Air India Awards Midwest Partners with Annual Achievement Awards

Chicago IL: Air India (AI) Midwest held its Annual Agent Awards function for about 150 attendees on Friday, January 31, 2014 commencing 6:30 p.m. at Ashyana Banquets, 1620 75TH Street, Downers Grove, IL. In trademark recent creative Air India style each table was named after famed national structures and monuments across India for guests to choose and seat themselves. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of Plaques to Travel Agents, who had generated the most revenue for Air India for Fiscal Year 2012-13. Guests were treated with Entertainment Program, A Quiz, Humorous reminiscence photo presentation. Video, Photography Sessions, Social Hour and Dinner with elegant color shoulder bags for all attendees as a token of appreciation.

After initial registration, guests were ushered into a social room with delectable appetizers and cocktails. an hour later with reluctance guests moved to the main program hall upon repeated announcements as they were enjoying the socialising and photography. District Sales Manager Katherine welcomed all and requested Rajesh V, Challam and DJ Nilesh to kickoff the entertainment. Rajesh Challam’s melodious voice belted out famous Bollywood Songs-Old and New. Sanjay Sharma, AI Finance Manager and his wife Deepa took the floor along with others upon gracious persuasion by Suneeta Singh, wife of Manager -Midwest who was an untiring hostess along with the Air India team. The august gathering enjoyed with full vigor on and off the dance floor.

Airport Manager Aspi Irani welcomed all to the event on behalf of the Midwest team and Manager Rishikant Singh. Travel Trade Fraternity, Flight Handling Service Providers, Members of the Legal Team, Medical Team of Doctors and Friends of Media were honourably mentioned. He stated ”Air India has always laid emphasis on recognizing and extending all support to its Travel Trade Partners and the Healthy Passenger Load Factors are an indicator of the focus and determination with which our partners in the Travel Trade have promoted Air India in the face of increasing competition. We are hopeful that this support which is mutually beneficial will always be extended to Air India. On behalf of Air India, I convey my Heartiest Congratulations to the Awardees and thank Media and all our other Business Associates for gracing the function.”

Rishikant Singh, before addressing the august gathering asserted that this function and life itself is to enjoy and have fun and frolic even as we carry our our professional role. A humorously captioned lively presentation of previous year’s Agent Awards function held on 01Mar 2013 was presented and cherished by one and all. This was prepared by Suneeta Singh, who is an educational subject matter and Instructional Design expert in her own
right and often brings her expertise to bear on Air India functions.

Rishikant Singh, who has 25 years of experience with AI, clarified that such recognition is an incentive to business partners to do even better. In his speech, he covered various aspects of Air India journey since origins in 1932 and progress thereafter narrating achievements and emphasis in service and safety aspects. He asserted Air India has stood in the age of fierce competition and wishes to increase more and more flights with latest aircrafts. Singh informed about the incoming alliance with Star Group coming up by mid year and assured even higher standards of services and flights. The Air India mission is to become the airline of choice in all the markets served. The onboard facilities and allowances through the various classes of service were also touched upon. Most importantly perhaps it is now possible to fly Chicago-Delhi nonstop in just fifteen hours on Air India, which is of course the only trans-Atlantic carrier aboard which Indian festivals are celebrated with special menus.

The awards to the travel agents were presented by Air India District Sales Manager Katherine Thorat and Midwest Manager Rishikant Singh, Agents were conferred awards to the Million Dollar Club awardees. The award for achieving highest revenues went to Orbitz, Airtours, Skybird Chicago, Skybird Detroit, Devon Travel, Yatra.com, RK Travels, Aero Travels, Direct Express Tours and Travel, Krisbi Travels, Natraj Travels,

Riya Travel, Evia Travels, Skypass Travels, Skylink Travels and Skybird Houston.
Various members of the Air India team Chicago announced the names of the awardees by turn. AI O’Hare operations were also represented by AI Cargo District Sales Manager Tom Dempsey, Dy. Manager O’Hare Sonney Thomas, Chirag Patel and Chetan Patel. The city office team was further represented by Archana Shah, Smita Patel, Sampath Arni Jayasekar, Faroz Sayed and Shweta Mahadeshwar.
The contribution of the hundreds of agents who support Air India was acknowledged as many of the agents were Million Dollar contributors through their larger consolidator colleagues. The turnover growth for Midwest region of AI has grossed over $70million.

The fun session recommenced with distribution of a Questionnaire with 18 questions pertaining to well-known places of India, to each table. Table mates tried to arrive at answers by discussion, with some trying to explore by sufing the internet quietly. Ultimately correct answers were given on the screen ending this fun game session.

A scrumptious dinner was served with the bar open throughout, followed by the second session of songs by Rajesh Challam and music by DJ Nilesh to which large numbers took to the floor eventually ending only by 10:30pm. Several in the audience declared that this was a very heart warming and memorable evening for them and they found a connect to India through Air India.

District Sales Manager Katherine Thorat thanked partnering travel agents, airport provider services, Ashyana Banquets, and the gracious and participative audience alongwith the entire AI team.

Manager Rishikant Singh wished Chinese New Year and the 65th Republic Day of India. He also declared to applause his intent for many more such get-togethers in future following in the tradition of Cargo Agents Award and Meal presentation to Media held only sometime back