CNBC Awaaz announces Travel Awards 2008 supported by Incredible India

Media News

Mumbai, June 26, 2008

In the last few years the Indian tourism Industry has witnessed an exponential growth and emerged as a key contributor to the Indian economy, this has help place the country firmly on the global travel and tourism map. To celebrate this accomplishment of the industry and honour the best in the business, CNBC Awaaz India’s No 1 Business channel has organized CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards 2008 based on an extensive study by The Nielsen Company and supported by Incredible India. The awards will serve as a definitive benchmark for the Travel & Tourism industry; Honorable Minister of Culture & Tourism- Ms. Ambika Soni will felicitate the winners for these prestigious awards on July 3, 2008 in Mumbai.

CNBC Awaaz has not only been consistently tracking the sector but also through an array of shows like the Great Indian Traveller have showcased some of the unexplored destinations of the country while Smart Shopping Caravan popularized the diversity, grandeur and beauty of the Indian handicraft. CNBC Awaaz through its shows and Travel Awards intend to bring about the best the industry has to offer.

CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards are extensively based on consumer and trade research. While the consumer research was conducted across 12 cities and 2087 respondents with the objective to not only understand the best in class destinations and service providers of the tourism industry but also provide factors that influence the choice. The trade research was conducted with the objective to understanding the most preferred destinations and ancillary services in travel & tourism industry. Based on the research 19 awards will be given out at the glittering ceremony. This year the awards also include a special category which will recognize exemplary work done by organization and individuals who have contributed exceptionally to the Indian Travel & Tourism Industry.

India is the only country that offers various categories of tourism that includes history tourism, adventure tourism, medical tourism, spiritual tourism, beach tourism etc. With increasing competition and proliferation of tourist destinations, infrastructure, tourism promotion boards, hundreds of travel and other allied services chasing the consumer, it becomes important to establish benchmarks that can help consumers and the industry. CNBC Awaaz will take the initiative to promote varied types of tourism in India by felicitating the best in the travel industry.

Commenting on the CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards 2008, Mr. Neel Chowdhury, VP-Marketing, CNBC TV18 & CNBC Awaaz said: “The CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards 2008, unlike any other industry awards, places emphasis on consumer perception and trade preferences. The competition in the sector is slowly increased with newer players venturing the market hence recognition is imperative- CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards will recognize and honor the best in the industry, which would in turn build benchmarks of performance for the various players in the Industry.”

CNBC Awaaz - India’s No 1 Business channel has taken up the initiative to recognize significant contributions made in the categories of:

Best Tourism Income Generating Project

Tourism Site Best Demonstrating Women’s Empowerment

Site with Best Eco-tourism Practices

Best NGO Engaged in Sustainable Tourism

Best Example of Community based Tourism

Methodology involved

To arrive at a fair selection process and to evolve at an accurate ranking procedure the target audience were divided into two group’s mainly general public and corporate. The entire process comprised of a detailed quantitative consumer research conducted in 12 cities and among 2087 respondents across all segments.

Categories

The following is the list of categories covered in the awards:

1. Best Travel Destination – State

2. Best State Tourism Board

3. Best Travel Destination – City

4. Best Travel Destination – Weekend Getaway- (North, West, South & East)

5. Best Travel Destination – Beach

6. Best Travel Destination – Wildlife and Nature

7. Best Travel Destination – Mountain/Hill Destination

8. Best Travel Destination – Religious Destination

9. Best Travel Destination – International

10. Best Travel Destination – Adventure Sports

11. Best Managed Historical Monument

12. Best Business Hotel

13. Best Leisure Hotel

14. Best Resort for Health and Rejuvenation

15. Best Tour Operator

16. Best Domestic Airline – Economy

17. Best Budget Airline

18. Best Domestic Airline – Business Class

19. Best International Airline

CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards 2008

Date: 3rd July 2008

Time: 6:45 pm onwards

Venue: Hotel Taj Land’s End, Mumbai

For further information, please contact:

Hanmer MS&L Communications Pvt Ltd.

Karishma Shah

Tel: 022 6752 4600 / Ext 663

e-mail: karishma@hanmermsl.com