Tag Archives: CEO

After confirming talks with Swedish private equity group EQT and announcing the offer within a month, Kuoni will finally close the investment deal with its new owner this May. Zubin Karkaria, CEO, Kuoni Group and CEO, VFS Global, has revealed to TravTalk that the change of ownership through Swedish private equity firm EQT will happen soon and expects the transaction to be completed in May 2016. Based on the offer made by EQT in February, Kuoni Group is valued at around Rs 9,800 crore (on present currency rates, based on 1.4 billion Swiss Francs). The company’s Board feels that taking Kuoni private and handing over the responsibility for the group to an internationally-renowned new owner would be ideal. Karkaria together with the current management team will continue to lead the company. Kuoni Group focuses on three core activities: Global Travel Distribution (GTD), Global Travel Services (GTS) and VFS Global. He said in an email interview, “We expect the transaction to be completed in May 2016. We welcome EQT’s investment in the Kuoni Group, which underlines the attractiveness of our global business activities. With the new owners we will be able to accelerate the implementation of our strategy. Investments in technology and supporting acquisition opportunities give the Kuoni Group an excellent platform to build further on its leadership positions in travel industry services. EQT has an impressive track record of growing companies. With access to their experience and network in both the travel and tech industries, we will be able to accelerate the implementation of Kuoni’s strategy.”

Thai AirAsia has announced the first ever daily direct flights from Kochi to Bangkok Don Mueang starting from May 17, 2016. The inaugural fares to Bangkok are available starting from RS. 2999 per way, and can be booked until 27 March 2016 for travel from May 17, 2016- May 22, 2017 on www.airasia.com. Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO, Thai AirAsia, said, “India is a very important market for us and we are very committed to making air travel affordable and accessible from Kochi to Bangkok and beyond. As the first airline to launch a direct flight between Kochi and Bangkok, we are pleased to offer more convenience with a short 4 hour flight so travellers can have more time to enjoy our wonderful country. Beyond Bangkok, Thai AirAsia’s amazing connectivity allows for travellers to connect to over 20 destinations in Thailand including world famous beaches in Phuket and Krabi, and lush green mountains in northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, among many other amazing cities. Beyond Thailand, passengers can also easily hop to other international destinations including Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Siem Reap, Myanmar, Mandalay and Luang Prabang among many other cities”. Soraya Homchuen TAT Director of Mumbai said, “We are very excited to welcome Indian visitors to Thailand. In 2015, a total of 1,069,149 Indian visitors arrived in Thailand making Indian travellers the 6th largest group of travellers to our country. Apart from our delicious Thai cuisine, we are also very proud to showcase our Thai hospitality and various attractions nationwide. Beyond Bangkok’s temples, shopping malls and night life, there is still much to explore and we invite you to visit our famous beaches in southern Thailand …

As per the statistics shared by Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), 72,145 Indian tourists visited Mauritius in 2015. This is an increase of 18 per cent as compared to 61,167 tourists who visited in 2014. Speaking on this subject, Sanjay Sondhi, CEO, OM Tourism, said that the growth was due to the stupendous efforts of the MTPA India team. He further added “We are looking forward to an even better 2016.” Vivek Anand, Country Manager, said, “We have seen a remarkable rise of Indian footfalls to Mauritius from all target groups i.e. FIT, MICE, Wedding, Families and honeymooners. We expect the numbers to increase by another 20 per cent next year with more weddings and MICE groups visiting Mauritius. We will continue promoting Mauritius as a MICE, Wedding, Honeymoon, Adventure, Golf, Family and Luxury destination in 2016.”

Thailand’s Minor Hotel Group (MHG), has announced the first Oaks property in India with the development of Oaks Neemrana, in partnership with India-based NSP Associates (India). Neemrana is a fast developing business hub located southwest of New Delhi, on the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, a mega infrastructure project worth US $90 billion, approximately 90 km from Gurgaon and 140 km from Jaipur. Its history dates back to the 15th century with the construction of the famous Neemrana Fort Palace, which was restored in 1991 and subsequently converted into a hotel that began attracting tourists to the destination. Oaks Neemrana is under development in the centre of the town and is scheduled to open in 2017. Facilities at the 116 unit Oaks Neemrana will include an all-day dining restaurant with sky garden, a lobby café and lounge area, a pool bar, meeting space of 160 square metres with capacity to accommodate up to 80 people, plus a gym and a kids’ play area. There will be three different room types: 68 Studio Apartments; 40 One Bedroom Apartments and eight Two Bedroom Apartments. Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotel Group, commented, “We are excited to announce both the first Oaks in India and also the first Minor Hotel Group property in India. The Oaks brand is a great fit for this market, which represents a huge opportunity, and we are confident that the property will be a great success. We are delighted to be partnering with NSP Associates and look forward to working closely with the team to bring this new hotel to the market.”

Sriram Rajmohan has been appointed as CEO and Managing Director of Club7 Holidays Limited with immediate effect. He is currently an Independent Director in Club7 Holidays Ltd and has been instrumental in securing relationship with various tourism boards, adding new corporate customers and growing the relationship with the trade partners. In the last two years of his association with the Centrum Group he has brought in tremendous value to the group through on-line visa and other travel products. Prior to joining Centrum Group, Rajmohan was the Group CFO of Kuoni Travel India.

The seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are going to conduct a combined roadshow in February along with OTM Mumbai. Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Authority, said at an event, “We have signed an agreement with the National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels to do a roadshow with them along with the Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and other emirates to come together and promote the UAE as a destination with its various offer.” Ras Al Khaimah is targeting one million visitors by the end of 2018 and is eyeing the Indian market robustly.

Global Panorama Showcase (GPS) was inaugurated on January 8, 2016 at Hotel Centre Point, Nagpur, where Raju Akolkar was announced as the CEO of the exhibition. GPS 2016 was also the platform for the global launch of DREAM cruises by STAR cruises under the Genting HK banner. Harmandeep Singh Anand, MD, Jagsons Travels, organiser and promoter of GPS, also announced the launch of NGO tourism under the name Voluntourism. He also pledged that 5% of the revenue generated from this edition of GPS will go to NGOs. GPS is a premier business networking event and business-to-business trade show that is held annually in Nagpur. Akolkar has been associated with GPS and Jagsons for a long time. This year the event is a five city exhibition and will also go to Coimbatore, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad in the coming months.