Darshana Seth
Mumbai
Summary
Senior tourism leader with 23 years’ experience, including 16 years with Tourism New Zealand, shaping India’s outbound travel market through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and innovative trade marketing. Adept at market development, stakeholder engagement, and brand leadership, with a proven ability to position New Zealand as a high-value destination in competitive environments. Known for resilience, creativity, and collaborative leadership.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder & Director
Polaris Tourism
01.2023 - Current
- Driving India representation for global travel &, airport brands & luxury resorts, with a focus on commercial growth and market expansion.
- Achieved 20%+ YoY growth in trade engagement and delivered measurable commercial outcomes for partners.
- Secured 100+ new B2B partnerships with leading agencies and OTAs, resulting in passenger uplift on the long haul routes such as the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, LATAM, USA, Canada.
- Designed high-impact Business Events and luxury brand activations that generated double-digit growth in qualified leads.
- Strengthened Melbourne Airport’s positioning as a premier gateway in India, driving incremental traffic and market share.
Trade Marketing Manager
Tourism New Zealand
01.2008 - 01.2023
- Led the India trade strategy for Tourism New Zealand for 17 years, establishing India as one of the fastest-growing source markets.
- Delivered 100+ joint campaigns with airlines, OTAs, and travel agencies, driving double-digit uplift in brand visibility and conversions.
- Expanded the 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme to thousands of Indian agents, building strong advocacy and destination knowledge.
- Designed and executed flagship roadshows, trade events, and third-party exhibitions (SATTE, OTM) ensuring New Zealand’s strong presence in India.
- Introduced and championed CRM, EventsAir, and Marketing Hub, enhancing data-led insights, accountability, and engagement.
- Successfully aligned with NZ Inc. partners (Air NZ, ENZ, NZTE) for an integrated approach, strengthening the national brand story in India.
- Maintained market momentum during global crises through virtual trade events and digital learning platforms.
Sales & Operations Manager
Thomas Cook Al Rostamani
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Analysed sales performance data and presented actionable insights to management, enabling strategic decision-making and targeted promotional offers.
- Identified and implemented process improvements that streamlined workflows, boosted sales team productivity, and improved reporting accuracy.
- Collaborated with retail teams to review and interpret monthly sales and marketing results, strengthening performance tracking and supporting data-led planning.
MICE Operations Executive
Thomas Cook
- Managed sales and operations for MICE movements, supporting corporate clients with end-to-end event management solutions and gaining early exposure to large-scale business events.
Education
Bachelor of Humanities - Psychology
Mumbai University
Executive Programme - Digital Marketing for Business Growth
Indian Institute of Management
Skills
- Destination Strategy
- Trade & Partnership Development
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Team Leadership
- Data-Driven Marketing
- Advocacy Building
- Premium & Business Event Segments
- Pedagogical - Tourism & Digital Marketing
Jai Hind College & Nest Academy of Sports Management, Mumbai Delivered lectures on Tourism Marketing and Digital Marketing, mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students, and shaping future industry talent Additionally, encompassing a wide range of abilities such as instruction, curriculum development, assessment, communication, and classroom management
Timeline
Founder & Director
Polaris Tourism
01.2023 - Current
Trade Marketing Manager
Tourism New Zealand
01.2008 - 01.2023
Sales & Operations Manager
Thomas Cook Al Rostamani
01.2006 - 01.2007
MICE Operations Executive
Thomas Cook
Executive Programme - Digital Marketing for Business Growth
Indian Institute of Management
Bachelor of Humanities - Psychology
Mumbai University