The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India in collaboration with Government of Bihar and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry organised a Conference for promotion Civil Aviation Sector in the state of Bihar. The conference brought together experts from Indian Aviation Sector for strengthening the state’s opportunities in Airports infrastructure, Heli services, agro-business, and tourist destinations, increase regional connectivity, attract investment, and identify business.

The conference was moderated by Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Presentations on the promotion of Civil Aviation in the state of Bihar was done by S Sidharth, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister of Bihar and Sandeep Pondrik, Principal Secretary, Government of Bihar

Bihar is one of the progressive states in India and it has immense growth potential. In recent years states civil aviation sector has seen exponential growth in terms of air passengers, Airport Infrastructure etc and holds the key to link the state to the other states of the country while it also taking ahead state’s Tourism, trade, and commerce with the rest of the world.

The state has benefited immensely through regular commercial operation of air services from Darbhanga airport since 2020. Darbhanga airport has direct flight connectivity with Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Bangalore while Patna is now connected to Amritsar, Varanasi and Prayagraj under UDAN-2.0 scheme.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for development of Phase I of New Greenfield Airport at Dholera, Gujarat at an estimated cost of Rs. 1305 crore, to be completed within 48 months.

The project is being implemented by Dholera International Airport Company Limited (DIACL), which is a Joint Venture Company comprising Airports Authority of India (AAI), Government of Gujarat (GoG) and National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) holding equity in the ratio of 51:33:16.

Dholera Airport is to get Passenger and Cargo traffic from Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) and is expected to become a major cargo hub to serve the industrial region.  This Airport will also cater to the nearby region and serve as a second airport to Ahmedabad.

The New Greenfield Airport at Dholera is situated at an aerial distance of 80 Km from Ahmedabad, Airport. The Airport is planned for operationalization from the year 2025-26 and initial passenger traffic is estimated to be 3 lakh passengers per annum, expected to grow to 23 lakh over a period of 20 years.  The annual cargo traffic is also estimated from the year 2025-26 at 20,000 tonne, which would increase to 2,73,000 tonne over a period of 20 years.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), under its Sagarmala Programme, has embarked on developing an ecosystem for promotion of Ro-Ro (Roll-on, Roll-off) ferry and waterway transportation in the country. This mode of transportation has multiple benefits including reduced travel time, reduced logistics cost and lower pollution in comparison to conventional mode of transportation.

In view of immense potential and distinct advantages of ferry service, Ministry is financially supporting 45 projects with total project cost of Rs. 1900 crore. Under the gambit of Sagarmala, Ministry has operationalized Ro-Pax Ferry service between Ghogha - Hazira in Gujarat and Mumbai - Mandwa in Maharashtra. These services have transported more than 7 lakh passenger and 1.5 lakh vehicles, contributing towards clean environment and public welfare.

In view of success of these projects and high demand and potential, additional projects are planned at Pipavav and Muldwarka in Gujarat and Ghodbunder, Veldur, Vasai, Kashid, Rewas, Manori and JN Port etc. in Maharashtra.  In addition to above, Ministry is supporting 4 projects in Andhra Pradesh, 2 projects in Odisha and 1 each in Tamil Nadu and Goa.

The Ministry has prepared draft of “Guidelines for Operationalization of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferry service along the coast of India” after incorporating the preliminary inputs received from the stakeholders. The guidelines encompass the two aspects of ferry operation namely; concessions for terminal operation  and license for operation of Ro-Pax vessels.

These guidelines will homogenize and streamline the development and operations of ferry services, along with, promoting ease of doing business by eliminating unnecessary delays, disagreements and introducing digital interventions at customer interface. They will also help State/UT Governments and Port Authorities in implementation of such projects by standardization of procedures. Further, it will help in instilling confidence among the private players thereby increasing their participation and promoting healthy competition in such projects.

The Ministry intends to seek feedback and suggestions on the draft guidelines for operationalization of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferry service along the coast of India from all stakeholders.

Amity University, Noida Uttar Pradesh, signed an Memorandum of Understand (MoU) with Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) to train the students in the field of tourism, travel, hospitality and aviation with the support of different campuses of the University.

Speaking on the occasion, Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson, Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), said, “We all aware that the Pandemic has taken its toll on the education sector across the globe, however, it is worthwhile to mention that skill-based education is an outcome of training and practical sessions.

“In the current scenario, the tourism and hospitality sector is ever- evolving and we continue to live in this environment, thus we need to change, adopt and implement newer ways with use of technology. What made us relevant in the past, does not hold true today, so it’s all about how agile, adaptive and resilient we can be to prepare ourselves for future challenges.

“Any crisis brings a lot of opportunities, and we need to reinvent and realign ourselves to suit the industry needs and demands. We support the Prime Minister’s vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and we are certain that with our combined efforts, we will be able to accomplish our mission and continue to promote vocational education which is the need of the hour.”

Addressing the gathering, Rajan Bahadur, CEO, Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), stated, “Amity is not only an educational institution but is also a socially responsible organization which believes in giving back to the society.

“Vocational Education consists of practical courses and Vocational Education and Training is an important element of employment generation and sustainability. This partnership with Amity will elevate skilling not only in India but also overseas and will produce highly skilled professionals as per the industry standards, imperative for competitive growth.

“Through this MoU, students will be trained in the field of Tourism, Travel, Hospitality and Aviation by different Campuses of Amity University through the various programs specified, under this MoU.”

Dr Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group, stated, “Through the Signing of this MoU, we are certain to contribute to nation building by developing the skills of our students. India has a lot of scope and opportunities to become the most developed country in the world and optimum utilization of our resources, which also includes human resources, will lead India on the path of remarkable growth and development. The Signing of this MoU is a testimony to our commitment of making our students industry ready so that they contribute to the development of our country.”  

Highlighting the significance of the signing of MoU, Prof (Dr.) Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, added, “The Pandemic has changed the scenario of the Travel and Hospitality industry in India. The use and development of technology, as in the case of all industries, has changed the face of hospitality and tourism industry in India. Businesses have been impacted but the spirit has remained intact.

“We, at Amity, firmly believe that if our activities do not contribute to the society, industry and nation, we have not achieved anything, therefore, activities must be outcome-based. In line with the vision of our honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, skill development is our top most priority and we have to see how we can nurture and provide the right talent to industries.”

Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs) are known as the disruptors of the aviation industry. However, now that it is no longer enough to simply offer the lowest base-rate fare to attract passengers, what do LCCs need to do in order to stay competitive in today’s increasingly complex marketplace?

Mike Barrera, VP, Product Management, Low-Cost Carrier Segment, Sabre, spoke at the Aviation Festival Asia, held at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 14 and 15, telling the aviation and travel industry audience that LCCs need to differentiate themselves to remain relevant to travellers.

“The LCC market is going to be the fastest growing in the next five years,” said Barrera. “And, the high number of new LCCs that are entering the sector are dramatically changing the environment. So it’s vital carriers are able to differentiate themselves to remain competitive. They need to have the mindset and the technological support to act like an online retailer, to offer passengers what they need when they need it.”

Barrera said that traveller expectations are higher than ever before as consumers have come to expect personalization from all of their retail interactions. But despite the challenges, there are significant opportunities for those who are prepared to capture them. Many consumers would prefer to book their whole combined trip with one vendor if they are able to, representing a major opportunity for airlines with a retail mindset.

Sabre and Sabre company, Radixx have taken the opportunity during the pandemic to accelerate their technological transformation. LCCs now also need to take the time to look at their own business models and the technological support they need for success.

Barrera said LCCs need to prioritise choosing a technology partner which offers security and reliability; ensuring their chosen technology is easy to use and train, especially given staff shortages and high turnover rates in the current travel industry; and selecting best-of-breed technology that has scalability and modularity so offer management systems can interact seamlessly with order systems “At the heart of all of this innovation is data,” added Barrera.

“But data can be overwhelming. LCCs need the ability to capture data, understand it and utilise it to create very personalised offers. Individual carriers can have access to significant AI and ML infrastructures through Sabre and Radixx that simply would not be possible when acting alone. This investment in technology is the key to being able to seamlessly deliver products and services at a lower cost, to maximise revenue opportunities and enable LCCs to really differentiate themselves by creating enhanced, personalised experiences for travellers.”

(Edited by Gayatri Anand)

New Zealand’s Blenheim-based carrier, Sounds Air has signed with Amadeus to make its content available to travel sellers across the world through the Amadeus Travel Platform.

Sounds Air is hosted by the Takeflite Solutions passenger service system and this development is a result of a new partnership between Amadeus and Takeflite that provides enhanced global distribution options to regional airlines.

Travel management companies, corporations, tour operators, retail travel agencies, online travel agencies, and metasearch players that are connected through the Amadeus Travel Platform will be able to easily search, book, and service reservations on Sounds Air. Using their preferred Amadeus interface, they will gain access to the airline’s flight schedules, load changes, seat maps and fare families as well as real-time flight updates. These options will empower travel sellers to tailor offerings to their customers’ specific requirements, generating more value for both customer and airline.

“Amadeus facilitates the sales and distribution of travel on a global scale, connecting travel providers with travel sellers, and we see great value in having our content on the Amadeus Travel Platform. Amadeus will be implementing Sounds Air content with end-to-end integration, which will bring back-office benefits for sellers and ease the utilisation of the agency online booking tool to book flights for our airline,” said Andrew Crawford, CEO, Sounds Air.

“We are excited to work with Sounds Air and honoured to be selected as the carrier’s first travel distribution partner. Thanks to our technology and our people, we've developed the largest network of travel sellers that will help Sounds Air expand its reach, along with the potential to scale and the opportunity to reach more travellers with the right offer. We look forward to supporting the carrier’s growth as travel rebuilds with premium technology,” said Lance Batty, Director, Airlines, Pacific, Amadeus.

(Edited by Gayatri Anand) 

The Imperial New Delhi has appointed Louis Sailer as Senior Executive Vice President as of May 2022. Louis enjoys an international recognition for his particularly tenacious commitment to offering an uncompromised high standard of service across all companies’ front and back of house operations.

Throughout his career, he has managed and operated some of the finest hotels and has turned around global luxury hospitality brands and operations in Germany, Japan, Singapore, China, London, California, Hawaii, the Caribbean and India.

Published author with an extremely progressive career path around the world, he is now set to take the reins of The Imperial New Delhi.

Sharing his thoughts on this special occasion Louis Sailer said: “The Imperial is a true landmark and one of the Grand Dames of the East. I am delighted to especially return to India for this opportunity to spearhead this historic fabric and craft the hotel’s future legacy, to provide our guests from India and around the world with an indelible experience.”

StayWell Holdings is excited to announce the launch of a new hotel brand, Park Proxi, a unique hotel offering that has flexibility and hoteliers at its core.

Park Proxi will allow hotel owners to co-create and customise the hotel they desire, by deliberately minimising the brand mandatories that usually accompany a hotel design. This approach creates space for true collaboration, and from room styling to flexible zones to the hotel logo, to a choice of 7 signature colours, Park Proxi offers owners the opportunity to develop a hotel that suits not just their personal tastes, but also cultural preferences.

Designed to create a truly local hotel experience, the Park Proxi model welcomes collaboration with hoteliers to take advantage of the best that each location has to offer.

The first country in the world to sign a Park Proxi hotel is Egypt, with the 194-room Park Proxi EL Hayat Sharm hotel officially signed recently.

Simon Wan, President of StayWell Holdings is excited to see the new brand come to life around the country and the world. “Our mission with the roll out of Park Proxi is to help hoteliers create their ideal hotel for their location, taking advantage of their local knowledge and ensuring the property provides every guest with the very best that each neighbourhood has to offer. Park Proxi will become a global village of unique hotels that are bound together by a shared love of diversity, travel, and adventure.”

Yasser Ibrahim Sayed Hassan and Bassem Ibrahim of IGRED said of the signing, “We are honored to associate with StayWell Hotels and are confident that this hotel will set a new benchmark of hospitality in the centre of Nabq Bay, Sharm EL Sheikh. The unique offering of Park Proxi brand with StayWell’s unmatched service standards will prove a great success with travellers looking for personalised service standards and a brand-new product.”

Rohit Vig, Vice President Development of StayWell Holdings Pty Ltd said, "We are delighted yet again to grow our footprint in the Middle East with our entry into Egypt. We plan to open this hotel early next year and would be a wonderful addition to our portfolio of resorts around the world. Our expansion strategy is on target and are working towards having 250 hotels in the next 10 years."

(Edited by Gayatri Anand)

ITC Windsor celebrates 4 glorious decades of unmatched elegance, warmth, hospitality and history.   The property has stood witness to a host of changes in the years gone by.

Built in 1982, the hotel opened with 140 rooms and instantly appealed to the elite audience of the city and beyond. An addition of 100 rooms in 1993 proved that ITC Windsor was ready to keep up with the pace as the IT Capital of India started to take shape in Bangalore.

The 100-year-old rain tree on the main porch elicits nostalgia. The secret Lancelot garden on the 3rd floor, draws guests for a cup of tea or a long walk while savouring the city's salubrious weather.

Speaking on the occasion, Deepak Menezes, General Manager at ITC Windsor said “It is a moment of pride for all of us as we achieve this milestone. ITC Windsor is not a hotel it is an experience to be lived and spoken about. The entire team is very excited to bring back the memories and reminisce about the past as we take a walk down the memory lane of the last 4 decades. It is 40 days of celebration with a range of offers, specially curated menus, and fond surprises as we come together to mark this momentous day”.

Following the brand ethos of Responsible Luxury, ITC Windsor also became the first hotel in the World to achieve LEED Zero Carbon Certification. ITC Hotels has pioneered several ground-breaking initiatives on environment, hotel ecosystem, health, and well-being.

From LEED platinum rating, to being one of the first chains to eliminate single use of plastic free products, deployment of radiation harmonisers across the chain, farm to fork low carbon footprint cuisine, clean air and more, ITC Windsor is a notable first in its Responsible Luxury and Sustainability initiatives.

(Edited by Gayatri Anand) 

Qatar Tourism has become an Official Tourism Partner of the Global Kitesports Association (GKA) Kite World Tour for three years, with a new world-class kite beach resort set to open in the northeast of the country later this year.

Qatar Airways also becomes the Kite World Tour’s Title Partner and Official Airline, while Qatar Tourism will become title sponsor for events held in Qatar.

The announcement was made at the site of an upcoming state-of-the-art kite beach resort in Fuwairit. Fuwairit is a coastal village north of Doha with excellent kitesurfing conditions thanks to consistent winds, ideal ocean water and powder-soft sands that is set to open later this year.

Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Kitesurfing is a travel sport where adventure seekers compete in beautiful destinations across many continents around the world. At Qatar Airways, we are proud to support this growing sport and become the preferred airline for athletes and fans travelling to GKA events all around the globe including Qatar, our home country, to experience something new and exciting.”

Dr. Jörgen Vogt, Secretary General of the Global Kitesports Association, said: “There’s no better partner for the Kite World Tour than Qatar Airways, which shares our passion for travel, sustainability, exploration, creativity, adventure seeking and competition. Qatar is quickly becoming the global heart of sport, and we are excited to bring our World Tour opening and Finals to this epicentre in 2023.”

The partnership is the latest milestone in Qatar’s journey to becoming a recognised leader for global sports tourism. Qatar has an ambitious strategy to welcome more than six million visitors a year by 2030. Hosting major events, such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the annual ATP and WTA tennis tournaments, along with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, are central to this goal.

(Edited by Gayatri Anand)