Mumbai, May 9, 2022: Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., India’s leading omnichannel travel services company, opened a Gold Circle Partner (franchise) outlet in Hyderabad to capitalise on the strong and growing travel opportunity of the city and region. Thomas Cook India’s strong distribution and reach in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, including Hyderabad, now stands at 14 consumer access centres: 5 owned branches and 9 Gold Circle Partner (franchise) outlets. The outlet was inaugurated by chief guest Shri. Maganti Gopinath, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jubilee Hills and guest of honour Rtn.PDG Sam Patibandla.
In the new normal, customers are understandably seeking the guidance and reassurance of holiday experts and Thomas Cook India’s internal survey reiterates the same, with a significant 77% of respondents stating that they require guidance from a holiday expert. To help customers with their travel plans and requirements, Thomas Cook India has opened a Gold Circle Partner (franchise) outlet in Hyderabad.
Thomas Cook’s strategic omnichannel model offers extensive touch points to customers: India’s largest retail holiday network and B2B distribution (across its owned stores, Partner franchise outlets and Preferred Sales Agents) coupled with the Companies’ website, call centres, Holiday app and Virtual Holiday store.
Additionally, to strengthen customer confidence in travel, Thomas Cook & SOTC’s “TravShield” is India’s only safety commitment – with only vaccinated staff and co-passengers among many other precautions, building on their “Assured” travel safety protocols – developed in association with Apollo Clinics.
TravShield & Assured together, ensure best in class safety and protection for travellers in the post Covid era, covering every distribution, delivery and partner touch point in the travel ecosystem.
With strong pent-up demand, easing of restrictions and resumption of commercial aviation driving positive consumer sentiment, consumers from Hyderabad are displaying a significant travel desire for both domestic and international destinations. While Goa, Andamans, Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala are favourite locales. Closer to home international destinations driving demand are Maldives, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, Mauritius and Nepal. Additionally, long/mid-haul favourites include Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Canada, UK, Turkey, Egypt, Australia and USA (for visa holding customers).
Key segments driving growth from Hyderabad include families, couples, millennials/young professionals, groups of friends, seniors, local trade associations and business travellers. Culture and heritage, adventure/outdoor, culinary experiences and spa/wellness are the top preferred holiday options for consumers from Hyderabad.
Thomas Cook’s Gold Circle Partner outlet at Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, offers customers end-to-end travel solutions with a diversity of travel and travel related services including: International & Domestic Holidays (Group Tours, Personalised holidays, Cruises, etc.), Value Added Services like Travel Insurance, etc.
Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are strong source markets for us at Thomas Cook India, and we are witnessing impressive revival with growing demand for our Holidays business. We are hence delighted to announce the opening of our Gold Circle Partner franchise outlet at Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, a prime location for better customer accessibility. We intend to accelerate demand while supporting our customers across segments including families, couples, group of friends/young professionals, business travellers, local trade associations and more.”
He added, “Our Gold Circle Partner – Mr. P. Venkateswara Rao brings over 11 years of travel and tourism expertise, and his extensive network will strengthen Thomas Cook India’s presence in this growing market.
We extend a warm welcome to our Hyderabad based customers and have announced unbeatable offers and special discounts to benefit them. Our travel experts at our Jubilee Hills outlet look forward to assist customers plan their much awaited holidays for the upcoming summer vacations and beyond.”
About Thomas Cook (India) Limited: Set up in 1881, Thomas Cook India) Limited. (TCIL) is the leading omnichannel travel company in the country offering a broad spectrum of services including Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel, Value Added Services, Visa and Passport services. It operates leading B2C and B2B brands including Thomas Cook, SOTC, TCI, SITA, Asian Trails, Allied T Pro, Australian Tours Management, Desert Adventures, Luxe Asia, Travel Circle International Limited (TCI 勝景遊), Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, Distant Frontiers, TC Tours, Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging (DEI), Go Vacation, Private Safaris East & South Africa
As one of the largest travel service provider networks headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region, The Thomas Cook India Group spans 25 countries across 5 continents
TCIL has been felicitated with CNBC-TV18 & ICICI Lombard India Risk Management Award – Travel & Leisure Category 2022 & 2021, The Best Travel Agency – India at TTG Travel Awards 2019, The Best Outbound Tour Operator at the Times Travel Awards 2019 & 2018 and Leading Company with Cutting Edge Travel Innovation at the Times Travel Awards 2018, Silver award for Asia’s Best Integrated Report (First Time) category at the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards 2019, Best Risk Management-Framework & Systems at the India Risk Management Awards 2019; Best Cash Management Solution – India at the Asset Triple A Treasury, Trade, Supply Chain & Risk Management Awards 2018, Best Outbound Tour Operator at the SATTE Awards 2019, Excellence in Domestic Tour Operations at the SATTE Awards 2018, The French Ambassador’s Award for Exemplary Achievements in Visa Issuance 5 years in a row and the Condé Nast Traveller – Readers’ Travel Awards from 2011 to 2019.
CRISIL has reaffirmed the rating on debt programmes and bank facilities of Thomas Cook (India) Limited – ‘CRISIL A+/Negative on the long-term bank facilities of TCIL and CRISIL A1 rating on the short-term bank facilities and short- term debt of the Company.
For more information, please visit www.thomascook.in
Fairbridge Capital (Mauritius) Limited, a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited promotes TCIL by holding 70.58% of its paid-up capital and is responsible for the execution of acquisition and investment opportunities.
About Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited: Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investment management. Founded in 1985 by the present Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Prem Watsa, the company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Its common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol FFH and in U.S. dollars under the symbol FFH.U.
About Subsidiaries of Thomas Cook (India) Limited:
Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of TCIL, is a leading Indian Leisure Hospitality company with 37 resorts across the country, providing a variety of offerings: Leisure holidays through FIT packages, Meetings & Conferences, Weddings, Reunions, Picnics and Holidays through Memberships.
SOTC Travel Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of TCIL, is a leading omnichannel travel and tourism company active across various travel segments including Leisure Travel, Incentive Travel and Business Travel.
Travel Corporation (India) Limited (TCI), a wholly owned subsidiary of TCIL, is the leading Destination Management Company in India that offers tailor-made travel and related services to India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Thomas Cook India Group holds 51% stake in DEI Holdings Limited (DEI), one of the world’s leading imaging solutions and services providers.
About SOTC Travel: SOTC Travel Limited (Formerly SOTC Travel Pvt. Ltd.) is a step-down subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Group; held through its Indian listed subsidiary, Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL). SOTC India is a leading omnichannel travel and tourism company active across various travel segments including Leisure Travel, Incentive Travel and Business Travel. SOTC was established in 1949. Since then, it has escorted lakhs of travellers across the globe for more than 70 years to various destinations around the world. A new age innovative holidaymaker, SOTC strives to make holidays a priority for every Indian. ‘We are for holidays’ and we want Indians to prioritize their holidays.
