Gill India Communications Pvt., Ltd. celebrates 11th anniversary of Today’s Traveller magazine

NEW DELHI – Gill India Communications Pvt., Ltd. (GICPL), a leading publishing house of travel and leisure magazines of international standards, today celebrated the 11th anniversary of its flagship magazine, Today’s Traveller, with a star-studded gala awards ceremony at Hotel Crowne Plaza Delhi. Mrs. Ambika Soni, Honorable Minister of Tourism & Culture, Government of India, was the chief guest.

The event unfolded with the release of the 432-page coffee-table book — Today’s Traveller The Bollywood Travel Connection by the Honorable Tourism Minister Mrs. Ambika Soni and the noted film maker Mr. Yash Chopra.

The Bollywood Travel Connection is a collector’s item, bringing together stories of Bollywood icons. It explores the synergy between Bollywood and tourism and how Bollywood can play an important role in promoting tourism in India. It brings together travel vignettes and anecdotes of today’s idols. The book further touches upon the travel experiences of celebrities and production houses vis-à-vis location shootings in India and abroad and focuses on how travel has become an integral part of their lives. The coffee-table book is a product that understands travel habits and travel needs better than any other product in the country. It showcases travel and tourism in the country by exploring different spheres of leisure and business.

The evening saw a veritable who’s who of the Indian travel trade. Managing directors, CEOs, presidents, VPs, and GMs of all leading institutions in the travel trade industry, tourism ministers and MDs of various state tourism bodies graced the occasion, with the Honourable Tourism Minister Mrs. Ambika Soni presenting the Today’s Traveller Diamond and Platinum Awards.

Mr. Yash Chopra, noted film-maker, was the proud recipient of the Today’s Traveller Diamond Award as India’s Most Successful Film-maker. He was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Pamela Chopra and his close friends and family.

Tourism Authority of Thailand won Today’s Traveller Platinum Award for Best International Family Holiday Destination of 2008. Mr. Prakit Piriyakiet, executive director of the ASEAN, South Asia and South Pacific Region, Tourism Authority of Thailand collected the award on behalf of Thailand Tourism.

Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Ambika Soni said, “When I recently went to China for an Indian festival, a senior citizen asked me if there were any Indian film stars or songs from the Bombay film industry in the festival. When I said ‘no,’ he remarked that he had grown up listening to the songs of Awara. I was very surprised to see the extent of penetration of the Indian film industry. At first, it was Asia and South-east Asia, but now Europe and the West are also looking at India, which is not only the biggest film industry, but also has quality films coming from it.”

“Last year Shah Rukh Khan joined the Incredible India campaign and recently, Aamir Khan is the brand ambassador for the Atithi Devo Bhava Campaign for the Union Ministry of Tourism. He will promote the Tourism Ministry’s efforts both for domestic and foreign tourists and increase social awareness about the needs of the domestic and foreign tourists, especially women tourists,” she added.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Yash Chopra said, “Indian films are very good brand ambassadors for India. But in that sense, every Indian who travels out of India is a brand ambassador for India”.

As the mega event brought cheer to the gathering, it was celebration time for the winners who won Today’s Traveller Awards. The award ceremony was followed by an entertainment program, which was warmly welcomed by the audience.

About Gill India Communications Pvt., Ltd.

Gill India Communications Pvt., Ltd. (GICPL) is a leading publishing house of travel and leisure magazines of international standards. Today’s Traveller, the flagship magazine, is ably supported by four other publications: Today’s Traveller Newswire — an international travel trade tabloid, Novelle — the in-house magazine of Carlson Hotels, Pharma & Health Newswire — a glossy tabloid for the pharmaceutical and medical industry, and LifestyleLiving — an upmarket design magazine, which is ready to debut on the stands by the end of this year. The company has won its 5th PATA Gold Award for Excellence in Travel Journalism, which will be presented at the PATA Travel Mart in Hyderabad in September 2008. The company’s core competence is editorial excellence and a high value on design, print and production, for which it has been recognized at various international forums.