Decoding trends in travel

Right from offbeat destinations, luxury travel, latest technology solutions to food inspired tourism, the tourism and hospitality industry is greatly evolving with each passing day. India Travel Awards winners talk about emerging travel trends in the indu

Preferred MiCE Solution Provider — Trip Navigator (West 2017)

Terming the need for new and offbeat destinations as the upcoming travel trend, Abhishek Gupta, Director, Trip Navigator says, “Today, Indian travellers are keen on spending money for experience. The awareness towards need of vacation is increasing among Indians and holidaying is slowly but surely moving from the quadrant of luxury to that of necessity. Travelling abroad for short vacations is gradually becoming a trend. New destinations like Bali, Bishkek, Tel Aviv, Cyprus and Jordan are in demand in the corporate and MiCE sector.

General Manager of the Year — Shipra Sumbly Kaul (South 2018)

There is a constant drive to do something new and build new experiences for travellers. Voicing newer concepts, Shipra Sumbly Kaul, General Manager, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bengaluru Racecourse says, “With the openings of various international brands, the service level and innovation expectation is also rising which makes it a constant endeavour to bring out something new and offer unique experiences. The newer concepts are an amalgamation of global with a touch of local, which means guests are expecting the quality and facilities of global level along with a touch of local up to facilities to cater to the demanding market.

Best Business Hotel — Howard Johnson Bengaluru Hebbal (South 2018)

Anshul Goswami, Director – Sales & Marketing, Howard Johnson Bengaluru Hebbal believes that tourism for business has taken a big leap; thanks to digitalisation and ease of access, transportation and connectivity. “Tourism for leisure has also improved as we now see greater participation and interest among government to make tourism a hygienic and secure experience, especially at public places. We at HoJO, are constantly looking to serve our patrons better by improving ease of access, making it affordable and keeping them secure,” Goswami said.

Best B2B Travel Portal — Travel Boutique Online (South 2018)

In the Indian market, all-inclusive packages are in more demand among travellers. Food inspired tourism is still on top priority among Indian travelers. Recent trends show that more and more travellers are opting for domestic offbeat destinations. When coming to long-haul travel, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand followed by Paris, Amsterdam and Istanbul are among the popular destinations, according to Sajeeth R Nair, Regional Manager – Karnataka, Travel Boutique Online. Expressing his views, Raghu Nair, General Manager, The Oterra shares, “Tourism and hospitality is an extremely dynamic industry. The extensive use of technology today has changed the way hotels function in the industry. With decreasing airfares and more accessible - tions have also increased. The Oterra, Bengaluru, as the - nessed an increasing trend in business, medical and sustainable tourism.

Best Luxury Tour Operator- Outbound — Baywatch Travels (South 2018)

Manish Kriplani, Managing Director, Baywatch Travel, feels that trends are now moving from regular holidaying to experiential travel. “People are looking for the ‘wow’ factor in their itinerary. These days every client is extremely unique in their tastes and requirements; this pushes us to keep looking for new places and experiences. For example, in Copenhagen, we don’t just book lunch for clients, we book a chef’s table where guests can interact with the chef and allow guests to cook with him besides having culinary discussions. We don’t just plan holidays, we “handcraft an experience” for our guests.

Best Leisure Hotel — Hyatt Place Rameswaram (South 2018)

For Deepak Sharma, Director of Sales – Hyatt Place Rameswaram, travel trends are changing and people are more willing to travel than ever. “Leisure destinations have clearly seen surge in travelling even during weekdays. People avoid travelling on weekends to stay more relaxed and explore the desti for hospitality industry will change now or later. To add up, efforts by the government and their commitment towards tourism, improved infrastructure, encourage air travel and post GST implications are showing positive results.

Best Travel Insurance Provider — Trawelltag Cover-More (West 2017)

Dev Karvat, Founder – TrawellTag & CEO – Emerging Markets, Cover-More Group says, “The onset of digitisation has completely turned the tables for tourism. The trend of experiential tourism is catching up fast due to increased awareness about exotic destinations in India as well as abroad via various social media and other digital platforms.” The next wave of growth, believes Karvat, will be driven by millenials seeking customised offerings at the click of a button on a website or an app.