|
Event round up
On the fairgrounds of Messe Berlin
The tourism fraternity converges at Berlin to attend one
of the world's leading travel trade shows, ITB Berlin held from the March 5-9
on the fairgrounds of Messe Berlin. Express Hospitality speaks to a few
leading hoteliers to get their expectations from the fair
 "ITB
Berlin is one of the biggest travel trade fairs, so it provides us with a huge
opportunity to meet a large number of international travel agents and generate
business out of India. It’s a productive platform from the branding perspective
and we will display a video of our hotel services and also promote our spa brand
Rejuve.
It is also a great learning experience - learning how other hotel brands and
tourist operations promote their destinations and brands. Our main aim is to
network with more and more people from the travel trade to create awareness
about the group."
Farhat Jamal, President and COO, The Grand group
 "We
are looking forward to our trip to ITB Berlin which is undoubtedly the leading
travel trade show of the world. This B2B platform for trade visitors offers
us with an excellent opportunity to meet potential business partners for Keys,
our value for money brand of hotels, resorts and service apartments, and to
develop existing business relations. We shall also take this opportunity to
learn about new budget hotel trends, concepts and corporation possibilities."
Partha Chatterjee, Director on board and Chief marketing
officer, Berggruen Hotels
 "We
are participating in ITB Berlin to promote our property, Devaaya Ayurveda Retreat.
Ayurveda is booming not in only Germany but all over Europe. The property is
already getting quite a few bookings from Germany and Europe and we want to
explore the market further. It is not only a wellness retreat but offers treatment
as well and we have tied up with Dr Shri Balaji Tambe from Karla for running
the ayurveda centre with his santulan ayurveda."
Vinay Albuquerque, GM (corporate sales & marketing),
Alcon Victor group
 "ITB
Berlin is one of the biggest tourism conventions worldwide. It's a great platform
to get updated about the global trends in both travel and hospitality industry.
Further, it is a great stage to showcase your product to the international people.
The number of people taking part in the event from India is increasing every
year and I expect the number to increase even further this year. I won't be
able to participate in the event this year but wish to be present next year."
S P Jain, Chairman, Pride group of hotels
 “Around
40 per cent of the market share for ayurveda comes from Germany. We would therefore
like to target FITs from Germany and showcase our ayurvedic products. We are
also coming out with a luxury spa which would also provide ayurvedic treatments.
Hence, the main product that we would showcase would be ayurveda.”
Raja Gopaal Iyer, Corporate director, Uday Samudra Resorts
 The
ITB Hospitality Day on March 6 will highlight challenges and how the current
trends have been taking shape. There will be five discussion rounds with
international experts debating exciting topics. They include: Why is shopping
the number one Chinese occupation in Europe? How do you redefine service
in order to increase sales? How can industry and research help to build
efficient hotels? Plus, what are the factors determining the value of hotel
properties? This year there is a 'Hospitality Hot Spot' for the first time,
which takes a closer look at environmental issues in the hotel industry.
The event will take place from 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free.
This is the first time that the ITB Hospitality Day is
providing a focus with a 'hot' topic and an extra 30 minutes of debating
time, called the Hospitality Hot Spot. This year's discussion takes a
close look at the environmental concepts of the hotel industry. A panel
of leading experts will help to ensure a lively debate. A leading representative
of an international hotel chain will describe how his group is implementing
environmentally-friendly initiatives.
In terms of company size, Dietmar Müller-Elmau represents
the opposite end of the scale. Located inside an environmentally-protected
valley near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the castle, Schloss Elmau, is unique.
Tony Williams, VP (Resorts & Projects), Emirates Hotels & Resorts,
is one of the few scientists who possesses ecological expertise and manages
a hotel group. He will be examining specific factors impacting the environment
and measures to protect it in Dubai. Michael Hartmann, head of Hospitality
Solutions Siemens Technology, will present the views of the industry,
which is co-operating worldwide with the hotel industry to discuss environmental
solutions.
|
|
