‘Rare’ platform for hotels

The maiden edition of Très RARE, in Delhi, recorded over 100 Indian destination management companies and 30 foreign tour operators over two days.

TT Bureau

Instituted by RARE India, Très RARE is a showcase of the finest boutique hotels, lodges, hideaways, camps and retreats in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. The by-invite event saw in attendance over 400 visitors ranging from travel agents, tour operators and avid travellers. The event focused on one-on-one engagement, innovations and hosted speakers on hospitality and related topics to add value to experiential travel.

The close interactions with the hotel owners and hosts were followed by 11 hosted familiarisation trips across India. Some of the participating hotels were RAAS Jodhpur in Rajasthan; Bhainsrorgarh Fort, Rajasthan; Hotel Druk, Bhutan; Pepper Trail, Kerala; Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, Nepal; Deccan Odyssey, etc.

Sowmya R Vijaymohan, Partner, RARE India, informs that while RARE India is contained in terms of travel and hotel partners, Très RARE goes beyond RARE India. She says, “It’s a platform for like-minded people who share the same philosophies of travel and believe in sustainable travel practices. These are more owner driven, small and boutique properties, which are showcasing both the facilities and experiences. We have categorised the properties according to theme and destinations, like heritage and Rajasthan are put together; for mountains, properties ranging from Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, etc are showcased, while the hideaways are properties and locations about 100 kilometres away from metro towns. The other categories are tropical retreats, which stretch beyond central India while the wildlife section is the belt stretching from Madhya Pradesh to Corbett and beyond to Nepal.”

According to Vijaymohan, this was probably the first green event where no plastic had been used. She explains that at the maiden edition, the idea was to keep it smaller, an invite-only event for serious attendees. However, given the success, next year, the company will up the scale of the event. “This is probably the first time that as many as 30 foreign operators, who are not hosted, have come for the show,” she adds.