Crm Practises In The Indian Hotel Industry Tourism Essays

Crm Practises In The Indian Hotel Industry Tourism Essays Crm Practises In The Indian Hotel Industry Tourism Essay Crm Practises In The Indian Hotel Industry Tourism Essay Customer is the most of import individual for a concern. He is non an break to our work but the intent of it. He is non an foreigner ; he is a portion of it. We are non making him a favor ; he is making us a favor by giving us an chance to function him. ( By Mahatma Gandhi ) CRM includes all facets of interaction a company has with its client, whether it is, pre-sales, gross revenues or post-sales ( service related ) . Customer relationship direction ( CRM ) is a scheme that can assist them to construct durable relationships with their clients and increase their net incomes. The client demands can be categorized as: ( a ) Service ( B ) Monetary value ( degree Celsius ) Quality ( vitamin D ) Action and ( vitamin E ) Appreciation. ( By Raghunath A ; Shields 2001 ) CRM can take to cross-selling and up merchandising of merchandises and services. Cross-selling agencies selling the right merchandise to the right client. 1.2 Hospitality Industry Hospitality is all about offering heat to person who looks for aid at a strange or unfriendly topographic point. It refers to the procedure of having and entertaining a invitee with good will. Hospitality in the commercial context refers to the activity of hotels, eating houses, catering, hostel, resorts or nines who make a career of handling tourers. The cordial reception industry is a 3.5 trillion dollar service sector within the planetary economic system. It is an umbrella term for a wide assortment of service industries including, non limited to, hotels, nutrient service, casinos, and touristry. The cordial reception industry is really diverse and planetary. The industry is cyclical ; dictated by the fluctuations that occur with an economic system every twelvemonth. Today cordial reception sector is one of the fastest turning sectors in India. It is expected to turn at the rate of 8 % between 2009 and 2016. 1.3 Indian Hotel Industry Harmonizing to a study, Hotel Industry in India presently has supply of 110,000 suites and there is a deficit of 150,000 suites fuelling hotel room rates across India. Harmonizing to estimations demand is traveling to transcend supply by at least 100 % over the following 2 old ages. Five-star hotels in metro metropoliss allot same room, more than one time a twenty-four hours to different invitees, having about 24-hour rates from both invitees against 6-8 hours usage. Hotel rates in India are likely to lift by 25 % yearly and tenancy by 80 % , over the following two old ages. Hotel Industry in India is traveling to witness a roar with Delhi hosting 2010 Commonwealth Games. 2. Scope of the Study This survey aims to understand the stairss taken by the hotel industry to better their relationship with their clients. The survey would be limited to documenting the practises and plans followed by merely the taking participants in the hotel industry. The survey would analyze the stairss taken by the taking participants to heighten client keeping, client satisfaction, and client delectation which leads to constructing the trade name image in the heads of the clients and hence increased profitableness. 3. Aims of the Study To analyze Customer Relationship Management in the Hotel Industry . To analyze the plans and patterns of CRM employed by the taking hotels in India. To analyze the steps to construct a better relationship between the client and the cordial reception unit. To understand the new selling attacks in hotel industry. To analyze how CRM helps to retain clients. 4. Research Methodology The survey involves secondary research of the similar surveies done in past, hotel duty cards, magazines, newspapers, articles, and cyberspace and company records. The type of informations taken into consideration for this subject is the Secondary informations. This survey is descriptive in nature while it seeks to place the present scenario of the patterns being followed by the taking hotels in India for heightening client keeping, satisfaction and trueness. 5. Restrictions of the Study A · Due to the handiness of merely secondary informations, hallmark of the information is non certain. A · Since the hallmark of the information is non certain, the consequence of the undertaking may non be precise. 6. CRM and the Hotel Industry Hotel Industry is a service sector where there is a major function played by relationship selling. Several large organisations have failed to cognize what the client truly wants and several others, after cognizing, could non truly interpret these demands into rescue. Hotels exist for no other grounds than to run into client demands and outlooks. CRM is a concern scheme to choose and pull off the most valuable client relationships. In cordial reception, each client relationship has value and should be managed efficaciously. There is chance for redemption and recommendation from each past client. The disposal of the information about this past invitee and the effectual integrating of the information into frontline invitee services plans is the challenge of CRM execution. Two parts of CRM: The operational CRM trades with those which make client contacts or otherwise called as touch points. Analytic CRM does the occupation of analysing the accumulated information from the assorted touch points with the assistance of concern intelligence. Integration of Customer Information through CRM: The informations beginnings may include guest history, external invitee profiling systems, eating house nine plans, gross revenues and providing system information and other informations. 6.1 Customer profiling: Demographic and Psychographic information is collected and a big per centum of the client database is built. This is followed by the execution of effectual selling plans to pull similar clients to construct gross. 6.2 Direct selling: The use of the integrated client information for direct selling is the fruit of CRM attempt. Highly profitable offers can supply concern during slow periods. These offers can be communicated via mail or electronic mail. 6.3 Best customer/extraordinary service: It is true that the 20 % of clients contribute to 80 % of gross and therefore it becomes all the more of import to acquire the most profitable clients wholly satisfied. This involves really elaborate satisfaction analysis, combined with valid fiscal informations about each client all appended to the client database. It is the integrating of all the elements that cordial reception has to concentrate on: 1. Personally acknowledging clients ; 2. Offering appropriate value and great service to promote repetition concern ; 3. Sing that employee and guest satisfaction continues to better ; and 4. Beating the competition by offering a better merchandise, viing on the service experience instead than monetary value entirely. 7. Customer Relationship Management Software for the Hotel Industry Guest Ware is a alone Customer Relationship Management System ( CRMS ) designed specifically for the housing industry to supply individualized invitee acknowledgment and exceeding service quality. Leading hotel direction companies use Guest Ware to better guest satisfaction, lower operating costs, construct guest trueness, and increase revenues.Guest Ware is installed in over seven 100 hotels and resorts worldwide ; including Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels, Star wood and many independent hotels and resorts. Customer Acquisition is six times more dearly-won than Customer Retention. The undermentioned tools are provided by Guest Ware for Customer Retention. 7.1 Improvement Analysis Implement Process Improvement Industry studies show that invitees are less likely to return if they experience a job during their stay. Guest Ware s Improvement Analysis tools provides with the information to extinguish repeating jobs and maintain invitees coming back, so to take down operating costs and increase guest satisfaction at the same clip. ( Raghunath A ; Shields 2001 ) 7.2 Comment Card Tracking Listen to your Customers Customer study on eating house or an extended questionnaire of invitees, the GuestWare Comment Card Tracking system assists to pull off client feedback. Guest Ware improves productiveness in the follow-up procedure and supply valuable direction studies to maximise the benefits of studies. Develop comprehensive invitee profiles from reserve information and demonstrate to guests/customers that the belongings is in touch with their demands. Drive guest-centric informations down to the dealing degree, leting employees and guest-facing engineering to present greater value to the guest/customers. Generate a realistic profile on the disbursement and remain forms of invitees, leting the belongings to make guest-centric selling for increased trueness and disbursement. Examples: ITC Maurya Sheraton Field merchandising, Loyalty plans, Reservation systems, Web A ; Call centres are the major beginnings of database development. The hotel has 35,000 members in its database. They regard this direction of their database as an plus because it enables a superior client apprehension. Figure 1 GuestWare Enterprise Edition s Preference entry screen. Note Global Preferences denoted by ruddy G . The fast one is to acquire the relevant information in forepart of the line employees instead than maintaining it locked up in an offline analytical database or centralized system non available to hotel forces. An indispensable construct in discoursing guest acknowledgment is that of penchants. Capturing, retaining and doing effectual usage of expressed client penchants is the kernel of guest acknowledgment. The platform shops and communicates planetary or cosmopolitan penchants for the guest across all hotels in the company ( smoking or newspaper penchants, for illustration ) . Yet it besides supports the gaining control of local penchants, unique to the single belongings, so that a penchant of room off from snowmaking appears at the ski resort, but non the halfway metropolis belongings. 7.3 Using the Database: Product and service betterment is merely one consequence of tapping into a database. Developing particular publicities and using direct mail to advance these runs is another major usage of database selling. For illustration: A gross revenues squad of Mughal Sheraton, Agra had completed a reappraisal of an approaching weekend. This reappraisal revealed that engagements to day of the month were slightly below prognosis and that a particular publicity may be done in order to rush up the concern. The gross revenues squad so enveloped particular publicity packing to promote engagements for weekends. They searched their welcome interruption vacation bundle database and scratched it to place and section the clients who tend to: Book on long weekends Book on a short term footing Respond to promotional runs It is aggressive merchandising to the possible clients who have peculiar demands and wants. ( Sheth, 2002 ) 7.4 Database Mining The systems analysis tools allow users to profile their most profitable clients, analyze their purchasing wonts, develop amp ; measure the public presentation of targeted selling runs. The biggest advantage of database excavation is that it helps to concentrate the attempts and available resources into one way which is most profitable and out-base excavation helps to extinguish the non-profitable clients and hence reduces the costs and enhances the net incomes. The net incomes enhanced are non merely in pecuniary footings but besides in footings of client trueness and long term keeping. ( Rmana A ; Somayajulu, 2005 ) 7.5 Relationship Selling Relationship selling is cognizing the client and utilizing that information to bond with them. Form the initial personal contact and so function as the foundation for fostering this brief brush into a friendly and adjustment relationship by concentrating on personal invitee information. In add-on to cognizing the purchase wonts of members ( room choice, certain agreeableness penchants, and so forth ) , personal information such as partner s name and avocations are added to a member database. The company uses this information to orient particular events and merchandises to little sections of the rank. ( Swift, 2001 ) 7.6 Complaint Handling It is estimated that 90 per centum of disgruntled clients whose jobs were non solved will neer make concern with the retail merchants that sold them the merchandise nor will they once more buy the merchandise that caused the job. In instance of hotels customer/guest is more likely to exchange if the provided service is non satisfactory to their outlook. The amazing intelligence is that those people who do ailment and have their job taken attention of, be given to be more loyal to the company than the people who were satisfied in the first topographic point. First companies see ailments as chances to better, to affect clients and to turn kicking clients into loyal 1s. ( Schneider and Bowen, 1999 ) 7.6 Priority Selling Priority Marketing focuses on what s of import to the client. What is of import to one client nevertheless, may non be every bit of import to another. See the varying demand placed on a hotel: An air hose air hostess may happen the 24 hr room-service highly valuable, a retired twosome may necessitate dietetic bill of fare options, a tour jobber may prefer low monetary values, and a immature female executive considers a security a precedence. Hotels should interrupt down their services and ask clients what is of import to them. This attack can field really valuable penetration about altering client penchants. Identifying groups of clients who have similar penchants or even similar gustatory sensations ( such as sharing common perceptual experiences of quality or provinces ) , hotels can aim publicities to capitalise on known features and individualise the experience. 8. Some Hotels who excel in Customer Relationship Management 8.1 ITC WELCOME GROUP HOTELS ITC hotels stepped into the cordial reception industry in 1975 and are one of the most approaching hotel ironss in its category. They started their first hotel in Chennai and now they have 66 hotels across more than 50 finishs in India. ITC collaborated with Sheraton hotels, which is a portion of Starwood hotels and resorts and is a well-known planetary cordial reception concatenation. They were the first 1s to follow this sole logo which has non been thought or taken by anyone to fit this The Namaste-Nobody gives you India like we do . It is represented by four typical trade names functioning the demands of the travellers, viz. : ITC Hotels Super deluxe and premium hotels in strategic concern location. Welcome Hotels Five Star first category cordial reception for concern and leisure travellers. Fortune Hotels and Resorts Full service cordial reception at mid-level monetary values for concern travellers and leisure travellers. Welcome Heritage Palaces, garrisons, havelis, resorts and places that conveying alive the history and love affair of India s heritage. 8.2 THE OBEROI GROUP OF HOTELS The Oberoi Group of Hotel has played a prima function in the growing of the hotel industry in India. Oberoi hotels today operate the largest concatenation of luxury hotels with 30 hotels in 9 states and are quickly spread outing into new finishs around the universe. In order to guarantee individualized attending to all invitees, anexclusive pantryman service has besides been introduced on all floors. The Oberoi has 8 floors with even numbered suites confronting towards the Golf Course ( pool side ) and uneven numbered suites confronting Humayun s Tomb ( monument side ) . Leisure Facilities: Health nine, Swiming pool, Delhi Golf Club installations. Particular services: Bank, Barber Shop, Shoe Shine, Beauty Parlor, Laundry, Drug Store, Flower Shop, Book Shop, Mercury Travels ( fining A ; auto hire ) , Executive Center ( Typing, Fax, Photostatting, Board room ) etc. Shops: Shoping Arcade located at the anteroom degree. 8.3 TAJ GROUP OF HOTELS Taj group of hotels is the largest concatenation in India- with several Hotels abroad besides. The parent Hotel-The Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay is rated among the 10 best hotels in the universe. Taj has been runing in the USA, the UK, the Maldives, Oman and Srilanka and the Taj Empire continues to spread out farther. Today Taj has 50 Hotels of which 48 are operational, 38 finishs and is the largest Hotel concatenation in the state. Merely one hotel group knows India and South Asia so good, and does so with such masterful manner. The singularity of the Taj Group lies in the amount of its parts in supplying a living heritage of India, together with superb amenitiess and modern installations. All of these combine to do The Taj Experience a must. The Taj Club It is a known fact that a concern traveler is a much pampered individual indulged with amenitiess and comfortss unheard of even a decennary ago. However a longing has doubtless arisen for a particular privilege, an interior sanctum, an Exclusive Club. Born of desire, The Taj Group of Hotels offers the Taj nine which offers alone universe of installations and privileges, both indispensable and extraordinary. Business Centre It offers several utile installations 24-hrs a twenty-four hours, seven yearss a hebdomad. These include Facsimile, Internet, E-mail, Color photocopying and legal library, every bit good as laptops, metropolis beepers and nomadic phones on rental footing. Taj Palace Business Centre is designed to give the best to the concern community who do necessitate sophisticated communicating installations and other appliances to remain connected to the remainder of the universe while at the Hotel. With no hyperbole it could be said that the guest gets the best of best services and installations which are more than necessary for a modern concern adult male, and besides feel at place piece at work. The hotel calls this construct An office off from place . Other Services A ; Facilities: A · 24-hour room service A · Free safe sedimentation cabinets A · Express laundry/ prohibitionist cleansing A · Purified H2O supply A · Doctor-on-call A · Full-equipped Business Centre A · 24-hour fax/ teletypewriter installations. A · 3 Meeting suites A · Work station handiness A · Laptops on hire A · Secretarial service A · Knight Rider online service A · Currency Exchange A · Travel aid . Car hire service A · 24-hour Coffee Shop A · 6 Restaurants A ; Parallel barss A · Night Club A · 8 epicurean Banquet Rooms A · Shopping arcade A · Fitness Centre A · Agreements made for golf and tennis 9. CRM Practises at Some of the top Hotels: 9.1. ITC GROUP OF HOTELS ITC MAURYA SHERATON DEFINES CRM AS: Customer Relationship Management is a procedure of pull offing client dealingss in an organized manner . They aim at pull offing each Moment Of Truth that is experienced by the client. There are assorted contact points where the hotel comes in direct contact with the client which are known as Touch points in the CRM linguistic communication. These touch points are considered of import as there is direct interaction with the client and they provide valuable input to the hotel. The input provided by the client has to be captured in such a manner that it becomes information and can be used by assorted procedures within the hotel. This can be done with the aid of engineering and the purpose is that whenever there is a client interface with any of those procedures they are able to utilize that information in serving the invitee in a most efficient mode. ITC Maurya Sheraton has been following an unstructured signifier of CRM with a narrow focal point of functioning the client well and in a most efficient mode. The construct of Customer Relationship Management has a broader focal point of non merely functioning the client but besides making the client and retaining him for measurable and significant returns. CRM is a huge topic where the construct of one to one selling is supported by Database Marketing. CRM procedure at ITC Maurya Sheraton has been divided in 2 stairss: 1. Designation of all Customer Relationship direction vehicles 2. Integration of these Customer Relationship direction vehicles DATA CAPTURE VEHICLES Maurya Sheraton has identified 5 such vehicles ( from marketing point of position ) which are besides the touch points for the hotel in the procedure of pull offing its Customer Relationship. These vehicles are: Field merchandising Loyalty Plans Distribution Points Web Call Centers 9.1.1 Field Selling When a gross revenues group or a selling executive of the hotel makes a gross revenues call to a corporate, so it is called Field Selling. Field Selling includes Prospecting which means searching and seeking for new clients. Current Histories are one of the best beginnings to bring out new concern that is within these current histories, as they harbor many beginnings of untapped concern potency. They besides provide Leads and referrals. Leads are possible clients with whom no contact has yet been made and larning of possible clients from current clients is called Referral. 9.1.2 Loyalty Plans Second vehicle for CRM identified by Maurya Sheraton are the Loyalty Programs. These plans are designed to honor the loyal invitees of the hotel. Every clip a invitee cheques in the hotel at his every touch point or interface with the hotel, every clip he spends on a service provided by the hotel ( usage of Room, Restaurant, Laundry, Telephones etc. ) , the dealing is recorded at each single point and is added to the concluding measure presented to the invitee at the terminal of the stay. There are certain points attached to the figure of rupees spent by the invitee. Therefore higher the sum of the measure, the higher will be the figure of points attained by the invitee. These points are credited to the history of each invitee with the aid of engineering. These are called Loyalty points. These histories holding the trueness points are alone to every invitee. Therefore, whenever after the first clip that guest cheques into the hotels, the guest history besides affects the trueness points. The higher the figure of points, more loyal is the invitee. The points can be redeemed by the invitee for either free corsets at the hotel or free gifts as listed by the hotel or free repasts depending upon the figure of points accumulated. The aim of holding a trueness programme is non merely to do the guest feel rewarded for his stay but besides cross-sell other services which can be used by the invitee like wash, telephones, eating houses etc. and the gross generated from these could be earned by the hotel. Therefore, alternatively of loss of gross by supplying free stay, they really gain the gross every bit good as certain clients for life with the aid of the trueness. 9.1.3 Distribution Points/ Central Reservation System A client can merely do a call at the reserve Centre to do a engagement with the hotel. It sounds simple but it could acquire complex in instance he does non have the expected or the coveted response. The information sing all guest reserves is managed through computing machine package, hence, when a client brand calls to question about a reserve, all his hotel usage history pops up in the system which gives a opportunity to the executive at the reserves to immediately acknowledge the client and reference him by his name. This minute of truth is experienced by the client with a feeling of acknowledgment and feels it as good service at the first touch point itself. The input or direction received from the client at the phase is recorded in the reserve system for farther mention by the hotel operations. 9.1.4 World Wide Web ITC has an information portal which merely allows the client to bespeak a reserve which has to be checked manually by the hotel reserves and so merely the verifications are given. This is a touch point of client relationship because a speedy and accurate response could win you a client. And since it is on an single footing, it is more individualized and customized because the client puts in his penchants when bespeaking a engagement. Therefore, once it is entered in to the hotel s informations base the client does non hold to reiterate his penchant as they are automatically suggested by the reserve signifier on the cyberspace. 9.1.5 Call Centers ITC Maurya has a Call centre dedicated to serving the trueness programme members. Here the clients can name in and happen out about any information related to their rank. Whether question relates to accumulation or salvation of points, it can be accessed through these centres. This installation has been outsourced by Maurya and is out of the premises of the hotel. This has been done to serve the quest in a most individualized and efficient mode. Call centres can now even be accessed via electronic mail as it is the most cost effectual and clip effectual manner of accessing 9.1.6 OTHER INCENTIVES TO THE CUSTOMERS BY ITC WELCOME GROUP HOTELS Welcome Award Honoring Relationships Welcome Award has earned the differentiation of being India s premier and most powerful frequent invitee programme. The Welcome Award programme recognizes client as a concern traveller and through its strategic confederations with travel spouses enterprises to construct a rewarding relationship client. As a Welcome Award member clients can gain Stars on every facet of their concern tripaˆÂ ¦hotel corsets, concern amusement, Car leases and even air travel. Welcome Link- Bring place the wagess Welcome Link, India s most popular programme for cardinal professionals offers many value-added benefits. It is designed to assist members in doing reserves for their company executives. For every materialized room dark booked by a member at ITC-Welcome group Hotel, points are earned that can be redeemed for a broad scope of wagess. With Welcome Link, the member can look frontward to many exciting publicities and awards coming their manner plus an exciting scope of wagess, complimentary dining, free vacations, air tickets, auto leases and privilege shopping with Citibank Diners Gift Vouchers countrywide. ITC s STEPS IN THE CRM PROCESS: The first measure in CRM is for the internal client ie the employees. At Maurya, they are trained to larn more about the invitee and his background so that when he talks to the invitee, he can strike a conversation that is of some involvement to the invitee. That may non be needfully related to his stay at the hotel but these informal conversations with the invitee can assist construct an first-class resonance with the invitee which will take the guest to cognize the employee by the name. In future interactions, it is possible that the invitee may merely wish that most of his work done through that employee. This is besides a signifier of customized and individualized merchandising within the hotel. The 2nd measure in CRM procedure is to incorporate the information which is received through touch points. From a selling point of position, it is of import to acquire the desired input back from touch points in such a manner that all the spots and pieces picked up by different touch points can be organized and used as valuable information by assorted other touch point to offer the right merchandise to the right client and that excessively at the right clip. All this is done by making a information base 9.2 THE OBEROI GROUP OF HOTELS Oberoi has a really loyal backing from its invitees, which has ensured a high market portion in the high-end section of the market, which they cater to. CRM PROCESS AT THE OBEROI GROUP OF HOTELS Harmonizing to the Oberoi the terms-Customer Relationship Management and Relationship Marketing are used interchangeably therefore they do non hold a separate CRM section as the sketching maps of the CRM procedure are integrated in the Gross saless and Marketing operation. They use a assortment of after gross revenues tactics for client bonding and trueness. Co-operative and collaborative relationships with clients seem to be the most prudent manner to maintain paths their changing outlooks and suitably act uponing it. The Oberoi has ensured the above by the assorted end user and booker plans such as: ( Starkov, 2006 ) 9.2.1 Top The Oberoi Plus This is an end-user plan with an enrolment fee of Rs.575 merely. It is good for invitees who use the services of the hotel. Each clip a invitee spends, he accumulates points which can be redeemed for any services of the hotel. By inscribing and honoring clients with the aid of this plan, the hotel ensures that a greater bonding towards long-run client keeping. They have besides tied up with the air hoses for interchangeable salvation of points. 9.2.2 Connections Bookers Program Bookers are an of import nexus in happening an existent sale therefore they need to be kept motivated to force the hotel when the reserves are made by a corporate history. Each clip a booking agent gives as reserve to the hotel he gets recognition points for that and which can be redeemed for gifts or any hotel services. 9.2.3 Food Festivals The Oberoi conducts assorted nutrient festivals at its Restaurants. Regularly and sends invitations to its more profitable Clients. 9.2.4 Tie-Ups The Oberoi invites top clients like CEO, Managing Directors and cardinal determination shapers of different companies to societal eventides specially arranged to further heighten the Customer relationship direction maps. 9.3 THE TAJ GROUP OF HOTELS The Taj Group is besides puting to a great extent on CRM systems to keep client databank with their profiles to give a quicker and individualized service to their loyal patronage. The Taj gives high precedence to guest satisfaction. They even have an SMS service to maintain path of lost/missed calls by the clients while they are off. They have employed applications like PMS, CRS and CIS to maintain path of clients profiles which includes information such as their disbursement forms and their particular demands besides. They employ informations excavation technique to acquire and move on informations and besides give recognition to the employees who get regards from the invitees. TAJ GROUP OF HOTELS TO ITS CUSTOMERS/GUESTS 1. Taj Inner Circle Taj Inner Circle, the frequent invitee programme, allows invitees to gain points whenever they stay or dine at The Taj. Guests can so deliver their points for specially selected wagess like complimentary corsets at Taj hotels, resorts, and castles. 2. Taj Epicure Plan The Taj Epicure Plan is an optional add-on dining program to the Taj Inner Circle. Members earn Epicure points for outgos incurred on nutrient and drinks, at take parting Taj eating houses in India. 3. About the Taj Inner Circle The Taj Inner Circle has three rank degrees Blue, Silver and Gold. Customers/Guests articulation at the Blue degree and get down gaining on their stay or dining or both disbursals at all Taj belongingss. To measure up for the Taj Inner Circle Silver rank degree, client demand to roll up 250 points in any uninterrupted 60-day period i.e. pass Rs.25,000 ( INR ) , excepting revenue enhancements, in any uninterrupted period of 60-days. Members who spend Rs.2,00,000 ( INR ) , excepting revenue enhancements, in uninterrupted 12-month period, will be automatically upgraded to Gold position. Gold card members enjoy enhanced privileges and accumulate points at a faster rate i.e. they earn at the rate of 1 point for every Rs.80 spent, excepting revenue enhancements. Gold and Silver card members of the Taj Inner Circl

Grow a Magic Crystal Christmas Tree

Grow a Magic Crystal Christmas Tree The magic part of the magic crystal Christmas tree is partly how quickly the crystals grow and partly the whole notion of a paper or sponge tree magically sprouting crystal foliage. This project is a variation on the charcoal crystal garden, except the crystals are grown on a tree form. Magic Crystal Tree Experiment Difficulty Level: BeginnerTime Required: OvernightMaterials: Salt, Water, Ammonia, Laundry BluingKey Concepts: Crystallization, Dissolving Magic Crystal Christmas Tree Materials 6 tablespoons or 90 ml water6 tablespoons or 90 ml table salt (preferably uniodized)6 tablespoons or 90 ml Mrs. Stewarts liquid laundry bluing1 tablespoon or 15 ml household ammoniaFood coloring (optional) Make the magic solution by dissolving the salt in the water and stirring in the bluing liquid and the ammonia. Grow a Magic Crystal Christmas Tree There are ​a  couple of different ways you can go here. You can cut a sponge into the shape of a Christmas tree, set it in a shallow dish, and pour the crystal solution over the sponge. Set the dish someplace where it wont be disturbed. You can dot the sponge with food coloring (like ornaments) if desired. Depending on the temperature and humidity, crystals may start to appear on the sponge Christmas tree in less than an hour. You should have a nice set of crystals if you let the dish sit out overnight. The other method is to cut out a cardboard or blotting paper Christmas tree. If you make two of these trees, you can cut one halfway down the top and the other halfway up from the bottom, match the cut ends together, and create a standing 3-dimensional tree. You can decorate your tree with food coloring ornaments. Set this tree in a shallow dish that contains the crystal growing solution. Crystal leaves will start to grow on your tree as the liquid is wicked up the paper and evaporates. If you cant get laundry bluing, you can get inexpensive kits to grow magic crystal Christmas trees.