The Need for an Organized Travel Industry in India

The inaugural edition of Melange 2024 by MTF Events concluded with an overwhelming response from exhibitors, visitors, and invitees alike. The event took place on September 19th and 20th, 2024, at the Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai. This two-day exhibition showcased a diverse array of participants from various trade sectors. What set this trade show apart was its standardized and all-inclusive stall approach, which allowed exhibitors to avoid high costs and the hassle of building custom booths from scratch.

This unique trade exhibition was conceptualized and brought to life by three well-known industry figures: Pradip Saaboo, Managing Director of Guideline Travels Holidays India Pvt. Ltd.; Rajat Bagaria, Managing Director of Shrishti Tours & Travels Pvt. Ltd.; and Sameer Karnani, Owner of Arunodaya Travels.

Pradip Saaboo, Co-Founder at MTF Events, mentioned to T3 that Melange is a different concept, providing exhibitors with a platform to meet only selected and scrutinized B2C buyers. “Besides, we wanted to offer our exhibitors a standardized stall format, which we have produced and designed for them. This helped reduce the cost and time for the exhibitors, and these two features make Melange unique. We have received superb feedback from exhibitors and excellent footfall from buyers as well. Some of our exhibitors want to book stalls and participate with us for the next edition immediately,” expressed Saaboo.

Co-Founder at MTF Events, Sameer Karnani, also added that the show surpassed their expectations. The initial expectation was about 2,000 buyers over the two days, but figures crossed 1,500 on Day 1 alone. He further added, “We had around 126 exhibitors participating, including a mix of tourism boards, airlines, DMCs, and both domestic and international hoteliers. Melange is different from other trade fairs; we restrict and screen our buyers, allowing entry only for B2C players.”

When asked about the idea behind Melange, MTF Events Co-Founder Rajat Bagaria shared that the goal was to provide a one-point cost to exhibitors, with standardized and well-set booths for all. “Exhibitors did not have to worry about food, booth setup, or other miscellaneous attributes. Airlines and hoteliers could only walk in if they were exhibiting. We also hosted buyers from Surat, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Nashik. We planned entertaining surprises throughout the show and did our best to make the event hassle-free,” noted Bagaria.

T3 also spoke with the platinum partners of Melange 2024, including Vishal Somaiya, Director and Group CEO of One Above Destination Management Services, who shared his insights. “As we expected, Melange 2024 has been wonderful, and the footfall has been great. The event is focused; unlike other trade fairs, the buyers we attracted to Melange are genuine and dedicated. Hats off to the team behind this great show,” expressed Somaiya.

Hardik Mehta, Owner of Urvi Luxury Destinations, mentioned, “This is a new concept that the Melange team developed to support the Mumbai travel trade fraternity. We are at Melange to help travel agents grow their businesses. The crowd and response at the first edition of Melange have surpassed our expectations.”

Aashish Bhatt, Senior Manager of Products at Ottila International, also noted that the biggest difference is the filtration process, with Melange restricting entry to genuine buyers. “The people behind Melange are from the travel trade fraternity and understand the requirements from both perspectives: buyers and sellers,” shared Bhatt. “There is uniformity in the setup format; from food to minute details, everything has been taken care of.”

With heightened anticipation for the second edition, MTF Events has announced the dates for Mélange 2025, scheduled for September 20th and 21st, 2025. The event will take place at NESCO, promising an even better experience for both exhibitors and visitors.

The inaugural edition of Mélange 2024, held in Mumbai, set a new standard for B2B exhibitions in the travel trade industry. By curating a niche platform exclusively for trade professionals and suppliers, the two-day event facilitated meaningful connections and high-quality meetings, proving that sometimes, less is truly more.

Organised by a core team of three members from the Mumbai trade, Mélange 2024 was a masterclass in B2B excellence where business met immense opportunities. Pradeep Saboo, Chairman and Managing Partner, Guideline Travels and Co-Founder of MTF Events, gets to the crux of it. “Our aim was to clear every small and big pain points any exhibitor faces during big shows. This means building the stalls, having the same booth design for every category. But most importantly, we wanted to ensure a completely filtered crowd that actually comes only for business. At Mélange 2024, we have made sure that only the right kind of buyer is allowed to enter. So, either you are an exhibitor or you are a buyer, there is no one else in between,” he explains, adding that, “When we do B2B business, we don’t want people who come to sell their things there. So, every buyer that enters the show has to be a genuine buyer and the seller has to have a diversity in products that a travel agent actually needs.”

Sameer Karnani, Owner of Arunodaya Travels & Co-Founder of MTF Events, underlines the exhibitor profile and says, “We have tried to cover everything in this show – tourism boards like VisitBritain and Tourism New Zealand, airlines, DMCs, international suppliers – so, it’s a good mix. We have domestic, as well as international exhibitors with a lot of first-timers, who have come in, like India Tourism, VisitBritain, Sabre and even Virgin Atlantic. We have got agents from South America, Morocco, Bali, and Sri Lanka. In terms of buyers, we do have a hosted programme for them. We have got buyers down from Pune, Nasik, Aurangabad, Gujarat, Chennai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Delhi and Punjab as well.”

Karnani emphasises that they were conscious of not accepting any B2B player as buyers. “They had to be purely B2C. Hoteliers were not allowed as buyers. We received about 2,500 registered buyers, along with a few invitees. In total, we had about 3,000 plus buyers. The vetting process for buyer registration was stringent. We had a team of 10 people scrutinising their credentials!” he adds.

Rajat Bagaria, Managing Director, Shrishti Tours & Travels, and Co-Founder of MTF Events, says, “We are not looking at numbers; we are looking at quality buyers. We don’t want the floor to be flooded with people. Moreover, the design of the show and the design of the booth was different. The idea was to standardise the designing. So, the expense on the designing and the build-up of the booths was eradicated for exhibitors. Everybody gets the same kind of design if booked in the same category. The uniqueness of the show is that all the stalls are being fabricated, produced and provided by us to our exhibitors. So, there is a uniformity, there is no super spends that my exhibitors have to do.”

“We are confident that Melange will set new benchmarks in the industry. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants and look forward to welcoming everyone to what promises to be an exceptional event,” said Bagaria.

Mélange 2025

MTF Events’ Mélange 2025 will take place on 20–21 September 2025 at NESCO in Mumbai. They are offering special pre-registration rates for those who register before 30 September 2024. Current exhibitors may also be eligible for an early bird offer of 50 per cent rebate on all quoted prices if they register on or before 14 October 2024. Meanwhile, the team is preparing for the MTF Premier League 3, which will be held on 12 January 2025.

The much-anticipated MTF Premier League Cricket is back, and cricket enthusiasts are gearing up for an electrifying season. Scheduled for January 12, 2025, the event promises to be bigger and better, combining the thrill of cricket with the joy of camaraderie, entertainment, and a memorable day out.
We are thankful to our key sponsors for their confidence and support. We’re excited to announce that Ottila International is once again our Title Sponsor. Additionally, Urvi Luxury Destinations, Tripjack, Oman Air, and Minor Hotels have also confirmed their participation as key sponsors, helping us make this event an incredible experience for all involved.
Team Auctions will be held on October 12, 2024, marking the beginning of an exciting journey that leads up to the main event. Following the team auction, a series of activities, including the Players Auction, will build anticipation and set the stage for an unforgettable cricketing experience.
This time, the competition will be even more exclusive, with only 8 teams competing, each comprising 15 top-notch players, who will be selected through an exciting gala auction. This format aims to ensure that every team is packed with talent and the event remains competitive and engaging for all participants and spectators.
More than just a sporting event, MTF Premier League Cricket is an opportunity for friends, colleagues, and the travel trade community to connect and compete in a friendly atmosphere. It’s a day of fun, games, picnics, food, drinks, and festivities— where cricket serves as the centerpiece to bring everyone together.
Individuals interested in joining as players are encouraged to stay tuned for registration details, which will be announced soon. For those wanting to go beyond the field— whether as a team owner or as a sponsor aiming to elevate their brand—the opportunities are available now, but spaces are limited. Interested parties are encouraged to connect with us at the earliest, as spots are reserved based on confirmations.
The MTF Premier League Cricket is not just about the game; it’s about the community, the relationships, and creating an unforgettable day of fun and excitement. As always, we reserve the right to restrict participation to confirmed slots to ensure the best experience for all.

https://travelbizmonitor.com/melange-the-new-age-travel-trade-show

MTF Events, the organisers behind the Mumbai Travel Fraternity Cricket League, is set to foray into the exhibitions space with the launch of Melange.

Debuting on September 19 at the Jio Convention Centre, BKC in Mumbai, this exclusive two-day event aims to elevate the standards for travel trade shows in India.

While facilitating industry engagement and knowledge-sharing, Melange will serve as a platform for business partnerships and brainstorming sessions on cutting-edge technology, industry insights, and analysis for this ever-evolving sector.

Talking about this platform, Pradeep Saboo, Co-Founder of MTF Events and Organiser of Melange, said, “Melange as a concept is a complete package combining roadshows and exhibition formats. The differentiating factor is the level of quality. We are following stringent quality control to ensure exhibitors and buyers get value for money. The motive is to ensure that there are serious buyers who mean business and not just walk-in visitors without any clear aim. Alongside, we will allow counter staff of agencies to visit the exhibition from morning till 1pm. This will also give them a first-hand experience of how the industry functions.”

Starting at 11 am, the event will run until 7 pm, with final entry restricted to 4 pm. Entry for Counter Staff will be till 1pm. Post 7 pm, there will be industry networking in a casual format. Plans are also underway to offer meals as part of the package, which other exhibitions do not cater to.

Saboo added, “A key factor for participating in the event is that exhibitors and buyers are pre-approved, ensuring they offer retail services. Non-registered exhibitors or buyers will be denied entry, regardless of the segment they cater to.”

For more information, visit MTF Events | www.mtf.events