DRMumbai: UAE’s capital city Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven Emirates will host the 12th International TAFI (Travel Agents Federation of India) Convention, scheduled from September 25 to 27. The Emirates Palace Hotel is the venue for the convention.
Innovate – Transform – Disrupt: Redefining the Offline Travel World, will be the theme for the Convention. In a fast changing world, with disruption becoming a way of life, learned speakers and panellists across various business sessions at the Convention will dwell on these matters and do their best to equip TAFI member delegates to meet the challenges ahead.
Praveen Chugh, TAFI President, said that it will be a three to five nights’ programme with three nights for convention and two nights for post tours. He added, “We have come out with a package which includes five-night accommodation with all the meals, transfers, sightseeing, visa and air tickets for Rs. 33,333 and Rs. 43,333 for single and double occupancy respectively.
Bejan Dinshaw, Country Manager – India, Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism, said, “We have always been interested in promoting the destination amongst the travel fraternity and that is one of the main reasons we are hosting the International TAFI Convention. The idea is to expose the destination to all the distinguished members of TAFI. We are looking at about 600 delegates to visit Abu Dhabi for the convention.” TAFI has closed registrations. The event is being supported by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism.
Commenting on the choice of the venue, Chugh said that TAFI always identifies a destination where the members have the opportunity to explore new products and experiences, and promote it to their clients. “This convention will showcase a new Abu Dhabi with world class attractions which have come up recently like Warner Bros. World, Louvre Abu Dhabi and so on,” he said.
TAFI has lined up high profile speakers for the Convention including Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri, Executive Director, Tourism Sector, Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism; Pawan Agarwal, Mumbai Dabbawala Education Centre; Ashwini Kakkar, former Executive Vice-Chairman, Mercury Travels and former Chairman, Via.com; Dr. Vivek Bindra, Founder Director, Global ACT; Nithya Shanti, internationally acclaimed teacher of joyful and conscious living; Andrew Bowman, President, Travel Agents Association of New Zealand; Mark Meader, Senior Vice-President, Industry Affairs & Education, American Society of Travel Agents; Michel De Blust, Secretary General, European Travel Agents’ & Tour Operators’ Associations; Datuk Hamza Rahmat, Executive Director, Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations and Bart Bellers, Founding Partner & CEO, Xpdite Ventures.
Destination Reporter is a Hosted Media Partner for the Convention. Other event partners are Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways, Jet Airways, IndiGo Airlines, Royal Arabian Destination Management, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and VFS Global.
