Award for trailblazer

Jehangir Katgara, chairman and managing director of Trail Blazer Tours India (TBI), who has been credited with introducing the concept of tourist air charters to India, has won the World Travel Market (WTM) 2014 World Travel Leaders Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the industry. He was presented the award at the WTM’s leading annual event for the travel industry held in London on November 5, 2014.

(L-R): SanJeet, Jehangir Katgara and Kate MacBeth

"Katgara is one of the best known and most respected members of the Indian travel trade and has been at the forefront of this industry throughout the period since the 1980s,” said Simon Press of Reed Travel Exhibitions of WTM. A press release on the occasion notes that the WTM’s Official Media Partners, which represent key travel industry media around the world, provide an excellent platform to recognize companies and individuals who have made significant contributions to travel and tourism in their region or sector.
As an executive working for the Travel Corporation of India (TCI) in the 1970s, Katgara was instrumental in expanding the Corporation’s overseas network in Canada, Europe, the Far East, Australia and South America, mentions the press release. In 2006, TCI was sold to Thomas Cook. Katgara now heads TBI which deals with both the leisure as well as business travel markets. The company has 10 offices in India, with an overseas presence in China, Korea, Australia, France, UK, Austria, USA, Canada, Germany and Bulgaria.
Katgara is a scion of the family that owns and runs Jeena and Company established in 1900, which later set up TCI. He is on the board of a number of tourism bodies and is also an active member and past president of the Travel Agents Association of India, mentions the press release.