Category Archives: Associations

Understand eight pieces of the digital puzzle and learn nine new skills to grow your business in 2021 with IATO’s skill development webinar in association with TravTalk today at 11:30 am IST. Lifestyle Entrepreneur & Digital Media Strategist Siddharth Rajsekar will answer queries. To register, contact Jaspreet Kaur at +91-9650196532 or jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

Hotel Association of India (HAI) has launched its State Chapter for Punjab and appealed to the State Government to accord ‘industry’ status to the hospitality sector, thus enabling hotels across the state to avail the benefits towards lower electricity and water tariff, lower property tax, rationalisation of taxes & licence fees, and simplified approval process for hotel projects and hotel operations.

WTTC has urged that international travel can resume using proven processes without waiting for COVID vaccinations. “Waiting for vaccine and making it a requirement for travel will further delay the revival of the already ailing travel and tourism sector,” it said.  

Ravi Gosain, Hony. Treasurer, IATO, has said that the Government should announce a date for reopening of visa applications for India, whether it eventually happens or not. “If they make the announcement, it will be an important step for inbound market, because it would allow people to plan well in advance. If there is a possibility of doing it in March, the should announce it now, of if they think it can open by June-August, they should announce it as soon as possible, so that professionals can work for promotions and plan something,” he advised.

Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA, has said that it is the importance of resilience that will be the biggest take away from 2020.  “We have always been told in the past to have a financial reserve personally as well as for the business, and till 10 years ago people said that thus one needs to save as reserve for 3 months, which later became 6 months, and then one year. However, in the current situation, one probably needs several years of reserve, to be able to sustain this type of crisis we are facing today. At PATA, we are very fortunate that we built a very strong reserve for the last couple of years, which allows us to sustain this crisis and for the foreseeable future. 2020 highlighted which I already knew and highlighted the importance of saving, to prepare us to be more resilient in the future because sadly this is not the only crisis we will be facing in years to come, but certainly it is the largest I have ever experienced in my life so far,” he added.

Ministry of Tourism has appreciated Vasuki K. Sundaram, Chairperson, IATO Maharashtra Chapter, on twitter for her positive feedback on her recent trip to Shirdi, where she mentions that her experience was great in the temple without crowds, social distancing maintained, hotels adhering to compliances, and she pointed out that the wayside amenities on her way back to Mumbai were clean. MOT, in their tweet shared a video of Sundaram saying that it shows the idea of Dekho Apna Desh being executed thoroughly.

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) is seeking a sector-specific loan restructuring plan from the government. It says that in order to save the industry from imminent collapse, loan extensions should be given to the sector on similar lines as those given under the Prime Minister’s scheme for loans below Rs 25 crore for SMEs and MSMEs.

The Tamil Nadu Travel Mart Society has elected a new Managing Committee after the AGM in Chennai. D Karunanidhi is the new President while Palani Murugesan and PK Gupta are new Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

FAITH has requested the Government that till the time vaccine is deployed, they should set up a targeted tourism transition fund which can make money available on a direct benefit transfer through Ministry of Finance for Indian tourism & hospitality industry. This drawdown by the tourism enterprises may be adjustable over 5 years against their GST & income tax liabilities.  

IATO and TravTalk are organising motivational session by Roshan Suhail, the renowned communication coach and keynote speaker today at 11:30am. The session titled, ‘Staying up’ would help the trade to sail through these tough times and prepare ahead. To register, mail Jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call 9650196532.