MUSCAT -- Explore Malaysia, China, Switzerland and many more destinations at reasonable rates. With the launch of Khimji's House of Travel (KHOT) yesterday, the Khimji Ramdas group announced the flagship venture for travel and tourism business services, which will focus on all travel related engagements including domestic and international air travel, holiday packages, inbound tours, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference & Exhibitions) and corporate and leisure services.
The KHOT is currently conducting a special promotion for all its premium class customers (First and Business Class) with a 30 per cent discount on purchase of Samsonite product from Khimji's Luxury and Lifestyle showrooms in Oman. With Ramadhan and Eid round the corner, KHOT will offer special packages during this period for all its customers.
Having partnerships with leading names in the travel and tourism business services including Costa Crociere, SOTC, Kuoni Travel, Gulliver's Travel and Tour East the KHOT offers a wide range of special cruise and several other services in the travel and tourism sector. According to Cashio Vettom, Divisional Manager of KHOT, "the venture is well positioned to offer the best-in-class customised solutions for the best deals, to satisfy the growing needs of individual and corporates in all facets of the travel and tourism services." KHOT is the General Sales Agent in Oman for Costa Crociere as well as SOTC.
Costa Crociere is one of the leading European cruise operators with 60 years of history. In 2008 Costa Crociere carried a total of about 96,000 cruise guests, a record for the European cruise industry. Its fleet, Europe's largest and most advanced, has a total of 14 ships in service and 3 on order. All of the vessels fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean.
KHOT will promote a wide range of special cruise offers to its customers with this partnership. SOTC is a leading brand of Kuoni Travel Group, India's largest travel and tourism company. SOTC has carried over a million customers around the globe and the appreciation of their services, especially their Coach Tours and Incentive Tours have resulted in many accolades over the years.
KHOT will also offer to the people in Oman, the popular SOTC Coach Tours conducted in Europe, USA, Far East, China, Australia among other regions, around the world. Highlighting the new venture M C Jose, CEO of Projects and Logistics at Khimji Ramdas said, "We are poised to become a big player in the travel and tourism market space.
With a well structured business plan and a team of qualified professionals, we are confident to provide the highest levels of quality in supporting customer engagements and become a benchmark for industry standards. The KHOT team comprises highly-seasoned professionals with more than a decade of experience, to meet the needs of discerning clientele across Oman and beyond."
Outlining KHOT's growth strategy Cashio said, "The potential for growth in the travel and tourism sector in Oman has increased manifold over the years. In the coming months, we will strive to be the preferred service provider for both inbound and outbound travel both in the domestic and international arenas. We have opened two new offices in the Central Business District (CBD) and at Madinat Qaboos to serve our client needs. Besides these two locations, branch offices will be operational in Salalah and Sohar by the end of the year."
Pankaj Khimji, Director of Khimji Ramdas said, "The KHOT has acquired Aries Travels, an IATA approved travel agency in Oman with 20+ years of experience. This new beginning marks our quest for leadership in the travel and tourism industry in Oman. Our offering of innovative travel solutions will ensure positive customer experiences which will be supported by our tie-ups with leading global players from the industry." He asserted that developing local talent at all levels in this high growth industry would contribute to our continuing endeavour to enhance Omanisation levels in our country. "With a near total strength of 3,000 employees the group boasts to have 1,300 Omani employees," he said.
By Kaushalendra S Singh
© Oman Daily Observer 2009
