KSTDC to rebrand its properties

Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) is planning to revamp its offerings, hotels, restaurants and transport services. The corporation is in the process of shedding its “low and middle-end customers only” image and focus on “higher-end customer” segment also across its properties and tour packages.

Vinay Luthra, managing director, KSTDC said, “We have refurbished our hotels and rebranded as Karnataka Hotels to cater to luxury travellers too. We want to take full advantage of the location of all our properties. For example, apart from the property at Kamalapura at Hampi, there are no other properties that can come so close to the heritage site of Hampi. So, we will make use of this great advantage, build packages around hotels and also make them available to private tourism trade across the country and abroad.”

Talking to reporters, here today after launching the new airport taxi service to the Bengaluru International Airport, he said that a formal launch of the brand KarnatakaHolidays.net will take place soon. “KarnatakaHolidays.net will be the mother brand of KSTDC under which Karnataka Taxis and Karnataka Hotels will function. This is the brand under which promotions and marketing on a wider scale will take place,” Luthra said.

Earlier, KSTDC’s new airport city taxi service was flagged off by Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and tourism minister G Janardhana Reddy.

Speaking on the occasion, tourism minister, Janardhan Reddy said, "This is yet another new initiative of the government to ensure seamless connectivity between the airport and the city as well as a way to compensate erstwhile displaced KSTDC airport taxi drivers."

He said KSTDC is getting into this business to meet the huge demand created by the new international airport.

Also, there were a lot of drivers who were displaced after the airport was shifted to Devanahhalli.

Passengers using these taxis will be provided as a complimentary water bottles. Electronic metres will ensure transparency in travel fare charged to the passengers.

KSTDC has set up a back end service centre at the Tourism House on St. Mark's road and passengers can call the national call centre number, 42525555 to book a taxi from anywhere in the city.

At the airport, Karnataka Taxi cabs can be availed off the taxi ramp in front of the arrivals area.