Tag Archives: Turkey

SKIL Travel appoints Jay Bajaj as Assistant Director for International MICE & Events

SKIL Travel, a popular brand known for providing bespoke end-to-end travel solutions, has appointed Jay Bajaj as Assistant Director – International MICE & Events. He played a crucial role in contributing to the travel sector with his exceptional skills while leading the MICE department for brands including Club7Holidays, Royal Goan Beach Club, etc.

With hands-on experience in handling groups ranging from 20 to 750 participants, Bajaj has a keen understanding of the dynamics involved in creating impactful events. His approach exceeds transactional relationships, focusing on building collaborative partnerships with corporate clients.

Having travelled extensively to numerous countries worldwide, he brings a global perspective and cultural awareness that is crucial in the dynamic field of MICE. His ability to navigate diverse cultures and preferences makes him an invaluable asset in the events industry which is known for creating memorable and culturally sensitive experiences.
His proficiency in understanding the intricacies of MICE operations allows him to craft appealing and immersive solutions. Jay with his ardent skills, will further enhance SKIL Travel’s position in the MICE sector in both domestic and international markets.

Speaking about the appointment, Bajaj said, “I am excited to join SKIL Travel and contribute to its success in the International MICE & Events sphere. I strive to elevate the company’s position by unleashing my understanding of MICE operations and a proven track record of delivering high-quality experiential incentive events.”

Trishal Rao, Chief Sales Officer, SKIL Travel, added, “We are delighted to welcome Jay to the SKIL Travel family. His years of rich experience, combined with a global perspective, align seamlessly with our commitment to delivering exceptional MICE solutions. We believe Jay will play a key role in strengthening strong client relationships and driving SKIL Travel’s growth in the International MICE & Events sector.”

Bajaj’s appointment is a strategic move by SKIL Travel to hold its position as a leader in the MICE industry, especially with its foray into international MICE space and having hosted big-ticket events in Turkey, Milan, and Germany. His skills and insights are expected to contribute significantly to the company’s continued success and expansion in the international events segment.

Turkey records 10℅ hike in international visitors during 2023

 

Türkiye sustained its growth by hosting 56.7 million international visitors in 2023, reflecting a 10% year-on-year increase. According to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the country’s tourism income surged by 17% year-on-year, reaching $54.3 billion, with an average expenditure per overnight visitor reaching $99. These figures represent record-breaking achievements for Türkiye.

Tourism Momentum:

In 2023, Türkiye, renowned for its appeal in culture, art, gastronomy, cycling, religious tourism, as well as sun and sand holidays, achieved unprecedented success. Building on this momentum, the country aims to attract 60 million tourists and generate $60 billion in tourism income by 2024. Türkiye’s tourism strategy prioritises market diversity, with a focus on existing strategic markets while actively exploring new target markets in 2024.

Pioneering Tourism Practices:

Türkiye attributes its tourism success to a strategic and forward-thinking policy that emphasizes creating an inviting environment through responsible and sustainable practices. In 2022, Türkiye became the first country globally to collaborate with the “Global Sustainable Tourism Council” (GSTC) at a government level. Implementing this collaboration as a sectoral requirement, Türkiye introduced the Türkiye Sustainable Tourism Program. This program, a result of the partnership with GSTC, recognises and rewards practitioners of sustainable tourism, fostering trust and credibility among visitors. It ensures diverse, sustainable experiences, including eco-friendly accommodations, cycling, trekking, all aimed at establishing a deeper connection between the country’s heritage and its stewards.

Türkiye: A Year-Round, Versatile Destination:

Positioned as a year-round travel paradise, Türkiye stands out for its unique geographical location, surrounded by seas on three sides, and historical richness. The country attracts attention with a wide array of offerings, including city escapes, sports activities, international events, and festivals. Türkiye’s appeal extends beyond popular destinations to hidden gems, including archaeological marvels. Committed to preserving these gems, Türkiye conducts archaeological excavation and restoration projects. In 2023, Türkiye increased its archaeological projects to 720, with expectations to reach 750 in 2024, reinforcing its leadership in cultural heritage preservation. Additionally, Türkiye captivates visitors by illuminating archaeological sites for night visits, transforming historical treasures like Ephesus in İzmir, Hierapolis in Denizli, Patara, and Side in Antalya into breathtaking spectacles under the evening sky. These sites not only showcase Türkiye’s historical heritage but also offer visitors a unique connection with the country’s cultural legacy.

BLS International acquires 100% stake in Turkey’s iDATA to expand visa & consular services

BLS International Services Ltd. (BLS0 has entered into a definitive Share Purchase Agreement through its wholly owned subsidiary BLS International FZE, UAE, to acquire 100% stake in iData Danismanlik Ve Hizmet Dis Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (“iDATA”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries for an Enterprise Value of EUR 50 million and additional milestones based payments. iDATA, a prominent player based in Turkey, specialises in Visa and Consular Services, making it a strategic addition to BLS’s expanding portfolio.

Incorporated in Turkey, iDATA provides comprehensive visa applications and consular services to various governments. The company currently operates more than 37 Visa Application Centres (VAC) across 15+ countries, serving diplomatic missions of Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic. Notably, iDATA has been the exclusive provider of Visa & Consular Services to the Italy Diplomatic mission since 2006 and the German Government since 2012 in certain geographies. As per the audited consolidated financials for the calendar year 2022, iDATA achieved revenues of EUR 19.9 million and EBITDA of EUR 10.4 million.

The acquisition would be funded mainly through our internal accruals. Further, the transaction will be EPS accretive from day one and is anticipated to be completed in the current financial year, subject to Government & Regulatory approvals.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Turkey and Lagrange Point Advisors LLP, Mumbai jointly acted as transaction advisors to BLS on this transaction. Dentons Link Legal, India and Balcioğlu Selçuk Ardiyok Keki Attorney Partnership (BASEAK), Turkey acted as legal advisors for the transaction.

Commenting on this, Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director of BLS International Services Ltd., said, “We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of iDATA and its subsidiaries, marking a significant milestone in BLS International’s journey. This strategic move underscores our commitment to becoming a global leader in tech-enabled services for Governments and citizens. This acquisition not only expands our operational footprint but also reinforces our dedication to fostering enduring relationships with Governments. We look forward to the completion of this transaction, which will further exemplify our core values of reliability, transparency, and efficiency while supporting the essential functions of Governments across the world.”

VFS Global wins contract for UK visa & Citizenship services in 142 countries

VFS Global, a partner for the UK Government since 2003, has won the global contract for overseas UK visa and Citizenship services. This award is the latest in a long line of wins for the leading visa, passport and citizen services provider.

During 2024, VFS Global will deploy 240 Visa and Citizenship Application Service (VCAS) Centres for the UK in 142 countries across Africa & Middle East, Americas, Australasia & Europe, China & Taiwan, and Asia & Asia Pacific regions. These centres will accept all categories of visa applications as well as UK passport applications in some locations. Combined, these new centres are estimated to process 3.8 million applicants every year.

Beyond the scale of the deployment, VFS Global will invest to improve the customer journey and increase accessibility – including through new customer websites, and through updated in-person experiences. And VFS Global will deploy its latest technologies to maintain robust identity checks and ensure the integrity of the visa and passport application process. The new contract is expected to deliver savings to the UK Government.

Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO, VFS Global, said, “We are delighted to win this contract and expand our partnership with the Home Office to become their service provider for all UK visa customers overseas. We are excited to begin operations in new locations, and to take the next step towards providing customers with a seamless, simple and secure visa and passport application experience. This win is a testament to our dedicated efforts to provide all our client governments with best-in-class services.”

The UK is a popular destination for travellers from across the globe with India, China, Nigeria and Turkey being the top four application locations.

In addition to the VCAS Centres, VFS Global will expand its network of additional paid application centres bringing the visa application process closer to home for customers through partnerships with popular hotels and resorts. VFS Global currently offers these in India, UAE and the USA through hotel partners in those countries.

This win comes soon after VFS Global being awarded the global biometric collection service mandate with Australia, and renewal of the global visa service contract with Sweden.

 

FCM Meetings & Events growing global footprint with technology & workforce expansion

FCM Meetings & Events (FCM M&E), and flagship division of the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), has announced a global expansion of the business.

Events, event travel and meetings are leading the business travel bounce back globally with a recent white paper by FCM M&E revealing that the MICE market size, in terms of revenue, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6 per cent from 2022 to 2030 to reach USD1563.3 billion by 2030.

FCM Meetings & Events is committed to growing its global footprint and presence in this sector. Priorities include the development of innovative technology solutions and investing in extra talent with the company planning to focus on three core areas:

• Meetings: Provide a wide range of meeting services, including venue sourcing, managed meetings, basic planning, and onsite support
• Event Travel: Offer group travel, from flights and hotels, through to transfers and team building
• Events: Provide full event management services including planning, strategies, execution, and delivery

According to Manpreet Bindra, President, FCM India’s Meeting & Events, the surge in bookings due to high demand in 2023 has continued to shape the sector. FCM Meetings and Events India has achieved more than 90% in growth compared to 2022.

“Meetings and Events are the core of business interactions, both in India and across the globe. FCM Meetings and Events India is experiencing exponential growth, presenting a wealth of opportunities.”

“In India, we have witnessed a dynamic surge in demand for personalised, high-quality experiences, reaffirming the value of face-to-face engagements. This trend mirrors a global sentiment, showcasing the universal significance of in-person interactions.”

“By leveraging our global network, we’re confident to deliver exceptional meetings and events experiences that captivate audiences, shaping the future of business gatherings both here in India and worldwide.”

“FCM India has completed over 2,000 events in India in 2023, hosting over 91,000 business travellers. Popular MICE destination cities include Goa, Jaipur, Dehradun, Udaipur, and Bangalore.”

“We assisted SMEs, MNCs, Enterprises and Conglomerates from various industries such as Banking, Finance, Insurance, FMCGs, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, and others in managing large groups of business travellers. As of this year, we have successfully facilitated over 17,000 travellers to international destinations such as Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Europe, and Turkey, just to name a few.”

“We know we have an incredible opportunity to both grow and position ourselves as the travel management company of choice for meetings, events, and event travel and are experiencing and anticipating a steady annual growth rate of demand at 12 per cent year on year for in-person meetings, which means we have some exciting opportunities coming our way.”

Club Med offers sailing experience on its French yacht Club Med 2

Club Med is offering intimate sailing experiences on their iconic French yacht – Club Med 2. As a part of Club Med’s Exclusive Collection – Club Med 2 – one of the world’s largest sailing yachts, has been revamped to offer a lavish experience reminiscent of the French Riviera.

According to a recent CLIA report, the number of Indians taking cruise holidays has increased by over 28% in the last three years. In response to these evolving trends, iconic vessels like Club Med 2 are continuously adapting, solidifying themselves as a compelling choice for the modern travellers.

Complete with a club lounge, two pools, and an expansive balcony suspended over the ocean, Club Med 2 offers an exclusive choice for Indian honeymooners, couples, and those planning their bachelor/bachelorette trips. It offers a tailored blend of experiences that encompass rejuvenating spa treatments, Heberson Yoga, and an array of water sports, from water-skiing to wing surfing and Tiwal sailing. With sailing itineraries spanning a 21-day cruise from Nice to Athens via Turkey, Israel, Egypt, and Greece, as well as shorter 4-day cruises in spring and autumn, Club Med 2 creates a unique fusion of tranquility and excitement beneath the starry night skies, making it the ultimate selection.