MAM
The Storytellers creates TVC for attracting foreign travelers to India
NEW DELHI: The Storytellers, an emerging advertising film production company, has created a television commercial for Delhi-based portal `www.makemytrip.com’. The commercial has been produced only for the US.
The portal is owned by MakeMyTrip (MMT) Private Limited, an online travel company which focuses on the business and leisure traveller coming to India.
“We scripted three television commercials for Indians residing in the US. The client is handling the media and the commercials are being aired on Sony Entertainment Television and Zee beams in the US,” says The Storytellers director Ajit Kuriakose Varghese . The campaign is on air since April. This is for the first time The Storytellers has produced a television commercial for www.makemytrip.com.
MMT provides its customers the entire gamut of travel services through the Internet and by leveraging other technologies. The company exploits information technology, using India’s natural cost advantage to service its customer base (predominantly NRIs and foreigners), based in high cost economies. MMT has also soft-launched www.indiahoy.com, a B2B site offering Indian hotels and tour packages for international travel agents.
The e-commerce company targets `mandatory travellers’ from the US and other countries.
“Besides tourists, there are mandatory travellers who are basically people of Indian origin from other countries. They visit India for marriages, funerals, business engagements and property dealings. The portal is offering them competitive fares. The client mandate included highlighting the aggressive pricing strategy adopted by our client,” said Kuriakose.
“Besides pricing, there are two more commercials, stressing on emotional benefits and the diversified culture of India.”
The Storytellers Film Creatives’ clientele includes Grey India and Contract Advertising. “Having headed the creative function for leading multinational agencies, and being directly involved in operations of advertising agencies for nearly two decades, I and my partner Madhu Sarkar understand the needs of advertising agencies.”
“A good advertising filmmaker has to understand brand personality and the resultant requirements to execute the film in a way which enables the advertiser reach its target audience in the desired manner,” says Kuriakose, who has worked in conjunction with Sarkar at Mudra Communications, Contract Advertising and Rediffusion DY&R Brand Communications.
Other projects handled by The Storytellers include TV commercials for Microsoft and Hindustan Times.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
