Laurels for Katgara

Jehangir Katgara, Chairman and Managing Director of TBI Trail Blazer Tours India, has won the prestigious World Travel Market 2014 World Travel Leaders Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Indian travel industry.

SanJeet, Publisher & Director, DDP Publications Pvt. Ltd, presented the coveted award to Katgara at the WTM World Travel Leaders Awards ceremony. The Awards give WTM’s Official Media Partner, Trav Talk an excellent platform to congratulate and recognise those companies and individuals which have made the greatest contributions to travel and tourism in their region or sector.

Three nominations from each of WTM’s media partners were judged in September by a panel of three, made up of an independent body, a representative of WTM and the relevant media partner. Katgara is credited with introducing the concept of air charters to India.

In the 1970s as an executive working for Travel Corporation India (TCI), Katgara was instrumental in expanding the TCI overseas network in Canada, Europe, the Far East, Australia and South America. In 2006, TCI was sold to Thomas Cook and Katgara started Trail Blazer Tours India (TBI), which serves both the leisure and business travel markets, with 10 offices in India and overseas representations in China, Korea, Australia, France, UK, Austria, USA, Canada, Germany and Bulgaria.

Katgara strongly believes in giving back to society and has set up the Katgara Foundation, providing aid, grants, meals to school children and donations to worthy causes. To date, the foundation has assisted over 5,000 individuals or institutions, including the construction of a wing at Masina Hospital in Mumbai. An active member of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), he is on the boards of numerous state tourism bodies and is a member of the executive committee of the PATA India Chapter.

Simon Press, Senior Director, WTM, Reed Travel Exhibitions said, “Katgara is one of the best known and most respected members of the Indian travel trade and has been at the forefront of this industry throughout the period since the 1980s. He strongly believes in giving back to society and his Katgara Foundation has done some excellent work among communities in India.”