow statues and ice sculptures which line Odori Park, the grounds at Tsudome, and the main street in Susukino. For seven days in February, these statues and sculptures (both large and small) turn Sapporo into a winter dreamland of crystal-like ice and white snow.

The origins of the festival

can be traced back to the year 1950 when the local high school students made six snow statues in Odori Park. This is considered as the first Sapporo Snow Festival. In 1955, five years after the first Snow Festival, the Self Defense Force joined in and built the very first massive snow sculpture, for which the Snow Festival has become famous.

The snow festival caught the attention of international media when the city of Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1972. In 1974, the International Snow Sculpture Contest started as part of the Snow Festival.

Japan

Many countries, including the ones that never receive snow, participate in the contest every year.

The Snow Festival has developed its international aspect year by year. Snow statues were made with motifs of places around the world, including Shenyang (China), Alberta (province in Canada), Munich (Germany), Portland (Oregon, U.S.A.), each of which has a close relationship with Sapporo.

The Sapporo Snow Festival has grown from the humble beginnings to become the biggest and most well-

known of Hokkaido’s winter events and a snow festival of international caliber.The venues

Odori SiteOdori Park stretches from

east to west through the center of downtown Sapporo and

represents the main festival site. Here, you can see a variety of snow and ice sculptures, many of which have an international fl avor. There are other snow stages located here and featuring a variety of entertainment.

Tsudome SiteThe Sapporo Snow Festival

will be held at Sapporo Tsudome. At this site, one can enjoy the charms of winter in Hokkaido, including snow slides and mazes, the snow experience corner, and regional delicacies.

Susukino Site (The 32st Susukino Ice Festival)

An ice sculpture show will be held in Ekimae-dori (Station Avenue) located between South 4 and South 6. Ice sculptures with real crabs, squids, and salmon are featured in this show. During the festival, a variety of events will be taking place at the Susukino site including the Ice Sculpture Contest and a special photo opportunity to see the Ice Queen.Hina-Matsuri, the Doll Festival

“Hinamatsuri (Doll’s Festival)” is held on March 3rd, when Hina Ningyo dolls are decorated in homes where there are daughters. The

most familiar doll for Japanese is Hina Ningyo (ornamental dolls for Girls’ Day). Most families with girls display Hina Ningyo dolls for Girls’ Day or Hina Matsuri (doll festival) on March 3rd praying for the daughters’ health and happiness. It is also called Momo-no-Sekku (Peach Festival).

Displayed on a tiered doll-stand are gorgeous Hina Ningyo dolls together with miniature articles and furniture. They are usually arranged on a ‘three to fi ve’ tiered platform. At the top are the Emperor and Empress dolls called Dairi-bina and their thirteen servants are arranged on the rest of tiers.

And offerings of diamond-shaped rice cakes, sweet and peach blossoms are made to accompany prayers for the healthy growth and happy future of the daughters. There is also the custom of cooking clams and short-necked clams, these dishes decorate the doll-stand and are served as a special dinner for this feast.


Exclusive Interview

GLOBAL VISIONSome are born with ideas and some create ideas for the benefit of the society. Thomas Chandy MLA is a man who possess both these qualities and has done major contributions towards tourism sector. As the representative of Kuttanad he always tries to project this place as the most beautiful and wanted destination in Kerala’s tourism map. He also owns Lake Palace Resorts which is an all time attraction for the travellers. In an exclusive interview to Asian Traveller he discloses the pros and cons of our tourism sector.

As the representative of Kuttanad, how do you rate Kuttanad in the map of tourism?

Kuttanad is a place which is very much blessed with the nature’s aesthetic beauty and it is our duty to protect and exploit this for sightseeing. Kerala is a unique place with so much of nature’s treasure to be hunted. But what I feel is that we are not utilizing this potential to the fullest. As the representative of this place I have lot of suggestions and ideas to improve this situation.

What are your possible suggestions for tourism packages in Kuttanad?

Kuttanad has very good scope for exploiting its backwaters. This beauty of backwaters can never be found anywhere else .There is scope for boating while enjoying the greenery that surrounds it.Kuttanad is a famous destination beautifully covered by lush paddy fields along the beach stretch. It is popularly expressed as ‘rice bowl of Kerala’ which

indicates the rich source of Kuttanad. This scenic town is sandwiched between range of hills and deep blue sea. It is an exotic and hot picnic spot of temples, churches, nature splendors, green paddy fields, canals, rivers, rivulets, lakes and back waters. Kuttanad is among the most attractive places of Kerala.

Kerala, as a whole is described as God’s own country? Which are the factors that stop our state from exploiting our real tourism potential?

Mainly the bureaucratic system is not so organized and our industry is shying away from the challenges to be faced. Compared to last year’s flow of tourists there is a drastic dip this year and this is mainly due to the recession in Europe (Europeans were our traditional customers), competition from our neighbouring South Indian states and other countries and the lack of basic infrastructure

As the representative of one of the most tourist potential

places what are the alternate arrangements that could be done to improve the tourist flow to this place?

Actually more support is required from the government’s side and this place can be made as a hot destination for those who are ready to invest.We should have a broader outlook regarding the destinations. Government should promote small tourist destinations also instead of promoting only the traditional ones like Kovalam, Kochi, Kumarakom, Munnar etc.

What do you feel are the hindrances that block the development of tourism in our state?

The facilities we provide are the main hindrances for the development of tourism in our state. If you see the condition of our roads no tourist will venture to this side. Moreover our major destinations are not well connected with proper rail, or airports and a person will have to travel hours to reach an airport to reach the next

destination. These problems should be addressed and then only we can expect more tourist flow to our state. We can always follow the model of other countries like Malaysia, Singapore etc. It should be a collective responsibility from the side of government as well as people to promote tourism in our state.

As the chairman of Lake Palace Resort your contribution to the tourism sector is a major one. Tell us more about Lake Palace Resorts?

Lake Palace gives an excellent combination of modern and traditional Kerala architecture and is spread over 50 acres of exclusively landscaped gardens. Bordering the resort are acres of extensive lawns with nature trails, exclusive food and beverage outlets and a host of recreational facilities matching world – class standards. The 58 cottages are elegantly and stylishly designed with

homely designs. Lake Palace has become the dream stay for any traveller who looks for a blend of nature and ethnicity.



NEWSLINE

MSI Newswire | Gujarat

The third edition of ‘Gujarat Travel Mart’, India’s biggest B2B

travel event, will be held in Ahmedabad from the 27 – 29 March 2013, offi cials at ‘Gujarat Tourism’ announced. ‘Gujarat Travel Mart’, is set on a B2B platform with over 200 registered Buyers from over 30 countries exploring business opportunities for discerning travel and tourism products. The Hosted buyers will be invited from Netherlands, Kingdom of

Bahrain, Australia, Canada, France, Greece, Israel, Japan, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UAE, UK, USA and South Africa.

The state of Gujarat over the years has contributed towards being a large part of the India’s ever growing tourism arrival fi gures, both domestic and inbound. Gujarat has been one of India’s biggest tourist attractions with its wide arena of attractions. The exclusive pavilion of Gujarat will showcase the different

facets of Gujarat such as festivals of Gujarat, its beaches, the land of the Mahatma: Mahatma Gandhi oriented tours, Heritage Hotels, Buddhist Trails in Gujarat, wildlife Resorts and National Parks, Medical Tourism, Destination Management Companies, Travel Agents and Tour Operators, Religious Tourism, Handicrafts and Cultural Vistas.

The event is supported

by major travel – trade and hospitality association in India such as ‘Association of Domestic Tour Operators Association of India (ADTOI), Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) and Indian Association of Tour Operators.

MSI Newswire | Thiruvananthapuram

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY

organised by ATTOI (Association of Travel Trade Organizations, India)will be held at The Leela, Kovalam from 07th to 09th June 2013.

The idea of organizing such an event arose from the rapidly changing business scenario where the tourism fraternity is heavily dependent on technology and innovations. The transformation is so fast paced that catching up to the pace has become very diffi cult and by the time you adapt to one, the change may have become obsolete. The changes which are happening over the web space, travel-related software, mobile applications, the turnaround

of marketing and sales trends etc inspires us to share and discuss new ideas through the platform provided by the conference.

The objective of this conference is to prepare the travel and tourism industrialists in India and neighbouring countries to understand the importance of web marketing, how to use the resources available online to drive business, get inputs in adapting to the changing technology and acquiring skills to beat the competition.

The participants will

consist of personals from hotels, resorts, tour operators, travel agents and other small to medium scale service providers besides technology companies. This is an excellent opportunity to meet many leading inbound and outbound tour operators in India. Eminent speakers from Travel Technology domain with proven expertise in social media, travel technology and mobility from India and other parts of the world would participate in this event.

ICTT India will feature eminent speakers from varied backgrounds giving talks and entertaining sessions on various tourism related topics. The idea of the conference being to help the hotels and tour operators in understanding in how to market, sell and generate business online, it would assist tour operators and travel agents to adapt to new

trends and help improve generating enquiries and scaling up conversion levels. It would also be a platform for Travel Technology companies who have developed new software and mobile applications to showcase their product and discuss improvements and innovations.

It would help all those who are looking to understand how the travel technology trend was in the past, is today and will be in future. It will be super charged 2 days of insights for the experts as well as the amateurs. Besides it will be great opportunity to network with the best of the best in the trade. It would also be an opportunity to interact and link with highly-experienced speakers belonging to various nationalities and varied areas of expertise.

Gujarat Travel Mart to be Held in March 2013

ICTT 2013

14

Sri Lanka


Provinces of Sri Lanka: A Surreal Experience for Travellers

The tropical island nation of Sri Lanka has a history dating

back to ancient times. It is a place where the original soul of Buddhism still flourishes and where nature’s beauty remains abundant.

Srilanka is a remarkable combination of stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, captivating cultural heritage and unique experiences within such a compact location. Within a mere area of 65,610 kilometers lie eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 1,330 kilometers of coastline - much of it pristine beach - 15 national parks showcasing an abundance of wildlife, nearly 500,000 acres of lush tea estates, 250 acres of botanical gardens,

350 waterfalls, 25,000 water bodies, to a culture that extends back to over 2,500 years.

Once known as Serendib, Taprobane, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, and Ceylon, Sri Lanka has very different landscapes and scenery to experience, depending on which part of the island you visit. From the very green misty up country area that harks back to the colonial heritage, to the soft, warm beaches that are perfect for lazing on, your senses will be definitely treated with beauty. Southern Province

Among the nine provinces that Sri Lanka is divided into, the Southern Province is frequented by both locals as well as foreigners. The

Province consists of Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts. The main source of income is fishing and farming for a majority of the population occupying this province.

Important landmarks include the wildlife sanctuaries of Yala National Park, the holy city of Kataragama and the ancient cities of Tissamaharama, Kirinda and Galle. While Galle holds a major yet fascinating history behind it, at present only ruins remain to give evidence of the Portuguese invasion.

The Southern Province which was vastly affected by the Tsunami in 2004 and has gone through a major rebuilding process.

Sri Lanka

Over the past few years, it has become a major tourist destination. The coastline, with its great opportunities for sunbathing, swimming and surfing, has taken over the minds and hearts of people all over the country and across the world. Places such as Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna have become major party destinations. Crowds of people from Colombo would travel on a regular basis to these destinations to relax and a have a good time with friends.Northwest Province (Wayamba)

Bounded on the North, the East, the South and the West by Modara Gam Aru River and the North Entral Province, Matale and Kandy Districts, Mha oya and the coastal belt between Kudiramale and wennappuwa respectively, stands Northwest Province (Wayamba). Wayamba consists of two administrative districts namely Kurunegala and Putt lam, with a total area of 7888.2 square Kilometers. This is 12% of the total extent of the island.

15% of lithe island’s coastal belt belongs to the NWP. Flowing across the NWP is four of the main rivers, ‘Mee Oya’, ‘Deduru Oya’, and ‘Kala Oya’. Not too far away is the capital of the NWP from the main airports of Sri lanka. The North Western Province is a treasure house of archaeology, having been the seat of four medieval kingdoms

of Sri Lanka between the mid-12th Century and the mid fourteenth, forced to move capitals frequently due to foreign invasion, Sri Lanka’s Kings nevertheless built handsome citadels at Panduwasnuwara, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa and Kurunegala.

The beaches are beautiful and fringed with coconut farms. Some of Wayamba’s best resort beaches are at Marawila, Talawila, Kalpitiya and Waikkal, often with the borders of the sea as well as a lagoon make excellent bases for stay-put beach holidays. These resorts offer superb aqua-sports options such as swimming, wind-surfing, sailing, canoeing, speedboat racing, deep-sea, lagoon and river fishing,diving and viewing the underwater wonderlands of coral off Kandakuliya and Karaitvu.

The fishing villages which dot the coast, where age-old catamaran boats are still sometimes used and the noisy markets and fairs held when the catch comes in each morning, are unique and memorable ‘sights’.Sabaragamuwa Province

Sabaragamuwa Province is most famous for its gems, one of the island’s first exports, like elephants and spices. Certainly most of the people of this province have connections with the gem trade, in its many facets: mining, cutting, polishing

or making jewellery. At the centre of this, quite the most beautiful of industries, is Ratnapura (City of Gems) where you will find stones of excellent quality, luster and variety: sapphires, rubies, amethysts, topaz, garnets, tourmalines, cat’s eyes, star rubies and the mysterious moonstones (feldspar), to name a few. Craftsmanship of high quality, all cutting and polishing is being done the traditional way by hand.

Sabaragamuwa is also a place of great natural beauty and many of the island’s most famous scenic spots are located within the province. Sinharaja, one of the few virgin forests left in the world, Udawaalawa National Park

which is now more or less synonymous with elephants and “Kurulukelay” bird sanctuary in Kegalle are spme of the best spots. Bulutota pass is another place worth visiting for its scenic beauty. The Horton Plains National park is home to some of the loveliest, wildest and most tranquil scenery and the rare bear monkey, endemic to Sri Lanka.

Sabaragamuwa Province boasts of many beautiful waterfalls like Baker’s falls, which rises from Belihul Oya and is named after an Englishman, Samuel Baker, who “discovered” it in the year 1948. Also, Surathali Ella, Duvili Ella, Katugas Ella and Bopath Ella.

ASIAN TRAVELLER | JANUARY 2013 15

17

INTERVIEW

Sterling Holidays Managing Director, Ramesh Ramanathan in an interview with the Asian Traveller attributes the rapid development of technology enabled products and services to its impact on Leisure Tourism. He also stressed that the average Indian customer has changed a great deal over time with liberalisation and integration of the country with the global economy.

The brand name, no doubt, is catchy and hints at the sort of staying experience one could expect. Tell us how sterling a holiday experience that befi ts the name of Sterling Holidays is offered at your resorts.

Sterling Holidays is committed to delivering ‘Happy Holidays’ to all its members and guests and that service mission is refl ected in our unique product and service design.

The strategic thinking for instance has gone into choosing our destinations and resort locations. While Sterling offers resorts at popular tourist destinations such as Kodai, Ooty, and Mussoorie, we are constantly looking for potential destinations which can be developed. Recently a resort was opened in Karwar on the northern coast of Karnataka, bordering Goa. Sterling was the fi rst to open a resort in Munnar in the 1990s, at that time Munnar was not on the tourist radar. Today, Munnar is rated as one of the top 3 holiday destinations in Asia and Sterling is widely acknowledged for its role in development of Munnar as a tourist destination!Your focus seems to be on providing fun fi lled family holiday experiences. Is that the reason why your

properties are located in some of the best leisure travel destinations in India?

Yes, as rightly pointed out, both the destination and resort location play an important role in delivering Happy Holidays to families.

While we are moving apace with the changing needs of the Indian traveller, our primary focus is still on family holidays. Yes, India is changing. However, there is one unchanged factor – and, that is, a family holiday to build togetherness and bond with each other. Indians still want to go for a holiday with their family and are still family values driven.

Sterling is primarily a Vacation Ownership Company. As such, when a family owns a membership, they feel a sense of assurance for the simple reason that the relationship between the consumer and the company stretches over a long time span, bringing with it the comfort of familiarity and the reassurance that the children will be safe and taken care of. Families also like revisiting memories of happy holidays. Here, too, Vacation Ownership triumphs as customers can choose to holiday at their favourite resorts over and over again.What all products and services do you offer at your properties, to deliver a perfect fun fi lled holiday for families?

A leisure break at Sterling Holiday Resorts relieves the everyday stress of routine life for everyone. Our members

experience the comfort of full-service and contemporary accommodation at all our resorts. As pointed out earlier, we understand our members and that is why we cater to the tastes of different palates by offering scrumptious multi-cuisine menu. In addition, the specialist menu includes the local delicacies in order to familiarize guests not only with the destination but also with its rich culinary tradition.

Our Fun Rangers team at the resorts ensure fun-fi lled activities for all age groups. Hence, we have activities through the day – starting with yoga classes, outdoor leisure sports within the premises, adventure activities such as trekking and a whole host of indoor recreation ranging from board games to video gaming. On most evenings, our resorts organize an entertainment program and during festive occasions - celebrations on traditional lines interspersed with modern day activities are organized.Can we expect new launches, in the near future? If yes, please do disclose the details.

At present, we have 19 full service resorts with an inventory of 1404 rooms. In a span of twelve months, we have added six resorts in our portfolio - Corbett, Karwar, Thekkady, Dharamshala and two in Goa. We do plan to add more resorts in the coming year and would be making announcements on new additions to our footprint soon.

Perfect Choice for Family Holidays

Philippines


Philippines- A Dream Honeymoon DestinationPhilippines offers

a plethora of opportunities for

the couples in search of a romantic destination to celebrate their honeymoon. But the choice is not easy because it is hard to single out the destination as the country is a cornucopia of natural wonders 7,107 beautiful islands. Each of these islands has the magic to make memories last for a lifetime.

The pristine beaches, the beautiful islands, the amazing

landscapes -all makes a perfect backdrop for your honeymoon. It’s impossible not to be swept up in the sweet island life once you are in the Philippines. The beaches are a perfect escape from those cold, icy, extra-long winters. There’s a myriad of activities such as heritage tours; eco-adventures such as diving, snorkeling, island-hopping, bird-watching and trekking for one to do in the Philippines.

Cebu, Boracay and Palawan are amongst the best honeymoon destinations in the Philippines.

Cebu nicknamed in Philippines as Queen City of the South, holds the reputation of being the most visited tourist destination in the Philippines, thanks to its beauty and unparalleled

hospitality. Cebu’s beauty and charm has continued to captivate both the foreign and local travellers to spend their romantic moments there. Its unspoiled coastlines, breathtaking scenic landscapes, and a cornucopia of natural wonders make Cebu an ideal honeymoon destination. It is surrounded by so many beaches, some mountains, culturally rich settings and a ‘shopping galore’ destination as well.

There is no shortage for adventure in Cebu: name the activity you like and it’s probably available in Cebu, from heritage walk to whale shark watching in Oslob.

Cebu was acknowledged as the “Best Honeymoon Destination” in the recently concluded World Travel Fair in Shanghai, China. Cebu

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Philippines

is an eco destination in an urban setting and in terms of accessibility, Cebu offers many flights daily.

Boracay Island is about an hour’s flight from Cebu or Manila. It gets tourists from different parts of the globe all round the year. You’ll find a wide variety of food choices: Chinese, Indian, American, Mexican, French, Italian, Swiss —even Moroccan food. Some of the resorts there beat the best in the world. The Discovery Shores is a chic resort which beats elite global brands like the Bangkok Peninsula and the Four Seasons Hualalai, Hawaii.

Boracay has more than ten distinctive beaches nestled in the coves surrounding the island. All of them feature the same powdery white sand that has undoubtedly made the island prominent around the world. By far, the most popular beach is a seven-kilometer stretch, officially called White Beach. The other beaches are: Puka Beach, Din-iwid Beach Balinghai Beach

Bunyagan Beach, Ilig-Iligan Beach Bolabog Beach, Cagban Beach and Manoc-Manoc Beach

Palawan Island is the largest island of the Palawan Province. The island has come to the notice of international media recently when Ariara Island, a private island that can cater up to a group of 17, has been ranked No. 1 in the Top 100 holiday destinations in the world of the British edition of Vogue magazine

Palawan, one of the most popular destinations in the country is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tubbataha Reef and Coron Bay which is considered one of the best wreck diving sites in the world. At Palawan, couples can enjoy a tour of the longest underground river in the world. The waters cover an endless stretch of beautiful white sand perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

Palawan’s unique geographical location makes it an exciting destination for local tourists and international

tourists alike. Most Filipinos will agree that Palawan is still the most undiscovered island in the Philippines. n recent years, tourism in Palawan boomed because of the popularity of Puerto Princesa Underground River, which also made it to the cut of the new Seven Wonders of the World. In addition to this, more and more municipalities, cities, and even tiny islands are opening up for tourism. Palawan can vie for an undisputed claim to be the haven of natural resources including fauna, flora, and thousands of different species living in the island.

Palawan is home to enigmatic caves, astonishing limestone cliffs, breathtaking mountains, clear waterfalls, and of course turquoise waters. That is how rich in natural beauty Palawan is. Moreover, Palawan is also known as a diving destination for lovers of the underwater world. From mountains to the top, down to the rich marina life, Palawan has everything

of these to offer its guests.Couples can also look out

for little luxuries like banana boat rides to the latest craze in the island: kite surfing and cliff diving. One of the best thrills is simply riding a local sailboat called the paraw. It’s cheap, eco-friendly, and a fine way to escape from the crowds. There are hundreds of volcanoes that dot the land — sizzling peaks to make you think that the gods must have been on edge. You can add some magic to your romance with a visit to the Mayon Mountain which is famous for its perfect conical shape.

There are many other ways of pampering yourself in the Philippines style. Fix a date with the night, enjoy a moonlit stroll along the beach and dine under the stars while listening to serenades or watching fire dancers. You can have any meal that you crave for, whether it’s non-vegetarian or vegetarian. But you should try one of the island’s favorites: fruit shakes loaded with tropical fruits like banana and mango.

20

TEN QUESTIONS

Anand Nair, General Manager - Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere,

embarked on a mission which he successfully proved as a major

landmark in the hospitality sector. He took up the challenge of

implementing a new project in a small town and came out with flying

colours in his endeavour. While speaking to ASIAN TRAVELLER he

unveils the secrets of this success.

A Unique DeterminationVASUNDHARA SAROVAR PREMIERE , ALLEPPEY is rated as one of the best hotel in India . And how do you rate this success story of the hotel ?

Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere (VSP) is rated No. 1 out of 54 hotels in Alleppey on Trip Advisor. We were recently awarded the Travellers Choice Award for 2013 on which we are rated as No. 9 out of 25 Top Hotels in India. We were also awarded the Best Upcoming Spa Resort in Kerala by World Travel Brands, 2012. We managed to achieve all this within 9 months of officially launching the property. This has been because of a focussed approach towards operations. We had a different approach to our customers by providing ‘an

experience of kerala’ and not by merely selling rooms and food. Moreover flexibility in operations, complaint management process , empowering and motivating the team ,design, develop, implement and continuously monitoring the process all add

to our glorious success.

Hotel sector is always considered as the most innovative and motivated one. And of course hotel industry and tourism sector are intertwined also. What are the contributions given

from VASUNDHARA SAROVAR’s side to the tourism sector?

Vasundhara SAROVAR Premiere is the first resort to be established in a location called Vayalar. This is a sleepy hamlet with no major


industries. We are in the process of developing Vayalar as a destination that not only provides employment opportunities for the local community but also brings in a new destination on the tourism map of Kerala as an option for tourists.

What according to you are the challenges faced by the hospitality sector ?

Manpoweror the lack of it (trained / qualified ) is probably the single biggest problem that is faced by most of us in the industry today.

Sustaining business and profitability in the face of tougher market conditions like the recession, constantly increasing inventory, influx of International brands & chains providing more options, high cost of air travel that makes International destinations like Sri Lanka & Bangkok a much more lucrative holiday destination.

Do you foresee Kerala as one of the top rated states in

India for hotel sector?What are the innovative plans from your side to make more contribution towards the sector?

Kerala has got immense potential for sustained growth. Even now if we compare the number of tourists arriving into Kerala, its far lesser than the numbers visiting destinations like Bali, Dubai or even the Golden Triangle circuit in North India. But this development will come only through a combined effort between Kerala Government and private stakeholders who have invested in this state.

SAROVAR being an established name in the industry, how do you enjoy your job here?

Sarovar is a great organization to work for where responsibility and accountability goes hand in hand. Being a relatively young organization, the policies are dynamic and the work culture

is more oriented towards innovation and creativity.

Brief us about the challenges in front of you?

The biggest challenge that I am facing now is in developing the destination called ‘Vayalar’. As of now, in most of the itineraries and circuits towards Kerala feature only the well known and developed destinations like Munnar, Kumarakom etc. Most agents based outside Kerala will not even be able to differentiate between Vayalar & Walayar. Therefore promoting and marketing the destination as Vayalar by way of participating in various national and International trade fairs, conducting FAM trips for travels agents & tour operators, editorials, features and ads in reputed travel and lifestyle magazines etc are all various channels that we are currently pursuing to ensure that Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere & Vayalar becomes a destination in the tourism map of Kerala.

Your good and bad experiences in this job?

Having started my career with the Leela Group as a Management Trainee and subsequently having worked with groups like Le Meridien and Taj in India and abroad over the last 18 years, there have been a multitude of experiences both great and not so good.

Getting the opportunity to open a property like Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere has been one of the best experiences till now. The sense of belonging that one develops as you watch a building with bare walls turn into a beautiful hotel and getting it to start functioning to me is akin to watching your own child being born and grow up.

About your family?

My wife, Rekha, is a teacher in kindergarten and my son Advaith is currently doing his 4th grade in Cochin.

22

SEYCHELLES


Take a dream journey with Glynn Burridge, enjoying the sparkling beauty of the Seychelles Islands and the gastronomic, arts, shopping, romantic and diving experiences it has to offer

Enchanting SeychellesAnse Lazio

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SEYCHELLES

If you are looking for an unmatched holiday experience filled with full

of unforgettable moments in an island country, one of the best options is the Seychelles Islands. It’s a magnificent array of 115 islands scattered between four and ten degrees south of the equator, across an economic zone of 1,400,000 square kilometres. This archipelago is situated east of mainland Africa and north-east of Madagascar Island.

Of the 115 islands, the inner islands that comprise 41 granitic islands and two coralline isles are situated on the Seychelles plateau. Mahé, the principal island and where the international airport is situated, and the tiny capital city Victoria, together with their close neighbours Praslin and La

Digue form the economic and cultural hub of the nation and contain the lion’s share of its tourism establishments, retail outlets and service providers.

The outer islands are divided into five groups, set like glittering jewels in an arc that seems to reach out for the east coast of Africa, 1600 kilometres distant, without quite getting there. Among these unique isles, many of which remain virtually untouched by man, are to be found a stunning collection of reef islands, sand cays and majestic atolls, cocooned since the dawn of time from the predations of man and which, faithful to their primordial origins, still harbour unique life-forms. One such atoll, Aldabra, the largest raised coral atoll on earth, is so

exceptional that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Arguably one of Seychelles’ greatest assets is the exotic assortment of its multitude of islands and the variety they offer to visitors wishing to take in a selection of islands during the course of their stay. Each island has a unique topography and character, extending from granite boulders to coral reefs, from untouched forests and bird sanctuaries to private resorts and hideaways and, in this respect, never has the visitor been more spoiled for the sheer choice of unspoiled island venues.

Of all of its islands, currently a mere 16 have hotels, several of which offer the most luxurious amenities

and all of which possess their own natural charm. They offer everything from the opulence of world-famous five-star resorts, to the picturesque charms of affordable smaller hotels, Creole guest houses and self-caterings. Celebrated hotel chains such as Banyan Tree already operate a hotel on the islands, while several others, including Shangri-la and Four Seasons, are looking to open their doors in the near future.

The islands of Bird and Denis, located to the north of Mahé; Frégate, situated east of Mahé; and Desroches and Alphonse, placed to the south of Mahé, offer diverse and unforgettable island experiences. Those fortunate enough to travel to the islands of the far south

Ox Cart & Old House Clock TowerPhoto: Gerard Larose - STB Photo: Gerard Larose - STB

Photo: Raymond Sahuquet - STB

24

SEYCHELLES


will be rewarded by the heart-stopping beauty of Cosmoledo, Farquhar and the jewel in Seychelles’ crown, Aldabra, which is known for its magnificent lagoon and

teeming wildlife. An efficient network of inter-island boat, plane and helicopter transfers will allow you to easily explore and discover the unique features of each of

these island treasures. Other national icons are

its beaches, many of which, including Praslin’s Anse Lazio and La Digue’s Anse Source D’argent, regularly top the

list of the most beautiful on the planet. Mahé alone has some 65 beaches to choose from, many of which are wonderfully secluded and where the only footprints you will come across may be your own. Each island has its own special strand, inevitably lapped by warm sapphire waters that contain so many species of colourful reef fish that diving, snorkelling or just swimming becomes a surreal, unforgettable experience.

The Seychellois people are a colourful and harmonious blend of different nationalities, all of whom have brought something of their own customs and cultures to the islands. Today, Seychellois Creole has been elevated to the national language status, earning the same respect that English and French receive.

Sailing in Anse Source d’Argent Fish Market

Photo: Gerard Larose - STB

Photo: Raymond Sahuquet - STB

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SEYCHELLES

Creole architecture, with its distinctive style, provides another important cultural aspect of the islands, and the designs of some of the grand old houses with their steep roofs are adapted for comfortable living in the tropics. Examples of old Creole buildings are to be found everywhere, with the modern style of architecture still emulating their most distinctive, tropical-friendly characteristics.

One not-to-be-missed treat for the visitor is Seychelles gastronomy which offers the subtlety and innovation of French cuisine as well as the piquant flavours and exotic culinary combinations of the East across a fascinating spectrum of textures, tastes, colours and ingredients. Here is where the ocean’s abundant reserves of seafood, and the islands’ harvest of fresh vegetables and fruits will find their way to your table with a uniqueness, innovation and true gourmet flair that is guaranteed to seduce the most refined palate. Classic Creole dishes include an assortment of sea-food curries and gratins, grilled fish basted with garlic, ginger and chillies, and salad of palm heart. Many restaurants serve international favourites and there are several speciality

restaurants offering Indian, Chinese, Italian and Thai treats.

No account of Seychelles’ riches can be considered complete without the mention of its reputation as ‘the islands of love’ and it is little wonder that lovers are inspired to take their vows and wed in this gentle and romantic atmosphere. Sensual Seychelles creates an idyllic ambience for an unforgettable wedding day, or honeymoon beneath the swaying palms of discreet island hideaways.

All in all, you can’t get much further away from milling crowds and it’s amazing how blue skies and white beaches can clear the mind and inspire the imagination. That is why as a venue for small conferences and select company incentives, Seychelles represents a powerful partnership of business and pleasure. With its excellent communications infrastructure and reliable air links to Europe, Africa and Asia, Seychelles can offer environmentally friendly corporations rewarding investment opportunities.

(The author, holder of both British and Seychellois citizenship, is the sole copywriter for Seychelles Tourism Board. He has

penned ‘Voices’, a popular collection of Seychelles short stories and ‘Kolony’ a novel

based around the Seychelles Islands. He is fluent in Creole, French, English and Farsi.)

Romance Denis Island

Fishing Romance Port Launay


Photo: Gerard Larose - STB Photo: Raymond Sahuquet - STB


Giant Tortoise

26

Tamilnadu Traveller


Dr S Bakthavatchalam explores the unexplored beauty of Valparai.

Located 3,500 feet above from the sea level on the Anamalai

mountain range Valparai is often considered a pollution free heavenly land. Valparai does not mean only a single town. It stands majestically with Green Spread Mountains and forest all around.

Valparai’s history dates back to the 19th century when the Karnatic coffee company bought some land from the Madras Government for Coffee Cultivation in the Anamalais. But the expected yield of coffee was not obtained and so growth

An Unpolluted Heavenly Land

stagnated in the area. But things started to turn around in the first half of the 20th century when tea estates and rubber plantations started to develop around the area. The Valparai Township was started in 1903 by the Anamalai Planters Association.

64-km drive from Pollachi to Valparai is itself an exotic experience. En route is the Indira Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary where lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri and the common langur, Malabar giant squirrel, elephant, gaur, spotted deer, sambar, barking

deer and wild boar reside. The unique grass forests,

Grass Hills is located near Valparai. The hill sports tall grass and houses elephants, boars, cheetah and other wild animals. In addition one can drive around the mountain tea estates enjoying the pleasant climate and forget the once dense forest that has paved the way for tea bushes.

Valparai is loaded with viewpoints giving out rich and breathtaking views. Some of the viewpoints are Number Parai and Nallamudi Poonjolai near Sangili road of Valparai. The Kadamparai


Tamilnadu Traveller

dam is also a beautiful area with an excellent viewpoint.Major AttractionsSholayar

Situated around 20 km away from Valparai, Sholayar is said to be the second highest dam of Asia. With its scenic surroundings, the dam is a busy tourist spot in the hidden forest area. The Sholayar dam is actually split into two reservoirs. One is called the Upper Sholayar dam, which tourists have

access to and the other deep in the forests is called the lower Sholayar dam.Nirar

Nirar Dam, situated around 15 km away from Valparai, is mainly used for hydroelectricity production and irrigation purpose. There is a famous waterfall situated near this dam, which resembles the Silver Cascade Waterfalls in Kodaikanal. Chinnakallar

Located in Valparai,

Chinnakallar is a geographically important place. It is the second highest rainfall area in the country and is also referred to as Cherrapunji of South India. The region is always wet and misty. The road leading to this region is a sheer pleasure to enjoy with its greenish dense forest surrounding edged by tall majestic trees. There is also a beautiful fall in Chinnakallar, around 15 km from Valparai and it sounds like a roaring lion. There is a

hanging bridge across the falls which is full of enchantment and thrill.Aliyar

Aliyar Dam is a reservoir located at the foothills of Valparai. The dam offers some ideal getaways including a park, an aquarium and a mini Theme-Park maintained by Tamilnadu Fisheries Corporation. It is an ideal picnic spot. Overnight stay is possible in the forest rest house. The dam also has a sprawling garden and a soothing environment.Annai Velankanni church

The Karamalai Annai Velankanni church is located at 10 Kms from Valparai. This abode of the lord is located in a peaceful and tranquil environment ideal for those who endeavour to worship her.Balaji temple

The Balaji temple of Karamalai is a hotspot in Valparai. This temple is located at 10Kms from Valparai and is owned by peria karamalai tea industries. The area also has a beautifully maintained garden with exotic flowers and a children’s park. Grass Hills

As the name suggests, grass hills comprise of a slope covered completely in grass. The surrounding here is incredible and the view is inspiring. This area is part of the Indira Gandhi wildlife sanctuary. The trip here takes 15 Kms.Siddhi Vinayakar temple

The Siddhi Vinayakar temple is located at 5 Kms from Valparai. This temple also has a beautiful garden and is owned by Jayshree tea industries. The serenity, silence and cleanliness are the main attractions.

Q & A


Kanika Hasrat, General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott Gurgaon is a well known name with an experience of about 16 years in the hospitality industry. She has held various challenging positions such as Director of Services, Front Office Manager and Director of Rooms at JW Marriott - Mumbai and Director of Services at Marriott Amsterdam. Most recently Kanika has served as General Manager of the Trident Jaipur. In this exclusive interview she talks about the milestones in her successful journey.

Kanika HasratGeneral Manager,Courtyard by Marriott Gurgaon

The hospitality sector is a very inspiring and change savvy sector. Being a woman what was the motivation behind your idea of venturing into this sector and that too with great confi dence?

I started with a passion for meeting people and travelling to places and have never regretted this. Change is a way of life in any industry and the faster and better we adapt the more we learn.As the GM of Courtyard by Marriott hotels what were the initial changes you adopted to give the hotel a new look in the business area?

My biggest challenge was keeping the business volumes high especially with the slowing economy and worldwide slow down on travel. To provide value to our guests we upgraded our lounge bar and also added additional services that cater to the needs of today’s travellers and included complementary internet and an elaborate 24 hour menu.Brief us about your fi rst assignment in the hospitality sector.

I started my career with Oberoi hotel and joined the prestigious Oberoi School of Hotel management which honed my management skills and taught me lessons on quality.Being a woman what were the hurdles you faced from the industry?

Guests were always opening doors for me instead of the other way round! I think being a woman always had its advantages instead of hurdles and I can only say I enjoy every day at job. Of course being a lady I always got the best seat in the cafeteria!

How do you rate your success story so far?

I believe I have been a success when I meet people who mentored or groomed at the beginning of their careers and who have today grown into senior positions across the industry From the career point of view, hospitality industry job is not a story of bouquets and batons all the time. Brief us from your own experience how you handle these situations with calm and dignity?

I believe in taking every day as it comes – as you work with people you learn that people don’t make mistakes purposefully. I tell every person who works with me “own up to your mistakes and you will learn”. That along with patience helps me deal with most issues.Who is the most infl uential person in your life?

My husband who is my constant companion; someone I turn to for advice and support.Share with us the lighter moments of your life which you spend with your family?

I enjoy time with my daughter – we both love making up stories together and have great fun doing so – whether it’s a story of an elephant scared of the dark or a puppy who hated milk our mornings together are great fun and giggles. I also enjoy an afternoon of home cooked food and a glass of wine on weekend afternoons with my husband (he does the cooking!!!)What are your future aspirations and plans about your career?

I hope to continue to grow into a better hotel professional and take on a larger portfolio.

her successful journey.Gurgaon our guests we upgraded our lounge bar and also added additional services that cater to the needs of today’s travellers and included complementary internet and an elaborate 24 hour menu.Brief us about your fi rst assignment in the hospitality sector.

I started my career with Oberoi hotel and joined the prestigious Oberoi School of Hotel management which honed my management skills and taught me lessons on quality.Being a woman what were the hurdles you faced from the industry?

Guests were always opening doors for me instead of the other way round! I think being a woman always had its advantages instead of hurdles and I can only say I enjoy every day at job. Of course being a lady I always got the best seat in the cafeteria!

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NEWSLINE

A More Colourful Goa Carnival to Kick Off From Feb ‘13MSI Newswire | Goa

The much anticipated Goa Carnival which draws tourists from all

over India and abroad will kick off from February 8 2013 and will conclude on February 12, Dilip Parulekar, Minister for Tourism, Government of Goa announced. “The Goa Carnival is one of our biggest events of the year. I hope that this event becomes the second-most popular event of the world after the Brazilian Carnival. We have added more attractions this year including the food festival where we have involved 15 other states as well. We urge everyone to join us in the festivities,” he said.

He added that the other highlights of the event will include a vintage car rally, Serenade parade, Harley Davidson Bike rally and King Momo’s lead float. The presence of Bollywood

celebrities like Neha Dhupia, Isha Koppikar and Tanushree Dutta would spice to the event.

Nikhil Desai, MD of GTDC, and Director of Tourism, Government of Goa, said, “We have taken measures to ensure 100 per cent safety for everyone and have increased the deployment of police force at tourist spots. We are also in the process of increasing room inventory for tourists.” He added that the tourism board is keen on promoting Goa not only as an important cultural destination but also for its festivals, heritage and adventure. The Opening Ceremony will kick off at D.B. Marg, Panaji on the 9th of February, 2013.

The festival, as usual, will feature float parades in four cities-Panaji, Margao, Vasco and Mapusa. Apart from the float parade, this year’s event will also include a Food & Cultural Festival for the first

time where visitors will not only get to taste local Goan Cuisine but also cuisines of 15 other states of India. It will offer visitors the opportunity to experience cuisine and culture through a unique blend of food, fun, local and national live music performances, fashion shows, and entertainment.

Visitors can expect live music from performers like Anushka Manchanda, Parikrama, Remo and Indian Ocean spread across five days, as well as more than 70 stalls providing food, beverages and lifestyle products. A fashion show by ace designer Wendell Rodricks is touted to be one of the main highlights. An element of competition

has also been introduced with entries being invited for the King Momo Contest and the cooking competition. The cooking competition will take place at the NIWS Grounds during the Food & Cultural Festival.

The Carnival will also have live musical performances featuring local bands at Colva and Mapusa from February 9-12, 2013. This public event recognizes Goa’s diverse population including its vast tourist populace and promotes a message of tolerance, friendship and inclusiveness.

Five Awards for Leela Palace New DelhiMSI Newswire | New Delhi

The Leela Palace New Delhi bagged five prestigious awards

presented by Trip Advisor at the 2013 Travellers’ ChoiceHotel Awards 2013 including the Top Big & Luxury Hotel in Asia and Top Big, Service and Luxury Hotel in India.

Tamir Kobrin, General Manager, The Leela Palace New Delhi, said, “Digital evolution highly impacts the decisions of discerning travellers the world over, therefore being recognized by the world’s largest and the most trusted travel site

for two consecutive years, is indeed a proud moment. We thank all our patrons for sharing their experience on Trip Advisor and believe that these accolades are a true testament of our hard work and a great way to enter 2013 and it is just the beginning.”

Known for its exceptional guest experience and its unique features the hotel has won various awards in the past including Robb Report, Conde Nast Traveller, Travel+Leisure, DestinAsian, Singapore Tatler Traveller, Times Food Guide and Food and Night Life. The hotel was honoured with Centre of Excellence Certification

in 2012 for the feedback and ranking on TripAdvisor.The awards were conferred at an exclusive soiree in the

presence of major players from the hospitality and travel industry.

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PBD 2013


The 11th edition of the three-day annual PravasiBharatiya

Divas(PBD),the NRI conclave concluded in Kochi on January 9, was a mega event in which over 2000 delegates

from over 40 countries took part. The event has been boosted by the presence of President of India at the concluding session and the Prime Minister at the formal inaugural session

as well as that of several Union Ministers, including Salman Khurshid, Kamal Nath and Anand Sharma, the Planning Commission Vice CharimanMontek Singh Ahluvalia and Sam Pitroda.

The PBD event, being organized every year, is vital for the country both socially and economically as this conclave shows the desire of NRIs to return to their native place after spending a major

PBD 2013 Concludes in Kochi


PBD 2013

portion of their life abroad making impressive progress in their profession or business. The country is opening the doors of opportunities to those who wish to come back to their homeland.

These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the homeland for mutually beneficial activities.

These conventions promote networking among the overseas Indian communities in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields.

President Pranab Mukherjee asked the 25 million-strong Indian Diaspora to invest in Indian companies and set up new ventures to become partners in achieving economic

growth rate of above eight per cent. Mukherjee stressed the importance of increasing the investment level for the accelerated growth of the economy. Mr.Mukherjee said India has also set up a friendly regime to enable Indians abroad to remit money to the country.

PBD has given much hope to the hospitality industry with six hospitality majors

proposing a plan for investing an estimated $309 million in India’s tourism sector. Intercontinental Group, Marriott, Accor, Starwood, Premier INN and Carlson Rezidorare the giants who are interested in investing.

On the other hand tourism officials said the country needs more budget hotels. “There is a huge market for budget hotels and that’s where the NRIs must step in and huger capacity,” Amitabh Kant, CEO and MD, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation said.

Alkesh Patel, the president of Asian –American Hotel Owners’ Association, USA, said India does not have sufficient good hotels and they are ready to extend their help and support. “We own 45% of hotels in the US. We have put our expertise and passion together to create motels for people to come and stay in the US. We know of franchisees who want to bring their product to India and we are willing to help if the government is interested, “Alkesh said.

Kerala tourism is focusing more on medical tourism. Tourism minister AP Anil Kumar has asked NRIs to invest in medical tourism. “We already have a fast-track clearance system for projects beyond Rs. 10 Crore,” he said.

PBD welcomed and extended whole hearted support for the expatriate community. The event addressed the hardships faced by the expats especially the problem of security. The inaugural address by the Prime Minister was focused on this aspect.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at the inaugural address India is ready to

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PBD 2013


provide necessary assistance and support to ensure the security and safety of expatriate Indians working in various countries. He cited the war torn Libya as an example for India’s commitment to provide security to the expatriate community.

“ The protection and promotion of the rights and interests of Indian business, professional s and workers abroad is also a key task for our mission in various countries,” the prime minister reminded.

The Prime Minister lauded the contributions of expatriates, and said the government would do anything to deepen their connection with India and advance their interests.

Minister for overseas Indian affairs (MOIA) Vayalar Ravi promised that the long pending demand to merge the cards issued to Overseas

Citizens of India (OCI) and People of Indian Origin (PIO) would materialize soon. The merging of these two cards could make PIO card holders eligible for the benefits that are enjoyed by OCI card holders.

The highlight of the 11th PBD is that the conference had for the first time rightly placed its focus on Gulf NRIs. It’s a great thing given that Gulf NRIs constitute the lion’s share of the 25 million strong diaspora and account for the 27% of nearly $70 billion dollar remittance that India was receiving.

Kerala Chief Minister OommenChandy drew the attention of Prime Minister to the plight of the Gulf migrants. His stress was on issues like travel woes, the low ceiling set for gold imports, problems of Indians jailed in different countries.

Anand Sharma, Union

Minister for Commerce and Industry, said that NRIs play a crucial role in economic recovery of the country. The world is yet to recover from the economic catastrophe that began in 2008, and emerging economies like India are very concerned, the minister said.The minister said that remittances from the Indian diaspora provided a solace for the country’s current account deficit, and expertise of NRIs was crucial for the country.

Dr. Ravi Pillai, MD, RP Group and one of the most known NRIs said PBD has become an important event because the event provides a forum for discussing key issues concerning the Indian Diaspora. PBD reflects the growing role of overseas Indian community in building the nation’s economy, he emphasized.

The event saw a significant participation of eminent

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from Oman. J.S. Mukul, the Indian ambassador to Oman, along with other ambassadors from the GCC countries, participated in the panel discussions held as part of


PBD 2013

PravasiBharatiya Divas (PBD) seminars. Suresh Virmani, managing director, Bahwan Engineering Company and Dr P Mohamed Ali, managing director, Galfar Engineering Contracting Co, were among the many prominent personalities at the event on Day One.

Dr. SatishNambiar, chairman, Indian Social Club, Muscat was among the panelists in the session on Gulf NRIs that gave a platform to Indians, particularly Keralities in the Gulf, to air their grievances.

Dr. P Mohamed Ali, managing director, Galfar Engineering Contracting Co, was the moderator at the seminar on skill development. Former Oman resident P.N.C. Menon, chairman emeritus, Sobha Developers Ltd, also participated in the seminar, which discussed the efforts required for the skill development of workers.

Skills has a global currency, is not just a clich, but certainly a truism. As requirement, in both blue and white collar jobs rises across

the world, there is a need to identify the gaps that Indian migrant workers, both skilled and semi-skilled, could fill,” said a PBD communique.

“As a backward linkage, this would spin-off an entire industry for training and skill development of Indian workers and professionals. How the gap identification and the infrastructure required for skill development can be best done, and what opportunities and threats arise there from, was the major issues discussed in this seminar,” it added.

During the event, individuals of exceptional merit are often honoured with the prestigious PravasiBharatiyaSamman Award to appreciate their role in India’s growth. Dr. P Mohamed Ali, was honoured by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee during the event among many others.

As the founder of Galfar Engineering and Contracting Co, Dr. Ali has earned his stripes as one of the Gulf’s leading entrepreneurs. From its start in 1972, the firm has grown into the single largest private sector employer

in Oman. Outside of his business interests, Dr. Ali is the founder of the Oman Petroleum Alliance and the former vice chairman of the state-backed Omanisation Joint Committee.

India Migration Report 2013 was released at the event. The Indian Diaspora, estimated to be close to 22 million, is spread across more than 180 countries, with relatively higher concentration in the Middle East, the US, Malaysia, South Africa, Australia and Western Europe.

34

Hospitality


Aloft Coimbatore Singanallur , conveniently located

5km from the airport on the Kamaraj Road, offers the best luxury for the customers. The 167 rooms in Aloft offers urban influenced design, accessible technology, style, social atmosphere and a total sensory experience for culture-Conscious travellers. All guest rooms are spacious (317 Sq.Ft) with a 9 foot high ceiling, free Wi-Fi, 42” LCD TV, bath amenities created Bliss Spa and Plug and Play docking stations. The Centrepiece of an aloft room is the ultra comfortable signature bed.

Up to 2863 sq ft. of indoor meeting and event space and function rooms will instinctively suit all requests. From small intimate board meetings (500 sq ft), to lavish receptions and cocktail

evenings, the conventions team will give you take care of the planning details to make your event a grand success.

Dot.yum, an all-day dining restaurant offers a breezy breakfast, buffet lunch or leisurely dinner. Estia, is the Mediterranean specialty restaurant set in an alluring ambience. Estia originates from the word “HESTIA” - who was a Goddess of the earth.

Grab and go, gourmet, featuring an innovative menu of sweet, savory and healthy options, from light meals and mix-and-match munchies to make-your-own cappuccinos and more. Re: mix, the lounge can be used as either a playful place or a quiet space. Sip a drink, read the paper or enjoy free Wi-Fi.

At the ever vibrant w xyz

bar you can meet, mix and mingle over cocktails a-dull-moment . The fun flows freely with everything from Pints to Pinot Noirs to specialty sippers, plus a snack-attack menu, mood music, can’t miss events.

Re-Charge, the state of art fitness center, features treadmills, elliptical cross trainers and recumbent bikes giving you the opportunity for sprint, stretch, lift and pump – day or night. Splash, the pool, is open from morning to night; so any time is right for a dip.

Aloft offers other amenities like Pool Table / Splash Pool / Retail Shop, Complimentary Wi-Fi Facility, 24-hour laundry with express pressing services, 24-hour in room dining and concierge and travel desk services.

Aloft in style!

Speed Wings Academy Launches New CourseMSI Newswire | Kochi

Speedwings Aviation Academy in Kochi became the first

ATC in India to launch the newly designed course ‘IATA Passenger Ground Services’ recently. The course was launched by MLA of Ernakulam, Hiby Eden at a function held on 29th January 2013 at Speedwings auditorium “. In his keynote address Eden stressed the need of trained personal in the aviation sector as the growth in the industry has opened up a new arena in the job sector. “In this age of fake institutions offering job oriented courses Speed wings has proved their true mettle by serving the aspirants for long 19 years”, he said. Mayor of Ernakulam, Tony Chammany and a large fraternity from the Airline

industry also attended the function.

The course mainly deals with airport and airline operations, CRS and Departure Control Systems (DCS) functions, Passenger & Baggage check-in procedures (airport & off-site), Conditions of passenger & baggage carriage, boarding procedures and departure messages, DGR awareness for passenger service agents, Managing passenger interactions, Aviation security procedures for passenger & baggage transport and enhanced passenger facilitation, latest innovations and career opportunities.

The “open sky policy” of the Government of India is also creating a ready and large Market for professionally qualified and skilled staff

in airport passenger check-in, baggage handling, airport cargo acceptance and handling, Passenger/cargo manifestation, Unit Load Devices, Lost & Found, Load Control, Weight and Balance; DGR, Live Animal Regulations, handling perishable cargo, etc. The demand is continuously increasing for professionally

qualified personnel as quality cannot be compromised in service activities.

The Speedwings Aviation Academy has been established to cater to these needs and is open to all those who wish to carve out such a challenging & interesting career in the world’s fastest growing Industry.

Suryagarh Wins ET NOW - IndiaMART ‘Leaders of Tomorrow’ AwardMSI Newswire | Jaisalmer

Suryagarh, the luxury boutique hotel in Jaisalmer, was

felicitated as the ‘Leaders of Tomorrow’ in the Travel and Hospitality category by Economic Times – IndiaMART Awards 2012. The award was presented by Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Enterprises to Manvendra Singh Shekhawat, Managing Director, Suryagarh in a glittering ceremony at The Taj Palace hotel in New Delhi.

Shekhwat, said, “I am humbled yet proud to win this award. Suryagarh’s vision from the beginning is not to be just any hotel,

but to be a place around which fabulous and fantastic experiences emanate. In that, it is our constant effort to offer superlative luxury and service that is beyond just memorable. Above all, at Suryagarh we want time-that greatest of luxuries-to slow down, something all too rare in the hustle and bustle of

modern life.”

India’s leading financial firm, Ernst & Young undertook an exhaustive analysis to felicitate the best in all categories. The process began with selecting 30 SMEs in each of the 14 categories from 75,000 nominations based on their contribution

to India’s GDP and the employment opportunities provided by the SMEs. The pre-jury shortlisted the top 5 in each of the categories and the final jury which comprised of prominent business personalities after a pre jury and grand jury round, the top five were selected.


NEWSLINE

Divine Destination

Swamimalai Swaminathanmalai Temple (Tiruverakam)In this article, Anju Das traces the history of Swamimalai Swaminathanmalai Temple in Tamilnadu

It is said that the history of South India is truly the history of Murugan, the

Warrior Lord of the Tamils. Dedicated to this deity are

numerous stories of valour, wisdom and grace, as also many exquisitely crafted megalithic temples, that dot the state of Tamil Nadu. Of

these, six temples have been sung by Tirugnanasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar in the Tēvāram (divine folk lore) songs as “AruPadaiVeedu”

or, the “Six Battle Camps” of Lord Murugan; Swamimalai is one of them.

The temple is built on an artificial hillock of about sixty feet height with sixty beautifully laid stone steps representing the Hindu cycle of sixty years- leading to the Lord. In the ground floor there are temples dedicated to Lord Sundareswarer and Goddesss Meenakshi.

The Ideehyamala relates the significance of this temple:

Once Lord Brahma came to Mount Kailasa and walked in proudly. Lord Murugan called Brahma and asked him for the meaning of the pranava mantra ‘OM’.

Brahma replied that “Om means Lord Brahma.”

Angered, Murugan gave Brahma a beating on all four heads and kicked him out of Kailasa. Murugan then



Divine Destination

threw Brahma in prison at Kandaverpilai. Then he himself took over the job of creation, protection and destruction of the universe.

Lord Siva came to know about Brahma’s imprisonment and sent Nandi to request Murugan to release Brahma. But Murugan ignored the request.

When Narada told Siva about Murugan’s refusal to release Brahma, Siva laughed and he himself came to Lord Murugan, released Brahma and gave him back his work of Creation.

Then Lord Siva made Murugan to sit on His lap and asked him the meaning of ‘OM’.

Murugan whispered the meaning to Lord Siva’s ear. Siva was awestruck at this profound explanation and bent his head in respect before His Son. Thus, relates mythology, Murugan became Swami Nathan, the lord of his own father.

Another version states that Saint Bhrigu before commencing an arduous tavam or penance got the boon that anybody disturbing

his mediation will forget all his knowledge. Such was the power of the penance that the sacred fire emanating from the head of the saint reached up to the heavens, and the frightened Devas surrendered to Lord Siva praying for his grace. The Lord extinguished the sacred fire by covering the saint’s head by hand. With the saint’s penance thus disturbed the Lord became oblivious of all his knowledge and is said to have regained

them by learning the Pranava mantra from Lord Muruga at this shrine.The adage goes that wisdom is to be respected irrespective of the age relationship or stature of the person divulging it.Sub-temples

Among the sub-temples, around the Swamimalai temple, the SvetaVinayagar temple at Tiruvalanchuliis an important one. A unique feature of this temple is the

SvetaVinayagar or White Pillaiyar made of thesea foam formed at the time of churning of the Milky Ocean by the devas and asuras to get Amrutha (nectar of immortality). The sacred Cauvery River flowing nearby herself has turned around in a right semicircle around this shrine and hence the name Valanchuli or right twists.

Relatively unnoticed is the architecturally beautiful


Divine Destination

temple at Kilpazhayarai dedicated to Lord Somanathaswami at a little distance away from the Murugan temple to the east. We chanced upon this temple on our drive around to get a shot of the Kaveri River. The outer temple walls serve very well to conceal the huge temple housed inside.It is quite unexpectedly large though unassuming from the outside. The walls of the sanctum- sanctorum of the Amman are embellished with graceful murals of royal women, probably inspired from the Chola and Pallava Queens of the Era. The Idol Makers

Exquisitely poised and supple Chola bronze deities are some of the greatest work of art ever created in India. It is the Nataraja Shiva as the Lord of Dance which is arguably the greatest artistic creation of the entire Chola dynasty.

The Cholas’ tradition of bronze idol making has survived to this day in the workshops of the Stapathy Family at Swamimalai. RadhakrishnaStapathy is the twenty third in a long hereditary line stretching back to the great bronze casters of the Chola Empire which have ruled most of the southern India until the end of the thirteenth century.

When the temples were first built, the large stone idols of the temple sanctuaries were often found to be too large to move around. It was for this reason that in the 10thcentury, the first portable deities began to be cast in south India.

The Stapathy’s had been sculptors of stone idols in Vellore, before being called to Tanjore, to learn the art of bronze casting at the time of Rajaraja 1(AD 985- 1014).

This happened after one of his ancestors discovered by accident that clay made from, especially fine silt at the bendin the Kaveri on the edge of the town was uniquely well suited to making the mould in which the bronzes were cast.

The bronze idol business had now kept in work for nearly 700 years. The art seems to have begun in the count of the Pallava monarchs of Kanchipuram, but it was under the patronage of their nemesis, the Chola kings of Tanjore, that the sculptures of this rejoin brought the art into perfection. On the completion of their great dynastic temple in Tanjore, in 1010 AD, the Chola’s donated to their new structure, no fewer than 60 bronze images of deities of which about two thirds were given by Rajaraja 1. While the rest were given by his sisters, queens, officials, and nobles. According to RahakrishnaStapathy, “The stapathy who oversaw all this casting was his direct ancestor- unjaramalla Rajaraja Perunthachan”. The Navagraha Temples Circuit

An important tour is warranted to be mentioned along with this temple; this being one involving the Navagraha Temples strewn around Kumbhakonam. They are a group of Siva and Amman temples that have powerful deities of the nine

grahas (planets) in Vedic Astrology. They are listed in box.

The whole circuit, starting from Swamimalai and back, is about 210 km. It requires proper planning to complete the rounds in one day, covering all the temples in the timings that they remain open for Darshan. The touris enlightening and the experience is a major epiphany to say the least.How to get there

Swamimalai is a sylvan village, situated about five kilometers west of Kumbakonam on the banks of a tributary of river Cauvery, on the road connecting Kumbhakonam

and Thiruvaiyaaru, in Tanjore District of Tamil Nadu in South India.

The Main temple is situated very close to the bus stand and the railway station, about two kilometers away. It is well connected to and surrounded by important places like Kumbakonam, Tiruvidaimarutur, Mayiladuthurai, Papanasam and Tanjavur.

For theconvenience of the pilgrims and devotees, the Temple Board provides 11 rooms, four cottages, two VIP cottages, one donor cottage, three marriage halls and one dining hall have been constructed and are let out at nominal rent.

Suriyan (Sun) - Suriyanarkovil - Sri KasiViswanatharChandran (Moon) - Thingaloor - Sri KailasanatharGuru (Jupiter) - Alangudi - Sri AabhatsakayeswararRaaghu (North Lunar Node) - Thirunageswaram - Sri NaganatharBhudhan (Mercury) - Thiruvenkadu - Sri SwatharanyeswararSukran (Venus) - Kanjanoor - Sri AgneeswararKedhu (South Lunar Node) - Keezhaperumpallam - Sri NaganatharSani (Saturn) - Thirunallaru - Sri DharbaranyeswararChevvai (Mars) - VaitheeswaranKovil - Sri Vaitheeswarar

‘Sathchithanandam’, the homestay is a traditional nalukettu

(an ancient Kerala architecture technique of house making for the cyclical fl ow of air), has been modifi ed to an elegant home.

About 20 Km away from Kochi, Sathchithanandam is situated at Perumbalam (the one and only homestay on this tiny island). Perumbalam is a beautiful island situated on the famous back waters of Kerala on the Vembanad Lake in Alappuzha district.

Sathchithanandam has a vision emerged from the “One World concept” and it is rooted in the ancient ‘Vedas’. The Vedas says ‘atmah’ (spirit) has no creed, colour, race and religion. It is based on the policy of oneness. At this home stay everyone is treated alike without segregation.

Sathchithanandam takes special care to arrange one day trips to the nearest tourist destinations. You can enjoy the canoeing and boating through the greenly shores

of Vembanadu Lake. You can get a feel of the real life of the village the tiny island by cycling and motor cycle riding.

There is a natural pond where you can do angling and fi shing. Also there is a natural garden with plenty of odorous fl owers and refreshing trees. You can hear the twittering of birds and ripples of waters when you sit beside the lake. It would be a heavenly experience.

The home stay is fi lled with the aroma of medicated valuable trees. Here you can fi nd neem, banyan tree, holy basil and a plenty of others. More over there is trees commonly found in Kerala namely mango tree, gambooge, pepper, coffee and nutmeg tree. It is a fact that the surroundings of Sathchithanandam are fresh and cool by the shades of trees which rejuvenate cells of your body.

Butterfl ies, fi refl ies, beetles, bees, birds and squirrels are daily visitors here. For them, typical trees of their taste

are planted. You can see and observe how they make their simple life. A sitting place over the waves of the lake some feet away from the shore is created for you to watch the sunset and enjoy the dusk. You can have an unforgettable evening in candle lights with delicious barbeque, snacks and drinks. Chinese Fishing nets are provided for guests to experience fi shing techniques.

Sathchithanandam promotes eco friendly tourism by adopting green energy (solar), bio gas for cooking and organic farming. There is no compromise in anything which is harmful to the ecosystem. In harmony with the nature Sathchithanandam has started apiculture (beekeeping) in the homestay.

Sathchithanandam offers you a great opportunity for ayurvedic treatment in CKV hospital established in 1952. The hospital is run by Dr.V R Suresh and Dr.Shailaja Suresh. It is the holistic experience what the hospital aims for with its range of Ayurvedic treatments and therapies.

Homestay with a Difference

Nithin R.ProprietorSathchithanandam Home Stay


PROFILE

NEWSLINE


ATF TRAVEX 2013 - OPENING NEW AVENUESMSI Newswire | Vientiane

Lao PDR-ATF TRAVEX 2013 opened at Lao ITECC on 21st January

2013 by Laos’ Cice Prime Minister, Mr. Asang Laoly. He was also joined by tourism ministers from ASEAN member countries.

Following the previous day’s TRAVEX Briefi ng session, the business appointment scheduling began with the Seller-Meet-Buyer (SMB) session and later, the Buyer-Meet-Seller session on the exhibition fl oor. Most of the participants from across the world were of the opinion that this has generated good business for them.

ATF’s education component, the ASEAN Tourism Conference (ATC)was also very well attended by ATF TRAVEX delegates and Lao university students.

Mr. Mario Hardy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, PATA Foundationkicked off the conference with his keynote speech, followed by an interview with moderator, Mr. Imtiaz Muqbil.

Speakers, Datuk Dr. Victor Wee, Mr. Umberto Cadamuro, Mr. Jimmy Sim and Mr. Anthony Wong shared statistics, experiences and practical tips on how DMCs, hotels, tourists and locals can embrace eco tourism in a way that is sustainable, responsible and profi table to all stakeholders.

The audience was positive about the quality of the speakers and the content of the conference. Said Mr. Nikolaus Lohmann, Managing Director of Earth TV Network GmbH, “The speeches and panel discussions were fascinating and I think this discussion about eco tourism

needs to be taken to the world stage. ASEAN has learnt from the mistakes of earlier movers and is now full of great projects to encourage ecotourism.”

The international and local media showed up in full strength at the NTO media briefi ngs of Lao PDR, Malaysia and Philippines..Delegates have made the most of the variety of networking opportunities such as the hosted luncheons by the Host Committee, Laos and Tourism Malaysia, the ‘Malaysia Night’ hosted dinner and the late night function by Philippine Department of Tourism. The next two days will offer even more networking opportunities through the Pattaya Variety Night and hosted luncheons by host country, Laos.

Talking about ATF 2013,

Mr. Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media said, “This event has been enjoyable and rewarding thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICT), Laos. It has been a pleasure working with the host committee to organise this show and we have thoroughly enjoyed their spirit of cooperation.” The next year’s ATF will be held at Malaysia and all eyes are now towards it.

MSI Newswire | Berlin

The travel industry follows its own rules, something that many

startups and established companies new to this sector discover. Despite this, the level of interest shown by

ITB Berlin supports Travel Tractioninvestors and startups is high. This is the audience that Travel Traction by OpenTravel, supported by the world’s leading travel trade show, will be addressing on the eve of ITB Berlin. In addition to providing a networking opportunity the event will be hosting lectures and discussions, with experts offering their in-depth knowledge. The event takes place on 5 March 2013, in ICC on the exhibition grounds.

“The rules of the tourism industry pose huge challenges to newcomers to this sector“, says Dr. Martin Buck, director of the Competence Center Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin GmbH. “At the same time, these companies contribute signifi cantly to moving this industry

forward. For us as the leading international travel trade show it is all the more important that we support this event.”

Among those speaking will be Douglas Quinby, Senior Director of Research, PhoCusWright, who will look at a new survey entitled „Travel Innovation – The State of Start-Ups 2010-2013.“ Kevin May, editor of the trade publication Tnooz, and ValynPerini, CEO OpenTravel, will also be taking part in the discussion. Corporate strategists and investors will be providing in-depth knowledge and relating their experiences in the travel industry.

The event comprises three tracks: one of these focuses on different types of business

models, such as the distribution of an existing product – via a metasearch site such as Trivago – or the creation of one’s own portfolio, for example in the case of Hostelworld or AirBnB.

Another topic is technology. For industry newcomers connectivity and compatibility often represent huge obstacles in terms of programming. The panel of experts will also dwell on the topics of procurement, sales and choosing service providers, such as airlines, cruise operators and hotels.

40

41

Dynamic Tactics

Sales and marketing is considered as the pillar of any organization and you being the head, tell us how you came to this field?

I am basically a Management Trainer but then switching over from management trainer to the hospitality field as GM Sales might sound outlandish , but in both places you need the art of convincing people and use your marketing strategy to make people accept your service, be it Training or a Premium Resort.

I am grateful to my

directors Benny John and his wife Jaya Benny for having the trust in me to entrust their property ‘s marketing promotion.

Tourism and travelling is a fun filled and change oriented business. How do you enjoy your job?

Very true its fun filled , innovative and it gives chance to interact with people from different walks of life and from different part of the globe.

Is there any inspirational factor for you to come to this field?

The high potential in Tourism and the rich culture Kerala has to offer to all visiting travellers has really inspired me to switch over to the hospitality sector.

Describe us about the art of marketing? Give us a few tips on your marketing tactics?

Art of marketing cannot be taught, it has to be acquired. But maybe a few tips can be imparted – be people oriented, be persistent and always ensure your networking is strong.

When you help people explore the world what sort of satisfaction do you derive out of it?

The satisfaction of you achieving the goal; a feeling of mission accomplished.

How do you manage your own holidays amidst your business schedule?

Holidays are mandatory in my agenda

Any future agenda for your clients?

My agenda is to make traveller unlock the secret of solitude to provide more opportunities to blend with nature at Wayanad

Silverwoods.

Have you ever thought of selling some new ideas and concepts for the people who really go for changes?

Never be a ‘dull knife‘, it doesn’t cut into the market place; be flexible and innovative.

Personally speaking which is your favourite tourism spot?

My favorite spot will always be an exquisite eco friendly jungle getaway, where you can unravel the beauty of wilderness

Have you ever thought of selling some new ideas and concepts for the people who really go for changes?

Very much in the agenda

Any secret tips for the marketing professionals?

Be persistent- never give up; keep a sense of commitment -- because talent falls through the cracks without commitment; cross pollinate ideas with others , which will help you to be successful …marketing head is never an island; always be a big picture sales manager and not a micro manager

Susan Abraham, General Manager, Sales & Marketing, Wayanad Silverwoods, in a chat

with Asian Traveller, talks about the miles stones she has achieved in the hospitality industry. She is

the dynamic sales person of WAYANAD SILVERWOODS where she converts

her ideas into creativity.

1st Person



COLUMN

V Duraikkannan

Recently a friend of mine posted a picture of his

from his maiden trip to Salzburg in Vienna and the location was, so it happened, the exact location where the famed movie ‘ The Sound of Music’ was shot way back in 1965. The musical film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer was a runaway success when it was released winning a total of five Academy Awards including Best Picture. It is preserved to the date in the National Film Registry for its cultural and historical importance. But, unfortunately my friend was not privy to any of this information.

Back home in India too, it is quite common that men and women see places without ever getting the to know of their history and importance. It is like willingly letting go of what we have to partake in.

Recently I was travelling around Bangalore and Mysore in Karnataka ( I am at a loss to understand how come Bangalore is now Bengaluru but Mysore continues to be still Mysore and not Mysuru?!) and was very much impressed by the continuous opening up of one history after another. The cities on the Bangalore-Mysore stretch were sporting nice names for themselves as we were traversing them - Ramnagar was Silk City, Chennapatna was Toy City, and Mysore was Garden City!

Though I had lived in Karnataka for about fifteen years and passed through Ramnagar or Ramanagara as the locals call it quite a few times, this was the first time

that I learned that the town was once called Closepet and it was named after Sir Barry Close (1756–1813), an army officer in the East India Company those days who was posted to deal with the then Mysore rulers.

Ramnagar is known as ‘the Mecca of Rock Climbers’ and the famous movies like ‘Sholay’ and ‘A Passage to India’ were shot here.

Even as regards the more popular city Bangalore, how many of us are aware that the name ‘Bangalore’ is just the Kannada version of Tamil ‘Vendha Kadalai Oor’(meaning ‘Boiled Beans Village’) which became ‘Bendha Kaalu Oor’ in Kannada and eventually today’s Bangalore or Bengaluru! The chieftain who developed the city was Kempe Gowda whose name is immortalized in the K.G.Circle in Bangalore.

Magadi was the capital of Kempe Gowda before he could build and develop Bangalore and the Magadi is part of Ramnagar district now. Talking about Magadi, one cannot but think of the renowned writer R.K.Narayan and his ‘Malgudi’. Most of us would have read R K

Narayan’s ‘MALGUDI DAYS’. Does anyone know where Malgudi is? It is actually the combination of the names of two areas in Bangalore - one where R.K.Narayan lived and the other where his in-laws lived. It is a combination of ‘MAL’ from Malleswaram and ‘GUDI’ from Basavangudi ‘ !

At the Mysore zoo, I had another surprise! Has anyone heard of Polo who was sent to Mysore from Ireland’s Dublin Zoo in 1995? Polo is the one and the only gorilla available in India, if not the entire South Asia as some accounts claim. Polo is 6 feet tall, dark-haired, bilingual (obeys commands both in Kannada & English!) and good-natured and has been alone since 2000 when his mate, 46-year-old Sumathi, died. Otherwise our assumption is that there would be a quite number of gorillas in the forest, if not in the zoos.

Travel will educate one for sure. And travelling nowadays is not all that difficult as it used to be. Any part of the world is connectible under twenty-fours of flying and our neighbouring provinces are accessible under eight to ten hours by bus, train or

42


COLUMN

car. Travel once used to be arduous and was difficult. In fact, the words ‘travel’ meaning journey and ‘travail’ meaning agony are of the same origin. Obviously travel was a big ordeal and agony in the Middle Ages as there was not available any of the

modern day amenities either by way of a vehicle or a road.

At the same time, we do not have to have a great amount of money or time at our disposal for the travelling and touristic pleasures for every region we are in have their own history and unseen

beauties unexplored so much in abundance. Rabindranth Tagore was writing : ‘It is strange that people look for beauty in those distant mountains and far-flung destinations when they have the beauty lying at their very own feet - one just need to look at the grass with its blades bearing and dangling the tiny droplets of the morning dews!’

Our country India has so much in its repertoire for us to see and enjoy but we are blithely oblivious to all its richness and beauty. Sometimes I feel that whenever a citizen of India applies for a visa to visit another country especially for the purpose of tourism, there should be a qualifying check on the applicant

whether he or she has already seen a certain amount of what India has to offer by way of endorsement and/or some test to be eligible for the same. And on the other hand, our state and central governments have to reinforce certain definitive measures to improve the quality of tourism in our country. The counter at the boat ride counter at the famed Brindhavan Gardens, Mysore was unmanned even during the official hours and the beautiful statues placed in the midst of waters were either broken or were not having their spouts working with no one to care for them! It is high time that we the people had the pride in our heart for what we have in our country and the powers that be did their bit of duty!

MSI Newswire | Portugal

It seems Bollywood is going places!! Now it’s Portugal’s turn to

recognize the potential of India’s film industry as a high ranking delegation from Portugal have recently met with the Indian film fraternity comprising of prominent line producers and location coordinators associated with big production houses such as Disney UTV, Pop Corn Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (Sunil Shetty’s production company), BSK Network and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., (Boney and Sridevi Kapoor’s film production company) amongst others during their visit to India.

Commenting on the maiden visit to India, Cecilia Meireles, Secretary of State

for Tourism of Portugal, said, “We have always felt close to India, especially on account of our historic connection with the State of Goa. Our maiden marketing initiative will hopefully position Portugal as leisure, historic & cultural destination amongst the Indian travellers. Films are a wonderful medium for showcasing a destination and all that it has to offer a first time visitor. Bollywood is hugely popular not only in India is also loved by millions across the world. Thus the Indian film industry is a key target market for us as it provides an ideal and effective platform to promote Portugal to Indians thereby increasing tourist footfalls into Portugal.”

Meireles was accompanied by Jorge Roza de Oliveira,

Ambassador of Portugal to India; Frederico Costa, President of Turismo de Portugal, senior Government officials and the heads of some of Portugal’s finest hoteliers and local tour operators.

They conducted a B2B networking workshop titled ‘Portugal Experience Workshop 2012’ in New Delhi and Mumbai and the delegation interacted

with an impressive 500 to 600 pre-selected Indian trade professionals that comprise major travel & tour operators, wedding planners, golf & cruise promotional organizations in addition to MICE operators. The objective of this marketing initiative was to build cordial relationships between the two countries while providing an impetus to inbound tourism into Portugal.

Portugal Join Hands with Bollywood to Promote Tourism

MSI Newswire | Bhutan

Charson Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd., one of the leading

destination marketing, brand management and public relations agencies dedicated to the Indian travel and tourism industry, has been appointed as India representative office of Tourism Council of Bhutan(TCB). On being appointed as the representative office, Carl Vaz, Chairman & CEO of Charson Advisory, said, “We are immensely proud to have been selected as Tourism Council of Bhutan’s India representative office. Our aim will be to

promote various strengths of Bhutan by focusing on the luxury market segment by highlighting the culture and heritage, sports and wellbeing aspects of the destination. Given the burgeoning outbound market in India, we are confident of increasing the number of quality Indian tourist arrivals into Bhutan through active cooperation of the Indian travel fraternity.”

ThujiDorjiNadik, Acting Managing Director for the Secretariat of the TCB said, “We have always felt close to India on account of our proximity to the country, its people and association through trade and tourism. Given the importance and

potential of the Indian outbound market, we have entrusted Charson Advisory with the responsibility of further strengthening Bhutan’s relationship with Indian travel trade community, travelers and developing new niche market segments.”

Charson Advisory, headquartered out of

Mumbai, boasts of a diverse range of travel and tourism related clients that include tourism boards, travel search engines and the hospitality sector. Charson Advisory will be responsible for carrying out marketing initiatives, trade industry relations, media networking and public relations activities in India on behalf of Tourism Council of Bhutan.

TCB Appoints Charson Advisory as India Representatives


NEWSLINE

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Test your knowledge contest 62


Ashis Rout, appointed as Executive Chef of Courtyard by Marriott, Gurgaon

Balan Paravantavida, appointed as General Manager of JW Marriott Hotel, New Delhi

Vineet Mahajan, appointed as DSOM of AYANA Resort and Spa, Bali.

Miguel Munoz, appointed as Head of Resort Operations of Sterling Holiday Resorts (India)

Satya Prakash, appointed as the General Manager of Hilton Garden Inn, New Delhi

Vivek Bhatt, appointed as Executive Chef of Hyderab Marriott Hotel

Kapil Chopra, appointed as President of The Oberoi Group

Phil Broad Jain, appointed as New Vice President for F&B of IHG Asia

& &

Kanika Hasrat, appointed as General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott, Gurgaon

Monisha Dewan, appointed as General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton, Gurgaon

asian traveller january 2013

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