“The Golden Chariot tour commenced at the fag end of the season. We did not have a definite starting date. But we are sure that from September onwards, the Golden Chariot will be full. The tourists abroad always plan their travel months in advance. However, by May we are expecting bookings to begin,” said Upendra Singh Jamwal, vice president operations, Mapple hotels.
Keeping a close watch on the maiden run of the luxury train, Jamwal, speaking to Deccan Herald, on the last day of the run of the train said that it was the first time they were managing a train and it was a learning process. However, he said that the feedback has been positive and constructive.
The public-private initiative of the Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation and Mapple group is for 15 years, and we hope to do well as in the first year itself we are expecting a revenue of Rs 14 crore with 30 per cent occupancy in a year, he said.
The quality of food will be enhanced with a walk-in cold room for storing quality food available in Bangalore, like caviar and salmon.
On marketing, he said, there are already general sales agents appointed in Switzerland, USA, France, Germany to name a few and the KSTDC has also appointed preferred sales agents in India.
The Mapple is handling both the inbound and outbound operations and the challenge is not only in handling the operations on the train but also the other operations like coordinating with the railway officials.
The cost per day on the train of $ 350 per person is very competitive as the Palace on Wheels in Rajasthan costs $ 475 per day. Moreover the whole circuit is very beautifully planned and hence the tourists never gets bored of the destinations like Mysore, Srirangapana, Belur, Halebid, Hampi and finally culminating in Goa.
There are also plans to introduce three night and four night for corporate tourist and expatriates during the off season and they will be charged $ 295 per day. A conference coach will also be attached to the train and it will be ready by May. “Where else can one have the luxury of a holiday and also work video and audio conferencing with colleagues, except in the Golden Chariot,” said Jamwal.
The whole train was build in a record time of 11 months whereas the other two luxury trains like Palace on Wheels of Rajasthan and Deccan Odyssey of Maharashtra took more than two years. This is all due to the passion and involvement of Tourism secretary Vittala Murthy and KSTDC managing director P K Thakur, signed off Jamwal.
