PIA and Hashoo Group with Destinations of the World (DOTW-Pakistan) entered into a strategic alliance on Tuesday, for jointly enhancing businesses and promoting tourism in Pakistan.
The scope of the partnership ranges from discounts for unitization of products, tour packages, rent a car services, chauffeur driven pick and drop facilities and special discounts on wedding packages to air transportation, the establishment of 24/7 joint counters for customers and the redemption of loyalty cards. PIA and Hashoo group will also explore the possibility of co-branding and forming an alliance to upgrade, improve and operate the Airport Hotel in Karachi.
PIA’s CEO, Air Marshal Arshad Malik said on the occasion that the joint venture, in line with the vision of Pakistan’s Prime Minister, is expected to promote domestic tourism. This venture will not only generate tourism in Pakistan but will also improve the synergy between the two large travel industry stakeholders in the country. He said that through this partnership, they intend to provide convenience, luxury, comfort and affordable domestic tourism along with effective event management for both locals and foreign tourists. PIA and Hashoo group are natural partners, contributing together to improve the landscape of travel and tourism in Pakistan, he added.
According to the MoU, air transportation, stay packages and fixed departure packages would initially be offered for Gwadar, Bhurban, Muzaffarabad, Islamabad, MalamJabba, Skardu, Gilgit, Chitral and the Shandur Polo Festival, Bahawalpur, Multan and Mohenjo-daro. Hashoo Group and Destinations of the World (DOTW) will provide all ground services for PIA’s passengers. Moreover, PIA will establish around 30 high-end sale points within Hashoo Group’s hotels while 24 hour support services for ticket buying, re-issuing and payment would be displayed on the airline’s website.
PIA will also offer over the counter discounts to loyalty and privilege card holders of Hashoo Group hotels while PIA passengers and loyalty card holders will get special discounts on the Group’s hotel bookings and restaurants. Both organizations have planned to work collectively to develop packages with air fare discounts along with Hashoo Group’s ground related services with Destinations of the World (DOTW).
The new products will be launched as ‘PIA Holidays’ powered by Destinations of the World. A special Umrah product will also be introduced for the convenience of customers along with new Holiday products jointly launched by PIA and DOTW in collaboration with a leading commercial bank to make the products more attractive, affordable and accessible to the customers. The packages are also to include destination weddings and visits to religious sites for Sikh and Buddhists among a plethora of other bundle offers. Travel agents will be able to book complete Holiday packages on DOTW and PIA systems.
Federal Minister for Aviation, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik, Chief Operating Officer PIA Air Cdr Jawad Zafar, Chief Commercial Officer PIA Mr. Ali Tahir Qasim, Chief Operating Officer Hashoo Group Mr. Haseeb Gardezi, General Manager Destinations of the World (Pakistan) Mr. Tariq Bin Yousuf, Head of Corporate Communications PIA Abdullah Hafeez Khan and senior officials of PIA and Hashoo Group, along with leading trade partners and members of the tourism fraternity were present at the signing ceremony.-
