Smart Luxury on Germany’s radar

German National Tourist Office (GNTO) India has recently launched a micro site to showcase Michelin star restaurants, theme- based unique hotels and niche trails for the Indian market.

The FRHI Hotels & Resorts values and respects the mutually beneficial relationship it enjoys with travel agents, and is pleased to reconfirm its ongoing commitment to this community with the continued promise of complimentary high-speed and wireless inter- systems to receive this guest benefit, in addition to all others associated with its guest recognition programs.

"Our philosophy is to work closely with travel agents in promoting our distinctive brands and hotels, provide them with tools and services to grow their commissions, and

Focussing on maximum comfort and exclusive travel across Germany, the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) India is promoting the concept of ‘Smart Luxury’. For the same reason, the Board has recently launched a micro site to showcase Michelin star restaurants, theme-based unique hotels, etc. GNTO has already started tying up with luxury travel agents to promote the same in India, Romit Theophilus, Director- Sales and Marketing, GNTO India revealed.

Germany, which earlier was earlier considered more of a business destination is seeing a huge spurt in leisure tourist arrivals. For January-August 2014, leisure and business travel shares stood at 42 and 58 per cent respectively, compared with last full year’s 30 and 70 per cent respectively.

According to Theophilus, Indian tourists didn’t consider Germany as a holiday destina- tion. “However, now they are realising that there is a lot to explore in Germany for leisure as well. Stuttgart, Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin are now hugely popular among Indians as leisure destinations. Indian leisure business has also picked up for theme parks. Especially after the Bollywood movie, Don 2, which was shot in Germany, Cologne, too, is witnessing an upward trend in terms of tourist arrivals from India,” he informed. From January to August 2014, tourist arrivals from India rose 8.1 per cent, amounting to over 435,052 overnights. GNTO’s goal is to close the year with 700,000 overnights by Indian tourists.