The 38th IATO Annual Convention was held in the beautiful city of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad) in Maharashtra. While the majestic Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves were on everybody's minds, The WelcomHotel by ITC Hotels Rama International provided a befitting backdrop for this significant convention and its activities.
The inaugural function saw classical Maharashtrian dance performances, followed by remarkable speeches from Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, and the other esteemed dignitaries, such as Ambadas Eknathrao Danve, Leader of Opposition, Maharashtra Legislative Council; Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; and Radhika Rastogi, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department, Government of Maharashtra.
Danve expressed delight at IATO's choosing Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city for the annual convention. With a rich history and culture, there are many more offerings that tourists can explore. He said he was hopeful that the convention would boost tourist arrivals in the city once again. The IATO Hall of Fame Awards were presented to Nakul Anand, Executive Director, ITC Hotels, and the veteran Syed Salimuddin, Director, Aurangabad Transport Syndicate, for their outstanding contribution to the tourism industry.
The second day saw high anticipation with an estimated 900 delegates from across India, including IATO members, government officials, state representatives, industry leaders, hospitality professionals, and travel trade media. This strong presence made the business sessions a valuable knowledge-sharing opportunity.
This story is from the November 2023 edition of Travel Trade Journal.
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This story is from the November 2023 edition of Travel Trade Journal.
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