Shreya Shimpi
How has the business been so far in the last year and what is the future outlook?
The business has been thriving over the past year, with 2023 marking an excellent period for us. We witnessed a remarkable growth of thirty per cent across all our Destination Management Companies (DMCs), particularly in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) segment. Looking ahead, we are optimistic about our future prospects. We are implementing a focused sales and business module where all three directors will concentrate on our DMCs, aiming to elevate them to rank among the top DMCs globally. Our vision is to sustain this growth momentum and further solidify our position in the market.
What are the anticipated new trending destinations for 2024?
After OTOAI, Kenya is doing pretty well. Baku is doing well for the group series. Sri Lanka has seen almost a hundred per cent growth from the Indian market. Group series, MICE and leisure segments too have been picking up well. With Kenya granting Visa-Free entry, we are seeing considerable growth in the numbers since December.
Post-pandemic, have you noticed any changes in the travel patterns?
Behavioural change is always expected in travellers since the generations are changing. Though there are a lot of behavioural changes, it is good for the travel and hospitality industry. Holidays are no longer a luxury, they are a must. People look forward to enjoying stress-free vacations which enhances the bonding between families. People are no longer taking holidays or vacations to show others but they have been doing it for themselves. Vacations are no longer a status symbol. Companies are focusing on MICE to improve the bonding between co-workers.
What are your growth plans moving forward in the upcoming FY?
In the upcoming FY, we do not wish to increase the number of DMCs as we already have thirty DMCs. My colleagues, Irshad, Vishal and I shall be focusing on the growth of our existing DMCs. As I always say, ‘We don’t represent, we are present’. All these DMCs are owned and operated by us. We have our inbound licenses and staffing in the destinations where we operate. We have three departments in all these countries: Inbound, Outbound as well as a separate MICE department. We endeavour to develop the existing DMCs and enlarge our presence in all these DMCs. We plan to have our own vehicles-coaches, jeeps, safaris for Desert as well as Jungle Safaris. We also plan to have our in-house professional and flexible India guides. We would like to emphasise more on the service and the expansion of our DMCs.
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