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Canopy & Sky, an experiential travel company has been focussed on making curated itineraries accessible to all and this year seems to have started out fairly for the company.
Founder Shveta Sharma shared with ETTravelWorld that the company has already surpassed its goal of INR 2 crore in gross company revenue. “Despite it being the first year after the pandemic, our company managed to generate nearly INR 90 lakhs in revenue. This revenue encompasses the sales of our combined packages,” she said.
Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad are the primary markets that contribute significantly to the company’s revenue, said Sharma.
In terms of strategy, Canopy & Sky is determined to make 2023 the first full year of travel after the pandemic, said Sharma.
Looking ahead, the company has chalked out marketing strategies for 2023 and will be leveraging social media and personalised offers. The aim, said Sharma, is to stay connected with clients and cater to their specific preferences. She believes that by embracing a direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategy, will help her company deliver exceptional travel experiences.
Providing insight into the company’s approach to experiential and luxury travel, Sharma points out that while these terms are widely used, Canopy & Sky sees it from a different perspective.
“Curated itineraries can’t just be about big price items; instead, our goal is to find the greatest options for an individual that meet their needs and budget,” said Sharma.
“For us, offering good advice is a good experience, and of course, the company’s policy is that nothing less than a four-star rating will do,” she continued.
Staying ahead of trends, mapping the market
As the travel industry worldwide navigated the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Canopy & Sky was also quick to adapt its offerings according to the changing trends, Sharma pointed out.
Sharing the trends, Sharma said the travellers are leaning towards resort-based destinations. They are opting for less hectic itineraries in Europe, while also showing a preference for shorter and closer travel destinations over long-haul journeys.
Popular destinations like Maldives, Mauritius, and Bali have seen increased interest among travellers. Instead of rapid-paced trips across multiple European nations, the trend now focuses on spending longer durations in one or two countries, allowing for more immersive experiences, she said.
“At Canopy & Sky, we stay up with specialised destination-driven certificate programs and embrace innovation to monitor data with specialised CRMs to keep track of all customer needs. We also constantly analyse the market,” Sharma shared, while speaking about her company’s approach to stay relevant in the market.
Level playing field crucial for agent market
As the travel industry in India continues to grapple with tax-related issues and post-pandemic recalibrations, Sharma couldn’t agree more with the fact that challenges like Tax Collected at Source (TCS) and post-Covid business reviews have posed greater obstacles for the industry.
“The government should impose a ceiling of five per cent GST on a cap of INR seven lakhs per pan card to make it easier for buyers to approach and prevent the business of offline agents from being destroyed. TCS is currently a major worry,” she said.
“What we expect is equality of business performing capabilities between OTAs and Offline agents,” she asserted.
While still seeking clarity on the matter, Sharma revealed that an unfair advantage for multinational Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) with foreign headquarters has been observed. These entities are reportedly able to charge up to USD seven lakhs without submitting a TCS application for the end-buyer, creating an unequal business environment.
“At the same time, we must actively seek out new Gen Z travel agent association bodies who can use social media in a friendly manner and undertake campaigns in support of the agent market,” she advocated.
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Forging connections, customer service crucial to move along
With the country’s renewed focus on sustainability and responsible travel, Canopy & Sky has taken it upon itself to educate travellers on cultural sensitivity, local customs, and responsible travel practices, said Sharma.
“We believe in three key services: Educating tourists, informing them on the value of cultural sensitivity, local customs, and responsible travel practices. We work together with local vendors, tour operators, and companies to guarantee that a sizable amount of tourism-related income goes to the community’s economy. Sustainable consumption with locally produced food options and recommendations for local food trails for our guests not only enhances their dining experience but also supports local businesses,” she added.
Their close collaboration with Destination Management Companies (DMCs) headquartered locally and other vendors is keeping the wheels rolling for her business. “Our focus has always been on consolidating all services under one roof to ensure a positive customer experience. Even if it means lowering our profit margins, at Canopy & Sky, providing perfect customer service is our top priority,” she emphasised.
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