The South Asian Digital Travel Conversation is a digital conversation organized by the South Asian Travel Awards to discuss in-depth, to create awareness and to voice the challenges that are being faced in the Travel Trade & Hospitality Industry of the South Asian region.
The conversation has been purposefully designed as a series, spread across multiple episodes of 45 minutes each, with special guests from the South Asian region’s Travel Trade & Hospitality Industry. Each episode will highlight a specific topic, and industry professionals will be sharing their voice with regional factual data.
The conversation will be guided by a moderator who will ask questions based on the topic of the day, and the guests will share their views, experiences, opinions and hindrances. The show will be viewed live on Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/SATAawards) every Saturday at 1130 GMT and a rerun will be telecasted on Raajje Television at 1830 GMT. Different episodes will be presented with diverse industry stakeholders and moderators.
Episode Eight will be hosted by the VP of South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) Mr Suraj Khan and News Director – International Affairs of Raajje TV, Aishath Shaany. The topic of episode five is; Boating Holidays during the New Normal
Guests for Episode 08 are:
Ahmed Afrah - President, National Boating Association of Maldives
Ahmed Afrah is the current President of the National Boating Association of Maldives (NBAM). He is a founder of the association and has served actively on the executive board and management team over the past decade. Additionally, Afrah is the Executive Director of Canopus Maldives, one of the leading safari operators in the country that owns and operates luxury yacht – Dhinasha. Afrah is also the Managing Director of Canopus Retreats, a leading guesthouse developer in Maldives. Afrah has over 13 years’ experience, along with a Master’s degree in International Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management & Marketing.
Gautama Dutta - Executive Committee Member of the Indian Marine Federation
Gautama started his business over 14 years ago building the first yacht marinas in India at Marina India Infrastructure. He then ventured into India's leading boating company offering luxury yachts, commercial vessels, military crafts and marine equipment as the CEO & Director of Marines Solutions. Additionally, he is the Director of Marinetek India, where he has been able to create a globally renowned brand of floating pontoons for marinas and commercial harbours. Gautama is one of India’s prominent yachtsmen, a national champion and Asian medallist who has led an active life at sea.
Scaria Jose - Director, Spice Routes Luxury Cruises
Scaria Jose is the Director of Spice Routes Luxury Cruises, top class house boats from Alleppey which was established in 2009. The company now owns seven luxury house boats ranging from 1 bedroom to 5 bedrooms. Furthermore, Scaria is also the Director of Carmelia Haven Hotels & Resorts, an eco-friendly resort set amidst a tea and cardamom plantation. Scaria is also the Treasurer at Kerala Travel Mart - India's largest tourism Buyer-Seller mart. With over 18 years of experience in the Hospitality Industry Scaria Jose is a well know figure in the region.
Alexander Bryant – Managing Director, Emperor Divers Fleet
Alex is the Managing Director of Emperor Divers Maldives & Indonesia. He has been overlooking Emperor Divers growth in the region. Alex is heavily involved in product development; looking for new boats, new destinations and new markets. He has a demonstrated a strong history of working in the hospitality industry and is skilled in Customer Service, Hotel Management, Entrepreneurship, Business Development, and Marketing Strategy, with a Master of Science (MSc) focused in Business Venturing from the University of Southampton.
The South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) is the first ever regional Travel Award endorsed by Multi National Associations providing the Tourism sector of the South Asian Region with recognition towards their facilities and service excellence. The South Asian Travel Awards aims to encourage and raise service standards within the regions of the Tourism industry. The brand is one of its kind with affiliations from regional associations ensuring the process within a smooth and transparent procedure. The judging panel consists of high profile senior representatives selected from destinations with vast knowledge and background of the industry to assure an accurate and fair process. SATA is a Highrise concept. The SATA Team have proudly unveiled their platinum partner as Gulf Craft Maldives and Gold Partner as The Hawks Pvt Ltd and look forward to host the prestigious South Asian Travel Awards Grand Gala in the Maldives by the last quarter of 2020.