As part of its focused strategy to tap the Indian market, Maldives-based Destination Management Company (DMC), Neotrav recently conducted three-city roadshow (Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh) in India with its preferred partners, Jumeirah Maldives and Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives. The roadshows (a first by a private sector player from Maldives) conducted in association with Sand Destination Consultants, Neotrav’s India representatives, were aimed at reaching out to larger audience of Indian travel trade and educating them about the latest offerings of the preferred partners.
According to Satyeash Pai, Director of Sales, Neotrav, Maldives has witnessed increasing demand from Indian market including Tier-II cities. “Apart from the honeymoon segment there is growing interest from the family segment and MICE segment in India. There is also a growing demand from Indian travellers for luxury properties and for activities like snorkelling and diving in Maldives,” stated Pai.
At the roadshows, the new Indian Ocean resort brand of EoN Resorts (a Maldives-based resort development and research group), ‘Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts’ was also introduced. Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives, the first property under the Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts brand will have its soft launch on October 15, 2013, and will open fully on November 15, 2013. Dinesh Bhaskar, Director - Sales & Marketing, Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives informed that the property with 150 villas, located at Lhaviyani Atoll (35-minute seaplane ride from Male), is positioned as an entry-level, five-star resort, offering value and a premium, all-inclusive holiday plan 'Platinum Plus'.
Talking about the new brand, Pai, said, "We have expertise in managing properties and running a DMC. We thought it was the right time to launch a hospitality product of our own." EoN Resorts manages several properties in Maldives apart from Jumeirah brand like Six Senses Laamu, Viceroy Maldives, Constance Halaveli, The Island Hideaway, Soneva Gilli, etc. Neotrav is part of EoN Resorts.
Acknowledging the support and response from the Indian market, Simmi Soodan, Director of Sales, Jumeirah Maldives, said, "India is among the top seven source markets and the average length of stay of Indians is three-four days and Indians are high spenders with spend on par with guests from Russia and the Middle East. Indians are increasingly looking at luxury products and both our properties, Jumeirah Vittaveli and Jumeirah Dhevanafushi are top-end luxury properties. While Jumeirah Dhevanafushi is most romantic resort and first all suite property in Maldives, Jumeirah Vittaveli is billed as ‘effortless luxury.’ Both properties have private pools, rich house reef and signature Talise Spa, which is our house brand. Vittaveli also has the largest kids club.”
She added, “We understand the Indian market requirement and cater to the palate of Indian travellers. Jumeirah Maldives is popular brand among Indian travellers due to the Indian cuisine we offer including Jain food. In past two years, we have been able to penetrate the market well and hope to tap the family, honeymooners and small group segments even further and increase the number of Indian guests substantially.” Aman Bhatia, Director, Sand Destination Consultants, added, “We have witnessed 30 per cent rise in demand this year from the Indian market for Jumeirah Maldives.”
Commenting on the initiative by Neotrav, Sanjay Sondhi, President, OM Tourism, Marketing Representative for Maldives Tourism in India, said, "It is good to see private players actively participating in destination promotion and such initiatives are always welcome. As a tourism office we can only market the destination, but the private players can create opportunities and generate business.”
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