IATO’S 2012 CONVENTION TO FOCUS ON MEDIUM AND SMAL

The 28th Annual Convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), to be held at National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA and Oberoi-Trident complex in Mumbai from August 30 – September 02, 2012, is all set to give a new direction to the Indian travel and tourism industry. “This year we have a very strong emphasis on content. Our focus is on our medium and smaller members and the issues they face in running their businesses. We intend to make the sessions more interactive, more discussion styled and more contemporary,” Rajeev Kohli, Vice President, IATO & Convention Chairman, 28th Convention, told T3. The Convention, with its theme “Moving Forward in Challenging Times – Together” is expected to see the participation of 800-1,000 delegates. “We already have more active members registered than in past conventions. That alone is an indication of our members coming back to the main stream of IATO’s activities,” he said. IATO has been focussed on discussing taxation, state issues and macro problems in its past conventions. “We will try to bring in topics that help develop skills and give our members some insight that they can implement in their businesses back home,” he added. IATO has also incorporated few new elements in its Convention to make it more interactive, pertinent and thoughtful for participants. According to Kohli, IATO will introduce a ‘Run for Responsible Tourism’ to create more awareness among stakeholders. “In the morning of August 31, we are organising the first IATO Run for Responsible Tourism. Apart from good exercise along the coast, this is an opportunity to mingle with fellow delegates in a relaxed environment,” he opined. IATO is also bringing in speakers from the World Travel Mart (WTM) Vision Conference to present the Euromonitor Travel Industry Global Overview 2012 report. Even the format for the ‘Hall of Fame Award’ has been changed this time. “We are also changing the process of selection of the winners. We have asked members to give their inputs to help us to select the right person through a transparent process which is purely on merit. The IATO Executive has decided that we will follow some clear steps in the award process and make it free of all biases,” Kohli revealed. The award will be decided by a high powered independent industry committee that will consist of senior members of the travel tourism fraternity, the media and the government. “We wish for the selection of candidates for the award to come from the members of IATO. We would like their inputs on names of potential candidates to be considered. This will increase the credibility of IATO, the award, and the winner,” he added. Another interesting thing that IATO has included this year is a ‘Silent Auction’. “This year we are launching IATO’s first even Silent Auction in aid of a chosen cause. At the venue, you will find a display of donated items on which you will be able to bid, competing against your other colleagues,” he informed. Apart from these, IATO will also distribute a lot of door prizes at the Convention.