Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - (Page 18) DESTINATIONS PACIFIC/ASIA MUMBAI REBOUNDS In the wake of a tragic terror attack, Mumbai’s damaged hotels reopen in a bid to attract visitors THIS PAST NOVEMBER, THE WORLD WAS SHOCKED by the terrorist attacks that took place in Mumbai, India. The event unfolded over several days, leaving 170 people dead and three hotels—the Trident Hotel (www.tridenthotels.com), the Oberoi Mumbai (www.oberoimumbai.com) and the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai (www.tajhotels. com)—severely damaged. “Mumbai is where I was born, and New York is where I live. I’m an American citizen,” says Pallavi Shah, chairperson of Our Personal Guest (www.opgworld.com), a travel agency in New York City. “Both of these cities have much in common—they’re the cultural and financial capital of their countries. In both cases, terrorists wanted to attack the heart of the city and hit iconic symbols: In New York’s case, the World Trade Center, and in Mumbai’s case, the Taj and Oberoi hotels.” While still being sensitive to the tragedy, its remarkable how quickly the damaged hotels moved to reopen for business. The Trident Hotel was the least damaged of the three hotels and quickly reopened its doors. The Oberoi Mumbai and the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai both partially reopened in late December. The Oberoi opened only one of its towers, and is expected to open the other in several months. The Taj property began booking guests into its modern-era Taj Tower rooms, while the Victorian Palace wing—where most of the violence occurred—remains closed. There is no definite date set for a complete reopening of the Taj, and some estimates put it at more than a year away. Shah’s agency concentrates on high-end travel and she regularly books clients into the BY MARK ROGERS Taj and Oberoi properties. “I have clients who want to return to Mumbai and stay in the same suites they previously stayed in at the Taj and the Oberoi, even those suites that were burned in the attacks,” says Shah. Optimistic Thoughts “This is a fine time to go to Mumbai—there’s lots of security,” says the indefatigable Klaus Billep, president of Santa Monica, CA-based Universal Travel Systems (www.uts-travel.com). “It’s like 9/11—it’s a one-time deal. There’s no real defense against terrorism unless you live in Fort Knox.” Billep gives India high marks in responding to the situation. He’s booked clients into the Taj and Oberoi in Mumbai, but he also notes that Mumbai has many fine hotels from major chains. A partial list of name-brand hotels in Mumbai includes Best Western The Emerald (www.theemerald.com), Comfort Inn Heritage (www.comfortinnheritage.com), Hotel Grand Hyatt Mumbai (mumbai.grand.hyatt.com), InterContinental Marine Drive (www. mumbai.intercontinental.com), Le Royal Méridien Mumbai (www.starwoodhotels.com), Quality Inn Parle International (www.hotel parleinternational.com) and the Renaissance Mumbai Hotel & Convention Centre (www. marriott.com). Last year saw the opening of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts’ first property in India, the Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai (www. fourseasons.com/mumbai). Hotels on the horizon in 2009 include Four Points by Sheraton Navi Mumbai, Vashi, opening April 1; and the Westin Mumbai Garden City (both at www.starwoodhotels.com), opening July 1. Shah notes that the double whammy for India is the current economic scenario added to November’s terror attack. In the aftermath of last month’s tragedy, hotel prices in India dropped THIS PHOTO: The Gateway of India (at right) viewed from the sea, alongside the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Mumbai ABOVE RIGHT: Travelers to India continue to visit such landmarks as the Taj Mahal in Agra 18 | TravelAgent January 19, 2009 http://www.tridenthotels.com http://www.oberoimumbai.com http://www.tajhotels.com http://www.tajhotels.com http://www.uts-travel.com http://www.opgworld.com http://www.theemerald.com http://www.comfortinnheritage.com http://mumbai.grand.hyatt.com http://mumbai.intercontinental.com http://mumbai.intercontinental.com http://www.starwoodhotels.com http://www.hotelparleinternational.com http://www.hotelparleinternational.com http://www.marriott.com http://www.marriott.com http://www.fourseasons.com/mumbai http://www.fourseasons.com/mumbai http://www.starwoodhotels.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 Contents A New Direct Route from New York to Atlantic City Might Help Casinos New Villas from CuisinArt, Controversy from the CTO and Pages from Hemingway in Cuba From the Editor New Zealand: These Lodges and Farms Offer Intimacy and Luxury Pacific/Asia: Mumbai's Damaged Hotels Reopen After Tragedy Alaska: Alaska Commemorates 50 Years of Statehood with Cruise Packages for Your Clients Las Vegas: Tips for Agents on Demystifying Deals Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality Sandals' Star Awards Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember Tours: Tapping into the Gay and Lesbian Market JoyStar Collapse May Involve More Agents and Higher Losses Marriott's Spirit of Aloha Tour Rolls Along the West Coast Cruise Lines Continue to Pour Dollars into Advertising Small Business Resources Can Help Your Agency Stay Afloat Editorial Index Advertising Index Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 (Page 1) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 2) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 3) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - A New Direct Route from New York to Atlantic City Might Help Casinos (Page 6) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - A New Direct Route from New York to Atlantic City Might Help Casinos (Page 7) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Villas from CuisinArt, Controversy from the CTO and Pages from Hemingway in Cuba (Page 8) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Villas from CuisinArt, Controversy from the CTO and Pages from Hemingway in Cuba (Page 9) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 14) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 15) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Zealand: These Lodges and Farms Offer Intimacy and Luxury (Page 16) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Zealand: These Lodges and Farms Offer Intimacy and Luxury (Page 17) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Pacific/Asia: Mumbai's Damaged Hotels Reopen After Tragedy (Page 18) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Pacific/Asia: Mumbai's Damaged Hotels Reopen After Tragedy (Page 19) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Alaska: Alaska Commemorates 50 Years of Statehood with Cruise Packages for Your Clients (Page 20) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Alaska: Alaska Commemorates 50 Years of Statehood with Cruise Packages for Your Clients (Page 21) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Las Vegas: Tips for Agents on Demystifying Deals (Page 22) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas (Page 23) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas (Page 24) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas (Page 25) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 26) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 27) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 28) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 29) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 30) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 31) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 32) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 33) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Sandals' Star Awards (Page 34) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Sandals' Star Awards (Page 35) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 36) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 37) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 38) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 39) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 40) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 41) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 42) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 43) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 44) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 45) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 46) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 47) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 48) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 49) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Tours: Tapping into the Gay and Lesbian Market (Page 50) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - JoyStar Collapse May Involve More Agents and Higher Losses (Page 51) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Marriott's Spirit of Aloha Tour Rolls Along the West Coast (Page 52) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruise Lines Continue to Pour Dollars into Advertising (Page 53) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Small Business Resources Can Help Your Agency Stay Afloat (Page 54) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Editorial Index (Page 55) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page 56) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page Cover4)
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