Category Archives: Agents

Taking measures to mitigate COVID-19 impacts on the industry, the Rajasthan Government has extended a helping hand to hotels and tour operators registered in the State. According to an order by the state government, it has been decided to reimburse State Tax due and deposited by hotels and tour operators registered under Rajasthan Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. The order for a reimbursement of State Tax due and deposited to hotels and tour operators will come into effect from April 1 and will remain in force till June 30. ‘State Tax due and deposited’ means the amount of State Tax (SGST) paid through debit in the electronic cash ledger account maintained by the enterprise after complete utilisation of the available amount of input tax credit of the SGST and Integrated Goods & Services Tax (IGST). This order will be applicable for taxable persons registered under the category of hotels, heritage hotels, resorts and tour operators. However, it will not cover stand-alone restaurants and clubs. Beneficiaries will be entitled for reimbursement of State Tax due and deposited in the operative period in the manner as may be prescribed, provided no reimbursement under this order is available for SGST to be leviable and paid on rental or leasing services, including own or leased non-residential property.

Element has announced a partnership with travel technology company Zenmer to provide its latest advanced booking tool to Travel Management Companies (TMCs) and corporates across the globe. Headquartered in India, Zenmer builds innovative booking solutions for TMCs using the most advanced technologies that connect with all GDSs, NDC, direct airline connects and hotel consolidators and aggregators. This latest product has been developed for corporate travellers that want a leisure experience when using an enterprise corporate booking tool (CBT). Element, which provides cutting-edge travel technology, consultation and support to TMCs across the globe will be adding this CBT to its extensive portfolio. Gavin Smith, Director at Element, says, “We are extremely proud to bring Zenmer out of their home region and make this CBT available to our clients across the world. The team at Zenmer have developed and built a great platform that gives TMCs the CBT they have been looking for” Through its TMC clients Zenmer drives business travel for more than 200 corporates. This flexible platform allows TMCs to self-manage the commercials, suppliers, back-office, and management information while corporates are able to configure the travel policies, approvals, and reporting. Nikunj Agrawal, CEO Zenmer, explains, “There’s a huge synergy between Zenmer and Element in the thoughts, vision and strategy going forward. Gavin and Lizzie Dakin, Element’s director of technology, have the experience needed for this partnership to be successful and we are proud to be associated with their passion. This agreement provides opportunities for both parties, from sales to marketing and technology. We are looking forward to working together to develop time and cost saving technology focused products with the new traveller in mind.” Smith further explains,“Nikunj and his team …

It is famous for its tapas, flamenco, fiestas and endless beaches. But Spain is so much more. To participate, please contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call 9650196532. A country with four official languages, home to 15 UNESCO World Heritage cities, and diverse gastronomy and landscapes, Spain is also home to the most extraordinary architecture and a perfect wedding destination. Its cities are as diverse as the landscapes, but one thing that never changes is the Spanish lifestyle. But all this can wait. #SpainWillWait until the global crisis of COVID-19 is over. For now, the Tourism Office of Spain invites the travel trade to learn more about the destination through its webinar titled ‘The Spanish Travel Experience’ today at 1500 hrs (3 pm)

Opening the second session titled ‘Where is the money? Selling domestic luxury’ in the second series of the Digital Conclave spearheaded by TravTalk, was Arjun Sharma, Chairman, Select Group, who believes that the industry will go through a deep and prominent transformation in these coming months. “It is just a matter of realising the importance of domestic tourism. Our domestic market is the biggest catchment area after the Chinese domestic market. In fact, all our neighbouring countries have survived on this – be it Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, or Dubai. They have all existed because of the Indian outbound market. I think this is the first time that the Indian travel industry can reposition itself dynamically to create the paradigm that is necessary for that domestic traveller to look at India as their next luxury holiday destination,” he says

In a bid to analyse the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on staff salaries across the industry, TravTalk has initiated the ‘Travel and Tourism Salary Survey 2020’. The 2-minute survey is anonymous can be taken by clicking on https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3WP3JHM. Share your inputs without having to reveal your name or email. The survey would gauge how every sector is dealing with the crisis and possibly trigger discussions on best employment practices in the industry.

Sandeep Dwivedi, COO, ITQ, during the 2nd TravTalk Digital Conclave said that the working class and millennials sector will drive good growth in fueling tourism in the country.  He said, “Resilient and ‘bouncing back’ nature of the travel industry will secure the medium and long-term future of the industry. The working-class population will be crucial for that. Instant travel demand will be created by different demographics of the Indian population post COVID-19 crisis. India has grown considerably from the intra-country demand in recent times, which has helped more cash flow and the economy as well. No doubt that domestic tourism will be crucial in the short-term recovery plan.”

KD Singh, Founder & President, TravelBullz during the 2nd TravTalk Digital Conclave said that the way travel agents do business in the industry will change post the coronavirus pandemic is over. “2020 is a halt and not stop. No country can survive without tourism. According to me, we will start to see the first set of bookings starting from August-September and people might start travelling overseas from November-December if it is safe to travel. How travel agents do business will definitely change. According to me, by April 2021, we will be back on track and start growing again,” he said.

New Zealand is the home of adventure tourism. If your clients enjoy adventure sports or extreme activities, they’ll love New Zealand. Whether they want heart-pounding excitement or to simply achieve something memorable. From canyoning, rafting and zip-lining, to bungee-jumps and skydiving, New Zealand has it all. Take their breath away with exhilarating experiences amidst spectacular scenery. Thrills and excitement can be found at every turn. For more inspiration on how to include adventure activities in your itineraries, sign up for the webinar today at 1430 hrs (2:30 pm). To participate, contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call 9650196532.

Showing the way forward, speaking at the 2nd session of the second Digital Conclave held by TravTalk, Arjun Sharma, Chairman, Select Group, said, “My suggestion to travel agents is to focus on packaging experiences, experiential travel can also be a luxury. Travel agents need to first build their database and then identify the potential clients and then create packages for them.” He also added that travel will not stop, but it will just take some time for it to build up again.

Continuing its legacy to take knowledge sharing to a new level, TravTalk India has announced the second edition of its Digital Conclave which is scheduled to take place on, Tuesday, 21st April from 10 am to 1:30 pm. The first-of-its-kind virtual tourism conclave will have eminent speakers from the industry. This time, three different sessions will cover topic such as Domestic Tourism: The way forward, Where is the money: Selling domestic luxury and India: The new global source market? For more details, contact Jaspreet Kaur on 9650196532 and jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com. The speakers include Ashwini Lohani, APTDC; PP Khanna, ADTOI; Kerrie Hannaford, Accor; Arjun Sharma, Select Group; Ankur Bhatia, Bird Group; Sanjay Kumar, IndiGo; Vinay Malhotra, VFS Global; Sandeep Dwivedi, ITQ and KD Singh, TravelBullz.