Official engagements of Padmaja Kumari Mewar of Udaipur
Ms. Padmaja Kumari Mewar of Udaipur visits London for the yearly World Travel Market (WTM)
HRH Group of Hotels participated at the WTM that took place from the 9-12th November 2009 at Excel, a major Exhibition Centre in the City of London.
This event, held annually in London presents a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to the UK and international travel professionals. Exhibitors represented 187 countries and regions within the UK, Europe, Ireland, the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. It was expected that attendance figures would exceed the 49,000 visitors who attended the exhibition.
The Indian Ministry of Tourism has been regularly attending WTM with participation of State Governments and the Travel Industry as co-exhibitors. This year the layout of the India Pavilion was attractively designed to promote the Commonwealth Games being held in New Delhi in 2010.
Mr. Kunal Singh, Sales Manager, Udaipur, Ms. Sabina Bailey, Public Affairs and Marketing Consultant, London and Mr. Yashwant Singh Jadeja, General Manager, Sales USA joined Ms. Padmaja Kumari Mewar of Udaipur at the exhibition.
From left: Mr. Yashwant Sinh Jadeja,
Ms. Padmaja Kumari Mewar of Udaipur
Ms. Sabina Bailey and Mr. Kunal Singh Chawra
Ms. Padmaja Kumari Mewar of Udaipur
with a guest at WTM
Ms. Padmaja Kumari Mewar of Udaipur and Mr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur attend Maharaja Representation and Reality, a seminar at the V & A
As part of a programme of events following the opening of a major exhibition at the V & A, Maharaja, The splendor of India's Royal Courts, Ms. Padmaja Kumari Mewar of Udaipur and Mr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur attended a panel discussion on India's heritage industry held at the Museum in London on Saturday the 21st November. Ms. Deepika Ahlawat, Research Curator, Asian Department chaired the discussion along with Ms. Barbara Ramusack, Professor Emerita from the Department of History, University of Cincinnati. 100 guests including academics, art collectors and India aficionados attended a lively discussion that covered a number of issues on how heritage has been used as an asset in today's India and how it is being re-presented and re-packaged by the tourism industry.
From left: Mr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur,
Ms. Padmaja Kumari Mewar of Udaipur,
Professor Barbara Ramusack and Ms. Deepika Ahlawat
The survival and respect for the traditions of Kingship in India without political power, how it is perceived now and how today's generation will administer the work of the Trusts and shoulder social responsibility was the main focus of the evening's discussion. Both Ms. Padmaja Kumari Mewar of Udaipur and Mr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur captivated their audience and spoke eloquently on the subject and covered a wide number of other issues that included
.The incredible India campaign and how, despite the continuing influence of Nehruvian socialism, it is royal India and the mythic idea of the maharaja that is used to market Incredible India
· The selling of the fantasy of princely lifestyle to the middle class tourist through short-term accessible heritage travel packages.
· The important revival of royal festivals and traditional ceremonies as a way of preserving heritage traditions as well as offering spectacle to visitors highlighting specifically the festival of Holi in Udaipur
· How the successful marketing and selling of maharaja-style weddings in palace hotels has burgeoned with the attendant industries of wedding couture and jewellery.