Diethelm to open India office

The office, which will be based in Delhi, is to be headed by Lilli Saxer in the role of managing director. Chief executive officer John Watson said the office is a "starting point" in Diethelm's expansion into India, which will be open by the first quarter of 2007. Diethelm Events executive manager David Barrett said: "Our Diethelm Travel Asia presence in India will have a very positive effect on Diethelm Events. "India is a key source market for Thailand that requires great focus in managing. "I see tremendous potential for Thailand in the medium to long-term as offshore Indian corporate events become more sophisticated." Barrett added that Diethelm Events already had experience in handling upscale offshore Indian events into Thailand. Earlier this year the company handled the ground arrangements for an Indian IT conference in Phuket, followed by 500 insurance agents who met in Bangkok. Barrett said: "Diethelm Events will be targeting the crème de la crème of Indian groups, which should be the top 10 per cent of outbound Indian events into Thailand."