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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Dear Friends,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Thanks so much for all the encouraging
responses we've received to our invitation. We shall wait for your confirmation
at the end of the forthcoming OSonOS. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Brian and Viv have drawn our attention to
the need to set the dates so that they can be firmed up at the event in
Denmark. Based on our recent explorations we suggest the time from
September 24th--30, 2004, for the following reasons :</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>The off-season hotel rates apply only
until Sept 30th. This involves a reduction of about 25%. Hotels are also
more open to considering other concessions during this time.
From Oct 1, the normal tariff returns. This year Goa is
expecting a heavy tourist season, which is likely to set a trend for
2004. (Have a look at the news item posted below.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Considering that you will be traveling
half way round the earth to get here, we thought of laying out a 7-day
spread for you (in addition to a plush Red Carpet). Here's a
suggestion: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Day 1 : Arrival in Mumbai - after
mid-night (that's generally when international flights come in)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
size=2> Deal with Jetlag.
Take in the Mumbai Citi-sights and rub shoulders with 15 million
people. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Day 2.: Leave for Goa. It's a 45 minute
flight. Arrive Noon. Relax. Welcome Dinner.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Day 3: Goa : Get acquainted with
the magic of the Island. (A Day Long Excursion)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
size=2> Inaugural
Program. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Day 4 : OSonOs - Day 1</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Day 5 : OSonOs - Day 2</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Day 6 : OSonOs - Day 3 & Concluding
Session</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Day 7 : Check Out from Hotel -- late
morning. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Those who wish to holiday in Goa, or
elsewhere in India, could then leave for their destinations. ( We will be happy
to help with these arrangements)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>This Program will give participants the
choice of arriving on Day 1 or Day 2, without missing out on the major event.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>If for some reason, the last week of
September is a 'no-no', then we could look at Oct week
1. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Have a Great Time at Denmark.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Looking forward,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
size=2>Malay & Janet</FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV align=center><BR><STRONG>Winter’s Tale: <BR>Goa’s set for a
sell-out act</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=2>By Priya Singh – Times News
Network</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2><STRONG>Mumbai : </STRONG>The
Russians are coming. And so are the Swedes, the Brits and the Germans.
Come October, they’ll descend on Goa in droves. With a marked increase
in Charter flights carrying holiday - makers to the land of sun and
sea this winter, luxury hotels are witnessing a 25- 30 per cent
in bookings between October and March and tourism in Goa could touch
the dizzying heights of the Millennium Eve celebrations.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>“Four and five-star properties are
filling up quickly and so are hotels down the line. With three
additional Charter flights from Russia bringing in a thousand more
visitors a week and the Europeans deciding to come back to Goa, it
seems to be a promising year after two dull winters,” says Suoni
Travels (India) CMD Ranjit Malkani. Kuoni, which handled booking for
around 22,000 visitors to Goa last winter, expects a 40 per cent
increase in sales to the destination, starting October. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>Goa is truly a pocket-friendly beach
Paradise for Caucasians compared to exotic and expensive destinations
like the Maldives or Maritius. <BR>Tariffs, including Charter
airfares, start from $600 to $700 for a week. Four-star and some five
–star properties are gong for $1,000 (including airfare) while at
high-end properties like The Leela, prices could go up to $1,600. “We
have reason to believe that business this winter will even exceed that
of 2000- 01. We expect a 40- 45 per cent jump in business from last
year based on tour operator allocations. While tariffs are up by 20
per cent, occupancy should go up from 67 per cent in the coming
season,” says The Leela, Goa’s head of marketing, Anirban
Sengupta.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>Indian Hotels, which has several
properties in Goa, like Taj Exotica, Taj Village, Fort Aguada and the
Aguada Hermitage, says that there may be pressure for rooms as they
expect a 20- 25 per cent increase in
occupancy.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=right><FONT size=2><STRONG>Business Times : Aug 6,
2003.<BR></DIV></STRONG></FONT>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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