CII Communique - February, 2010

travel & tourism
sectoral synergies
India Business Travel Conference
CII and SATTE joined
hands to organise the
India Business Travel
Conference on 28 January in New
Delhi as a companion event of
SATTE 2010, with a view to create
new stimulus in the travel and
tourism business by synergising
their efforts.
Mr Ankur Bhatia, Managing
Director, Amadeus India Pvt Ltd,
in his welcome address, stressed
on the future of Corporate Travel
and highlighted the needs of the new age business
traveller, the role of technology and the innovation which
is driving the business travel to new scales across the
globe.
Mrs Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson & Managing Director,
the Lalit Suri Group, in her theme address, mentioned
that India as a country is not geared up for Business
Travel, particularly Meetings, Incentives, Conventions
and Exhibitions (MICE) travel, as the infrastructure is
not up to mark.
The Panel on 'Price Vs Value – maintaining a balance
in the current environment' brought together key
travel managers from the corporate world as well as
representatives from the supplier side. The discussion,
moderated by Mr Dinesh Chauhan, former Asia Pacific
Head of Philips, spanned emerging trends in travel
buying and expense management, corresponding
strategies, best practices and key takeaways to manage
an effective and efficient travel programme. The panelists
concluded that while there were cost pressures, value
was the prime driver of travel programmes.
The panel discussion on 'MICE Boom – Are We Ready?
Jyotsna Suri, CMD, The Lalit Suri Group, Ankur Bhatia, Managing Director, Amadeus India Pvt Ltd
and Navin Berry, Chief Coordinator, SATTE
'was moderated by Mr Ashok Fenn, Corporate Advisor,
Interglobe. The discussion highlighted the challenges
faced in consolidating and growing this segment.
It was recognised that India currently attracts a very
negligible share of US $ 300 billion global MICE m
arket. Limitations of infrastructure such as convention
and meeting centres and hotels, and the high cost of
travel are largely responsible for this situation. It was
believed that both private and public partnership is
required to get India its fair share of this very lucrative
tourism segment.
In terms of Domestic and Outbound MICE, it was felt
that corporate buyers have an opportunity to structure
their MICE programmes on a timely basis if they are
to reap full benefits towards motivation and enhanced
productivity of employees, as well as recognition and
high sales from channel partners. Similarly, suppliers
and travel agents can better leverage the MICE
opportunity with specialist staff and MICE - focussed
offerings. In conclusion, all participants agreed that
while all segments of the value chain are not ready,
there is an immense opportunity to quickly come up
to speed and extract value for all stake holders.
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