From the peaks of Kanchenjunga to the backwaters of Kerala, India thrives as a land of mystique. A place where an emperor once built a mausoleum to house the tomb of his favorite wife and named it Taj Mahal, where fantastical “Bollywood” movies mirror the technicolor life played out on the streets, where tigers roam national parks and sadhus meditate by the banks of the Ganges.
“Every state in India has a unique culture, cuisine, tradition and language that makes India so diverse, exciting and incredible,” said Madhu Dubey, executive director of the India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB). “Interesting pre- and post-convention tours are customized for unique experiences of the delegates, like dinner in a palace hotel with regal settings, elephant rides, thematic evenings with local ambience, pottery making, textile weaving, yoga and wellness tours, and visits to places for spice cultivation and tea/coffee plantations.”
The Business of India
For all its enticing temples and forts and for all its color and spice, India is also a business hub, making it a prime meetings destination.
“When it comes to meetings, we are of course an economic powerhouse in the region,” said Rajeev Kohli, joint managing director for DMC Creative Travel. “Many global companies have regional headquarters in India, so it easily adds value to any meeting or conference that has to take place here. We do have a few large convention centers, but on the average we have hotels that have more than adequate meeting spaces for reasonably sized events.”
According to Dubey, ICPB works closely with India Tourism offices around the world—there are 14 overseas India Tourism offices—to promote India as a MICE destination with unique experiential products taking advantage of its rich culture, including yoga, Ayurveda, naturopathy, spiritualism and its cuisine.
ICPB is also making efforts to promote India for its expertise in various disciplines to attract groups.
“India’s strength in medicine and information technology makes it a powerhouse of knowledge and expertise for conferences on these subjects,” Dubey said.
In conjunction with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, ICPB proposes to organize road shows in major source markets, initially in Europe, to promote India as a meetings and incentive destination.
For the domestic market, which accounts for about 85 percent of the total group business in India, ICPB organizes the flagship annual event Conventions India Conclave, including seminars and training programs for professionals in the industry.
“The U.S. is the largest source market for India in terms of tourist arrivals, largely for the leisure market,” Dubey said. “Regarding MICE business, with growing infrastructure for meetings, conventions and exhibitions across the country, India is now making aggressive efforts to position itself as a favorable MICE destination. The warm hospitality, varied experiences and modern infrastructure at select locations make India a strong contender for global MICE business.”
Facilities
Many of India’s cities have gained popularity in attracting meetings business, namely Delhi/NCR (National Capital Region), Agra—home to the Taj Mahal—Jaipur, Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi and Bhubaneswar, mostly due to international connectivity and infrastructure. In addition, most of the chambers of commerce are also situated in these cities.
Some of the prominent venues for meetings and conferences include Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Center, India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida, Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel, the Jaypee Palace Hotel & Convention Centre in Agra and the Udyan, Convention & Exhibition Centre in Kochi, while important hotel chains like Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, ITC Hotels, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Le Meridien Hotels and Marriott International also cater to groups.
One of the most iconic properties is the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, within reach of landmarks such as the India Gate and the National Museum, New Delhi. Hyatt will launch its luxury brand Andaz this year in New Delhi. Meanwhile, ITC Kakatiya in Hyderabad is a five-star deluxe hotel located in the heart of the city.
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Hilton Worldwide and Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group are also bringing in some of their brands to India over the next couple of years.
Hilton will open its second luxury Conrad property in Bangalore next year, with the other located in the city of Pune. Jumeirah, the global hospitality company, will operate a luxury hotel in the Lower Parel district of Mumbai, with an expected debut in 2017.
Taj Santacruz, Mumbai opened this year and is located 10 minutes from the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, while Taj Bangalore also opened this year as the latest addition to the group’s luxury portfolio and is located near the city’s Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.
On Location
With Mumbai as India’s financial capital, groups come for business, while Chennai attracts medical meetings and Bangalore and Hyderabad technology-based groups. India is also ideal for incentive travel.
“The most sought-after incentive destinations are Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Goa and the state of Kerala,” Dubey said, noting that every incentive destination offers unique experiences, including cultural venues, relaxed beaches and other natural escapes such as Kerala’s backwaters.
According to Creative Travel, for incentives, the most popular circuit has remained Delhi-Agra-Jaipur.
“Agra is where the incredible Taj Mahal is and that is a bucket-list stop for most people. Jaipur is known for its forts and palaces, color, sights and sounds. It’s a vibrant city,” Kohli said.
Incentives through Creative Travel can include camel polo in Jaipur, dinner or a procession in the private areas of the royal family at the City Palace in Jaipur, and lunch overlooking the Taj Mahal.
“We have some of the finest hotels in the world. We can deliver culinary experiences matched by few,” Kohli said. “India is a journey of the senses. No matter which corner you turn, you feel something inside. India changes you and I am proud to have a destination that so strongly meets every objective of uniqueness that an incentive needs to have.”
Other options include a morning yoga class for 60 or 90 minutes, shopping tours and cooking lessons, during which attendees can join for a stop at a vegetable market followed by a cooking demonstration. Museum or temple tours are also possible, as is a heritage walk in Old Delhi.
Another DMC, Travelite India, is popular with overseas groups offering options of hosting a Bollywood soiree in a hotel with guests in costumes or a Punjabi-theme dinner with Bhangra dancers as entertainment. Attendees can also dress up in traditional clothes from the region of Punjab.
Travelite India also offers turban-tying contests for groups, gala dinners in palaces and visits to local schools.
For groups in Mumbai, both Creative Travel and Travelite India can organize food deliveries by dabbawalas, a city tradition. Dabbawalas are named after the 130,000 “dabbas,” or metal tiffin boxes, that they deliver between homes and offices everyday.
“We also can arrange private jets and helicopters, if required, and we are the only DMC in India to have one of the largest fleet of luxury cars and coaches in India, which includes Volvo buses and executive, luxury and super luxury cars like Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls Royce and Maserati,” said Sanjay Malhotra, executive director of Travelite India.
Hotels also provide unique experiences, such as at the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, which offers a heritage walk accompanied by Government of India-appointed guides and trained tourism officials.
In Bangalore, The Taj West End hosts a thematic high tea where guests can sip their tea at leisure while they choose from unique menus designed for breaks between meetings.
In New Delhi, The Taj Mahal Hotel offers a customized Rickshaw Ride in association with When In India Tours, to experience the multifaceted charms of Old Delhi in specially designed rickshaws.
