My dear customers, staff, stakeholders and loved ones, the year 2020, needless to say, was a rather disastrous year.  Who would have thought that COVID-19 or the Novel Coronavirus, as it termed, can spread its ugly tentacles so as to consume millions of lives and dent livelihoods and affect regular life?  Businesses all over the word came to a screeching halt due to lockdown after lockdowns. Travel almost saw the end of the road as the general public, most part of the time, didn’t venture to come out even after lockdowns were relaxed for the fear of the pandemic spreading thick and fast. 

Social distancing that was instrumental in mitigating the effects of the pandemic clinically killed food industry throughout the world, as hotels and restaurants remained closed during the lockdown of the first wave of the pandemic. Dining experience was a thing of the past, and no longer ceased to exist. The falling food industry also saw job losses in large numbers. Hyper local delivery platforms promoted takeaways and home delivery saw light at the end of the tunnel, though strict hygiene measures were followed to gain the confidence of consumers back, which hit a new low.

Travel, whether it is leisure, business or a mix of business and leisure, ‘bleisure’, was punched hard and knocked down many a time. Travel restrictions knew no bounds. Wearing masks was, mandatory in public places and became the new normal. Air travel remained shut and international borders were closed for the most part. In India, intra-or inter-state travel was restricted in the form of e-pass issued by the respective state governments. The Central government imposed certain travel restrictions that were relaxed in a phased manner.  All said and done, 2020 would be a year, I, like many of you, would like to forget and travel ahead. I believe 2021 will be a promising year for travel and wish you all a happy and prosperous new year.