The Indian outbound corporate incentive travel market has experienced a resurgence this year, where groups are now opting for higher-quality accommodations, as well as including more free and easy time in itineraries.
Vanessa Mehra, director, Aaryan Leisure & Holidays based in West Bengal, revealed that a significant number of her clients are now requesting for five-star international hotels, a shift from the pre-pandemic preference of four-star establishments.
She told TTGmice that corporate budgets for travel, in general, have increased and companies are now spending more on getting better quality hotels and food selections to ensure a memorable experience for delegates.
Another interesting trend she has noticed are that Indian corporates are becoming more adventurous, and are increasingly requesting for local cuisine for some of their meals, a departure from the pre-pandemic norm of all Indian cuisine meals.
Popular destinations for Mehra’s clients include South Korea and the Philippines, thanks to increased destination marketing activations by the respective national tourism boards.
Pankaj Nagpal, managing director of Mumbai-based Travstarz Global Group, added that organisers are now allocating more free time for delegates to enjoy the destination on their own dime, a departure away from densely-packed itineraries pre-Covid.
A similar observation was echoed by Jigna Shah, managing director of Golden Tours based in Mumbai. She shared that usually there will be one day in the itinerary that is designated as free and easy, allowing delegates to explore the destination themselves.
For Shah, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore were popular among her clients, due to the subventions provided in these destinations.
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