I went to attend the inaugural Belmond Hotels media event at The Imperial in Delhi. There is an interesting story behind how I went to the event but I will leave it for another day. When I did a search about the company what caught my immediate attention was that they operate the Orient Express! I was smitten and I was looking forward to the event.
I reached at the venue on time. The staff at The Imperial was really courteous as they guided me to the venue Daniell’s Tavern. Belmond representatives from Russia, Asia, South America and Europe were there. There were four tables in four corners and we could go and talk to all the ‘corners of the world.’ I had a long chat with Asni Muharam, director of sales and marketing, from Bali. For the event he was representing all the Belmond properties in Asia. He knew all the properties well. When I asked him which one was his favorite he told me I was asking a trick question!
After a long chat with Asmi I went to have a chat with Maritza Montero, regional director of sales and marketing, from Peru. It was her first trip to India. She asked me if I had been to Peru and I told her I wanted to but it is so far away and the airfare deadly expensive. She took me through all her beautiful properties in Peru. I then went to hear about the Italy properties with Elena Lamanna, area director of sales, for Italy and Mallorca.
I was at Elena’s table when Andea Filippi, executive director worldwide sales started his talk. He took us through some of the impressive properties of the hotel! He mentioned that the company was earlier know as Orient Express but they rebranded as that name didn’t adequately capture their entire portfolio. He also talked about the mega renovations the company took in the recent years. Then it was time for the lucky draw for the media. The first prize went to a girl sitting next to me. It was two nights in Bali for the winner. Elena said, “This is the lucky table.”
Then the second prize was announced and sure enough, I who never won even a pencil in a lucky draw, ended up winning four nights of stay with Belmond in Peru. Now you can imagine my situation! I have won four nights with the ultimate in luxury brand, Belmond, in a country which is on the wish list of every traveler! I told the girl who won the first prize with a laugh, “I don’t envy you!”
But the trick is I only won the stay, I have to figure out a way to reach there! Basically I need to figure out the airfare. The vouchers are valid for a year. I can only say I am going to give it my best try and see if I can reach Peru.
Congrats… Peru is a nice country. Plan a trip along with USA or Brazil/Chile etc or may be club with your pending Antarctica plan…
Let us see Shrinidhi, it will require a lot of planning! I hope I will be able to pull it off!
Congrats on your win! Very thrilling!
I will be really thrilled if I can manage the airfare!
Wow!! Hehe..that’s a great win..and, as there is a one-year time frame, I’m sure you’ll win the airfare too…or get some prestigious invitation… 🙂 feeling happy for you…
Thank you so much Maniparna, amen to what you say!
Wow congratulations ????
Thank you Archana.
Congratulations Mridula !!
Thank you Ruby though this is just half the journey, need the airfare too 😀
I wish i could visit Peru. I hear it is a beautiful place. Have an enjoyable trip.
I wish I also get visit Peru, as I need to secure the airfare too! 😀
O yes you must must must visit Peru… How can you afford to miss Machu Pichu …. its one of my ream destination… but now its your so enjoy 🙂
Subhadip I would to beg, borrow or steal the money for airfare to Peru, as I left my job in May 2015! 😀
Wow, congrats. You must be thrilled to visit Peru 🙂 Try your best to save money for plane fare. It will be an one time in a life tour.
I will try my best 😀
wowww .. congrats !!! Club it with Bolivia, ecuador , Galapagos and VOA countries 🙂 🙂
We shall see whether I reach even Peru to begin with!
Congratulations on winning. A long distance to travel though …
Indeed and tough to find! Let us see.
Wish you every luck reaching Peru and waiting for the Peru blog post…….
Thank you so much, I need the wishes!
Congratulations Mridula! We have all grown up with the story of the Incas and Machu Picchu. Am sure you’ll have a lot to explore.
If I reach there Somali.
Congratulations
Thank you 😀
Congrats.
Cheers,
Sriram & Krithiga
Thank you both.
AAAAAHHHH! How totally cool is that! I really hope you do make it there… I have a feeling you will. 🙂
Chatiali let us see. At times like these I miss my salary. But then if I were working it was a weekday event, I would not even attend it! Such is life.
Congratulations, Mridula. Will look forward to a post on it. 🙂
Lets see, I am not even sure if I will go there.
Mridula,
Now that what hoteliers like us do 🙂 gimmick marketing ! hahha ! Well Go and travel I m sure you will find some way to airlines.. Take Chhavi on beaches! She will love it 🙂
That is a nice gimmick though 😀 Whether I go or not, remains to be seen!
I Spent 18 days in Peru few years back. If you go, plan to visit Lake Titicaca and spend a night with locals on Amanti island. Kayak is showing $1500 roundtrip Delhi-Lima fare in July, 2016. Good luck.
Thanks for the insight Atul.