The rising Importance of the female travel market in Asia Pacific

Luxperience 2014 and the rising Importance of the female travel market in Asia Pacific

The rise of the female traveller, on business and leisure, in Asia Pacific continues to grow at an exponential rate.  By 2030, it is estimated that it will have increased by as much as 400%. Luxperience 2014 is working with its exhibitors to ensure that they are responding to and capitalising on this market trend. 

Lindy Andrews, CEO of Luxperience says, “There is no doubt that there has been a rise in female travellers across Asia. The majority of these affluent Asian women travelling are from the wealthier areas of Asia, such as Tokyo, Singapore, Taiwan, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong or Seoul.  Just as an example, in Singapore 32% of all business travellers are female and Hong Kong has the largest percentage of female business travellers at 36%. At Luxperience 2014, we are happy to share these learnings with our exhibitors to ensure they have the market knowledge prior to their joining us so that they can cater to these  all-important markets and are thus able to establish meaningful connections with our international buyers.” 

Some pointers from the Luxperience 2014 team on how to cater even more effectively to the female travel market in Asia Pacific:

·         Solo travel is a growing trend amongst female travellers – consider introducing a no-single supplement during your shoulder months

·         Include an experiential aspect to your product - experiential packages have gained traction with many women citing adventure sports rather than shopping as the past time for their holiday.

·        Women  are known to do their research through peer-to-peer recommendation – win over the female travel sector through “real” and effective engagement on your  social media channels

·         For hotels – consider introducing women-only floors

·      Hotel spas – offer a health and wellness centre as opposed to a fitness studio, or  if space and investment in your property are a concern, look to providing  in-room spa services  and/ or  partnering with a local accredited alternative therapy practitioner     

·       Guided shopping – have ready a list of top 10 shops in your city / location for women travellers looking for some retail therapy.  This responds to a market trend amongst Asian female travellers in particular.  Research shows that many purchase travel as a gift for themselves, or as a reward or an opportunity to celebrate a special occasion. On a trip like this, spending levels reach between $5,000 and $20,000. In fact, a recent survey shows that affluent Asian women are more likely to purchase an overseas holiday than men (96% vs. 89%) and these women have the financial power to buy luxury premium goods. In China alone, female consumers dominate the purchase of luxury goods.

Lindy says “Given the massive spending power of the Asian woman, tourism operators need to think about tapping into this market. The number of women travelling in Asia will continue to rise, especially as Asian economies and the travel industry continues to mature; tourism operators need to respond to this.”

Exhibiting at Luxperience 2014, Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau share that they have not only seen a rise in female Asian travellers, but also male. In fact,  shopping from Asia visitors (both male and female) yields the highest revenue to the destination. Some of its luxury retailers say as much as 50% of purchases are made by Asian visitors. The wide acceptance of China Union Pay debit and credit cards in Beverly Hills adds convenience to shopping from mainland China.  

To ensure they are ‘China ready’, the Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau (BHCVB) has ensured that several of its five star hotels include amenities such as Chinese breakfasts, tea and packaged noodles with kettles in each room, Chinese newspapers and slippers. They are also working closely with a local affiliate of China National Television in Guangzhou to investigate adding Chinese TV stations in their hotel rooms.  The Visitor Center also employs bilingual staff who are trained to assist visitors with directions, suggestions and collateral all in-language. BHCVB will use their participation at Luxperience as a platform to update Asian buyer delegates at the global business exchange, on these initiatives.

Luxperience 2014 will take place from 31 August to 3 September 2014 in Sydney Australia.

For participation from India, get in touch with Deepika Chowdhry at deepika@candidindia.com 

IMEX Eyes Industry Predictions for 2014 - Content, Tech, “Glocal” CSR, Diversity and The Happiness Factor

With its eyes and ears on the global meetings marketplace from two vantage points -- one in Europe at IMEX in Frankfurt and one in the US at IMEX America -- the IMEX Group today offered its predictions for meetings industry trends and changes in 2014.  These are supported by speaker and expert anecdotes from the recent IMEX America 2013 in Las Vegas.

1.  Content Gets Bigger as Attention Spans Grow Shorter

The meetings landscape has changed. It’s now content that’s defining meeting and event type, not the other way around. The incredible growth of YouTube, TED and short, sharp TV and video news clips (including the birth of super-bite-sized Vine) means attention spans are shorter than ever. Four minutes is a lifetime online. Expect meetings and event content to be delivered in ever more entertaining, diverse and digestible pieces. The label ‘hybrid’ fades away as all meetings and events become multi-faceted and multi-dimensional for participants on and off-site.

Speaking on the INCON-sponsored Social Hub at IMEX America, Glen Thayer, the Voice of Meetings & Events, said: “The attention span of our attendees is a big factor. My tolerance for a YouTube video is 60 seconds and I’m done! That’s a big challenge…both at the physical live event and online.” [See links, below].

2.  Happiness is Hip

The big watchword for our working lives in the 90s and new millennium was ‘work/life balance’. In 2014 this shifts to ‘workplace spirituality’. A growing number of organizations recognize that employee loyalty and motivation hinges on a convergence of personal values with corporate ones.

IMEX America 2013 MPI Keynote, CEO & Chief Happiness Officer of Delivering Happiness, Jenn Lim, was on trend when she urged her audience to think of happiness as a science that can be applied at work. “When values, vision and purpose in individuals and organizations come together, the impact can be so positive, and it’s about much more than a happy worker being a productive worker,” she said. Expect more organizations to embrace happiness as their ethos for growth in 2014.

3. Technology Connects the Dots

Convergence and connectivity. Both will be the next big technology wins the meetings industry strives for in 2014. As Lawrence Coburn, CEO of DoubleDutch, and Michael Owen, CEO of Eventgenuity observed at IMEX America 2013, many big technology advances have been made, now they need to be managed. Coburn expects “the bandwidth of Apps to get lighter”, where Owen sees regulation and standards coming into play, such as through the new Apex Standards. He’s also clear that the future is “not about more technology but how that technology is delivered.”

2014 will see offline coming online even more energetically, further notes Coburn. Engagement will also lead to better data capture with the ultimate win being deeper business insight. The proliferation of smartphones and “wearables” with their innate ability to capture data will also improve ROI, forecasts Coburn.

4. Social Media Shifts Up, Out and Everywhere

“Everyone’s had their first go at social media. Now it’s time for phase two,” is how Sam Stanton, President of redbutton.tv described it on the IMEX America 2013 Social Hub. “Expect to see some really cool crossover where participants who are highly social at home find they can still behave that way at an event.” In 2014 social media starts to receive its own budget, and begins to play a meaningful and measurable part in marketing and communications strategies across the meetings and events industry. Witness IMEX showing the way with IMEXLive, its online (and essentially, short-term and pop-up) ‘window onto the show.’

5. “Glocal” –  Helping Hands on Your Doorstep

With the launch of the biannual 2014 IMEX Challenge -- which will involve building a new healing garden at the Shade Tree shelter in Las Vegas next October -- the IMEX team demonstrates a growing sustainability trend: keeping it local. Where once the international nature of the meetings industry meant thousands of opportunities to ‘do good and give back’ in far flung corners of the world, the trend now is to reach out to help those right on your doorstep.  “Like many growing and successful cities, Vegas still has pockets of poverty and groups who need special support,” says IMEX Group CEO, Carina Bauer. “IMEX and its Challenge host sponsors – Sands Cares and GES (Global Experience Specialists) - all appreciate how lucky we are to work in the meetings industry, to travel and enjoy experiences that others only dream about. We want to show our commitment to the whole city…and that means being hands-on with our two legacy projects, Opportunity Village and the Shade Tree shelter for women, children and their pets. In Frankfurt we also support the Lichtblick Homeless Shelter and Maisha’s Sewing Project; and in our home town of Brighton, England we support a young people’s homeless charity – The Clocktower.”

6. Meetings Sector as Leading Economic Indicator

Could 2014 be the year when the meetings and events industry is finally recognized as an important economic indicator? Economic impact studies are now commonplace in at least five mature markets, and they have been rigorously executed. And, when the recent US Government shutdown threatened to stifle business on many fronts, President Obama was quick to request a meeting with U.S. Travel Association CEO Roger Dow. This is in stark contrast to the post-AIG panic when the meetings industry was lobbying from the back foot and the rallying cry was “if you’re not at the table, then you’re on the menu.” As Dan Berger, CEO of Social Tables declared at IMEX America, “Those of us in the industry know that when meetings and events start to rise they are the pulse of growth.” If the Purchasing Managers Index can do it, then why not a meetings market barometer as a reliable forecasting tool?

7. Workplace diversity

Where once a hot conversation topic was demographic shift and what that meant for the global meetings and events market, now the big debate of 2014 looks set to be ‘workplace diversity’. With so many generations working alongside each other (be it virtually or physically) and issues of gender balance and racial diversity still being addressed, organizations are having to look at their recruitment and talent development strategies with more creativity, and awareness. In July 2013 Deloitte University Press went one step further, suggesting that ‘diversity of thought’ is now the new frontier: “Advances in neurological research that are untangling how each of us thinks and solves problems can help organizations, including governments, operationalize diversity of thought and eventually change how they define and harness human capital.”

For more information:

www.imex-frankfurt.com and www.imexamerica.com

Luxperience Launches 2014 Global Pop-Up Programme

Luxperience Launches 2014 Global Pop-Up Programme

New York, London, Beijing, Sao Paolo

January 2014 - Luxperience marks the beginning of the New Year with the launch of its 2014 Global Pop-Up Programme, designed to take suppliers direct to key markets around the world - the USA, the United Kingdom, China and Brazil.     

Luxperience’s Pop-Up events will appear in some of the world’s most iconic cities.  The Pop-Ups will provide suppliers with enhanced opportunities to establish business relationships in strategic markets, prior to Luxperience 2014 taking place in Sydney from 31 August to 3 September.  A selection of 20 suppliers will be attending each Pop-Up event to with 50 elite high-end and corporate travel buyers.   

Luxperience is the only high-end travel trade event to offer such opportunities. Lindy Andrews, CEO of Luxperience says, “We are very excited about our 2014 Pop-Up programme.  I believe our approach reflects the global profile of Luxperience, as well as our commitment to provide our suppliers with the best return on investment, by further increasing their exposure to an international audience.”

The first Luxperience Pop-Up will take place in New York at 6pm on 26^th February at Pranna on Madison Avenue where suppliers will be able to showcase their product during an informal cocktail event. 

Subsequent Pop-Ups will take place as follows:

·         London, UK - on 3 March 2014 at Beaufort House Chelsea.  Event starts at 4pm and concludes with dinner

·         Beijing, China   - on 20 March 2014 at the Waldorf Hotel.  Event starts at 6pm and concludes with dinner

·         Sao Paolo, Brazil - 5 May 2014 at Tivoli Sao Paulo – Mofarrej. A cocktail event starting at 6pm.   For further information on participation at Luxperience 2014, please contact: deepika@candidindia.com or visit www.luxperience.com.au

 

A 10-Step Program for India’s Economy

A 10-Step Program for India’s Economy

By Jim O’Neill Jun 23, 2013 6:00 PM ET

It’s fashionable to say the era of strong emerging-market growth is over. As the U.S. recovers, the global cost of capital will rise, holding back investment; against this background, avoiding the next crisis is the best that most emerging economies can do. If you take this view, India might seem a perfect example, with its widening current account deficit, heavy public borrowing, persistent inflation and weak currency.

I don’t think so. As a general matter, emerging-market gloom is overdone. India, in particular, could teach the pessimists a lesson.

Last week, I made a quick visit to see the chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi. He’d asked me to give a presentation on how India could realize its still-enormous potential. I went through points I’d first discussed in a paper I co-wrote with Tushar Poddar in 2008: Ten Things for India to Achieve its 2050 Potential. It’s striking to me that, five years later, our recommendations don’t need revising. (They do need elaborating, and I’ll get into more detail in an updated study and further columns. Modi and I are planning a conference of experts before the end of this year.)

I’ll state no opinion on Modi’s chances of becoming prime minister after next year’s general election -- it has been announced that he’ll lead the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign. He’s a controversial figure. Detractors call him a sectarian extremist. I will say this: He’s good on economics, and that’s one of the things India desperately needs in a leader.

Cultivating Growth

Like all Indians, Modi loves acronyms. Me too. I admire his MG-squared -- minimum government, maximum governance -- and P2G2 -- pro-active, pro-people, good governance. That sums it up pretty well. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Gujarat has avoided the slowdown that has almost halved India’s national rate of growth. The state just keeps on growing at double-digit rates.

Long-term growth depends ultimately on just two things -- the number of workers and how productive they are. India’s demographics are remarkable. The country is on track to grow its workforce by 140 million between 2000 and 2020. That increase is the equivalent of the working population of France, Germany, Italy and the U.K. combined.

Even with unspectacular growth of a little more than 6 percent a year, India’s economy could be 40 times bigger by 2050 than it was in 2000 -- about as big as the U.S. economy will probably be by then (though not as big as China). But it could do so much better than that. Growth of 8.5 percent over the entire period is possible -- with growth of more than 10 percent over the next 15 to 20 years not out of the question -- provided it makes some changes.

It’s all about productivity. India scores poorly on indexes of economic variables that are critical for economic efficiency -- worse than Brazil, China and even Russia. To change that, it needs to do 10 things:

1. Improve its governance. This is probably the hardest and most important task -- the precondition for the rest. Modi is right: Whoever leads the next government in 2014, India needs maximum governance and minimum government. There is no point having the world’s largest democracy unless it leads to effective government.

2. Fix primary and secondary education. There has been some progress here, but a huge number of young people still get little or no schooling. I sit on the board of Teach for All, a global umbrella organization for groups that encourage the brightest graduates to spend at least two years teaching. Today India has about 350 teachers in these programs. It could do with 350,000 or more.

3. Improve colleges and universities. India has too few excellent institutions. Its share of places in the Shanghai ranking of the world’s top universities should be proportional to its share of global gross domestic product -- meaning 10 universities in the top 500 (it currently has just one). Make that an official goal.

4. Adopt an inflation target, and make it the center of a new macroeconomic policy framework.

5. Introduce a medium to long-term fiscal-policy framework, perhaps with ceilings as in the Maastricht Treaty -- a deficit of less than 3 percent of GDP and debt of less than 60 percent of GDP.

6. Increase trade with its neighbors. Indian exports to China could be close to $1 trillion by 2050, almost the size of its entire GDP in 2008. But India has little trade with Bangladesh and Pakistan. There’s no better way to promote peaceful relations than to expand trade -- and that means imports as well as exports.

7. Liberalize financial markets. India needs huge amounts of domestic and foreign capital to achieve its potential -- and a better-functioning capital market to allocate it wisely.

8. Innovate in farming. Gujarat isn’t a traditional agricultural producer, but it has improved productivity with initiatives like its “white revolution” in milk production. The whole nation, still greatly dependent on farming, needs enormous improvements.

9. Build more infrastructure. I flew in to Ahmedabad via Delhi, and out via Mumbai, all in a day. I got where I needed to go -- but it’s obvious how much more India needs to do. Adopt some of that Chinese drive to invest in infrastructure.

10. Protect the environment. India can’t achieve 8.5 percent growth for the next 30 to 40 years unless it takes steps to safeguard environmental quality and use energy and other resources more efficiently. Encouraging the private sector to invest in sustainable technologies can boost growth in its own right.

I’ll have a lot more to say about the details as this project moves forward. For now, suffice to say that India’s potential is vast -- and given the will, it can be tapped.

(Jim O’Neill, former chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, is a Bloomberg View columnist.) 

ILTM Spa - second edition to be held in London from 30th September- 2nd October 2013

Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), organiser of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), will hold its second ILTM Spa, next year in London from 30th September – 2nd October 2013.

Following the successful launch event held in Austria this year, ILTM Spa will coincide with the annual Tatler Spa Awards seen as one of the world’s international annual spa events.

Alison Gilmore, ILTM Exhibition Director, commented: “ILTM Spa is a high end focused event dedicated to innovators of spa and wellness travel which includes destination spas and leaders in the medical tourism sector. The decision to hold the event in London next year alongside the Tatler Spa Awards, helps bring the whole industry together in one place.  Earlier this year a report by The Director Magazine said that the value of this industry is £39bn with over £5.2bn being spent on spa services in the UK alone, so it’s fitting we meet in London in 2013.”

Francisca Kellett, Travel editor at Tatler added "Tatler is thrilled to be associated with ILTM Spa. Spa breaks are hugely important to our readers (lucky us), and bringing the best of the industry all together in one place next October is an exciting prospect."

The focus of ILTM Spa is to deliver both business and education, so that the travel and leisure industry can keep up to date with the latest destination spas, resorts and personalised experiences offered alongside some of the very best treatments, programmes and therapies.

Up to 100 VIP international and UK Hosted Buyers representing the senior decision makers from specialist tour operators and individual planners of bespoke spa and travel itineraries will be pre-qualified and personally invited to do business with up to 100 exhibitors. There will be a conference on the afternoon of the opening day (30th September), which will focus on the latest spa and wellness issues and medical tourism trends. The following two days will comprise one-to-one pre-scheduled appointments between exhibitors and buyers, and will conclude with the annual Tatler Spa Awards.

Next Hearing On Tourism Ban On October 3

The tourism sector now has to wait until the 3rd of October to see whether or not the wildlife parks will open to the public. After hearing arguments on Thursday, by the MoEF, the Honourable Bench advised the States and all other petitioners to submit any and all objections to the new guidelines within 3 days. The Bench further stated that the counsels of all the petitioners will be given 10 minutes each on 3rd October to make an oral presentation of their objections. 

The Bench made it absolutely clear that it would only pass judgment once it was completely satisfied that the proposed guidelines were adequate and after the State Governments were notified to follow them. The Bench further indicated that it was inclined to modifying the ban on tourism in core areas as undue prejudice and harm was being inflicted on various parties as a result of their ban. 

With these directions from the Bench it is clear that both judges on the panel are positively inclined to open the parks but it would require them to hear out each and every petitioner. They also indicated that they may open the parks with the current proposed guidelines or with certain modifications to the guidelines. 

The nod that they have given the tourism sector is the understanding that a long drawn out court case hurts the livelihood of those involved and that they are determined to deal with this matter swiftly and without prejudice. 

Mr. Parvez Dewan, IAS, will take over from Rajen Habib (R H) Khwaja as Secretary - Tourism, Government of India. A 1977-batch IAS of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) cadre, Dewan will assume office from first week of October 2012 in the Ministry of Tourism. Parvez Dewan has been Secretary in Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs before this. In his more than three decades of service, he has handled various res

ponsibilities, including in the Department of Tourism in both home cadre, J&K, as well as in the Centre cadre. He was Secretary - Tourism, J&K from 1992 to 1994 and Commissioner-cum-Secretary of J&K between 1998 and 2001. He was also the Chairman and Managing Director, India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), a public sector under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India between 2006 and 2009. He was instrumental in preparing the groundwork for Commonwealth Games as Chairman and Managing Director of ITDC.

IMEX America Index of Optimism Shows Industry Glass Remains “Half Full” With 76% of Respondents Feeling Optimistic

Results from the latest IMEX America Index of Optimism suggest that North American buyers and suppliers remain firmly optimistic about future business prospects despite having to face up to continued economic challenges. Just over 312 buyers and suppliers responded to the survey which was undertaken by the IMEX Group in July. (Total respondents: 312. Buyers - 73%; Suppliers - 27%). When asked if they are currently feeling “more or less optimistic about the meetings industry than a year ago,” 76% agreed they are more optimistic. This compares to a slighter larger majority of 79% in February 2012 (albeit with fewer answering this specific question – Feb 2012: 146 compared to July 2012: 195).  Last year just 66% (155 respondents) felt more optimistic than 12 months before. Further survey data in the final quarter are likely to show whether this is a sound upward trend or a short-term reaction.

84% Report Uptick in New Business Sources in Last Six Months

A strong majority of 84% of respondents also revealed they had attracted new sources of business in the last six months, suggesting that signs of growth are starting to show through in a more reliable way, especially when compared to 12 months ago when just 73% felt that business was picking up. 11% said they hadn’t increased business levels and the remaining 5% declared “don’t know.”  Asked to compare their current situation with the previous six month period 46% felt it was “about the same” but a healthy 42% declared “it’s definitely getting better.” Almost half of those surveyed – 46.5% - have also seen an increase in the number of attendees taking part in their events, although for 28% there was no discernible rise.  In July last year 50% felt that numbers were growing, while in February 2012 it was 53%. However, given the relatively small sample size, this slight downturn is not thought to represent a significant trend but a reflection of normal business cycles. In turn, 35% felt there was good evidence to show that spending per participant at their events had grown, although a majority of 43% have yet to see this important measure start to rise. A further 22% were “not sure.”

Political influences

Finally, when questioned regarding the impact the US presidential election campaign might have on their businesses in the next six months, mixed opinions were generated. While some felt that the pre-election period had not, and would not, impact their business, others felt that it had slowed down decision-making within the sector. Obama’s possible re-election also produced varied viewpoints. Comments ranged from “if Obama gets elected it will get better”, to another respondent who said his re-election would cause “the economy to slow down and business to retreat”.  Other comments included “the logjam needs to break” while one respondent reflected the views of several others with: “We are looking for new, effective leadership and I’m not sure that either candidate applies.” IMEX America kicks off at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas with Smart Monday – Powered by MPI – on Oct.08, followed by a three day trade show set to welcome in excess of 2000 hosted buyers, thousands more buyer attendees and around 2000 exhibiting companies from all over the world. Registration is free and online

Link to this story online.

About IMEX America IMEX America is America’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events and is already the largest trade show for the industry in the USA. The second edition will take place at the Sands Expo, Las Vegas, (which is connected to the show's Headquarters Hotel, The Venetian®|The Palazzo®), Oct 9 – 11, 2012. The show's strategic partner and premier educational provider is MPI, who power “Smart Monday” - Oct. 08 – a full day of education on the day prior to the tradeshow. Smart Monday also includes a range of high level education delivered by other partners and associations; including Association Focus – a conference within a conference for association meeting planners – delivered by ASAE, ICCA and PCMA. IMEX also has an exclusive partnership with the US Travel Association and is endorsed by DMAI and Site, has an Industry Partnership with PCMA and is an ICCA Business Partner. Other supporting associations include: ACTE Global, ADME, AIPC, AMCI, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership, Association Forum of Chicagoland, CIC, CSAE, ECM, FICP, GMIC, IACC, IAEE, IAPCO, ISES, JMIC, PATA, SKAL, Spin. A list of industry and media partners can be found here. Follow us on Twitter Facebook LinkedIn and (German) XING Use #imex12 to follow both shows.  http://www.imexamerica.com/social.html

Last night’s Winners provide inspiration for the future of the Indian Wildlife Tourism industry

 TOFTigers, India’s leading advocate for responsible wildlife tourism held its 2^nd Wildlife Tourism Awards last night at the Ambassador hotel in New Delhi.

“What we have always said is that India does have many inspiration people and businesses involved in the nature tourism sector, changing lives, saving forest and wildlife and supporting people, often overlooked in the heated debate of the present tourism ban,” says the TOFT awards founder, Julian Matthews. “If all nature tourism was like this, India’s wildlife tourism would not be in its present impasse.”

Winners include superb naturalists, NGO’s funded by tourism, now treating 90,000 patients on the borders of a tiger reserve, park guides that spend their spare time training and educating, private sanctuaries that have restored fabulous waterfalls and stitched back two parks on its boundaries, beautiful tiger reserves with blooming tiger populations and lodges that now have resident wildlife and even tigers in their restored landscapes.

This is the future of nature tourism.

It is already here and we all need to ensure such inspirational examples are replicated across India in the future.

Full details below.

Contact Julian Matthews on 09717528977 or admin@toftindia.org for further details or photos

LODGE NATURALIST OF THE YEAR 2012

Winner:   Rajesh Bhatt - Jim's Jungle Lodge- Corbett, Uttarakhand

At 40 Rajesh Bhatt is an extraordinary guide and conservationist who is almost entirely self-taught and is presently taking a Masters course in environment and ecology from Manipal University.  He has great botanical knowledge, is a good birder and his passion for conservation sees him teaching and training forest guards and panchayat heads. He runs ecotourism courses across India. He set up his own NGO that help train fellow guides and school kids called ‘Rainbow’. 

Contact:  rajeshbhatt0@rediffmail.com

WILDLIFE PROMOTION COMPANY OF THE 2012

Winner:    &Beyond India   

& Beyond is run by naturalists and experts who had their roots in wildlife and guiding with a real sensitivity to Eco Tourism.  They have had the benefit of a large organisation to promote them, but have used this to help put India on the map as a wildlife destination, across the globe.

Media contact:   reinee.ghosh@andbeyondindia.com   website www.andbeyondindia.com  

WILDLIFE TOURISM COMMUNITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR 2012  

Winner:     Prakratik Society- Ranthambore

The Prakratik Society was founded by Goverdhan Singh Rathore . For the past 20 years the society has been working with local communities living around the Ranthambhore National Park providing health care with two hospitals serving over 90,000 patients a year, a top school with 250 pupils  dairy development and alternate energy all aimed to encourage sustainable co-existence of people with the wilderness environment on their doorstep. All of it supported and often funded by tourism. 

Contact:  info@prakratiksociety.org

WILDLIFE AND TOURISM INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR 2012

Winner:  Wildernest  - Goa

Wildernest have created a large 450 acre private sanctuary, a vital Tiger corridor between Mahdei Wildlife in Goa and the Bhimgad Wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka, and now they are trying to get their Swapnagandha Valley designated as part of these Tiger Reserves. Originally saved from mining interests, these areas have become tiger corridors and Wildernest presence has helped stitch back this area and curbed poaching threat over a long period of time.

Contact:   ophidian_nirmal@yahoo.co.in   website www.wildernest-goa.com  

VISITOR FRIENDLY WILDLIFE DESTINATION OF THE YEAR 2012  

Winner:   Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve - Rajasthan

Ranthambhore is now an excellent wildlife experience, and has a blooming tiger population.    Visitor  numbers are close to 150,000 but the tourism is managed by opening up more areas with fewer vehicles, greater sensitivity, better cooperation between tourism, guides and park management and good use of NGO’s to support park management and communities. Thanks to converting 10 cattle herders to guides, a whole new part of the park has seen a new generation of tigers arrive after 25 years.

Contact:  gvreddy.rajforests@gmail.com  

THE BILLY ARJAN SINGH MEMORIAL AWARD FOR BEST WILDLIFE GUIDE OF THE YEAR 2012

Joint Winner:      Yadvendra Singh Rajawat  -  Ranthambhore  

Yadvendra has worked in Ranthambhore for 20 years and been the President of the Guide Association for ten of these years. He is dedicated to Ranthambhore, and a preferred guide to a number of well-known operators.  He is a regular volunteer on Census operations and works closely with the management team to root out bad practices.  He runs many training programmes for new guides and takes part in anti-poaching patrols and fire service when necessary.

Contact:  yadtiger@gmail.com

Joint Winner:  Vipal Jain - Ranthambhore

Vipal has worked in park since 1993 and has been involved with a number of travel companies and their NGO’s that run projects in and around the area the Tiger Awareness charity.

Contact:  vipultiger2001@gmail.com

THE JOHN WAKEFIELD MEMORIAL AWARD FOR MOST INSPIRATIONAL ECO LODGE OF THE YEAR 2012

Joint Winner: Mahua Kothi - Bandhavgarh  

Run by &Beyond (Tajsafaris) since 2006, it’s 26 acres have a small and aesthetically well placed building footprint that borders an important corridor between the Tala and the Khitauli range of the park, and allows the remainder free range for wildlife. It is run by an Ex WII wildlife biologist Neel Gogate and his team.  The lodge involves the local community in its work, provided world class training to all staff, and also supports many projects including helping reintroduce the wild Gaur back into Bandhavgarh.

Contact:  neel.gogate@tajsafaris.com    Website www.tajsafaris.com

Joint Winner: Tiger Trails Jungle Lodge Tadoba      

Started in 1996 this lodge is an really good example of how tourism can transform life, turning barren land and dried up stream beds back to life to create a haven for wildlife. It’s based on 30 acres of land, of which the building footprint is kept to a small area with a further 9 restored to wildlife. Its effect has been the transformation of the park area too, with decreasing in poaching, restoration of rivers and trees and bountiful wildlife has returned and new and stable livelihoods for bordering communities.

Contact:   info@tigertrails.in   website www.tigertrails.in

 

TOFTIGERS are delighted to announce the shortlist for the TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards 2012

TOFTIGERS are delighted to announce the shortlist for the TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards 2012

The response to the TOFT Awards has been fantastic with a large number of nominations for 8 separate award categories. It has been a difficult job compiling the shortlist below from such excellent companies, NGO’s, individuals and organisations.      

MOST INSPIRATIONAL ECO LODGE 2012

Dholes Den                                  Bandipur                             

Chitvan Jungle Lodge                   Kanha

Tiger Trails Jungle Lodge             Tadoba

Singinawa Jungle Lodge              Kanha

Reni Pani Jungle Lodge               Satpura

The Oberoi Vanyavilas                Rajasthan                              

Orange County Resort                 Nagarhole

Forsyth’s Lodge                           Satpura

Mahua Kothi                                Bandhavgarh

BEST WILDLIFE TOURISM INITIATIVE 2012

Pugdundee Safaris and Ken River Lodge      Madhya Pradesh

The Great Himalayan Bird Count (ARCH)     Utterakhand

Wildernest                                                            Goa

BEST LODGE NATURALIST 2012

Shukra Kumal                                    Ken River Lodge   Pench

Ratna Singh                                        Taj Safaris    Madhya Pradesh

David Raju                                           Forsyth Lodge   Satpura

Rajesh Bhatt                                      Jim’s Jungle Lodge   Corbett

BEST PARK GUIDE 2012

Yadvendra Singh                              Ranthambhore

Vipal Jain                                             Ranthambhore

Guru Prasad Yadav                          Kanha

Ajay Marskole                                   Pench

BEST TOURIST RELATED COMMUNITY INITIATIVE 2012

Prakratik Society                              Ranthambhore

Shakti Himalayas                              Utterakhand, Sikkim and Ladakh

BEST WILDLIFE PARK FOR TOURISM 2012

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve     Rajasthan

Pench Tiger Reserve                       Madhya Pradesh

BEST WILDLIFE PROMOTION COMPANY 2012

Travel Inn

Royal Expeditions

Eastbound Tours

&Beyond India

BEST INTERNATIONAL TOUR OPERATOR FOR WILDLIFE PROMOTION 2012

Sawadee                                             Netherlands

Cox and Kings UK                             UK

Natural World Safaris                     UK

Winners and Runners Up will be announced at the Awards Ceremony which will be held on 14 September at Vivanta by Taj - Ambassador Hotel, Subramania Bharti Marg. New Delhi

TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards 2012 To Go Ahead As Planned

TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards 2012 To Go Ahead As Planned

TOFT has announced that the 2^nd TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards scheduled for 14^th September, 2012 are still going ahead, in spite of the Government ban on Tourism.  TOFT has had over 80 nominations for 8 separate award categories and the shortlist of each award will be published shortly. This year’s awards are being held at the India Habitat Centre on Lodhi Road.

In 2010 TOFT launched the TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards to honour and acknowledge the contribution of the women and men who work tirelessly towards the preservation of our forests and their inhabitants. These people not only attempt to preserve our natural heritage but also strive to strike a balance between the natural world and the local population around our parks. They educate and employ local youth thus converting those that once saw the forests as a meal ticket to people who now care for and protect it.

The tourism ban has obviously hit hard all those involved with the industry; however, their contribution has to be acknowledged. There is a ban, there are people out of work and their future is murky at best. Keeping all this is mind TOFT awards 2012 is striving to give these men and women what is their due. The future may be uncertain but the past is not and all that has been achieved is written in stone. On the 14^th of September we will stand up and salute the many ordinary citizens of our country who have dared to dream, who have dared to make a difference.

IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leader Forum comes to India for the first time!!

“Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future” – JF Kennedy

Our children are our greatest legacy; we nurture, teach and groom them to be the future leaders of our countries and the world. We pass on to them the lifetime of experience we accumulate for they alone will be the pillars of humanity.

The Future Leaders Forum program that is jointly run by IMEX, MPI (Meeting Professionals International) and MCI, has been developed to encourage the best and brightest students to develop successful careers in meetings industry. Approximately 5,500 students have attended one of over 80 forums that have taken place globally since 2003. Over 90% of participants have said they are more likely to enter the industry as a result of the Future Leaders Forum.

The focus of FLF programmes is on providing the students with opportunities that are not available in regular academic education. It provides students with current industry perspectives from active meeting professionals and also provides the students with knowledge and tools that will help them in their transition from academic education to professional life.

Seeing the potential of the market The Future Leaders Forum was brought to India this year by the IT&CM India in collaboration with and under the guidance of Priti Khanna, Managing Director, MCI Management India. Some of the mentors at the round tables were Miguel Neves- IMEX, Deepika Chowdhry, founder of Candid India and the IMEX sales representative for India, Chander Mansharamani- Vice Chairman- ICPB & Managing Director- Alpcord Network, Deepali Bhatia of Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces, Naveen Chhiber – Orient Express Travel Pvt. Ltd.

Since its inception in 2003 nearly 5,100 students have gone through the programme and 2011 alone saw 900 students pass through its hands. The India 2012 IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum is the 12^th such event to take place this year. A series of lectures and presentations from various leading meetings industry professionals were attended by over 60 students from a varied number of educational institutes in the Delhi National Capital Region.

The future leaders were also able to capitalise on the opportunity to interact with senior professionals from the industry in round-table discussions on the different career opportunities open to them including association management, hotels, conference centres and corporate events.

Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media said: “We are passionate about being part of initiatives that hone the future of the MICE industry. The IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum is an excellent platform that achieves just that by engaging bright, young, local minds who are pursuing an education in this domain.”

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, further added: “The Future Leaders Forum is a key initiative within the IMEX calendar. In collaboration with MPI and MCI, our goal is to support the overall development of future talent by delivering valuble information and education.”

The IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum was held on the 22^nd of August and hosted by the IT&CM India event. The IT&CM India event came on the heels of the seventh edition of the India Convention Promotion Bureau’s (ICPB) Convention India Conclave. The two events were held as a series of MICE and corporate travel events organised by TTG events, part of the TTG Asia Media. These events offered international and Indian buyers and exhibitors a chance to exclusively interact, showcase and procure business from each other for mutual benefit.

Vice Chairman, ICPB, Chander Mansharamani put the Future Leaders Forum into perspective and said: “The Indian MICE sector is showing significant growth and looks poised to expand even further. ICPB understands the future manpower requirements in MICE and would like to get the best of students in the fast growing sector.”