Author: Tuhin Sarkar

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HOTEL NEWS New Appointment NEWS UPDATES TRAVEL TRENDS AND FOCUS

St. Regis Goa Resort appoints Sandeep Pande as a new Director of Culinary

The St. Regis Goa Resort is unwavering in its commitment to crafting exemplary dining experiences for local luminaries and global gourmands. The resort will unveil 3 brand new dining outlets in November 2023, as part of its phased upgradation and brand positioning. As a debut, St. Regis Resort in the country, the new outlets will present themselves as true benchmarks in delivering authentic yet sophisticated dining experiences.

Leveraging a longstanding history of culinary excellence in the industry, Sandeep Pande brings his wealth of knowledge to The St. Regis Goa Resort as the new Director of Culinary.

With over two decades of rich experience, Sandeep’s style straddles both, precision and passion. Before this, Sandeep was Executive Chef at JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity, where he continuously elevated the hotels’ culinary experiences. Having exposure in 8 Marriott International brands, Sandeep claims that his career highlight was opening and positioning the flagship Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa, the first in Sri Lanka, while also laying ground work for Sheraton there.

With a wide expertise in multiple cuisines including Mediterranean, Indian, Thai and English Pub, Sandeep has also co-authored ‘Cuisine with Altitude’, a book featuring first-class menus from some of the world’s best airlines.

Widely covered by the media, Sandeep has always ensured that the outlets he oversees have top of the mind recall while trending due to their numerous awards and accolades.

Sandeep Pande has a progressive journey with Marriott International, as Multi-Property Director of Culinary, responsible for overseeing the entire dining operations at two of the Group’s hotels – Renaissance Lucknow and Fairfield by Marriott Lucknow, and has also aced his pre-opening score with the successful opening of JW Marriott, Kolkata and Fairfield by Marriott Belgavi. Marriott’s largest food and beverage operations in India is at Renaissance Mumbai and Marriott Executive Apartments, which he seamlessly handled as Executive Chef.

Chef Sandeep Pande is certified in Hospitality Administration from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration after completing his Post Graduate Diploma in Kitchen Management. He spent his formative years with the Oberoi Group including the revered Oberoi Amarvilas. He also worked at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa, a sprawling resort on Jumeirah Beach, Dubai as Executive Sous Chef for two years.

Sandeep gleaned invaluable global exposure overseas, training at Michelin-starred restaurants and engaging in gastronomic tours of London, South of England, Provence, and Languedoc-Roussillon.

He is a senior member of the UAE Culinary Guild and a member of the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals, USA.

With Sandeep Pande at the helm, the resort is well positioned to enliven the brand’s history of crafting a distinctive balance of decadence and approachability.

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HOTEL NEWS New Appointment TRAVEL TRENDS AND FOCUS

Six Senses Fort Barwara appoints new Executive Chef, Stephen Jones

Six Senses Fort Barwara has appointed Stephen Jones as its new Executive Chef, spicing up the culinary experiences at the royal palace-turned-luxury resort in Rajasthan, India.

Stephen has under his belt nearly three decades of experience in travelling and cooking for exclusive brands such as The Oberoi Group, Aman Resorts, and Six Senses in the Asia Pacific and Middle East. Guided by the philosophy of ‘Less is More’, he prefers a simple, natural approach to food that places a heavy emphasis on nutrition and overall well-being. Along with a thorough understanding of contemporary culinary trends, Stephen has garnered extensive skills in organic, unprocessed, and plant-based cuisine.

In his new position at Six Senses Fort Barwara, Stephen will oversee the varied dining experiences at Six Senses Fort Barwara, offering a perfect amalgamation of world cuisine, local Rajasthani and pan-Indian cuisine.

He will play a pivotal role at the resort, for his extensive knowledge of global culinary trends, expertise in developing unique dining experiences and the sustainability approach that resonates with the ‘Eat with Six Senses’ philosophy.

For the day-to-day operations, he continues to build on the sustainable brand ethos of Six Senses, leveraging the resort’s farm and organic garden to produce seasonal menus using local produce, with delicious flavors and inspirations from his own travels and work experience.

He will continue to work on elevating the current range of offerings, working with local farmers and producers, who have the same ethical standards as the Six Senses brand.

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INDIA TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Cleartrip notes as a second largest OTA player in India

After a phenomenal post-pandemic revival of the travel industry, Cleartrip, a Flipkart company, cements its position as the second-largest OTA player in the country. A recent in-depth OTA benchmarking research study by VIDEC revealed that Cleartrip saw industry-leading growth in FY23 and strengthened its position in the segment. 

While we have seen significant growth in the air category, we have made strategic investments in Hotels, Buses, and B2B businesses, revamping our existing offerings and launching new tools and products. At the beginning of the year, we also launched our own marquee event, the Nation on Vacation event, redefining and bringing forward the booking period for the traditional summer holiday season by partnering with 40+ airlines and 80000+ domestic and  4L+ international hotels in offering lucrative prices and value-added services to our customers. Cleartrip’s B2B topline grew >2x on the back of the launch of new tools providing a seamless booking experience for our partners. Our investments in key business areas not only helped us achieve market share gains but also won recognition and awards from the wider community.

Regarding the latest development, Ayyappan R., CEO, Cleartrip stated, “This move is a milestone in Cleartrip’s journey and is a testament to our commitment to customer-centricity and sustainable growth. Travel is a massive industry that has witnessed rapid growth and is expected to scale further heights. We believe that we are in the right position to innovate and bring about disruption through technology. This is a new chapter for Cleartrip and by no means the end destination. We will continue to curate value-led constructs, expand our product categories, innovate on behalf of our customers, and make travel an affordable and accessible aspiration for all.”

VIDEC, a boutique research company with a singular focus on the global travel industry has conducted the current study – Indian OTA Landscape: India Travel Market Sizing, OTA Benchmarking & Consumer Insights. The report encapsulates the market sizing, segmentation, OTA benchmarking, and travel consumer insights for the Indian travel marketplace through executive interviews with suppliers, travel distributors OTAs, and travel technology providers operating in India.

Shedding light on the key research findings, Virendra Jain, Co-Founder and CEO at VIDEC said, “Led by the OTAs, the India travel market has made a resounding recovery to ₹3,892 billion (US$48.7B) in FY23 and is estimated to reach ₹5,787 billion (US$72.4B) in FY26.  Air would continue to be the largest travel category at ₹1,743 billion (US$21.8B) in FY23, the growth henceforth would equally come from the rise in Indian international demand and non-air categories. The ground category will fuel the often talked about the ‘next billion Indian opportunity’.” 

Since the Flipkart acquisition, Cleartrip has continued to invest in customer-centric offerings under ‘Clear Advantage’ that provide unmatched flexibility and affordability. It enabled customers to earn and redeem supercoins and improved the customer experience on multiple fronts such as a 24-hour refund policy that resulted in an industry-leading NPS score. The company recently launched buses in its service portfolio, revamped its hotel UI, and unveiled its marquee summer sale event – NationOnVacation. Cleartrip saw a 60% rise in bookings (which is 2x times over what was achieved during the same period last year) across categories.

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News Pick TTW APP NEWS

Powerful earthquake shook Java Island, Indonesia

A magnitude 5.8 undersea earthquake struck Indonesia’s densely populated Java island, leading to panic, one reported fatality, two injuries, and damage to numerous buildings. The quake, centered southwest of Bambanglipuro in Yogyakarta, occurred at a depth of 86 kilometers. At least 93 houses, along with schools, health centers, places of worship, and government facilities, were damaged in Yogyakarta, Central Java, and East Java.

Videos showed local residents in Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces fleeing their homes as structures swayed. Some areas implemented evacuations, causing streams of people to take to the streets. While there was no tsunami risk, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency cautioned about potential aftershocks, estimating the preliminary magnitude as 6.4. Such variations in initial measurements are typical.

Yogyakarta holds immense cultural significance, being an ancient hub of Javanese culture and housing architectural marvels like Borobudur and Prambanan, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Additionally, Mount Merapi, the country’s most active volcano, lies in the province. Yogyakarta previously experienced a devastating magnitude 6.4 earthquake in 2006, causing significant casualties but sparing the two temples.

Indonesia, with a population exceeding 270 million, frequently faces natural disasters due to its location along the Pacific Basin’s “Ring of Fire,” characterized by volcanoes and fault lines. The country’s history includes the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, resulting in over 230,000 fatalities, predominantly in Aceh province.

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American Travel News News Pick TTW APP NEWS

Incredibly beautiful places to visit in Connecticut

Connecticut has such a diverse range of activities. From picturesque green pathways throughout the state to the lovely beaches along the Connecticut coast.

From some of the most thrilling casino resorts in the world to some of the most scenic camping areas in New England.

From adventurous theme parks that are difficult to engaging museums, they are all incredibly close to you and to one another. Here are some of the best tourist attractions available in the state –

Mystic Seaport Museum:

You’ll understand why the Mystic Seaport Museum is regarded as one of Connecticut’s top tourist destinations once you set foot on its expansive grounds. A real shipyard, a planetarium, a children’s museum, a discovery barn, a recreation of a 19th-century seafaring hamlet, and a sizable collection of vintage boats are all included at this spectacular location.


Yale University Museum:

Yale University is a brilliant gem in the heart of New Haven. This Ivy League powerhouse elevates culture in this port town, despite some portions of the city leaving plenty to be desired. Off the primary green, in a hidden location, is the Yale University Art Gallery. Among its more than 250,000 items are masterpieces created by artists such as Monet, Degas, and Manet.


Gillette Castle State Park:

One of Connecticut’s most distinctive tourist destinations is Gillette Castle. This medieval Gothic building was created in the early 20th century by stage actor William Gillette, who is credited with being the first to represent Sherlock Holmes. It contains secret tunnels, spying mirrors, and other intriguing and amusing features.

The Maritime Aquarium:

One of the top family-friendly attractions in Connecticut is the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk. In fact, this is the state’s second-most popular family destination.

Visitors can stroke a jellyfish, handle a stingray, see river otters, and watch sharks feed. The brand-new, 160,000-gallon seal display, home to five female harbour seals, is a must-see.