Page 17 - TBM_October_2024

IN CONVERSATION
TRAVELBIZ MONITOR OCTOBER, 2024 17
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Having recently taken over on move ahead with learning which will help
Sharaf Travel to strengthen its foothold better,
as Business Head-Sales for is my key responsibility.

India at Sharaf Travel Group, Q India is an expanding market for

Leena Brahme’s focus lies outbound travel, and the traveller is
spoilt for choice with newer destinations,
in promoting the MSC brand products and experiences. In that context,

in India, and growing the how are you looking at growing the fly-
cruise market?
of Pegasus Airlines and MSC’s fleet having 23 ships across is a
synonym to being spoilt for a choice! Fly
DrukAir Holidays Bhutan cruise market with partnerships of right
line of businesses. She stake holders like NTOs/airlines etc., will
surely boost a better know how for fly cruise
spoke to Disha Shah Ghosh advantage.
about her new role and the Q What is your strategy to engage with

possibilities of hosting large the travel trade in India, offline and
online?
groups on the MSC ships. The travel trade is moving leaps and bounds
with their digital footprints. We will do our
best to channelise that medium, engage
‘Sharaf Travel India has seen over through posts and visuals so that they are well
equipped to convince their guests that the
buying they are looking to happen is a safest
35% on year growth in passengers’ choice of vacation. Offline, we will continue
to meet and greet our TA partners as need to
showcase our ships for them to gain strength
Q Enumerate on your new role at Sharaf ‘‘ in the brand.
Travel.
My role as Business Head Sales-India entails MSC’s fleet having 23 ships across is a
and encourages me to increase business
on MSC Cruises as the core of Sharaf Travel synonym to being spoilt for a choice! Fly cruise
India. MSC offers weekend getaways to
full-fledged family vacations – a world of market with partnerships of right stake holders like
discovery is all to experience. From 23 ships
across and in the fleet of MSC sailing into 250 NTOs/airlines etc., will surely boost a better know
most sought-after ports, MSC ticks boxes for
multi-generational travel. My new role also how for fly cruise advantage.
extends to Pegasus Airlines as Sharaf Travel ‘‘
is their exclusive GSA in India. Pegasus has
been flying for 20 years and is Turkey’s most book at least 6 months in advance. Taking Q Any plans of MSC making India as a
established private airline. This exclusivity longer sailings for e.g.: Ex Copenhagen, port of call for your ships?
adds a nice feather in the cap to have offerings Barcelona, Rome, Piraeus, Naples, Dubai Never say Never! And we believe MSC will
for our B2B partners. and so many more options to board from venture into Indian waters.
The newest product in the kitty is DrukAir we see this ride as our opportunity to grow.
Holidays Bhutan! This is exciting as well as Our venues onboard are not just classy but Q Which are some of the popular
challenging for us to foray into land-based so large for all size corporates looking to do sailings of MSC for Indians? How are
holiday offerings featuring the most premium their events. We believe in offering a venue you engaging with international tourism
destination. DrukAir Holidays will offer equipped with all AV’s without charges. boards?
Premium and Luxury packages which also will This has helped us in creating that space The popular choice of sailings always has
be customisable. of indulgence which is not worrying on the remained from Mediterranean and continues
pocket for the end guests. Only the right to be. New sailings that are garnering the
Q Where does India rank as a source offers/discounts will keep us engaged with attention are from Bahamas as our newest
market for Sharaf Travel? What is your the trade to make the noise on the B2B and large ships are plying in those regions.
vision to grow this opportunity further? front. On the B2C front, we will step up on Another popular sailing port is Copenhagen
Sharaf Travel India has seen over 35% year creating good content for end guests to latch covering Norwegian Fjords. Best of what MSC
on year growth in passenger numbers. For on enough to make the mark to ask for MSC is offers are Mediterranean sailings in winter.
MSC cruises, India is fly cruise market, Cruises. From October all the way up to January, the
and we are amazed to see that guests are possibilities of sailing from Valencia, Greece,
booking long-haul sailings for 07 nights just Q Which are your three areas of focus Izmir (Turkey) and newest Tunisia are popular
as we see increase in demand for 03/04 and with this role? choices. We are proud to be one-of-its-kind
05 nights too. A. Sales force strengthening, strategic clarity offering newer explorations with MSC.
The uptick we see is corporates looking to regarding all the three brands, and a focus to disha.shah@saffronsynergies.in

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