Author: Asmita Mukherjee | Hyderabad
The glass packaging industry is seeing an increase in demand from the liquor industry, food and beverage sector as India announces a total ban on plastic products from 2022. Glass is one of the best alternatives to plastics. Glass has always been the safest and the most viable option for packaging food and liquid and it can be recycled multiple times, as well. Asmita Mukherjee spoke with Rajesh Khosla, President & CEO, AGI glaspac to know how the industry is planning to fulfill the increased demand. How important has the packaging of beverages (alcoholic/non-alcoholic) become after COVID-19? The packaging of…
The business travel industry is enduring sales reductions exceeding 90 per cent in many locations including India. While other countries are showing consistent signs of recovery, India is yet to see that. However, Neelu Singh, Managing Director, HRS sees the positive side in that there is a great engagement with corporate buyers preparing towards recovery. Asmita Mukherjee spoke with Singh to gauge the repercussions which the pandemic has brought about on corporate travel hotel bookings, globally and in India. In your opinion, how will the industry bounce back from the impact of the pandemic? All of us, including HRS…
POSist Technologies, a B2B SaaS-based start-up, catering to the restaurant industry witnessed an increase in food delivery by 3 times during COVID time. In a contactless post-COVID world, Ashish Tulsian, Co-founder and CEO of POSist Technologies is introducing various digital methods of food ordering and payment such as Digital Ordering Using QR Code, Wi-Fi Based Ordering, Digital Postpaid Dining, etc. Asmita Mukherjee spoke with Tulsian to know more about their offerings for diners and restaurateurs in the post-COVID world. Due to the growing awareness of social distancing, it is estimated that the number of diners will be less in restaurants,…
GoaMiles, an initiative of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and a technology product of Pitasys Softwares Private Limited, eases the travelling woes of tourists and passengers in Goa, and is accessible through a mobile app. GoaMiles is run by a local Goan company called FrotaMiles Private Limited. Asmita Mukherjee spoke with Utkarsh Dabhade, CEO, GoaMiles to know about the brand’s post lockdown plans. Due to the growing awareness of social distancing, it is estimated that the number of passengers travelling together will be less. To counter this scenario, are you planning to increase the fare per-trip? We have recently introduced…
goStops is a full-stack youth hostel company, whose business model is quite unique. The idea of goStops took form when Pallavi was backpacking across Europe, back in 2012. She was fascinated by the hostel culture there and wondered why a similar model didn’t exist in India for travellers, who were looking for premium quality social accommodations at an affordable price. Asmita Mukherjee spoke with Pallavi Agarwal, Co-Founder, goStops to know about the company’s broader strategy. What was your inspiration behind starting goStops? In the Indian short-stay accommodation market, there was a void in quality-assured stays in the budget range of…
Many hospitality industry experts are stating that the coronavirus pandemic is one of the hardest hits that the industry has faced. An unprecedented turmoil has been generated across the hospitality industry which has put both owners and employees into a spot. The sector is looking at a severe cash crunch with nil revenue inflow, which may lead to millions of employees losing their livelihoods. With no viable signs of recovery on the horizon, the industry associations have placed multiple appeals before the government for respite from this critical situation which might change the face of the hospitality industry forever. Asmita…
The COVID-19 pandemic has already heavily impacted the USD 234 billion worth (in 2018) of the Indian tourism industry. According to Mahmood Ahmad Shah, Director, Industries & Commerce, Kashmir Division, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) is the worst hit than the rest of the country as has been battling with various political issues as well as revocation of Article 370. This insight was presented by Shah in a webinar organised by TAAI on Domestic Potential of India in association with TravelBiz Monitor. While expressing the fact that lockdowns are not a new phenomenon in the Kashmir Valley, Shah said, “Other states…
Possessing over 25 years of experience with various luxury hotel chains in India. Sandeep Joshi, the General Manager at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Hyderabad Banjara Hills, understands what goes in making a brand. Throughout his extensive years of experience, he has managed both single and multi-unit operations with a strong focus on employee and customer relations. He is an expert at identifying opportunities and capitalising on them, to enable rapid growth in highly competitive markets. Under his able leadership, the hotel has adopted a socially inclusive practice of encouraging employment of differently-abled persons. Joshi has also developed a unique initiative…
Although the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data for 2018-19 had shown an overall increase in revenue expenditure for tourism by 6%, and capital expenditure by 12% over 2016-17, the tourism spend as a percentage of total expenditure by Indian states has been dismally low and ranged between 0.0005% and 0.64% during the same period. As per the 6th biennial State Ranking Survey for Tourism released by Hotelivate, a tourism and hospitality consultancy agency, along with World Travel & Tourism Council India Initiative (WTTCII), the highest spending state on tourism in 2018-19, Goa, had spent only 0.644% of the total…
Signs Bollywood’s style Icon Jacqueline Fernandez as brand ambassador Brand ‘Queo’ from Barwood, UK, a leading British purveyor of bespoke bathrooms, today announced the signing of India’s Bollywood star and style diva – Jacqueline Fernandez, as its brand ambassador. The actor will be seen as the face of Queo’s 360 degree integrated campaign which will roll out on all media and retail channels shortly. Sharing his views on Queo’s association with Jacqueline Fernandez, Sandip Somany, JMD, HSIL Limited, said, ”Luxury cannot be defined in a few words, it has to be felt, seen, experienced and appreciated. Signing on Jacqueline, is…
