india | nepal | bhutan | sri lanka | tibet | maldives

June 2014

Rajeev Kohli
Joint Managing Director

Dear Industry Colleagues 

Welcome to another edition of award winning 'Creatively Yours'.

India has been experiencing the hottest summer seen in decades. Temperatures in our home city of Delhi have peaked with a 62 year record. Frying an egg on the sidewalk is most certainly a reality. Fortunately, modern air-conditioning is aplenty.

We have a dynamic new government in place at the national level. There is a new focus on tourism and that gives us new hope and new beginnings. In our new tourism minister, we have a very experienced and able administrator who has the ears of the Prime Minister. I do think the tourism industry has a lot of positivity to look forward to. Our next national budget will be presented on July 10. We do expect some bitter measures to be put in place, given that the last government seems to have left the economy in shambles. The government has already increased rail fares by 14% last week. I guess for us to have a strong economy, we do have to take some drastic steps. Let’s see how that pans out.

We in Team Creative are also very proud to have been nominated again for THREE World Travel Awards for a fourth year running. This is a tremendous honour. With our wins in 2013, 2012 & 2011, we hope you will support us this year as well. Every vote helps count towards our success, for it is only the support from our friends and partners across the world that make us what we are today. Details on how to vote are below.

You shall see some new and exciting initiatives in the next season from Team Creative. New experiential inclusions, new circuits, new concepts... We take pride in our ability to make a trip to the Indian sub-continent something very different.

Take care

Have a Creative Day! Rajeev
Creative News Destination News Hotel News Aviation News
World Travel Award 2014, Vote for Creative Travel
read more
India becomes 10th largest business travel market in the world...
read more
Rajmahal Palace to Re-open in November
read more
Air India flies new Dreamliner to Italy read more

 

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In this Edition....
 
         
Creative News .....
 


Please help us repeat history

It's about trust, continuity and reliability...... for 37 years we have honored the trust our clients & partners have placed in us across India and the subcontinent. We have never let a partner down and never will.

That is why we are humbled and honored to have been nominated for a 4th year running as "India's Leading Destination Management Company" ; "Asia's Leading Destination Management Company" and new for this year as "India's Leading Luxury Travel Agency"

You helped us over the last three years with your support and make a humble request for that support this year as well.

Every organisation needs a soul, a mission, a foundation. To us, business is about building relationships. Our partners are our family, not numbers. Our travellers are guests not clients. We do not want to be the largest company in India, just the best. We hold close to our hearts the values of integrity, of partnership, of quality and of trust - trust of our employees, of our partners, of our travellers.

Some things are just never to be compromised.

We owe our success to all partners and to the 150 team members who toil for our guests across the Indian subcontinent. We are proud of our history and the future it gives us. Read more about us at
www.creative.travel

We hope to have your support through your vote.

 Click here to Vote

Vote for us

 
         
Where you can find us next...
         
 
         
Festival Alert.....
         
    Ganesh Chaturthi- 29th August

Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the important Hindu festivals celebrated throughout India with a great devotion. This day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lord Ganesh is the symbol of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on Shukla Chaturthi of the Hindu month of Bhadra (generally falls between August and September). This festival is celebrated by Hindus with a great enthusiasm. People bring idols of Lord Ganesh to their homes and do worship. The duration of this festival varies from 1 day to 11 days, depending on the place and tradition. On the last day of the festival the idols are taken out in a colorful and musical procession and the image is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of all man. All join in this final procession shouting "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya" (O father Ganesha, come again early next year). After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idol to the river to immerse it.

 
         
 

 

  Onam, Thiruvonam, 6th September 2014

Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala. Onam is Malayali festival which is celebrated by native speakers of Malayalam. Onam day is decided based on Solar Calendar. Onam is celebrated in Chingam month on Malayalam Solar Calendar. Chingam month is known as Simha month in other solar calendars and Avani month in Tamil Calendar. The day when Nakshatra Thiruvonam prevails in month of Chingam is considered for Onam celebrations. Thiruvonam Nakshatra is known as Shravana in other Hindu Calendars.

The festival commemorates the appearance of Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent home coming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. Onam celebrates the Asura King Mahabali's annual visit from Patala (the underworld). On Thiruvonam day, Asura King Mahabali is believed to visit every Malayali home and meet his people. The celebrations of Onam start on Atham day (the day when Atham Nakshatra prevails) and continue for 10 days till Thiruvonam day. Atham Nakshatra is known as Hasta Nakshatra in other Hindu Calendars.

 
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Destination News.....
      India  
         
    India becomes 10th largest business travel market in the world

The GBTA Foundation, the education and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – announces the results of its first GBTA BTI™ Outlook – India report, a semi-annual business travel outlook and overall economic analysis of India. The report, sponsored by Visa Inc., includes the GBTA BTI™; an index of business travel spending that distills market performance over a period of time.

After a period of economic growth stuck below 5 percent along with soaring inflation, GBTA projects total business travel spending for India to grow 2.1 percent in 2014 to US$24.9 billion. An improved outlook for the Indian economy, however, should bring business travel spend back on track in 2015 as GBTA expects 7.6 percent growth to US$28.8 billion. Over the last 15 years, India has worked its way up the rankings of major global business travel markets from number 24 in 2000 to the 10th ranked market in the world in 2013. GBTA expects India will continue to move up the rankings and should pass Italy to become the 9th largest market in the next five years.

 
         
    Delhi to Agra in 90 minutes by train soon

With bullet trains on top of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda, railways has targeted running trains at a speed of 160 kmph between Delhi and Agra by the year-end.

The transporter has plans to run bullet trains at 350 kmph between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on an elevated track and six other routes, but is awaiting nod from the top. Meanwhile, the transporter is going ahead with semi-high speed trains between Delhi and Agra by upgrading the existing track. Rail travelers would be able to reach the Taj city in 90 minutes. As of now, Bhopal Shatabdi takes 126 minutes to reach Agra from Delhi at an average speed of 110 kmph. With the increased speed of 160 kmph, the travel time will be reduced to 90 minutes.

 
         
      PM Modi wants tourism to play a major role in Indian economy

It is still early days, but the sweeping victory of Narendra Modi in the recent Indian election could lead to something of a revolution for travelers to a country notorious for its potholed roads, Raj-era railways, complicated visa procedures – and standards of hygiene that leave a lot to be desired.

The business-focused Mr Modi has made it clear that he wants tourism to be a significant growth area for India – and that there is much to be done to make it a more attractive, cleaner and less stress-filled proposition for travellers. read more...

 
         
    India to implement e-visa system soon

The Indian government, under new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will push ahead with the planned electronic visa authorization (e-visa) system, the country’s Tourism & Culture Minister has revealed.

Shri Shripad Yesso Naik told an event organised by the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) that the new e-visa system will be implemented at the "earliest" opportunity. The move forms part of the election manifesto of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which said it would aim to boost the Indian tourism industry. read more...

 
         



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Hotel News.....
      India  
         
    Rajmahal Palace to Re-open in November  

One of Jaipur’s oldest heritage hotels, Rajmahal Palace is set to re-open this November. The luxurious property was built by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1729 for his wife Maharani Chandra Kumar Ranawatiji. It was converted into a hotel in 1979 and since then has been run by the Jaipur Royal Family.

Rajmahal Palace has been under renovation for over a year and is finally in its finishing stages and will be re-opened in November. read more...

 
         
    Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its sixth Hyatt property in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Located on National Highway 6, as part of the Magneto – The Mall, a mixed-use complex, Hyatt Raipur offers 105 rooms, including four suites. Other facilities at the hotel include Café Oriza, an all day dining restaurant, The Bar, a fitness centre and 929m2 of meeting and events space. "We are delighted to introduce the first Hyatt-branded hotel to Raipur. Hyatt hotels are intimate, upscale hotels that offer authentic hospitality in a vibrant environment," said Pablo Graf, senior vice president of operations for South West Asia at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. According to Onkar Singh, General Manager of Hyatt Raipur, "Hyatt Raipur will aim to fulfil the needs of Raipur’s business and leisure travellers and bring world-class amenities and services to the city."

 
         
    The Ritz-Carlton to debut in Mumbai by early 2017

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has signed a long-term management agreement with Oasis Realty, a joint venture between Oberoi Realty and Sahana Group, to open the first Ritz-Carlton in Mumbai by early 2017. This will be the second Ritz-Carlton property in India, following the recent opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore in Karnataka.

The 238-room Ritz-Carlton will be located in Worli, a business district with easy access to the international airport. read more...

 
         
    Carlson Rezidor reinvents the Park Inn by Radisson concept in India

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is reinventing its Park Inn by Radisson brand in India having opened the first next-generation property last month.

The 98-key Park Inn by Radisson Gurgaon Bilaspur will be joined by eight more next-generation Park Inn by Radisson hotels, with one in New Delhi expected to be completed first. New standards set for Park Inn by Radisson hotels include a vibrant colour scheme, in-room amenities such as sofa beds so that family travellers will not have to ask for an extra bed, a mobile table allowing guests to have breakfast in bed, and RBG (Restaurant, Bar & Grill) restaurant offering an all-day menu of local and international cuisines.  read more...

 
         
    MTDC to reveal Mumbai’s first 5-star floating hotel soon

Mumbai will soon get a 362-room five-star floating hotel off the Eastern seafront. The project, which is a joint effort of Rashmi Enterprises and Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), has got all government clearances and the 12-deck Greek liner is on its way to the city, Yogesh Naik reported for Mumbai Mirror. The floatel, which will be anchored two nautical miles off the coast between the Gateway of India and the Ferry Wharf, will have an open air cafe, mini Disneyland, theatres, a mall, restaurants, and a health club. read more...

 
         
    Lemon Tree Hotel unveils its property in Whitefield, Bengaluru

Lemon Tree Hotels announced the opening of their hotel in Whitefield, Bengaluru. Refurbished and renovated into a fresh avtar, the hotel opened to strengthen the group’s presence and expanse in major IT and business hubs of the city- particularly Whitefield. This latest addition to Lemon Tree makes it the group’s third hotel in Bengaluru (Lemon Tree Premier, Ulsoor Lake, Bengaluru and Lemon Tree Hotel, Electronic City, Bengaluru, being the other two). read more...

 
         



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Aviation News......





      India  
         
    Air India flies new Dreamliner to Italy

Earlier this month the national carrier welcomed its 14th Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, and has used the fuel-efficient jet to launch a new triangular route between Delhi, Rome and Milan. The Delhi-Rome-Milan-Delhi route will operate four days a week. Services depart Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 1420 every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport at 1905. read more...

 
         
    Jet Airways starts daily flight on Delhi-Kathmandu route  

Jet Airways Ltd has started a third daily flight from Delhi to Kathmandu from May 23. The new service, flight 9W 260 will depart Delhi at 1200 hrs and arrive in Kathmandu at 1400 hrs (local time). On the return leg, flight 9W 259 will depart Kathmandu at 1500 hrs (local time) and arrive in Delhi at 1630 hrs (local time), providing onward connection on the airline’s network.

Now, Jet Airways operates three daily flights each out of Delhi, Mumbai and Kathmandu. With the introduction of a third daily frequency from the capital, the airline will operate five daily flights to Kathmandu from India, the only Indian carrier to do so.

 
         
    Flydubai introduces three new routes between Dubai and India  

Budget carrier Flydubai is set to double its network in India starting this June with the addition of Delhi, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram services.

The airline will operate four weekly flights to Delhi from June 1, and three weekly flights each to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram from June 2 and June 3 respectively. All will offer economy and business class seats. read more...

 
         
    Emirates plans to operate the Airbus A380 to Mumbai from July 2014

"Emirates plans to deploy an A380 on one of its existing daily services between Dubai to Mumbai, starting from July and is working closely with Mumbai Airport Authorities to make this deployment," an airline spokesman told the Economic Times.

The airline also plans to step up the existing aircraft to larger capacity Boeing 777s to Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai starting from 1 June. From 30 May, Singapore Airlines will be the first airline to begin A380 operations to India, on Singapore-Mumbai route.

 
         
    Jet Airways launches four-times-a-week Mumbai-Paris direct flight  

Jet Airways (India) Ltd. inaugurated a direct flight from Mumbai to Paris.

The airline has deployed the Airbus A330 aircraft on the new route. The service will be available on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. On June 26, 2014, the route will be serviced daily, as per a release. Jet Airways also announced that it had expanded its code-share partnership with Air France, thus offering enhanced connectivity between Europe and India via Paris. read more...

 
         
    SpiceJet to increase flight frequency to 3 tourist spots from Delhi  

Budget carrier SpiceJet Ltd will operate special flights from Delhi to country’s top three tourist hotspots – Srinagar, Goa and Bagdogra – to meet the increased traffic demand during the peak holiday season, as per a PTI report. The frequency of the flights operating between the Delhi-Srinagar route has been increased to five flights a day from four, and flights between the Delhi-Goa and Delhi-Bagdogra to three flights per day from June 3, 2014. read more...

 
         
    Qatar Airways to introduce two more US-bound flights from Kolkata

Starting next month, Qatar Airways will launch services from Kolkata to two more US destinations. The airline will start flights to Miami from June 10, and to and Dallas/Fort Worth from July 1. There will be a connecting time of 50-60 minutes at the new Hamad International Airport in Doha en route.

Qatar Airways currently flies to five US destinations, namely New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Houston and Philadelphia. The two new routes will be served by the airline’s flagship wide-body Boeing 777 and Airbus 320 aircraft, as per a release.

 
         
    AirAsia India’s maiden flight sells out in 10mins

AirAsia’s entry into the Indian market got off to a good start this week, after seats on its maiden flight sold out in just 10 minutes. The low-cost carrier will launch services on the Bengaluru-Goa route on 12 June 2014, and an opening promotion for the service has proved extremely popular among Indians. Fares on the route were being sold for just INR990 (US$17). As well as selling out the first 180 seats in 10 minutes, the airline’s 25,000 promotional seats were also snapped up within 48 hours. read more...

 
         
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Indian Recipe of the month......
         
 

  Fish Cutlets

The Fish Cutlet recipe is very easy to make. It can be served as an appetizer, snack or a side dish. Click here to read the recipe.....
 
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Contact Us......
     
  Creative Travel Pvt. Ltd.
Creative Plaza, Nanakpura, Moti Bagh, New Delhi 110021. India.
Tel: 24679192, 26872257-58-59, 26114281     Fax: +91-11-26885886 / 26889764
USA Fax: +1-646-349-1614       Europe Fax : +44-20-7681-1242
Email: creative@travel2india.com       Website: www.travel2india.com; www.creative.travel

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
)
 
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Contact Us......
 
  You may contact us or our any nearest regional sales office.  
 

Creative Travel Pvt. Ltd.
Creative Plaza
Nanakpura, Moti Bagh
New Delhi 110021. INDIA
Tel : +91-11-24679192, 26872257-58-59
Fax : ++91-11-26885886 / 26889764
USA Fax: +1-646-349-1614
Europe Fax : ++44-20-7681-1242
Website : www.travel2india.com
Click here to e-mail us

Creative Travel Lanka (Pte) Ltd.
Level 06, Hemas House
75, Braybrooke Place
Colombo 02, Sri Lanka
Tel : +94-11-200006
Fax : +94-11-2300003/4
Website : www.travel2srilanka.com
Click here to e-mail us

Creative Travel Nepal (CTN)
5th Floor, Yeti Airlines Building
P.O. Box 7202
Tilganga,Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: (977-1) 4486412, 4486413
Fax: (977-1) 4465940
Click here to e-mail us

Our Regional Sales teams...

Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay & Uruguay
for all travel products

Argentina
Rosina Gomes De Freitas

Creative Travel / Avant Garde Deluxe
argentina@creative.travel
rosina@avantgardeluxe.com.br

Brazil
Sidney Alonso
Jeverson Zanini
Creative Travel / Avant Garde Deluxe
R. Gabriele D'Annunzio, 1409 #101
Sao Paulo - SP - 04619-005
Brazil
Phone: +55 11 8111-2221
Email: brazil@creative.travel
salonso@avantgardedeluxe.com
wsoares@avantgardedeluxe.com.br
Chile
for all travel products


Claudia Pasten
Creative Travel / Agunsa Chile
Av. Andrs Bello 2687, Piso 15
Edificio del Pacfico
Casilla 2511, Santiago
Tel : (56-2) 4602700
Email: chile@creative.travel






 
Europe
for all travel products


Hanna Manuel
Creative Travel /
Assert Management
Mereldreef 101, B-3140 Keerbergen
BELGIUM
Telephone: +32 15 230 547
Facsimile: +32 15 230 549
Email: hannamanuel@creative.travel
SalesMarketingEurope@skynet.be




 
Germany

Anja Dickmann-Schler
Stefanie Buck

Creative Travel /
Tourism Marketing Communication
Fischtorplatz 17
55116 Mainz
Tel: +49-6131-600 7075
Fax: +49-6131-600 7376
Email: germany@creative.travel
adickmann-schueler@tmc-agentur.de sbuck@tmc-agentur.de
Mexico
for all travel products


Mauricio Gonzalez Liceaga
Ofelia Barrios
Creative Travel /
Presidente CWW Mexico
Luz Savinon 9-301
Col. Del Valle
Mexico DF 03100
Tel: +52 55 3330 5100
Mobile: +52 155 1474 9009
Email: mexico@creative.travel
mauricio_gonzalez@connect-worldwide.com
Peru
for all travel products

Carla Beuno
Creative Travel / Agunsa Peru
Agencias Universales Peru S.A.
Av. Nestor Gambeta 5502, Las 200
Millas, Callao
Tel: (51-1) 619-0300
Email: peru@creative.travel
Philippines
for all travel products

Marilen Dinglasan

Mobile: + 63 -9178430367
Email: manila@creative.travel
manila@travel2india.com
marilen_ding@yahoo.com
Poland
for all travel products

Barbara Dziedzic
Creative Travel/TravelReps
17 Podwale Street, ste 10
00-252 Warsaw, Poland
Mobile: +48 603 857 571
Email: bd@travelreps.pl
poland@creative.travel 

 
Russia
for all travel products

Tatiana Pylaeva

Creative Travel / Destico
Sadovnicheskaya street, 5,
Office 4-3
Moscow, 115035
Tel.: +7 9031367939
Email: russia@creative.travel
tanyapylaeva@destico.ru
Spain & Portugal
for all travel products

Diana Alvarez
Lourdes Porredon

Creative Travel /
Bitacora's Tourism Services
Mov.: +34 676365062
Email: Diana - madrid@creative.travel
Lourdes - barcelona@creative.travel
South Africa

Heidi Angell-Schau
Creative Travel / WorldView
11 Dale Minor Balder Road, Douglasdale, 2161
Johannesburg
South Africa
cell: +27 82 786 9229
heidi@worldview.co.za
southafrica@creative.travel
UK
Incentive & Meetings specialist


Susan Scales
Mercedes Conde-Nieto

Creative Travel / GMC Marketing
Global House
152 Motspur Park
London KT3 6PF, Surrey
UK
Telephone: +44-208-949-1234
Fax: +44-208-949-3456
Email: susanscales@creative.travel
susan@gmc.uk.com
sales@gmc.uk.com
UK
for all travel products


Gill Webb
Mark Schmitt
Creative Travel
The Old Church 89B
Quicks Road
Wimbledon, London
SW19 1EX
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8545 2617
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8545 2604
Email: london@creative.travel
gill@sandraleach.co.uk                                mark@sandraleach.co.uk
USA

Andrea Kubon
T: (+1 516) 209 7736
A.K.A Destinations
7A Jefferson Street
Port Washington, NY, 110050

andreakubon@creative.travel
 
 
 

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