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

Dear Industry Colleagues :

Here is another issue of "Creatively yours'. February brings us close to the end of the peak season in India. It has been interesting few months. The pressure of getting hotel rooms in the gateway cities was immense, but the tourist destinations saw tourist levels somewhere below all our expectations. Was it the high prices of our destination or increasing competition from our competing destinations, the debate in on.

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. An of course the Oberoi Exotic vacations summer package is still a great deal at Creative Travel. Ask us for details.

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.......

• Creative News - Creative Travel's Annual Chaat Party...
• Where you can find us next - We will be at ......Confex, London and ITB 2006, Berlin.
• Special Offer from Creative Travel and Oberoi Hotels - Experience Exotic India with Oberoi resorts...
• Client Comment of the Month - Find out what our Clients have to say about us in this section.
• Destination News  - Green signal for country's fatest train, India Expo Centre opens in Delhi, Elephant Festival, Nepal sees an increased number of tourists.....all this and more Destination news. 
• Hotel News  - Little room as hotel rates hit 10 - year high, Taj group of hotels in Chandigarh, Udaivilas tops, World-renowned Sri Lankan Architect's home opens to guests....all this and more update on hotels.
• Aviation News - Update on airlines....Jet Airways wins award for customer responsiveness, Kingfisher airlines revolutionizes business, Emirates to mount more services to Kerala ... and more.
• Special Feature - New Heritage on wheels launched....

Creative News

Creative Travel's Annual Chaat Party

      
      Click image for closer look                Click image for closer look              Click image for closer look

Creative Travel is known in the Indian Hospitality industry for another reason as well. From 1992, when The "Creative Travel Chaat Party" started with only 40 people from the hotel industry to convey our "Thanks" for their unconditional support to January 2006, where a massive gathering of over 600 people from who's of Industry to a Reservation assistant to a bell boy of a hotel. That is Creative's special way of saying "Thank you for taking care of our clients". In fact some industry colleagues start calling us as early as December to check on the date for the next year party and to make sure that their name is there....  

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Where you can find us next

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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.

Client Comment of the Month

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Destination News

India
 

Green Signal for the country’s fastest train
After a few hiccups on safety, India's fastest train is now all set to run between Delhi and Agra at a breathtaking speed of 150km per hour, reducing travel time to less than two hours.
Read more...

New Accor convention centre opens in Hyderabad
Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), a purpose-built convention facility, officially opened today under Accor management. HICC offers convention and event organisers 291,000 square feet of primary meeting space with a capacity to seat 5,000 delegates, 250,000 square feet of pre-function areas supported by 32 break out rooms. This can be increased to 6,500 delegates for special events. The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art automated facilities and the latest audio visual technology, and is already attracting marque events including the Asian Development Bank meeting scheduled for May 2006.
 

Mumbai to get Rs. 700 crore convention hub
The central government plans to set up a Rs.7-billion international convention centre in Mumbai that will serve as a hub for the textile industry, Textiles Minister Shankersinh Vaghela said here Tuesday. The centre is to be set up solely by the textiles ministry despite interest evinced in the venture by corporate houses. "Eighteen apparel parks will also be set up at a cost of Rs.1 billion each in one-and-a-half years under the Integrated Textile Park Scheme," Vaghela said.

India Expo Centre opens in Delhi
The India Expo Centre Expo XXI, a world-class, ultra-modern, multi-functionary venue was recently inaugurated at Greater Noida. It is a 28,000 square metre space, covering four main halls and service areas capable of holding a wide range of events including exhibitions, corporate events, conferences and congresses for upto 10,000 delegates. The complex has state-of-the-art facilities created with the single purpose of making it a preferred destination for international business, exhibitions, trade fairs and business meets in India.   
 

Elephant Festival, Jaipur, March 14, 2006
The Elephant Festival is an inimitable event held annually in Jaipur. Groomed flawlessly, rows of elephants do a catwalk before an enthralled audience The elephants move with poise in pageant, run races, play the regal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time with elephants typically celebrated one day before the Holi, Indian festival of colours. The festival starts with an impressive procession of the majestic animals lovingly painted and tastefully attired with glittering ornaments and embroidered velvets. A ceremonial procession is recreated with caparisoned elephants, lancers on horses, chariots, camels, cannons, and palanquins.

India announces three new tourism circuits in Uttar Pradesh state
The culturally rich Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, considering the growing popularity of religious and heritage tourism in the state, will soon work out three new travel circuits. This would include formation of three new tourist circuits-- Mahabharat, Dudhawa Eco-Tourism and Sufi to reflect on the multi-dimensional heritage of the state. The three new circuits would be in addition to the existing seven, including the Buddhist circuit, which is celebrating 2,500th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha from May 14, 2006 to April 2007.The year-long event is expected to attract a vast number of tourists, mainly to the Buddhist sites of Sarnath, Kushinagar, Varanasi, Gaya (in Bihar) and Lumbini (adjoining the Indo-Nepal border).
 

Goa among the world’s top 10 destinations
Goa with its sun, sand and sylvan surroundings is one of the world's top 10 must see places for 2006 in a list compiled by Frommer's Guide - a leading travel publisher. The Frommer's list of 10 is said to include ''interesting, affordable destinations'' and is aimed at travellers looking for a different holiday experience. According to a survey by lastminute.com website, in December Goa had overtaken America as the top long-haul Christmas holiday destination. It jumped from third to first spot in 2005. Said John Bevan, flights director at lastminute.com - "Trips to India have outsold the (United) States this Christmas, which we believe is indicative of the country''s booming tourism." 

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka to be official host country for World Tourism Day 2007
Sri Lanka has been selected by WTO to be the official host country for World Tourism Day 2007. Over 200 nations are expected to participate in the celebration. The theme for the the world tourism day will be “tourism provides employment for women.”

Nepal
 

Nepal sees an increased number of tourists
The number of domestic and international tourists using the Biratnagar Airport to go to different places in Nepal showed an increase by 70 percent in the year 2005 compared to the year 2004. The most frequented places by tourists using the Biratnagar Airport were: Taplejung, Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha, Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Solukhumbu and Kathmandu. Reduction in the airfare and the availability of seats is said to be the reason behind the increased number of tourists.

Increased number of tourists visit Lumbini
The number of tourists entering Nepal via Belhiya transit point to visit Lumbini has been increasing in the last couple of years. The year 2005 also recorded the same trend of tourists visiting Lumbini, Lord Buddha's birthplace. A recorded increase by 3,912 (which is a total of five percent) has been seen in the year 2005 as compared to the year 2004. Tourists from a total of 77 countries visited Lumbini in the year 2005. 

Bhutan

Bhutan scales new peaks in tourist arrival & revenue
Bhutan tourism earned record revenue of $18.5 million as the country received 13,643 tourists in 2005. It was an increase of about 48 per cent from 2004, when 9,259 tourists had visited Bhutan and the sector had earned $ 12.45 million, tourism officials revealed. According to tourism authorities and tour operators, the success was a combination of many things like the increase in the number of travellers globally, rise in Druk Air's capacity with the two new aircraft, promotion and marketing through international travel writers and international tourism fairs.

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Hotel News

India
 

Little room as hotel rates hit 10 - year high
It's party time for the hospitality industry in Delhi.Thanks to a renewed boom in both corporate and leisure travel coupled with the ongoing marriage season demand, hotel room rates in the Capital have peaked to a 10-year high of $250 (Rs. 11000) a night.
Read more...
 

Park Plaza Royal Palms opens in Mumbai
With the opening up of the much-awaited Park Plaza Royal Palms, the hospitality scene in the commercial capital of the country, Mumbai, is set to change, setting new trends. The 223 rooms and suites hotel is set amidst 240 acres of beautifully landscaped greenery, in north Mumbai. The hotel complex is part of the sprawling Royal Palms Estate, not far from the famed Aarey Milk Colony, in Goregaon (East). The hotel comprises 131 deluxe rooms, 63 club rooms and 29 suites. All rooms have personal tea/coffee makers, mini bar, safety vaults and Internet access. The dining and entertainment options not only have interesting names, but also are already getting rave reviews. Fountain Café is the 24-hour multi cuisine restaurant while Seven Spices is the Thai kitchen. Another attraction is Jasmine-The Health Spa, which is a wellness center, offering treatments and massages by Thai, Swedish and, of course, Ayurvedic masseurs.

The Taj group of hotels lands in Chandigarh
After acquiring property at the city’s premium business district and shopping centre, the new business hotel, Taj Chandigarh, promises the best of luxury accommodation and world-class hospitality services along with first class business amenities to those visiting this emerging hub of North India. Easily accessible from the railway station and the airport, the newly-opened 149-room Taj Hotel offers a range of exquisite dining facilities and interesting leisure options.

WelcomHeritage signs property at Agra
The most recent addition to the WelcomHeritage chain is WelcomHeritage The Grand Imperial at Agra. This will be the chain's 36 property and is expected to become operational next season. The hotel offers 30 air conditioned deluxe room & suites, a swimming pool, a bar, a restaurant serving Indian & continental cuisine. WelcomHeritage Grand Imperial, a 100 year old heritage property, is located in the heart of the city, on M. G. Road. Constructed out of biscuit bricks - commonly referred to Lahori Bricks, also used in the construction of the "Taj Mahal" and "The Red Fort " in Agra.
 

Oberoi Udaivilas Tops
The Oberoi Udaivilas, the luxury resort in Udaipur, has received the highest rating for service amongst all hotels in the world in Conde Nast Traveller’s gold list. This annual Gold List announced by Conde Nast Traveller, UK, one of the leading travel magazines in the world, lists the best hotels that set the standards for the hospitality industry worldwide. The Oberoi Udaivilas has received an exceptional score of 97.49 for service, placing it ahead of last year’s best, the legendary Copacabana Palace, Rio de janeiro.  
 

Sri Lanka

Major facelift for Emerald Bay
The Emerald Bay hotel Induruwa has been re opened after a major refurbishment and it has also been up graded to a four star property. The hotel is operating with 50 rooms and two suites. The boat shaped swimming pool, large garden and the surroundings are the main reasons attracting several repeat clients to the hotel. In a bid to provide opportunities to local craftsmen and artistes, the hotel organises live demonstrations for foreigners.
 

World-renowned Sri Lankan Architect's home opens to guests
Visitors to Sri Lanka have the rare opportunity to step inside the private world of one of Asia's most celebrated architects, his country estate, Lunuganga, which opened as an exclusive boutique hotel from the 18th of December 2005. Geoffrey Bawa, widely acknowledged as Sri Lanka's most prolific and influential architect and the “father of Asian architecture”, created a 25-acre tropical garden over several decades, after purchasing an abandoned rubber estate on the south west coast of the island at Bentota in 1948.

Lunuganga will operate from December to April each year and for the remainder of the year it will revert back to the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, which will continue the legacy of hosting artists from abroad and continue to conduct garden tours.  

Palm Beach adds new features
Palm Beach Hotel Mount Lavinia is adding several new features to their growing conference and wedding market. They have introduced a -Thai spa massage center and a gymnasium with all modern equipment. In addition, a Don Y J roof top restaurant, too has been opened and due to its picturesque view it is gaining popularity. The new two storied beach restaurant at the Mount Lavinia beach is also open for both hotel guests and the public. Both, The Regal and Imperial reception halls can accommodate 300 guests each while Regent and Summer Time could house around 330. The four star property today offers 44 deluxe rooms and one suite.

Bentota Beach Hotel to close for refurbishment from 1^st May
Bentota Beach Hotel management has decided to close the beach hotel for refurbishment from 1^st May 2006 to end September 2006. This is in keeping with the upgrading that is required to convert The Bentota Beach Hotel to a “Cinnamon” property.

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Aviation News

India

Jet Airways wins award for customer responsiveness
Jet Airways was adjudged India’s Most Customer Responsive Company for 2005 in the ‘Travel and Tourism : Transportation’ category at the Avaya Global Connect Customer Responsiveness Awards on 9th December 2005. The airline was judged based on its responsiveness, intelligence generation, intelligence dissemination, customer education, top management emphasis, innovation and learning.

GoAir plans daily operations to four destinations
GoAir is planning to fly to six more destinations from February 1 and will offer 10,000 free tickets to these new sectors. The airline's routes would be in the order Mumbai-Baroda-Mumbai, Mumbai-Kochi-Mumbai, Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai, Mumbai-Indore-Mumbai, Chennai-Pune-Chennai and Pune-Ahmedabad-Pune. GoAir is also exploring plans to start operations from cities such as Thiruvananthapuram, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Srinagar, Jammu, Delhi and Kolkata.

Kingfisher Airline, winner of the CAPA Award, Revolutionizes Business And leisure Travel in India
Kingfisher airlines, India’s fastest growing Airline and winner of the “New Airline of the Year 2005” award by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) in the Asia Pacific and Middle East Region for Asia Pacific aviation, is revolutionizing travel in India. The company’s innovations include offering of world class in-flight entertainment with personalized video screens on every seat with 10 Radio channels 5 channels of FUN TV, extra wide seats, spacious leg room and large over-head storage space and many more.

Jet Airways starts direct flights to Trivandrum from Bangalore and Chennai
Jet Airways is operating direct flights on Bangalore-Trivandrum-Bangalore and Chennai-Trivandrum-Chennai sectors with effect from February 1, 2006. These new fights will also give connections to passengers from Delhi and Mumbai to reach Trivandrum in the morning either via Chennai or Bangalore. Also, there will be an early morning service from Pune to Bangalore and an evening service from Bangalore to Pune giving day-return facility to passengers from Pune.

Jagson Airlines to venture into scheduled operations
Jagson Airlines will fly as a national scheduled carrier covering nine cities by the end of 2006, with the inaugural flight between Delhi and Bangalore in April/May. The airline will be acquiring 19 Airbus aircraft for its fleet. It has earmarked an initial investment of Rs 250 crore which will be ramped up over the course of its operation.

Air Deccan to fly to 5 new destinations
As part of its efforts to connect smaller towns and cities in the country, Air Deccan has commenced its services to five new destinations, including Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode in Kerala, from February 1. The destinations outside Kerala to be connected through its network are Tiruchi, Aurangabad and Rajkot.

Sri Lanka

SriLankan Airlines flight information now available via GPRS
SriLankan Airlines has launched a new mobile phone service that enables its passengers to check real-time flight details. This latest SriLankan service allows anyone with a GPRS-enabled mobile phone to obtain information and schedules of current and future SriLankan flights simply by accessing the site “gprs.srilankan.aero”.

The system, connected to the SriLankan Flight Operations Control tracking system “FleetWatch”, provides up-to-date information such as flight number, departure and arrival time, destination details, aircraft type, flight schedule over the next two days etc. The system will also soon include flight information of other airlines operated through Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport.

SriLankan Air Taxi moves to Kandy
The amphibious aircraft of SriLankan Air Taxi have begun operations from a site on the Mahaweli River in Kandy, providing even more convenience for travelers to and from the hill capital. Passengers to Kandy now have the added convenience of being dropped off almost in the town itself. The landing site is very close to the Mahaweli Reach Hotel and The Citadel. The road journey often takes more than three hours, while an Air Taxi flight takes only 35 minutes. SriLankan Air Taxi now flies to 14 destinations – Kandy, Bentota, Nuwara Eliya, Higurakogda, Galle (Koggala), Weerawila, Ampara, Katunayake, Ratmalana, Trincomalee, Katukurunda, Sigiriya, Dickwella and Anuradhapura. 

Deccan Lanka gets nod for international flights
Deccan Lanka, Air Deccan’s Sri Lankan subsidiary,has been granted the international scheduled operator licence by the Sri Lankan Government, paving the way for the carrier to start operating overseas flights, using Colombo as a base. Deccan Lanka was among the three private airlines in Sri Lanka to get approval. The other two airlines are Expo Aviation and Holiday Air. Deccan Lanka is now preparing to start its maiden international flight from Colombo within the next six months. The airline intends to connect Colombo with India, Gulf and Singapore.

International  

Emirates to mount more services to Kerala
Recently, Emirates re-affirmed its commitment to the state of Kerala with the announcement of a significant increase in its services starting early 2006. From February 1, 2006, the airline has started services between Dubai and India’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. It will also increase its service to Cochin from five-a-week to daily service.

Air Arabia partners with Kingfisher Airlines
Low cost Sharjah-based airline, Air Arabia, and India's Kingfisher Airlines have entered into a pact whereby passengers of both airlines can connect to each other’s destinations through Air Arabia’s website. Customers can now connect conveniently to Kolkata, Goa, Cochin, Bangalore and Delhi (Kingfisher Airlines’ destinations from Mumbai). With one reservation confirmation, customers will be able to travel on Air Arabia to Mumbai and then onwards to other Indian destinations on Kingfisher.

Qatar Airways to launch flights to Nagpur
Nagpur is to become Qatar Airways' newest Indian destination this summer. The airline plans to fly non-stop scheduled services between its operational hub of Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, and the central Indian city of Nagpur in the State of Maharashtra.
Qatar Airways currently operates 30 flights a week between Qatar and five cities across India. Delhi, Mumbai and Trivandrum are each served with seven flights a week; Hyderabad four times a week; and Cochin five times weekly.

Turkish Airlines expands network, announces flights to Mumbai
Turkish Airlines will be commencing twice weekly services from Mumbai to Istanbul from February 15, 2006. Further on, for the summer schedule this year, the airline will increase its frequency of flights to Delhi from the existing three to four flights and to Mumbai from two to three flights a week. This will make connectivity convenient and comfortable to over 81 cities in Europe, USA, CIS, Far East and the Middle East.

Emirates to start direct flights between Dubai and Kolkata
To make its entry in the North East Indian skies, Emirates, the Dubai based international airline will launch services to Kolkata effective March 26, 2006. One of the world's fastest growing airlines, Emirates will operate six non-stop direct flights per week between Dubai and Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal.

Bangkok-Gaya flight launched
Druk Air, Bhutan's national carrier launched twice weekly flights from Bangkok to the Indian city of Gaya. The flight was launched mainly to serve the Thai pilgrims headed to the Buddhist historical site. The flight operated by an Airbus 319 aircraft makes a stopover in Kolkata en route to Gaya.