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Business

PayMate Launches Into The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Dec 15, 2021 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Ajay Adiseshann, #Business Payment Solution Provider (BPSP), #Kevin Phalen, #Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), #PayMate, #Visa

PayMate announces its launch in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Local large enterprises who adopt the PayMate platform can use bank-issued commercial cards on the platform to make early payments towards supplier invoices into their bank accounts and extend their days payables. All payments made and received using the platform will be automatically reconciled, giving a clear single view into the business’s cash flow. The users will also have access to the platform’s custom approval workflows, APIs, and integrations with existing legacy ERPs for continuity in operations.

Recently PayMate announced the launch of its B2B payments platform in the UAE that it believes will change the way in which businesses will manage their Accounts Payables and Accounts Receivables (AP & AR), in partnership with prominent financial institutions – Visa, a world leader in digital payments, and Citibank, a leading provider of global commercial card solutions. This partnership will enable unified settlement of corporate card payments directly into suppliers’ bank accounts.

Speaking on the company’s expansion into KSA, Ajay Adiseshann, Managing Director & Chairman, PayMate India Private Limited, says “We are going full steam ahead by offering our B2B payments platform in KSA after going live in UAE recently. The platform will provide end-to-end automation to its users which we believe will deliver the immediate benefits of our platform to these customers in terms of speed of payments and transparency over their cashflows and finances. Further, we believe that the adoption of the PayMate platform will add value to businesses who are facing regular payment delays.”

Additionally, PayMate has appointed Kevin Phalen, with experience in the global payments and financial services space, as an Independent Director, effective December 13, 2021. Kevin’s strategic insights will help the PayMate team in diverse areas including global expansion. Kevin has most recently worked at Visa Inc. (Visa) as their Head of Global Commercial Business and has experience in the payments industry.

On Kevin’s appointment, Ajay adds, “We are elated to have Kevin on-board at PayMate. Kevin’s experience will help us grow our global footprint and provide the PayMate B2B payments platform to a wider audience.”

Kevin Phalen further adds, “I am equally excited to join PayMate, one of the leading providers of financial technology solutions that digitize, automate and streamline B2B payments in supply chains and offers a cloud-based platform to customers for all their supply chain payments, statutory payments and bill payments. This is a booming sub-set of the overall payments industry in which PayMate, through its platform is offering supplementary avenues for businesses to use commercial cards and automate their end-to-end processes. Together, I am of the opinion, we will create a wider base of PayMate users across the globe.”

PayMate is a Visa certified Business Payment Solution Provider (BPSP) and is actively gearing up to offer its B2B payments platform and working capital offerings into other countries in CEMEA region in partnership with Visa and local Financial Institution partners. As of September 30, 2021, the PayMate platform is being used by more than 128,000 Indian businesses.

Business

Thomas Cook India witnesses strong recovery in India’s M.I.C.E business

Nov 26, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #MICE, #Mr. Rajeev Kale, #President & Country Head – Holidays, #Thomas Cook (India) Limited, #Visa

Mumbai: The pandemic brought the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions) sector to a standstill for most of 2020. To stay connected with its key MICE stakeholders, Thomas Cook (India) Limited – India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company, transformed its business into a digital model – delivering over 100 virtual events for over 3 lakh attendees based in India, USA, Canada, Germany and Ireland. The Company also launched Gourmet Genie – specially curated corporate hampers that helped corporates stay in touch with their top performers and stakeholders with delivery of approx. 18,000 hampers till date.

To build corporate confidence in MICE travel, Thomas Cook launched its “Assured” Safe Travel Program – developed in association with Apollo Clinics that ensures best in class travel safety protocols covering every distribution, delivery and partner touchpoint in the travel ecosystem. This was followed by “TravShield” an upgraded safety commitment of only vaccinated staff and co-passengers among many other precautions, that ensures traveller safety in the pandemic era.

Despite the restrictions of the pandemic, Thomas Cook’s sustained corporate engagement towards driving MICE demand has resulted in delivery of over 200 physical groups of between 20-200 delegates per group in 2021. Top destinations included key metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad, top conference locations of Goa and Jaipur; also leisure favourites like Udaipur, Puri, Mahabalipuram, etc. With the reopening of international borders, several international MICE groups have been conducted to Dubai, Maldives, France and Germany with group sizes ranging between 20-200 guests. With growing appetite for exclusive experiences and increased spends, Thomas Cook has successfully managed premium groups with delegates comprising global business heads; stays at uber luxury hotels like Waldorf Astoria and The Ritz Carlton and exclusive experiences including dining at a Michelin star restaurant.

Sporting events were maximised by Thomas Cook towards delivery of 3 mid-sized MICE groups (between 30-100 delegates) during the T20 World Cup in the UAE. In addition, Expo 2020 Dubai continues to see growing interest from corporate R&D teams and trade associations.

Thomas Cook India has also organised weddings and related events ranging between 30-400 guests at Goa, Jaipur and Udaipur.

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Despite the challenges of the pandemic, our focussed initiatives that included health and safety, have increased corporate confidence in MICE Travel. And this has resulted in our delivery of over 200 physical MICE groups (both domestic and international) since January this year. With increased demand for physical groups/events our pipeline for 2022 looks robust and our teams are all geared up to delivering truly exceptional programs to delight our MICE clients.”

Business, News

Thomas Cook & SOTC launch unbeatable Buy One Get One Free

Jul 22, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Daniel D’souza, #Leisure, #MICE, #Mr. Rajeev Kale President & Country Head – Holidays, #President & Country Head, #SOTC Travel, #Thomas Cook (India) Limited, #Visa

Mumbai: Durga Pujo is a very special time for Bengalis. This upcoming Pujo season is witnessing significant pent up travel demand with missed holidays due to successive lockdowns, coupled with the positivity of accelerated vaccine drives and easing travel restrictions. To tap into the viable West Bengal market, India’s leading integrated travel services company, Thomas Cook India, and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have launched a special Durga Pujo holiday range. Exclusive offers like Book One Get One Free and Staycations Free have been included to help Bengalis celebrate the festive season with family and loved ones and take a well-deserved break – to rest, rejuvenate and discover exciting new destinations.

Thomas Cook India & SOTC’s Third Holiday Readiness Report (June 2021) reveals that over 69% of Indians are keen to resume travel in 2021. The data for West Bengal however highlights an even stronger travel desire: over 74% respondents are eager to travel this year, and of this, over 79% chose the festive Pujo season. With 52% opting for domestic and 48% for international holidays, 66% respondents from West Bengal prefer to travel with family/friends. In an endeavour to leverage this significant travel appetite, Thomas Cook India & SOTC’s Pujo specials are aimed at converting latent demand into bookings.

Special Benefits:

· Free Staycations with partners like Novotel, Sterling Resorts and more, on:

o Domestic holidays to Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, Kerala, Andamans

o Durga Pujo air-inclusive tours to Switzerland, Russia, Egypt

· Book One Get One Free (Companion holidays free) on international holidays to Dubai & Maldives

· Holiday Now and Pay After Return – at no extra cost

Details & Inclusions:

Book any Domestic Holiday & get a Staycation Free!

With Airfare: Kashmir / Himachal 7 Days; Uttarakhand 6 Days

Includes: Airfare, accommodation with breakfast & dinner, select sightseeing tours & transfers

Unique experiences included: a romantic Shikara Ride on Dal Lake; lunch at an apple orchard in Manali; tour of Bhimtal, Naukuchiyatal & Sattal

Without Airfare: Kerala 6 Days; Ladakh 7 Days; Andamans 6 Days

Includes: Accommodation with breakfast & dinner, select sightseeing tours & transfers

Exciting experiences included: Kalari Payattu martial art show; adrenalin infused ATV ride at Nubra Sand Dunes; Sea Kart Ride at Port Blair

Book a Durga Pujo air-inclusive Holiday & get a Staycation Free!

Shundor Switzerland 6 Days; Jhalakmoy Russia 6 Days; Egypt 9 Days

Pujo Specials: Bengali Tour Manager, select Bengali cuisine* on tour, guaranteed departures

Includes: Airfare, visa, travel insurance, accommodation with breakfast & dinner, sightseeing, transfers

FREE: Quality Staycations at Novotel (Accor Group), Sterling Holidays & others on every domestic booking – stays to be completed by September 30, 2021

Buy One Get One Free – Get your Companion’s Holiday Free!

Dubai 5 Days; Maldives 5 Days

Includes: accommodation with breakfast, select sightseeing & transfers

Special value add-ons included: Upgrade stay options on 4 & 5 star hotels; Visit Dubai Frame (Dubai)

All Meals Included plus Your Child Stays Free (Maldives)

Option: Avail of the unbeatable Holiday First, Pay After You Return scheme

To ensure personal/physical, financial and mental safety and build consumer confidence in travel, Thomas Cook India & SOTC’s comprehensive TravShield – Travel Safety Commitment encompasses meticulous safety protocols in association with Apollo Clinics:

· Vaccinated Travel Advisors & Contactless Bookings

· Free Re-scheduling & Cancellation

· Covid Insurance Cover with 24/7 Doctor On Call

· Vaccinated / Covid negative fellow travellers

· Covid negative/ Vaccinated Drivers, Hotel Staff

· Sanitised Rooms & Vehicles

Mr. Rajeev Kale President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “The Durga Pujo festival has always brought on joy/positivity and is a key travel season for Bengalis. This year, with both pent up demand and easing of travel restrictions, we are seeing increasing travel desire for the Pujo season. And so, we have designed special domestic and international holidays at attractive price points and with unbeatable offers like Buy One Get One Free and Staycations Free. We have added special touches like a Bengali Tour Manager, Bengali cuisine* and guaranteed departures on our Pujo special air-inclusive tours. This is our gift to enable Bengalis celebrate their favourite festival with their loved ones – and indulge in their amazing passion for travel!”

Daniel D’souza, President & Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel said, “The festival of Durga Pujo offers the perfect holiday opportunity. We have observed a significant growth in demand amongst diverse travellers, especially families, millennials and couples seeking that much-needed break to explore domestic and international destinations around this festive season.”

“Our Pujo holidays come with our unique TravShield Travel Safety Commitment – with comprehensive safety protocols in partnership with Apollo Clinics to ensure you travel safe with us,” he added.

Business World

Thomas Cook India expands its footprint in Uttar Pradesh to 7 outlets

Apr 8, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #MICE, #Mr. Rajeev Kale, #President & Country Head – Holidays, #Thomas Cook (India) Limited, #Visa

Mumbai: Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading integrated travel services company has expanded its footprint in Uttar Pradesh with the launch of a new Gold Circle Partner franchise outlet in Varanasi. This expansion augments Thomas Cook India’s distribution and reach in Uttar Pradesh to 7 consumer access centres: 1 owned branch and 6 Gold Circle Partner (franchise) outlets – across Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj and Varanasi.

The Thomas Cook India’s Holiday Readiness Report reveals 2 key insights: a significant 67% respondents are keen to travel in the next 6 months and a sizeable 84% prefer reputed brands – especially when travelling in the COVID era. Hence to support its customers in the high potential market of Uttar Pradesh, Thomas Cook India has set up its Varanasi outlet to offer end-to-end travel solutions, including: international & domestic holidays (group tours, personalised holidays, cruises, etc.), travel Insurance and visa services. To build consumer confidence in travel, the outlet will also offer Thomas Cook India’s Assured Safe Travel Program in partnership with Apollo Clinics and seamless COVID-negative certification services with doorstep delivery. Of additional advantage, especially during the COVID era, are Thomas Cook India’s Doctor on Call 24×7 and Safe Holiday Helpline services.

Customer Trends: Customers from Uttar Pradesh are displaying strong interest in both domestic favourites like Andamans, North East, Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir and international destinations of Maldives, Dubai and the recently reopened Russia, Seychelles, Nepal, Egypt and Turkey. The demand is across segments such as families/extended families, business professionals, ad hoc groups of friends, etc. An interesting trend is the growing preference for multiple short breaks among customers from Varanasi with a preference for cooler climates and hilly destinations such as Mussoorie, Shimla, Nainital, etc.

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said, “With the opening of our Gold Circle Partner outlet at RathYatra Chauraha, we are delighted to offer our customers in Varanasi our attractive range of holidays – right at their doorstep. Varanasi offers us strong growth potential and we have carefully selected the location of a key commercial centre to access a diversity of consumer segments.”

Gold Circle Partner Mr. Nikunj Gaur is a travel and tourism veteran and his expertise in the industry along with his extensive network will assist Thomas Cook India to further strengthen its presence in this growing market.

News

Thomas Cook India & SOTC Travel observe growing demand for exclusive and immersive travel experiences

Jan 13, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Leisure, #MICE, #Mr. Daniel D’souza, #Mr. Rajeev Kale, #President & Country Head, #President & Country Head – Holidays, #SOTC Travel, #Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., #Visa

Mumbai: Thomas Cook India, India’s leading integrated travel services company and its Group company, SOTC Travel, have introduced exclusive luxury cruise holidays to the polar extremes of the Arctic and Antarctic. Targeted at India’s discerning travellers, the cruises have been designed to offer spectacular landscapes and unparalleled experiences to ensure a journey of a life time.

Travelling away from crowds – to destinations renowned for natural beauty while indulging in immersive experiences – has emerged as a key trend during the COVID-19 era. To tap into this growing demand, Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel have introduced cruise holidays to Arctic and Antarctica offering breath-taking natural vistas, majestic wildlife, awe-inspiring and relatively untouched terrain with a glimpse into the lives of local cultures living in extreme environments.

Each sailing offers a bucket list of un-matched experiences such as: crossing the Drake Passage and the Antarctic Convergence, a glimpse of the bustling penguin colonies in South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, a visit to the home of the majestic Polar Bear in Watkins Fjord, etc. On board the Thomas Cook India and SOTC Arctic and Antarctic cruise holidays, customers are offered a luxurious experience on the Ponant Cruise or the MV Sea Spirit: a range of delectable international cuisines, entertainment and live shows, sports and leisure activities, spas, scenic views from the comfort of their own private balcony, among others. In addition, customers can opt for exciting activities from kayaking, camping, hiking or polar region photography.

Antarctic Peninsula (14 Days)

2 Nights stay at the Buenos Aires Marriott or similar
1 Night at the Arakur Hotel in Ushuaia – the stunning gateway to the 7th Continent
10 Nights on board the Luxury Expedition Ship: Sea Spirit
Stay in Deluxe Suites with Balcony. Exciting encounters with whales, penguins and other marine wildlife using a fleet of Zodiac crafts
Free upgrade to Premium Suite on booking before January 31, 2021*

Arctic Cruise (17 Days)

2 Nights stay at the Novotel Tour Eiffel, Paris or similar
14 Nights on board the Ultra Luxury Ponant Cruise
Stay in Prestige Staterooms with Balcony
Experience the magnificent landscape of Greenland
Unlimited Alcoholic & Non Alcoholic Beverages on board the cruise
Visiting traditional villages and meeting the Inuit people, indulge in activities such as hiking, visit to the lava caves in Jan Mayen, etc.
Sail along the Prins Christian Sund, a narrow, 100-km long passage that winds its way through cliffs and glaciers
Flight from Paris – Longyearbeyn (Svalbard)
Flight from Kanergerlussuaq (Greenland) to Paris

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said, “The COVID lockdown period has resulted in an unprecedented surge in demand for bucket list destinations – away from crowds and combined with immersive experiences. Keeping this in mind, we are delighted to introduce luxury cruises to Arctic and Antarctica, targeted at India’s discerning HNI-UHNI segment. Given that sailing the majestic seas of the Arctic and Antarctic regions are available only for a few months each year, this exclusive product has been launched well in advance – to enable our customers avail of special early bird discounts to avail of a once in a lifetime holiday experience.”

Mr. Daniel D’souza, President & Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel said, “Luxury travel market offers a significant growth potential with Indian travellers increasingly looking for exclusive and indulgent experiences. To cater to this set of expectations and preferences from the rising wave of luxury consumers, SOTC has introduced unique cruise voyages across Antarctica, Arctic & Greenland curated for those who seek the thrill of unchartered landscapes and unexplored destinations. At an attractive pricing, our Arctic & Antarctica cruises offer exceptional experiences to delight India’s discerning luxury travellers.”

Assured Insured Secured

To ensure health and safety of customers, Thomas Cook India and SOTC have put together a holistic three pronged customer confidence-building program in the form of the Assured-Insured-Secured Program that covers every aspect of physical safety as well as mental and financial security to give the customer complete peace of mind. The companies have launched several meaningful initiatives: a Doctor on Call 24×7 service in partnership with Apollo Clinics; India’s first Safe Holiday Helpline, a free service offering expert guidance & assistance for safe holiday planning, visa assistance, country specific updates, on-ground health and safety measures, health certification, etc. and seamless COVID-negative certification services via our tie up with ICMR accredited labs.

News

Thomas Cook India & SOTC to capitalise on the long/extended weekend opportunity

Jan 9, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Leisure, #MICE, #Mr. Daniel D’souza, #Mr. Rajeev Kale, #President & Country Head, #President & Country Head – Holidays, #SOTC Travel, #Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., #Visa

Mumbai: Lockdown fatigue having created significant pent-up travel demand, with positive news on COVID vaccines, Indian consumers are looking to avail of 2021’s long weekends for short breaks/mini vacations. Further, given price surges and availability challenges of the Christmas-New Year high season, the weekends starting January 14-17 and January 23-26, 2021 offer attractive options that are easy on the wallet. To make the most of the long weekends in 2021, Thomas Cook India, India’s leading integrated travel services company and its Group company, SOTC Travel, have handpicked the best deals for long weekend getaways starting at Rs. 3 450.00*, across India, Dubai and Maldives.

According to the recent Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel – Second Holiday Readiness Report (December 2020), Indians are displaying a strong appetite for holidays – with 89% respondents indicating keen interest to resume travel. With approximately 15 long weekends this year, each weekend presents an opportunity for a well-deserved break with family and friends and to tick off destinations from their bucket lists.
From driving down to the nearest hill station or beach, or taking a flight to explore India’s unique history-culture, outdoors and adventure, a cruise or safari; eclectic accommodation such as a colonial bungalow, plantation villa (coffee/ tea estates), heritage palaces/havelis, long weekends offer travellers a welcome break from the mundane routine/ work life stress while delving into delightful new experiences.

On offer are trending destinations like Goa, Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Udaipur, Dubai and Maldives. Special offers during the stay include VIP darshan of Shrinath Ji in Udaipur (Nathdwara), upto Rs. 10 000.00 hotel credit across select properties, all meals with evening cocktail, snacks and daily sightseeing with on-board guide on Antara Cruise etc.

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said, “We understand that customers were unable to take a holiday during December due to challenges of availability and high pricing. And so we want the New Year celebrations to continue with our extended weekend holidays in 2021. We have launched very attractive getaways to benefit Indians with special discounts and value adds across India, Dubai and Maldives. And all of this comes with our commitment to Health & Safety with our Assured Safe Travel Program to ensure complete peace of mind and a relaxing mini-vacation!”

Mr. Daniel D’souza, President & Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel said, “Based on customer demand and the strong success of our last holiday sale, to enable customers who missed out on the year end break, we have created special deals to make best use of the long weekends in January. With air inclusive packages and destination stays, we’ve packed in an exciting range of favourite locales – all at great value pricing and amazing offers to ensure long weekend holidays that are easy on the wallet. Our long weekend packages are inbuilt with our Assured-Insured- Secured Program to bring confidence to our customers.”

Business World

Visa partners with DigitSecure and HDFC Bank for global-first live deployment of PCI certified Tap to Phone card acceptance solution

Nov 3, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #DigitSecure, #HDFC Bank, #Parag Rao, #Sandeep Yadav, #Seshadri Kulkarni, #Shailesh Paul, #Visa

Visa (NYSE: V), the global leader in payments technology, today announced the first successful live deployment of a PCI certified Tap to Phonecard acceptance solution, in partnership with DigitSecure and HDFC Bank. DeliveryPlus is the first merchant to go live with HDFC Bank as an acquirer.

This solution enables merchants to securely accept contactless card payments in seconds through an app on their NFC-enabled Android smartphones, and without having dedicated card acceptance devices. In line with the ‘Make in India’ goal of local innovation, DigitSecure is the first company based in the Asia Pacific to receive PCI security certification for deploying this technology.

Tap to Phone technology will significantly lower the operational costs for financial institutions by migrating merchant onboarding, account provisioning and security to PCI certified payment acceptance cloud. This in turn will aid banks and fintech to enable more merchants for card acceptance.

Cardholders will be able to tap their contactless cards and near-field communication-enabled smartphones on a merchant’s Android smartphone for fast, safe and secure transactions. With this deployment, India joins a list of more than 15 markets that now provide the Visa Tap to Phone technology for merchants to accept contactless card payments.

Shailesh Paul, Head of Merchant Sales & Acquiring, India and South Asia, Visa said, “The pandemic has accelerated the need for businesses to embrace safe, secure and contactless payments. In line with our global commitment of digitizing 50 million small businesses, we’re delighted to do the first deployment of a PCI-certified Tap to Phonecard acceptance solution in partnership with HDFC Bank and DigitSecure, to offer easily accessible and asset-light, cost-effective solutions to merchants. As more Indians adopt contactless forms of payments, merchants across the country can now easily use their mobile phones as a digital payment acceptance device.”

Commenting on the partnership, Seshadri Kulkarni, CEO at DigitSecure said, “It is becoming increasingly necessary for merchants of all types and sizes to offer contact-free digital payments at all customer interactions points. With DigitSecure’s PCI Certified App-first SoftPos platform with ready global processing integrations, financial institutions can quickly enable small businesses for card acceptance at a small fraction of cost and time.

Global businesses will find the platform compelling for it helps deliver consistent customer experience by way of minimal integrations and changes. We believe tap on phone technology will create a new paradigm in digital payments empowering small and on-the-go businesses to offer contactless payments to customers.”

Parag Rao, Country Head for Payments, Business, Consumer Finance, Digital Banking and Marketing, HDFC Bank said “The prevailing circumstances have hastened the need to deepen the digital payment ecosystem in the country. The MSMEs and merchant segments form a critical backbone of the economy and it is imperative that they have access to the latest platforms available to enable digital payments. This global first Tap to Phone deployment, using smartphones, is part of our endeavour to provide affordable platforms for small merchants.”

Sandeep Yadav, CEO, DeliveryPlus, said: “As an e-com delivery services provider, we are able to scale quickly without incurring additional capital costs with DigitSecure SoftPoS Platform capability to process multiple merchants in different categories on the same device.”

As per a recent Visa study, about 55% of consumers surveyed in India during the pandemic mentioned that they would likely use the Tap to Phone payment method due to its ease of use, saving of time and eliminating the need to carry cash. This reaffirms the need for and confidence in contactless payments.

Visa and DigitSecure have also entered into a strategic partnership to empower small businesses and enterprise merchants. DigitSecure has integrated its Tap to Phone solution with Visa’s Cybersource platform to provide a single connection for omnichannel commerce solution across segments, use cases, channels and payment modes.

Visa will continue to work with clients, partners and fintech in India to support SMBs (Small and Micro Businesses) to delivering better payment experiences for both merchants and consumers.

Business World

Thomas Cook India & SOTC tap into the demand for offbeat/unique experiences Launch India’s Hidden Gems

Sep 1, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Leisure, #MICE, #Mr. Daniel D’souza, #Mr. Rajeev Kale, #President & Country Head – Holidays, #President and Country Head, #SOTC Travel, #Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., #Visa

Mumbai, September 1, 2020: The pent-up travel demand due to the lockdown has resulted in a new-found interest in Destination India. Consumers are moving away from crowds/traditional tourist spots while seeking to discover India’s untold stories and traveller secrets. And to tap into this demand for non-standard/unique journeys, Thomas Cook India, India’s leading integrated travel services company and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have introduced India’s Hidden Gems. Starting at an attractive price of Rs. 11 500.00*, the holidays include accommodation for 2 nights/3 days at 4-5 star hotels or delightful boutique properties, breakfast and additional dining experience, unique sightseeing, private transport and travel insurance.

Bringing to life nuggets of India’s fascinating history-heritage, spectacular scenic beauty and unparalleled travel experiences, Thomas Cook India and SOTC’s Hidden Gems incorporates a handpicked selection of Exquisite Locales: from Khajuraho, Rishikesh, Udaipur, Munnar, Jawai Sagar, Manali, Coorg, Kollam, Thekkady, Pachmarhi, Kabini, Bandhavgarh, Lalsot and Goa, amongst others.

Exceptional Experiences: An array of exciting traveller secrets have been woven into each journey,
including a jeep safari amidst the lush plantations of Kolukkumalai, Munnar – the highest tea estate in the Western Ghats, a royal 4-course dining experience set against an evening bonfire at the luxurious Amritara Pali Jawai Sagar, picturesque coffee & spice plantation tours in Coorg aboard a specially designed jeep, an exclusive, private, night drive and stargazing experience in a gipsy at Pachmarhi, a unique bush-dining experience in Bandhavgarh, a vintage car drive around Udaipur’s picturesque lake, mangrove walks in the Sundarbans biosphere or the heady adrenalin rush of bungee jumping in Rishikesh, etc.

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said,
“Together with significant pent up travel demand, the lockdown has seen growing interest from Indians wanting to re-discover their own country, yet seeking non-standard experiences. And so, our teams have
conceptualised Hidden Gems – holidays that offer unparalleled experiences at exquisite locations across
India – at attractive prices starting at just Rs. 11 500.00*. Catering to a range of segments from families,
couples, solo travellers to adventure seekers and wildlife enthusiasts, our Hidden Gems offers a well-deserved break, coupled with exceptional experiences that rejuvenate: be it bush-dining in Bandhavgarh, mangrove walks amidst the stark beauty of the Sundarbans or the thrill of bungee jumping in Rishikesh, etc.”

He added, “Our Assured Program in partnership with Apollo Clinics ensures meticulous health & safety protocols across every touch-point and to further assist our customers, we have tied up with ICMR accredited labs to offer seamless end-to-end COVID-negative certification services with contactless facilitation – across India. Our Safe Holiday Helpline is yet another meaningful consumer initiative – a free service to support customers in safe holiday planning. With our zero cancellation, flexible rescheduling and our guaranteed refund promise, we want to ensure that all our customers travel smooth.”

Mr. Daniel D’souza, President and Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel said, “The choice of destination and the experiences offered inspires travel decisions across all age groups, especially among millennials.
From exploring the local cuisine to finding offbeat experiences at every destination, Indian travellers wish to explore the unknown. Given the current situation and in order to satisfy their desire for immersive experiences, SOTC has designed unique domestic experiences that highlight this trend of experiential travel. These include incorporating workshops, wellness experiences, culturally immersive activities, food and drink experiences, outdoor activities and more.”

He added, “As health and safety is a key concern, all our holidays come with ‘Assured’ – a comprehensive program to safe travel in the COVID-19 era in partnership with Apollo Clinics. To further assist our customers, we have launched India’s first Safe Holiday Helpline, a free service to the public – offering expert guidance & assistance for safe holiday planning, visa assistance, country-specific updates, on-ground health and safety measures, travel documentation, health certification, etc. and have also tied up with ICMR accredited labs to offer seamless end-to-end COVID-negative certification services with contactless facilitation – across India.”

Tag: Visa