20th Anniversary Celebrations of Today’s Traveller celebrates excellence in performance with the 11th Annual Today’s Traveller Awards 2017, at a gala evening at the Taj Palace New Delhi
Keynote Panel Discussion: Unlocking the Tourism Potential — Connectivity and Infrastructure Panellists included VK Duggal, former Governor of Manipur & Mizoram, in conversation with Nakul Anand, Chairman – FAITH & Executive Director, ITC Ltd; Dr Subhash Goyal, Chairman, Stic Travel Group and Santhosh Kumar, CEO – Operations and International Director, Jones Lang LaSalle India.
Torch Bearers Panel Discussion: Developing Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities Panellists included Suresh Kumar, Managing Director, Fortune Park Hotels; Satyen Jain, CEO & Director, Pride Group of Hotels; Rattan Keswani, Deputy Managing Director, The Lemon Tree Hotels; Ajay K Bakaya, Executive Director, Sarovar Hotels, and were moderated by Romesh Koul, CEO, Naaz Hotel Consultants Pvt Ltd.
Leaders Panel Discussion: Outlook 2020 Panellists included Rajiv Kaul, President, The Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts; Raj Rana, CEO, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group; Vikram Madhok, MD, Abercrombie & Kent (I); Shantha de Silva, Head of Southwest Asia, IHG; Neeraj Govil, Area Vice President South Asia, Marriott International and were moderated by Sudhir Gupta, Founder & CEO, TLC Group.
The long anticipated event, the 20th Anniversary Celebrations of Today’s Traveller, the 11th Annual Today’s Traveller Awards 2017 and the Cover Launch of the Coffee Table Book 2017 ‘Quantum of Success’, was attended by VK Duggal, former Governor Manipur and Mizoram, Government of India, who gave away the 11th Annual Today’s Traveller Awards 2017 at the Taj Palace New Delhi. He was the Chief Guest for the Cover Launch of the 11th Annual Today’s Traveller Coffee Table Book, ‘Quantum of Success’, and presided over the 11th Annual Today’s Traveller Awards. Over 400 top-level management professionals from the Corporate, Travel and Hospitality segment attended the grand event.
The much awaited cover launch of the Today’s Traveller Coffee Table Book, ‘Quantum of Success’ by Padma Bhushan Shri SK Misra, former Chairman INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), former Principal Secretary to the 8th Prime Minister of India and VK Duggal, former Governor Manipur and Mizoram, Government of India was a highlight of the evening.
Reflecting the mood of the times and the profound changes taking place in the realm of technology and business, the theme of Today’s Traveller Coffee Table Book 2017 is ‘Quantum of Success’. The book contains game-changing experiences and milestones, viewpoints and beliefs of innovators and frontrunners, leaders of the corporate world and captains of the hospitality, travel and other industries. It covers game-changing strategies of leading organisations in both government and private sectors.
Today’s Traveller saluted Vinod Kumar Duggal, former Governor of Mizoram and Manipur, as Friend of the Tourism Industry for his rich contribution to the promotion and development of the travel, hospitality and tourism industry over decades.
The citation recognised Vinod Kumar Duggal as the man who helped shape the ‘Raindrops in Goa’ campaign during his stint as Secretary and Development Commissioner Goa Tourism. Later, as Director General Tourism, Government of India, Duggal has worked with his team at the Ministry of Tourism on the hugely successful Incredible India campaign and as Union Home Secretary, where he helped the Ministry of Tourism with Visa on Arrival schemes in 2006, when the first approval for 16 countries was given.
Receiving the recognition, Vinod Kumar Duggal said, “In whatever position I have worked in or outside the Government or wherever I have worked in India and Overseas, Tourism has been close to my heart and it has always been my endeavour to do my bit for the industry as a whole and even for individuals associated with Tourism Sector.”
Today’s Traveller Awards, the most respected awards in the travel industry, has always identified and recognised the achievements and accomplishments of progressive companies and leaders from the industry. The 11th Today’s Traveller Awards recognised success stories that have redefined the rules of the game. The event was partnered and supported by Gold Partner Bihar Tourism; Focus Brand Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group; Airline Partner United Airlines; Hospitality Partner Taj Palace New Delhi and Associate Partner Oman Air.
VK Duggal, former Governor of Manipur & Mizoram said, “India is a mega market in itself. And it’s not only numbers; it is the kind of spending power at the domestic visitor’s disposal that can change the face of travel. India being a sub-continent in itself has a massive tourism potential at its doorstep, both in the form of foreign as well as domestic tourists. As our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commended India’s tourism potential and its role in multi-sectoral development and employment on a number of occasions, and taking these plans forward can only add to the well being of our people and make the Indian economy even stronger.”
Kamal Gill, Executive Editor and Managing Director, Gill India Group, said “Sometimes, we never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory. With this in mind, Today’s Traveller presents its first ever Summit – Outlook 2020…fittingly on its 20th Anniversary Celebrations. It is a dream Summit with the most influential thought leaders of travel and tourism gathered here today. The travel and tourism industry is, in a manner, the Front Office of the world…the first window reflecting happenings the world over, and therefore the most susceptible to global order changes. I look forward to an intellectual storm where several brilliant minds sift through the system changes and share strategic perspectives and insights.”
The event was attended by dignitaries like Lt Gen K M Seth, Former Governor of Tripura & Chhattisgarh & President, Foundation of Aviation & Sustainable Tourism; Dr AK Manocha, CMD, IRCTC; Bipin Kumar, IAS, Resident Commissioner, Government of Bihar; Ashok Kumar Singh, IAS, Additional Secretary cum Director Tourism, Government of Bihar; SR Marak, Joint Resident Commissioner, Government of Meghalaya; Renowned Fashion Designer, Ravi Bajaj; Upekksha Samaratunga, Minister (Commercial), Sri Lanka High Commission; Rajiv Duggal, CEO – Tourism Business, Essel Corporate; Manav Thadani, Chairman – Asia Pacific, HVS; SP Arora, Managing Director, Tourism Finance Corporation of India Ltd and BM Gupta, Executive Director, Tourism Finance Corporation Of India Ltd.
Corporate leaders attended the event included Tapan Singhel, Managing Director & CEO, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd; Capt Rajesh Sharma, MD – Integrated Facilities Management & Asset Services, Cushman & Wakefield; Santhosh Kumar, CEO – Operations and International Director, Jones Lang LaSalle India and Gaurav Moudgil, Partner, Global C.
The event also hosted leading entrepreneurs and leaders from the Travel and Hospitality industry, such as Suresh Kumar, Managing Director, Fortune Park Hotels; Satyen Jain, CEO & Director, Pride Group of Hotels; Rattan Keswani, Deputy Managing Director, The Lemon Tree Hotels; Ajay K Bakaya, Executive Director, Sarovar Hotels; Romesh Koul, CEO, Naaz Hotel Consultants Pvt Ltd; Rajiv Kaul, President, The Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts; Raj Rana, CEO, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group; Vikram Madhok, MD, Abercrombie & Kent (I); Shantha de Silva, Head of South West Asia, IHG; Neeraj Govil, Area VP South Asia, Marriott International; Sudhir Gupta, Founder & CEO, TLC Group; Nakul Anand, Chairman – FAITH & Executive Director, ITC Ltd; Krishna Patel, President, Wildwinds Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd; Ravi B Parikh, Director, The Sonnet; Gaurav Bhalla, Managing Director, Vatika Hotels Private Ltd & Director, Vatika Ltd; Sarbendra Sarkar, Managing Director & Founder, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd; Atul Jain, COO - India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh, Best Western Hotels & Resorts; Ashwini Kakkar, Executive Vice Chairman, Mercury Travels Ltd & Chairman Via.com; Dr. Subhash Goyal, Chairman, STIC Travels Group & Member, National Tourism Advisory Council, Government of India; SN Srivastava, President, Clarks Inn Group of Hotels; Sunil Gupta, CEO, WelcomHeritage; Rajan Mehra, Chief Operating Officer, Club One Air; Wolfgang Will, Director - South Asia, Lufthansa Group; Harvinder Singh, Country Manager, United Airlines, Praven Chugh, President – TAFI; Rajan Sehgal, Chairman, TAAI Northern Region; PP Khanna, President, ADTOI; Pronab Sarkar, President – IATO; Capt Swadesh Kumar, President - ATOAI; Chander Mansharmani, Vice Chairman, ICPB; Naveen Jain, President, Duet Hotels; Vinayak Saboo, Owner, The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa; Amitava Roy, CEO, and Arun Kumar, Executive Director, TGI Hotels & Hospitality Services Pvt Ltd and Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director, BLS International Services.
As a first, commemorating the 20-year-journey of Today’s Traveller, the publication hosted its first Summit: Outlook 2020 – with three panel discussions comprising industry experts and eminent leaders from the corporate, travel and hospitality realms. The panel discussions included: As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations, Manav Thadani, Chairman – Asia Pacific, HVS, hosted a presentation on ‘20 years of Hospitality & Travel: The Past, the Present and the Future.’
