Sandra Polo Canudas
Which are the most popular hotels for Indian travellers?
In the Palladium Hotel Group, most popular hotels in the Indian market are Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel in Ibiza as well as Hard Rock Hotel, also at Ibiza. These are the top two, then the third one would be the Grand Palladium Palace Ibiza and Grand Palladium White Island also set in Ibiza and in the happening area of Playa d’enBossa. Ibiza is very popular in the Indian market and it has picked up very much in the later years.
Do you have exact numbers for the pre-pandemic year and the post-pandemic year?
You can actually not compare because the number of arrivals from the Indian clients in 2022, as this year is not comparable to 2019 since India reopened only from April onwards. We also have to take into account the visa delays for Europe. Though the Spanish visa has been very successful actually and has been the fastest one in Europe, but visa is another reason why we cannot compare the numbers. But if we compare the numbers, let us say the percentage of the incoming arrivals from the Indian market to Spain, then we have to say that we even increased our share from 2019. So we are very happy. Thus, we expect 2023 to be quite better.
What is your plan for the Indian market in 2023?
We are doing quite a few new things. This year already we have been very active in the market or as much as active as we could. I have to say that even before opening we were already here, doing two trade events in Tier I cities, at the end of March, and again at the beginning of April, that was our first trip for reconnecting with the trade. Now we are here, doing the second round, doing different things as well. We don’t like to do the same things as we did before pre-pandemic. Palladium Hotel Group is also known for some experiences, for entertainment. And that’s what we are focused on, to do different things that gives certain experience to our trade partners. That is what we are focussed on.
How have the numbers for Palladium group been in 2022, as compared to 2019?
The numbers have been better than 2019 but I cannot give you the numbers. I have to say that there was a forecast already for, when we went to Fitur in Madrid earlier this year, and the demand was there. The offer as much as possible was there as well. The only thing was that some markets could not travel like the case with India, but we could see the demand coming in, in terms of traffic. It turned to be true with all those countries that started travelling. It has been kind of a boom because everyone wanted to travel. Imagine that we usually do the opening parties in Ibiza, which used to happen at the end of May. So, this year, we started in April, a month in advance. And it was full.
Which segment of travellers are you targeting in India?
We are currently focussing on FIT travellers because we are into the premium luxury segment. So we are focussing on FITs, honeymooners, families as well because we also have families in all our hotels. For example the Grand Palladium properties are very much loved by families. These are all-inclusive properties and they just love having everything included. MICE but for small groups in Spain: not in the case of Mexico for example. In Mexico we have FITs as well, but also we have a lot of Indian weddings happening in Cancun.
How important is the Indian wedding market for Palladium?
It is very important. It is working very good in Mexico. For me, weddings are very special event. Not everybody can work on weddings in a hotel if you do not have experience with it or you do not have contact with Indians themselves.
We work along with an Indian company which is based in the USA. We work very much closer together with the team that is sitting in Mexico. Everything is already coordinated. We work very well together, and there are lots of Indian weddings happening there.
In the Palladium Hotel Group, most popular hotels in the Indian market are Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel in Ibiza
Which Indian cities are you targetting?
We are targetting Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. We are targeting key cities like Delhi and Mumbai. We have also been working in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad, in most of the tier 2 cities. Not all of them, as we did not have time. It has been only since this year that we have started to reconnect with travel trade physically. But for 2023, there is a programme which we will be targetting even more of the Tier 2 cities.
So what kind of response have you received?
A very good response. I am very surprised. For example we just came from Ahmedabad and it is incredible, the response of the travel trade in general. Also in Mumbai the knowledge that they have about the products. We are also getting the knowledge of all the different properties even from the brands. We also get to know about the products. We have booking from all the travel agencies we have visited and the small events that we have done for the top sellers and we are very happy with the response. They believe in the product and they are confident with the product. And if they are confident with the product, that means we are doing good. So, we are very glad about that.
Has there been a change in Indian travellers’ habits after the pandemic?
I think something has changed, not only in India but all over the world. What happened is that we had more time to really get into the information that we were receiving, because everything was stopped. So I think that there has been a change in mindset. People have started to think that in one destination there are more things to see, than they had thought. This has been digested now when people could have more time, because before they were circling like a wheel, it was non-stop, with no time to stop and think and digest information. Now, we have the time to think and digest. So people have realised that instead of visiting many places in Europe, they say I am going to stay in one place and then revisit the other destination.
So, we have seen a change in this, because when we started in the Indian market, the usual stay used to be two nights. We started to say that it is not enough, because, by the time you reach and the time you leave, you have only been there 24 hours which is not enough if you want to experience a destination. Now, the minimum number of nights is three. So, there has been a change. Now, tourists think that two nights is not enough.
