Of all the storied holiday-season traditions, the New Year’s resolution has long been a laughingstock, ranking somewhere between the office Secret Santa and the barking-dogs version of “Jingle Bells.”
If you’ve been down that resolution path (and who hasn’t?), you know the drill. You begin with an earnest proclamation of intent while standing by the chip bowl at a New Year’s Eve party—“I’ll lose 20 pounds! I’ll run a marathon! I’ll never order fried cheese again!” But once you get back to your usual life’s routine, those ambitions fizzle like day-old champagne. No surprise: a University of Washington study found that almost half of us have ditched our resolutions before March.
To keep a resolution from becoming more than a joke, some say you need to start with a plan of action—and what better plan of action than to plan a trip? When you take your resolution on a vacation, you can immerse yourself in your new mind-set, whether your goal is to eat better, quit smoking, or overcome a fear.
If nothing else, the memories of a great trip will periodically remind you that there’s more to life than fried cheese. —Katrina Brown Hunt
Dear Sirs, After returning back home we would like
to express our sincere thanks for all efforts and services of Mercury Travel
during our stay in India from November 16th to 30th
2012. Usually, people complain in writing and
but don’t spend time for making compliments for good work. But we would
like to comment preferably on the various good experiences we made during
this time in India. Our comments in detail: 1. Bangalore:
excellent guide with very good knowledge and very good guiding strategy;
excellent hotel (Taj) with nice room and excellent service 2. Hassan:
nice hotel (Hoysala Village Resort) with very good food for lunch and dinner 3. Belur
Halebid: knowledgeable friendly guide 4. Mysore:
hotel Quorum is not recommendable –at least for European guests; no green
around at all; full AC in dark rooms; windows cannot be opened; cramped
corridors and rooms; unpleasant restaurant; totally misleading photos in
the internet but friendly general manager who was helpful by finding and
booking other place; we have changed to Royal Orchid Metropole hotel where
the rooms are nice and spacious, pretty garden and stunning court for dinner
and breakfast; excellent food and service 5. Very
helpful and knowledgeable guide in Mysore 6. Ooty:
Hotel Taj Savoy very nice and charming with excellent food and service;
guide OK; visit of botanic garden is not recommendable as almost 100% non-Indian,
mostly European plants are exhibited which are found in our own garden
at home 7. For
the car ride from Ooty to Cochin more than 6 hours should be calculated,
7 to 8 hours appears more correct; brake for lunch should be scheduled 8. Cochin:
Taj Malabar best hotel and service during our tour; extremely nice and
knowledgeable guide with good feeling of guest’s interests; we were very
pleased by meeting Mr. K.Pavanan, assistant manager of Mercury Travels
at the hotel 9. Aleppey
– houseboat: not very good; poor accommodation and limited service; low
standard food; 1 night at the boat is more than sufficient. 10. After
4 to 5 hours of boat trip we decided to proceed to Kovalam hotel Surya
Samudra and asked Mr. Pavanan by telephone for his help. Within less than
15 minutes he arranged for everything, i.e. driver and hotel booking. Please
transfer our sincere thanks to him for his extremely good service. 11. Kovalam
hotel Surya Samudra: very good hotel with super service and very good food;
nice evening music events 12. Driver
from Bangalore to Trivandrum airport (above stations 1 to 11): friendly,
good, and fast driver; it was nice to find sweets, road maps and guidebooks
in the car; 13. Jaipur
Rambagh Palace: wonderful romantic hotel with excellent service and food;
please transfer our sincere thanks to Ms Preety of Rambagh Palace who was
extremely helpful when fixing problems with bad tailor recommended by the
guide. Guide has good German language knowledge 14. Pushkar
hotel Ananta Spa & Resort: nice hotel, presumably best and most quiet
hotel in this area and during this time period (camel fair); good food,
improvable service 15. Guide:
far most best guide during this trip through India; most intelligent guiding
tours through the town with special places and comprehensive information
about town, culture, religion, mores, and practices. Helpful representative
of Mercury tours when we requested for additional day of guiding 16. Very
safe driver 17. Friendly
and helpful guy during pick up from and bringing back to airport (Mr. Paukaj
Pareek of Rajasthan Tours) 18. Friendly
and helpful guy (Mr. Harshwadhan Trivedi) during pick up from Mumbai domestic
airport and bringing us to international airport. He saved us more than
1 hour waiting time by bringing us through a tricky entrance to the gate Best regards Johannes Bohnenberger
It was in the early 1550s that Portuguese
ships first embarked in the port of Macau.
Enamoured by its sheer beauty and riches, they refused to leave.
Macau, is today a unique slice of Europe in
the heart of Asia. Be spellbound by the Mediterranean-influenced architecture, the
elaborate squares, Chinese temples and European churches, as you meander along
the World Heritage “Historic Centre of
Macau”.
Follow the mosaic pathways of Senado Square to the ruins of St. Paul’s Church. Pay your respects at
the 500-year-old temple of A-Ma.
Experience the thrill of ancient maritime battles at the Guia Fortress.
Watch a spectacular sunset from the
revolving restaurant on top of the Macau
Tower, bungee jump from this 220 metre high structure, if you dare.
Wash down Portuguese and Chinese delicacies
with exquisite and inexpensive, champagne. Follow it up with Serradura, a scrumptious dessert.
Surrender to the wide range of shopping
options available, from bustling street markets to chic, trendy boutiques and
malls.
Try your luck at blackjack, baccarat and
roulette at casinos that put Las Vegas in the shade.
Crystal blue waters, powdery white sand,
lush tropical palms and rich marine life make the Philippines a destination to
remember.
Stumble upon a picture-perfect island.
Admire its idyllic marine life by snorkeling, or scuba diving into its depths.
Windsurf, parasail, or just hitch a ride on a traditional paraw.
Take a leisurely walk along the limpid
waters and fine sands of the incredibly romantic White Beach at Boracay, rated the finest in the world.
Get a taste of Boracay’s eclectic cuisine, explore its rollicking nightspots.
Pay your respects to a famous Portuguese
navigator at Magellan’s Cross in Cebu.
Be mesmerized by the rolling hills, crystal springs and ancient Spanish
churches of Bohol.
Unravel the secret of the famous Chocolate Hills, be serenaded by a
ukulele as you sail down the scenic Loboc river.
Embrace Manila’s colonial past on a quaint carrauje ride. Admire the stone
carvings and stained glass mosaics of the grand Manila Cathedral, go back to a
bygone era at the 16th century Fort Santiago.
Be spellbound by the panoramic view of the Taal Volcano from the Tagaytay Ridge.
Take an adventurous canoe ride down the famous Pagsanjan Falls.
Discover one of Asia’s most beautiful countries with Mercury Travels. It will be a holiday second to none.
With the most awe-inspiring natural landscapes under an incessant Middle
Eastern Sun, Oman offers you an enchanting experience. From vibrant old-world
culture to modern diversity, from steep mountains to beautiful wadis (valleys and
river beds), from sand deserts to spectacular beaches, from adventure pursuits
for adrenaline junkies to gentle thrills for families, Oman has it all to ensure a
fabulous Arabian holiday experience.
Muscat, the capital city, is the pulsating heart of the country. Popularly known
as "Arabia's jewel”, Muscat lies sparkling white, topped with golden minarets in the
middle of a maze of brown pleated mountains that reach down to the Arabian Sea.
The older part of the city has many forts, castles, mosques and towers dotting the
landscape. Of particular note are Jalali and Mirani Forts flanking Al Alam Palace. Among
the city highlights are the majestic architecture of the Royal Opera House beaming with
plays and performances of international stature and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque,
the Corniche with its promenade, and the old souq of Muttrah - an ideal spot to buy
souvenirs and treasures.
Greater Muscat showcases eminent business properties, world-class highways, upscale
suburbs rooted in traditional Islamic architecture, elegant mosques, large green parks,
archaeological sites, museums and world-class hotels. The intermingling of ancient
cultural heritage and modern style allows Oman to preserve its historic character while
enjoying its contemporary spirit.
For culture buffs, Muscat is conveniently located for trips to explore the Nizwa Fort, the
400-year-old town of Al Hamra, the rocky terrain of Jebel Shams or the coastal Sur. For
families, what better way to bond together than over fun experiences like bumpy rides
on rolling sand dunes, whale and dolphin-spotting experiences or simply relaxing at a
Bedouin camp. For adrenalin junkies, Muscat is the gateway to go wadi bashing through
the Wadi Shab, sand dune bashing at the Wahiba Sands, embark on a mountain safari
through the Hajjar mountains, quad biking, trekking or caves exploring.
One of the must-visit destinations in Oman is Sur, a placid coastal town, famous for its
dhow shipyards (and presumed home of the legendary Sinbad the Sailor) with an en
route stop at the Wadi Shab.
Nizwa, with its historical buildings and imposing fort, is also famous for its souq
that sells everything from local artefacts, spices, dates, gold and silverware. See the
silversmiths hammer patterns into the hilts of khanjars. Amble through the souk for a
glimpse of the traditional Omani lifestyle.
The awe-inspiring Wahiba Sands are a vast mass of red and white sand with dunes rising
up to 150 meters. Experience life at the Bedouin camps in the desert where Bedouin
herders still wander from waterhole to waterhole.
Another must-visit is the Ras Al Jinz for turtle-watching. It the only place in the
world where you can watch the nesting process of the endangered green turtles, the
loggerhead turtle, the hawksbill turtle and the Olive Ridley turtle.
Nicknamed as the "Norway of the Middle East" because of the inlets likened to
Norway's fjords, Musandam offers amazing views of fjords in placid waters, marine life
and secluded beaches.
Oman has some of the best beaches along its 1700 km long coastline. From the placid
waves and stillness of the sea to the crashing surf and palm fringed shores of golden
sand, Oman’s pristine beaches and quiet coves with its rugged and rocky coastline are
thoroughly enthralling.
Enjoy swimming, diving, snorkeling, boating, surfing and beach combing at the popular
Qurum beach, Bandar Al-Jissah, Sawadi beach or Al Bustan beach. See the beautiful
coral reef formations and marine life whilst diving off Daymaniyat Islands or around
Muscat. The Oman Dive Centre, located at a private cove between Qantab and Barr
Al Jissah, is an ideal place for those who’d like to learn diving or take advanced diving
courses while on a holiday in the sun.
Discover Oman, a magical country in the Arabian Gulf with Mercury Travels
According to legend, the lost city of Atlantis was once a glorious empire founded by the sea-god Poseidon.
As you tiptoe around the maze of underground passageways and snaking tunnels, and explore the submerged boulevards and winding streets of the Lost Chambers suite, you know that you've found it.
The magnificent Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, an extraordinary hotel situated on a palm-shaped island, is the perfect base for a desert holiday
.
Watch sharks, eels, seahorses, piranhas and 65,000 other species of marine life float by while you admire the lost city from your underwater bedroom.
Be spellbound by the scintillating views of the Palm Jumeirah islands and the azure Arabian Gulf outside your window.
Surrender to surging whitewater rapids, only to find yourself in a shark-infested lagoon at the Aquaventure Waterpark. Cool off in Dolphin Bay, with the friendliest dolphins ever.
Try your hand at windsurfing, sea kayaking and sailing, or just take in the action from your chaise longue on a private beach, cocktail in hand.
Enjoy an intimate dining experience at the stylish Mediterranean restaurant Ossiano, just one of 19 gourmet restaurants conjuring up delectable French, Italian, Catalan, Middle-Eastern and Japanese cuisine, including the Michelin star Ronda Locatelli and the award-winning Nobu.
Experience Dubai like never before on an incredible holiday with Mercury Travels. In this mesmerizing oasis, no surprise will be beyond your reach.
Which adorable animal comes to your mind when you think of Australia?
That’s right! Kangaroo. In South Australia, we’ve got a large, really large island called Kangaroo Island. Teeming with an incredibly diverse range of wildlife including over a million kangaroos. Wow!
To arrive at Kangaroo Island, you have to first fly into Adelaide. The capital of South Australia is also the country’s capital of food, wine and festivals! Voted Australia’s most liveable city, Adelaide is well connected with direct international and domestic flights in addition tointerstate coaches and train services. It’s a well planned city, easy to explore by foot, embracedby the sea on one side and charming hills on the other. Base yourself here to explore Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley wine region and of course, Kangaroo Island.
Cricket fans love the charming Adelaide Oval ground, home to many historic matches. And to Sir Donald Bradman’s Museum, with the legendary batsman’s personal collection of memorabilia. Come, try your luck at the casino tables of Sky City Adelaide.
Shop till you drop. In Adelaide’s centre is Rundle Mall, with more than 600 shops in its many arcades. The Harbourtown Outlet Shopping is a one-stop destination for designer brands and homeware at 60 % daily discounts.
Foodies Heaven. Over 700 restaurants offer value for money Chinese, Italian, Thai, Australian and Indian cuisines. Great choice for vegetarians too. Say cheers with delicious South Australian wines.
A twenty minute drive takes you up to Adelaide Hills. Visit quaint towns, full of hertitage
homes, where time has stood still. Explore historic Hahndorf German village. From top of Mount Lofty Summit, Adelaide city and the ocean lie below your feet. At Cleland Wildlife Park, cuddle a koala and feed kangaroos. What a feeling!
An hour away from Adelaide, lies the picturesque, Tuscany-like landscape of the Barossa Valley. It’s the world’s most famous Shiraz wine producing region. Over 60 wineries invite you in for wine tasting. At the wine visitor centres of Jacobs Creek, Wolf Blass, learn all about how wine is made. In fact, blend your own wine at Penfolds winery. Put your name on the bottle and say cheers with friends back home. What a treat!
At Whispering Wall, whisper to your loved one 140 metres away! Visit Lyndoch Hill Rose Garden with 2000 varieties in bloom! Spend time at the Lyndoch Farm with its 60 varieties of lavender. From Menglers Hill, check out the Sculpture park and the spectacular view.
One third of Kangaroo Island is protected as conservation and national parks. Imagine this. Seals basking on quiet beaches. Koalas munching on gum trees. Echidnas wandering around without a care. Kangaroos and wallabies hopping and skipping at every turn. The award winning
Parndana Wildlife Park is famous for its birds. At the Kangaroo Island Penguin Centre, find out where Fairy Penguins go wandering at night.
You won’t believe your eyes when you sight Remarkable Rocks. Over the centuries, the wind and weather have carved out the most awesome sculptures from these ancient granite boulders. Nearby is Admirals Arch, from where you descend to the blue waters. Half an hour away is Seal Bay. From specially constructed platforms, listen to a large colony of Australian Sea Lions sing as they nurture their young.
Fancy a five star stay? Overlooking a dramatic coastline, Southern Ocean Lodge will welcome you. 21 luxurious guest suites, each with stylish sunken lounges, glass walled bathrooms and outdoor terraces. Plus a restaurant, bar, boutique and spa. Three and four star hotels are also available on the island.
So come to South Australia. Whether you are a nature lover, gastronomic foodie, wineconnoisseur or adventure seeker. Just remember any holiday to Australia is incomplete without Kangaroo Island. It’s a place that is sure to make your family go “WOW!”
Call Mercury Travels now
Fifteen years
ago, Ashwini Kakkar entered the travel industry bidding goodbye to a career
with a leading MNC. And he doesn't regret it one bit. Currently the Executive
Vice Chairman of Mercury Travels, Kakkar believes that his job brings smiles
and joy to people's lives. "The travel industry
is more about
sharing the good times because it mainly is a people's business. The fun
element of the job makes it an amazing experience," he says. Working with
a travel company that has the Oberoi legacy behind it, Kakkar feels that the
biggest asset of Mercury its high standard of service. For customers, journeys
are meant to be safe, luxurious and personalised, and this is exactly what
Mercury Travels offers. With over 70 years of experience under their belt, the
company's priority towards providing excellent hospitality and impeccable
service became the driving force behind their reputation. Kakkar emphasizes on
the company's motto of delivery, protection and knowledge that further strengthens
this reputation. The company caters to popular public figures, celebrities as
well as the middle class and that's the reason why people choose to travel with
Mercury. "It is purely because people trust us and have faith in the
services that we provide," says Kakkar. "Our management and employees
believe in three important things - knowledge of the field, protection of
customers and delivery of service. Our employees have always gone out of their
way to help our customers as safety is a priority," says Kakkar who has
played an important role in helping out customers on many occasions. He
recalls fondly how Sushmita Sen once tweeted about his staff helping her and
her kids in an emergency while she was travelling. Kakkar says that the
company's unique offering is their grasp of various destinations and their
ability to plan a trip customised to the needs of the customer. He explains
that these destinations are usually recommended according to the travel
experience the customer has. For example, firsttime international travellers
choose short haul destinations like Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Sri Lanka and the
likes, gradually moving towards Europe and then to newer travel destinations like
Alaska and South America. "Europe is always combined with a UK trip as
people generally have family or friends they want to visit. Also, the comfort
of language helps in this case. These trips are a combination of bus, road,
rail, air and cruise journeys. So, along with different places to visit, there are many
forms of travel also involved," he says. With branches across 30 cities in
India and five globally, their services are available for every kind of
customer. Kakkar thus stresses on how important customisation is for their clients.
"Our aim is to keep every type of customer
satisfied. The elderly require more attention and care, so we plan their trips
differently because they like to see things at their own pace. We call the
segment for retired individuals as 'silver grey'. It goes without saying that
the honeymooners require a special atmosphere. For example, in Maldives,
the bungalows we provide stand on water and have lights coming underneath a
glass floor. We take care of these special things so that people have a great
time travelling with us".
However, in
recent times, the student segment has gained importance. Students who go abroad
to study, opt to travel with Mercury says Kakkar. "Later, their parents
also join them and wish to travel to places around the country they are
studying in. We also have student groups who travel abroad on volunteer
work." The company also ensures that students get their insurance done in
case they have medical emergencies. "It is of utmost importance," he
emphasizes. Thinking ahead, for both the industry and for Mercury Travels,
Kakkar says that travel being one of the largest industries in the world, there
is no limit to growth. The company has the best technology possible and nearly 400 employees,
dedicated to maintaining the best standard of hospitality. And with convergence
technology showing its magic, the experience is only going to get bigger and
better. He believes that his personal growth runs parallel with that of the
company. And, the Vice Chairman is himself a travel
enthusiast. He says, “The more you travel, the more you realise how little
you've travelled." And with those words, he departs for Shanghai.
Which adorable animal comes to your mind when you think of Australia?
That’s right! Kangaroo. In South Australia, we’ve got a large, really large island called Kangaroo Island. Teeming with an incredibly diverse range of wildlife including over a million kangaroos. Wow!
To arrive at Kangaroo Island, you have to first fly into Adelaide. The capital of South Australia
is also the country’s capital of food, wine and festivals! Voted Australia’s most liveable city,
Adelaide is well connected with direct international and domestic flights in addition tointerstate coaches and train services. It’s a well planned city, easy to explore by foot, embraced
by the sea on one side and charming hills on the other. Base yourself here to explore Adelaide
Hills, Barossa Valley wine region and of course, Kangaroo Island.
Cricket fans love the charming Adelaide Oval ground, home to many historic matches. And to Sir Donald Bradman’s Museum, with the legendary batsman’s personal collection of memorabilia. Come, try your luck at the casino tables of Sky City Adelaide.
Shop till you drop. In Adelaide’s centre is Rundle Mall, with more than 600 shops in its many arcades. The Harbourtown Outlet Shopping is a one-stop destination for designer brands and homeware at 60 % daily discounts.
Foodies Heaven. Over 700 restaurants offer value for money Chinese, Italian, Thai, Australian and Indian cuisines. Great choice for vegetarians too. Say cheers with delicious South Australian wines.
A twenty minute drive takes you up to Adelaide Hills. Visit quaint towns, full of hertitage
homes, where time has stood still. Explore historic Hahndorf German village. From top of Mount Lofty Summit, Adelaide city and the ocean lie below your feet. At Cleland Wildlife Park, cuddle a koala and feed kangaroos. What a feeling!
An hour away from Adelaide, lies the picturesque, Tuscany-like landscape of the Barossa Valley. It’s the world’s most famous Shiraz wine producing region. Over 60 wineries invite you in for wine tasting. At the wine visitor centres of Jacobs Creek, Wolf Blass, learn all about how wine is made. In fact, blend your own wine at Penfolds winery. Put your name on the bottle and say cheers with friends back home. What a treat!
At Whispering Wall, whisper to your loved one 140 metres away! Visit Lyndoch Hill Rose Garden with 2000 varieties in bloom! Spend time at the Lyndoch Farm with its 60 varieties of lavender. From Menglers Hill, check out the Sculpture park and the spectacular view.
One third of Kangaroo Island is protected as conservation and national parks. Imagine this. Seals basking on quiet beaches. Koalas munching on gum trees. Echidnas wandering around without a care. Kangaroos and wallabies hopping and skipping at every turn. The award winning
Parndana Wildlife Park is famous for its birds. At the Kangaroo Island Penguin Centre, find out where Fairy Penguins go wandering at night.
You won’t believe your eyes when you sight Remarkable Rocks. Over the centuries, the wind and weather have carved out the most awesome sculptures from these ancient granite boulders. Nearby is Admirals Arch, from where you descend to the blue waters. Half an hour away is Seal Bay. From specially constructed platforms, listen to a large colony of Australian Sea Lions sing as they nurture their young.
Fancy a five star stay? Overlooking a dramatic coastline, Southern Ocean Lodge will welcome you. 21 luxurious guest suites, each with stylish sunken lounges, glass walled bathrooms and outdoor terraces. Plus a restaurant, bar, boutique and spa. Three and four star hotels are also available on the island.
So come to South Australia. Whether you are a nature lover, gastronomic foodie, wineconnoisseur or adventure seeker. Just remember any holiday to Australia is incomplete without Kangaroo Island. It’s a place that is sure to make your family go “WOW!”
When Ashwini Kakkar, executive vice-chairman, bought a
majority stake in Mercury Travels in 2006, it was an almost forgotten and a
loss-making brand in the travel industry. Today, it’s a different story. Backed
by a well-oiled management team, Kakkar’s passion and drive has turned the
company into a profitable venture with differentiated positioning in the travel
segment. The company has also transformed in terms of reach, technology and
newer business models. Right from injecting fresh young blood into the company,
growing to about 30 offices across the country and six offices internationally,
to the brand being repositioned, Mercury Travels has been transformed today as
‘a one-stop travel shop’ for high-end clients. Its sales have grown from `127
crore about five years back, to `1,020 crore for the year ended March 2012.
Mercury Travels has also clocked an ebidta of `10 crore.
Roll back in time, Mercury Travels, a 64-year-old company,
has a legacy of its own and a rather illustrious history. It was started in
1948 by the legendary Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi, father of P.R.S. Oberoi
and founder of Oberoi Hotels. Later, Gautam Khanna (son-in law of Rai Bahadur)
managed the company. The business was strategic to the hotel business as it
fulfilled the travel and service needs of inbound travellers who checked into
the hotel. Also, tourists who came to
Mercury Travels helped fill rooms. It was a rather symbiotic relationship
between a hotel and travel company. Mercury did fairly well for a few decades.
But, over time, not surprisingly, the focus shifted to the hotel business of
the Oberois’.
“PRS, who continues to be chairman on our board, is a
passionate hotelier and has developed some of the top class properties around
the world,” says Kakkar. “Somewhere down the line, Mercury Travels got left
behind. At the time I was on the Worldwide Board of Thomas Cook and it was
being taken over by a Dubai-based company. Many of us decided to part ways as
the new management was not in sync with our style of working. We were looking
to partner with a company and prs was also looking to bring in new people to
manage the brand, as it was making losses. We found that Mercury was one of the
best companies in the travel domain that had the best service culture of
welcoming guests with a namaskar.”
A win-win situation for both the parties as a jv was
created, with Kakkar holding 74.9 per cent and East India Hotels owning about
25.1 per cent. Taking complete control over the company, Kakkar and his team
spent a few months studying the market and formulating a strategy to move
forward. Mercury, then, bore a jaded and worn-out look. Along with some fresh
infusion of funds, the new management also decided to bring in fresh people, to
inject some youthful energy. It also meant breaking off from being an Oberoi
subsidiary to become an independent entity by itself.
With about 70 people joining Kakkar from Thomas Cook, his core management team consisted of Aashutosh Akshikar, president & ceo; Ajay Bhatia, vice-president & coo; and Nancy Castelino, vice-president, marketing & hr. “Interestingly, we have all worked together for more than 15 years at Thomas Cook and each of us knew the others’ strengths and weaknesses. So, as a team, we work well,” adds a beaming Castelino, who plays a crucial role in training new recruits for the company. Ambitious plans Once the core team was in, there was no looking back and plans were mapped out. As the company grew to 400 employees, the team embarked on a technology revamp. “We realised that there has been a sea change in the way the travel business is now being conducted. So, we got ourselves Reuters terminals for foreign exchange business, developed the rainbow software which is a custom-built, point-of-sale travel software designed to speed up the time taken to complete transactions and increase efficiency, as well as online checks/database that guarantees accuracy and integrity. This software integrates into the Oracle backend financial. We got about 350 computers for our employees. Earlier, Mercury Travels only had two business centres – inbound travels and corporate. We decided to also go ahead with ‘outbound’, ‘foreign exchange’ and mice (meetings, incentives, conferences & exhibitions). Along with this, we added travel insurance and emergency services,” says Kakkar.
Mercury Travels consciously decided to stay away from group tours and focussed only on the higher-end clients. And, with all the business centres brought together, the team chalked out an ambitious path to be a one-stop travel company. “We have created a full line service company wherein we do multiple transactions with the same customer and earn commissions at various levels from hotels, airlines, insurance and foreign exchange,” says Kakkar, elaborating further on the business model. “It’s a composite model. Hotels pass on commissions on sales. Foreign exchange, is a high volume quick-turn business, and we see a lot of growth in the long term. Also, in the business-to-enterprise section, if a company does business of, say, `400 crore with us, we charge a flat fee of about 2 per cent.”
Akshikar, who brought in a rather holistic experience of the travel business from Thomas Cook to Mercury Travels, confesses that it was a rather tough decision on his part to move to a new set-up. “After getting the right kind of people to man our various sections, the next step was to go in for optimum network to garner a good reach,” he recalls. “We went in for total repositioning of the old Mercury brand logo. After the rebranding exercise, we embarked on a major marketing and advertising campaign to be on the clients’ memory. Each year, we spent `10-15 crore on advertising across the major metros.”
Though things were falling in place, the company went through a tough time in 2008, with the major terrorist attacks at the Taj and the Oberoi Hotels. Business came to a standstill and Mercury travels bore substantial losses. “The offices were shut down and we had to operate from an external environment,” reminisces Kakkar. “It was a terrible time and we did incur losses. Clients who were supposed to come never came and we never got the dollars to pay back the bank. Lot of issues cropped up and we had to pump in a lot of money into the company. In fact, it set us back by two years. But we slowly managed to bounce back.” Mercury Travels is based on the concept: ‘Knowledge, Protection and Delivery’. These are the three pillars of the company. “People continue to be our asset,” explains Castelino. “We spent considerable time and money helping them gain countryspecific knowledge. The detailing too is important, as our experts should know even the finer nuances of destinations. Also, since we deal with high-end clients, protection and security are important. In the first year, we just sent our customers to 20-30 places where we have our contacts. Those are called familiarisation trips, which help in building knowledge. And delivery too plays a crucial role, as a single mistake can be a big disappointment. There can be many issues cropping up, sometimes here might be unavoidable circumstances too, but despite them, you have to ensure that things get done.” Broadening horizons After getting the infrastructure and the right people in place, the challenge for the team was to get the new businesses rolling. As an outbound business strategy, Mercury Travels decided to stay away from the git (group-inclusive traveller) segment. Instead, it decided to focus on the fit (free individual traveller) segment for high-end customers. Also, it soon became one of the few players who have the authorised dealer’s licence for foreign exchange, which is coveted in the industry. “The leisure outbound travel industry has been around for more than 25 years,” says Kakkar. “In 2007, it would have been a tough and challenging task for us to get into group travel, considering that there were already players like Cox & Kings, Thomas Cook, SOTC and Kesari. Also, it required huge investments. Group travel business is a ‘numbers’ business and we would have required more branches and huge advertising budgets. Also, with the economic boom in India, the emerging global trends made us realise that the leadership slot in the individual traveller segment wasn’t occupied by anybody. So, we went ahead with the positioning that was available for us,” he adds. “In my experience, I have seen that, after a few group tours, clients feel more confident to experiment and travel on their own,” Kakkar further elaborates, throwing light on the global scenario.
“Even at Thomas Cook, we used to get queries from people who had done seven countries in, say, 12 days, but then wished to do only France in two weeks. Globally, we have ‘charter travel’. Today, many charters are coming to Goa for, say, £480, all inclusive. But since India does not have a flexible aviation policy, we don’t have outbound charters.” Over time, the company managed to get into the loop, catering to major companies, as well as high-end clients like cricketers, participants in beauty pageants, industrialists and politicians, who travel exclusively through Mercury. Among its major corporate clients are Hindujas and their group companies, Indian Oil, Ashok Leyland, Indus bank, ,Gulf Oil, Samsung Canon and Ambit Corporation and hospitals. Along with outbound travel, mice has also made considerable progress. “Corporates spend a large amount of money on incentive programmes for their employees. Companies in sectors like telecom, pharma and consumer goods, request customised itineraries. Here, our sales team plays a crucial role in getting the business,” says Castelino. Unlike many smaller companies, Mercury has offices in Hamburg, Frankfurt, London, Buenos Aires, New Jersey and New York. These offices generate business from the region and also support clients going there. The ‘foreign exchange’ department complements the travel business, but is a business centre in itself. “In the early days, it was a challenge for us to set up a full-fledged foreign exchange department,” says Ajay Bhatia, who handled foreign exchange at Thomas Cook. “But, within a year and a half, we were able to upgrade our licence from ‘money changer’ to ‘authorised dealer’. Our team managed to get the documentation together and get a manual ready. As a money changer, we are restricted to few transactions only – such as business travel or leisure travel. But foreign exchange has two components – retail and wholesale,” adds Bhatia. The ratio of wholesale to retail in the foreign exchange business is generally two-third to one-third. Mercury, like Thomas Cook, is one of the few non-bank authorised dealers. Outbound and inbound businesses have their own pattern and seasonality. For ‘outbound travel’, the preferred period is April-June, while for ‘inbound’ travel, it is October-March. It’s a rather cyclical business, but this is where corporate travel and foreign exchange pitch in for the company to make it smoothly functional through the year. “During the recession of 2008 and after the terror ttacks, we only survived because of our foreign exchange business,” says Akshikar. “Though corporate travel and inbound were down, our outbound travellers were taking foreign exchange from us. In the foreign exchange business, the turnover in 2007 was about `20 crore, which has grown to nearly `700 crore in the current year. It is exponential growth.” Expansion drive Now, in its second phase, Mercury has chalked out an ambitious plan to move forward. The company has embarked on a distribution drive of distinct travel products and modules to travel agents across the country. With these modules, the Class A category of travel agents are also authorised to sell Mercury Holidays.
“In the leisure outbound business, we have country-specific
modules and detailed brochures are distributed to our individual customers,” says
Kakkar. “These have been created with a lot of care and with the help of our
country specialists. If you have a 12 day trip to Spain and Italy, then a
three-day trip for you in Venice as well as three days each in Rome and Milan
have all been planned out. It has also been worked out whether you want to
spend $100 or $300 per day in sightseeing and shopping. The next product we’re
looking at is linked to convergence technology. Everything will soon converge
onto that one device – be it Internet, social media, mobile commerce. We want travel
to be a part of it.”
The Mercury team is also pondering over acquisitions and
mergers as a way to move forward. Recently, they acquired a small company named
Teztair travel, who brought their people and specialists with them. “We are in
discussion with a UK company too, with the idea of acquiring it,” reveals
Kakkar. “Also, we have purchased a stake in Explore Travel Channel and have a
joint venture with Mercury Himalayan Exploration (MHE), which is headed by
Narendra Kumar, a retired colonel and one of India’s best mountaineers, who has
many Everest exploits to his credit. We own about 40 acres near Haridwar, where
we offer adventure sports, white water rafting, skiing and trekking right up to
Everest base camp. In fact, we have our own cottages and tent camps next to
river Ganga. Some of our programmes are popular. MHE also conducts ice hockey
tournaments and Himalayan rallies.”
So, where does the company see itself three years from now?
“We plan to take our annual profits to about `40 crore by then,” says Akshikar.
“The scenario in the air travel arena being what it is and considering what’s
happening in the airline industry, one wouldn’t want to hazard a guess. But, the
stated objective is that we would like our turnover to touch `3,000 crore in
the next five years. Our ambition is to be among the top three players in India
– currently, we are one of the top Five – along with Cox & Kings, Thomas
Cook, Kuoni India and Carlson Wagonlit.” “Actually, we’re the second player after
Thomas Cook, if we take in all the four segments together,” contends Akshikar,
considering another point of view. “Carlson, which is one of the biggest
players in the corporate travel side, doesn’t focus on the other services; Cox
& Kings is into leisure in a big way, but is small in corporate travel and
foreign exchange; Kuoni exists only in outbound, has a separate division for
corporate travel and are almost non-existent in foreign exchange. To add to
that, for the fifth year in a row, we have been clocking a 23 per cent growth
rate.”
So, does the company plan to go public in the near future?
“It’s too early for us to go public now,” replies Kakkar. “Perhaps, later...
maybe about five years from now, when we have grown considerably in size.” The
economically volatile atmosphere and inflation does affect the inflow of
tourists and their ability to buy. “With the rupee weak and the dollar and euro
so strong, the propensity of people to buy goes down. A tourist may have bought
$1,000, when it was priced `45, but today, he would buy just $650. Also,
international airfares have gone up considerably, pushing up the package price by,
say, 20 per cent. But, fortunately, since we are dealing with highend customers,
we’re still clocking profits,” elaborates Kakkar. With airlines cutting
commissions and people shifting to online booking, the nature of the travel
business has changed dramatically. “But, at Mercury Travels, we have changed
our business model by charging transaction fees and management fees to
customers, and implementing better buying,” says Castelino. “As far as online
booking is concerned, only simple, pointto-point travel is ticketed on the Web.
Nevertheless, we have also invested in technology, which will enable us to
undertake b2e (business to enterprise transactions) online. Thus, any which way
the situation changes, we are geared to handle it.” In the outbound segment,
Mercury plans to open up more offices in different countries. “It’s all about relationship
management – which needs to be co-ordinated at various levels,” says Castelino.
“The customised itinerary has to pack the best experience and, for this, we
work closely with all the National Tourism Boards. We have recently done jointpromotions with Australia, Switzerland, Japan, Ireland,
Korean, Canada, Sydney and Singapore.”
Product training continues to be an important element for
the company. Employees are encouraged to attend the courses designed by each national
tourism board to get certified. “People are our real assets and it’s the
passion for the business that drives it. The challenge is always finding the
right people, who are ready to upgrade themselves, learn, acquire knowledge and
build contacts,” contends Kakkar.
Malaysia’s beautiful rainforests with its glorious vistas, verdant
undulating terrain and varied tropical landscapes offer vast possibilities to
adventure and nature lovers. From challenging rock climbing to cross-jungle
trekking, from rafting in frothing rivers to canopy walking 100 feet above the
earth, Malaysia’s rainforests have it all.
The
tropical rainforests in Malaysia were blessed with a location far from the
ravages of the earth’s ice ages that they developed much earlier than the other
equatorial rainforests in Africa and South America. More than half of
Malaysia’s 329,758 sq km surface is covered by tropical rainforests. Evolving
for over 150 million years, they display an amazing diversity of flora and
fauna, some rare and endemic.
The
Malaysian rainforests are indisputably the oldest in the world and its national
parks are treasure troves of its natural heritage. Endowed with high and even
temperature as well as abundant rainfall throughout the year, it is the perfect
haven for plant and animal species including approximately 210 mammal species,
620 bird species, 250 reptile species and 150 frog species.
From the primordial
rainforest of Taman Negara to the wildlife sanctuaries at Danum Valley and the
Kinabatangan flood plains in Sabah, Malaysia’s ancient forests offer nature
lovers a wealth of experiences.
Taman Negara, in Peninsular
Malaysia, is the largest national park in Malaysia at 4,343 sq km. The forests
of Taman Negara are reputed to be the oldest in the world and were already
flourishing when the world’s tectonic plates were still moving fast, forming
the continents that we now know.
Today, Taman Negara is well
established as one of the most popular ecotourism destinations in Malaysia. It
attracts thousands of local and international travellers who love wildlife
viewing, jungle trekking, hiking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, fishing,
camping etc.
With a tropical, humid
climate and temperatures averaging 30°C, Taman Negara is open throughout the
year. It is home to some rare mammals including the Indochinese Tiger, Sumatran
Rhinoceros, Malayan Gaur and Asian Elephant. Some must-do experiences here are
the canopy walk, a trek on Bukit Teresek, a visit to the Lata Berkoh Park and a
cave exploration of Gua Telinga.
The states of Sabaha and
Sarawak in East Malaysia occupy about 26% of the island of Borneo. The vast
rainforests of Borneo are an intriguing world of animal kingdoms, mystical
prehistoric caves, lofty mountains and amazing underwater gardens.
Known
as the Land Below the Wind, much of Sabah remains forested. Kota Kinabalu, the
capital, is a vibrant city on Sabah’s west coast and the gateway to
eco-adventures like mountain climbing, white-water rafting, caving, diving and
river cruising. The Kinabalu National Park, located in northwest Sabah, is
Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to the 4095-metre Mount
Kinabalu, Southeast Asia’s highest peak, it has one of the world’s largest
collections of flora and fauna.
Sarawak,
the Land of the Hornbills is the country’s largest state and is characterised
by distinctive ethnic groups, many of whom still live in riverside settlements.
Kuching, the capital, is located on the Sarawak River. The waterfront and Main
Bazaar features old shop-houses selling local pepper, artefacts, antiques,
birds’ nests and exotic forest products. Sarawak’s verdant jungles are strewn
with massive natural formations, the world’s largest cave chambers and vast
endemic flora and fauna. The Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, is a treasure trove of vertical cliffs, jagged limestone pinnacles,
intricate cave networks and over 20,000 animals and 3,500 plant species.
Among the best periods to go trekking in Peninsular
Malaysia is the ’dry season‘ from March to September when the rainfall is low and
best time to visit Sabah and Sarawak is the ‘wet season’ which is from July to
October.
Discover, enjoy and release
your stress within the most amazing beauty of nature. Explore the wonder of
nature in Malaysia and enjoy the adventures that unfold. The 150 million years
old virgin rainforest awaits you.
Go see a movie with friends or rent one and make some
popcorn as it will be a whole lot cheaper and you can talk during the movie.
Go to the mall and spend some cash. Nothing passes the time for me better than
shopping Try not to spend too much
money on things you don’t really need like I do.
Go to your nearest bookstore and pick up a book that you
have been wanting to read. Go home.. light
a candle and relax with a warm throw blanket, your robe and the fireplace on. If you don’t have a fireplace then buy that
video that looks a fireplace on your tv
Watch TV… I know you probably do this all the time and you
want some different ideas but I had to throw this one in there.. Try watching a
different station than you normally watch
Play an indoor sport with some friends like racquetball or
table tennis. Throw a few beers in the
mix and you have hours to act goofy and have some fun
Play a board game or work on a puzzle. Nothing says fun like a bit of Scrabble
>Add yourself to some new sites. If you’ve never gone on Ebay and seen what it
was about.. Sign yourself up and do a little browsing. You can also go on Facebook, Twitter, UStream,
Youtube,MySpace or millions of others. Try
adding random people and maybe you might meet your new best friend
Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you have to stay
inside.. Put on some waterproof gear and bring your camera to take pictures of
the creepy crawlies you don’t see when it’s sunny outside.. Bring a friend
along and compare pics.
Go on a hike if you like that sort of thing. I personally don’t… well it’s not that I
don’t its just that I’m lazy.. Pack a
lunch and a friend and make
sure to dress warm.
This way you don’t get too hot and there won’t be many people on the
trail.
Have a tent party! Ask
your friends to bring over their tents, sleeping bags, tarps, food and b.y.o.b
and pitch your tents in your back yard if you have one. If you don’t then just make some blanket
tents and lots of pillows.. You could play some bored games, video games, paint
each others toe nails, play drinking games, watch scary movies or just talk
about old times..
If you have any more suggestions on what you can do in the
rain we would love to hear it… Please leave a comment below..
Is the rain-soaked countryside your idea of a beautiful landscape? Do you think an invigorating trek in the hills interspersed with gushing waterfalls is the perfect monsoon break? Is sipping a hot cup of tea at a roadside eatery as raindrops gently caress your face just what you want to do this monsoon?
Read on to know where you can indulge in all this and more at 10 of the best monsoon weekend getaways near Mumbai.
Karnala: Lush greenery dotted with gurgling streams and waterfalls await naturalists and picnickers just 60 km from Mumbai. “The panoramic view of the rain-drenched Sahyadri Mountains and waterfalls from the Karnala Fort are a sight to behold. We rounded off our trip with a visit to the Karnala bird sanctuary!” says Rishi, a software consultant who has lived in Ohio for five years and visited Karnala for the first time.
Mulshi: A quick getaway that’s a three-hour drive from Mumbai, Mulshi Dam and its scenic surroundings are the perfect destination in the monsoons. Indulge in a trek in the Hattihant and Pagota hill ranges, drive around or enjoy boating in the Mulshi Lake.
Malshej Ghat: “Explore the Sahyadri Mountains at Malshej,” says avid trekker Prashant, an accountant residing in New York for 10 years. “If you’re lucky you could spot rabbits, peacocks, leopards and the elusive tiger. A visit to Khireshwar to see the flamingos and climb the famous Harishchandragad Fort make for an exciting fun-filled weekend in the rains,” he adds.
Lohgad Fort: Take a train to Lonavala and another one from there to Malavli to head for Lohgad Fort, an absolute trekker’s delight. The view from the top includes the Tung and Tikona hills, Duke’s Nose and the Pavana Dam. “You are literally swept off your feet at The Wind Spot, at the entrance of the fort! Two days spent on the Visapur trek exploring the Karla and Bhaje Caves make it an action-packed weekend,” says Sneha, a lawyer and travel aficionado for whom Chicago has been home for three years now.
Kashid: Located on SH60 is a sleepy village town where silken sands of an arched shoreline, nestled in the hills against a blue-white facade await you. A stroll on the beach as the gentle drizzle comes down, doing nothing else but indulging in delicious seafood – monsoon weekends at Kashid are that lazy and laid back.
Lonavala: If you’re looking for a walk in the clouds in the monsoons without getting too far away from Mumbai you should head for Lonavala. The MTDC Resort at Karla is a comfortable place to stay at a reasonable price. Be prepared for a madding crowd at the Koraigad Fort on a rain-drenched Sunday after splashing about at the Bhushi Dam on Saturday.
Matheran: A mere 100 km from Mumbai this picturesque hill station is a delight to visit. Panorama Point, Porcupine Point and One Tree Hill offer some picturesque views of the surrounding hills and valleys. A boat ride in the Charlotte Lake and a trek up Mount Berry are other things you can do.
Murud-Janjira: A drive along picturesque beaches and palm fringed pathways, followed by a jetty ride – and the historic Janjira Fort stands before you. Explore every nook and cranny for it took 22 years to build, and don’t forget to stop at the Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary and the Nawab’s Palace!
Kihim Beach: A fun-filled weekend in the rains at this spot includes exploring the Kankeshwar Temple and the Colaba Fort, playing cricket and beach volleyball, and indulging in a little bit of lazing around. Stay away from swimming though.
Nagoan: A 120 km from Mumbai is an excellent weekend getaway option. Strolling on the beach, lounging around and feasting on healthy organic food amidst lush greenery, Nagoan is the stuff restful weekends are made of.
The monsoons are considered off-season on the tourist circuit, and you can get some great deals at this time. Do you enjoy traveling in the rains? Have you been on a scenic, monsoon getaway from Mumbai?
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