6^th July, 2020

To All Members

SUBJECT: Update on IATO Activities (Monday 22^nd to Sunday 28^th June, 2020)

Dear Members

Greetings

Please find appended relevant activities of our association for the period (Monday 22^nd June to Sunday 28^th June 2020)

Heading used are

1. Communication / Letters addressing key issues
2. Webinars/ Panel Discussions/Circulars/Meetings

Request your feedback to further the content of our weekly report. 

1. Communication / Letters addressing key issues

Tuesday 23^rd June  

• Regarding our request for Full refund of advance paid to the hotels and bookings cancelled due to Covid -19

IATO wrote to Mr. Nakul Anand, Chairman FAITH, drawing his attention to the communication of 27th January, 3rd March and 11th June 2020 and also discussions held in person to help IATO by taking up with the Presidents of FHRAI, HAI and IHHA on the afore mentioned subject.

Enclosing the list of hotels who have refused to refund full advance received from IATO members, Mr Anand has been requested to communicate with the heads of the three associations for the desired refund. A copy of the communication to be marked to IATO.

A Copy of the letter was marked to Hony. Secretary FAITH

The letter has been put up on the website

Thursday 25^thJune  

• Full Refund Request for Palace on Wheels (Luxury Train) by RTDC for Foreign Tourists which were cancelled due to Covid-19
• Request for full Refund of advance payment made for bookings of Wildlife Safaris in Rajasthan and cancelled due to Covid -19

IATO wrote a two reminder letters to Mrs. Sreya Guha, Principal Secretary Tourism, Rajasthan on the above subjects referring to its mail of 17^th June for the former and 19^th June for the latter.

The letters have been put up on the website

• Way forward and content creation strategies with respect to marketing and promotion of Tourism Post COVID-19

IATO wrote a letter to Mrs. Meenakshi Sharma, Director General (Tourism)and referred to the discussion at the online meeting of 24th June 2020 on the above subject. 

The letter addressed the way forward post Covid 19 underlining in great detail the facets of Focus, Branding Incredible India, Content Writing, Promotion and Social Media.

Copies of the letter were marked to ADG Tourism, JS Tourism, and RD West, Ministry of Tourism.  

The letter has been put up on the website

• List of the hotels who have agreed to refund the advance payments but have advised that this would be adjusted against future bookings or not replying or giving other excuses

In continuation to the letter written on the 23^rd of June that stated the list of hotels, who have refused to refund the advance received from our members. IATO also offered Mr Nakul Anand, Chairman FAITH, the List of the hotels who have who have agreed to refund the advance payments but have advised that this would be adjusted against future bookings.

Copy of the letter was marked to Mr. Subhash Goyal, Hony. Secretary FAITH

The letter has been put up on the website

2.  Webinars/ Panel Discussions/Circulars/Meetings
 

Monday 22^nd June 

• Dekho Apna Desh Webinar organised onMonday, the 22^nd of June 2020 - 1100-1200 hrs. - Yoga + Breathing Technique to combat COVID-19 with Ira Trivedi.

Members were informed on Saturday, 20^th of June 

• ICPB Webinar : Reinventing Meetings - the NEW Normal' Part- 2 was organised at 12:00 noon on 22nd June 2020.

Members were informed on Saturday, 20^th June  

• A virtual summit for Sri Lanka tourism in association with Spiceland Holidays and One world was organised 3pm onwards

          Members were informed on Sunday, 21^st of June 

• TAAI Webinar - Conversation with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji (Art of Living) was organised on Monday, 22nd of June at 6:30 pm

Members were informed on Saturday,20^th of June 

Tuesday 23^rd June  

• Dekho Apna Desh Webinar organised on Tuesday, the 23^rd of June 2020 - 1100-1200 hrs. on Vedic Food & Spices of India 

Members were informed on Saturday, 20^th of June 

• Webinar on Zoom by Sarovar Hotels was organised on Tuesday, the 23rd of June 2020 at 4 pm titled "Sarovar Virtual Showcase"

Members were informed on Saturday, 20^th of June

Wednesday 24^thJune  

• Online meeting was scheduled by Ministry of Tourism on 24^th June, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the way forward and content creation strategies with respect to marketing and promotion of Tourism Post COVID-19.

On the invitation by Ms Rupinder Brar, ADG, Ministry of Tourism, Team IATO attended the above meeting.

Thursday 25^thJune

• Dekho Apna Desh Webinar was organised on Thursday, the 25/06/2020 - 1100-1200 hrs. titled - Indian Motoring Expeditions (Driving Holidays)

Members were informed on Saturday, 20^th of June 

• Dream. Drive. Discover. Delight. | Presenting 4D Travel Experience of IHCL

On the 25^th of June members were informed of the above subject with three links regarding 4D Travel Experience of IHCL and for further details were asked to contact Ms. Azmin Siganporia at her id.

Friday 26^thJune 

• FICCI-KAS Virtual Dialogues on Market Disruptions andAdaptations in the New Normal was organised on June 26, 2020 at 1500 hrs

On invitation IATO attended the above meeting

Saturday 27^thJune  

• Dekho Aapna Desh Webinar was organised on Saturday, the 27^th June 2020 - 1100-1200 hrs. titled -  Unlocking travel & tourism safely & responsibly during COVID: A healthcare perspective

     Members were informed on Saturday, 20^th of June 

All the above UPDATES are available on IATO WEBSITE

Rahul Chakravarty

COO