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Expectations Run Sky High At The Awards Night

Anindita Chattopadhyay - New Delhi

And the award goes to... Each time these words rented the air, a loud applause ensued from the 450 strong crowds present at the first ever Galileo-Express Travel & Tourism Awards held at the Maurya Sheraton in Delhi. The who's who of the travel, hospitality and aviation industry attended the gala event, which saw excellence in the tourism industry being honoured by union minister for tourism, Jagmohan and minister for civil aviation Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

The atmosphere at the lawn of the Nandiya Garden was charged with expectations that ran sky high. The rustling of silks, the perfume-heavy air, the hugs and kisses, the tinkling of glasses prepared the mood for a heady evening. And an electrifying performance by the Shiamak Davar dance troupe, set the hi-voltage evening rolling. Welcoming the guests Shekhar Gupta, CEO and group editor, Indian Express stressed the importance of travel as one of the greatest drivers of modern economy. He later handed over the Editor's Choice award to Jagmohan, minister of tourism and culture, calling him the visionary who has brought about a significant change in the tourism sector of the country.

Referring to turbulent times the industry went through in the recent past, Seema Luthra, CEO and president, Galileo India, said, "As a leader in excellence and innovation, Galileo India relates strongly to the pain, effort and determination that is experienced especially in challenging times to stay focused and follow the highest standards of ethics and quality. We were toying with the idea of reward and recognition for the industry, when the team from the Indian Express Group broached the subject. It took us less than 30 seconds to say 'Yes' for this partnership."

Appreciating Indian Express group for taking up such an initiative, Jagmohan said, "I am quite confident that their effort will elevate the status of tourism and put India on the world tourism map." International arrivals, he pointed out, has increased by 16 per cent and foreign exchange earnings have gone up by 24 per cent compared to last year. "We are developing centres of excellence in each state to upgrade our product and marketing Indian tourism as a successful brand through Incredible India campaign," he further added.

"It's only been 180 days since I took over so there hasn't been much achievement to make a presentation," said Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the civil aviation minister, much to the amusement of the guests. Admitting the fact that a world-class airline and airports are crucial for the economic development of any country, he added amidst a loud cheer, "I have tried to set a vision for the ministry by taking small initiatives. I can assure you that this year will be the turn-around year for the aviation sector. We are working towards unshackling all constraints regarding connectivity that have been there and the country will see the 21st century for aviation." There were eleven awards given away in six different categories including hotels, airlines, tour operators, tourism boards, most innovative marketing campaign and best technology practices. The framework of the awards was put together by an expert panel from the travel and tourism industry and the editorial advisory board of Express Travel and Tourism. Talking about the yardsticks for choosing winners, Mani Bharadwaj of Deloitte Touche and Tohmatsu, the consultant company that helped in the selection procedure, explained, "Both objective and subjective factors were taken into account including revenue generated, operational efficiency, reach of service, perceived service levels and the ability to retain and increase market share."

While Emirates led the pack bagging two awards in the airlines category, other winners were Singapore Airlines and Jet Airways (domestic), Taj, Sarovar Park Plaza and Orchid (hotel category), Kerala, Goa and DTCM, Dubai (tourism board category), SITA, Cox & Kings and Thomas Cook (tour operators) and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Board (best technology practices).

As the evening wore on, the psychedelic light, foot-tapping music, scintillating performances sent guests to a tizzy. The wintry chill, it seemed, failed to numb their spirits. They were seen swinging a leg or two, raving about the good food and the show. "It was really a great show - the stage, performances and presentation," said Ravi Kalra, MD, Travel Inn - one of the nominees. Conceded Jitender Taneja, MD, Travel Spirit International, "The evening has been really planned well. We enjoyed every bit." "I am happy that the awards were held in Delhi because Delhi, not Mumbai, is the nucleus of the Indian Tourism industry," commented R Parthiban, director, Swagatam Tours.