DRThiruvananthapuram: Constant reinvention and innovation keep a brand alive. Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) has been no different, taking challenges head on and going full steam ahead with plans that cover the many departments under its umbrella.
While the floods in August last year dealt a huge blow to the State’s tourism industry, the indomitable spirit of Kerala helped businesses bounce back in no time with KTDC being no exception. The public sector undertaking is gearing up to bring about a major overhaul to the hospitality inventory of Kerala. KTDC is perhaps the strongest aggregator of room inventory and services in the sector. Rightly so, it is preparing to redesign the idea of tourism in the State by introducing various packages by knitting together hotel and tour segments using KTDC’s resources and prudent tie-ups with private players.
“The new schemes reflect our firm commitment to bring more visitors to Kerala and position the State as a major international destination for institutional conventions and meetings,” said M Vijaya Kumar, Chairman, KTDC. What makes KTDC unique in a sea of competitive private players from Kerala’s tourism industry? Last year, KTDC set a first-of-its-kind example in the country by launching a public sector hotel run by women. Named ‘Hostess’ and located in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, the hotel will cater exclusively to women guests.
Kadakampally Surendran, Kerala’s Tourism Minister, launched the work on the hotel in July 2018. “There are many services being offered by KTDC that are affordable to the common man. The facilities at Hostess at economic rates are expected to be of global standards,” Surendran said at the launch. He added that tourism is a priority sector for the government.
The hotel will have 22 AC rooms apart from two AC dormitories that can host 28 people at a time. Rooms will be charged Rs. 1500 while the dormitory facility costs Rs. 500 for four hours. The hotel will be run by female staff from the bottom rung to managerial positions. The accommodation also offers safety and security features for women travelers not to mention its proximity to the railway and bus stations. Besides, the government undertaking isn’t really myopic when looking for futuristic ways to scale up business.
KTDC managed to strike a deal with the online travel company, Cleartrip, to increase the visibility of its hotel inventories in the international and domestic markets. Membership Card Scheme Adding to its portfolio of new products, KTDC unveiled Premium Life Membership and Institutional Membership cards for individuals and institutions at affordable rates, offering seven nights of free stay in a year and substantial discounts on all its premium facilities, including hotels at hill stations and beach resorts. The fee for Premium Life Membership has been fixed at Rs. 10 lakh and institutional membership at Rs. 15 lakh.
Rahul R IRS, Managing Director, KTDC is hopeful the scheme will “elicit a keen response from the country and abroad from individuals and institutions.” The Premium Life Membership entitles its holder to seven nights’ complimentary stay for two adults and two children below 12 years on full board basis at all KTDC properties a year. Additionally, premium members can avail extra rooms at 40 per cent discount. The member can also authorise any other guest to avail a complimentary stay for two adults and two kids below 12 years in case he or she does not utilise the offer in a year. An attractive feature of the Premium Life membership is that its holder can dine with 10 members at 40 per cent discount on food and beverages and 20 per cent discount on alcoholic beverages in all the outlets of the premium properties of KTDC at a time.
For groups of more than 10 persons, the Premium Life member will be eligible for 20 per cent discount on food and beverages, and alcoholic beverages. The Premium Life member is entitled to 50 per cent discount on room rent in all stays in KTDC properties, in addition to a seven-night complimentary stay. Apart from rooms, life members are entitled to use the convention facilities of KTDC at 50 per cent discount. The premium membership is transferrable to the spouse of the holder in case of her/his demise. Companies or institutions availing Institutional Membership are entitled to nominate two members, which will remain in force for one year subject to further fresh nominations or extension of the previous nomination by the institution. The person recommended is entitled to privileges and facilities enjoyed by the Premium Life Membership holder, except the convention centre facilities at concessional rate, the complimentary stay for the children at KTDC properties and transferability of the membership to the spouse on demise.
One Package for All Major Tourism Spots In an innovative venture, KTDC and Intersight Tours & Travels have jointly invented a package that covers all the KTDC properties located at various destinations of the State to help tourists explore and enjoy different shades of Kerala at one go, that too, in a hassle-free manner. Named ‘Kerala on Wheels’, the collaboration resulted in an escorted luxury tour package that allows tourists an opportunity to cover all the KTDC properties in the State at affordable prices.
“By the time travelers come to the end of their tour under this program, they would have got a broad idea about the myriad attractions Kerala has to offer. At one go, the traveler can experience the green paddy fields, mist-clad tea gardens, backwaters and beaches,” said Vijayakumar. The first package comprises Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Kumarakom/Alappuzha while the second one covers Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom/Alappuzha and Kovalam. KTDC will provide accommodation while KTDC and Intersight Tours & Travels will jointly facilitate transfers. According to a KTDC official, guides fluent in English will attend to the guests.
KTDC’s Luxury Bus Tour Services In a move to attract youngsters, KTDC launched its ambitious Luxury Bus Tour Project which was flagged off in the capital city by Minister Kadakampally Surendran. The Luxury Bus Tour Project comes with five attractive packages: ‘Glorious Thiruvananthapuram’, ‘Mesmerizing Kanyakumari’, ‘Refreshing Ponmudi’, ‘Splendid Kochi’ and ‘Ultimate Kochi’. The project aims to offer travellers daily tours in comfortable coaches accompanied by expert guides. KTDC has introduced three luxury buses as part of the project. Phase I of the project was rolled out in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.
