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  << Newsletters from the past                                                                                                                         << April 2006

Welcome to another edition of "Creatively Yours", the newsletter from Creative Travel India.  

Dear Industry Colleagues :

Here is another issue of "Creatively yours'. April 16 marks the date when most of the hotels switch over to their summer period contracts. This offers an opportunity for you to take advantage of off season deals for your clients. Summer is a great time to see India. Prices are lower and sites less crowded. We at Creative Travel can design special packages that make traveling even in the Indian summer fun and exciting. See our special deals from Oberoi and Taj hotels below. Ask us for details.

We appreciate the support our partners all over the world have shown us. It is with your partnership that Creative is where it is today. For those of you with whom we have not had the pleasure of working with, all I can say is try us and see the Creative magic for yourself.

Through "Creatively Yours" we hope to keep you informed on the latest news in Team Creative and the destination. We hope you find this to be useful.

Have a Creative Day !

Rajeev Kohli
Director of Marketing
Creative Travel India

Established in 1977, Creative Travel has grown to be among India's leading Destination Management Companies covering all of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Tibet. This region is a special place for  travelers and our vast experience in handling clients from all over the world allows us to create the most memorable programs for you. 

 

In this Edition.......
 
 

Situation Update
 

Below is a communiqué received from Nepal today -

Dear All,

Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) is pleased to inform all that the situation in Nepal is normal as of 2:00 pm, April 5, 2006 with no untoward incident recorded till now.  For the last couple of days a lot of negative news about the political situation and the condition of Nepal has been circulated in national and international press, however, the situation is not as bad as reported in various media. All markets are open, businesses are operating smoothly and there is no problem of transportation.

NATO is committed to the well-being and safety of all our guests and we confirm that it is perfectly safe for tourists to come visit and enjoy the beauty of the Kingdom of Nepal. We will be monitoring things here on the ground and will keep you informed about any changes that may occur which may be of concern to you.

In case of any queries please feel free to contact the Media Cell at NATO.

Media Cell
Nepal Association of Tour Operators
P O Box: 12866, Lal Durbar, Kamaladi, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: 977-1-4418999, 977-1-2002143, Fax: 977-1-4418999
E-mail: media@vianet.com.np, natonepal@wlink.com.np
Website: www.nepaltouroperators.org


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Creative News

Creative Chairman visits Australia with the Indian Tourism Minister
Creative Travel Chairman, Ram Kohli, recently traveled to Australia on a selected high level delegation with Ms. Amibika Soni, the Hon'ble Minister of Tourism & Culture, Government of India. The objective was to enhance two way flow of traffic and tourism investments between India and Australia. This delegation also inspected and visited some of the venues of the Commonwealth games and attended the closing ceremony as VIP visitors. India will be hosting the next Commowealth games in 2010 in New Delhi.

 

  


Click the image for closer look


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Where you can find us next

 


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Special Offer from Creative Travel & Taj Hotels

 
 

Incredible Escapes with Taj Hotels

May - September 2006 
Stay for 6 nights, pay for 3.....Stay for 10 nights, pay for 5......Stay for 14 nights, pay for 7......& more....

Taj Hotels has launched a special deal for the traveler that wants to stay in some of their unique properties, but is on a budget.

Participating hotels (any combination and in run of the house rooms): Taj Palace Hotel New Delhi, The Ambassador Hotel Delhi, Taj President Mumbai, Taj Connemara Chennai, Jai Mahal Palace Jaipur, Taj Hari Mahal Jodhpur, Usha Kiran Palace Gwalior, Taj View Agra, Taj Ganges

 



 



 

Varanasi, Hotel Chandela Khajuraho, Rawal Kot Jaisalmer, Taj Residency Aurangabad, Taj Malabar Cochin, Taj Residency Ernakulam, TGR Kumarakom, TGR Thekkady, TGR Varkala, Taj Green Cove Resort Kovalam, TGR Chikmagalur, Fisherman's Cove, TGR Madurai, TGR Coonoor, Hotel Savoy Ooty, Taj Exotica Goa, Taj Holiday Village Goa, Fort Aguada Beach Resort Goa, Taj Residency Lucknow and Taj Residency Calicut.

For more details click here or email us.


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Special Offer from Creative Travel & Oberoi Hotels
 
 

Experience Exotic India with Oberoi resorts
This summer, enjoy a bonus of upto 7 extra nights, with our compliments!
At every Oberoi hotel and resort, you can experience India in its true spirit of royal hospitality, palatial comfort, grand architecture and elegant style. Create your own exotic itinerary between Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ranthambhore or Shimla in the Himalayas. Get pampered with the glorious cuisine of India while our spas revitalise you with Ayurvedic massages and Yoga sessions.

Agents booking this package through Creative Travel can get special commission.

For more details click here or email us.

  


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Client Comment of the Month

 

We at Creative track client feedback very carefully. Each evaluation form gives us an insight on our operations and allows us to constantly refine our service delivery process. Now and then we get a few letters that brighten up our days. This is just one of them.

 Rajeev,

As you can appreciate after three wonderful weeks of travel in India, I am playing catch up with life at home. Sandra and I would like to thank your total team for organizing a seamless organized trip with every requirement thought out in advance. We gained
an unforgettable knowledge of India's past and the passionate commitment of the people to move forward into a modern society. It was very pleasant dealing with your organization and all the people in general. The quality of our accommodations and staff were above our expectations. We are now awaiting delivery of some of our purchases as they will bring back fond memories of the places we visited.

When we have a chance we will give you a more detailed evaluation of the trip.

Thanks again
Sincerely,
Leo

PS My son's private school is planning a trip to India next March break. Do you ever deal with schools, considering their budget would be more restrictive.


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Destination News
 

India

India’s foreign tourist arrival up 12.6% in Feb
 India's foreign tourist arrivals rose by 12.6% in February from a year ago as its booming economy saw an increase in business and leisure travel. Foreign exchange earnings, in rupees term, also recorded the growth of 14.7% during the same period.
 

India Emerges as Asia Pacific’s Fastest - Growing Market for International Tourist Spending
India is the fastest-growing Asia Pacific market for international tourist spending, according to new figures released by Visa Asia Pacific. Visa’s spending data shows that tourists to India spent US$372 million during the fourth quarter of 2005, which represents a 25% increase over the same period in 2004. China, where tourists spent $784 million in the period of October to December 2005, was the second fastest-growing market in Asia Pacific with a 23% year-on-year rise. India and China also topped the region when it came to average spending per transaction.

 
 


Kerala bags best tourism state award
Kerala has begged Best Performing Tourism State Award for Outstanding achievements in the area of Tourism. It has also won Best Maintained Tourism Friendly Monuments Award for Sakthan Thampuran Palace, Kochi.

Brad Pitt in India
It's a remarkably well-kept secret. Hollywood star Brad Pitt flew into Rishikesh on March 7 to get high on the Ganga — spending six hours white-water rafting. Everything about the actor’s visit was rapid: the entry, the exit and the hours spent lunging through the rapids courtesy an adventure sports company in Rishikesh whose guest book boasts the likes of Sir Edmund Hillary.

Britain amends its advisory for trip to Jammu and Kashmir
The British government has changed advisory to its nationals traveling to Jammu and Kashmir declaring urban areas of Srinagar and Jammu and Ladakh region safe. The modification has also termed Jammu as “peaceful.” The government modified its advisory to Jammu and Kashmir only restricting their movement in rural areas. The Jammu and Kashmir government is expecting more than 8.3 million pilgrims and tourists to visit the state this year. On its part, the state is ready to provide land at reasonable rates to develop new tourism blocks in the state.

Train to connect Ajmer with Pushkar soon
Rail services between Ajmer and the famous tourist and pilgrim town of Pushkar would start in the next 18 months, a senior Railways official said. A ''pooja'' ceremony was performed for the project. According to Deputy General Manager North-Western Railway S B Gandhi, the track between Ajmer to Puskhar would be 25.7 kms long and would have two stations in between - Budha Pushkar and Makadwal.
 

Kerala in 'World's Unique Three'
God's Own Country' is one among the best three destinations in the world, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). The destinations were selected as part of the 'Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2006'. This prestigious award showcases the world's leading examples of best practice in tourism development. The other two finalists are the Rete's Culinary Sanctuaries, Greece and Sierra Gorda, Mexico. The awards will be presented at the sixth global Travel and Tourism Summit in Washington DC on April 11.
 

  

Increasing Visa Applications for Indian Travel
Faced with increasing visa applications for travel to India, the government is considering a proposal for a pilot outsourcing project in London. Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed told the House that visa applications for travel to India have been increasing and there were over 12 lakh visa applications from Europe in 2004 as against 11.48 lakhs in 2003. While there were 82,910 visa applications from New York, applications from Singapore stood at 56,620.

Medical Visa to boost India as a health destination
Giving a new boost to medical tourism in India, a new category of ‘Medical Visa’ has been introduced, which can be given for specific purpose to foreign tourist coming to India for medical treatment. A special task force roping in senior officials of ministry of tourism, ministry of health & family welfare and experts in the medical field has been constituted to assess the opportunities and recommend suitable action for promoting India as a health destination.

Tsunami coastal hamlets to promote tourism
The Pondicherry government plans to promote ethnic cum lifestyle-based tourism to the restored tsunami ravaged hamlets of the area. Every settlement created under the Tsunami Rehabilitation Project will have provision for foreign and domestic visitors to stay and have an interface with the fishing and coastal communities and to enjoy first hand experience like boating and fishing and also enjoy sports like beach volley ball and beach Kabadi.
 

Country's Biggest Floating Restaurant launched
Kerala Tourism has launched a floating restaurant with a capacity to accommodate 150 persons at Veli Tourist Village in the State Capital. The restaurant in two storeys is the biggest in the country and was inagurated on 22nd February 2006. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation will run the restaurant.


Business Cruises on Hussain Sagar
One of the newest products in the state is Khair-un-nissa, a twin-deck luxury cruiser, which will ply on Hyderabad’s Hussain Sagar Lake. The cruiser is to target the MICE business. It can accommodate 150 persons and houses an air-conditioned conference hall, facilities for audio-visual presentation, a stage on the top deck for cultural activities. The cruiser would also host cultural events in the evenings, open to the public.
 

Nepal

New Tourism Brand launched
Honorable State Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yankila Sherpa, unveiled Nepal's new Tourism Brand at ITB. The new brand with the slogan 'Naturally Nepal, Once is not Enough', launched by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), is a contemporary approach to promote Nepal's tourism industry and to reposition its image in the international tourism market with a popular brand amidst the stiff competition among destinations. The new brand incorporates the entire spectrum of the tourism products/services, which provides leeway to Nepal to promote and market its tourism products in a complete package.

TIA upgrades its facilities
Tribhuvan International Airport has upgraded its facilities both in the domestic and international sectors. The added facilities include a waiting room where the passengers can get information about the daily flights, a health service center inside the airport to provide emergency and first aid services, expansion of the domestic departure room, smoking zone, security check stands, shuttle services, transit room and deportee room.

Nepal Entry Visa Information
 For detailed information regarding the entry visa to Nepal, please visit the immigration web site: www.immi.gov.np/touristvisa.php

Sri Lanka

New Year Day - 14th April 2006 (Friday)
The two main ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese and Tamils celebrate a common traditional New Year in the month of April originally harvesting thanks giving. This marks the passage of the sun from Pisces to Aries. Traditional customs are observed on this day with merrymaking and fun and games and lavish hospitality.


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Hotel News

India

The Great Hotel Room Crunch
The capital is witnessing an acute shortage of hotel accommodation in all categories - five star and budget. With four years to go for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the demand - supply gap is at an all time high.
Read more...

 

  

 

Rajasthan Hotels - Luxury tax revised from 8% to 10%
As per the Finance bill of Rajasthan State Government dated 8.03.2006, the luxury tax on room has been revised from 8% to 10% with immediate effect.
Amanbagh wins the Travel and Leisure Design Award 2006
Amanbagh has won the Travel and Leisure Design Award 2006 for Best Resort by the Travel and Leisure magazine. Designed by Edward Tuttle, Amanbagh is part of the Amanresorts Group. It has drawn on natural features unique to its location which is around an ancient arbor. It is a lakebed retreat of mature, palm, fruit and eucalyptus trees within a walled royal hunting camp.

Le Meridien Cochin wins the star diamond award
Le Meridien Cochin has been awarded the Prestigious ‘International Star Diamond Award’ by The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences for exemplary services. The Board of Trustees agreed that Le Meridien Cochin has consistently maintained the overall standards of high quality and performance necessary to designate it as one of the finest in the world.

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) renames IndiOne brand as Ginger hotels
The Indian Hotels Company has recently launched its IndiOne hotel with a new name called Ginger, while incorporating a fresh, simple and smart concept to woo the growing segment of business travellers in the country. According to Raymond Bickson, managing director and CEO of the Indian Hotels Company, Ginger hotels are very Indian, simple, unique, reasonable, basic and innovative. “The hotel in Bangalore was a prototype of our ‘Smart Basic’ category. Having studied consumer behaviour and feedback, we understood that a change in name was required as we readied for a national launch of these hotels.

InterContinental Hotels Group to establish Crowne Plaza in New Delhi
InterContinental Hotels Group has signed an agreement with Today Hotels Pvt. Ltd. to manage the brand new Crowne Plaza Gurgaon New Delhi, scheduled to open in the last quarter of 2006. Only a 20-minute drive from the international and domestic airport, the centrally located Crowne Plaza Gurgaon will be in close proximity to famous shopping malls and major businesses located along the National Highway 8. The Crowne Plaza Gurgaon will have a total of 234 guest rooms including 15 suites and a Presidential Suite with a 270-degree view roof garden. The hotel features a ballroom capable of holding up to 400 guests with its own separate street entry, as well as nine purpose-built meeting rooms.

Preferred Hotel Group to scale up expansion in India
Preferred Hotel Group, the US-based multi-brand organisation that delivers cutting-edge sales, marketing, and service solutions to independent luxury hotels and resorts around the world is all set for expansion in India. The group, one of leading hotel chain of independent properties with almost 400 hotels all over the world under four brands – Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Summit Hotels & Resorts, Preferred-boutique and Sterling Hotels is keen on expanding its base in the country. Presently, The Imperial in New Delhi is the only property that this chain has as its member in India.

Choice Hotels India marks its foray into Lucknow
Choice Hotels India recently introduced its new Comfort Inn Lucknow, which will be marketed as a fine business hotel. Located in the busy business hub of Gomtinagar, the hotel has 40 guestrooms, 3 banquet halls & 2 boardrooms providing comprehensive business facilities to the business clients.

Hyatt Regency Mumbai claims Premium Business Hotel of the Year award while Grand Hyatt Mumbai bags 'Luxury Business Hotel of the Year' award
Hyatt Regency Mumbai was presented the Premium Business Hotel of the Year award at the recently held Stars of the Industry Award ceremony presented by ITM Institute of Hotel Management in Mumbai recently, while Grand Hyatt Mumbai was presented the ‘Luxury Business Hotel of the Year’. The award is a benchmark to motivate individuals and organisations to excel in their industry.

Nepal

Women Croupiers at Nepal Casino
Perhaps for the first time in Nepal’s gaming history a women CEO will head its newest Casino due to open this summer. 60% of the staff will also consist of women at Nepal’s boutique Casino Shangri La to be inaugurated in the Nepali New Year around mid April. This will be the seventh Casino in Nepal.


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Aviation News
 

Bangalore’s new airport just got Bigger
With air traffic projections for Bangalore soaring each time they are calculated, the new greenfield airport is all set to undergo a major mid-course redesigning to complete by 2008 most of what it had earlier planned to accomplish in the second phase by 2015.
 The board of the Bangalore International Airport Ltd. has already given an in-principle approval to this redesigning that will cost close to Rs 450 crore. This will also involve an increase in aircraft parking bays from 18 to 30 given that six international carriers are already operating to and from Bangalore.

Air Deccan to operate daily services to Tuticorin from Chennai
 Air Deccan will start daily operations to Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu from Chennai via Madurai from April 1, 2006. The bookings for travel starting April 1 to May 31, 2006 will open on March 3, 2006 at 8.00 am. A 48-seater, ATR 42-500 has been deployed on this sector.

Origin

Destination

Flight no.

Depart

Arrive

Frequency

Valid To

TUTICORIN

CHENNAI

DN-145

11:30

12:55

Daily

31-May-06

CHENNAI

TUTICORIN

DN-145

09:10

11:15

Daily

31-May-06


Go Air to commence direct flights to Srinagar from April 6.
GoAir is to commence direct flights to Srinagar starting from April 6. The airline would operate two direct flights connecting Srinagar to Jammu. The flight schedule is as under -
 

Origin

Destination

Flight no.

Depart

Arrive

Flight time

Frequency

Jammu (IXJ)

Srinagar (SXR)

G8-804

13:25

14:05

0.40

Thu, Sat

Srinagar (SXR)

Jammu (IXJ)

G8-803

12:10

12:50

0:35

Thu, Sat


 

 

 

  Lufthansa launches daily flights between Hyderabad and Frankfurt - International
Starting March 26, 2006, Lufthansa German Airlines operates daily non-stop flights between Hyderabad and Frankfurt, an increase of 4 flights, from the existing 3 a week, between the two destinations. The daily service, offering enhanced connectivity to Europe and the US, will provide customers with more options and flexibility in their travel plans. With the addition of these flights, the total number of weekly flights operated by Lufthansa between India and Germany will increase to 42.

 Air Deccan to start services connecting Delhi, Mumbai from TVM
From April 23, Air Deccan will start services on two sectors - Thiruvananthapurma - Delhi via Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram -Mumbai via Kochi flghts.

 

Nepal

Agni Air commences operations
Agni Air, a new domestic airline, started its operation from February 25, 2006. The airline is operating to Lukla and Tumlingtar sectors initially and has plans to expand its services to Janakpur and other parts of Nepal in the near future. Agni Air currently has one aircraft having the capacity to accommodate 15 passengers but plans to get two more aircrafts in the next six months.


Sri Lanka

 SriLankan Airlines will operate bi-weekly flights to Goa
 From November, SriLankan Airlines will introduce bi-weekly flights to Goa, thus becoming the only foreign airline to have double-digit destinations in India. Read more...

 Bangladesh

Etihad Airways to launch flights to Dhaka
Etihad will launch four flights a week to Dhaka from 3 May 2006, increasing to five per week from 5 June 2006. The new service will offer a total weekly capacity of 1,465 seats, and 15 tons of cargo, in each direction.

Airasia to fly to Dhaka by year end
AirAsia, Malaysia’s low cost airline plans to operate flights from Dhaka by year end.

International

Emirates to launch services to Bangalore from October
Emirates, has announced its plans to start services from here from October 29 with a schedule of eight flights a week. Bangalore would be Emirates fifth destination in South India.

Egypt Air starts direct Cairo-Mumbai flights from April
Egypt Air will start direct flights between Cairo and Mumbai from April 2006.


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Special Feature : Procession of All Saints, Goa


Procession of All Saints, Goa Velha – First Monday of Easter Week
Goa is the only other place besides Rome where such a procession is held since centuries. Goa Velha, the former properous city of the Kadamba Dynasty, hosts the renowned Procession of the Saints on the first Monday of Easter week at St.Andrew's Church. This tradition began in the 17th century by the Franciscan Order in an attempt to boost the moral values and pious behaviour of the community and inspire them to take to their hearts the teachings of Jesus Christ. Read more...
 

 


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Recipe of the Month

 

Chicken Tikka
Tikka means "little pieces". Chicken tikkas are small chunks of chicken which have been marinated in yoghurt and spices and then threaded onto skewers and cooked. It can be served dry or added to a rich creamy sauce to make the famous chicken tikka masala.
Read more...


 

  


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Newsletters from the past:
 March 2006, February 2006, January 2006, November 2005, October 2005, September 2005.


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Contact:
Creative Travel Pvt. Ltd.
Creative Plaza, Nanakpura, Moti Bagh, New Delhi 110021. INDIA
Tel : 24679192, 26872257-58-59, 26114281     Fax : ++91-11-26885886 / 26889764     Email : creative@travel2india.com
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24 Hours International Emergency Contact Number : +91 - 99 11 266 277
(prefix a "0" before the number if dialing from outside New Delhi but from within India)