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

Dear Industry Colleagues :

First, allow me to wish you and your colleagues a very Happy New Year. 2005 was a challenging year for all of us in the travel industry and we hope 2006 brings you and your families much happiness and success.

2005 saw India strengthen its position as one of the hottest travel destinations in the world. This is no small feat and our success can be attributed not only to the success of the "Incredible India" advertising campaign and the political and economic stability that India enjoys, but also to the support travel professionals all over the world have shown the destination. Team Creative has worked hard over the years to develop products unique in inclusions and service levels and this has helped us grow as well.

This month I am proud to report the successful handling of our largest event ever. There is also more update on hotels and airlines as usual.  Also, we are offering a special offer for this coming summer based on Oberoi resorts.

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 contributes for Pakistan earthquake relief, President of Indonesia flight handled.....find out all this and more Creative news.
• Where you can find us next - See you at Fitur 2006, Barcelona....
• Plan it! News - PEDICON 2006 - a Mega event in New Delhi and Bali Tourism Board B2B meeting successfully handled by us. Read more....
• Special Offer from Creative Travel and Oberoi Hotels - Experience Exotic India with Oberoi resorts...
• Client Comment of the Month - We introduce this section this month. Find out what our Clients have to say about us.
• Destination News  - Record increase in tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings in India, Sri Lankan Hotels Feature in Luxury List 2005, Amanresorts’ Fourth Amankora Lodge Opens in Bhutan.....all this and more Destination news. 
• Hotel News  - Hospitality is hot and happening in Delhi, Taj Hotels amongst The World's Best, Oberoi Wildflower Hall voted the Leading Spa Resort in India....all this and more update on hotels.
• Aviation News - Update on airlines....Jet Airways buys out Air Sahara, Indian airlines becomes Indian, More flights to Southern Cities.... and more.
• Special Feature : India’s new Architectural Wonder : Akshardham - A Special Report on a Mega temple complex, Akshardham, in New Delhi, one of the biggest and most intricate places of worship ever constructed.
• Recipe of the Month : Pakodas - Learn how to make India's favourite snack - Pakodas.

Creative News

Creative Travel contributes for Pakistan Earthquake
Mr. Ram Kohli, Chairman of Creative Travel Private Ltd handed over a cheque of US$ 2182 (Rs.100,000) to Mr. Aziz Ahmad Khan, High Commissioner of Pakistan in New Delhi. Creative Travel has also contributed to the Indian Prime Ministers relief fund and the special fund created by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for this purpose. “The travel industry in Pakistan had appealed for aid from the international travel fraternity and it thus becomes the duty of the travel industry across the world to help its fellow compatriots,” said Mr. Kohli.

 
Creative Travel handles Bayern Munchen Football Team
Bayern Munchen or FC Bayern is Germany’s most successful football club. Founded in 1900, it is based in Munich. It used to play in the Olympiastadion München, but moved to a new ground, Allianz Arena, in 2005. The club is also one of only four to have won all three major European trophies.

Recently the team was in India to play in the IFA Shield Tournament at the Salt Lake stadium in Callcutta. Bayern's youthful second team returned to Munich as winners of the 111th Indian FA Shield and on their way out, we at Creative Travel, handled their travel arrangements at Delhi.
 

Creative Travel handles the President of Indonesia flight
Recently Indonesian President was in town and like always the Garuda Airlines (the official flight for Indonesian President) trusted Creative Travel to handle the team members for their ground arrangements. Shown in the picture are Mr. Zainal Arief, Presidential Flights Director - Garuda Indonesia Airlines with other members of Presidential Flight to Delhi.
 

Click image for closer look

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Where you can find us next

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Plan it! News
The Meetings & Conferences Team at Creative Travel

PEDICON 2006

6,400 + delegates
     19 venues
40,000 + meals served
     7,000 + hotel room nights
Award winner entertainers
     3 standing ovations
One Team
     Plan it ! Meetings & Conferences  

Click image for closer look

Plan it ! by Creative Travel handles PEDICON 2006 – a Mega event in the true sense of the word !!!

The new year started at Creative with a bang. We had the privilege of handling the 43^rd National Conference of Indian Academy of Pediatrics. This took place between the 5^th to 8^th of January and is the biggest event we have done so far. The project was taken on a turnkey management basis – all logistics, all designing and production of conference collateral and material, all meal and event planning, all travel and transport logistics and much more. As Conference Managers Plan it! was entrusted with the highly prestigious event.

We were responsible for this event from its inception for the past 18 months, right from the first brochure and website down to the farewell dinner - which about 8,500 people attended. We were responsible for registrations for the past 18 months, managing over 2,000 hotel rooms, transport, running all simultaneous activities including 11 scientific sessions spread across 2 venues for 4 days, organizing a trade exhibition of over 1,000 sq mtrs and much more. Over 150 vehicles and 250 people from Plan it ! worked on site at this event for 7 consecutive days. A record number of 4300 delegates completed their registration in 3 hours, a feat in itself.

At the end of it all, Creative received a STANDING OVATION from everyone present at the closing ceremony in appreciation for organizing a great conference, not once but thrice. This made all the hard work of 18 months worthwhile.

We received many comments on the days after the event, the outgoing President of the IAP had this to say :

Dear Ashok and friends,

Heartiest Congratulations for the Most successful conference. You have set a Benchmark  in organizing Pedicon. Future Pedicons will be measured and compared with Delhi Pedicon. Please convey my congratulations to all the members of the organizing team for their contribution to make this conference 'Excellent Conference'.

With regards - Dr Raju Shah.

Creative & Plan it ! are proud of this achievement, yet another feather in our cap.  

Plan it! handles the Bali Tourism Board B2B meeting in India.
The Indonesian Government in association with the Bali Tourism Board organised a B2B meeting in Mumbai at Hotel Ambassador on 6th Dec and in Delhi in Hotel Shangri-la on 8th Dec. They got an over whelming response from the top out bound travel agents of both cities. This event was handled by Plan it! by Creative Travel.

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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
 

Hospitality is hot and happening in Delhi......Prices hit the roof
Planning to visit the Capital? Make sure you have a place to stay, since hotels are going chockablock. The occupancy in all five - star and other hotels in Delhi is well above 100%. Infact, hotels have over booked and in many places the guests are being sent back due to non - availability of rooms. Read more...

Record increase in tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings
Indian tourism touched new heights in 2005 with the growth of about 13.5% in arrivals and about 20% in foreign exchange earnings. During the first 11 months of the year, 3.35 million tourists visited the country while the number during the corresponding period of last year was 2.59 million.
 

Heavy tourist inflow to Kashmir
Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir is looking up. According to Saleem Beg, Director General, J&K Tourism, “the summer rush to Kashmir was beyond expectations and the coming winter months should be better.” The Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Development Corporation has received advance booking for 400 tourists from the US and Europe, besides three groups of sports persons from Australia intending to visit the Valley during the coming winter season.

Buddha’s 2550th Anniversary to be celebrated in 2006
A national committee headed by the Prime Minister has been set up to celebrate Buddha’s 2550th anniversary of Mahaparinirvan this year. It is believed that Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment and died (parinirvana) all on the same date, which is celebrated as Buddha purnima (generally the May full moon) in India.

Sri Lanka

One Year after the Tsunami : Sri Lanka's Tourism Rebounding Strongly
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, a vital contributor to the nation’s economic well being, has rebounded strongly following the devastating effects of the December 2004 Tsunami. In the first nine months of the year, official figures indicate that visitor arrivals have reached 405,585 - an 8% increase over the same period last year. Peak tourist season from November 2005 to March 2006 promises to be another record year, with projections indicating that visitor arrivals will exceed the 500,000 mark for the third consecutive year.
 

Record Entries for Sri Lanka’s International Elephant Polo Tournament
The Sri Lankan elephant will be the star of a polo match with a twist, as the island gears up for its fifth Annual International Elephant Polo Tournament in January this year. Organised by the Ceylon Elephant Polo Association (CEPA), the January 24-28 event will feature eight teams from around the world. Played against a backdrop of the historic ramparts of the Galle Fort, the annual event attracts both international tourists and the local community, raising awareness of – and funds for - elephant conservation.

Nepal

Three out of top seventy-five destinations in the world from Nepal
UK based Wanderlust magazine in its November issue published the list of seventy-five destinations from all around the globe that would give any traveler a lifetime of pleasure and adventure. Mount Everest has been placed on 14th spot while The Himalaya mountain range and the Kali Gandaki gorge, deepest gorge waterways of the Himalaya, have respectively got 36th and 43rd spots in the list published.
 

Climbing Everest in the list of 20 sports destinations for 2006
National Geographic Adventure’s November 2005 issue lists the top 20 sports destinations to help its readers plan their next challenge. It has named climbing Mt. Everest as one of the adventure sports that it has recommended for 2006. Mt. Everest is the only Asian destination selected for the adventure sports category.

Nepal Tourism Board wants to convert Day-trippers to Lumbini to Overnight Stays
Same-day visitors to Lumbini have increased 2.3 times in 2004, in comparison to 2000. The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is now working on plans that will encourage these visitors to stay overnight. According to the plans, NTB will allow visitors into the temple only during fixed hours. Vehicular entry into the temple and the monasteries area will be banned and regular morning puja will be offered. The sacred garden of Lumbini would be an added attraction.

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Hotel News

India

Taj Business Hotels unveils deluxe guestrooms at Taj President, Mumbai
Taj Business Hotels has announced the launch of 38 newly-refurbished deluxe guestrooms across two entire floors at the Taj President, Mumbai. The new rooms reflect a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. Situated on the 3rd and 4th floor of the hotel, the pool or harbour facing new deluxe guestrooms have been created, keeping in mind the needs of the frequent business traveller. From catering to their basic needs of comfort to providing them with options for entertainment and creating an ambience that allows them to relax and de-stress.

Sarovar Park Plaza is renamed Sarovar Hotels
Sarovar Park Plaza has been newly branded as ‘Sarovar Hotels’. With the addition of the new brands in its portfolio, the company is now the largest multi-brand hotel management company in India. The group portfolio now comprises ‘Park Plaza’, ‘Park Inn’ ‘Sarovar Premier’ ‘Sarovar Portico’ and ‘Hometel’. Sarovar Hotels is the master franchisor of the Park Plaza and Park Inn brands in India.

Leela Kovalam signs new alliance with Kumarakom Lake Resort
CP Krishnan Nair, Chairman, The Leela Palaces and Resorts (TLP&R) and Paul John, Chairman, Kumarakom Lake Resort (KLR), based in Kerala, have signed the alliance in London’s Four Seasons Hotel. This strategic partnership is expected to offer a range of benefits to travel planners and consumers, providing guests with Kerala’s famed backwaters experience coupled with the Leela brand of service quality. The partnership between TLP&R and KLR will allow both companies to cross-market their properties, offering customers and travel planners a larger portfolio of properties.

JW Marriott Mumbai launches new 'Quan Spa'
The newly opened Quan Spa at the JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai aims to harness the natural healing forces of water and combine these with life enhancing therapies to help guests relax. Drawing inspiration from Ayurveda, “The Science of Life” that has existed in India for over 6,000 years and traditional western health, wellness and beauty rituals, spa guests at Quan will be spoiled with a choice of treatments each designed to have a positive effect on mind and body.
 

Oberoi Wildflower Hall voted the Leading Spa Resort in India
Travel professionals across the world have voted Wildflower Hall in the Himalayas, an Oberoi Resort, as India’s Leading Spa Resort. World Travel Awards, which have come to be regarded as one of the best endorsements that any travel product can receive, also announced The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur as India’s Leading Resort and Trident Hilton Gurgaon as India’s Leading Business Hotel.

Taj Residency, Bangalore now in a new, contemporary avatar
Setting a precedent for top-end business hotels in the city, the Taj Residency, Bangalore, now wears a fresh new look with a refurbished lobby and a brand new bar. Ms. Jyoti Narang, Chief Operating Officer, Taj Business Hotels said "The renovations were undertaken after extensive research and reflect the changing needs and lifestyles of our guests. With the newly refurbished lobby, a plush new bar, and the recently renovated rooms and banquet facilities, we will be offering our guests a whole new experience, making Taj Residency, Bangalore the preferred choice for the business travelers."

CC Africa to introduce five new Safari Lodges in India
Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa) has announced a successful joint venture with the Taj Group of Hotels. They have decided to launch five new Safari Lodges at the wildlife parks in India. These lodges will be located on the borders of India’s famous Tiger Reserves, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Panna Tiger Reserve, Kanha Tiger Reserve and the Pench Tiger Reserve. These wildlife lodges will be open to guests by mid October 2006.

cghearth looks at Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
The cghearth group (formerly Casino Group) will open its first property outside Kerala at Karaikudi village in Chettinad in October this year. The group has taken over a 75-year old Chettinad house on lease in Karaikudi village. The theme of the new property will be based on the traditional Chettiar culture, cuisine, architecture and the ethos of the village. With the populariry to experience Indian tradition and culture growing, the theme at the 27-cottage property at Gokama, two-and-a-half hours from Goa airport, will be based on sun, sand, yoga, ayurveda and meditation.
 

Discerning Travelers rank Taj Hotels amongst The World's Best
Taj Hotels have recently received some prestigious accolades at the Conde Nast Traveler (US) Readers’ Choice Awards 2005.

• Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur featured in the Best of the Best Hotels category, wherein top travel experiences in the world were rated by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler and compiled under this category.

• The Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur and The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai featured in the Top Hotels across Asia category.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Hotels Feature in Luxury List 2005  
Sri Lankan hotels have topped the international luxury polls again. DestinAsian, one of Asia’s leading travel and lifestyle magazines, featured three of the island’s hotels – Amanwella in Tangalle, the Galle Fort Hotel and the River House near Bentota – in October’s Luxe List 2005. The hotels received rave reviews in the magazine’s annual survey of more than 30 luxury properties in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Internationally-renowned Aman Resorts featured in the list with Amanwella, a 30-suite resort property in Tangalle overlooking a gorgeous crescent-shaped beach on Sri Lanka’s southeast coast. According to DestinAsian magazine “the décor is signature Aman – sleek and simple – and unobtrusive architecture never attempts to compete with the scenery”.
   

• The Galle Fort Hotel, situated within the ramparts of the Dutch fort itself, is described as “hip as it is historic”. First-time hoteliers Karl Steinberg and Christopher Ong have made "an impressive debut here, not only opening what has become the neighbourhood’s most popular bar, the Verandah, but also crafting rooms that are inimitably stylish and comfortable”.
   

• River House, the Sri Lankan-owned and developed five-suite property set on three, palm-fringed hectares along the Madhu River near Bentota, also received a glowing report. The rooms are described as “exquisitely appointed with antique furnishings and handwoven carpets”. Enjoying “a lunch of Sri Lankan curries and honey-fried bananas, all served by exceptionally well-trained staff” comes highly recommended.

Plantation Hotel reopens its doors
Plantation Hotel, situated 90km (a 2.5 hour drive) from Colombo in Kithulgala, reopened its doors after going through a Rs. 10 million refurbishment. The hotel’s appeal is its location, right on the banks of the Kelani River and surrounded by tropical jungle. The scenic location brought it fame when it was used for the filming of the epic ‘A Bridge over the River Kwai’. But the area is much more than an old film site and is particularly popular with nature lovers. The hotel itself is relatively small with just eight airconditioned rooms. The restaurant sits right over the river and is ideal for long lazy meals.

Thotalagala Tea Plantation Bungalow reopens after refurbishment
Thotalagala tea plantation bungalow, situated about 200km (roughly five hours drive) from Colombo in Haputale is back on its feet after refurbishment. This exclusive niche seven-bedroom planter’s bungalow is situated in a beautiful corner of the hill country, an area renowned for its fresh air and stunning views. The estate was the original tea plantation established by Sir Thomas Lipton. This is a place to rest and recuperate.

New Spa has Luxury Treatment Down to a ‘T’
Sri Lanka will feature a ‘world first’ spa concept when Dilmah, the country’s top tea brand, opens a new spa at the luxury hill country hotel, the Tea Factory, this month. The luxurious Aryana Spa, featuring tea-based spa therapy, will provide a new, unique guest experience at the Tea Factory, a five star 57-room hotel converted from an original working tea factory high above the hill country town of Nuwara Eliya. “Aryana has developed a range of signature treatments using green and black Ceylon Tea, which will be a unique feature of the spa menu,” said Ms Anarkali Moonasinghe, Director, Aryana Spa. Two more Aryana Spas are in the pipeline – one at the grand historic Mount Lavinia Hotel on the outskirts of Colombo and the other at Serendib Hotel in Bentota, on Sri Lanka’s pristine south west coast.

Bhutan

Amanresorts’ Fourth Amankora Lodge Opens
Extending its Amankora lodge circuit throughout the Land of the Thunder Dragon, Amanresorts opened Amankora Thimphu on 27 December, 2005.  Set in a blue pine forest in the upper reaches of the Motithang area of the Thimphu Valley, the 16-suite lodge is close to the capital’s sights, activities and traditions, while remaining a secluded retreat. Amankora Thimphu joins Amankora lodges located in the Paro and Punakha Valleys, and near the quaint village of Gangtey in the Phobjikha Valley, to establish a unique circuit for discovering Bhutan’s breathtaking topography and cultural treasures.

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Aviation News

Indian Airlines goes for new makeover becomes “Indian”
Indian Airlines has announces a new “look” by sporting a new logo and new livery. It will be called “Indian.” With a complete makeover, the state owned carrier is preparing to meet competition from private airlines head on. Signifying continuity with change, the new look of the airline communicates a bold, striking, progressive and distinctive image for the airline. It is a contemporary graphic representation inspired by the wheel of the Sun Temple at Konark, which symbolizes timeless motion, convergence and divergence. The rebranding, the arrival of new aircraft on lease, the acquisition of 43 aircraft, the proposed IPO - all signal a resurgent airline with a renewed sense of dynamism and energy.

Jammu now on the Air Maps of Air Deccan and Spicejet
In a bonanza for visitors to Jammu, Air Deccan has launched it’s Chandigarh-Jammu flight. This is the first daily direct flight on this route. Spicejet, not to be outdone, inaugurated its service Delhi to Jammu and Srinagar on 10 November. The airline will operate 6 flights a week.

Indian Airlines to operate Khajuraho thrice in a week
Indian Airlines will be operating flights to Khajuraho thrice in a week from 16 Dec'05. Click here for the Flight Schedule.

Air Deccan becomes the largest network provider in India
By providing the lowest airfares and connecting unconnected cities, Air Deccan operates flights to 44 cities with close to 180 flights spanning the length and breadth of the country. Since the airline has added Srinagar to its network, it has become the largest network provider in the country.
 

The above flights will operate on 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 12th,13th, 19th, 22nd, 25th, 29th & 31st Jan'06 and 1st, 6th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 21st & 24th Feb'06.

Air Deccan launches daily Delhi-Gwalior-Indore service
Air Deccan recently launched its direct daily flights from Delhi to Indore via Gwalior. A 48 seater airplane has been deployed on this sector.

International

Jet Airways to launch flights between Singapore and Chennai, India.
Jet Airways is set to expand its network between Singapore and India with the launch of flights to Chennai effective 7 December 2005. The daily flight will be operated by a New Generation B737-800 aircraft especially configured for international operations with 16 seats in Club Premiere (Business Class) and 124 seats in the Economy Class.

Finnair to launch flights between Helsinki and Delhi
Finnair is to launch scheduled nonstop flights between the Indian capital of Delhi and the Finnish capital of Helsinki in November 2006. Thanks to Helsinki's optimal geographical position, flight time from Helsinki to Delhi is only 6 hours and 35 minutes. The inaugural flight to Delhi will be on Wednesday 1, November 2006.

Air Arabia increases connectivity this winter season
Air Arabia LLC, the first international low-fares airline in India, has added an additional daily flight between Mumbai and Sharjah from December 1 to January 31, 2006 to cater to increasing demand over the winter holiday season with fares starting from Rs 3,750.

More International Flights to Southern Cities
October saw a lot of airlines taking off from Bangalore, Madras and Hyderabad. British Airway now flies five times a week from Bangalore to London. Chennai - London will have 6 flights a week, while 2 flights a day will connect Bombay to London. Northwest Airlines will operate daily flights Bangalore – Amsterdam and KLM will operate four flights Hyderabad to Amsterdam. Air France has started operating 5 flights a week out of Bangalore. Singapore Airlines has also started a 4 times a week service to Hyderabad. It has added 2 more flights on the Bangalore sector.
Click here for the Flight Schedule.