Appointment | Henna Punjabi is the Marketing and Communications Manager at The Westin Chennai Velachery

She will be responsible for diverse marketing, communications, media relations, social media and digital marketing activities

The Westin Chennai Velachery has appointed Heena Punjabi as Marketing and Communications Manager. She will be responsible for diverse marketing, communications, media relations, social media and digital marketing activities. Her role engages her to enhance brand visibility of the hotel along with positioning and marketing of Food & Beverage presence of award-winning restaurants and the Spa in the Hotel.

Henna is a seasoned hospitality sales and marketing professional, holding 6+ years of enriching experience in the industry. She started her career with Holiday Inn Chennai launching the property and then moved on to work with different brands in Bengaluru where she set up communications, brand language. She then returned to Chennai with Dineout, spearheading sales and acquisitions for Dineout Passport. She has successfully penetrated the market and set benchmarks while working on different events and collaborations for the brand.

At The Westin Chennai Velachery, Henna, looks forward to creating robust marketing strategies by channelizing maximum tools to create engaging, effective and relevant marketing and communication campaigns. In her leisure time, she likes to read mystery novels and solo travel.

Appointment | Taj West End Bengaluru appoints Sandip Narang as Hotel Manager

He will be responsible for positioning the hotel as a landmark property in the city, in addition to managing its commercial objectives, and delivering world-class experiences to its guests

Sandip Narang has been elevated to the position of Hotel Manager at the Taj West End, Bengaluru. With nearly three decades of experience working as a chef at IHCL, Narang brings with him a repertoire of knowledge and experience both in the field of culinary as well as hotel management and operations.

In his new role, he will be responsible for positioning the hotel as the landmark property in the heart of the city, in addition to managing the hotel’s commercial objectives, and delivering world-class experiences to its guests. He says, “Having spent my last few years in the city, I’m thrilled to be leading the team at Taj West End. I look forward to working with the entire team on further elevating the bespoke service and innovative guest experience that the Taj group of hotels are known for.”

Having graduated from the Bombay catering college, he started his culinary training at the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers. Over the years, he has led and been a part of various teams catering to heads of state and celebrities both in India and around the world; organized food promotions in various countries around the world, in addition to extensive touring of the Middle East and launching the successful restaurant, ‘SOUK’.

A highlight in his career was when he essayed the role of personal chef to former Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee on his trips to Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey, in 2002-03.

His past roles include the responsibilities of Executive Chef at the lush Taj West End, Bengaluru, Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Maldives, and the stunning Taj Lake Palace Udaipur. 

In his spare time, he can be found rewatching Amitabh Bachchan classics and building a secret collection of fountain pens.

Appointment | Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur appoints Susanta Kumar Jena as Housekeeping Manager

At Mercure Chennai, he will be responsible for Housekeeping operations and Mercure organic Garden

Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur has appointed Susanta Kumar Jena, as Housekeeping Manager. He brings with her over 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has worked under ITC Kakatiya Hyderabad and his last assignment was with Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre as Housekeeping Manager.

At Mercure Chennai, he will be responsible for Housekeeping operations and Mercure organic Garden. Mercure is a mid-scale brand that combines the strength of an international network with locally inspired experiences.

Appointment | DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad appoints Apoorva Tripathi as Finance Manager

She will be responsible for preparing the operational budgets with regular forecasting of reports and will be accountable for the financial health of the organization

DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad has appointed Apoorva Tripathi as the Finance Manager. She will be responsible in preparing the operational budgets with regular forecasting of report as well as be accountable for the financial health of the organization.

Apoorva Tripathi secured her CMA course from The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India and started her professional journey nearly nine years ago. During her tenure she has had the opportunity to work with several hospitality brands such as The Taj Group, Le Meridien, Renaissance Race Course Hotel etc. In the course of her working at The Renaissance Race Course Hotel Bengaluru, Apoorva was instrumental for generating and providing accurate and timely results in the form of reports, presentations, providing direction and assistance to other organizational units regarding accounting and budgeting policies and procedures, and efficient control and utilization of financial resources, and much more.

A dynamic team leader, Apoorva looks forward to working with her team in achieving the key financial aspects of the hotel. In her leisure time, she loves spending time reading books, listening to music, playing badminton, and singing.

Commenting on Apoorva’s appointment Vinay Nair, General Manager said, “We are pleased to welcome Apoorva on board. We look forward to doing some great work with her to ensure streamlining of our financial and budgeting processes, financial modeling, and much more”.

In all her prior positions, Apoorva has played a key role in accelerating the brand’s goals which have resulted in her achieving senior positions. Throughout the years she has been a go-getter, loyal and seasoned professional at every organization that she has been a part of.

At DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad, Apoorva will be working closely with the leadership team to positively impact the hotel’s financial goals. “I am thrilled to embark upon this journey and be presented with this opportunity. The hotel has a special place in the heart of many in Pune, to ensure that it carries on; driving the financial operations and taking them to greater heights will be my main focus,” said Apoorva Tripathi, Finance Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad.

Accor appoints Vinay Gupta as Director of Operations for ibis India portfolio

Accor announced Vinay Gupta’s appointment as the Director of Operations for ibis and ibis Styles, India portfolio. He is a veteran in the Hospitality sector with over 25 years of experience managing hotels, alongside being the founder of an aspirational food and beverage concept, with his last role being Vice President at SAMHI Hotels.

Throughout his career span of 25 years as a hotelier, he has handled different roles from being in an entry level role to managing different portfolios for a single brand, to being a General Manager of different hotels across three different continents.

He has an MBA Degree from The University of Central Lancashire, UK and a Diploma in Hospitality from IHM, Pusa Road. He also holds a BA Hons in Hospitality from Lancaster University, UK.

On his appointment, Vinay Gupta said, “I am delighted and honored to be back with Accor, it feels like homecoming in so many ways. Ibis has had a great journey with 20 hotels currently operating across the nation and five under development. ibis and ibis Styles are the fun and youthful global brand by Accor, I look forward to work on taking it to newer heights. We have a highly motivated and exceptional team that runs our hotels as well as a strong and loyal guest base. I look forward to being a part of this exciting journey ahead.”

On this occasion, Puneet Dhawan, Senior VP Operations, India and South Asia for Accor, “We are thrilled to welcome Vinay back to the Accor family with this new and exciting role. Our Ibis portfolio continues to grow from strength to strength and I am sure his insights and support will be invaluable for the team as we continue to expand the portfolio in the coming years.”

Congratulating Vinay, JB Singh, President and CEO- InterGlobe Hotels, said, “We are delighted to welcome Vinay to Interglobe and the ibis family. He holds a rich and a diverse experience in this industry and brings strong expertise with him. We are confident that his knowledge and approach to the business along with his passionate outlook will help us grow aggressively over the next few years.”

Manjeera Sarovar Premiere and Manjeera International Convention Centre at Rajahmundry launched

Sarovar Hotels along with Manjeera Hotels and Resorts, which is part of Hyderabad-based Manjeera Group, has introduced its  5 star hotel ‘Manjeera Sarovar Premiere and Manjeera International Convention Centre at Rajahmundry. The new hotel was celebrated in the presence of G Kishan Reddy, Honourable Minister for Tourism and Culture, Govt of India along with Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla, Member Rajya Sabha.

The hotel and the convention centre have come up in 6 Acres of land leased by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. Developed under the state government’s Public-Private Partnership initiative, the hotel is going to boost travel and tourism in the twin districts of Godavari.

Speaking on the occasion, G Yoganand, CMD, Manjeera Group said, “We are delighted to introduce ‘Manjeera Sarovar Premier’ here in Rajahmundary, our first Hotel in Andhra Pradesh. Rajahmundry, ranked amongst the oldest cities in the Indian subcontinent, once the seat of the powerful Chalukyasis the ‘cultural capital’ of AP, known for its rich tradition, arts and culture. Our hotel here is going to facilitate business travelers and tourists alike. We thank AP Tourism Development Corporation for their support extended to build this hotel, local bodies for granting necessary permissions and Tourism Financial Corporation of India for extending their support to the project financially.”

He further added, “Over the last two decades we have acquired expertise of constructing hotels with a high degree of efficiency and functionality. All our hotels are designed with latest features and futuristic technology and are built as per standards laid down by the government and other relevant agencies. They are managed by professionals and operated by Sarovar Hotels. Utmost care is given to safety, hygiene, comfort and service and value for money, suitable for a wide cross section of travelers.”

Commenting on the development, Ajay Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels, said “With the addition of Manjeera Sarovar Premiere and Manjeera International Convention Centre  our position in the AP Market in line with  the brand’s growth strategy has further been strengthened. Sarovar Hotels has a long standing association with Manjeera Hospitality spanning over two decades and this is Manjeera’s fourth venture which too will be managed by Sarovar Hotels.”

The unique feature of this development is that the hotel boasts 35,000 sq. ft. of Convention and Meeting space, the largest in Rajahmundary. The addition of Manjeera Sarovar Premiere to the chain of hotels managed by Sarovar Hotels follows the growing trend of business and leisure hotels along with the brand’s quality assurance and ‘Signature Sarovar Hospitality’, Mr.Ajay Bakaya further added.

The multi-cuisine restaurant ‘Flavors’ at the Manjeera Sarovar Premiere is set on the lobby level and showcases an elaborate menu featuring dishes from across the world. It is spacious and features large French windows that overlook verdant lawns. The Hotel’s Chill Lounge Bar is the perfect place to sit back and relax after a long day. The hotel features spacious banquet halls that can be used to host both social and corporate events with ease.

The hotel is designed around the brand’s lean-luxe design and service philosophy of offering a vibrant, contemporary, and seamless hospitality experience to its guests.

Appointment | Sayaji Hotels Limited Appoints Sonia Sharma as Director of Human Resources

Sonia brings over 12 years of experience in the field of Human Resources in India and abroad.

Sayaji Hotels Limited has announced the appointment of Sonia Sharma as Director of Human Resources. In her new role she will be responsible for all HR policies in Maharashtra and Gujarat regions and will report to Vice President-Operations and People for all strategic Human Resources initiatives. All the HR Managers in the region and Corporate Office will report to her.

A seasoned hospitality professional, Sonia brings over 12 years of experience in the field of Human Resources in India and abroad. She has worked with preeminent hospitality brands like Hyatt Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Accor Hotels and Atmosphere Maldives.

Her career highlights entail pre-openings of some of the most prestigious hotel projects like Andaz, New Delhi and Conrad, Bengaluru which earned her various hospitality accolades like Hotelier India Award for Best HR Person of the Year. She is also a Certified Academic Trainer from Accor and have launched several award winning initiatives in the field of Learning and Development, Diversity and Inclusion.

Sayaji Hotels will soon expand its footprints nationally with property openings in Itarsi, Udaipur, Morbi, Bhuj, Dwarka, Satara, Dehradun, Bhopal, Rewa, Aurangabad, Tadoba, and Vizag.

Appointment | Neeraj Rawoot is Executive Chef at JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort and Spa

He will spearhead the culinary teams and related operations, curating menus and presenting innovative dishes with a distinctive twist

JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort and Spa has appointed Neeraj Rawoot as its Executive Chef. At the newly inaugurated luxury property, the chef will be spearheading the culinary teams and related operations, curating menus and presenting innovative dishes with a distinctive twist. Guests will be able to enjoy these exquisite and modern gastronomical escapades across the property’s premium fine dining outlets such as Aaleeshan, Truffle and Co. East, VISTA and Flamingo Bar.

Hailing from Jamshedpur, the spirited chef, a food and beverage enthusiast himself, began his culinary journey in the capital city with stints at the Imperial Hotel. With over 22 years of rich proficiency in stirring up Indian, Thai and Nouvelle Western cuisines, Chef Neeraj is passionate about curating an experience that nourishes the soul. 

His portfolio includes training at some of the country’s top hotel chains and gaining a refined experience by working at some of the renowned hotels including The Leela Ambience Hotel and Residences, Gurgaon, Sofitel Mumbai, Hilton Chennai, Grand Hyatt – Mumbai and President Park Bangkok amongst others. He credits his speciality in Indian tandoor and curry making to his tenure at the Great Kebab Factory at Radisson, New Delhi.

Speaking on his appointment at the JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort and Spa, Chef Neeraj commented, “I am honored and overwhelmed to join the JW Marriott family, a brand which has a unique culinary structure. This is my first stint with Marriott, and I am looking forward to curating memorable and delicious gourmet experiences for our cherished guests.”

A seasoned and accomplished culinary professional, the Chef, for two consecutive years has been awarded the BW Hotelier Award for Executive chef of the Year, National level (2019) and Western India (2020). His versatility combined with leadership skills and the ability to remain calm in a chaotic environment ensures he has all the makings for success. 

To unwind, the chef indulges in music, movies, and swimming. With linguistic fluency in Thai and a profound interest in learning new languages, Neeraj believes that studying/exploring a new cuisine is incomplete without an understanding of the unique characteristics of a place’ local people and culture.

Chef Taj Unveils New Menu at The Sahib Room & Kipling Bar The St. Regis Mumbai 

Chef Taj Unveils New Menu at The Sahib Room & Kipling Bar The St. Regis Mumbai 

Mumbai, March 2022: Renowned for its robust Indian delicacies and flavours The Sahib Room & Kipling Bar at The St. Regis Mumbai is delighted to unveil a new menu curated by Indian Masterchef, Chef Taj.


Inspired by the opulence of the colonial era, the venue in all its glory will showcase the chef’s style of innovation and presentation blended to perfection. Explore the flavors of authentic Indian delicacies as you embark on a culinary journey of dishes inspired by age-old recipes and his many years of experience curating Indian signatures. 


Some of the signature delicacies on Chef Taj’s new menu include Kache Kele Ki Karari Tikki, Bhune Til Aur Zimikand Ki Shammi, Murgh Banno Kebab, Hare Tamater Ka Paneer, Shalgam Gosht, Dum Ki Dal, Shalgam Gosht, Mutton Galouti, Dakshini Jhinga, Sarson Ka Saag amongst others. Guests can also indulge in a collection of innovative signature breads like Makki Ki Roti, Methi Choori and Doodhiya Kulcha. The menu also features some traditional desserts, such as  Gehun Ka Sheera, Malai Kulfi and Gulkand Aur Singhade Ki Kheer. 


Celebrate the tantalizing textures and flavors as you indulge in signature Indian dishes from the new menu curated by chef Taj.

About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts

Combining classic sophistication with a modern sensibility, St. Regis is  committed to delivering exceptional experiences at nearly 40 luxury hotels and resorts in the best addresses around the world. Since the opening of the first St. Regis hotel in New York City over a century ago by John Jacob Astor IV, the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and 



anticipatory service for all of its guests, delivered flawlessly by signature St. Regis Butler Service. The ultra-luxury brand is set to expand its legacy to 50 hotels by 2018. For more information and new openings, visit stregis.com or follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. St. Regis is proud to participate in the industry’s award-winning loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest®, in which members can link accounts with Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer


About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. 

(NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of approximately 8,000 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.


RAS AL KHAIMAH TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES 2022 ROADSHOW IN INDIA

RAS AL KHAIMAH TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES 2022 ROADSHOW IN INDIA

New Delhi, March , 2022:  Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, representing the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, is set to host the first 2022 roadshow in India from April 4-7, covering the key cities of New Delhi and Mumbai. 

India is in the top five source markets for the nature based Emirate and this will be the tourism authority’s first in-person event in the country since the onset of the pandemic. The Destination Tourism Development & MICE team alongside a number of hospitality representatives from Ras Al Khaimah, will present the leisure offerings of the destination as well as updates that position Ras Al Khaimah as an attractive MICE destination and weddings for the Indian market. The team will also highlight the convenient airline accessibility options, information on new tourist attractions, hotels, future projects and the destination’s sustainability strategy and initiatives.

Commenting on the significance of the event, Iyad Rasbey, Executive Director Destination Tourism Development & MICE, “We are excited to be back in India with our hospitality partners. As we enter into a recovery year, we are taking the opportunity to update our trade partners and media in India on the importance of safety and peace of mind travel to Ras Al Khaimah alongside everything the destination has to offer from nature, adventure to world class hotel brands, destination weddings and more.”

The 2022 roadshow will feature 4 days of networking events, one-on-one interactions, presentations and media meetings in New Delhi on April 4 and in Mumbai on April 7, 2022. The in-person event follows a successful webinar for travel partners and MICE operators which was attended by 100 participants from across India on March 22, 2022.

 

About Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA)

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) was established in May 2011 under the government of Ras Al Khaimah. RAKTDA aims to develop the Emirate’s tourism infrastructure and establish Ras Al Khaimah as a world-class destination for leisure and business travel, creating sustainable investment opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for its residents. In order to achieve its goals, the Authority has a government mandate to license, regulate and monitor the Emirate’s tourism and hospitality industry.

www.visitrasalkhaimah.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

Hashtag: #VisitRasAlKhaimah #RasAlKhaimah, #visitrasalkhaimah, #JebelJais

Ingredient Ideology | Mock Meat Mantra By: Dr. Kaviraj Khialani- Celebrity Master Chef

Mock Meat Mantra to Suit the Palate

A meat alternative or meat substitute is a food product made from vegetarian or vegan ingredients, eaten as a replacement for meat. Meat alternatives typically approximate qualities of specific types of

meat, such as mouthfeel, flavor, appearance, or chemical characteristics. Vegan meat also called faux, fake, mock, meat analogs, or plant proteins are products that mimic certain qualities

of animal-based meat-like textures, flavor, or appearance, for example. They are made from various ingredients such as soy, textured vegetable protein, or wheat gluten, to name a few. Most

mock meats are plant-based products made using soya protein, wheat gluten or vegetable substitutes like jackfruit. The claim is that they are healthier as a result offering more nutritive value, more

fiber, lower fat content, and no animal fat (which means also no

cholesterol).

While some still struggle to be rest assured if mock meat is healthy to eat and indulge into, the answer according to many sources is yes, according to new research funded by the U.S. National Institutes of

Health. It found the imitation meats to be a good source of fiber,

folate, and iron while containing less saturated fat than ground beef.

But the researchers said they also have less protein, zinc and vitamin B12 and lots of salt. And also for the fact that The product that is so formed is similar in texture and consistency to the meat of a live animal.

While the method checks the killing of animals, its meat is not considered vegan. This is different from mock meat, which is made from ingredients that are vegetarian. At the end of the day, some

vegans eat plant-based meats simply because they taste good. Brands like Gardein, Beyond Meat, Tofurky, Morningstar, Sweet Earth, and more are working to make these tasty meats as

accessible, delicious, and flexible as their animal-based counterparts

which are well known in the international markets. On a technical note, people also wish to find out that 5 Chemicals Lurking in Plant-Based Meats Tertiary butyl hydroquinone. TBHQ is a synthetic preservative that prevents discoloration in processed foods, Magnesium carbonate. Remember when some bread was

accused of having a yoga mat chemical, Erythrosine, Propylene glycol

and Ferric orthophosphate. The argument still remains if it can be considered healthier than the real meat? since they can provide essential nutrients and fiber and may be lower in saturated fats than meat. However, they may contain lower levels of some nutrients, such as protein, vitamin B12, or zinc, than a regular meat product.

Talking about mock meat India, it simply refers to Mock meat is made of plant proteins processed to resemble meat in terms of texture, taste and palpability. While India's meatless meat market

was almost non-existent a few years ago despite 71% percent of the population eating non-vegetarian food, it is now slowly growing. To know in short how to mock meat? Spices and so-called aromatics are

also on standby for replicating meaty taste. Opt for smoky choices like paprika, chipotle powder, cumin, or even smoked sea salt. As for fresh ingredients to start a meat-like meal, Redmond recommends

onions, leeks, shallots, garlic, and scallions. A common query by many foodies also include that what is the best substitute to meat? The healthiest meat substitute will be vegetarian

foods that are natural, high in protein, and minimally processed.

Great, healthy meat substitutes include beans, tempeh, lentils,

jackfruit, mushrooms, nuts, and seeds. While it is also said that mock

mutton is made up of gluten, so what are mock meats and plant-

based proteins? Mock meats have been around for ages in Asia, and

they're typically made from wheat gluten. You can find these

traditional mock meats in the form of sausages, nuggets, spam, and

minced meat. Mock meat, its growing appeal in India and claims

about its health benefits. Multiple studies have shown that replacing

animal meat with plant-based or 'fake' meat alone can cut down the

risk of heart-related diseases, blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes.

On the other hand, we at times still wonder if plant based food

healthy? A diet centered on plenty of wholes, minimally processed

plant-based foods is beneficial for our overall health. Plant foods like

vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds are low in

saturated fat, contain heart-healthy fats, and are a great source of

fiber. Today, mock meat brands are emerging in India, and are armed

with numerous kinds of textured meat. You could literally replace

meat in any recipe with mock meat and it will be the same. See

which of these are available in your city.

Here are a few of my recipes with mock meat trying out an array of

simple to cook and dish out delicacies.

Recipe-1] MOCK MEAT PEPPER DELIGHT

Ingredients:

Mock meat- 1 tin, 400gms, drained

Sliced brinjals-150 gms, round slices

Zucchini-1 cup, medium cubes

Green/red/yellow capsicum-1/2 cup cubes

Oil- 2 tsp

Salt to taste

Pepper powder to taste

Onion paste-1 cup

Ginger-garlic paste-1 tsp

Tomato puree-1 cup

Cumin seeds- 1 tsp

Green chilies- 1-2 slit

Mixed herbs-1/2 tsp

Chili flakes-1/2 tsp

Water-1/2 cup

Assorted mixed vegetables- 1 cup

Garam masala powder-1/4 tsp

Fresh basil leaves- 10-12 no

Black olives- 3-4 no

Green olives- 3-4 no

Carrots/ beans/ potatoes/ peas/ cauliflower

Fresh coriander leaves- 2 tbsp. chopped

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe as listed.

2. Slice the brinjal and apply little oil, salt and pepper and place in

the oven for cooking for 12-16 mins at 160 degrees celsius.

3. Remove and keep aside. Now to prepare the recipe, drain out the

mock meat from the tins and cut/ shape into squares or cubes/ use

binding agents as needed.

4. To prepare the sauce, heat oil in a pan add in ginger- garlic paste,

onion paste and saute for a few seconds, add in the tomatoes, salt,

pepper, herbs, chili flakes, spices etc and saute for 1-2 mins.

5. Add a little water as needed to adjust the texture and allow to

cook on a low flame. Pre-prep all the other veggies of your choice,

cut- blanch, boil and grill as needed, keep it all ready and add it into

the pan and simmer for 4-5 mins. finally add in the mock mat pieces

and gently cook for 2-4 mins more.

6. To serve, arrange the cooked brinjal slices at the base of the

serving dish and spoon over the cooked mock meat and sauce on top

and garnish with fresh herbs, nuts, seeds and coriander leaves etc.

Recipe-2] CURRIED MOCK MEAT WITH NUTS AND RICE

Ingredients:

Oil- 2 tsp

Ghee- 1 tsp

Cumin seeds- ½ tsp

Bayleaf- 1-2 no

Peppercorns- 3-4 no

Ginger-garlic paste-1 tsp

Boiled onion paste- 1 cup

Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp

Coriander powder-1 tsp

Red chili powder-1/4 tsp

Salt to taste

Water-1/4 cup

Cashew paste-2 tsp

Fresh cream-1/4 cup

Curd-1/4 cup beaten

Kasuri methi-1 tsp

Sugar-1 pinch

Mock meat- 1 and a half cup, chunky pieces

Boiled sweet potato- 1 cup cubes

Coriander leaves- 2 tsp chopped

Boiled rice, tossed in butter and burnt garlic- 1 and a half cup

Cashews/ peanuts/ assorted nuts as desired-2-3 tsp

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the curried mock meat.

2. Heat oil and ghee in a pan add in the whole spices, add in cumin

seeds allow to splutter, add onion paste and saute for a few minutes,

add in ginger-garlic paste and turmeric, red chili powder, coriander

powder.

3. Saute the mixture well, add little water and cook for 2-3 mins on a

low flame, as the oil start leaving the sides, add in kasuri methi, the

cashew, curd, cream mixture and simmer for 2-3 mins.

4. Add in the sweet potato and mock meat chunks and simmer it all

in the curry for 3-4 mins. check for seasonings and adjust to taste.

5. To serve, toss the boiled rice in butter and garlic and arrange it on

a serving plate, top it up with the curried mock meat and garnish

with fried/ toasted nuts and little fried coriander/ parsley and serve

hot.

Recipe-3] MOCK MEAT TACOS

Ingredients:

Taco shells- 8-10 no

For the mock meat mixture:

Mock meat- 1 cup, cubes/chunks

Marination for the mock meat:

Curd-1/2 cup beaten

Salt to taste

Crushed black pepper-1/4 tsp

Red chili powder-1/4 tsp

Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp

Chaat masala-1/4 tsp

Cumin powder-1/4 tsp

Lime juice-2-3 tsp

Apply and keep aside for 10-12 mins.

For the salsa sauce:

Oil-2-3 tsp

Garlic-1 tsp chopped

Onion-1/2 cup chopped

Tomatoes-1 cup chopped

Green chili-1 tsp chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Tomato sauce-2-3 tsp

White vinegar-1 tsp

Sugar-1/2 tsp

Chili flakes-1/2 tsp

Parsley/coriander/mint-2-3 tsp chopped

Green capsicums-2-3 tbsp. chopped

Green olives/ black olives- 2-3 each sliced

For the toppings in the tacos:

Shredded purple/ white cabbage-1/2 cup

Assorted bell peppers- ½ cup shredded

Onions-1/2 cup sliced

Sprouts-1/2 cup

Boiled beans/ tinned re-fried beans-1/2 cup

Chili sauce- few drizzles

Sour cream-1-2 tsp

Guacamole/ avocado dip- ¼ cup

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the tacos as per the recipe.

2. Marinate the mock meat as listed above and after a little resting

time, saute it in 2 tsp oil in a non-stick pan for 4-6 mins until nice and

dried up, keep aside.

3.Prepare the salsa for the tacos as listed above, heat oil and saute

the ingredients into the pan one by one, allow the salsa to cook for

3-4 mins on a medium flame, turn off the flame and bring to room

temperature, it can be stored in the fridge as well and used chilled/

as required.

4.Prepare all the toppings as well for the tacos/ choice of veggies

additional ingredients to be added with the mock meat to be kept

ready/ boiling/ blanching/ saute etc to be done ahead of time and

kept handy.

5. Just before serving the tacos need to be assembled, start with the

cabbage and other dry ingredients, place the saute and cooked mock

meat pieces, add in the salsa, sour cream, chili sauce, olives etc as

desired and serve immediately.


Recipe-4] MOCK MEAT BURGER

Ingredients:

For the burger assembling:

Burger bread- 2-3 buns, slit and applied butter

Onion rings-1 cup

Tomato slices- 1 cup

Cucumber slices-1/2 cup

Lettuce leaves- 1 cup

Gherkin slices-2-3 no

Salt and pepper to taste

For the burger patty:

Mock meat- 1 tin/ 400 gms approx.

Add binding agents as desired to shape up the patty

Salt and pepper to taste

Mixed herbs/ chili flakes- to taste

Chopped green chili-1 tsp

Coriander/parsley-2 tsp chopped

Garam masala powder-1/4 tsp

Chaat masala powder-1/4 tsp

Cumin powder-1/4 tsp

Cheese-2-3 tbsp. grated

Oil- to fry

For the topping sauce:

Oil-2 tsp

Garlic-1 tsp chopped

Onion-2 tbsp. chopped

Green chili-1 tsp chopped

Celery-2 tsp chopped

Tomato ketchup-1/2 cup

White vinegar-1 tsp

Sugar-1/2 tsp

Red chili sauce- 1 tsp

Water-2-3 tsp

Cook the sauce above for 2-3 mins and keep aside.

Method:

1.Prepare all the components and elements of the burger as listed

above one by one and keep ready.

2. Start up with the burger patty and combine all the ingredients in a

mixing bowl add seasonings, flavorings, binding agents and shape up

the burger tikki into a round shape and coating of bread crumbs

followed by deep frying to a nice golden brown color.

3. Prepare the tomato sauce as listed as well and coat the fried patty

with the sauce just before placing it on the burger bread during the

assembly stage.

4. Slit the burger bread and lightly warm them up and apply a little

butter or mayonnaise sauce and place the lettuce leaves, slices of

assorted veggies and place the burger patty as well.

5. Cover the burger and secure it with a toothpick in order to hold

the ingredients in place. Also fry up some crispy french fries to go

along with the burger and start with the plating, we can also offer

some coleslaw here with the burger and serve.


Recipe- 5] HEALTHY MOCK MEAT SOUP

Ingredients:

Olive oil/ oil- 2 tsp

Garlic- 2 tsp chopped

Onion-1 small chopped

Green chili-1 tsp chopped

Potatoes- ½ cup small cubes

Zucchini- ¼ cup cubes

Broccoli- ½ cup florets

Carrots-1/4 cup small cubes

Boiled beans/ rajma/ tinned baked beans- ½ cup

Celery-2-3 tsp chopped

Tomato puree-1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Pepper powder to taste

Mixed herbs-1/4 tsp

Chili flakes-1/4 tsp

Water/ stock- 3-4 cups

Macaroni pasta- ¼ cup

Mock meat- 1 cup chunky pieces

Grated cheese-2-3 tsp

Coriander/ parsley-2-3 tsp chopped

Roasted crushed peanuts-2-3 tsp

Peanut butter-1-2 tsp

Lime juice- 2 tsp

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the mock meat veggie soup.

2. To make the veg stock using carrots, onions, celery, bay leaf,

peppercorns and water, simmer it for 8-10 mins and strain, use that

liquid to make the soup.

3.To start up with the soup recipe, heat oil in a pan add in the garlic,

onions and saute for a few seconds. Add in the veggies, tomato

puree, macaroni pasta and seasonings, herbs, chili flakes to taste,

add in the mock meat pieces and stir.

4.Add in the vegetable stock and bring to a boil, simmer the soup for

12-15 mins, check for seasonings and adjust the texture of the soup,

add in the boiled/ tinned beans and simmer for 5-6 mins more and

finally add in the peanut butter, mix and serve hot, garnish the soup

with peanut soil and coriander/parsley and a drizzle of lime.

Recipe-6] SPICY MOCK MEAT CURRY

Ingredients:

Oil-2 tsp

Lemon grass- 2-3 tbsp. cut into 2 inch pieces

Fresh basil leaves- 6-8 no

Thai red chilies- 3-4 no

Galangal/ thai ginger- 2 tbsp. sliced

Salt to taste

Thai red curry paste-2-3 tsp

Kaffir lime leaves- 3 -4 no

Water-1 cup

Coconut milk- 2 cups thick

Brown sugar-1/2 tsp

Assorted vegetables to choose from:

Carrots- ¼ cup cubes

Beans- ¼ cup cut

Cauliflower/ broccoli- 1 cup florets

Zucchini-1/4 cup cubes

Babycorn- ¼ cup sliced

Sweet potato -1/2 cup diced, blanched

Assorted bell peppers- ½ cup cubed

Sprouts-1 cup

Mock meat- 1 cup chunky pieces

Coriander leaves-2 tsp chopped

Coconut cream- 2-3 tsp for garnish

Roasted peanut powder-1-2 tsp for garnish

To serve with- steamed white rice/ jasmine rice

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients as per the list and keep it handy.

2. To start with the cooking of the curry, heat oil in a pan add in the

thai flavorings like galangal, lemon grass, basil, kaffir lime leaves etc

and saute for a few seconds, add in the thai curry paste and a little

water and mix well.

3. Now add in the assorted veggies as desired and the mock meat

and allow to simmer, add salt to taste.

4. Pour in the coconut milk and a little water and allow to simmer for

12-14 mins, add in the brown sugar and balance up the flavor of the

curry.

5. Check for seasonings, adjust the consistency of the curry as

desired and add a little corn flour slurry to thicken up a bit to get the

desired thickness.

6. To serve the curry, we need to have some steamed/ boiled white

rice or the jasmine rice. Assemble the rice and serve the curry piping

hot, garnish the curry with choice of ingredients.

Appointment | Martijn Zengerink has been promoted to hotel manager at Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah.

Martijn Zengerink has been promoted to hotel manager at Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah. Working at the property since its transition from Ramada to IHG Hotels & Resorts, he has been a driving force behind a number of the hotel’s successes.

Namely, he helped to increase the hotel’s ADR by AED60 year-on-year through new revenue strategies and oversaw the launch of Brick Wall Sports Bar. He was previously been EAM in charge of F&B and hotel operations manager at the property.

Since rebranding from Ramada, the Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah plans to become the brand’s benchmark not only in the UAE but in the rest of the Middle East. It is one of the first openings under Crowne Plaza’s new brand image, pitching itself towards a more modern set of guests.

Crowne Plaza is one of the most well-established and well-respected hospitality brands there is. Founded back in the 1980s, the brand has been in Dubai alone for well over a decade. Over the years, the commitment to consistency and familiarity has made it immensely popular, with families in particular.

In November last year 2021, we spoke to the cluster GM at the time Joseph Karam to find out about the hotel. He has since moved on to be director of operations for Ishraq Hospitality

IHG is setting its sights on a younger demographic. Crowne Plaza falls into IHG’s Premium Collection of brands, a new collection the group launched earlier this year following a global rebranding. Renaming from InterContinental Hotels Group to IHG Hotels and Resorts, the facelift was launched to tap into a “younger demographic of consumers“, as well as hotel owners, colleagues and future talent”. The evolution of the Crowne Plaza family forms an integral part of this companywide shift.

Appointment | Executive housekeeper appointed at Rixos Doha Qetaifan Island North

The upcoming Rixos Doha Qetaifan Island North has appointed its executive housekeeper to lead the department. Akshay Virkud joins the debut Rixos Doha property from the Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery.

Also part of the Accor stable, Virkud was at the Alwadi hotel for over five years as its executive housekeeper. During his stint there, he became an ALL Safe Officer in the early days of its rollout – working to contain the spread of Covid-19 within hotels.

Virkud brings almost two decades of experience to the role, working as a housekeeping assistant at the Trident Hilton Jaipur in 2004. He went on to work as a housekeeping team leader for Grand Hyatt Mumbai for just over a year, moving on to Labriz Silhouette Resort and Spa in Seychelles as an assistant housekeeper.

Following two years with Shangri-La, he went on to join Four Points by Sheraton in Mumbai as deputy housekeeper, later returning to Seychelles as a housekeeping manager with Constance Ephelia Resort.

In 2014, he entered Qatar for the first time, working with Melia Hotels as an executive housekeeper.

Set to open in 2022, the Rixos Doha Qetaifan looks to open in time to welcome World Cup visitors. Accor is partnering with Qetaifan Projects Company, a 100 percent owned subsidiary of Katara Hospitality to manage the new Rixos Doha Qetaifan on the Qetaifan Island North project, an island located off Lusail City.

At the time of the hotel’s unveiling, Mark Willis, CEO of Accor Turkey, India, Middle East & Africa, said: “This development is an excellent opportunity for us to expand our footprint in the region. This will be the first Rixos in Qatar and with the world cup taking place in 2022, we expect it to become a landmark for hospitality and leisure hotel in Doha.”

Globally famed as the “Demon Chef’, Alvin Leung opens his first restaurant in the Middle East at Caesars Palace Dubai

Experience a creative twist on Chinese and Asian Classics at

DEMON DUCK BY THREE MICHELIN STARRED CHEF ALVIN LEUNG

Globally famed as the “Demon Chef’, Alvin Leung opens his first restaurant

in the Middle East at Caesars Palace Dubai

Dubai, March 2022: Asia’s most notorious chef, Alvin Leung makes his big debut in Dubai with the launch of Demon Duck, a new concept restaurant that brings a creative twist to Chinese and Asian Classics. Located at the luxurious Caesars Palace Dubai, Demon Duck joins the resort’s exciting repertoire of world-class dining destinations.

Expect the unexpected at Demon Duck. Known for his creative culinary style, this culinary mastermind delivers a straightforward yet playfully refined approach to much-loved Chinese and Asian dishes with a trendy Hong Kong-inspired, speak-easy style bar. Signature highlights include Alvin’s Slow Roasted Peking Duck, reimagined versions of classics like Shrimp On Toast and Black & White Dover Sole, and an inventive sweet twist on a Middle Eastern staple with Aromatic Pineapple Shawarma.

Designed to capture the essence of Hong Kong nightlife, the speak-easy style Bar at Demon Duck features a cocktail menu inspired by famous bars, and the electrifying buzz of the city’s many iconic streets and districts. From leisurely meanderings with Escape to Cheung Sha, bustling vibe of The Mong Kok to living it up with Party in Lan Kawi Fong, the Bar at Demon Duck sets the mood for an easy, casual evening to a sultry, late-night cap.

“Opening Demon Duck, my first restaurant in the Middle East, is a dream come true and truly special, because of how the vision came to life,” says Chef Alvin Leung. “Launching in a new place with someone I trust was very important to me, so what started as friendly conversations during the pandemic with Anthony Costa, Regional President of Caesars Palace Dubai, evolved into an agreement and thereafter, many virtual meetings later, Demon Duck was born – with special thanks to zoom for being our constant angel in this process! For me, it’s always about the simplicity of dishes, the authenticity of flavours, and the goodness of ingredients. When these combine well with a creative, playful spin, you create magic. I believe we have something special here that Dubai will love and am excited to bring you my latest creation!”.

Anthony Costa, Regional President at Caesars Palace Dubai comments, “My vision is to build a dining destination here at Caesars Palace, which caters to a discerning dining community that enjoys good food, great drinks, an excellent vibe and friendly service. I am so delighted to have the opportunity to work with Alvin in bringing this special concept to Dubai that will energize the Asian dining scene with its playful authenticity, creative flair and refreshing simplicity. I am thrilled for Dubai to discover Demon Duck!

Featuring an outdoor garden terrace and a stylishly modern indoor dining space, Demon Duck exudes a chic, sophisticated and trendy air, accented with eccentric, quirky depictions of duck art by Hong Kong based photographer, Mark Chung on the walls to playful graffiti and Middle Eastern inspired mosaic patterns on Monica Tsang designed crockery.

1 st International Conference on Travel, Tourism, Hospitality ; Culture(ICTTHC)-2022 March 11 th – 12 th , 2022

Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and; Applied Nutrition, Ranchi, Jharkhand

has organized the 1 st International Conference on Travel, Tourism, Hospitality, and Culture-2022

(ICTTHC) on the theme of “Promotion and Advertising of Leisure Activity for Sustainability of

Hospitality(PALASH) on 11th and 12th March, 202. The conference was conducted on Hybrid

mode.

INAUGURATION

International Conference on Travel, Tourism, Hospitality, and Culture-2022 (ICTTHC) was

inaugurated with l lighting by Chief Guest Hon’ble Governor of Jharkhand, Shri Ramesh

Bais, Guest of Honor, Shri Rahul Sharma, IAS, Secretary, Department of Planning and

Development, Govt. of Jharkhand, Shri Rahul Kumar Sinha, IAS, Director, Tourism, Govt. of

Jharkhand, Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal, President ICTTHC and; IHM Ranchi and Alok Aswal,

Convener ICTTHC and; HOD, IHM Ranchi on 11th and 12th March, 2022 at IHM Ranchi. The

Book of Abstracts was released during the inauguration ceremony.

Shri Ramesh Bais, Hon’ble Governor of Jharkhand appreciated the hard work and

dedication of IHM Ranchi, for organizing the International Conference. He said that for

promoting, advancing and disseminating the knowledge of hospitality and hotel administration

IHM has been instrumental in setting high standards of knowledge. Hospitality plays an

important role for our society and mankind. With the rapid development of tourism in India, its

importance is increasing more and more. The conference will lead to fruitful discussions,

produce constructive results and arrive at some concrete suggestions, which will help policymakers to further boost the growth of the tourism and hospitality sector in the country.

Shri Rahul Sharma said that Jharkhand is developing a lot in the field of Tourism, any

country and state is known only by Tourism and tourism play an important role as a brand.

IHM Ranchi is the newest of all the IHMs across the country, but it has evolved a lot in the last

three years of its establishment. The first batch of IHM Ranchi will pass this year and all the

students have already been placed in different establishments. He envisioned this conference as

a forum where hospitality and tourism experts and professionals will come together to share

practical knowledge and technology, debate openly on policies, which are best for individual

operators and the community.

Dr. Bhupesh Kumar in his speech said It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you all

to the International Conference on Travel, Tourism, Hospitality and; Culture -2022. The

The conference aims to bring Tourism and Hospitality Researchers together to deliberate on the

subjects related to Travel, Tourism, Hospitality, and Culture. It is an honor to host the event

that too in new normal. The state of Jharkhand is a land of bountiful opportunities and one of all

most potential tourism destinations for travelers across the globe. This gives academicians and

research scholars to find scope for research in varied field of Hospitality and Tourism in India. I

would like to thank all those who are associated with this Conference, especially our organizing

team and the supporting staff for their tireless efforts in making this Conference a grand

success.

A vote of thanks was given by Mr. Alok Aswal, Conference Convener and; organizing Secretary

ICTTHC 2022 at the end of the Inauguration ceremony.

Dr. Asad Mohisn, Associate Professor, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand, Prof.

Maharaj Vijay Reddy, Professor of Sustainable SME Growth, Birmingham City Business

School, Birmingham, United Kingdom, Prof. Ashish Dahiya, Professor, M.D University,

Rohtak, Haryana, Prof. Parikshat Singh Manhas, Professor, The Business School, University

of Jammu, Jammu and; Kashmir, Prof. Paramita Suklabadiya, IGNOU, New Delhi, Mr.

Nisheeth Srivastava, Principal, IHM Kolkata, Dr. Anand Kumar Singh, Principal, IHM

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Ms. Sharada Ghosh, Principal, IHM Bhubaneswar, Mr. Argha

Chakravorty, Principal, IHM Gurdaspur, Dr. Urvashi Yashroy, Dirtor, Tuli College of Hotel

management, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Dr. Bharti Gupta, Assistant Professor, Central University

of Jammu, India and Dr. Aarti Meshram, Principal, GITHMand;CT, Nagpur, Maharashtra

attended the conference.

The Conference explored overall theme related to Hotel, Travel and Tourism industry during

the two days through deliberations on 04 Technical Session Track:

(1) New Normal and Trends

(2) Promotion and Marketing

(3) Sustainability and Environment

(4) Culinary and Cultural Tourism

There were about 40 papers submitted for the conference out of which 38 papers were presented

during the conference.

Day 1, March 11, 2022

The Keynote address by Dr. Asad Mohsin, Associate Professor, The University of Waikato,

Hamilton, New Zealand gave an insight on “The Ageing Challenge in International

Hospitality Management: An intercultural assessment”. He told the Ageing population in

developed countries poses challenges not only to healthcare systems but also for tourism,

hospitality and recreation services. Modern medical technology and improved conditions are

helping to live longer and work longer. The segment is referred with different names/titles such

as elderly, older, aging, aged, retired, senior, silver market, third age, mature market etc. In

contrast to the youth audience, ageing consumers are sensitive to the image and status of goods

paying attention to the real characteristics of goods and services.

The Keynote address by Prof. Maharaj Vijay Reddy, Professor, Birmingham City Business

School, Birmingham, United Kingdom on “Rebuilding Hospitality and; Tourism: How green is

the recovery”. During his keynote he discussed about the impact of Crises, Disasters on

tourism. The crisis is an opportunity to rethink tourism for the future. He told to recycle and

reduce waste, Increasing awareness among tourist, Efficient management and conservation of

forests and other natural resources. All we require is Sustainability awareness and capacity

building - Education and; training to stake holders, International, National and; local corporation,

Research initiatives.

Technical Session Track -1: New Normal and Trends

Session Chair: Mr. Nisheeth Srivastava, Principal, IHM Kolkata and

Mr. Pankaj Chatterjee, Associate Professor RKDF University Ranchi,

Jharkhand

Rita Mitra and; Sohini Basu Mukhopadhyay presented paper on “Prospects of Re-Skilling and

Upskilling Employees in Hospitality Industry” emphasized that it literally seems like the

entire world is changing more rapidly than ever before. Every day brings in new technology,

app, trend or method of working that makes the older version completely obsolete. All sorts of

company must be prepared for these challenges and changes. COVID 19 forced most employers

to make vital changes in how they move ahead to cope up with odds in their field and comply

with limitations forced by the pandemic.

Dr. Goldi Puri presented paper on “Success Factors of online courses offered by Tourism

and Hospitality Institutes” highlighted on E-learning has generated enormous excitement in

education all over the world. It offers the potential to provide learning to new audiences and

chance to fundamentally transform learning delivery and the competitive landscape (Poehlein,

1996). The rapid and massive expansion of the Internet as a potential course delivery platform,

combined with the increasing interest in lifelong learning and budget restrictions has created a

substantial incentive for universities to develop e-learning courses.

John Major presented paper on “Exploring Success Strategies of Indian Start-up’s

(Restaurant) With Global Foot-Print in Food and Beverage Industry” explained that the

main purpose of this research is to explore how Indian food and Beverage startups have matured

and how local and global connectivity is critical to startup success. It is said that for good ideas

and true innovation, one needs to have human interactions, thought exchanges and debate.

Anindita Bharadwaj and; Dr. Amit Kumar presented paper on “A Study on Guestand#39;s

Perception Towards Housekeeping Services in Luxury Hotels of India” emphasized on

Hotel building has been an important economic support in India. The success of a hotel depends

on its guests. Keeping customers pleased is one of a hotel’s most challenging tasks. Customer

satisfaction and service are the foundation of a long-term client relationship. In this research,

hotel personnel in luxury Hotel Category and guests were asked about customer satisfaction

concerns. The study focuses on customer happiness and service quality of housekeeping

services in hotels.

Dr. Suneel Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar and; Varinder Kumar presented paper on “New Normal

Tourism post COVID-19: Trends and Issues” emphasized on COVID-19 has had an effect

on each and every business throughout the world, and the tourism and; hospitality business has

been particularly severely damaged. Earlier to COVIF-19, tourism industry has risen to be one

of the most prominent industries across the globe.

Rahul Bharti presented paper on “Post Covid-19 Innovative Front Office Practices in the

hotels of Delhi- NCR” highlighted on Post Covid-19 hospitality sector needs to adopt

sustainable and innovative practices to recover from the setbacks due to the pandemic. In this

regard, a survey related to current Front Office practices has been conducted in more than ten

hotel properties in Delhi-NCR region. These practices are compared with those which were

prevalent during the pre-covid times.

Technical Session Track -2: Promotion and Marketing

Session Chair: Mr. Argha Chakraborty, Principal, IHM Gurdaspur and

Dr. Nishikant Kumar, BIT Meshra, Ranchi, Jharkhand

Trina Deka and; Dr. Sudhanshu Verma presented paper on “Social Media- An overhyped

tool for destination marketing, being used awfully towards sustainable tourism”

emphasized on Social media allows the people to post unscrupulous data about almost anything.

The data needs to be converted into information for the marketers to be used fruitfully. Since

the input and editing of data is not controlled hence conversion of this data into useful

information is very difficult. The main objective of this study is to examine the authenticity of

the information available on social media and to analyses how effectiveness of using social

media for marketing and promotion of a destination, through it.

Abhishek Chowdhury and; Chandrokala Biswas presented paper on “Tourism Marketing

Strategies for Lady Travelers: A Case Study On Tourism Marketing Strategies for Lady

Travelers and; Feedback from Hospitality Professionals in Mumbai” emphasized on as the

tourist market becomes global, identification of gender differences in tourist behaviors and the

ability to meet the gender specific need will be the key to successful differentiation of the

tourism product. Unfortunately, there is reluctance by many tourism writers and practitioners to

recognize gender specific differences and to fully incorporate gender issues into the design and

marketing of travel and tourism products.

Ratan Lal Sahu and; Seema Jain presented paper on “The Transformation of Tourism

Industry in Post Covid 19 Era and Its Impact On Travel and Tour Businesses” emphasized

on CVOID 19’s effects on the tourism industry and its transformative power for both

professional and researchers are the goal of this study which will help both groups better

manage COVID19 situations pertaining to the industry. This article provides an overview of the

COVID 19 tourism destinations effects and how they can be used in tourism research.

Dr Harshada Satghare and; Nishant Sutare presented paper on “Use of Social Networking

sites for Tourism Marketing: Current Scenario and; Future Prospects” emphasized that

nowadays Social Networking Sites has become an unavoidable component of marketing

strategies of every small and big travel organization. Moreover, new social media channels

are emerging and influencing the methods of tourism marketing now then. Hence the present

research has aimed to anise the present usage of social networking sites among the public and

private tourism stakeholders and their further plans related to the use of sites.

Neha Dubey presented paper on “Marketing strategies of airlines operating in India with its

impact on customer satisfaction” emphasized on the aviation industry plays a significant role

in contributing to the GDP through the travel and tourism sector in the Indian economy. The

civil aviation industry in India has emerged as one of the fastest growing industries in the

country. After China and the United States of America, India has become the third-largest

domestic aviation market in the world.

Pratim Chatterjee and; Debasish Batabyal presented paper on “Analyzing Reviews for Future

Marketing of Jyotirlings in India with Special Reference to Kashi Vishwanath Temple,

Varanasi, India” emphasized on Varanasi or Benaras is believed to have been one of the oldest

extant cities in the world, with Kashi Vishwamnanth as its spiritual identity and religious

salvation. India’s twelve Jyotirlings is also one of the oldest extant pilgrim-circuits of my

mythology, religion and history. The present article is based on reviews in Trip Advisor for all

these twelve Jyotirlings in India, and surprisingly the pride of this Jyotirling is found dwindling.

Rimjhim Neog presented paper on “Destination Designing, Marketing and Management:

Issues and consideration” emphasized on Tourist have always attracted to specific locations.

Destination designing and planning on the other hand is new phenomenon for tourism

industry. Previously travelers travelled to places of their choice (beaches, old cities,

pilgrimage tours, hill stations etc.) that had developed into tourist destination through time,

because of their unique traits, they are popular tourist destinations.

Sahil Sharma and; Dr. Jeet Dogra presented paper on “Inputs for effective marketing of

Hospitality in Ranchi” emphasized on the tourism and hospitality industry is full of

competition today, effective promotion and marketing of products and services play a key role

in the overall success of nay business. In this study, the researchers identify key experiential

dimensions of hospitality services in Ranchi.

Harjot Kaur, Shaina Arora, and; Jyoti Sharma presented paper on “Social Media Marketing:

A Paradigm shift in tourism marketing with the advent of social media” emphasized on

Social media has altered every part of our existence, including our consumption habits. These

advancements have had a tremendous impact on organizations, primarily by enabling new

marketing methods. The paper summarizes recent debates about the future of marketing and

how businesses market to their customers using different social media platforms.

Day 2, March 12, 2022

The second day of conference started with welcoming of guests by Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal,

IHM Ranchi. The Chief Guest for Day 2 was Mr. L. K. Ganguli, Director(Aand;F), National

Council for Hotel management, Noida.

Mr. L. K. Ganguli in his speech informed about the fast growing travel and tourism industry.

Tourism has experienced continued growth and expanding ‎diversification to become one of the

fastest-growing economic sectors in the country. ‎Tourism is closely linked to development and

involves a growing number ‎of new destinations. These dynamics have turned tourism into a key

driver for socio-‎economic progress. He appreciated IHM Ranchi for conducting an international

conference. ‎

Key note Address by Prof. Manohar Sajnani, Director Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism

at Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India on “Sustainable Community Development”.

In his keynote he told Sustainable Community Development may be defined as

environmentally, socially and economically benefits people without disturbing the ecosystem.

Today population of world has increased significantly which cause degradation of environment

due to massive use of natural resources. Hence it has become essential to make every

community economically and prosperously sustained. Further as the population increases there

will also be increase in the use of bare essential of live needs as food, water and; shelter etc. when

a community becomes sustainable it generate not only profit economically, but also provides

social equality and friendly environment. He said happiness is the key of tourism.

Keynote Address by Prof. Ashish Dahiya, professor, Hotel and; Tourism Management. M.D,

University, Rohtak, Haryana on “Understanding life skills and making our life blissful with

their application in everyday life”. He told that leisure is the way to live. Life skills is a term

open to wide interpretation, it is used to describe a set of basic skills acquired through learning

and direct life experience that enable individuals and groups to effectively handle issues and

problems commonly encountered in daily life. He said behavioral changes through life skills:

Happiness, Knowledge, Motivation, Acceptance, Good habits, Lifestyle.

Keynote Address by Prof. Parikshat Singh Manhas, Director, School of Hospitality and;

Tourism Management (SHTM), Professor, The Business School (TBS), University of Jammu,

Jammu and; Kashmir on “Quality Enhancement in Tourism and; Hospitality Industry”. The

COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected the political and economic development pattern in the

world. It has deeply changed the hospitality industry and human resource service mode of hospitality.

The livelihood of a lot of people depends on tourism and; the hospitality industry. Once the recovery process has

started we have to address all globally how to build up a better blueprint. Trust is a very important factor

to create sustainable tourism all over the world.

Technical Session Track -3: Sustainability and Environment

Session Chair: Dr. Anand Kumar Singh, Principal, IHM, Bhopal, Madhya and

Dr. Sonia Sharma, Associate Professor, IGNOU, New Delhi

Dr. Supriya Sikari presented paper on “Community Sustainability and Community

Development Through Tourism Practices: An empirical study on ‘Natungram Craft-

Village” considered to be the largest and fastest growing industry, tourism causes in building

and reviving country’s economy by earning foreign exchange, generating employment and

boosting indigenous business opportunities. Tourism also contributes in Socio-cultural

development by understanding, participating, practicing and respecting each other’s culture

both by tourist and host community.

Anup.S.Patwal and; Dr. Jagdeep Khanna presented a paper on “Starting Homestay Business

Post Covid-19: A Social Entrepreneurial Approach” emphasized on the primary goal of

this research is to use social entrepreneurship to make the homestay business more

competitive after the coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic. The data is acquired from

government organizations, ministries, and commercial travel businesses participating in the

domestic travel and tourism sector.

Gagandeep Soni, Dr. Sarah Hussain and; Saima Kareem presented paper on “The Impact of

Environment-Friendly Practices On Customer Satisfaction in Hotels: A Review of

Literature” emphasized on The study’s goal is to examine at diverse environment friendly

measures employed by the hospitality sector and analyze their influence on customer

satisfaction. From 2000 to 2020, 31 publications with keywords like “environmental friendly,”

“customer satisfaction,” “customer loyalty,” and “sustainability” were downloaded from major

online research databases such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, Research Gate, and Emerald

Insights.

Neha Kumari and; Dr. Nidhi Nayna presented paper on “Women Career Elevation in

Hospitality Industry: An Overview” elaborate that nowadays, women hold incredibly unique

status in a society, they played various roles in their institutions such as family, political or other

social groups. Moreover, in today’s Indian industry women are gaining more power and

positions as compared to past.

Ravi Kumar and; Dr. Bhupesh Kumar presented paper on “Tribal Tourism Planning and

Development in Jharkhand: An Application of Four Hs of Indigenous Tourism”

emphasized on the state of Jharkhand “Nature’s hidden Jewel”, come into existence on 15 th

November 2000 is the land of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The state is blessed with rich natural

mineral resources, diverse flora and fauna and has enormous tourism potential with Tribal

Tourism, Religious Tourism, Heritage Tourism, Mining Tourism, Eco Tourism, Adventure

Tourism. There are as many as 32 tribes in the state of Jharkhand, each tribe have a unique

culture, custom, tradition and heritage.

Rohan Joglekar and; Tanya Singh presented paper on “To study the significance of Sustainable

Tourism in India” emphasized on Tourism industry is considered as one of the fastest growing

industry in the world. It is an important source of foreign exchange as well. Tourism sector is

extremely sensitive industry which affected by various environmental factors and incorporates

distinct features of information of the society not only of one country but across the world.

Banani Mondal and; Suman Ghosh presented paper on “A Study on Green Hotel Practices and

Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals” emphasized on Hospitality and Tourism

of India has emerged as one of the key service sectors in the context of the country’s economy

and have led the way for development. The present day scenario of the hotel industry has

changes with the shift of focus of the global traveler from high rise hotel buildings in cities to

places that are close to nature and have a peaceful natural environment which does not damage

the natural ecosystem and ecology around.

Suchismita Roy Indra and; Ishika Karia presented paper on “A study on new practices

adopted by Hotels in Housekeeping Department in 5 star hotels in Mumbai post Covid 19”

emphasized on the hotel is a unique place for people to interact, get together and exchange

ideas. Hotel employees are employees who work side by side to provide guests with the best

possible experience. Housekeeping departments are often overlooked, but their work affects all

departments of the hotel. Over time, the housekeeping sector has changed significantly with

new practices following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vimal Kumar, Surbhi and; Bhavesh Gupta presented paper on “A Study of New Challenges in

learning for students pursuing hospitality programs and new demands of Employers in

hospitality sector in District Faridabad, Haryana” emphasized on we have seen a surge in

the universities and stand-alone institutions offering long term and short term hospitality a

programs and modules in the preceding years to support varying human resource demands in

the hospitality and tourism sectors. The purpose of the study to find out and address the new

challenges encountered by the hotel management students in online learning and the new norms

applicable in Industrial Training and; placement of Hospitality students in the post-pandemic

times.

Arvind Sonkamble and; Pallavi Yedgaonkar presented paper on “To Study the Role of

Hospitality in Health Sector” emphasized on Health plays vital roles in today’s lifestyle,

people are travelling for many purposes tend to have food outside. Youth like to try different

cuisine which is one of the major causes of effecting health negatively. Hotels, restaurants and

other hospitality sectors plays important role in serving hygienic food in clean ambiance.

Abinash Dash and; Sambit Suman presented paper on “Bibliometric Analysis of Central

Finance Assistance (Cfa) Seminars by Ministry of Tourism from 2017 -2020” emphasized

on Research performance is an important part of academic pedagogy system. Continuous

research activities show continuous expansion in capacity building of academic as well as

an academic milieu. The Ministry of Tourism provides financial Assistance (CFA) to establish and

upgrade the Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and; Applied Nutrition(IHMs)

and the National Council of Hotel Management in the country.

Madhuri Deshbhratar and; Suchismita Roy Indra presented paper on A Study On Changing

Trends in Housekeeping Department of Five Star Hotels in Mumbai Post Covid- 19

emphasized on this pandemic no other department than the Housekeeping department has

evolved so rapidly. As we all know the hospitality industry is a dynamic industry and the

The housekeeping department plays a vital role in keeping the hotel clean and safe.

Technical Session Track -4: Culinary and Cultural Tourism

Session Chair: Dr. Urvashi Yashroy, Director, Tuli College of Hotel Management, Nagpur,

Maharashtra

Dr. Aarti Meshram, Principal, Government Institute of Hotel Management and;

Catering Technology, Nagpur

Dr. Amit Kumar, CT University, Punjab

Srijani Chatterjee and; Vikram Singh presented a paper on “Prospect for Development of

Sualkuchi is a Destination for Cultural Tourism: Perceptions of Local People and Tourists

in Assam” emphasized on Sualkchi is a weaver’s village in Assam, having immense potential

as a center for culture and heritage. This village is home to around 17000 handlooms, and the

weavers here consider this an heirloom passed on from generation to generation. The people of

this area also suffered hugely due to the pandemic and these flag bearers of heritage and

traditions are surviving on the bare necessities.

Siddhartha Dey, Nomita Dey, and; Harveer Singh presented a paper on “Sustainable Food

Consumption: An Overview of Contemporary Preserve Food Items” emphasized on

Sustainable tourism has become a progressively popular field of research since the late 1980s.

However, the sustainable tourism debate is patchy, disjointed and often flawed with false

assumptions and arguments. This paper is a brief critique of some of the weaknesses in the

sustainable tourism literature.

Manish Semwal and; Anup S Patwal presented a paper on “A Systematic Literature Review on

Local Food Tourism and Regional Development in Uttrakhand” emphasized the use of

food as a distinctive feature of locations, as well as its ability to influence visitors’ travel

decisions, is a contentious issue in academics. Various nations utilize different phases to refer to

Tourism and Food. Food tourism, gastronomic, and food tourism are all interchangeable terms.

Rishabh Kumar, Deepanshu Khurana, Akhil Chawla, and; Dr. Suneel Kumar presented

a paper on “A Critical Investigation into the Emergence and Rise of the Cloud Kitchen”

expressed the major objective of this is study is to see the emergence of cloud kitchens. In the

A modern era where the generation wants everything on the mobile; the Cloud kitchen to get more

popular. Cloud Kitchens are an increasingly vivid model that a lot of new generation

entrepreneurs can move into in recent times.

Deepti Yadav and; Dr.Gaurav Bathla presented a paper on “A study on the factors affecting

the change in food lifestyle of the consumers during COVID-19: a special reference towards

convenience food” emphasized on the purpose of this research is to study the change in the

consumption pattern of food during the covid-19 pandemic in India. The study focused on the

convenience food-related lifestyle and behavior of the consumers changed due to pandemic

Objectives were fulfilled by collecting information from questionnaires through a google form.

Dr. Dhanraj Kalgi, Ashwini Talaulikar, and; Yogendra Tanwar presented a paper on “The study

of advancement in the Tourism and Hospitality industry during Post Covid-19 pandemic”

emphasize on Post Covid-19 pandemic has brought a new revolution in tourism and hospitality.

The new normal put into practice by the government had challenged the tourism and hospitality

industry to evolve new service processes for their revival and survival. Emerging technology

turned to be a boon to this industry as it aided in virtual reality tours, the Internet of thighs, voice

search and contactless payments to provide and maintain the quality of service and customer

satisfaction.

Apurba Chakraborty and; Dr. Santosh Kumar Upadhyay presented a paper on “How the

COVID 19 Pandemic, Effects on Tourism and; Hospitality Industry, of Dooars Region: An

Overview” emphasized on Hospitality and; Tourism industry in Dooars has been the main contributor

to the revenue of income by increasing the GDP Growth of North Bengal. Tourism Industry of

Dooars not only employs workers in cities but also provides an earning base for the rural

population.

Baljit Singh Kalsi presented a paper on “Culinary Tourism- An Upcoming Opportunity for

Tourism Industry in Jharkhand”.

Dr. Dhanraj Kalgi, Ashwini Talaulikar, and; Asmita Patil presented a paper on “To study the

significance of relationship marketing for improving customer loyalty in hospitality and

tourism industry” expressed the relationship marketing is a type of marketing originated from

direct response marketing campaigns which accentuates not only on retention of customers but

also on satisfaction comparatively than sales dealings. Relationship marketing inspires the

establishments of hospitality and tourism to cultivate relationships with guests, suppliers, peers

and partners, to uphold their reliability to the trade.

The conference concluded with a Valedictory Ceremony and Workshop delivered by Dr. Bharti

Gupta, Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism and; Travel Management, Central University

of Jammu, Jammu and; Kashmir on the topic “How to Write and; Publish Research Paper for

International Journals” emphasized to know about what to keep in mind before writing a paper,

things related to writing for Avoiding Desk Reject, how to pick your target journal, understanding the

meaning of Bibliometric and methods, to understand the meaning of citation, citation index and about the

measures that emerge from citation analysis and to know about the Peer Review Process, 4Ps of

Publishing, Publication ethics, Open Access Journals, UGC-CARE, useful software, and SCI-HUB.

The concluding vote of thanks was given by Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal, IHM Ranchi and;

President of ICTTHC 2022 who acknowledged the efforts of all the Researchers and Presenters

for their excellent cooperation and contribution to the Tourism and Hospitality field.

 

 

NEWS | IHCL Launches Paathya - An Industry Leading Initiative

IHCL Launches Paathya - An Industry Leading Initiative

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company announced a framework to drive its sustainability and social impact measures under Paathya. Derived from the Sanskrit term ????, inferring a path, Paathya encapsulates initiatives to lead positive change with IHCL’s core values of Trust of all stakeholders, Awareness around the needs of our ecosystem and Joy at heart.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India, Shri G Kishan Reddy, said “Sustainable and responsible tourism is the way forward and the Government of India is already working in this direction. The government and the industry together are exploring ideas, solutions, and strategies to face the environmental and societal challenges. I applaud IHCL for its holistic approach of Paathya and for leading the path for the sector.”

The function was graced by Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional DG, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

Taking ahead IHCL’s over a century-old legacy, Paathya forges a journey focused on Environmental Stewardship, Social Responsibility, Excellence in Governance, Preserving Heritage, Value Chain Transformation, and Sustainable Growth.

Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said, “Today, it has become even more important to chart a new tomorrow - one that is more sustainable and inclusive. We believe this is the only way to drive India’s journey to being among the top travel and tourism economies. The launch of Paathya is in line with IHCL’s commitment to strengthen its resolve of contributing to the society with an integrated approach towards creating sustainable growth and positive impact. This reaffirms our founder, Jamsetji Tata’s vision of keeping community at the heart of business. ”

IHCL has defined several short and long-term goals to be fulfilled by 2030 under Paathya. From 100% elimination of single-use plastic across all its hotels to ensuring 100% of waste water is reused, the company’s 100% of hotels will be certified to a global sustainability standard. Representing best practices, 78 IHCL hotels have achieved EarthCheck certification with 47 Platinum recognitions, largest in the global tourism industry. Furthermore, all business meetings and conferences will go green with the introduction of Innergise - Green Meetings, reducing their environmental impact.

Taking ahead its commitment to skill building, and create employability for the deserving and the marginalized, IHCL aims to impact the livelihood of over 100,000 youth. Long heralded as the custodian of Indian heritage, IHCL’s collaboration with UNESCO, will see adoption of 100% of Intangible Cultural Heritage (IHC) projects in the geographies it operate in.


Pride Group of Hotels to unveil newly refurbished Pride Amber Vilas Resort & Convention Centre

Pride Group of Hotels to unveil newly refurbished Pride Amber Vilas Resort & Convention Centre

The Pride Amber Vilas Resort & Convention Centre Jaipur, an exclusive resort hugely popular with domestic and international tourists has now been extensively refurbished and is set to reopen in April 2022. Located away from the bustle of modern-day cities this upscale ethnic resort has been an expression of the spirit of Rajasthan and its royal elegance. It has now undergone a makeover to let guests discover the colorful nuances of rustic charm blended with luxury indulgences that they can fully immerse themselves in.

Announcing the development, Atul Upadhyay, Vice President, Pride Group of Hotels says, “Pride Amber Vilas has over the years enjoyed pre-eminence in attracting large section of leisure tourists from across the world. We are now delighted to unveil the refurbished resort that will allow us to cater to well-heeled travelers looking for opulence and local experiences. The resort is redesigned with a perfect amalgamation of modern interpretation and customary themes that echoes the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan now in name of Pride Amber Vilas Resort & Convention Centre”.

Spread on a sprawling 70 acres, ‘Pride Amber Vilas Resort & Convention Centre’ now features 95 cottages & suites meticulously designed with tastefully adorned ethnic décor, contemporary amenities, and breathtaking views. Each of the rooms reflects an eclectic mix of style, glamour and all-out Rajasthani inspiration. It narrates stories of romance and chivalry, synonymous with this magical land set amidst the desolate desert beauty. All the guest rooms are fully air-conditioned and decorated with all contemporary elements equipped with wi-fi internet access, attached bath, minibars, wardrobes and LCD TVs.

The facilities include a multi-cuisine restaurant serving Rajasthani and international menu, a bar stocking refreshing beverage, a swimming pool, gym with latest fitness equipment’s, games room, and a Spa/ Jacuzzi/ Sauna centre that will beacon guests with healing pleasures. Pride Amber Vilas Resort & Convention Centre boasts of being one of the largest convention center with more than 26,000 square feet of convention centre in Jaipur. It offers a perfect venue for weddings, receptions, and events with 2 spacious lush green lawns and 3 banquets ready to accommodate 100 to 500 guests.

With its presence around 40 great locations, 4,000 rooms, 80 restaurants, 107 banquets, conference halls, thereby reinforcing itself as a one-stop destination for MICE. Currently, Pride Hotels operates and manages a chain of hotels under the brand name “Pride Plaza Hotel” an Indian Luxury Collection, “Pride Hotels” which are conveniently centrally city located business hotels, “Pride Resorts” at mesmerizing destinations and Mid-Market segment hotels for every business “Pride Biznotels”. Locations are prominently at: New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Nagpur, Bangalore, Chennai, Rajkot, Goa, Jaipur, Indore, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Mussoorie, Dapoli, Puri, Gangtok, Anand, Manjusar (Vadodara) Upcoming locations are: Alkapuri (Vadodara), Nainital, Jim Corbett, Jabalpur, Daman, Rishikesh, Aatapi, Surendranagar, Dwaraka, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Agra, Somnath, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Neemrana, Rajkot, Bhopal & Haldwani.

Eclat Insights | IPOT & ISPT - 2 Perspectives To Empathy Explained With Real-World Service Examples

A perspective is a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view.

One approach observes and infers how someone feels. This is imagine-other perspective-taking (IOPT). The other way to empathise is to put yourself into someone else's situation, this is imagine-self perspective-taking (ISPT).

IOPT - Imagine-other perspective-taking

  • is thinking about someone else's feelings, without taking those feelings upon yourself.

  • translates into imagining the thoughts and emotions of the other person

ISPT - imagine-self perspective-taking

  • is the traditional 'walking in a mile in someone else's shoes'.

  • means imagining what one’s own thoughts and emotions would be if one were in the situation of the other person

Why is it relevant to Hospitality & Service Industries?

At the very heart of a service is the act of creating, crafting and providing solutions. Solutions that are a response to stated or unstated needs. A guest's stated need might be a room to sleep in for the night, but the unstated needs are safety, no disturbance (peace), a comfortable bed, working appliances, water and maybe breakfast in the morning. Every time a guest books a hotel room, she does not need to state these.

If all service is a response to needs, wants or desires, then the ability to read, deduce and understand the needs can be a big differentiator for your business.  

Learning to respond to these needs can be innovative and may create whole new categories(think AirBnB, All Day Dining, All Day Breakfast, plunge pools in rooms etc).

Using perspective, both types, you can make this into practice.  

Actionable Insights with Real-World Examples

eg 1 - General Manager For A Day Concept or HOD For A Day

One employee / Team Member gets to be the Hotel General Manager or HOD for a day (shadowing)

  • IOPT - Imagine-other perspective

For the GM/HOD - be open to what the team member feels, pays attention to, asks, spends time on, is enamoured by or in awe of.

For the Team Member who is shadowing - ask questions, watch what the GM/HOD pays attention to, try to understand the rationale behind the decisions.

  • ISPT - imagine-self perspective

For the GM/HOD - appreciate that your team member may be anxious about the day. Let them know what to expect. Make them comfortable. Listen to their ideas. Let them make an actual decision. Put yourself in their shoes by remembering your early career days.

For the Team Member who is shadowing - appreciate this is a big opportunity, let the GM/HOD know you value it, ask what you can or should not do. Attend a meeting pretending to be the GM or the HOD. Fully immerse yourself into that reality.

See a real-world example of this from Hyatt

eg 2 - Let Reservation/ Sales/ Front Desk team members sleep in the hotel rooms.

They will get first-hand exposure to what a guest feels. 

Make sure you give them the following:

  • A checklist for a proper room check. This becomes feedback for Housekeeping

  • A list of activities /tasks that guests usually undertake. e.g. charging phones, watching tv, using the shower, ordering food & eating it in the room, switching on / off lights, of course, sleeping in the bed.

If you do this, you will find the following:

  • Your team now understands why the guests are so angry when they call from the room

  • Your team will want you to change things in the room. If that cannot be done, they will want you to put better signage.

  • Your team will give much better room orientations. they will point out things that they assumed were obvious before this experience.

If as a leader you are willing to do this, I would invite you to also let the In-Room Dining / Room Service crew eat in a hotel room. Do this and you will find at least 10 things that need to be changed in your current SOPs and you will find your guest feedback from these services suddenly improving. 

When we got a team to sleep in the hotel rooms, immediately, there was a change in the bed making process (the duvet was no longer tucked under the mattress as the team realised one had to wrestle it free at bedtime), water was now kept at the bedside, not on the minibar, a new master switch was added for all lights in the room (the rooms had 7 light switches), extra crockery & cutlery was added for meals. The changes continued for some time. 

How To Make This Wow

Not every process needs you or your team to be ISPT (walking in someone else shoes). Most innovation, guest centricity can come from IOPT (thinking about what other's feel).

However, some solutions will only emerge if you truly immerse yourself in your guest's perspective. Wheelchair friendly facilities, allergy concerns, safety & security are among these.

If you truly want to create those amazing solutions, pick one, for example - wheelchair friendly facilities, and live your hotel, restaurant as a wheelchair-bound person. Log your experience, take videos from that POV. The perspective you gain will invaluable. Check out - https://gowheeltheworld.com/ to see how when you get it, you get it.

Meet the leadership team at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa The Palm Dubai

The new Taj Exotica Resort & Spa The Palm in Dubai has introduced its leadership team. The resort from the Indian operating giant has named its general manager, hotel manager, executive chef and department directors.

Ranjit Phillipose, area director Middle East and general manager of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai said: “We are very pleased to have launched Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai. We look forward to establishing the Taj Exotica name in the region and showcasing Tajness to our esteemed guests. As a brand, we take pride in everything we do, and the team will embody this in the ethos of their work. I’m confident every guest will enjoy the resort’s unique offerings and world-class hospitality.”

The team at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa The Palm Dubai The Palm

Ranjit Phillipose – area director, Middle East and general manager

A Taj stalwart, Phillipose has been with the group for close to three decades. Starting as a duty manager for Taj Coromandel Hotel in 1993, he became room director for Taj Boston in 2005, later hotel manager of the same hotel until 2009.

He would go on to become general manager of Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, later general manager of Taj Exotica Resort and Spa in the Maldives. In 2015 he came area director for Taj Goa and GM of Taj Exotica in Goa. From 2016 onwards, he worked in the Middle East, first as GM of Taj Dubai and later as an area director.

Greg Kocsis – Hotel manager

Originally from Hungary, Greg Kocsis is an experienced hotel manager with international experience in the luxury market, having previously worked in Beverly Hills, Miami, Barbados, London, Oman and Maldives for leading hotel brands over the course of 18 years.

The well-being of staff is a value Kocsis holds close to his heart. He said: “Our colleagues are the essence of our business, as we take care of them, it reflects back on their sincere attitude and dedicated care to our guests, which makes us stand out among our competitors.”

Dorsai Khaghani – director of sales & marketing

With over 15 years of experience, Dorsai Khaghani has led a number of successful launches of some of Dubai’s biggest and most successful hotel brands. She has previously served as a VIP sales executive for Atlantis Dubai, later moving up to manager of international sales at the famous Dubai hotel.

Her move to Taj marks an end to an eight-year career with Sofitel Dubai The Palm where she was director of sales leisure and later DOSM.

Lionel Dousse – F&B director

Swiss-born Lionel Dousse, director of food and beverage at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, is bringing 14 years of experience to this role and has previously worked in Djibouti, Ghana, and Latvia, as well as the UAE. He specializes in creating dining concepts for pre-opening restaurants and bars. 

Dousse is responsible for developing unique dining experiences for the food and beverage operations across the seven outlets, including banqueting with two ballrooms and eight meeting rooms. 

Outlets at the new hotel include Indian spot Varq, Middle Eastern rooftop bar, and lounge Raia, the international Palm Kitchen, British pub Roaring Rabbit, seafood bistro The Coast, and Lime Pool Bar.

Sonu Koithara – Executive chef

Having been a part of the IHCL (Indian Hotels Company Limited) for over 15 years, Sonu Koithara has been an integral part of the culinary teams for several hotels in India and recently in Dubai with the opening of Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers. He has big plans to put Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, The Palm, Dubai on the map.

Dr. Arun Aravind – director of spa

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai will house its own resident Ayurvedic expert. Dr. Arun Aravind, a seasoned wellness professional, joins the team with over 22 years of experience and brings in-depth knowledge of the practice of Ayurveda to the hotel’s spa.  

He is a certified practitioner of Ayurvedic Management of Metabolic Syndrome and has worked in many resort spas throughout India. One of his specialties is curating destination retreat programs that combine holistic wellness practices with lifestyle management.

TAAI launches Brochure & Theme Logo for 66th Convention to be held in Sri Lanka in April, 2022

TAAI launches Brochure & Theme Logo for 66th Convention to be held in Sri Lanka in April, 2022

Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) on the invitation from Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Board (SLTPB) and Sri Lankan Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), will be holding its 66th Convention and Exhibition at Colombo, Sri Lanka from April 19 – 22, 2022.

TAAI today unveiled its Convention Brochure and Theme Logo for its 66th Convention and Exhibition at a Press Conference and Road-Show at Hotel - The Park, New Delhi.

Jyoti Mayal, President TAAI, said, “I am truly delighted for receiving such an overwhelming response from the industry ever since we have announced the Convention in Sri Lanka. In the present scenario, there is an immediate need to build on our regional strengths and to explore more opportunities for growth in travel and tourism. The theme of the Convention 'Collaborate to Conquer', will focus to promote and establish travel and tourism between the two nations of Sri Lanka and India. SLTPB being the Main Sponsor for the 3day event in Sri Lanka, is looking forward to showcase their products and services to the Indian stakeholder partners, who shall boost bi-lateral Tourism into and from Sri Lanka. We have survived a tough phase and now have embarked the revival journey with positivity and vigour. Our mission is to build trust and confidence to deal with the challenges that exist in the new normal and move forward with a unified strategy for future sustenance through collaborations.”

“Our Convention logo, theme, brochure and the entire program will revolve around building a positive vibe and brainstorming to find ways and means through which the global tourism fraternity is coming together to embrace synergies for a brighter future,” she added.

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson, Kimarli Fernando stated, “It is a pleasure to partner with TAAI to host its 66th Convention and Exhibition in Sri Lanka. India being one of the main source markets for Sri Lanka, TAAI Convention is a great opportunity to promote tourism experiences of Sri Lanka to the Indian market. Key tourism product segments such as culture, and religious tourism, weddings, films will have a great potential in attracting Indian travellers. India has become a vital market for Sri Lanka Tourism in a post pandemic environment with many airlines operating to major tourist generating cities in India. Sri Lanka Tourism believes that the industry stakeholders will take the maximum exposure by engaging with the Indian travel trade during the upcoming TAAI convention.”

Shri Arvind Singh IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, said, “The dynamic global geostrategic and geo-economic landscape is intensifying competition and redefining principles and values on which the regional order should be based. The apparent barriers of the pandemic have created a new kind of catalyst for greater connectivity, cooperation, and co-existence. The vast Indo-Pacific region is home to more than 64 per cent of the world’s population and accounts for 62 per cent of global GDP. India and Sri Lanka are two very important countries in terms of tourism and the 66th TAAI Convention will provide a valuable opportunity to tourism stakeholders to collaborate for trade and business with the fast-growing Indian outbound Industry. I am glad to know that TAAI will promote ‘Inbound into India’ as an important subject at this convention and will strive to attract Sri Lankans to connect well with India.”

The dignitaries and officials from TAAI unveiled the Convention Brochure and Logo in the presence of industry professionals, representatives from Sri Lanka Tourism, SLAITO and Sri Lanka High Commission. Officials from MoT, GOI and from SLAITO had also joined in virtually to attend the event.

“With the global aviation and economies opening up for tourism, especially in the light of commercial flights restarting from March 27, there is no better time than now to hold this Convention. We – the travel trade of India, can reiterate with confidence to the traveller by ourselves travelling overseas with renewed vigour. TAAI has taken this rightful opportunity to hold this Indian Travel Congress in Sri Lanka, so as to facilitate international mobility amongst our members and the trade at large. This shall give us all a platform to ‘Collaborate to Conquer’ with all our stakeholder partners in India and overseas,” said Jay Bhatia, Vice President, TAAI.

Mr. Ravindran Veeraperumal, Regional Manager – India & Bangladesh – SriLankan Airlines, gave an exhaustive and enlightening presentation on the airline’s operations and its expansion plans for the future. The airline is also the official airline sponsor for the 66th Convention & Exhibition of TAAI in Colombo this year.

Concluding the event, Bettaiah Lokesh, Hon. Secretary General, TAAI said, “Sri Lanka has always been one of the favourite destinations for Indians and now with the international skies opening up, it is an ideal destination for hosting the convention. Sri Lanka's close proximity to India along with its focus on boosting regional tourism, strengthening bilateral relations and developing trade, investments and tourism makes it an important market for our country. The convention will provide a wonderful opportunity for our delegates to experience the serene beauty of this unique island country. We at TAAI look forward to welcoming our member delegates from “Incredible India” into the serene “So Sri Lanka”.

A fruitful networking session between a delegation from Sri Lanka and TAAI members took place today in New Delhi which was attended by over 200 stakeholder partners/members of TAAI, stated TAAI-Hon. Treasurer Mr. Shreeram Patel was also present on the occasion and felt that with the overwhelming response to the roadshow; SLTPB, SLAITO and TAAI are excited to welcome all delegates for the Convention in Colombo.