07/10/2003

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Lalit Suri MP as the first Chairman of the WTTC India Initiative. The decision to elect a Chairman, whose role will be to oversee and assist the goals of the Initiative, comes at a time when WTTC is at its most active in India.

Mr Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President of WTTC, explains that "WTTC has been working in India for almost four years and we have evolved enormously in that time. In order for the Initiative to continue gathering momentum we have taken the decision to appoint a Chairman. I am delighted that Mr Suri has accepted this position, which will come into effect on 1 January 2004 for a period of six months. We have made a decision to rotate the role of the Chairperson which will change every six months as this will ensure the neutrality of the Council, which is a key component of our success. Mr Yogesh Chandra will continue as the Secretary General of this Initiative and I will continue to visit twice annually."

The WTTC India Initiative was launched in February 2000 under the patronage of Mr PRS Oberoi, a Global Member of WTTC. The Initiative now represents twenty-three Members, all of whom are key players in Travel & Tourism. With the leadership of the Secretary General and the proactive involvement of the Members, the Initiative continues to move from strength to strength.

Recognising the potential for Travel & Tourism in India, WTTC Members share a common vision, which is to promote Travel & Tourism as a whole - its economic impact, its potential for jobs and its responsibility to the environment. WTTC's aim is to raise awareness and achieve recognition amongst the major policy-makers throughout India. The strength of the World Travel & Tourism Council is that it allows its Members from all sectors of the industry to come together and speak with a unified voice.

The World Travel & Tourism Council is the forum for global business leaders in Travel & Tourism comprising the Presidents, Chairs and CEOs of 100 of the world's foremost companies. It is the only body representing the private sector in all parts of the Travel & Tourism industry worldwide.

For more information contact:

World Travel & Tourism Council
Tel: 44 (0) 870 727 9882
Fax: 44 (0) 870 728 9882