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Reema Lokesh – Mumbai
The Indian outbound market has always been attractive for prospective international tourism suppliers and luxury portfolios are making a steady inroad into the India market. Avant Garde Consulting recently held an intensive week long three-city (Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru) showcase, presenting four luxury products from Portugal to potential and strategic buyers in the respective cities. With an aim to position the destination as an unexplored jewel of Europe, the private luxury travel consortium of high-end tourism players in Portugal included Luis Sousa of Mr Travel Portugal (a luxury DMC ), Cristina Martins of the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Marta Santos of the Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel, and Joana Melo of the Penha Longa Ritz Carlton, Sintra.
“The networking sessions conducted over cocktails, high-tea sessions and luncheons, garnered a positive response and there was the desire to further strengthen their position in the India market,” added Sheetal Wadhwa Munshaw, of Avant Garde Consulting. She further mentioned, “Our strategy for the Indian market is to showcase Portugal’s creme de la crème travel experiences for the discerning traveller on one seamless platform. We will work in close association with select travel agencies and experts as well as opinion makers in the publishing industry to showcase Portugal as a premier luxury tourism spot. In addition to traditional marketing methods such as familiarisation visits to give our travel partners and media persons first hand exposure to our unique and select product profile, we will also deploy digital marketing platforms and bespoke experiential events which would serve as samplers and preludes to the eventual journey for our discerning travellers in association with our travel and media professional associates.”
Speaking at the event, Luis Sousa of Mr Travel Portugal, re-emphasised their commitment to the India market and said their team is keen to work closely with their Indian buyers. He mentioned that Portugal is just right for the discerning Indian traveller, offering a plethora of tourism attractions including beaches, vineyards, palaces, history, culture, cuisine and natural diversity. A rich heritage of UNESCO sites dot the landscape of Portugal in a world class infrastructural setting. Temperate weather conditions through the year, easy accessibility and great value for money offerings are other highlights of the country.
