Hilton News | Hilton Launches Female Development Program in Sri Lanka

SRI LANKA - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced its partnership with the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) to launch Hilton Liya Diriya­ – a specially curated female development program in Sri Lanka.

Translating to ‘female courage,’ Hilton Liya Diriya aims to provide training opportunities for local female students keen to build a career in hospitality. Selected participants will undergo two training phases to pick up practical knowledge, skills and experiences, involving a one-month period dedicated to theoretical training with SLITHM and a six-month industrial traineeship at one of Hilton’s properties in Sri Lanka. 

The establishment of the program is in line with Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 goal of doubling its social impact investment, and underscores its continued commitment to ensuring inclusive growth, sustainable solutions and economic opportunities for all, even during these unprecedented times. Furthermore, by empowering its female participants and enabling them to pursue a career in hospitality, Hilton Liya Diriya also aims to create a positive impact on the community by increasing the historically lower1 labor force participation rate for women in Sri Lanka.

On top of the training, participants will receive support from Hilton throughout the duration of the program, in the form of accommodation, allowance and mentoring. Upon graduation, they will also be awarded certifications, as well as employment opportunities at a Hilton property in Sri Lanka or abroad.

“Sri Lanka has shown immense potential for us over the years, evidenced by the resilience of the country, its promising tourism sector and ongoing improvements to infrastructure which have laid a strong foundation for us to kickstart our robust expansion plans,” said Paul Hutton, vice president, operations, Hilton in South East Asia. “Despite the challenges caused by the health pandemic, we continue to recognize its long-term prospects and have doubled down on our commitment to putting Sri Lanka on the global roadmap with the recent opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort in November – our third Hilton property in the country.”

Commenting on the opportunity to further extend the Hilton Effect in Sri Lanka, Hutton added: “In line with our growing presence in the country, we also want to continue honoring our founder, Conrad Hilton, and his ambition to be the most hospitable company in the world, by doing our part for the communities we operate in. Through the introduction of Hilton Liya Diriya, we hope to leverage our scale and capacity to advance women’s economic empowerment in the country by identifying and developing the best local talents, and I look forward to seeing them excel in their careers with us.”

Kimarli Fernando, chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism, said: "We aspire to achieve a higher level of female participation in Sri Lanka's hospitality industry, especially in the skilled and value creation areas, which would provide more opportunities for them to further their careers in the longer term. Currently, women make up less than 10 percent of the hospitality workforce locally, compared to 54 percent globally. This is a strategic change Sri Lanka Tourism is striving for and we are delighted to partner with Hilton on the Hilton Liya Diriya program, which is a major step forward to champion the strategic change in our workforce."

1 2019, The World Bank, Labor force participation rate, female – Sri Lanka

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising more than 6,700 properties and more than 1 million rooms, in 122 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on the 2021 World’s Best Workplaces list, and was named the 2020 Global Industry Leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. In 2020, 

Hilton CleanStay was introduced, bringing an industry-defining standard of cleanliness to hotels worldwide. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the nearly 123 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check-in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone.

NEWS | FHRAI announces scholarships for BSc in Hotel and Hospitality Administration

As a special case, the scholarship will be provided to the children of hospitality.

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) in association with its regional associations has announced the launch of a scholarship program for students interested in pursuing a three-year BSc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from the FHRAI Institute of Hospitality Management (FHRAI-IHM), Greater Noida.

FHRAI-IHM is the first and only private institution run by an Industry Association to be affiliated with the National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology (NCHMCT), an autonomous body under the ministry of tourism, Government of India.

Children of employees of member establishments of FHRAI and its regional associations will be offered 50 percent waiver in the admission, enrolment, tuition and examination fees and 20 percent waiver will be offered to children from the families of hospitality patrons or employees. As a special case, the scholarship will also be provided to the children of hospitality sector employees of member establishments who lost jobs during the pandemic, based on a certification by the member establishment and the regional associations.

The admissions will be based on the merit of Class XII results, availability of seats, and approval of the affiliating organization - NCHMCT, Noida. Registration is open for direct admission at https://www.fhrai-ihm.com/.

“India’s tourism and hospitality sector has the potential to become the growth engine of our economy by accelerating demand and supply in the market along with generating employment in millions. At the moment, the entire sector is reeling under the impact of the pandemic and we are witnessing its cascading effects on the field of hospitality education as well. Under the present environment, all stakeholders should join hands to ensure that the growth prospects of the hospitality industry do not get hamstrung due to current challenges. With the launch of the scholarship scheme, FHRAI and its regional Associations will take the lead to promote hospitality education in the country to pick up from where we left off prior to the pandemic,” says Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, vice-president, FHRAI.

“The scholarship scheme can be availed by children of employees working in the member establishments of FHRAI and its regional associations who fulfill the age and eligibility criteria for admission as per NCHMCT norms. Associations will shortlist the eligible candidates from their region and recommend them for enrolment in FHRAI – IHM under the scholarship program. It is our endeavour to create a qualified and committed workforce for the sector and we would like a maximum number of students to avail of this scholarship opportunity,” says Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, vice-president, FHRAI.

NEWS | Dusit International partners with leading educational and culinary institutes to develop Thailand's first academy of gastronomy with business incubation facilities - 'The Food School'

Set to open in Bangkok in Q1 2022, the state-of-art facility will offer culinary training and business incubation services to drive innovation in Thailand's food and beverage sector.

Dusit International, one of Thailand's leading hotel and property development companies, is set to expand its hospitality education business in the kingdom with a unique joint venture offering experiential training in Italian, Japanese, and Thai cuisines - plus exclusive incubation services for food and beverage startups - in a state-of-the-art facility in Bangkok.

Called The Food School, the project occupies 3,200 sq m of thoughtfully designed space set over three floors at the new Creative & Startup Village in the city's Sam Yan district, just a five-minute walk from Sam Yan MRT underground station.

Equity partners in the THB 336 million development include Dusit International; Glowfish Co-Working Space (under privately owned real estate investment company, Heritage Estates Co., Ltd.); Allied Metals, one of Asia's leading suppliers of professional kitchens and kitchen infrastructure; and La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana (ALMA), recognised as the world's leading education and training centre for Italian cuisine.

Designed to provide an innovative, progressive and experiential learning environment, and targeted at young professionals, keen amateurs, career-switchers, and entrepreneurs seeking to get the best possible start for their food and beverage businesses, The Food School will bring together three globally recognised institutions - including Dusit's own Dusit Thani College; Japan's renowned Tsuji Culinary Institute; and ALMA. Each will offer long-course modules in Thai cuisine, Japanese cuisine, and Italian cuisine and bakery, respectively.

Students will also have access to The Food School's unique entrepreneurial incubator platform, The Test Kitchen, which will offer facilities for product testing and experimentation; business planning services; professional coaching and mentorship from renowned local chefs; and exclusive opportunities to get financial support from investors during specially arranged pitching sessions.

Alongside sourcing sustainable produce from selected farms throughout Thailand, the academy will bring in premium imported ingredients to ensure authenticity. Regular events will showcase innovations and new food and beverage business trends. A community dining room, meanwhile, will serve as a venue for students, instructors, locals, visitors, mentors and mentees to exchange ideas and evaluate new concepts.

"The Food School aims to create a vibrant, dynamic and collaborative ecosystem that brings together Thailand's food community to drive positive social, environmental, and economic developments in the food and beverage industry at large," said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International. "Three clear highlights set The Food School apart as a unique proposition in Bangkok. First, it is the first mover in the market to offer multi-cuisine training and business incubation all under one roof. Second, its Test Kitchen facilities will provide an unrivalled opportunity for experienced or fledgling chefs and savvy entrepreneurs to trial new concepts, receive advice on these concepts from seasoned industry experts, and tap into Thailand's dynamic food and beverage market. Third, the Food School will play an active role in the food and beverage community by hosting regular events that bring together key industry players to discuss the latest trends, evaluate concepts, and brainstorm the way ahead for established and upcoming food and beverage businesses alike."

Ms Suthumpun said that no other facility offers such comprehensive services for culinary startups and young professionals in Bangkok.

"By responding to the professional needs of the market in the new normal, fully leveraging Dusit's rich experience in providing hospitality education for more than 20 years, and offering direct access to mentorship from celebrated chefs and well-known restaurateurs in Thailand, and later globally, we look forward to helping The Food School's students, entrepreneurial associates, and community supporters to fulfill their potential with services, facilities and hands-on learning specially created to equip them for success in the brighter post-COVID-19 days ahead."

Ms. Prim Jitcharoongphorn, Chairperson of the Executive Board at Allied Metals, said, "The highlight of The Food School facility is the design of kitchen classrooms that fosters teamwork and collaboration among peers. Our facility is equipped with eco-friendly equipment which is energy-efficient, user-friendly, and versatile. Kitchens at The Food School are truly state of the art. We are delighted that our innovative solutions will contribute to the sustainable development of culinary talents in Thailand by facilitating maximum productivity with minimal environmental impact."

Mr Gavin Vongkusolkit, Managing Director of Heritage Estates Co. Ltd & Founder of Glowfish Co-Working Space, said, "Glowfish is all about people, community, and genuine collaboration, and any partnership or project we undertake will always be built on these solid foundations. Bringing our expertise in value-driven collaboration to The Food School, we look forward to building a thriving ecosystem of creativity and innovation, not only for Thailand's food industry but also for the wider benefit of tourism, agriculture, wellness, sustainability, entrepreneurship, education and many connecting parts of our society and economy."

NEWS | IHCL announces signing of Gorbandh Palace, Jaisalmer

With the addition of this hotel, IHCL will have 21 hotels across brands in Rajasthan including eight under development

The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) announced the signing of Gorbandh Palace in Jaisalmer. The hotel will be converted into an IHCL SeleQtions hotel post comprehensive renovations. This hotel is in partnership with Historic Resort Hotels (HRH).

Commenting on the occasion, Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said, “With the signing of this hotel, IHCL is stepping into another strategic location in Rajasthan. We will now complete the important tourist circuit of Jaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer. We thank Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar for having reposed his trust in us for the third hotel in this partnership.”

The 83-key hotel is located in the heart of Jaisalmer, close to major tourist attractions. The yellow sandstone heritage hotel will have an all-day diner, bar, recreational facilities including a spa, a banquet hall and gardens for social and business gatherings. The hotel will shut down and undergo a complete renovation before it is launched under the SeleQtions brand in the second quarter of 2023.

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, CMD, HRH, said, “This is the 50th year of our very special relationship with IHCL, which commenced with Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur in 1971 and continued with Taj Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur. We strengthen our relationship with Gorbandh Palace, Jaisalmer. I am very confident that the company will enhance the tourism potential of Jaisalmer.”

Nicknamed ‘The Golden city’, Jaisalmer in the Thar desert, stands on a ridge and is crowned by the ancient Jaisalmer Fort. Many of the houses and temples of the fort and the town below are built of finely sculptured sandstone, which gives it a golden colour.

With the addition of this hotel, IHCL will have 21 hotels across brands in Rajasthan including eight under development.

NEWS | Maldives Welcomes 1 Millionth Tourist of 2021

A colorful celebration was held at Velana International Airport on Friday (October 29) to welcome the 1 millionth Tourist to the Maldives. The 1 millionth Tourist Mr. Victor Vincent Corentin from France arrived from EK652 flight this afternoon.   

He was received by officials of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), together with the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Immigration, Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), and representatives of the Maldives tourism industry.   

The commemoration of the event started with the stamping of the passport of the 1 millionth tourist by the Maldives Immigration officer. Victor and his spouse were escorted with a traditional Maldivian bodu beru procession to the VIP lounge area. They were welcomed by Deputy Managing Director of MMPRC Neesha Shahid, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ahmed Athif, CEO & MD of MACL Gordon Andrew Stewart, Chief Principal Immigration Officer Sheeneez Ali and the Chief Guest of the ceremony Secretary General of MATI Ahmed Nazeer. The venue was decorated for the ceremony and the guest was awarded with a congratulatory certificate and special gifts representing traditional Maldivian culture and tourism.   

Victor and his spouse were given a complimentary holiday package sponsored by Villa Hotels & Resorts for 6 nights at Paradise Island Resort which can be redeemed during a period of 1 year. This is the couple’s 20th time visiting the Maldives. In addition to this, Club Med Kani upgraded their accommodation and also prepared a warm welcome for the tourists.   

Commenting on the achievement of this important milestone, Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdullah Mausoom said that “today we turn yet another page of the remarkable success story of Maldives tourism. Reaching our target tourist arrivals of One Million for the year 2021, two months in advance is a remarkable achievement. Congratulations to His Excellency President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, industry partners & employees, health professionals, local councils, related Ministries, authorities and agencies, NGOs and volunteers, tourists, fellow Maldivians; and MMPRC and Ministry of Tourism team for the continuous engagement and support towards Maldives tourism recovery. Thank you all for the valuable contributions to Maldives tourism success story.”   

Speaking on the occasion, CEO & Managing Director of MMPRC, Mohamed Thoyyib congratulated the industry stakeholders for this achievement and said, “this milestone is only possible due to the perseverance and dedication shown by the government and all the industry stakeholders. Regardless of the predicaments faced due to the pandemic, MMPRC ensured the destination was promoted in the most effective and efficient manner so as to maintain destination momentum, create brand awareness and market Maldives as a safe haven. The roles of industry stakeholders in delivering what we market abroad is what brings tourists to our shores.”   

CEO & Managing Director of MACL, Gordon Andrew Stewart said reaching this milestone is truly remarkable in the most challenging of times in travel and aviation history. “Today is a wonderful day as the Maldives receives the one millionth visitor this year. I am really impressed by the work done by Team Maldives in promoting this destination around the globe. We are seeing huge demand and our airport is now almost running at pre-covid capacity numbers, which is a unique success story in the current world of aviation. I thank all the stakeholders who have contributed to this extraordinary achievement and congratulate the lucky 1 millionth visitor this year”   

Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Ahmed Hanafy noted this is a truly remarkable milestone achieved during testing times and thanked the Immigration officers who work on the frontline to welcome visitors to the Maldives. “Resilience of the tourist arrivals has been a surprise, but the devotion of everyone involved in the tourism industry, both directly and indirectly, is compelling for the landmark, as we pass 1 million visitor arrivals today. I would like to express my gratitude to all of the contributors, particularly the immigration officers who have welcomed tourists a million times this year.”

While we celebrated the arrival of the 1 millionth visitor to the country this year, all this could not have been possible without the collective effort of the Government, Ministry of Tourism, MMPRC, MACL, Immigration Maldives, MATI, Customs and Port Health and the rest of the industry stakeholders. The continuous effort by MMPRC to market the destination as a safe haven at a time when people were reluctant to travel following the pandemic is especially noteworthy. 

The government, MMPRC and all industry stakeholders hope for nothing but success in the future to come. They are also confident that whatever crisis comes their way, they are well-equipped and prepared to face the challenges head on and take the tourism industry to the next level.  

NEWS | Adani Group to invest in Cleartrip, deepens strategic partnership with Flipkart

Adani Group to invest in Cleartrip, deepens strategic partnership with Flipkart

Collaboration to provide consumers seamless travel experiences through a wide range of products and service offerings

Visakhapatnam: October 2021: The Adani Group, India’s fastest-growing diversified conglomerate, today announced that it is investing in Cleartrip Private Limited, an online travel aggregator (OTA) and part of the Flipkart Group, India’s homegrown consumer internet ecosystem. As part of this investment, the Adani Group will acquire a significant minority stake in Cleartrip.

Through this investment, the Adani Group and the Flipkart Group will benefit from synergies that will deliver superior travel experiences to consumers as the travel industry in India sees a resurgence. Since the acquisition by the Flipkart Group, Cleartrip has seen 10x growth in flight bookings. Also, trends observed by Adani airports indicate that the number of passengers at airports has increased, reaching close to pre-covid highs. This partnership will further enable Cleartrip to transcend digital boundaries and bring end-to-end travel services online.

The investment will further enhance the strategic partnership between the Adani Group and the Flipkart Group, as both parties work towards serving Indian consumers with a wide gamut of digital offerings. As a part of the investment, Cleartrip will also serve as the Adani Group’s OTA partner.

Cleartrip’s scalable technology stack, user-friendly interface, and industry-first initiatives have made it one of the most loved travel brands in India. This, along with an experienced leadership team and Flipkart’s deep consumer-focused experience, has helped the company stabilize its prominent position in the OTA space over the last few months. By collaborating with the Adani Group in areas such as travel-related products, loyalty programs and other value-added services,

Cleartrip aims to provide consumers with a seamless travel experience and further accelerate its growth.

“We have a strongly developing relationship with Flipkart that spans multiple dimensions including data centres, fulfillment centers, and now air travel,” said Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group. “It is such strategic partnerships among homegrown companies which will eventually create local jobs as well as an Atmanirbhar Bharat. The Cleartrip platform will become an essential part of the broader SuperApp journey we have embarked upon.”

Speaking on the development, Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Chief Executive Officer, Flipkart Group, said, “At the Flipkart Group, we are focused on delivering experiences for consumers and providing opportunities to help them fulfil their aspirations. As travel picks up over the next few months, Cleartrip will continue to focus on providing easy and flexible travel experiences for its customers. We strive to strengthen our relationship with the Adani Group and will explore ways in which we can expand our offerings for consumers, leveraging their robust travel infrastructure in the country.”

The deal is expected to close in November 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. 

Reopening | Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park Completes Meeting and Banquet Venue Renovation

Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park Completes Meeting and Banquet Venue Renovation

A valued part of Chennai’s commercial hub, Crowne Plaza Adyar Park unveiled its refurbished banquet venues Mowbrays & Chamiers Hall. The venues have undergone a major refurbishing, including technology enhancements designed specifically to address the needs of meeting and event planners. The design is focused on improving the overall guest experience while delivering on the brand’s promise of intuitive and unscripted service.

To better serve business guests and social celebrations, the two grand venues featuring 5800 square feet of total banquet space showcases new furnishings, wall coverings and the latest in technology. The Banquet spaces are outfitted with premium audio/visual systems to provide every convenience for groups both large and small. Exceptional catering, Professional Crowne Meeting assistance with empanelled decorators are available on-site.

“Crowne Plaza Adyar Park provides the new-age traveller with an elevated option for meetings, business trips and leisure stay with the convenience of being in the heart of Chennai,” said Anand Nair, General Manager “The hotel adds to the overall vision to revitalize and modernize our facility and provide our patrons with the best care and experience possible when hosting events with us. The venue and complimenting services are redesigned with our guest’s comfort in mind so that they may have an uplifting experience and the opportunity to recharge during celebrations & grand events with us. We hear from meeting and event planners, while there is continuing desire for face-to-face, that hybrid meeting will be a trend that will continue. Through early adoption of Hybrid technology, the hotel is one of the first in the city to deliver an end-to-end solution for these event requests.”

The hotel continues to put spotlight on its Hybrid event solutions as a part of ‘Meet with Confidence’ program to support the changing needs of MICE and social events. The program includes resources, technology and tools in capabilities that can simultaneously connect multiple locations to regional and global business and leisure events through live streaming, creating more shared experiences for virtual and in-person attendees.

Crowne Plaza Chennai is also focused provide viable travel solutions to Business establishments, by driving IHG Hotels & Resorts global program ‘IHG Business Edge’- designed to help small to medium sized business in saving money by extending 10% discount on guestrooms & enhanced rewards; the program is tailored for companies focusing on destination-driven corporate gatherings versus large-scale conferences and events.

Hilton News | Hilton makes key sharing easier as it pushes connecting rooms

Hilton has unveiled a range of new technologies as it looks to push the boat out on the guest experience. In its latest initiative, it is allowing guests to share their room keys digitally. A move that goes hand in hand with the group’s renewed focus on selling connecting rooms.

The new digital key share allows one guest to give room access to up to four other guests through the Hilton Honors App. Since its 2015 launch, Hilton’s Digital Key has expanded rapidly. The technology is now available at more than 80 percent of Hilton’s portfolio. That’s close to 5,400 of Hilton’s more than 6,600 properties worldwide. It has been used to open more than 135 million guestroom doors and has reduced plastic waste by 125 tonnes.

Source

NEWs | Odisha to host an eco-retreat festival at Pentha Beach

Starting from 15th November, this three-and-a-half month long event will give travellers an opportunity to experience the wonders of the beach destination

Odisha’s tourism department has announced that it will host an eco-retreat festival at the scenic Pentha beach.  The festival, which will be held next month, will debut at this beach in the state’s Kendrapara district.

Starting from 15th November, this three-and-a-half month-long event will give travelers an opportunity to experience the wonders of this destination. The state government has arranged for 15 luxury tents along with various food and cultural festivals along with trekking opportunities at a nearby mangrove forest.

Last year, the Odisha tourism department organized a month-long retreat festival at Nalitapatia village. Following its success, it has decided to extend the period for this year’s event to 106 days.

Cruise Update | Princess Cruises Announces Ship Restarts for February, March and April 2022

Princess Cruises Announces Ship Restarts for February, March and April 2022

Starting between February 13 and April 22 cruises onboard three additional Princess MedallionClass™ ships will take guests to the Caribbean, Hawaii and California Coast. Crown Princess, Island Princess and Royal Princess join the eight Princess ships scheduled to restart in 2021, representing 79 percent of Princess' ship capacity. Crown Princess: On February 13, Crown Princess will join Majestic Princess and Grand Princess for sailings from Los Angeles to the California Coast and Hawaii. Then, Crown Princess will position to Seattle to sail on a couple of Pacific Northwest Coastal voyages and to Hawaii. Crown Princess will also add another Alaska departure with a new 8-day Inside Passage cruise with Glacier Bay starting on April 29, 2022

Island Princess: Travels to the Caribbean starting March 6, from Ft. Lauderdale on a 14-day, 10-day and series of 7-day cruises to the Southern, Eastern and Western Caribbean.Royal Princess: California Coast sailings from Vancouver beginning April 8, 2022."It has been thrilling to have our guests onboard enjoying real vacations in Alaska and on the west coast," said Deanna Austin, Princess Cruises chief commercial officer. "By April of 2022 we will have 11 of our ships back at sea, with the support of government and port officials, creating vacation memories for our guests."Princess cruises sailing through February 2022 are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination. Crew vaccinations will be in accordance with CDC guidelines.We will continue to monitor the latest guidance from the CDC as well as local, state and federal officials in the ports we sail from and those we visit and will adjust our onboard protocols and vaccination requirements, as necessary. Should our vaccination approach change, we would notify guests prior to final payment. PRINCESS MEDALLIONCLASS VACATIONAll Princess ships offer TrulyTouchless™ experiences that simplify the guest experience and deliver next-level service supporting new health protocols. The cruise line's award-winning OceanMedallion wearable device replaces the traditional cruise card and pairs with embedded IoT ("Internet of things") -driven innovative technology to significantly expand touch-free options and personalization on board, including Touchless embarkation and disembarkationKeyless stateroom entryCompletely contactless commerceSimplified safety training-demand food, beverages and retail items delivered anywhere onboard guest service requests via mobile device chat location-based gaming and wagering entertainment content via smart device princess ships offers the best Wi-Fi at sea, MedallionNet™, so guests can stay connected to the things and people they love and share vacation memories with ease.To accommodate this restart, select cruises on Crown Princess will be canceled.  Guests on these voyages will receive information on their rebooking options. Cruises can be booked through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.About Princess Cruises:One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is the world's leading international premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 14 modern cruise ships, carrying two million guests each year to 380 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts has curated 170 itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is continuously recognized as "Best Cruise Line for Itineraries." 

In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass Vacations enabled by the OceanMedallion, the vacation industry's most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to an effortless personalized vacation giving guests more time to do the things they love most. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).In line with the latest advice from health officials about COVID-19, Princess Cruises is currently enhancing health and safety protocols with input from medical experts and government bodies and assessing how they may impact future itineraries. Actual offerings may vary from what is displayed in marketing materials. Click on the following links to stay updated on current Cruise Updates and Health & Safety protocols.

NEWS | 3rd edition of DPIIT – ASCON Consultation Forum

Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI and Member Board – CII National Committee on Tourism and Hospitality represented Travel Trade Fraternity at the 3rd edition of DPIIT – ASCON Consultation Forum with Industry Associations’ theme “Stimulating Growth for Aatmanirbhar Bharat -Leveraging Opportunities Post Pandemic” on 9 October 2021 which was jointly organized by ASCON, CII, and supported by DPIIT, Government of India. The meeting was presided over by the Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri. Piyush Goyal. 

TAAI has actively participated & submitted its inputs and supported CII’s National Tourism Councils perspective, to the Government of India. Tourism is a significant sector & contributes 9% to the GDP of our country & nearly equal in employment.

The Six key recommendations were collated into a presentation under Investments, Cost of doing business, Ease of doing business, Trade Policy, Technology & R&D & Job creation & Skills. These were put forth to Shri. Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution during the report-back session.

Sharing some of the key recommendations by the entire committee. 

• Inclusion of Tourism in Concurrent list. The National Tourism Policy has had multiple deliberations, but a revised policy is still awaited.

• Waiver of statutory dues and licenses. ECLGS 5.0 for disbursing another 20% on outstanding loans.

• Govt. to restore SEIS to 7% for travel and 5% for hotels & to restore without legal entity wise capping of 5 crores.

• Auto-renewal of licenses without any fees for this financial year.

• Enabling investments in the industry in a time-bound manner through single-window clearances.

• Promote travel spending LTA Tax Exemption and Allow a 200 per cent weighted exemption. Need of National Tourism Fund to be created.

• An empowered Taskforce to be created with members from the Industry, Ministry of Commerce, Tourism, Environment, Shipping, Civil Aviation and Culture.

• To restart scheduled international flights in tandem with tourist visas to stimulate inbound tourism & necessary provision to be made in the new Foreign Trade Policy 2021-26 for custom duty waiver.

• Opening up tourism by starting e-visa, through Vaccine certificates & promoting India as a Safe Tourist Destination. Campaigns to attract young talent.

• Skill Development and Training in Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). Travel agents to be reskilled through certified courses. TTT courses. Endorsement/certification by Government. Rebates to be given for investments in skilling.

We believe working in tandem and a collaborated manner, emphasizing the ease of business, incentivization, effective skilling with the formation of a national task force, creating tourism fund & being included in the concurrent list is the need of the hour. And, the government needs to support & establish all these & bring corrective policies to see the growth of the Travel & Tourism sector to build a strong economically driven Atmanirbhar India, added Jyoti Mayal. 

NEWS | Delhi NCR indicates strong travel demand as per a study by Thomas Cook India

Delhi NCR indicates strong travel demand as per a study by Thomas Cook India 60% Month-on-Month growth 

Approx. 290% surge in Domestic Holidays; 55% Outbound* Festive & Winter Season is driving positive recovery trends at 65% of pre-pandemic levels

Family Vacations, Groups of Friends, Honeymoon Travel driving demand from Delhi  

Delhi, October 2021: Delhi features as a top source market for Thomas Cook India, India’s leading integrated travel services company. Lockdown fatigue and pent-up demand is resulting in strong travel desire from Delhites – Thomas Cook India has been witnessing a robust 60% month-on-month increase since re-opening in June 2021. A surge in demand for the upcoming Festive & Winter Season, Expo 2020 Dubai, and honeymoon travel due to marriage season in North is powering travel growth from Delhi. Thomas Cook India reports that the demand is back to 65% of pre-pandemic levels overall: domestic travel at an impressive 290%; international at 55% (acquisition data Sept 2021 vs Sept 2019). Maldives, Switzerland, France, Russia, Spain, Egypt are the top destinations, while Expo 2020 Dubai is seeing a brisk demand currently. Additionally, Delhi is also witnessing a strong demand for overseas education travel and Thomas Cook India has delivered well on student travel to USA and Canada with quarantine packages.

Thomas Cook India’s extensive network covers 5 owned/franchise outlets in Delhi (Connaught Place, Noida, Greater Kailash, Punjabi Bagh, Netaji Subhash Place, Kohat Enclave) and a total of 13 outlets across Delhi NCR, including Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Meerut.

Delhi NCR Travel Trends:

Thomas Cook India’s survey has revealed insightful consumer behaviors & travel trends for Delhi

• 62% prefer international destinations; favourites include Maldives, Dubai, Switzerland, France  

• 78% prefer Domestic holidays; Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand; with North East and Andamans now seeing strong demand

*(*data not equal to 100% as multiple choice options were provided to customers)

Top Experiences: 

Delhites enjoy outdoor adventure trips like Biking in Ladakh, Rafting in Uttaranchal ,Kashmir, Rajasthan, South India; mountain destinations and experiences like ATV rides/a picnic lunch in an apple orchard; Andamans and beach destinations with water sports like sea karting, snorkeling, etc. Winter holidays with festivities of Christmas markets in Switzerland & France or Russia’s Lapland & Northern Lights, Nile cruises, hot air ballooning in Cappadocia (Turkey), and Expo 2020 Dubai are top favorites 

Key segments driving demand: families, millennials/young professionals, honeymooners, business & b-leisure, students and spiritual tourism.

Travel Companions: Customers from Delhi enjoy travelling with family or multi-generational family (60%); as a group of friends/colleagues (10%); couples (25%); solo (5%)

EXPO 2020 Dubai is catalyzing growth for Q4 2021

And to accelerate demand, as authorized ticket re-sellers (India), Thomas Cook India has launched very special deals: Rs 52,000 (air-inclusive holidays) and Rs 28,000 (land only). 

Special Offers for the Festive Season: Thomas Cook India has announced attractive deals like Buy One Get One – Companion Free across select India & International holidays; an Early Bird offer of Rs 60,000 per family on select Europe Tours; Taj Vouchers valued at Rs 10,000 on India Extravaganza holidays – an approx. 10 day extensive itinerary for in-depth exploration.

Mr. Romil Pant, Senior Vice President, Leisure Travel, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Delhi continues to be one of our best-performing markets and contributes significantly to our Holidays business –international and domestic. This year we have seen high demand for travel within India, Delhites preferring outdoor adventure and mountain locations like Himachal Pradesh, Leh-Ladakh, Uttarakhand and North East; our bike trips are doing exceptionally well. While Maldives has been Delhi’s top destination, we are seeing a strong surge for Europe, Turkey, along with the Expo 2020 Dubai across families and business/trade associations. 

I am excited to announce our special offers and discounts on our Festive Holidays for Dussehra and Diwali. This is my personal invitation to Delhites to come and visit our branches and plan a truly memorable holiday with family and friends for the festive and winter season ahead.”

He added, “All our packages/ trips are equipped with TravShield - comprehensive Safety Commitment & Assured Safe Travel Program in association with Apollo Clinics:

• Vaccinated Travel Advisors & Contactless Bookings • Free Re-scheduling & Cancellation • Covid Insurance Cover with 24/7 Doctor on Call • Vaccinated / Covid negative fellow travellers • Covid negative / Vaccinated Drivers, Hotel Staff • Sanitized Rooms & Vehicles.”

New Opening | Meliá to Open on Thailand’s Mai Khao Beach

Meliá Phuket Mai Khao, a 30-suite and 70-villa resort on eight acres of Phuket’s northwestern coastline overlooking the sky-blue Andaman Sea is slated to open in December.

Meliá to Open on Thailand’s Mai Khao Beach

Leading Spanish hotel group partners with Phuket Villa Group to launch landmark resort

PHUKET, Thailand (Oct. 14, 2021) – Meliá Phuket Mai Khao, a 30-suite and 70-villa resort on eight acres of Phuket’s northwestern coastline overlooking the sky-blue Andaman Sea is slated to open in December.

Fronting Phuket’s longest stretch of sand, the resort on Mai Khao Beach is close to an array of attractions such as Sirinat National Park, Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, and Wat Phra Thong temple. Phuket International Airport is a 15-minute drive.

Authorities plan to open Thailand to fully vaccinated tourists from countries deemed low-risk from November 1.

Launched by Meliá Hotels International and owned by Thailand’s leading residential real estate developer Phuket Villa Group, the five-star resort is part of a roll-out of the Meliá brand in key destinations across Thailand including Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

The new resort’s saltwater swimming pools, private villa pools, a reflection pond with sunken seating areas, water gardens, vertical falls and irrigation mist evoke a restorative atmosphere. The overarching design pays tribute to contemporary aesthetics and traditional Thai touches.

The contemporary, light-filled and spacious Mediterranean-inspired accommodations comprise 30 one-bedroom suites and 70 one-bedroom villas that each cater for up to two adults and two children. All feature outdoor bathtubs, open-air showers and vast outdoor terraces.

The 78sqm suites are complemented by cabanas and the 85sqm one-bedroom villas have private plunge pools. Fifteen “wellness villas” feature an open-air Vitamin C shower, daily massage, ultrasonic essential oil diffuser, GermGuardian air purifier, Tempur-Pedic pillows, fit ball and yoga mat.

Meliá Phuket Mai Khao will explore a diverse culinary landscape from four outlets. Near the beach pool with its cabanas and sun lounges, chic Gaia Beach Club is “the place to be”. Drawing on Meliá’s Spanish origins, Gaia celebrates Spain’s famed gastronomy by serving Mediterranean and fusion cuisine from an open kitchen and an imaginative cocktail selection from a long bar.

Elegant all-day dining restaurant SASA specialises in Southeast Asian cuisine. A warm and intimate setting adorned with timber finishes, SASA offers casual fine dining by night. Elyxr Café serves freshly squeezed juices and locally brewed liquors.

Shaded by a broad spectrum of native plants, the resort's design deploys a neutral palette of colours as a complement to Mai Khao’s sandy shore. Its high ceilings, floor-to-roof glass panels and decorative metal screens take advantage of the natural surrounds and abundance of sunshine.

At 300sqm, Meliá’s signature YHI Spa is home to five treatment rooms. In addition to its extensive menu of massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps, spa therapists also provide poolside and in-villa treatments.

The fitness center is equipped with treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, and weights machines. The kids club Kidsdom has workshops to keep youngsters entertained.

An idyllic venue for weddings and events, the resort’s conference facilities include a grand ballroom and two additional multi-function rooms. The resort’s event planners offer customized catering and mini mindfulness sessions.

“Through our partnership with Spain’s leading hotel group, we are thankful that we can significantly contribute to Phuket’s recovery in the wake of COVID-19 by creating much-needed jobs for the local tourism sector and setting a new benchmark for hospitality on Thailand’s largest island,” said Mr Maetapong Upatising, Phuket Villa Group's Managing Director.

One Bedroom Villa with Private Pool

“With its breathtaking beauty and serenity, there isn’t a more desirable place to be on the water than Mai Khao Beach,” said Ms Magdalena Martorell, Meliá Phuket Mai Khao’s General Manager. “We’re looking incredibly forward to unveiling a bleisure resort defined by a distinct focus on customer wellbeing with Meliá’s sunny Spanish hospitality and passion for service.”

Maldives News | Dusit Thani Maldives Opens Sustainable Chef’s Garden Emphasizing Locally Grown, Fresh Produce

Dusit Thani Maldives, a luxury resort on Mudhdhoo Island in Baa Atoll, has further committed to its CSR and sustainable pledges by opening a carefully constructed Chef’s Garden growing a bounty of fresh ingredients for its award-winning restaurants.  

Designed and built by gardener Mr Ramesh Khadka alongside Executive Chef Richard Thompson, the raised-bed construction was selected for its many advantages over a ground- based garden, including the need for approximately 50% less soil.  

Gardner, Mr Ramesh Khadka

The beds are built from styrofoam boxes, which retain moisture and enable gardeners to reduce watering by up to 60%. The elevated height of the beds prevents local trees from inserting feeler shoots and hijacking nutrients from the budding produce, the variety of which can be expanded with a quick turnaround after each harvest.  

The garden ensures Chef Thompson will have direct access to nutritious fresh ingredients such as tomatoes, corn, peppers, Chinese cabbage, aubergine, pak choi and cucumber; a plethora of herbs like rosemary, Greek oregano, coriander and mint; and flavourful additions including Thai chillies, local chillies and lemongrass, which will take a starring role in the Royal Thai cuisine at Benjarong restaurant.  

Besides the garden, a high production hydroponics system features 218 cups for growing leafy vegetables and requires only 500 litres of water every eight weeks. Chef Thompson was inspired to work with the engineering team to build the beds and even craft the hydroponic cups.  

“I’m so excited for all our guests to have the chance to visit and personally see our beautiful garden,” he said. “We’re also in the process of setting up a deep culture system to maximise our limited space and grow even larger varieties of vegetables.”  

On October 16, guests and visitors will have the opportunity to explore the garden when the resort celebrates World Food Day. Participants will be invited to learn more about the produce, the hydroponic structure, how it functions, and the reasons behind its construction. With guidance from Chef Thomspon, they will also be able to harvest fresh leaves and vegetables and take part in a tasting of homemade bruschetta.  

General Manager Thomas Weber expressed his excitement about the project: “I’m thrilled to see the success of the garden and can’t wait for our guests to enjoy this experience and the many other CSR activities we offer.”  

Source

NEWS | Mumbai Central gets 48 Japanese-style 'pod hotels' for train travellers

Taking passenger comfort a notch higher, the railways has readied 48 sleeping pods or capsules at Mumbai Central station for rail users. They will be launched by the end of this month.

Of the pods, 30 have been tagged as ‘classic’, seven marked for women, 10 private and one for the differently abled. Located on the first floor of the station building, the pod room is spread over 3,000 sq ft. The cheapest pod will cost INR 999 for 12 hours.

“This unique facility will be a gamechanger in the way passengers travel in India by rail, especially those on business trips. The concept will best suit frequent travellers, backpackers, single travellers, corporate executives and study groups,” said a senior IRCTC official.

First popularised by Japan, a pod hotel features a large number of small bed-sized rooms. These hotels provide basic overnight accommodation for guests who do not require or cannot afford larger, more expensive rooms at conventional hotels. “A pod hotel is compact, packed full of comfortable design, attractive features and competitively priced. The beauty of the space is the absence of excess,” an official said.

Each pod user will have access to free Wi-Fi, luggage room, toiletries, shower rooms, washrooms in common areas, whereas inside the pod the guest can avail facilities like TV, a small locker, mirror, adjustable air conditioner and air filter vents, reading lights apart from interior light, mobile charging, smoke detectors and DND Indicators.

Explaining the categories, an official said, “While classic and ladies pods will comfortably fit for one guest, a private pod will also have a private space within the room, whereas the room for the differently abled will comfortably fit two guests with space for free wheelchair movement.”

Awards | Maldives Wins Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination and MMPRC Wins the Leading Tourist Board at World Travel Awards 2021

Maldives has won 4 prestigious awards in the Indian Ocean category in World Travel Awards - the most prestigious honors programme in global travel and tourism, established in 1993 and recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.   

The awards won by Maldives this year includes   

- Indian Ocean's Leading Destination 2021: Maldives   

- Indian Ocean's Leading Beach Destination 2021: Maldives   

- Indian Ocean's Leading Dive Destination 2021: Maldives  

- Along with the awards listed above, Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation has been awarded the Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board 2021.   

On winning the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination Award and the Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board 2021 for MMPRC, Thoyyib Mohamed, the Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation stated, “We are extremely proud to win the Indian Ocean Leading Destination Award from the World Travel Awards. It is a testament to all the hard work, effort, and the dedication of all in the Maldives tourism and travel trade, and I congratulate all stakeholders of the industry for this great achievement. Furthermore, it is a special honor and a matter of great pride that MMPRC has been selected as the Indian Ocean's Leading Tourist Board 2021. I congratulate our team at MMPRC. This is a great reward for the team, for the hard work and dedication they have shown during the extremely challenging times during the last one and half years. Thank you for voting for us. We hope to see you soon in the sunny side of life”.  

Despite the tremendous challenges experienced by the tourism industry during the pandemic, this year’s World Travel Awards is a remarkable testament to the love and extraordinary effort of tourists from around the world - World Travel Awards has reported a record number of visitor traffic and engagement from public voters. This shows that as travel resumes and the tourism sector recovers, the appetite for travel has never been bigger. Tourists are constantly seeking the very best tourism products from across the world. As Maldives has won four categories, these awards have never been more valuable in the marketing of the island nation as one of the safest and top travel destinations in the world.  

These prestigious wins at the 28th World Travel Awards will assist MMPRC in strengthening the brand image and further enhance brand presence globally. Maldives has secured multiple awards in various categories over the years including the World's Leading Airport Resort, World's Leading Beach Destination, World's Leading Honeymoon Resort, World's Most Romantic Resort and World's Leading Luxury Island Resort.  

The destination had also won the famed Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination award 13 times within the past 17 years.  

Source

Event | The Grape stomping & Cake mixing brunch at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre

October 2021: Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre today hosted their annual cake mixing & grape stomping brunch at the Hotel. The event was planned to welcome the advent of Christmas and New Year and usher in a season of good tidings and happiness.  The grape stomping began with much enthusiasm, with all guests soaking their feet in the barrels, set against the magnificent outdoor space. The participants were observed singing songs and vigorously stomping the grapes, clearly having a good time.

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre escorted guests to the mixing table which was beautifully arranged with Black currant, Golden Apricot, Rum Soaked Figs, Drunk Resins, Dates, Candied Orange Peel, Candied Ginger, Dry Cherries, etc. The invitees donned aprons, face masks, gloves, and caps, and armed themselves with bottles of liquor, ready to tackle the colorful mounds of dry fruits, nuts, and spices.

All of the guests enthusiastically joined the chef's crew in mixing fruits and nuts with liquor and spirits in preparation for the impending Christmas dessert. They also ate a delicious brunch prepared by the chefs and danced to the beats of a DJ and a live band.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Manish Dayya, General Manager, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre said, “We have organized this grape stomping & cake mixing ceremony to usher in the festive season. This is just the beginning of the oncoming eventful festive season & celebrations at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre.  This is a great opportunity for us to bond with our guests and is always a pleasure to see our guests participating in the festivities and enjoying the sumptuous offerings and having a great time. ”

About Novotel-

Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts offers destination hotels designed as comforting and energizing places where guests can ‘press pause’ and take time to enjoy the moments that really matter. The brand’s wide array of hotels, suites, and resorts offer a multitude of services for business and leisure guests alike, including spacious, modular rooms with natural and intuitive design; 24/7 catering with nutritious choices; dedicated meeting spaces; attentive and proactive staff; family zones for the youngest guests; multi-purpose lobbies; and accessible fitness centers. Novotel, which has over 530 locations in more than 60 countries is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,100 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.

Maldives News | Rajeev Kohli Conferred ‘Hall of Leaders’ Award by EIC

Joint-Managing Director, Creative Travel, Rajeev Kohli has been conferred with the prestigious ‘Hall of Leaders’ award by the Events Industry Council (EIC). As the first Indian to be inducted into the EIC Hall of Fame, where the most remarkable leaders are recognized, this new achievement brings great honor to the Indian travel trade.  

The Hall of Leaders award is the premier recognition program considered the "lifetime achievement award" in the events industry. The award recognizes outstanding leaders who have undoubtedly shaped the industry. The defining quality among these leaders is that the industry would not be what it is today without their contributions. The Hall of Leaders consists of pioneers, influential, prolific, and altruistic members.  

With over 26 years of Luxury Travel & Destination Management (DMC) experience, Rajeev Kohli has immensely contributed to the development of the tourism industry, has been appointed to the role of President of Global DMC group, EURO MEC, the oldest DMC alliance in the industry and becoming the first Asian global President of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE). He previously held the post of Senior Vice President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) among many other roles.  

He is professionally certified as a Certified Incentive Specialist (CIS), Certified Incentive Travel Professional (CITP), and Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP). 

Source

Visit Maldives | MALDIVES IS READY TO WELCOME OVER 1 MILLION TRAVELERS IN 2021

The isles of Maldives are truly beyond compare. Scattered like pearls across the crystalline waters of the Indian oceans, travelers all across the world dream of Maldives. Last year, Maldives was one of the first destinations to open borders for international travelers. We entered 2021 with hope and optimism, and in a few weeks, we will welcome the millionth traveler to visit the Maldives this year.

A Reflection

The Maldive’s success and achievements is a reflection and testament to the perseverance, ingenuity, creativity, and passion of the tourism industry, the health sector, and beyond. As we approach the milestone of welcoming the one-millionth visitor for the year, we at Maldives Marketing Public Relations and Corporation (MMPRC) take a look back at the effort, dedication, and work we have done, with the sincere aim of making this a reality.

We entered 2021 with a difficult task at hand. At a time when people across the world showed increasing reluctance to travel, and with travel restrictions in place across the globe, it was our mission to promote the Maldives and show the world that we are a safe haven.

The blessings of our unique geography, with our scattered islands and our unique ‘one-island-one-resort’ concept, makes us one of the safest destinations in the world. And ultimately, we were responsible for regaining travelers' trust and confidence by promoting the Maldives as a safe haven during those challenging times. Needless to say, it was not an easy feat.

Ever since the onset of the pandemic, our strategy was to maintain destination presence across the globe so that travelers will keep dreaming of the Maldives. We aimed to position Maldives as the top of the mind destination for travelers as soon as borders opened for leisure travel once again in these markets.

The Work of MMPRC

So far in 2021, we have taken part in 25 leading fairs across the world and conducted five physical roadshows and one virtual roadshow. At each of these events, we provided the opportunity for our industry partners to take part along withVisit Maldives to showcase their sought-after products and unique experiences.

The Maldives pavilions are always beautifully constructed - designed carefully to showcase the aesthetics that makes the Maldives so beautiful. It is not rare for us to hear that the Maldives stands out at fairs and events that we have been part of.

So far this year, we have conducted over 39 campaigns with various stakeholders on a variety of platforms. We have conducted campaigns with leading travel agencies across the globe, world-famous publications, major airlines such as Qatar Airways, and on TV channels such as CNN, among many others. These are simply a few of the many countless stakeholders we have conducted campaigns with.

If you have seen pictures of the turquoise waters of Maldives flood social media, part of it is due to the many familiarization trips we have conducted with leading media, celebrities, and so on. In fact, we have conducted 22 familiarization trips so far this year.

We have also conducted six global campaigns this year. We are collaborating with Expedia, InsideFlyer, Skyscanner, Qatar Airways and CNN on these global campaigns. Through these campaigns, we have reached a staggering 59,738,116,794 potential travelers, with an estimated media value of $119,595,365.

Each marketing activity is possible due to the hard-working marketeers, industry partners, stakeholders and others. It is our mandate to provide equal and fair opportunities for all our industry stakeholders in all of the marketing campaigns we conduct. Whichever fair we take part in, we do so with our industry partners. Whichever roadshow we host, we provide the opportunity for our partners to showcase their products and connect with the global travel trade.

Want to work in maldives

News | Restaurants in Maharashtra must shut at midnight, says govt

A day after two state ministers, Mumbai island city guardian minister Aslam Shaikh and health minister Rajesh Tope, said deadlines for the city's restaurants and eateries would be restored to pre-pandemic timings of 1.30am and for shops up to midnight, the state government issued an order allowing restaurants and eateries to operate till midnight and shops till 11pm.

Business hours of these establishments had so far been curbed to 10pm. With the extension, shop timings are back to pre-Covid times. While pre-Covid closing timing for vegetarian restaurants was 12.30am, restaurants and bar owners, who had hoped the state would restore their 1.30am deadline, were left disappointed."Many sectors like colleges, theatres and amusement parks will reopen this week, and we want to see the impact on cases. We want to give further relaxations, but in a phased manner," an official said. District administrations can curb timings depending on conditions, but cannot give an extension without the disaster management authority's consent.The order issued by the state government said that with the extension of timings, all other guidelines like 50% capacity for restaurants and the need to have fully vaccinated staffers in shops will continue. “The government observed that in light of the upcoming festive season, staggered timings for functioning of establishments like shops, restaurants and hotels will only lead to more crowding, hence a decision was taken to extend the timings,” the official said. District administrations have been allowed to restrict timings considering local conditions, but they cannot give further extension without the consent of the state disaster management authority.

The hospitality industry felt the timings should have gone back to the pre-Covid hours. Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) senior vice-president Pradeep Shetty said, “We welcome the Maharashtra government’s decision of extending the time of operations for restaurants till midnight. The additional two hours will provide much-needed succor to the beleaguered hospitality industry. The sector has been one of those most affected by Covid restrictions. However, we wish an extension had been granted till the pre-Covid deadline of 1.30 am and, considering the onset of the wedding season, it had been accompanied by the lifting of restrictions on banquets, weddings and events. The current limit of a hundred guests for weddings and social events is prohibitive and unviable under present circumstances.”AHAR president Shivanand Shetty said, “We will comply with the order, but it would have been better if timings had been extended till 1.30am as it is festival time and people like to spend time outside with friends and relatives. Restoring timings to pre-Covid days will help the industry recover quickly from the state of disorder it has been pushed into for the past 18 months.”Viren Shah of the Retailers Federation said that although most standalone shops in the city shut by 10pm, the 11pm deadline will help malls do some additional business.