With a tactical approach and long-term perspective, Think Strawberries (TS) has sailed efficiently through the pandemic while working on the sidelines drafting a strategic course of action for their clients. Munnmunn Marwah, COO- India & UAE, Think Strawberries elaborates on the factors that kept them going even in the darkest times for travel and tourism in recent history and the elements that set them apart when it comes to travel representation.
Bharti Sharma
One of Think Strawberries’ key clients, Maldives has been the top destination for Indian travellers with India emerging as the top source market for the island nation for consecutive years 2020 and 2021. Throughout the pandemic, TS has remained consistent in terms of quality and were even successful in adding new accounts into their kitty including Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and Ain Dubai. As more and more countries are increasingly eyeing India and GCC as lucrative markets, they’re consistently striving to remain a frontline enabler in this pursuit. Munnmunn, with over 25 years of varied travel industry experience has successfully developed partnerships and maximised revenues for some of the world’s leading tourism products and destinations.
Personalisation is the key
India, being a major outbound market, is home to tourism offices of almost all major countries directly as well as through representations. As each client has specific needs, goals, and budget, Think Strawberries devise and execute tailor-made strategies which are specifically designed to deliver targeted results. Munnmunn shares, “At Think Strawberries, we are backed by over a decade of experience in the travel representation industry. Strong knowledge of the market, coupled with our brand pillars, including solid SOPs, detailed personalisation, values, and people has continued to ensure that our clients are seen and stand out. All these factors have played a part in positioning Think Strawberries as a leader that is defining the frontiers of Travel Representation.”
The whole nine yards approach
When Think Strawberries was conceived back in 2010, the idea was to address the gaps in tourism representation with the world witnessing a global travel boom. Munnmunn feels that the key to expanding internationally is to ensure that your brand ‘thinks global and acts local’. She adds, “Partnering with a local in-market expert as an extension to one’s tourism promotion efforts is key to capturing any market successfully. The local representative is armed with the expertise, market insights and the right kind of network. Over the years, we have successfully promoted some of the world’s leading global travel products in the markets of India and the Middle East.”
Navigating through the challenging period
While many tourism representation companies were rendered toothless by the pandemic, Think Strawberries has been able to smoothly map its way through the tough times and remained resilient to the potholes along the way. Sharing her experience, Munnmunn mentions, “This is a result of the faith and trust our partners have put in us and because of our agility and flexibility to adapt to the ever-evolving industry landscape, much before the onset of the pandemic. Being steadfast in our long-term vision and not deviating from it, regardless of the nature of the challenge, has helped us successfully sail through the period. I have to give it to our devoted team and loyal clients for their trust and support. They have been our true beacon of light.”
Always been digital-first
Team TS utilised the covid downtime to train and re-equip the tourism sector and educate the trade about the expansive products and destinations they represent. “The landscape and expectations of the stakeholders are changing faster than ever, and we believe it’s extremely crucial to innovate and keep pace. During the pandemic, when the teams were isolated, we reinvented the wheel and sharpened the tools. Now, we are leaner, technologically strong and poised to meet all the expectations presented in the post-pandemic era,” asserts Munnmunn.
The noteworthy, India
India is one of the key source markets for several global destinations, airlines and hotels, and many new partners are considering Indian travellers very seriously. Talking about the significance of India market and how TS works with this huge market, Munnmunn shares, “The latest study has projected that India will reach levels of 29 million outbound trips by 2025. With a growing economy, young population and rising middle class, India is touted to become one of the most lucrative outbound tourism markets in the world. Hence, it will be important for tourism brands to work with specialist representation companies who have a strong foundation, are financially stable and, most importantly, equipped with the right resources to successfully position them in the India market.”
With a tactical approach and long-term perspective, Think Strawberries (TS) has sailed efficiently through the pandemic while working on the sidelines drafting a strategic course of action for their clients. Munnmunn Marwah, COO- India & UAE, Think Strawberries elaborates on the factors that kept them going even in the darkest times for travel and tourism in recent history and the elements that set them apart when it comes to travel representation.
Bharti Sharma
One of Think Strawberries’ key clients, Maldives has been the top destination for Indian travellers with India emerging as the top source market for the island nation for consecutive years 2020 and 2021. Throughout the pandemic, TS has remained consistent in terms of quality and were even successful in adding new accounts into their kitty including Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and Ain Dubai. As more and more countries are increasingly eyeing India and GCC as lucrative markets, they’re consistently striving to remain a frontline enabler in this pursuit. Munnmunn, with over 25 years of varied travel industry experience has successfully developed partnerships and maximised revenues for some of the world’s leading tourism products and destinations.
Personalisation is the key
India, being a major outbound market, is home to tourism offices of almost all major countries directly as well as through representations. As each client has specific needs, goals, and budget, Think Strawberries devise and execute tailor-made strategies which are specifically designed to deliver targeted results. Munnmunn shares, “At Think Strawberries, we are backed by over a decade of experience in the travel representation industry. Strong knowledge of the market, coupled with our brand pillars, including solid SOPs, detailed personalisation, values, and people has continued to ensure that our clients are seen and stand out. All these factors have played a part in positioning Think Strawberries as a leader that is defining the frontiers of Travel Representation.”
The whole nine yards approach
When Think Strawberries was conceived back in 2010, the idea was to address the gaps in tourism representation with the world witnessing a global travel boom. Munnmunn feels that the key to expanding internationally is to ensure that your brand ‘thinks global and acts local’. She adds, “Partnering with a local in-market expert as an extension to one’s tourism promotion efforts is key to capturing any market successfully. The local representative is armed with the expertise, market insights and the right kind of network. Over the years, we have successfully promoted some of the world’s leading global travel products in the markets of India and the Middle East.”
Navigating through the challenging period
While many tourism representation companies were rendered toothless by the pandemic, Think Strawberries has been able to smoothly map its way through the tough times and remained resilient to the potholes along the way. Sharing her experience, Munnmunn mentions, “This is a result of the faith and trust our partners have put in us and because of our agility and flexibility to adapt to the ever-evolving industry landscape, much before the onset of the pandemic. Being steadfast in our long-term vision and not deviating from it, regardless of the nature of the challenge, has helped us successfully sail through the period. I have to give it to our devoted team and loyal clients for their trust and support. They have been our true beacon of light.”
Always been digital-first
Team TS utilised the covid downtime to train and re-equip the tourism sector and educate the trade about the expansive products and destinations they represent. “The landscape and expectations of the stakeholders are changing faster than ever, and we believe it’s extremely crucial to innovate and keep pace. During the pandemic, when the teams were isolated, we reinvented the wheel and sharpened the tools. Now, we are leaner, technologically strong and poised to meet all the expectations presented in the post-pandemic era,” asserts Munnmunn.
The noteworthy, India
India is one of the key source markets for several global destinations, airlines and hotels, and many new partners are considering Indian travellers very seriously. Talking about the significance of India market and how TS works with this huge market, Munnmunn shares, “The latest study has projected that India will reach levels of 29 million outbound trips by 2025. With a growing economy, young population and rising middle class, India is touted to become one of the most lucrative outbound tourism markets in the world. Hence, it will be important for tourism brands to work with specialist representation companies who have a strong foundation, are financially stable and, most importantly, equipped with the right resources to successfully position them in the India market.”
