Theย Global Association ofย Eventsย & Hospitality Professionals (GAEHP)ย successfully organized itsย 8th LEAPtrip (Learn โข Engage โข Assess โข Promote), an exclusive Familiarization (FAM) Trip forย 40 travel, tourism, and hospitality professionalsย from across Indiaย in Varanasi.
Hosted atย Gangotri โ A Divine River Retreat, Varanasiโs prestigiousย luxury floating hotelย featuringย 24 elegantly appointed rooms, the LEAPtrip provided members with a unique opportunity to experience one of Indiaโs most distinctive hospitality products while exploring the cultural and spiritual essence of the holy city.
Designed around GAEHPโs LEAPtrip philosophy of enabling members to personally experience tourism products before recommending them to clients, the program featured a carefully curated itinerary that included the mesmerisingย Ganga Aarti, an invigoratingย morning yoga session, and a breathtakingย sunrise over the River Gangesย from the deck of Gangotri. These immersive experiences offered participants a deeper understanding of Varanasi as a destination for leisure, spiritual, and experiential tourism.
The members were graciously hosted by theย Malviya family โ Mr. Vikas Malviya, Mr. Vivek Malviya, and Mr. Jayant Malviya โ along with the dedicated team at Gangotri. Their exceptional hospitality, meticulous planning, and personalized attention ensured a memorable stay for every participant and showcased the highest standards of Indian hospitality.
Onย 26th July 2026, the delegation concluded the LEAPtrip with an authentic culinary experience atย Shree Shivay Thali Dining Varanasi, one of Varanasiโs most celebrated dining destinations. Founded byย Mr. Piyush Verma, the restaurant is renowned for its unlimited traditional thali, offering guests an authentic taste of regional cuisine in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The delightful dining experience served as the perfect conclusion to the visit.
The LEAPtrip reinforced thatย Gangotri โ A Divine River Retreatย andย Shree Shivay Thali Diningย together offer a unique blend of luxury, culture, spirituality, and authentic hospitality, making them exceptional offerings for domestic and international travellers seeking to experience the true soul of Varanasi.
Speaking on the occasion,ย Mr. Rajesh Arya, President, GAEHP, said:
โOur LEAPtrip initiative continues to create meaningful value for both our members and hospitality partners. By personally experiencing destinations and hospitality products, our members become stronger ambassadors for tourism. We sincerely thank Gangotri and Shree Shivay Thali Dining for extending exceptional hospitality and making the 8th edition of GAEHP LEAPtrip a remarkable success.โ
The initiative was conceptualized and coordinated byย Ms. Pratibha Arora, Director โย Eventsย & FAM, GAEHP, whose efforts played a key role in the successful execution of the program.
Over the years,ย GAEHP LEAPtripsย have evolved into one of the associationโs flagship initiatives, providing members with exclusive opportunities toย Learn, Engage, Assess, and Promoteย destinations and hospitality products through first-hand experiences while strengthening collaboration between the travel trade and hospitality industry.