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

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

Highlights:

Launch luxury Arctic and Antarctica Cruises targeting India's discerning travellers

14-17 day cruises at Attractive Prices

Exceptional experiences: the Drake Passage & Antarctic Convergence, the Prins Christian Sund, Greenland's magnificent landscapes...

Majestic wildlife encounters: penguins, whales, polar bears, and more

Outdoor - Adventure experiences: hiking, camping, kayaking options

Interacting with local Inuit tribes at traditional villages

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.'

Click here to book Thomas Cook India's Arctic and Antarctica Cruises

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 24x7 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.

*T&C apply

About Thomas Cook (India) Limited: Set up in 1881, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. (TCIL) is the leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company in the country offering a broad spectrum of services that include Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel, Value Added Services, Visa and Passport services and E-Business. 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, Kuoni Hong Kong, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, TC Forex, Distant Frontiers, TC Tours, TC Visa, Travel Circle International Limited, Ithaka, Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging (DEI), 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, a team of over 8388 and a combined revenue in excess of Rs. 6948.3 Cr. (over $ 0.93 Bn.) for the financial year ended March 31, 2020.

TCIL has been felicitated with The Best Travel Agency - India at TTG Travel Awards 2019, The Best Outbound Tour Operator at the Times Travel Awards 2018 & 2019 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, 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 - 2015 to 2019 and the Conde Nast Traveller - Readers' Travel Awards from 2011 to 2019.

CRISIL has revised the rating on debt programmes and bank facilities of Thomas Cook (India) Ltd to '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 65.60% 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) Ltd.: Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, wholly owned subsidiary of TCIL is engaged in time share and resort business.

SOTC Travel Limited, wholly owned subsidiary of TCIL is a leading travel and tourism company active across various travel segments including Leisure Travel, Incentive Travel and Business Travel.

TCI, a brand owned by TCIL of its wholly owned subsidiary company - Travel Corporation (India) Limited, 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 a 51% stake in DEI Holdings Limited (DEI), one of the world's leading imaging solutions and services providers.

For more information, visit:

Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited: http://www.sterlingholidays.com

SOTC Travel Limited: http://www.sotc.in

Media Enquiries:

Thomas Cook (India) Limited: Suzanne Pereira | [phone] | [e-mail]

Joyce Fernandes | [phone] | [e-mail]

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 travel and tourism company active across various travel segments including Leisure Travel, Incentive Travel and Business Travel and Foreign Exchange. 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.

Media Enquiries:

SOTC Travel Limited: Bineeta Mehta | [phone] | [e-mail]

Neha Dcunha | [phone] | [e-mail]

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