MakeMyTrip turns 20 at a time when travel is badly hit, founders say they will 'revive, rebound and thrive again'

• MakeMytrip, India’s largest travel booking platform, turned 20 this week.
• But the company is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis as the coronavirus pandemic has brought a complete halt to travel.
• Group chairman Deep Kalra and CEO Rajesh Magow will be taking a 50% salary cut from April 2020, but in a letter they wrote to employees they are hopeful of better times.

MakeMytrip, India’s largest travel booking platform, turned 20 this week. Unfortunately, its big anniversary comes at a time when the travel industry is badly hit due to the coronavirus pandemic. Flights across the world are suspended, hotels are being turned into quarantine centres, and travel is a far off thought in people's minds.

MakeMyTrip's business will be affected, reports have also said that MMT could cut salaries of its employees. Group Chairman Deep Kalra and CEO Rajesh Magow will be giving up their entire salary with effect from April 2020.

But in a letter to their 3,450 employees, the top bosses said they will “rebound, revive and thrive again”.

Over the years, MakeMyTrip has faced many challenges and survived – the dot-com bust, 9/11 attacks, SARS epidemic, 2008-09 financial crisis and Indian aviation sector challenges in 2012 and 2019. “But for our generation, this challenge is nothing like anything before,” wrote the bosses in the letter.

At MMT, cancellations had started pouring in as the news of coronavirus in China began. The company did not is not levy any fee for processing cancellation or rescheduling requests for domestic as well as international flights up to April 30.

“We are extremely proud of the customer-focussed mind-set across the company while dealing with unprecedented travel disruption. There is no playbook for this, yet we see countless examples of people and teams stepping up to ensure continuity and stability of our services,” they wrote in the letter.

But with the uncertainty all around, the travel industry could be hit the worst. A report by the World Economic Forum said that the World Travel and Tourism Council has warned the coronavirus pandemic could result in 50 million jobs being cut worldwide in the travel and tourism industry.

Moreover, “Asia is expected to be the worst affected. Once the outbreak is over, it could take up to 10 months for the industry to recover” said the report.

But at MMT, the founders are hopeful. “We are armed with some of the finest talent and experienced colleagues that are rearing to roll up their sleeves and build things ground up again. We all must over invest to learn, adapt and adjust so we emerge stronger on the other side of this crisis,” they wrote.

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