TravTalk India Online Magazine
Without adaptability, extinction is a real possibility. The new generation of entrepreneurs and chief executive officers in the travel and hospitality sector believe in agility and innovation; they encourage the industry as a fraternity to think differently and do things differently, so that they just don’t survive but thrive in the business.
Sakshi Mehra, Director, Uday Tours & Travels
2024 should bring in a lot of good business. A lot of things are being added up. Lot of new destinations are coming up as coming into India we talk about. There are a lot of challenges as a lot of our neighboring countries have started up with a free visa policy, though this does not make much of a difference. But for people who are regular travellers, they feel, oh, it’s too much of a difference. So working on all that scenarios, things will move up.
Maanav Saraf, Executive Director, Gainwell Travel
We have been building up for 2024. We have quite aggressive plans in terms of sales in 2024. M!CE and sports remain our biggest areas of focus. We are also procuring rights for some major events coming up next year. And our M!CE sales teams are going to work quite aggressively in promoting certain niche of tourism, not just geographically, or just bound to East India or Kolkata in anyway now. We have some of our major clients based in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, where we are eyeing M!CE.
Shivani Singh Deo, Country Manager – India, Virgin Atlantic
2023 proved transformative for Virgin Atlantic. We achieved a record-breaking milestone in India, flying over 620,000 seats—the highest in our history. As we venture into 2024, our goal is to surpass this feat with 850,000 seats, supported by the launch of our daily direct service from Bengaluru to London starting 1 April 2024. India is our third largest market globally. Our strong performance in this market gives us confidence to grow.
Mayank Tewari, Co-founder, SanKash
We are expecting an action-packed 2024! We intend to go live with several large travel companies, offering relatively lower ticket size loans for flights and hotels. We also plan to launch a couple of large business lines to help increase our penetration across travel agents and end customers. This can’t be achieved without an A-team. We intend to hire for senior management positions across functions in 2024.
Adl Karim, Director, Fly Creative
This year has been a rollercoaster year for us. People cut down on their spending this year. So our prime focus now is on our B2B portal. We are adding products onto the platform like buses, hotels, mobile recharge, travel insurance, etc apart from air vertical. We are also looking into ChatGPT and how we could use it to empower our staff. Of course, social media presence is a must in todays times as everything is digital. It helps in giving that visibility.
Ellona Pereira, Head, Aviareps India
In line with our commitment to innovation, we have been digitally inclined as a company. Our Digital Ecosystem offers a range of cutting-edge platforms, including the 3D Virtual Trade Fair, Virtual Press Conference platform and the AVIAGroup group booking tool. As we reflect on a successful 2023, we eagerly anticipate a promising 2024 filled with opportunities and thriving businesses in this rapidly expanding market.
Ramanpreet Singh, Vice President – Growth & Strategy, SKIL Travel
In 2024, we expect sustained growth driven by our commitment to innovation and exceptional service. Another factor which will play a pivotal role in this success story is our hiring strategy. We expect to hire the best-in-class talent in all verticals and would like to become the most preferred Corporate Travel Management company to work for. Collaboration and innovation are paramount in navigating the current corporate travel landscape.
Bhavik Sheth, COO, Evoke Experiences
Our vision for 2024 is a thrilling journey beyond traditional boundaries, where every stay weaves an unforgettable narrative, and every service ignites delight. It’s a year where we’ll not only meet but exceed the expectations of the modern, tech-savvy, and experience-hungry traveller, turning every visit into an extraordinary tale of innovation, luxury, and sustainability. Get ready for a transformative year in hospitality.
Nishant Taneja, Head of Marketing, Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort
As 2024 approaches, perched in our hillside hotel, we are poised to blend the art of luxury hospitality with a journey of personal and professional growth. This year is set to be a remarkable chapter, where we not only elevate the standard of wellness and luxury in our hotel but also focus on the individual development of our team. We envision our serene location as a catalyst for innovation, inspiring us to introduce novel wellness experiences.
Varun Mehrotra, Director, Sales & Marketing, Sheraton Grand Whitefield Hotel & Convention Centre
As we approach the threshold of 2024, the hospitality industry is poised for dynamic shifts and continued innovation. Reflecting on the trends of 2023, several key aspects are expected to endure and shape the landscape in the upcoming year. One prevailing trend is the emphasis on personalized experiences. In 2023, we observed a growing demand for tailored services, where guests seek unique experiences.
Shyam Upadhyay, Director, U&I Holidays
Modern-age tourists like to book instantly, and 9pm to 11pm is the time when they prefer making reservations, so we need to quickly adjust ourselves for such changes. Only way to survive is to keep improving our processes so that we can stop leakages; micro-planning is extremely important, and so is simple formula – back to the basics. We are now launching our B2B mobile app so our agent can book while in bed.
Barun Gupta, General Manager, ExpoInn Suites & Convention
2024 is going to be the next big year in terms of the entire tourism and hospitality business in India. Whether I talk about outbound, inbound or domestic segment, it is kind of a revival of an inbound segment which is going to happen where I can see the maximum number of foreign tourists. Indians are travelling abroad and as well as the domestic business has grown bigger
Bhawna Sareen, Sr Manager – Sales & Operations, Dook International
Travel expectations for 2024 is that COVID will never return and travel will boom like anything. All the tour operators and travel agents should have enough business and queries. We, at Dook are also targeting new tourism sectors like earlier we used to do just travel packages, but now we are going into the wedding, corporate industry as well. It is time to focus on weddings in India as per statement by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Akshay Jain, Franchise Owner – Delhi, EaseMyTrip
As far as expectations are concerned for 2024, we want that visa processing to countries should be smooth and reliable as well as airfares should be lower. For example: Kazakhstan is giving free visa for 14 days, but what if clients ask for more days, then he/she has to go through the hassling process. Secondly, flight rates are next level right now and connectivity is an issue.
Sachin Sharma, Managing Director, ASCEL Group
Ah, the future is always an exciting and fascinating topic! While I can’t predict the future with certainty, I can definitely share some trends from 2023 that may continue to shape the year 2024. Eco-friendly travel has gained momentum in recent years. Travellers are seeking destinations and accommodations that prioritize eco-conscious practices.
Anshu Tejuja, Managing Director, Ashoka Dream Holidays
Our expansion strategy centres on diversifying destination offerings and strengthening partnerships with local businesses. Tie-ups with eco-friendly accommodations and immersive experiences align with evolving customer preferences for unique, sustainable travel. Also, offering different untouched destinations and bespoke experiences than the usual regular stuff.
Raunak Jana, Founder & CEO, Greynomad
We are expecting a full swing of revenue generation in the year 2024. The trend which is going to continue is the need of new itineraries and not just the same old mundane ones. Travellers, especially Indians, are experiential ones who want to try every cuisine, explore every nook and corner of that particular destination, accommodate in homestays or resorts.
Ankita Parmar, Deputy GM – Marketing, FCM Travel India
As we look ahead to 2024, my expectations for the travel industry are brimming with optimism. We expect business travel will continue to grow rapidly as organisations recognise the irreplaceable value of face-to-face interactions and the need for building meaningful connections. The travel landscape is undergoing a digital transformation.
Neeraj Gupta, Director, Peekay Holidays
Business is looking very positive in the coming year more than ever. The young generation has the potential to bring in the modern thoughts and the technology to the business which can benefit swift operations and make things easier to handle. Breaking the barrier of the traditional working format is one way of showing the direction this industry is heading towards.
Vinutaa S, VP & Sector Head – Corporate Ratings ICRA
Following a sharp recovery in demand post-Covid, the Indian hotel industry witnessed double-digit revenue growth in CY2023. Sustenance of domestic leisure travel, demand from M!CE and business travel has supported the growth. The industry also benefitted from additional demand from major events.
Compiled by TT Bureau
