Talk:Golden Chariot

Official site
There seems to be some edit warring going on as to which site to have as the external link. The two sites look very similar until you hit the "Online booking" button. When you do this from http://www.thegoldenchariot.co.in/ you stay within that site, but when you do so from http://www.goldenchariot.com/ you get taken off to some outfit called "Palace Tours". I would interpret that as meaning that the .co.in site is the official Golden Chariot site which should be linked, and the .com site is a travel agent attempting to spam us with an official looking site.

Could the people who have been edit-warring please comment? Phil Bridger (talk) 10:10, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

Official Site
I was also under the same impression that the .co.in site was the "official site" when I looked closely that it belongs to another travel agency "Luxury Trains". I know for a fact that Karnataka State Tourism Board owns the train. I called Palace Tours just now - they gave me the real site http://www.goldenchariot.org and it seems both of these companies are selling the same train. Both have their own contact information in CONTACT US pages. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Michele.wynd (talk • contribs) 14:15, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

Official site
The Luxury Trains has in fact been appointed as the worldwide marketing partner for marketing and sales of The Golden Chariot, by The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation. This was the reason to build up http://www.thegoldenchariot.co.in/ last year and when the train was flagged off in march 08, our CEO was all over in the Indian news (Mr. Sajivve Trehaan).

Copyright issues aren't taken too seriously in some countries as we all know, and therefore copycats will pop up everywhere, as soon as business opportunities arise. The so called official site http://thegoldenchariot.org/ is also just one of them (check the contact address in New Delhi). Karnataka State Tourism office is actually in Bangalore. Check: karnatakatourism.org.

However, concerning http://www.goldenchariot.com/, the mister who owns this site also claims to be the "Official Web site of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India..." http://www.tourisminindia.com/ which has been designed and by http://www.inetindia.com/ which looks again very similar to "Palace Tours" http://palacetours.net/ ... too much coincidence? This can all be verified by doing a WHOIS search on the net.

I could go on and on with some more proofs, but right now, there's a law suit going on against Palace Tours.

Let me know you thoughts about copyrights and code hacking. I'm by the way the webmaster of http://www.theluxurytrains.com/

Theluxurytrains (talk) 10:03, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

Agreed - but I was referring to http://www.goldenchariot.org Is that not the Karnataka Tourism's Official Website for The Golden Chariot? Claim of having a lawsuit does not mean anything. I guess Palace Tours could have a lawsuit against you for public defamation. Who knows? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Michele.wynd (talk • contribs) 21:35, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
 * If http://www.goldenchariot.org is the official site then that's what should be in the external link. Why do you keep putting in a different one if you concede that that is the official site? Phil Bridger (talk) 21:48, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

My fault. Accepted! I believe you have already made the change. Thank you. It is just frustrating that this person from luxury trains keeps claiming to be the Golden Chariot's Worldwide Marketing Partner. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Michele.wynd (talk • contribs) 22:29, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

Let's get some things straight, before the polemics go on! Here is an article about who are the marketing and catering partners of The Golden Chariot train: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2747197.cms. Are we clear now?

Well - not as per http://www.goldenchariot.com/media.html. According to that Luxury Trains is NOT the worldwide marketing partner. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Michele.wynd (talk • contribs) 17:30, 16 May 2008 (UTC)

Marketing Partner Agreement Terminated - False advertising?
Apparently the company calling itself THE LUXURY TRAINS is NOT the "Worldwide Marketing Partner" of the Golden chariot as proved on http://www.goldenchariot.com/media.html They should stop falsly advertising themselves as the same on their website. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Michele.wynd (talk • contribs) 17:28, 16 May 2008 (UTC)

Fraud letter drafted by fraud company
The Palace Tours Ltd has designed very good fraud letter. I really appreciate.... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 61.95.235.57 (talk) 05:12, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

Thank you for leaving a trail of evidence for defamation lawsuit brewing.. Of course you would say that but I checked my facts too. Look at what Times of India had to say on April 14 Bangalore edition... - Book Chariot tickets online

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The tourism department will henceforth hold complete marketing sway over Karnataka’s first luxury train, the Golden Chariot. Two weeks ago, all stakeholders agreed to this, which means the department will control the central reservation system. Initially, the train’s hospitality partner was to have charge of marketing activities as well. When the train was launched, the marketing activities were handled by general sales agents (GSAs). Department sources said this move is to establish transparency and curtail mismanagement in ticket sale. “Any GSA or preferred sales agent (PSA — to handle the domestic market) will have to go through the department to book seats or sell tickets. An office has been set up on St Mark’s Road which will be functional from this week. The agency hired will monitor all online activities,’’ said the official. With the setting up of the office, bookings can be done online. A software has been developed in such a way that only registered agencies can access details. “If a new agency wants to tie up with us, the department will give them a code, through which they can take up booking activities,’’ said the official.

Two GSAs finalized:

UK-based Exotic Holidays and US-based Palace Tours have been appointed to process international bookings.

Second run complete:

The Golden Chariot has successfully completed its second run, which began a week ago. While seven paid passengers were on board the first time, this time there were 13. The train will make its next journey on April 21 for which enquiries and booking are in process. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Michele.wynd (talk • contribs) 20:35, 17 May 2008 (UTC)

Can't find the above mentioned article, where is it? Funny enough also, that Palace Tours' Golden Chariot website (the one you seem to defend with so much fervor) doesn't have any information on it's "Media" page... 193.192.233.5 (talk) 10:00, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

To Michele.wynd: who are you by the way? You seem to be very involved in this story, keep publishing Palace Tours' URL all the time and keep arguing knowing it all. I'm just curious. Maybe you're the spammer here...

This Luxury fellow seems to be an interesting character. Deccan Herald, a leading newspaper had this article on his latest adventure.... http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul202008/state2008072079884.asp —Preceding unsigned comment added by 166.217.85.92 (talk) 14:00, 24 July 2008 (UTC)