Travel Links

Women’s Day special Series by Travel Links – Ms Shikha Mishra

Shikha Mishra
Designation: Consultant — Marketing, Brand Communications & PR

Please let us know about your initial years in the Travel Industry. 

My initial years in the travel industry were exhilarating, and a fantastic learning curve. I switched from being a full-time career journalist with several leading major Mainstream Media Houses to a PR and Marketing professional about a decade ago. Acquiring and building brands such as Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Jordan Tourism Bureau, Maldives Marketing and Development Corporation, Sharjah Commerce & Development Tourism Authority, Tourismo de Portugal, Visit Orlando, and others such as Ferrari World and Disneyland Paris with the company I was the Director of previously, gave me the impetus to hone my Business Development, Marketing, PR and Corporate Communications skills to a peak performing and delivery level.

What are the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

I feel the Tourism industry is very inclusive and welcoming of women. I have never faced a challenge being one. Challenges on the client-side or from vendors are always there – which we have all experienced in every industry at all levels! But, the tourism industry in India is, on the whole, is a thriving one where there is space for all ability levels, gender, race and colour.

Please let us know a bit about your strengths.

My strength is Media Relationships, PR, Communication, and the pure ability to dig out growth opportunities for business acquisition. My skills as a journalist combined with strategic networking and a close-knit circle of Media, Key opinion leaders, Influencers and Top Management enables me to walk into any room and suss out the opportunities that can work for a brand or business.

May we know more about your current initiatives?
Currently, I work as an Independent Consultant where I strategize and build Business Development, Marketing, Digital PR, and Media Plans for Aviation players, National Tourism Offices, State Tourism Boards, and Hotels. I also offer a unique and highly bespoke service dedicated to raising the personal profile of leaders, CEOs, and Presidents of leading multi-national companies in the tourism sector so they are recognized as Thought Leaders.

How was 2020 for you and what would you like to do in 2021?

2020 was a fantastic learning experience for me. I was able to professionally enhance my skills via a large number of online Communication and Digital Media professional courses, which have helped me to reach out to clients Internationally. I now work across several platforms, catering to tourism clients and brands across Continents seamlessly, and can service them in India and globally as well.

How do you plan to achieve your goals in 2021?

By analyzing the investments, and long and short-term vision plans that are emerging; I am happy to report that the wheels have started turning and business is slated to come back to the pre-Pandemic levels by later this year. And from 2022 onwards, it will continue to thrive. Tourism as an industry is poised to rise to unprecedented levels from 2022 to 2027, which if not in totality, will be able to partially reimburse the massive losses it underwent in 2020.

Last but not the least; please let us know the initiatives you are working on towards the social causes/ women empowerment.

I am an active member of the Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) – a premier National Business Chamber for Women in India. I have taken on many Mentoring and Volunteering roles; as I see a trend emerging over the past few years that women are now able to attain commendable levels of education; but in many cases, they are not adequately guided or groomed to enter and subsequently, succeed in the workforce.

Anything you would like to say on this special day.

Don’t ever be afraid of speaking your mind, and never apologize for who you are and what your worth is. Often times as Indian women, we are programmed to feel guilty for asking for that raise or a promotion. Go after the money and position or job you deserve and quit what doesn’t feel right to you.

 

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