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5 Historic sites to visit this Gandhi Jayanti: TripAdvisor
As the nation celebrates the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, TripAdvisor , world’s largest travel site, has come out with a list of the 5 most highly rated attractions closely associated with the Father of the Nation.
The list includes historic sites which trace Mahatma Gandhi’s journey from birth to the freedom struggle, to his last days and final resting place. Featuring as the most popular attraction in the list is Bapuji’s birthplace and home, Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. The destination now functions as an institution and museum with an aim to preserve and propagate the legacy of the Mahatma.
While Sabarmati is where M.K. Gandhi was born, his identity as Mahatma Gandhi was born of the strife for Independent India and Mani Bhavan is symbolic of that. Aga Khan Palace, is where he was interned and where Kasturba Gandhi breathed her last andGandhi Smriti is where his earthly journey came to an end.
Our recommendation - if you live in any of these cities, takes your kids there for a lesson in India’s history or revisit yourself for a shot of national pride.
IHG establishes Australia's first electric car Network for Hotels
IHG (InterContinental Hotel Groups) is the first hotel company in Australia to build an electric car charge network, connecting eight properties across the group with cutting-edge technology for a new and growing customer segment.
From today five IHG properties across New South Wales – including Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach, Crowne Plaza Terrigal, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Holiday Inn Sydney Airport and Holiday Inn Old Sydney – will launch electric car (EV) charge spots in their property car parks or forecourts.
The charge spots have been installed in partnership with leading electric car charge network Better Place. Drivers can plug into the charge spots and top-up their battery whilst enjoying hotel facilities and event spaces.
The five IHG hotels join the Australian Government’s $100 million Smart Grid, Smart City trial taking place in Sydney, Newcastle and the Upper Hunter.
The 20 electric cars participating in the Smart Grid, Smart City trial will have free access to the Better Place charge spots at the hotels.
Existing Better Place customers will also be able to take advantage of the charge spots by using the paid parking facilities at the properties.
Sri Lanka approves ITC’s Hotel, Mall Project in Colombo
Infocus
Tourist from Buddhist countries to get visa on arrival
Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai has said that tourist from countries having sizable Buddhist population such as Thailand and Malaysia would be provided the facility of Visa on Arrival ( VOA). Inaugurating a two day International Buddhist Conclave at Varanasi today, he said his Ministry had also decided to develop a Ghat in the temple town Varanasi in the name of Lord Buddha on the bank of river Ganga. He said his Ministry had adopted a Keep India Clean Mission to keep clean the cities particularly tourist places across the country to attract maximum tourists. The Minister appealed to the State Governments to take initiatives for the success this Mission. He assured full cooperation of his Ministry to the state Government local administration to keep the holy city of Varanasi clean.
Sahai said India being the land of origin of Buddhism, is the main attraction for the Buddhist tourists from across the globe. He said his Ministry is drawing up plans to to attract more tourists from Buddhist countries by providing them special facilities. Buddhism being a world religion now, its sites have a great attraction for tourists’ world over. The Ministry of Tourism is continuing with its efforts in identifying more and more Buddhist Circuits and developing them in holistic and integrated manner.
Sahai announced that his Ministry has identified three circuits to be developed as part of Buddhist Circuits during the 12th Five Year Plan.they are:Circuit 1: The Dharmayatra or the Sacred Circuit - This will be a 5 to 7 days circuit and will include visits to Gaya (Bodhgaya), Varanasi (Sarnath), Kushinagar, Piparva ( Kapilvastu) with a day trip to Lumbini in Nepal.Circuit 2: Extended Dharmayatra or Extended Sacred Circuit or Retracing Buddha’s Footsteps - This will be a 10 to 15 days circuit and will include visit to Bodhgaya (Nalanda, Rajgir, Barabar caves, Pragbodhi Hill, Gaya), Patna (Vaishali, Lauriya Nandangarh, Lauriya Ariraj, Kesariya, Patna Museum), Varanasi(Sarnath), Kushinagar, Piparva (Kapilvastu, Shravasti, Saniska) with a day trip to Lumbini in Nepal.Circuit 3: Buddhist Heritage Trails State Circuits- Jammu and Kashmir - Ladakh, Srinagar and Jammu; Himachal Pradesh - Dharamshala, Spiti, Kinnaur and Lahaul. Sahai expressed the hope that deliberations at the conclave would help us to carry on this process of identifying and developing more Buddhist circuits.
Domestic News
Bihar invests Rs. 1bn to give tourism a new direction
In a concentrated effort to encourage tourism in Bihar, the state government has increased fund allocation to more than threefold, Rs 100 crore for the financial year 2012-13 as compared to Rs 30.34 crore allocated for 2011-12.
The Department of Tourism wants to develop Bihar as a focal point of Buddha tourism. For that, the department is especially focussing on the development of places related to Buddha tourism in the state. The department is developing and improving infrastructure at these places in order to attract more and more domestic and foreign tourists.
The state government has already launched several projects for the infrastructural development in the city. Moreover, 50% subsidy is given for the development of building hotels, motels, dhabas and other facilities in Gaya. Such initiatives will not only develop infrastructure in the city but also generate employment opportunities for the local residents.
Wonderla Holidays plans to raise Rs2bn via IPO: reports
Wonderla Holidays, a V-Guard Group company, is reportedly planning to raise around Rs 2bn through the IPO, which is likely to hit the market in the first quarter of next year.
The company has appointed merchant bankers to advice on the proposed issue, reports said.
Reports stated that the promoters proposed to dilute 25 per cent equity.
Taj Group receives Global Vision award
Taj Group of Hotels has been given Global Vision Awards under the Leadership category by US-based Travel + Leisure magazine (T+L’s 2012 Global Vision Awards). The group was awarded for its efforts towards responsible tourism and commitment to sustain livelihoods in the places where it operates.
Honouring the brand’s effort on tackling poverty and social inequality the magazine quoted, “Philanthropy should be a two-way exercise.”
As the magazine observed, it’s about giving back—in dollars and in deeds—to the places where the group operates. The Taj trains more than 2,000 underprivileged youths in hospitality sectors such as housekeeping and restaurant service. It has reportedly spent $2.3 million on goods produced by local NGO’s, women’s collectives, and small-scale entrepreneurs. These efforts often benefit disenfranchised groups, including people with disabilities and victims of sexual exploitation.
Kerala initiates impact studies on five popular destinations
Reiterating its commitment to preserve the environment and concerned about the carrying capacity of some of the most popular destinations, Kerala Tourism Department has launched an impact study of five destinations in the state with a view to initiating corrective measures, if needed.
“We are committed to preserve the environment in its natural state. We are worried about the carrying capacity of some of the destinations. Hence we have launched the detailed assessment of popular tourist destinations like Kovalam, Kumarakam, Fort Kochi, Thekkady and Munnar,’’ Tourism Secretary Suman Billa told a press conference here today.
He was addressing the press conference in connection with the ongoing Kerala Travel Mart (KTM). The four-day mega event began here yesterday. Tourism Director Smt Rani George and KTM president Riyaz Ahmed were also present.
ibis Nashik offers tour to Sula Vineyards and Trimbakeshwar
In a unique way to attract customers, ibis Nashik- part of the Accor Group of hotels, world’s leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe announces value added services inclusive with the accommodation to its loyal customers. Set in the city of Gods and paradise of vineyards, ibis hotel will offer visits to the Trimbakeshwar temple and Sula Vineyards. Known for its international standard quality, comfort and affordable accommodation, ibis will now provide a holistic experience of Nashik.
The objective of this service is to provide complete package of value added services to its customers to increase tourism in the city. This service is most suitable during long weekends, get away, short vacations with family and friends and company off sights.
Trident conferred with “CITI Birla Award for Human Resource Management in Textile Mills”
Global News
Starwood Preferred Guest announces new offers
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc and its award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program unveiled a new global promotion, SPG Better by the Night, where members registered for the promotion can earn unlimited bonus Starpoints® during the earning period of October 1, 2012 – December 20, 2012.
Members will receive up to three times their normal Starpoint awards at more than 1,000 participating hotels and resorts worldwide, with the potential to earn additional bonuses on reservations made through the new SPG App for iPhone® or SPG.com, and for their check-ins on synced Foursquare accounts.
“We continue to provide our members with opportunities that allow for more choice and more flexibility. Better by the Night gives members the ability to earn more Starpoints not only through their stays around the world, but through their favorite platforms whether it’s SPG.com, our enhanced mobile app or Foursquare,” said Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President, Starwood Preferred Guest.
Accor completes sale of budget US hotels to Blackstone
Accor has announces the completion of the sale of its Motel 6 / Studio 6 hotels in North America to an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII, for an amount of US 1.9 billion dollars.
This transaction allows Accor to reduce its adjusted net debt by 780mn euros.
Following the divestment, Accor operates 17 Sofitel and Novotel hotels in North America, of which 9 in the United States and 8 in Canada.
Macau September gambling revenue up 12% on year: reports
Gambling revenue in Macau in September rose 12% from a year earlier, picking up from August, according to reports.
Reports stated that total revenue in September was 23.87 billion patacas ($2.99 billion) compared with MOP21.24 billion in the same month last year.
The growth rate was higher than August's 5.5% year-on-year rise, says report.
Alila Diwa, Venetian Macao announces special packages