Sunset at SKICC, Srinagar

Leisure Corp Proves Kashmir To Be An Excellent MICE Destination

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Industry Watch | February 23, 2016 | Feature

Leisure Corp

Leisure Corp has in recent months achieved great success in organising MICE programs in Kashmir. With the help of the government, which is pushing the picturesque valley as a MICE destination, corporates are now increasingly finding it easier to organise events here.

On what Kashmir has to offer, Naveen Kundu, Founder & MD, Leisure Corp said, “Kashmir offers excellent infrastructure for tourism, and allows for 3000 passengers to arrive on a single day, not something a lot of hill stations can boast of. This is the only hill station in India where almost all domestic airlines operate flights.”

Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg all have convention centres equipped with facilities to ensure that meetings, conferences and events can run smoothly.

Kundu remarked, “Everyone around the destination benefits, be it hotels, shikara walas, houseboats, small apple and walnut selling vendors, or local transporters - every one grows when MICE business increases in a particular destination, as this brings in volume.”

A Leading bank recently organised an incentive trip to Kashmir, attended by around 150 senior management and branch heads from across the country. Leisure Corp managed both aspects of the trip - event and travel. The Kashmir incentive was a 3 nights, 4 days trip. The group landed in Srinagar on Feb 4, and headed to Gulmarg, where they stayed at the exquisite Khyber Hotel which was fully blocked for the group. A welcome dinner was organised, followed by Karaoke and a DJ act. Activities including a gondola ride were organised around Gulmarg over the next 2 days.

The group then went on to Srinagar and checked in at The Lalit Palace Srinagar. An evening event was organised here to promote in-house talent. This included a performance by bank's in-house band. In addition to activities in Srinagar including a Shikara ride and a tour of the city, a business session was organised on Feb 6 at SKICC Auditorium, followed by an Awards ceremony in the Ballroom. The night concluded with a 2-hour Sufi act by Daler Mehendi. After breakfast on Feb 8, the group checked out, refreshed by the many experiences infused through the three days. 

A big challenge successfully overcome by the agency was airport transfers at the high security Srinagar Airport. 

Appreciating the role the Tourism department played in helping with the trip, Kundu said, “Secretary of Tourism, Farooq Ahmad Shah and the management of SKICC, including the Director Yasmeen Khan, and Manager of Marketing Shahnawaz Shah, have played a key role in organizing the MICE conference on Saturday.”

Encouragement from these quarters has enabled Leisure Corps to hold three conferences in the state in the last three months, while the next one is scheduled for March.

Kundu is optimistic about what the future holds. He observed, “Besides conferences, holding congresses here can change the dynamics of tourism and the economy. Conferences witness 200 to 300 high-end tourists arrive, but Congresses see 2000 to 3000 people come in. Support from the government and cooperation from tour operators are essential for boosting this sector, and I believe the department is ensuring this happens.”