Mumbai, February 6, 2018: Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company, has been conferred with the premier Diamond Award for registering the highest number of French visa deliveries in 2017, at the French Ambassador’s Travel Awards  established to honour outstanding performers in the travel and tourism industry in India. Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. has won the Diamond Award for all three years since its inception. 

Thomas Cook India’s internal research has highlighted that France continues to feature as a top destination on the Indian traveller’s bucket list; also reiterates increased Indian traveller appetite for newer French locales and experiences, equally growing interest for non-traditional opportunities like cuisine and winter holidays. Apart from Paris, the regions of Northern France like Picardy; Champagne - Ardenne and Lille; South France’s highly alluring Nice and Cannes; Occitanie in South West France; Ski resorts such as Courchevel and Méribel, in addition to the ever popular Chamonix Mont Blanc in the Auvergne Rhone Alpes region are growing in popularity, with Thomas Cook India seeing strong demand across its key segments of leisure, corporate MICE and b-leisure.  

According to Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency in India: the number of visas issued by French Consulates in India increased by 25% in 2017, as compared to 2016. 

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head- Leisure Travel, MICE, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., said, “It is truly an honour to receive the prestigious Diamond Award at the French Ambassador’s Travel Awards- for the third time in a row. France holds favoured destination status across our traveller segments at Thomas Cook India - whether group or individual; leisure traveller, as well as MICE, Corporate and B-leisure.” 

Mr. Kale added, “The Government of France and its Tourism Board, Atour-France, have been outstanding in their support and in facilitating visas for Indian consumers. We are honored to partner with a country that shares the same strategic pro-tourism intent. 

He concluded with, “The France Ambassador’s Diamond Award is both a recognition of our strategic focus towards Destination France, as also a reflection of the unstinted support we receive from the Visa Officers of the France Consular offices in Mumbai and across India and we are highly appreciative of all their efforts.” 

His Excellency Mr. Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, said, “For the third consecutive year, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has been at the forefront and has proven itself to be the leader in the domain of visa issuances for France translating into the highest number of outbound travellers ex India to France. I thank them for their commitment and relentless efforts in showcasing France and in adhering to the norms of the procedures. Thomas Cook is a market leader in promotion of France and I encourage them to continue and assure them of my wholehearted support.” 

Sheetal Munshaw, Director Atout France says, “This recognition bestowed on Thomas Cook is a fitting acknowledgement to their diligent efforts in showcasing France as a preferred destination of choice for both group, individual and business travel.  We take this opportunity to sincerely thank team Thomas Cook for their steadfast support in helping us fortify France’s positioning as a top European destination from the Indian perspective.”

 About Thomas Cook (India) Limited: 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, Insurance, Visa & Passport services and E-Business. The company set up its first office in India in 1881.

The Thomas Cook India Group spanning 21 countries across 4 continents, a team of over 198,500 and a combined revenue in excess of Rs. 8700 crore (over $ 1.34 billion), operates leading B2C and B2B brands including, Thomas Cook, SOTC, TCI, Sita, Asian Trails, Allied T Pro, Australian Tours Management, Desert Adventures, Travel Circle International Limited, Private Safaris East & South Africa. The Group is today one of the largest travel service provider networks headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region.

ICRA has reaffirmed the long-term rating on TCIL’s non-convertible debenture programme at ‘ICRA AA/Stable’ and on the preference share programme at ‘ICRA AA–/ Stable’. CRISIL has reaffirmed the long term rating of ‘CRISIL AA–/ Stable’ on TCIL’s non-convertible debenture programme and long-term banking facilities, and the short-term rating of ‘CRISIL A1+’ on the banking facilities.

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has been  felicitated with The French Ambassador's Diamond Award for Exemplary Achievements in Visa Issuance 2015 ,2016 & 2017; Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Travel Awards 2016 to 2011. Thomas Cook India’s Travel Quest was honoured at PATA Gold Awards 2015 and Thomas Cook India’s Centre of Learning has received IATA accreditation as Top 10 South Asia IATA Authorized Training Centers 2016, 2015, 2013 & 2012. For more information, please visit www.thomascook.in

Thomas Cook (India) Limited is promoted by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fairbridge Capital (Mauritius) Limited and its controlled affiliates which holds 67.61%. Fairbridge is responsible for the execution of acquisition and investment opportunities in the Indian subcontinent on behalf of the Fairfax family of companies.

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.  The company was founded in 1985 by the present Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Prem Watsa.  The company has been under present management since 1985 and 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.

The company, through Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., owns  49.02of Quess Corp Limited, a provider of integrated business services, and 100% of Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited , a company engaged in time share and resort business.

About Quess Corp Limited: Quess Corp Limited (BSE: 539978, NSE: QUESS), established in 2007, is India’s leading integrated business services provider. Based out of Bengaluru, Quess today has a Pan-India presence with 65 offices across 34 cities along with overseas footprint in North America, the Middle East and South East Asia. It serves over 1700+ customers across 4 segments namely, Global Technology Solutions, People & Services, Integrated Facility Management and Industrials. Quess has over 212,500 employees (including Manipal Integrated Services and Terrier Security Services) and market cap of over INR 11,551 Crores as on September 30, 2017. For further details on Quess Corp Ltd. please visit: http://www.quesscorp.com

About Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited: Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, a leading holiday lifestyle company in India, was incorporated in 1986 with the vision of delivering great holiday experiences to Indian families. To achieve this vision, the company pioneered Vacation Ownership in India and set about building a network of leisure resorts at some of the best holiday destinations in India. Currently, Sterling Holidays has an inventory of 2124 rooms across 32 resorts.

In March 2016, Sterling Holidays acquired ‘Nature Trails Resorts Private Limited’ - an adventure holiday company that operates resorts at four unique destinations in Maharashtra. For more information, please visit www.sterlingholidays.com

About SOTC Travel Limited: SOTC Travel Limited (formerly known as SOTC Travel Private Limited) is a step-down subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Group; held through its Indian listed subsidiary, Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL). SOTC is a leading travel and tourism company active across various travel segments including Leisure Travel, Incentive Travel and Business Travel.

TCIL through its Subsidiary holds100% stake in Travel Circle International Limited, which has an attractive business in the travel sector backed by a trusted brand name, and a stable and motivated professional management team. The company is a premium outbound travel operator in Hong Kong.

About the recent acquisitions: TCIL recently completed the acquisition of TC Forex Services Limited (Formerly known as Tata Capital Forex Limited) (TC Forex) and TC Travel and Services Limited (TC Travel). TC Forex is a wholly owned subsidiary of TCIL offering travel related foreign exchange products including Currency notes, Travel Cards and Traveller’s cheques. TCIL through its Subsidiary holds 100% stake in TC Travel which offers a wide range of services including Airline ticketing, Booking Hotel accommodation, Visa and Passport facilitation, Travel insurance etc.

Media Enquiries:

Thomas Cook (India) Limited: Suzanne Pereira:+91-22-42427380; +91-9820297665; suzanne.pereira@in.thomascook.com
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