Tour-Smart Limited

 

Updates November 2012

Hotels

Vivanta by Taj - Madikeri, Coorg with 63 rooms now open

Vivanta by Taj, 7 km from Madikeri in Coorg has 62 rooms and villas. The property is situated in a 180 acre rainforest 4,000 ft above sea level. The room size is 769 sq ft and the villas are 3,300 sq ft and come with a built-in pool. The hotel also houses the three level 30,000 sq ft. Jiva Grande Spa, a Buddha garden, a strawberry farm and 3,200 sq ft banquet hall. The hotel opened on October 15.

WelcomHeritage Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Bhopal, to add 100 rooms

WelcomHeritage Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Bhopal, a landmark in the city and a flagship property, is adding 100 rooms including 20 luxury suites. The expansion also envisages a large 'state of art' gym, specialty restaurants, conference facilities with commercial spaces and multilevel parking. One of India's leading architects M/s Hafiz Contractor will handle the project.
Banyan Tree Group to launch 1st Indian property in Kerala in Q1 2013

Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts to launch the Banyan Tree Kerala in 2013.

It will be the first property in India for the group. The hotel will be an all - pool villa retreat on the private island of Nediyathuruthu in Alleppey district of Kerala. It is an hour south of Kochi International Airport and a 10-minute boat ride from the resort’s private jetty in nearby Vaduthala.
First Park Hyatt opens in Chennai

The Park Hyatt Chennai was recently opened.

This is the first Park Hyatt hotel in the city. Designed as a serene retreat for business travelers, it is next to the Governor’s residence and adjacent to the thriving green area of the Guindy National Park. The hotel features 201 luxury guest rooms, including 20 suites. This is the 30th hotel in India under the Hyatt portfolio. The hotel showcases custom-made art installations curated around the concept of Indian textiles and heritage.

Keys Resort Ronil launches in Goa

A Brand of Berggruen Hotels - Keys Hotels has entered into a management contract with Alcon Anil Counto Enterprises to operate the 126-room Keys Resort Ronil from October 8, 2012. The endeavor is to build on the brand equity of the resort and take it to the next level to create a world-class facility for leisure travellers on the footsteps of Goa’s party zone. Over the next 12 months, the resort will be upgraded through capital infusion by the Alcon group.

Aviation

Etihad Airways offers additional flights to Kerala till November 30

For a limited period, Etihad Airways is offering additional 14 daytime flights per week to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, valid for travel until November 30, 2012 to provide more flexibility in reaching India with Etihad Airways.

Lufthansa offers on-board Internet in all classes on Indian flights

 

 

Further underlining its commitment to invest in India, Lufthansa is introducing FlyNet on India - Germany routes. This high-speed on-board internet service allows Lufthansa passengers, in all three classes, to enjoy the freedom of broadband communication during their flights. Initially, FlyNet will be available on equipped aircraft on Delhi - Munich, Mumbai – Frankfurt, Mumbai – Munich and Chennai – Frankfurt routes.

China Southern increases frequency on Delhi-Guangzhou route

From November 19, 2012, China Southern Airline will add three more scheduled flights to its current schedule of seven flights a week, taking the total number to 10 flights a week between Delhi and Guangzhou. The airline completed five years of online operations from India in October 2012.

Air India flies B787 Dreamliner to Frankfurt

Air India (AI) commenced international operations on its newly-acquired Boeing 787 (B787) Dreamliner from October 15, with flights to Frankfurt, Germany. This will be followed by other operations to Europe and Japan. Flights to destinations in Australia and Southeast Asia will operate after the airline receives more aircraft and pilots, and after the crew is trained on the new plane

Virgin Atlantic to start Mumbai-London flights by end October

Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd will make a comeback to Mumbai this October - end after a hiatus of three years, sensing opportunity on the growing India-UK and India-USA markets. The airline's move comes 6 months after Kingfisher Airlines Ltd suspended its London flights and put on hold its plans to join rival British Airways - led oneworld alliance. Virgin Atlantic currently operates flights on the Delhi -London route.

What's New

India Tourism pavilion at WTM to have an independent entrance

For the first time this year at WTM, India has its own identity and hall entrance. India is now located at the new East Entrance of the venue, which for over the last two years witnessed an increasing number of visitors. There has also been a phenomenal growth in the number of Main Stand Holders at World Travel Market within the India region, which has grown by 33 per cent as compared to 2011.

Age-old tunnel linking Amber Palace & Jaigarh Fort unveiled in Jaipur

A portion of the famed Amber Palace - Jaigarh Fort tunnel, which connects two historical landmarks in Jaipur, was reopened recently, offering a new adventure to tourists and history buffs. The 325-metre-long portion of the tunnel excavated so far is expected to increase the tourism potential of the two monuments.

The State's former Tourism, Art and Culture Minister, Bina Kak, unveiled the tunnel built in the 18th century in the presence of Diya Kumari and Narendra Singh of the erstwhile royal family. Ms. Diya Kumari said the tunnel would add value to both Amber Palace and Jaigarh Fort and stated that the existence of similar tunnels elsewhere in the Pink City would be explored.

Nagaland Chilli at heart of hottest Vodka

Vodka fans with an adventurous side can add a bit of spice to their lives as Master of Malt launches the world's hottest chilli vodka. At 250,000 on the Scoville scale, the new Naga Chilli Vodka is so hot it comes with a special health warning according to a news item in The Mail U.K. Its launch comes just months after the company released the 100,000 Scovilles Naga Chilli Vodka.

The new version is 2.5 times hotter. The chilli used in the vodka is the Naga Jolokia (from Nagaland in North-East India), known to be one of the hottest chillis possible to grow, and rates higher on the Scoville scale than most law-enforcement grade pepper sprays!

Each Scoville unit denotes how many times the chilli must be diluted by its own mass of water until the heat is only just detectable. A Jalapeno has an estimated 5,000 Scovilles. The Naga Jolokia can exceed 1,000,000 Scovilles. The drink is made by fermenting liters of vodka with 18 kg of the fiery peppers.

Kerala Tourism to focus on North Kerala

After successfully attracting tourists to the south of Kerala, Kerala Tourism will now aggressively promote its northern region to generate the same interest in its northern parts like Wayanad, Kozhikode and Bekal. The Government will improve the infrastructure in these areas and conduct road shows to promote them.

Smithsonian Institution to host blockbuster Yoga Exhibition next year

The Smithsonian Institution will host a blockbuster exhibition on Yoga in the US capital next year. Billed as the world ’s first-ever such exhibition on the ancient Indian discipline, "Yoga, the Art of Transformation" will begin in October 2013.

The exhibition will feature "incredibly beautiful and profound" Yoga-related artworks,collected from 25 lenders from India, Europe and the United States. The exhibition will tell the story of Yoga "that is sometimes very familiar and sometimes very surprising. It will showcase the history of Yoga up to the early 20th century, when great teachers in India like Swami Krishnamacharya and Swami Vivekananda reformulated and reshaped the Yoga that we practice today.

For more information regarding the above please visit  www.trailblazertours.com



Update October 2012

Leading Asia specialist, Travel Indochina, has welcome news for those seeking an authentic adventure for the coming year, with significant price reductions on ALL its small group journeys to India in 2013. Further good news is that bookings made in October and November will receive a copy of 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' DVD – an India-set comedy starring Dame Judi Dench and Maggie Smith – completely free of charge!

These special savings are available on all nine of Travel Indochina’s journeys to India – ranging from seven to 17 days in length – with prices averagely six per cent cheaper than the previous year.

Gurudwara-bangla-sahib Temple - Delhi

Travel Indochina’s 14-day “Highlights of Rajasthan” journey offers the perfect introduction to India and takes in the atmospheric beauty of Rajasthan’s majestic forts, palaces and villages with a special opportunity to spend a night in a deluxe tent atop the Thar Desert’s sand dunes. The tour also winds through Jaipur, where The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is set, allowing customers to follow in the footsteps of the film’s British cast, including Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson. Prices start from £1,855pp based on twin share accommodation, excluding international flights.

Fishing nets in Cochin

Those who prefer to get under the skin of a single region can join Travel Indochina’s 12-day “Spirit of the Himalayas” and 14-day “Spice of the South” journeys, focusing on northern and southern India. The former gives customers the chance to explore the mystical Himalayas, travelling from Delhi to the cooler climes of the mountains and Shimla, the former summer capital of the British Raj. The latter explores the lush landscapes and cultural riches of the south, where travellers can wander incense-laden markets, take a ride on the on the famous Nilgiri Queen ‘toy train’ to Ooty and see India’s greatest remaining elephant herds in the jungles of Nagarhole. Prices start from £1,550pp and £2,065pp respectively, based on twin share accommodation, excluding international flights.

The Golden Temple at Amritsar

With such a great choice of journeys available, and some truly enticing discounts, Travel Indochina has come up with a novel way to help customers make that all-important holiday choice – new online HD India videos showcasing the sights, sounds and colourful beauty of India. The free travel videos provide a great way to learn more about the destination and Travel Indochina’s unique style of travel.

Despite these impressive reductions, Travel Indochina will not compromise on quality, with all small group journeys benefitting from a combination of a western tour leader AND a local English-speaking guide, as well as many ‘Insider Experiences’ offering a true taste of the destination, an amazing selection of heritage hotels in its Classic range with the opportunity to upgrade to Deluxe accommodation on some journeys, and genuinely small groups that operate with a maximum of just 16 passengers. This complementary combination, coupled with fantastic price reductions, makes Travel Indochina’s small group journeys excellent value for money.

For more information or to make a booking click on  TRAVEL INDOCHINA


Update - September 2012

Hotels

Fairmont opens first hotel in India
Canadian-based luxury hotel chain Fairmont Hotels & Resorts opened its first hotel in India - the Fairmont Jaipur on August 15. The property has 199 elegantly appointed Fairmont rooms.

Double Tree by Hilton opens in Goa
Hilton Worldwide opened the newly-renovated, upscale, full-service Double Tree by Hilton Goa-Arpora-Baga, the third DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in India on August 15. Formerly known as Riviera De Goa, DoubleTree by Hilton has refurbishments that include 104 refreshed guestrooms and public spaces, extensive landscaping, a new business centre, up-to-date technology and an enhanced dining experience. The hotel will feature 3,000 square feet of flexible conference and banqueting facilities for up to 200 people. With the opening of this hotel, Hilton Worldwide will operate 10 hotels in India. The hotel is just a few km from the Baga and Anjuna beaches and in the heart of the popular shopping, dining and entertainment districts.

ITC Grand Chola opens in Chennai
ITC Hotels recently launched the ITC Grand Chola in Chennai. The 600-room super premium integrated luxury hotel complex is accredited as the world's largest rated hotel in the new construction category. It will alter the tourism and convention landscape in the region, given its unique 100,000 sq ft. of banqueting and convention space, with 30,000 sq. ft. of pillar-less ballroom, amongst the largest in the country, ten food and beverage outlets and a 23,000 square feet Kaya Kalp spa.

The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group enters European market with 'The Lalit London
The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group announced its foray into the European market with a 70-room high-end luxury boutique hotel, 'The Lalit London,' is expected to open by end 2014, followed by properties in Thailand and Dubai.The hotel is in the heart of the city and will reflect the group's brand ethos of 'Traditionally Modern, Subtly Luxurious & Distinctly Lalit'.It will have a bar, fine dining, restaurant, spa, gym and meeting rooms.

The Leela Palace Chennai to open this October
Claiming to be South India's first sea-facing modern palace hotel, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts will launch The Leela Palace Chennai in end October 2012. Spread across 6 acres, the 11-floor property features 326 rooms, 36,000 sq. ft. of multi-purpose conference space with floor-to-ceiling windows and the latest technologies, 2 palatial ballrooms - a 15,000 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom and 9,120 sq. ft. Royal Ballroom, two meeting rooms and seven boardrooms. The Palace offers suites, exclusive services for corporate high-flyers, international fine dining, spa, a fitness centre and a 25-meter swimming pool. The Leela Palace Chennai is the eighth hotel in the group's award winning portfolio.

Aviation

Air India gets its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Air India's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner arrived in New Delhi on September 8. Air India is the first Indian and fifth airline in the world to take delivery of a 787 Dreamliner. This delivery is the first of 27 Dreamliners for the airline. The airplane is equipped with 18 Business Class seats and 238 Economy Class seats. It is the first mid-size airplane capable of flying long-range routes, enabling airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by travelers.

Lufthansa upgrades Bengaluru - Frankfurt flights with all-new B747-8
Lufthansa is operating the all-new B747-8 aircraft between Bengaluru and Frankfurt since Sept 14. Equipped with Lufthansa's new Business Class seats, this latest aircraft in the world introduces new on-board pleasures for passengers in all three classes. The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental on this daily route is only the third such aircraft in Lufthansa's fleet.

Air Arabia doubles daily Delhi flights from September
Air Arabia has expanded its service from September 1 to New Delhi, from its primary hub in Sharjah, UAE. The carrier has started operating flights 14 times per week, instead of 7, departing Sharjah International Airport daily at 0745hrs and 2320hrs. Return flights depart from Delhi daily at 1305hrs and 0440hrs.

Calcutta to be 2nd Indian destination for Dragonair
Dragonair will launch a new four-times-weekly service to Calcutta from 2 November, offering greater convenience for travel between Hong Kong and Eastern India. It will be operated by Airbus A320 aircraft. Calcutta is Dragonair's 2nd passenger destination in India, adding to the current daily service between Hong Kong and Bangalore. Indian travelers can connect through Hong Kong to/from Dragonair's Mainland China network as well as destinations in North America and Australia through seamless connections on the extensive global network of sister airline Cathay Pacific.

ANA to launch Delhi-Narita direct flights from October 28
To expand its presence in India and boost tourism between India and Japan, ANA will launch daily direct connections between Delhi and Narita from October 28, 2012. The proposed flight Delhi-Narita will depart from Delhi at 01:25 and reach Narita at 12:50. In the return leg, the flight will depart from Narita at 17:20 and reach Delhi at 00:20 + 1 local time. ANA is Japan's largest airline group and ninth largest airline in terms of revenues.

Cathay Pacific to fly Hong Kong-Hyderabad from December; starts daily Hong Kong-Chennai service
Cathay Pacific Airways further expands its presence in India with a new four-time-weekly service between Hong Kong and Hyderabad from December 1, 2012 operated by Airbus A330-300, departing from Hong Kong every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. The new service complements the airline's existing passenger services to Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. From Sept 1, it has increased its services from 4 to 7 days-a-week on the Hong-Kong Chennai sector.

Maldivian Airlines on Mumbai-Male route from November 15
Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives will offer new direct routes 3 times a week to Mumbai and Chennai in November this year, flying direct to both the cities. The first flight to Mumbai is slated for November 15, this year. The airline has direct connections to Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram at the moment. With the introduction of direct flights, the travel time from Mumbai to Male will come down to about two hours and 30 minutes.

SpiceJet 1st to operate from Madurai to Colombo
SpiceJet has launched Madurai-Colombo services from September 20, 2012 and is the first to operate international services from the newly inaugurated Madurai Airport. Madurai is SpiceJet's second destination connecting to Colombo, Chennai being the first. The airline is deploying its Bombardier Q400 aircraft with 78 seats on Madurai-Colombo route.

GoAir flies Bengaluru - Goa daily
GoAir has introduced a daily service from Bengaluru to Goa, offering perfect opportunities for round trip travel on the same day, with a morning departure from Bengaluru and an early evening return from Goa. GoAir presently operates from Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin and Goa. With this new service, GoAir's total flights in Bengaluru amount to 84 per week, linking Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Goa.

What's new

India Tourism road shows in Australia, New Zealand & Oman
India Tourism will hold road shows in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia and Auckland in New Zealand from October 1 - 4, 2012. India Tourism will also hold a road show in Muscat on October 14.

Sea Plane service to connect resort destinations in Kerala
The government, a consortium of hotel owners and other allied agencies are planning to launch a sea plane service to facilitate speedy connectivity with resort destinations of Kumarakom and Bekal from Kochi and Mangalore respectively by the end of this year. The initiative will reduce the travel time from airports at Kochi and Mangalore to these destinations in a big way.

Nagaland Hornbill Festival from 1st to 7th December
The Nagaland Hornbill festival, an annual tourism promotional event to showcase the state's traditional and cultural heritage in all its ethnicity, diversity and grandeur will be held from December 1 to 7, 2012. The festival is a collaborative celebration of all Naga tribes at one venue and has been coined as "Festival of Festivals". The Festival is a tribute to the great "Hornbill" which is the most admired and revered bird for the Nagas, for its qualities of alertness and grandeur. The majestic bird is closely identified with the social and cultural life of the Nagas, as reflected in various tribal folklores, dances and songs. The awe and admiration for the bird is symbolically displayed on almost all tribal traditional headgear worn during the festival.