How does a hotel deal with lost & found items?

In February 2020 we did a story on personal items left behind at hotels and resorts in the country. We featured housekeeping supervisors in that interview who told us that many of the items left behind were inexpensive and difficult to return. (The cost of returning it could sometimes be more than the price of the article you want to return.)

For this month’s feature, we speak to end-customers – people who may have left something behind at the resort.

The people featured here are active on the travel and vacation front. And as we mentioned in our previous interview, this demographic is useful to us – and relevant, in terms of vacation interests and feedback. (Where they go, what they do, and what they look for at a vacation resort.)

There’s more on this story at this link > World of Travel / May 2023

(Image credits included in the main story at this link.)

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Finding a resort near a wildlife sanctuary

India is home to many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and the most popular wildlife resorts are located within the boundaries of these parks and sanctuaries, providing guests with the opportunity to explore the area in a safe and controlled environment.

Wildlife resorts are a great way to experience life inside a forest – as they offer activities such as bird watching, fishing, and nature walks. Many of the resorts offer safaris, where visitors can go on guided tours of the park or sanctuary accompanied by experienced guides and naturalists. Some sanctuaries also offer jeep safaris, allowing you to observe wildlife in their natural environment.

At the end of this feature story we feature links to two AIRDA members who have properties near wild life sanctuaries.

There’s more on this story at this link > World of AIRDA / May 2023

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World of Travel / Environment-friendly tourism

The hospitality industry is in a unique position to lead the way in environmental sustainability. As tourists and vacation seekers become more conscious of the environment, they would be comfortable staying at hotels and resorts that align with eco-friendly initiatives and practices.

This feature outlines the benefits of implementing eco-friendly measures in the hospitality industry. It’s about making environmentally responsible decisions in areas such as energy and water use, waste management, and sustainable sourcing.

With the right practices and investments, hospitality businesses can work together for a larger industry cause that aligns with global concerns.

Joining hands and moving in one direction is fast becoming the need of the hour.

There’s more on this story at this link > World of Travel / April 2023

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World of Airda / Sterling Goa – Varca

This sunny resort in the Sterling network is located in Varca, famous for its white sands and quiet beaches. Sterling Goa Varca is spacious in design and has 71 well-appointed rooms. It comes with the Sterling blueprint of facilities and support amenities that can make your vacation really enjoyable.

The Holiday Activity Centre at the resort ensures that the guests have a great time playing indoor and outdoor games. Come to Sterling Goa – Varca to experience a tropical paradise.

In this feature, we talk to a Sterling member and long-term customer about his vacation experience at Sterling Goa Varca. What follows is an interview with him about his vacation with the family. This member has made an editorial request to keep his identity private, so we are not sharing his name and profile in this story.

There’s more on this story at this link > World of Airda / April 2023

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World of Travel / Responsible Tourism

Here are some thought starters on Responsible Tourism and Sustainable Tourism from Jonathan Stoker – Chief Executive Officer at Vacation Ownership Advisor, Nevada, United States.

• Promote Responsible Travel: Encourage travelers to research their destinations, understand the local culture and customs before visiting, and respect the environment, wildlife, and local communities.
• Conserve Water and Energy: Promote eco-friendly accommodations that conserve water and energy, and provide energy-efficient appliances and lighting.
• Respect Wildlife: Educate travelers about respecting wildlife and their habitats. Encourage travelers to avoid activities that involve contact with animals or disrupting their habitats.
• Minimize Waste: Encourage travelers to reduce plastic use, and bring reusable containers and bags for food and souvenirs.
  
  There’s more on this story at this link > World of Travel / March 2023

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Waste Management – who is doing the dirty work in your hotel?

Over the last decade, Waste Management has become a serious focus area drawing a great deal of attention in the hospitality industry – and there’s so much to do if you want to be optimally efficient.

To a large extent, Waste Management brings within its umbrella a resort’s “reduce, reuse, recycle” policy. And includes the purchasing of reusable products, reducing food waste through composting, reducing energy and water consumption, and safely disposing of hazardous materials.

To be organized in this space you first need to put in place a comprehensive waste management program that outlines how waste should be managed, recycled, and disposed of. The program should include guidelines for guests, staff, housekeeping, food & beverage, and other departments.

There’s more on this story at this link > World of Travel / January 2023

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Timeshare gives you some of the best-packaged annual vacations

Timeshare can be a convenient and cost-effective way to vacation with your family – especially if you are committed to at least one vacation in the year. In addition to visiting your primary resort location, you can also explore other holiday locations in India and abroad through an exchange company like RCI.

These days AIRDA resort members offer both short-term and long-term options in membership plans, so you can decide on a plan based on your need and budget.

If you chat with regular users of timeshare you will hear stories of the best ways they have used their allocated week in the year. A timeshare resort offers a complete, end-to-end stay-over experience with good service, star F&B options, high-quality rooms, and some very interesting ways to spend your vacation time.

There’s more on this story at this link > World of AIRDA / January 2023

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AIRDA celebrates 25 years in India’s timeshare and tourism industry

In 1997, a visionary group of resort developers and RCI inked a blueprint for an independent body – an association with a purpose and an agenda – keeping in mind the nascent profile of timeshare in the country and the constructive role that could be played by developers to grow the industry.

Importantly, to work hand-in-hand with both promoters and consumers in the industry. This was how the foundation was laid for the All India Resort Development Association (AIRDA).

Today we have 26 committed members under the AIRDA banner – who are united in the cause of promoting a body that believes in ethics, transparency, and fair value to the customer.

Our member committee represents a cross-section of players in the timeshare industry – small, medium, and large – some of them with one resort location and others with over 4000 resorts. And irrespective of the size of operations, each one of them stands united behind the core objectives of AIRDA.
An association that is re-defining the organized sector of timeshare in the country.

It’s your gateway to timeshare in India.

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Airda member achieves 5-star status

In this interview, Suresh S. Patel talks about Neonz Club entering the world of 5-star hospitality and giving its members and customers a whole new experience. Suresh is the Chairman & Managing Director of Charotar Resort Private Limited.

Do tell us more about the 5-star classification for the resort.

In India, hotels are rated by The Hotel & Restaurant Approval & Classification Committee (HRACC), working under the Ministry of Tourism. Hotel ratings or classifications are systems that rank hotels based on a wide range of qualifying parameters. The objective behind star ratings is to give potential guests or customers a useful industry marker on the standard of facilities and service they can expect at the hotel or resort.

The 5-Star rating is one such milestone in our achievements. At NEONZ we have always given our projects the best in terms of investments, time, talent, and support – to reach new heights and cross new milestones. I am proud to say that we have a sense of pride in whatever we do.

There’s more on this story at this link > World of Airda / November 2022

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When your vacation resort does not allow pets…

This month we’re starting a conversation on a topic that we’ve been trying to feature for a long, long time. It’s about being able to take your pets (largely dogs) along with you on vacation. And the moment you say “pets” and “vacations” in the same sentence, two things come to mind: (1) Is the resort pet friendly? (2) If it is not, can you find someone to look after your pets?

To find out more, we reached out to a group of professionals who are roughly between 30 and 40 years old – these are people who are active on the travel and vacation front. And as we have mentioned in our previous interviews, this demographic is useful to us – and relevant, in terms of vacation interests and feedback. (Where they go, what they do, and what they look for at a vacation resort.)

For this feature, we asked them about “pets and vacations” and here’s what some of them had to say.

Veena Bhaskaran – interior designer

We have a friendly dog, who loves a change of scene as often as we can manage that. Long drives, walks in the park, and vacations in country-home settings – these are some of the things he loves to be part of. But taking him to a resort at our timeshare location is not an option, because our home resort does not allow pets as part of the family. So that’s a NO even before we get there.

There’s more on this story at this link > World of Travel / November 2022

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