Kerala: AC houseboat to woo corporates

Alappuzha, Feb 19: The spectacular beauty of Kerala's backwaters needs no introduction and cruising through the backwaters in houseboats has always been a wonderful experience.

But spending a full-day for business conferences on one of the houseboats, enjoying the fascinating beauty of the backwaters would always be a new experience to the corporate leaders.

Since people all over the world were exploring new destinations for spending holidays, why can't big corporate houses shift their conference venue to a boat? ''This concept prompted us to think about a leisurely cruise on multi-deck boat allowing executives enjoy the scenic backwaters along with business conference,'' said Pulikkattil Tourism Group Managing Director Tomi Pulikkattil.

''For the first time in the history of houseboats, our firm floated the new concept of mixing business with pleasure,'' he told UNI.

''Having many firsts to our credit in the annals of backwater tourism cruise, one more feather is on our cap with the launch of the first fully air-conditioned, most modern and marvellous convention castle, 'Jalasamrat,' in the country,'' he said.

Mr Tomi who had been in the houseboat industry for the past 13 years said large number of corporate groups were shifting their business conferences to Alappuzha, considered as the Venese of the East, for a change.

In the past such events had taken place only in five-star hotels and big cities.

''We have lot of enquiries from corporate business groups from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

''In the last season alone we arranged 100 conferences for big corporates like ICICI Bank, SBT, Federal Bank and Asian Paints in our ''palace on waves,'' a double-deck house boat with all facilities of our new air-conditioned ''Jalasamrat.'' ''The business potential prompted us to think about a fully air-conditioned one, as big business groups do not think about the expenditure but are only concerned with convenience and comfort,'' he added.

''On the reason for companies migrating to house boats for business conferences, he said, ''Conferences on boats offer the pleasure of a cruise for the participants and also ensure 100 per cent attendance till the end of meeting as none can leave midway,'' he added.

The rent for a day's conference in the air-conditioned boat would cost around Rs 60,000, including three suites and food, he said.

Besides business, the boat would also be given to individuals who would have pay a rent between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000 for one day and one night, including food. If an individual pays Rs 650, he can enjoy the experience of luxury cruise and taste international cuisine with traditional Alappuzha ''kappkkari'' (tapioca) and fish curry, he said.

Mr Tomi claimed the fully air-conditioned vessel would have magnificent conference hall on the upper deck with a seating capacity close to 150.

The conference hall was well furnished and equipped with state-of-art gadgets.It had all modern amenities like audio-visual presentation facilities, public address system, close circuit TV, video conference, internet, intercom and modern lighting.

The house boat will also offer clean international standard cuisine with ethnic Kerala specialties and other food and beverages, he said.

Fire extinguishers, fire pump and life raft and skilled and experienced lifeguards with life saving equipment and doctors on call were the safety features.

''Above all, we are the sole tourist operator in the state to provide secretarial assistants,'' he claimed.

Mr Tomi said 40 labourers took eight months to complete the 100 ft x 16 ft vessel costing around Rs 35 lakh.

The new boat was constructed with ''kalpathi,'' which was normally adopted for making fishing boats and 'uroos' joined together with brass nails.

Instead of using bamboo poles, coconut fibre ropes, bamboo mats and coir carpets covered the boat which allowed tourists to enjoy the scenic backwater along palm-fringed waterways of Kerala in the comfort of the bedrooms.

A 20 KW generator powered the boat and a bio-septic tank, tested and certified by the Central Research Laboratory (CRL), fitted to collect the effluents thereby avoiding pollution to the backwaters.

UNI