“Hyderabad Convention Visitors Bureau (HCVB) will take Hyderabad to the World & bring the World to Hyderabad” said the newly appointed CEO, Jalil (Gary) Khan on the launch of this one stop shop, Hyderabad destination promotion body. “My top most responsibility is to be Hyderabad’s brand ambassador & that explains my overall role too” he added.
Mr. Khan, a 23 year veteran of United Airlines based in California, returns to his native Hyderabad to head the HCVB. He brings with him a wealth of experience in global marketing and networking.
Speaking on the occasion, Paul Archer, President elect of HCVB said that ‘Hyderabad, a 400 year old city, rich with history & culture is now well recognized as the Convention Capital of India with infrastructure & support services already in place like the World-class & award winning GMR led Airport, International class, purpose built Convention & Exhibition Centre’s that can accommodate up-to 6500 delegates, hotel rooms with capacity across all different categories to suit all budgets, well experienced PCO’s, ground transport & road network and above all, the positive, progressive and unified mindset of all the stakeholders involved who are eager to let the World know of the ‘whole of City’s’ ability to deliver exceptional & memorable World class event experience’.
Treasurer of HCVB was equally upbeat & said that apart from excellent domestic connectivity to 25 domestic cities, Hyderabad is well connected by air to 16 international destinations across South East Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America. There are 125 flights per week to international destinations from Hyderabad which are served by 13 airlines. Moreover, excellent, state-of-the art facilities at the airport provide convenient & hassle-free travel for the passengers travelling out of Hyderabad.
“Government of Andhra Pradesh (whose Capital city is Hyderabad), is delighted to be the founding partner in the formation of HCVB & supports this industry initiative which is in tune with the Tourism policy of the State” added Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary Tourism & Youth Affairs.
“With HCVB now in full swing, we have created a single platform where Convention & Exhibition buyers such as associations, association management companies (AMC’s), MICE & meeting planners can expect to have all the possible assistance extended to them, to enable them to choose our city as the destination for their events” , he said.
HCVB is an initiative brought together by the various segments of the tourism industry in Hyderabad, for one purpose – to promote brand Hyderabad as a friendly, affordable & convenient destination, which will attract mega events, conferences, conventions & exhibitions. The ‘whole of city’ comes forward to welcome a prospective client in order to promote, attract, bid & secure their event for the city.
Its aim is to pro-actively showcase brand Hyderabad as a preferred destination by communicating with the external World through attending specialist trade shows, organizing road shows, site visits and collaborate with other bodies to further the objectives.
To an incoming prospective meeting planner or a corporate client, it will provide a single window of information & facilitate the destination & venue selection process extending its unified services. Individual hotels, airport, convention & exhibition centers, travel agencies & the local Government have contributed to become it’s members thus making it a public-private partnership (PPP) model. A not for profit association, registered under the society’s act and has put in place its byelaws with a clear mandate with an elected executive board for governance.
According to Paul, “winning Conventions into your city has a ‘multiplier effect’ on the local economy and acts as a growth engine to drive tax generation, local employment, shopping of local specialties like art & handicraft, ground transport, guides and monuments and touches almost all constituents of the local community in one or another way. Conventions provide the highest spending tourists. Apart from economic, there are social & cultural benefits as well as it brings communities & people together”.
No wonder, that prominent players like the GMR’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, deluxe hotels like Westin with it’s large & MICE favorable room inventory, Marriott hotel & Convention Centre, Ista Hotel, Leonia Resort & convention center, HITEX Exhibition center, Novotel Hotel & Hyderabad International Convention centre (HICC), PCO’s like KW Conferences and Conferences & Incentives Management (CIM) saw the rational behind HCVB & promptly pooled in their resources thus becoming key stakeholders & founding members in the progressive wheel of Brand Hyderabad and tourism India.
Arjun Narne, secretary of HCVB had kept the best for last when he remarked, “planning your next event or a convention? Choose Hyderabad, contact HCVB & save appr. 20% project cost compared with other metro cities in India & even more when compared to many other cities of the World”.
