Following an intensive three-day participation at the Outbound Travel Mart in Mumbai, OA Globe DMC carried its engagement strategy to the capital with a dedicated Delhi Roadshow, convening more than 30 global Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and over 40 Indian outbound tour operators, hoteliers and resort representatives for structured B2B meetings.
Positioned as a natural extension of OTM, the Delhi event was designed to deepen conversations initiated on the exhibition floor and strengthen ties within the Delhi NCR market—one of India’s most significant outbound travel hubs. With international partners already in India for OTM, the roadshow enabled more focused, appointment-driven discussions tailored to the needs of the north Indian trade.Rahim Aslam, Visionary Founder of OA Globe DMC, described the response at OTM as exceeding expectations and setting a confident tone for the capital showcase.
“We had an excellent three days at OTM. All 30 of our DMCs were extremely satisfied. More than 40 participants from our destinations—hoteliers, land arrangement partners, sightseeing providers and transporters—were present. It turned into a highly productive networking platform,” he said.
According to Aslam, the scale of engagement in Mumbai directly influenced the decision to host the Delhi event. The perceived gap between OTM and the upcoming SATTE created both opportunity and demand for a mid-season networking forum.
“The echo of OTM is what we are witnessing in Delhi. There was strong interest from our DMCs and hotel partners to engage the Delhi market more closely,” he added.
While organisers anticipated approximately 200 attendees, footfall reportedly crossed 250 during the course of the day, reflecting sustained trade appetite. At OTM alone, the company estimates it connected with nearly 1,000 agents over three days, based on business card exchanges and structured networking sessions with partners from Pune, Surat, Bengaluru and other cities.
“These were not casual interactions,” Aslam noted. “We met existing partners, active collaborators and potential new associates. We expect tangible business outcomes from these engagements.”
Expanding Global Footprint
Vishal Somaiya, Director and CEO of OA Globe DMC, characterised this year’s strategy as a deliberate departure from previous editions. With over 30 destinations in its portfolio and more than 15 partners servicing 25 markets, the company leveraged the physical presence of its global partners to amplify impact beyond the exhibition format.
“OTM has always held emotional value for us as it was the first exhibition we participated in. This year, we wanted to maximise the opportunity by immediately following up with our own roadshow,” Somaiya said.
Although some partners representing Nepal, Jordan and Egypt departed early for commitments in other regions, the Delhi roadshow still featured a strong international presence, including over 15 DMCs and an equal number of hospitality brands.
Recent portfolio expansions include South America, with plans to strengthen presence across both North and South American markets. Australia and New Zealand are expected to be added in the coming months, in line with the company’s stated long-term ambition of building representation across 195 countries.
A central pillar of this growth strategy is alldmc.com, OA Globe’s newly launched B2B booking engine. Described by Somaiya as “technology with a human touch,” the platform combines online booking functionality with direct destination-level support.
“Agents can book digitally while still speaking to a representative in the destination they are selling. That combination builds confidence and improves service turnaround,” he explained, positioning the platform as a response to longstanding trust gaps in B2B travel transactions.
Destination Perspectives: Market Signals and Recovery
From the hospitality sector, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa highlighted India’s nuanced consumer expectations. Analiezl Lising, Director of Sales and Marketing, noted that Indian travellers are particularly attentive to culinary experiences.
“Indian guests value authentic cuisine, and we customise menus to their preferences,” she said, adding that the resort has received consecutive accolades as a leading culinary property in the Maldives.
While Russia, CIS countries, China and Germany remain its primary markets, India consistently ranks among the top four. However, Lising acknowledged a temporary dip in Indian production last year compared to 2024, expressing optimism for renewed growth in 2026.
For emerging and recovering destinations, the sentiment was equally constructive. Azerbaijan, represented by OA Globe’s regional leadership, reported strong enquiry levels at both Mumbai and Delhi events, with agents seeking detailed information on hotels, pricing and transport logistics.
Russia, too, is witnessing revived interest. Industry stakeholders report that Indian agents are increasingly educating travellers about safety and accessibility, with expectations of a 30–40 per cent rise in traffic this year. Moscow, St Petersburg and winter experiences such as Northern Lights tours in Murmansk are gaining traction, supported by relatively straightforward visa processes compared to Schengen destinations.
In the ultra-luxury segment, Four Seasons Resorts Maldives and Four Seasons Resort Bali underscored Delhi’s importance as a source market. Zafar Hussain Karmali, Associate Director of Sales, observed that both Maldives and Bali have recorded improved geo-statistics from India, with FITs continuing to dominate bookings.
“Delhi remains a key contributor, alongside Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Ahmedabad,” he said, adding that while weddings and social groups form part of the mix, the brand maintains a niche, high-value approach due to the intimate scale of its resorts.
A Strategic Consolidation
By aligning exhibition participation with city-specific roadshows, OA Globe DMC has demonstrated a layered engagement strategy—leveraging trade fairs for visibility and follow-up events for depth.
The Delhi Roadshow not only capitalised on OTM’s momentum but also reinforced the capital’s role as a strategic outbound gateway. For industry stakeholders, the initiative reflected a broader shift toward curated, appointment-led B2B formats that prioritise quality of interaction over sheer scale—an approach increasingly aligned with the evolving dynamics of India’s outbound travel ecosystem.
