TIDINGS ISSUE-3-2015

EDITOR In this Issue

Zarine Wadia

Editorial Board FROM THE CHAIRMAN’S DESK .................................................................................................3
THE CHAIRMAN WHO Rarely OCCUPIES THE CHAIR!....................................................... 4
Abraham Alapatt THE ORIGINAL ‘PARTNERSHIP’— WE SPEAK TO LILI MENON!........................................... 6
Mona Cheriyan THOMAS COOK WILL NOW BE KNOWN BY THE “COMPANIES” IT KEEPS!......................7
Suzanne Pereira “THE HARDER YOU WORK, THE LUCKIER YOU GET!”........................................................... 8
Suhas Shetty KUONI DESTINATION MANAGEMENT.................................................................................. 10
Jayadev Rajagopal VISHAL IS BACK!.......................................................................................................................... 12
KUONI INDIA - SOTC.................................................................................................................. 13
Contributors Maria Ng – MOTIVATING HER STAFF AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE!...........................14
KUONI HONG KONG..................................................................................................................16
Agra Albert Gomes LUXE ASIA – SRI LANKA............................................................................................................. 17
MEETING UP WITH MAHESH...................................................................................................18
Ahmedabad Kuntal Rajani THOMAS COOK INDIA TARGETS LARGE UNTAPPED INWARD REMITTANCES -
UNBANKED SEGMENT SIGNS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH ITZCASH.....................19
Chennai K Venkataramani WE HAVE A NEW OFFICE!........................................................................................................20
THOMAS COOK SIGNS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE BANK OF INDIA TO OFFER
Chandigarh Tanuja Latawa THEIR HOLIDAY SAVINGS PLAN TO THE BANK’S CUSTOMERS........................................ 22
ONE WORLD, ONE CURRENCY................................................................................................ 23
Cochin Ganesh Muthuswamy THOMAS COOK INDIA INKS AGREEMENT FOR PILOT PROJECT WITH AIRBNB
TO TARGET HIGH POTENTIAL MARKET FOR UNIQUE OUTBOUND TRAVEL
Delhi Sonam Suri EXPERIENCES.............................................................................................................................. 24
THOMAS COOK INDIA TARGETS TIER III GROWTH MARKETS VIA SMALL TECH
Hyderabad Mohammed Hassan ASSISTED OUTLETS.................................................................................................................... 25
THOMAS COOK TAPS INTO INDIA’S M-COMMERCE GROWTH OPPORTUNITY
Jalandhar Praveen Garg LAUNCHES INDIA’S FIRST END-TO-END HOLIDAY-APP.....................................................26
TCIL LAUNCHES ITS EXCLUSIVE MAHARASHTRIAN REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL
Kolkata Aparajita Bhattacharya TOURS THROUGH ‘HOLIDAY MELAS’.................................................................................... 27
WHAT HAS MICE BEEN UPTO? A GLIMPSE INTO ITS ACTIVITIES AND
Mauritius Namrata Ramrup ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2015........................................................................................................... 28
I - KNOWLEDGE SHARING - ‘THE KNOWLEDGE CAFÉ’......................................................30
Mumbai Srinidhi  V. Iyer THERE IS A BUZZ AROUND BT2.0! AN UPDATE OF WHAT THEY’VE BEEN UP TO!...... 32
CATCHING UP WITH COL......................................................................................................... 36
Patiala Apurav Bhasin THE MARRIOTT HAS A ‘CHIT-CHAT OVER CHAAT’ WITH THOMAS COOK!................... 39
R AND R SQ CHAMPIONS WITH TEAM EBIZ AT SERCO MUMBAI...................................40
Kerala Balaraman Unnithan THE ADVENTURES OF AMOD!................................................................................................ 42
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES!....................................................................................................44
Tidings Issue 3, 2015 House Magazine RUNNING THAT EXTRA MILE!.................................................................................................46
Produced & Published by ‘PAT’ SOMEONE ELSE ON THE BACK?....................................................................................46
Corp. Comm. Dept. SITEL AND SERCO TRAINING BY TOURISM BOARDS.......................................................... 47
Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. SAHAYOG- THE CHENNAI FLOOD RELIEF PROGRAM........................................................48
D. N. Road, Mumbai 400 001 HR MUMBAI INVITES ‘SECRET SANTAS’!..............................................................................48
DIWALI DHAMAKA ON D.N. ROAD........................................................................................49
Printing OUR FOREX APP NOW AVAILABLE ON APPLE APP STORE TOO.......................................49
2 Deluxe Printers NARIMAN POINT BRINGS IN THE NEW YEAR.....................................................................50
BABIES........................................................................................................................................... 51
[email protected]

FROM THE CHAIRMAN’S DESK

Dear Colleagues, by Sanjay Nadkarni have put in much time, effort 3
and creativity- and what an amazing work space
2015 will go down as a milestone year in the we now have. The transition too was smooth. Tidings Issue 3, 2015
history of Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. During the Kudos, Team Admin!
year, we acquired Luxe Asia Pvt. Ltd on I am sure you will now appreciate why I am calling
30th July, 2015, Kuoni Travel (China) Limited this a ‘Milestone year’ in the history of Thomas Cook.
(Kuoni Hong Kong) on 9th November, 2015 and I would like you to join me in wishing Dipak, Vishal,
Kuoni Travel (India) Pvt. Ltd., which has both the Maria, Mahesh and Rajeev, great success in their
Outbound as well as Inbound divisions, on new appointments.
16th December, 2015. These acquisitions resulted
in the family growing from its existing size of Madhavan Menon
3200 people to 5700, spanning 4 countries
namely Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka and
Mauritius. Subsequently, this resulted in us
employing people from 8 different nationalities.
We are dedicating this issue to Luxe Asia and the
Kuoni Travel Group.

I take this opportunity to introduce Dipak Deva,
Managing Director, Travel Corporation (India) Ltd,
Vishal Suri, Managing Director, Kuoni Travel (India)
Ltd., and Maria Ng, Managing Director, Kuoni
Travel (China) Ltd.

I would also like to take this opportunity to
announce certain changes at Thomas Cook
India, Mahesh Iyer has taken over as the Chief
Operating Officer of Thomas Cook (India) Ltd.,
and Rajeev Kale is now President & COO – Leisure
Travel (Outbound), in addition to his existing
responsibility of MICE, Domestic & Sports Holidays.

The other change at Thomas Cook India is the
move of our offices from D.N. Road, Nariman Point
and Chembur to the office at Marathon Futurex,
Lower Parel. Ram Kenkare and the Admin Team led

THE CHAIRMAN WHO Rarely

On the 1st of January 2016, our MD Madhavan Menon was
re-designated as Chairman and Managing Director of
Thomas Cook (India) Ltd.
Prem Watsa, Chairman & CEO, Fairfax Holdings Ltd. said: “Having steered
the Company admirably as Managing Director since 2006, Madhavan
enjoys our full confidence and faith and we wish him continued success in
his new role.”
And so do all of us at Thomas Cook, Madhavan, who have watched and
shared your success through the years with proprietary pride!
A new year, a new role, a new office… and new companies to welcome into
the fold, which in turn means new responsibilities, new challenges and
new horizons. He faces these with characteristic calm and
renewed enthusiasm.
Madhavan has a come a long way since he commenced his career with
Grindlays Bank. He subsequently worked in Citibank, Emirates Bank and in
the Financial Services Division of the Aditya Birla Group such as the Birla
Global Finance Limited and Birla Sun Life Asset Management Company.
Areas included Treasury, Corporate Lending and Operations. His other areas
of interests are Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility and
Strategic planning.
He joined Thomas Cook in 2000 as the Executive Director, responsible
for the Foreign Exchange business, and there was no looking back. From
there he rose to the position of Managing Director in 2006. In this capacity
he was also appointed a Member on the Board of Thomas Cook (India)
Ltd, and held Directorship in the various subsidiaries of the company. In
2012, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd became a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial
Holdings of Canada. Madhavan is also a Director on the Board of Cedar
Management Consulting Private Limited, and a Trustee of PRIDE, an NGO
that focuses on healthcare and education for the under privileged.
During his tenure as Managing Director, Thomas Cook has flourished,
expanding its network to over 98 cities in India, and acquired several

4

Tidings Issue 3, 2015

OCCUPIES THE CHAIR!

companies which include Quess Corp, Sterling Holiday Resorts Pvt. Ltd., and
most recently, the operations of Kuoni Holdings in India and Hong Kong.

We asked his core team – the Execom—to give us spontaneous epithets
that described the Boss. Here is what we got!

“Big, bold and boisterous!” – Abraham

“Akin to a Coconut ! Tough and resilient on the exterior, yet soft within. Also
has a funny side which he seldom shows!” -- Mahesh

“A passionate individual who has a natural gift for motivating
people” — Mona

“Tiger, Big Boss, Sab ka Baap....!” – Amit

“Decisive , empowering ,forward-thinking , passionate , selfless” -- Ram

“Given that I recently watched the Oscar awards until late at night , the
only phrases that seem to be occurring to me are names of movies... there
could be many but the ones which seem to be apt at this point of time
could be “Diamonds are Forever” – given that he is going stronger than
people who are half his age.. or even better, “The Man with the Golden
Gun.” I guess I don’t need to explain the second!”-- Debasis

“Stay away when cherry red…You know what I mean! Fun guy--- a cool
dude! Keeps us together-‘his way’” – Indiver

“He is the epitome of energy, full of life and a true visionary leader ! I must
say he is an institute in himself and a role model.”—Jatinder Paul

“‘NO’ can never be an answer!” -- Lakshmi (from one who should know!)

No doubt, many of these are qualities that have made Madhavan the
person he is, and which have resulted in his journey to the top!

All the staff of Thomas Cook is proud and happy about your well-earned
promotion, Madhavan. We know your appointment as Chairman is an
excellent choice based on expertise, experience and talent. We pledge
our support, and are behind you as you continue to lead the company to
greater heights.

5

Tidings Issue 3, 2015

THE ORIGINAL ‘PARTNERSHIP’—
WE SPEAK TO LILI MENON!

Lili, Ziya and Zoya -- The Three Girls who patiently wait for Madhavan to come home each evening

Tidings Issue 3, 2015On his new desk at Marathon Futurex, Madhavan I have watched Madhavan get emotional at the thought
has a plaque given to him by Bloomberg. It says: having to make really tough decisions, such as having to let go
“Gamechangers—I play the game by my rules. I am of a colleague.
Madhavan Menon.” (!)
I have watched his ‘mother hen’ moments…. at TCIL’s share
Amused, we decided to ask his original and most important price surging ahead, at felicitating a colleague’s years of
‘partner’ what her take was on that. Did this hold good at service, and the ‘excited-10-yr-old-cycling–down-a- slope’
home too? Does having a Chairman husband change things moment, when a team or team member achieves targets.
for the family? We urged his wife Lili Menon to put down a few
thoughts for us. I have watched MM go all out to protect the future of each
and every member of TCIL at every corporate upheaval to
Laughing, she said, “You know why that plaque remains at the finally steer it into the FAIRFAX sanctuary where the nurturing
office, don’t you?!” team spirit is the essence of progress.

And here is what she shared with us…. Yet, please don’t get the wrong impression ….I am no martyr!
Standing on the side lines watching how fast time with my
“I have seen Madhavan, and our family, grow steadily over husband of 34 years slips through my fingers….never to return,
the years. is never easy. We all know, Time waits for no one…I have fought,
cried, stomped my feet, thrown a couple of tantrums, tried
Initially I was the only recipient of his unconditional love and being sugar sweet, even used the mature way, walking the
support, till I had to share it with our kids and immediate higher plain’s evolved path….ha!.....Yet nothing has changed.
family….and his work. Over the years I have watched our family
grow, slowly but steadily.,… and I have seen his job grow too. Mads (as I call him sometimes), still ties that tie-knot with
surgical precision and grabs each day with renewed gusto.
From his days in Grindlay’s Bank to the present, I have watched
MM don his work clothes – his tie and suit – with a certain sense It is that same precision, commitment and affection that
ties him to Thomas Cook India Limited, the organization he
6 represents with so much dedication and loyalty.

of pride that I have only now begun to understand. Me? …..I watch him with pride and gratitude.”

I have watched him work every single day of the last 34 years
with a never- failing sense of commitment and honesty that
tires, yet amazes, me even today.

THOMAS COOK WILL NOW BE
KNOWN BY THE “COMPANIES” IT KEEPS!

The growing family – bigger and better than ever!

Welcoming the ‘Expanding Family’ to achieve what every family aspires to – shared
happiness and success as we grow together as one
It gives us great pleasure to bring you further positive large harmonious whole.
news on the rapid and impressive development of our new
Group. We are poised on the threshold of a long wave of Just so that we get to know each other better, and
collaboration, which will herald a new era of growth. to acquaint ourselves with the new companies that
We can now focus on identifying new avenues of growing have joined us, this issue mainly brings you significant
our businesses and revenues; we can leverage our strengths information about these organizations. We feature
as market leaders in each of our individual capacities to scale Interviews with Dipak Deva- Managing Director-TCI,
new heights. We extend a warm Thomas Cook welcome to Vishal Suri- Managing Director-SOTC, Maria Ng-
all our new colleagues from the SOTC-Kuoni, and TCI-Sita’s Managing Director, Kuoni Hong Kong, and Mahesh
businesses across India and Hong Kong, and Luxe Asia, Iyer - Chief Operating Officer of Thomas Cook (India)
Sri Lanka. Ltd. We interviewed Chaminda Dias- Managing
Director-Luxe Asia-Sri Lanka in the previous issue of
Imagine the joy of two families involved in a the “Tidings”, so you already know him. Go back and
wedding. Their joy is multiplied because the read up on Chaminda too!
occasion does not just mark the union of the
husband and wife, but also the coming together We have also added a dash of past history of each of
of both families – and the family becoming a these companies, and a peep into their office environments.
larger single, extended unit. So read on and connect with your fellow teams!

The amalgamation of Thomas Cook with both The mergers will enable us to balance our revenue and profits
Luxe Asia and Kuoni’s businesses across India and between our mainstream businesses and our independent
Hong Kong, is in many ways, like a marriage and travel brands, while significantly expanding our distribution
coming together of 3 new and different families. reach and customer base in all regions.
Joining our earlier 3 families of TCIL, Sterling and
Quess – this is certainly a cause for celebration. Thomas Cook will now be known by the ‘Companies’ it keeps!

And using the same analogy, like a large family, We see great opportunities for significant growth, and look
we must value the similarities and differences, ahead to an exciting future!
learn from and work with each other to grow
stronger and achieve more; celebrate our 7
successes; support each other in difficulties and strive
Our Excellent Execom! Tidings Issue 3, 2015

INTERVIEW “THE HARDER YOU WORK,

Tidings Issue 3, 2015His father was an army officer, who wished his son He has represented India Tourism as a key note speaker at the
would follow a proper ‘profession’, therefore, armed India Conference at Harvard Business School, Boston.
with a Commerce Degree from Patiala, Punjab
University, he worked towards being a Chartered Accountant. It seems the man eats, sleeps, and breathes travel….!
Soon enough, he was ‘bored’ and realised this was not his cup
of tea. In 1989, when a friend, who owned one of the largest Since his company is now very much a part of our family, we
travel companies in India, asked him to start an office in Jaipur, cornered Dipak on his brief visit to Mumbai, for a quick chat.
he promptly agreed. The man was Dipak Deva, the friend was As we met up with him we couldn’t but help but notice his
the owner of TCI. The rest is history….. affable manner and the fact that he just exudes confidence.
He sounds like the kind of person who wants to get things
Starting his career in Jaipur in 1989, as the Branch Manager of done quickly yet efficiently.
Travel Corporation of India (TCI), Dipak soon took charge as the
General Manager, Inbound at Mumbai. Dipak went on to join When the Editor asked him for his bio-data, he smiled
hands as one of the partners of Distant Frontiers, until Kuoni mischievously and said, “I must be one of the few people who
India acquired the company in 2006. never actually needed a CV! My company was bought over,
and I was absorbed in it and continued to work for it, and even
“I was all of 24 when I started that office in Jaipur,” says Dipak. now, I don’t think they will ask me for one! Imagine! After all
“I hired four enthusiastic people younger than me, and we had these years of movement in travel, I have come full circle back
a lot of fun. We all had one thing in common - none of us to TCI as MD, the company where I started and got my first
knew what “Tourism” was! But we had a company that break. It is a significant moment for me.”
believed in us, and we were a committed lot that learned on
the job.” We now give you the answers to the questions we plied him
with, just so you get to know him better!
For Dipak, there was no looking back. He had found his
niche. He always stayed within the frame of destination How would you define your new role as Managing
management, even though it required a lot of hard work and Director, Travel Corporation (India) Ltd, a key player on
dedication. Starting from scratch with airport transfers, and the Thomas Cook India team? What positive contribution
managing client servicing from a small office, Dipak made it do you think you can make to the organisation in
to the top. He believes in the maxim “the harder you work, the your position?
luckier you get!” There were no shortcuts. Most of all, he loved
what he was doing! The way I see it, my new role at Thomas Cook India is really to
leverage this exciting opportunity for our company, customers,
Up until the merger, Dipak Deva served as the Chief Executive
Officer Kuoni Destination Management, India & South Asia, in
the country’s largest travel and tourism company, a position
he has held since 2007. Kuoni Destination Management India
is spearheaded by two specialist brands, Sita and Distant
Frontiers. He started his career in 1989 with TCI in Jaipur,
and left them as General Manager Inbound in 1999. He then
ran Distant Frontiers as Joint Managing Director till it was
acquired by Kuoni in 2006.

Over the years, Dipak has been actively involved in various
tourism related bodies. At present he serves as the
Co-Chairman of the Tourism Committee, FICCI (Federation
of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), Nominee
Director for Tourism & Hospitality Sector Skill Council of
National Skill Development Council (NSDC is a non-profit
company set up by the Ministry of Finance, Government of
8 India, to promote skill development in the country) and is
on the Governing Body -Ecotourism Society of India. He also
served as the Chairperson World Travel & Tourism Council India
Initiative in 2014. He is a leading voice in the industry, and is a
frequent speaker at various related events across the country.

THE LUCKIER YOU GET!”

shareholders and colleagues, to set new standards and create And what’s in it for Thomas Cook? How would the
a global leader in Destination Management. company benefit from this deal? What new avenues of
growing the business would you consider? What would
I’m very excited about working with the new combined TCI this add to your offering to customers?
team as we align together to deliver the most innovative
products and services; continuously enhance the customer Like I said earlier – it’s a win-win situation for our clients and
experience while setting the bar for excellence in this both the companies.
extremely competitive market where we operate.
For Thomas Cook this acquisition helps create India’s biggest,
I’m essentially a curious person - curious about new most innovative DMC that will differentiate itself by its ability
experiences, a better way of managing processes and to deliver unique client experiences, thanks to our teams,
delivering success. And the one thing that gets me out of bed focus on technology and the strongest network of partners
every-day is the strong people’s aspect of the business we – a combination that will result in substantial operational
are in. I thrive in an environment that requires working with efficiencies and economies of scale. TC is now a DMC that
different people, understanding their cultural nuances and will virtually define the industry by creating and delivering
above all I treasure the friends I’ve made across the world. superior products for customers.
Because in this business that’s what clients become over a
period of time – friends! I intend to work with my colleagues What is your vision for the entire organization 5 years
to help build on these relationships for TCI, and widen our from now?
client base and footprint across the globe!
Over the next 5 years, optimum growth will follow as a
Although Kuoni is a prominent name in the travel result of our focus on building a stronger, quality-oriented
industry, can you tell our staff a little bit more about organisation. The entire team will be aligned behind our
Kuoni Destination Management? What does the objective and each and every member is going to go the extra
company stand for and how does it operate? mile to achieve the objective of “delivering perfect moments”
for clients. We are also looking at strong synergies to develop
Kuoni Destination Management in India has been driven by a our existing markets and profitable source markets as well as
passion of helping our clients create wonderful memories. developing interesting new products across India and South
To my mind it’s one of the most powerful missions that any Asia to drive the aggressive growth we are looking for in the
DMC can have and achieving it has been possible largely due coming years.
to the 450 professionals across 19 offices in India and South
Asia and our partners, all of whom share an absolute passion Now for the more personal, and lighter side!
for the wonderful destination that India is.
Your family consists of …. my high energy 10 year old
Collectively, the team represents 21 Indian states, speaks 26 daughter, Nayantara and my wife Barkha.
Indian languages and 9 foreign languages, and represents Four things you always pack when going on a trip are…
most faiths and religions. With over 2000 man-years of
experience in the travel industry, our unmatched extensive Charger, Passport / Driving Licence, my favourite TV Shows and
local knowledge and experience has made us the industry’s my I-phone.
most rewarded DMC (48 awards and still winning). How do you handle the work/life balance factor?
However, while awards are a wonderful recognition of our
contribution to the country’s economy and our role in the The moment you work hard to achieve this balance it waivers-
industry, it has been an even greater source of pride for what I have learnt is to prioritise, it works every time.
KDM that our long-standing and wide client relationships When you are not thinking about Kuoni, you chill out
are evidence of the fact that we don’t just sell holidays – we by….going for a swim, discovering new specialist restaurants
provide unique and unforgettable memories. in various parts of the world, and watching the latest,
addictive TV shows.
What are the advantages, and synergies you look forward For comfort food, you reach out for….cheese!
to for Kuoni, after its acquisition by Thomas Cook? A message or mantra you would like to convey to our staff?

I am very excited about the journey that we have embarked Knowledge is based on Experience, Everything else is 9
upon with Thomas Cook and the long- term growth just Information.
opportunity that this new partnership will bring. I expect that Welcome to the fold, Dipak. We look forward to a long Tidings Issue 3, 2015
the significant strength, reach, scale, expertise and passion of and healthy association with you and your company!
our respective brands, networks and people will help us deliver
a superior experience for our customers.

KUONI DESTINATION MANAGEMENT

The Kuoni Group is Management Committee – Team Sita
a leading global travel and
destination management
services company, with an
average worldwide workforce
of over 12,000 employees across
60 countries.  The head office
of Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd. is in
Zurich, Switzerland, where Alfred
Kuoni founded the company back
in 1906.

Tidings Issue 3, 2015 Kuoni Destination Management is a division of the Kuoni
Group, which is active in Leisure Travel and Destination
Management segments and was voted “World’s Leading
Destination Management Company” by World Travel Awards
for the fifth consecutive year. Its services are focused on
organising land arrangements for groups, individual travellers,
meetings, incentives, congresses, special interest tours and
sports events. The services are offered to international tour
operators, wholesalers, meeting planners, incentive houses
and congress organisers. Kuoni Destination Management
Specialists provide tailor-made travel logistics services all
around the world to professional travel organisers.

KDM was spearheaded by two specialists brands in
India, Sita and Distant Frontiers which it acquired in 2000
10 and 2006.

Both companies are now under the Thomas Cook
India umbrella.

SITA sending their clients to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. It
is backed by dedicated market teams with 460 experienced
THE BEGINNING… professionals in 19 offices across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and
Bhutan. The Company focuses on Leisure Groups, Individual
New York 1933: a bicycle tour arranged by John C. Dengler set Traveller, Special Interest Groups, Charters and Cruises.
the pace for a small company called Students International
Travel Association. The company soon became popularly DISTANT FRONTIERS
known by its acronym – Sita – and launched itself into the
orbit of world travel. After a resounding success in the U.S.A., THE BEGINNING…
Sita looked beyond the Atlantic to Europe and Asia, to India.
In 1956 the Chairman Emeritus, Inder Sharma, set up the first The journey of Distant Frontiers began back in 1994. From day
office at New Delhi. Sita has since worked consistently to be one, Distant Frontiers focused on the incentive business,
known worldwide as a reliable and efficient Travel and Tourism selling India as a destination to the western corporate world.
Company with integrity and best-quality service.
THE EARLY YEARS…
THE EARLY YEARS…
The focus helped the company grow steadily. From an initial
What began with a staff of three people soon made customer base in France, the company grew to work with
remarkable progress. Foreseeing a policy of Indianisation, clients all across the world. The focus of the Company has
in 1963 Sita was converted into a private limited company been to enable the traveller to capitalise on the Company’s
under the guidelines of the Companies Act 1956 and came to intimate knowledge of the locale, on its attention to details,
be known as Sita World Travel (India) Pvt. Ltd. With the rapid and its strong personal contacts within India’s business,
growth of the incoming tours business, Sita took the initiative intellectual and social milieu. We specialised in the corner
and started its first overseas office in Paris in 1972, followed of the world that we knew best, where we were hands-on,
by Milan, Frankfurt, London, New York, Stockholm, Barcelona where we could be sure of giving our customers the best the
and Lisbon. At the same time Sita extended its operations and Indian subcontinent had to offer, covering the vast, diverse,
services to include neighbouring countries – Sri Lanka in 1982 intriguing, ever-vibrant expanse of the largest democracy and
and Nepal in 1984, where its offices make Sita the only agency the second-fastest growing economy in the world, India.
with a presence in three SAARC countries. In 1993, it became The rugged Himalayan terrain of still-mysterious Nepal;
a fully owned Indian public limited company and came to be the lush tropical island paradise that inspired the word
known as Sita World Travel (India) Ltd. “serendipity,” Sri Lanka; and the charming mountain kingdom
of Bhutan, the only country in the world to measure—and
THE SUCCESS STORY… strive to improve—its citizens’ Gross National Happiness.

Between 1970 and 1994, the company achieved spectacular THE SUCCESS STORY…
growth rate. The foreign exchange earnings showed an
impressive and unprecedented increase as well. Revenues grew too, from around US$ one million before the
This remarkable progress was the result of adhering to well- turn of the century, to US$ seven million in 2006. The people
defined business principles and goals over the years as well Distant Frontiers has dealt with have been demanding
as providing services backed by experience, network and customers, hard-nosed professionals determined to get the
reputation. A team of nearly 800 trained travel professionals best deals for their clients and their companies. They take
offered round the clock service, through a vast network of professionalism and domain expertise to be a given.
30 branch offices located at important tourist destinations in They demand high levels of service which we have
the region, working with utmost dedication and commitment. consistently delivered. From a staff of 3 to 21 it has been an
Added to this was an overseas network of eight marketing eventful journey that has spanned many milestones.
offices and an excellent rapport with the Government as well
as International and Domestic Airlines and Hotels. Being the In 2006, Distant frontiers was acquired by Kuoni Travel
biggest player in this industry helped Sita to enjoy very special Holding, Switzerland.
rates with hotels all over India.
DISTANT FRONTIERS TODAY...
In 2000, Sita was acquired by Kuoni Travel Holding,
Switzerland. Today Distant Frontiers is a specialist for Incentive Tours,
the discerning individual traveller and the Special Interest
SITA TODAY… Traveller; our clients are mainly large corporations and travel 11
partners around the world. We are, if you will, a travel agent’s
Today Sita is India’s leading Destination Management travel agent. The Company is backed by a dedicated market Tidings Issue 3, 2015
Company and the most awarded travel company in India, team with 21 experienced professionals in 19 offices across
Sita is the preferred choice for international tour operators India, Nepal and Bhutan.

INTERVIEW VISHAL IS BACK!

Tidings Issue 3, 2015He studied to be an Electrical the sharing of best practices across two
Engineer but it turned out that organisations, and over time to leverage
the engineer felt he would economies of scale for all backend
make a better salesman! He “made the processes and activities. This should
switch” (to use a pun) while he was a create a significant cost advantage for
trainee at Larsen & Toubro, assembling both companies and improve productivity.
switchboards! Vishal started his career
with Modi Xerox, then moved on to the The combined presence and customer
Motorola Modem & Paging business, after share of both companies gives it a
which he was with Bharti Airtel Limited leadership position by a large margin
from where he came to Thomas Cook. across all segments of business, which will
He has also attended Executive allow volume linked benefits over time.
Management programs at IIM-Bangalore
& Henley Business School-University of Reading, UK. The SOTC brand that is available in
perpetuity has opportunities in future once the Thomas Cook
He is Vishal Suri, new Managing Director, Kuoni Travel (India) brand nears the end of its brand license.
Ltd. Vishal joined Thomas Cook the first time in 2005, where
he progressed to become the Chief Operating Officer – Leisure And what would be the key challenges or disadvantages
Travel (Outbound & Domestic) in 2007. He was involved in the you might face in the current circumstances? How do you
scale-up of Leisure Travel Retail Distribution and introduced the plan to deal with them?
“Holidaywallas” concept. He also launched the “Indulgence”
brand that catered exclusively to the luxury traveller. Moreover, I don’t see too many disadvantages but our key challenge is to
he established the MICE & NRI businesses for the company continue to stay focused and calm as an organisation. We have
from scratch. more opportunities than challenges and should build and
learn from each other’s respective strengths.
Vishal then joined Kuoni Tour Operating in 2012, where he was
the CEO, and accomplished a business turn-around by setting My intent is to collaborate and work closely with all stake-
the slacking business unit back on the growth trajectory holders and colleagues at SOTC to ensure that we stay on
within a short span of 18 months. course to meet our goals.

After the acquisition of Kuoni India and Hongkong, Vishal How did you earn your first pay check, and what did you
returns to the Thomas Cook family as the new Managing do with the money?
Director of Kuoni Travel India.  Several of our staff may already
know Vishal, but for those who don’t, here is a brief interview. I was as an Implant Trainee at L&T in their design department
and I think I gave the money to my parents, and then
How would you define your new role as Managing borrowed money from them for a trip to Goa on a ferry
Director of Kuoni Travel (India) Pvt. Ltd. ? How does it with friends!
differ from you prior appointment, as Chief Executive
Officer - Tour Operating? Are you a risk-taker or micro-planner?

My role as the MD of Kuoni Travel India is essentially a larger I take calculated business risks and do so with careful planning
responsibility compared to my role as CEO-Tour Operating on the bigger game plan and then back the plan all the way.
where I was responsible for one business. My role is to build a
sustainable and profitable business that will create value for And now a few quips on the lighter & more personal side!
our customers, employees and share holders.
Your family comprises of ... my wife Sony (Novlen), Saakshi
How does it feel to be part of Thomas Cook again? Do (20 yrs) and Aryaman (14 yrs)
you get a ‘deja vu’ feeling? What are your plans to take
the SOTC brand to greater heights? You kick start your day with....a cup of tea, the newspaper,
and a 30 minute brisk walk 3 times a week.
I had never imagined that in just about 3 years I would be back
as a part of a larger Thomas Cook family. It is something that If you had to describe yourself in ONE word, what would
I had not planned but I am quite excited as this development it be?
creates multiple opportunities for both SOTC and Thomas
Cook. My current mandate is to focus and develop the SOTC “Resilient” - the ability to withstand and recover from tough/
Holidays, MICE & Business Travel businesses and we have difficult situations.
started that journey.
Your favourite holiday destination?
12 According to you what would be the benefits for both
companies as a result of this merger? New Zealand (South Island) and London (UK).

The Game Plan as of now is to explore back-end synergies and When in need of ‘comfort food’ you reach out for... Indian
compete as two separate brands (SOTC and Thomas Cook) on Snacks or Home food.
the customer facing side. The immediate benefits are
A work mantra you would like to share with the staff?

Work hard and always do the right thing…….and .after work
play harder!

SOTC was established KUONI INDIA - SOTC In 2000, Kuoni Travel
acquired a 100 percent stake
in 1949, when its first office The Management Committee in Sita World Travel (India)
was opened at Cawasji Ltd., and this merger resulted
Hormusji Street with just five in the creation of India’s
employees. The company grew largest travel company
under Ranjit Malkani, who known as Kuoni Travel India
served as its Managing Ltd. India’s No.1 Inbound
Director and CEO, and soon travel brand- SITA was
became India’s foremost founded by Inder Sharma
outbound package tour brand. and has since then worked
In 1968, it moved to a much consistently to be known
bigger office at Mint Road worldwide as a reliable and
in Mumbai, and boasted a efficient Travel and Tourism
twenty-member team! It was Company with integrity and
now counted as one of the top best-quality service. 
ten travel agents in Mumbai
with a turnover touching From there on, Kuoni India
Rs. 25 million. excelled and dominated the
travel spectrum encompassing

In 1976, SOTC handled its first tour group visiting the US professionalism and integration to its leading position. In 2007,
during the bicentennial celebrations. Within three years SOTC Kuoni re-launched Business Travel in partnership with HRG, a
had taken about 500 passengers to Europe, the US, Singapore global giant in the business travel segment, under the brand
and Japan. In 1981 came another breakthrough when SOTC name HRG Sita India. 
Package Tours began active advertising, with the first creative
hitting the newspapers. Kuoni India became one of the top travel management
companies in India, active across almost every travel segment
SOTC grew by leaps and bounds between 1983 and 1995. It including Leisure Travel, Business Travel and Destination
moved to new premises at Churchgate, Mumbai; installed Management Services.
the first computer for sales and operations; went through a
management metamorphosis completely restructuring the Embodying the goodness and approachability of ‘SOTC’, the 13
business into autonomous Strategic Business Units (SBUs) SOTC mainstream holiday business is a leader in all travel
and further expanded its operations by acquiring 25,000 segments such as Escorted Group Tours, Customised Holidays Tidings Issue 3, 2015
square feet of new office space in Andheri, Mumbai.  In 1996 and Holidays of India amongst others. Our MICE division is the
the Kuoni Group entered India by acquiring a 51% stake in leader in Incentive Travel. Our vast array of holiday services is
SOTC. In 1997 Kuoni acquired 100% equity in SOTC. taking holidaying to an entirely new level.

INTERVIEW Maria Ng – MOTIVATING HER STAFF

Tidings Issue 3, 2015Since Kuoni Hong Kong is now very much a part of the - To the customers: Focusing on their new demands and
Thomas Cook family, it was only fitting that we ask Maria changing needs. To anticipate, understand and respond to
Ng, Managing Director-Kuoni Hong Kong, for her views the needs of both internal and external customers to meet
and impressions, and what the changes meant for her and her and excel their expectations to their satisfaction.
team. Let’s get to know her better!
- To our Colleagues: Foster teamwork; work cooperatively
Armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/ and effectively to set goals and enhance organisational
Management, Maria worked for P & O Asia as Financial Analyst effectiveness. Invest in resources for long term training
in 1993, and rose to become Financial Controller& Company and development of staff; to achieve the company’s
Secretary from 1994-1996. Joining Kuoni in 1997 as the CFO, mission and objectives.
she has never looked back. She became the Deputy Managing
Director in 2005 and since 2008 has led the company as How did you feel when Kuoni Hong Kong was merged
Managing Director of Kuoni Hong Kong. with Thomas Cook India? What are the advantages and
synergies you look forward to for your company? Are
Wanting to know more about her as a person, we asked a you excited about what we can achieve together?
colleague in Hong Kong to describe her, and here is what she
said: “I have been working in Maria’s team since 1997, and all I would rather use a more suitable term to describe this new
these years I have found her very dynamic and passionate. relationship, by reference to what Mr Prem Watsa shared with
She is a very positive person, who considers every situation a 30+ of our key managers during his visit to HK in October, 2015.
learning opportunity and she coaches her subordinates with He emphasized that he treats all his newly acquired subsidiary
the right mix of leadership and direction. She encourages her companies not as investor and investee relationships but
team members in many ways allowing them to develop and rather as another form of partnership relationship.
achieve personal and career growth. She loves to share her
knowledge and experience with them.” On this basis, I believe it is a great partnership and it will be a
great opportunity for two great brands to continue to build on
Maria also encourages her staff to eat healthy, keep healthy the businesses which have been well established with
and promotes work life balance. When she is not busy
achieving results at work, Maria relaxes with a book and
enjoys swimming and hiking!

How would you define your new role as a key player on
the Thomas Cook team?

- As we embark on a very important and ground breaking
journey of our own, I believe that it is important to set out
some clear objectives.

- Being one of the key premium tour operators in Hong
Kong, we should be constantly ready for change and
innovation, to ensure that the Company remains in the
forefront of the industry. For this, we must apply the most
cost effective methods and approaches, provide leading
edge products and service, let our customers be inspired
and experience perfect moments from every aspect of the
service that we deliver.

- This is one of my fundamental roles, to set a clear vision
and strategy, constantly prompting ourselves to reassess
our own organization, to enhance our workflows and align
ourselves even more closely to current market trends and
implementing long term profit and growth for the company.

- I would like to describe my position as a catalyst and
interface between all stakeholders to achieve the set

14 corporate objectives.

- To the shareholders and Board: long term value creation,
focusing towards profits and long term growth in
alignment to the long term strategic direction of
the company.

AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

a long history in their respective markets and territories. a flexible collaborative planning and trust-building platform,
An interesting point to note is that, like Thomas Cook, Kuoni has through involvement, and engagement of employees at each
a long history and has been serving Hong Kong for more than level of the organisation.
50 years. The synergy between the two brands will change
the face of the Hong Kong travel industry by providing new Personally, I believe that this will enable us to adopt the best
standards of professionalism and fruitful travel services and of both companies’ practices and culture and vision which will
experiences for discerning travellers. Kuoni Hong Kong will cumulate in creating a shared vision owned at each level of
be backed by TCI’s extensive regional coverage, and human the organisation and expanded into an integrated strategy
and technological resources in this region. We should aim and a new identity. That is one key objective which I hope we
to capitalise our expertise in the tourism trade, achieve will achieve together.
procurement effectiveness, and build and provide a truly
international travel company to serve the travel public in this Do you find that the methods of working in the
region. I am excited that we both can invest in the resources two countries are very different because of varied
and undertake ongoing changes and development and ensure backgrounds and culture? Or are there similarities?
effective integration of the best practices of two successful
business models. I agree that there might be differences in the method
of working because of varied background and culture.
What advantage would there be for Thomas Cook in However, both companies are well organised with a very
Hong Kong? clear infrastructure, and structured processes, and successful
business models.
This is an opportunity for Thomas Cook to leverage the
significant complementary opportunities across Asia. We need I also believe Chinese and Indian are two cultures in the world
to explore more deeply in order to broaden our business and that share the most in common. We have our own individual
to tap into exciting new markets which we can do through long civilization that goes back some 5,000 years and it has
various partnership or acquisition opportunities. shaped us slightly different. – I think that there is chemistry
between us, without being similar to each other. Both share
Furthermore, this Hong Kong investment will also serve as a a deep love for our culture. Both advocate the principles of
springboard for further expansion in China and SE Asia when peaceful co-existence, and there is an underlying unity of
opportunities arise. In this context, we are confident that the soul. So it will be a good platform for each of us to enter into
Kuoni Hong Kong office will play a key role in the strategic the gradual process of co-creating a shared vision and new
development plans in these exciting and vibrant markets. identity. Like I mentioned before, I am convinced that both
companies are prepared to work towards a common goal.
How do you think the integration process between the
two giants has proved successful? And now a few quips on the lighter and more
personal side!
I believe that the single and most important success factor for
any integration is to achieve long term sustainability for both My family is comprised of — Seven sisters and a brother, 15
companies. The target is to create a common 13 nephews and cousins spread across Hong Kong, Canada
“New Identity” around a “Shared Vision”. The short term and USA. Tidings Issue 3, 2015
objective of the integration process objective has been
achieved quite smoothly. We have compatible vision, and I start my day with — “Quiet time” reading the Bible and
values which are in line with achieving corporate strategy: devotion passages and prayers, followed by a light breakfast :
We operate under a good corporate governance environment coffee and a piece of home-made bread.
with strong emphasis on customer intimacy disciple, and
product excellence focus. When I am not thinking of office work, I relax by —
reading the Bible and books. I enjoy swimming, and meeting
In addition, in the good tradition of the Fairfax Group, as some of my close friends and relatives to share life experiences
I mentioned earlier, ours is a partnership relationship. and happy moments .
The newly acquired subsidiary company will have full
independence of the management and operation of the My favourite hobby is — Swimming, and trail walking in
company under a Board Managed framework. That allows the some of the mountains in Hong Kong.
local company to thrive on independence and entrepreneurial
spirit, yet within the framework of implementing strategic Four things I never travel without are — my Smart phone,
direction and alignment to shareholders and board objectives. Bible and book, a swimsuit and running shoes.

However for long term objectives, I believe that we should What keep me ‘energised’ are — precious promises from
also gradually work towards a refinement of the new Identity the Bible, testimonials from friends and happy moments and
and development of an enhanced Shared Vision. This process enjoyment with relatives and friends.
will take time and should be handled vigorously yet built on
For me an ideal holiday means — to quiet down the body
and soul... to relax, reflect, rejuvenate the mind, keep my
spirit in tune with God and be empowered to refocus and re-
prioritise life issues.

What I like most about India is — the curry and culture!

KUONI HONG KONG

Executive Management & Head of Products Team. Executive Management + Heads of Product Development + Department
From L to R: Alvin Lau - Head of Product Development - Europe/ Senior Managers and Managers
Exotic and Event & Special Interests, Carmen Ng - Head of HR,
Famine Ng - Financial Controller, Maria Ng - Managing Director,
Larry Liu - Chief Operating Officer - Sales, Reservation and
Fulfilment, Mandic Leung - Head of Product Development - Aust/
NZ, Americas, Cruise, Asia and China

Everyone saying ‘hello from Hong Kong’ !

MBU Kuoni China Milestones

Fairfax acquired
full ownership of
the company in
November 2015

Rebranded on 27 THE COMPANY TODAY
September 2008

Tidings Issue 3, 2015 Change of legal ¾ Ƌ UHWDLO RXWOHWV DV RI WRGD\
name to Kuoni ‹ ƈ LQ .ZXQ 7RQJ
Travel (China) ‹ ƈ LQ 1HZ 7HUULWRULHV
Limited with trade ‹ ƈ LQ &DXVHZD\ %D\
name as S.K.Y. ‹ ƈ LQ 7VLPVKDWVXL
Travel
¾ )7( ƈƍƇ DV DW 'HF ƉƇƈƌ ƈƍƈ
Expanded our own DV DW )HE ƉƇƈƍ
retail branches
¾ 2IIHULQJ PDLQO\ ORQJ KDXO
Kuoni acquired GHVWLQDWLRQV (XURSH 3DFLILF
full ownership of 0LGGOH (DVW 6RXWK $PHULFD
the company
¾ 0DUNHW /HDGHU RQ ORQJ KDXO
Joint Venture SUHPLXP VHJPHQWV

16 Kuoni-P&O Travel

(50%-50%)

Established in
1965 trading as
Mackinnons
Travel & renamed
to P&O Travel in
1978

1965 / 1978 1997 2003 2005 2008-2014 2015

FTE Avg 149 150 245 179-164 164

LUXE ASIA – SRI LANKA

Md Luxe Asia -- Chaminda Dias Management Team Luxe Asia

Team Luxe-Asia..... informal! Asia gained traction and arrivals started to grow
and the team began to grow with it, and was up
The Management team at Luxe Asia is comprised of to around 15 within 12 months. With strategic
7 people who take care of Key Areas. It’s a very young, partnerships in Dubai and the Maldives, Luxe
dynamic and enthusiastic team. At 40, Managing Asia was able to offer all 3 destinations through
Director Chaminda Dias is the ‘eldest’ employee in the its existing sales channels, and eventually moved
company. . . . so you can imagine how ‘youthful’ it is! into the European Markets by opening up Spain
The pictures say it all… and Scandinavia through a representation and an
Chaminda started Luxe Asia in August 2009 with a small exclusive partnership respectively.
investment from Expolanka, a diversified conglomerate in
Sri Lanka. (Remember we interviewed him in our last issue? Having established a new inbound business for
Go back and read about this amazing young man) Expolanka through the acquisition of Luxe Asia’s
With a total largest partner in India, Luxe Asia exited Expolanka
staff strength of in 2014 as it was acquired by the Galle Face Hotel
3, the business Group (GFHG) which owned and operated the iconic
was built from a Galle face Hotel in Colombo —— the oldest hotel east of the
zero base going Suez Canal, built in 1864. The GFHG also owned Ceylon Hotels
into opportunity Corporation, one of the largest hotel groups in Sri Lanka with
markets such an inventory of over 500 rooms. Over the next year and a half
as India and the Luxe Asia was able to exploit the synergy with GFHG to grow
Middle East to even further and added an airport counter with 75 vehicles to
drive short to its DMC operations.
medium term
revenue. Within a Having grown to a sizeable entity, Thomas Cook acquired Luxe
few months Luxe Asia from GFHG in late 2015 and the team at Luxe Asia now
stands at over 50 and has serviced 38,000 visitors to Sri Lanka
generating Rs.1.8 billion in revenue.

17

Team Luxe-Asia..... formal! Tidings Issue 3, 2015

INTERVIEW MEETING UP WITH MAHESH

Remember we had grilled him during the “Chai pe Charcha”
session, and managed to discover that his favourite
food is ‘vada-pav’ from Aaram; that he must have his dose
of Bollywood every week-end and that Katrina Kaif was his
current favourite star!?

Yes! We speak of the normally reticent Mahesh Iyer, Chief
Operating Officer of Thomas Cook India. Serious by nature, he
works quietly and efficiently behind the scenes, with Foreign
Exchange being his forte, and gets excellent results.

Tidings Issue 3, 2015 After 2 years in the advertising business, Mahesh joined What are the most significant changes you see in your
Thomas Cook India in 1994, and has been associated with line of work in recent times due to global conditions,
this company for 20 years. During his journey upwards and how do you think we are dealing with them in our
from Management Trainee to the exalted post of COO of organisation? Are we able to adapt to, and cope with,
the Company, Mahesh has contributed to the growth in these changes?
Operations, Projects, Products, Commercial and various
business functions. Prior to his present position, Mahesh was There is a lot of turmoil in the global environment. Oil prices,
heading the Foreign Exchange business, and successfully gold, currency fluctuations, global slowdown etc. Whilst some
handled the Wholesale and Airport Verticals within Foreign of it will disappear in the short run (12 -18 months) there are
Exchange, and also served as the Regional Head – West for the some endemic problems that will take longer. Having said
Business. He became a member of the Execom from the end so, India is the shining star amongst most economies and
of 2012. the opportunity that beckons is very huge. The sheer size of
the population, growing disposable income, stressed jobs
Whenever he gets time to relax, he also plays cricket and etc are opportunities for travel specialists like TC as we have
keenly follows the matches. the ability and scale to tap these. Technology is a key driver
especially the mobile phone and we are stepping in that space
His team has described “our boss Mahesh Iyer, as a simple man with our apps to give the customer a convenient and
with high ideals and an inspiration to his team”! enriching experience.

Let’s talk to the man himself... and get his views on There is a lot happening on the Foreign Exchange scene,
a few topics. and Thomas Cook seems to have launched several ‘firsts’
in the industry. Can you tell us something about them?
How would you define your present role as a key player Which has turned out to be the most successful?
on the Thomas Cook India team? What are your main
responsibilities? And what positive contribution do you Personally, if you ask me I would say this is the space where
think you can make to the organisation in your position? the least has happened in the last 2 decades or so. If you
look back other than the prepaid card most other products
As a management team we need to win in the market Currency Notes, Travellers Cheques, Wires and Drafts, that we
place, and my job is to ensure that we work towards this in market and / or sell, have been in existence even before I was
a cohesive manner where our key metrics of success are the born (And I am not that old !)
number of customers won, and the share of his travel wallet.
Given that, I have spent a large part of my career at Thomas

18

Cook in the FX business where everything about the business
is measured and tracked, I hope to bring that discipline in all
the businesses that we operate so that we know the levers
that we need to improve upon to win!

Yes, at Thomas Cook, we continue to be very successful THOMAS COOK INDIA TARGETS
with our Borderless Prepaid Card which has grown 30% LARGE UNTAPPED INWARD
YOY for the last 3 years and is now a USD 700 million REMITTANCES - UNBANKED
portfolio. The One Currency Card that we launched mid SEGMENT SIGNS STRATEGIC
last year is a path breaker and I believe it can change the
way people carry money while travelling abroad. (India is PARTNERSHIP WITH ITZCASH
still a cash market).
Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. announced a strategic partnership
We are looking to get into the Rupee Card space and with ItzCash to extend its outreach to India’s rapidly growing
enhance our solutions in the online FX space and I believe unbanked inward remittance market, by offering remittance
this is where the market will gradually move. services (Xpress Money & MoneyGram) across an extensive
network of over 75000+ touch points, pan India.
Can you mention one or two influences in your life
that have shaped your career and guided some of According to the World Bank Report Migration and Development
the major decisions you have taken? Brief, India is the largest receiver of remittances in the world –
at approximately $71 billion in 2014 (up from a mere
My father has been my biggest influence in my life. $22 billion in 2005) ranking Indians as the second largest diaspora
One thing he told me very early in life was “If you do globally (approximately 25 million Indians living in 110 countries
something and can face yourself in the mirror without worldwide). However as per the Reserve Bank of India, about 40%
regret, you will never do the wrong thing” and I live by of India’s the population still does not have access to financial
this every day. services. Thomas Cook India’s research-analytics further reiterated
this opportunity, revealing strong potential in the unbanked
How did you earn your first pay check, and what did inward remittances markets of Middle India and rural areas,
you do with the money? including Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar and Kerala. Hence to leverage the untapped opportunity of
I started off working with an advertising agency very early this unbanked market, we have partnered with ItzCash, to offer
in life and that earned me my first pay check. It was a big extensive distribution and hence both ease in access, convenience
thing for me then ( it is now too !) and I remember going and swift transactions for its inward remittance customers.
to a temple and feeding a needy person and then getting
a watch for my father which he still wears. Commenting on the announcement, Mahesh Iyer, Chief
Operating Officer- Foreign Exchange & Head- Visas, said, “With
What would you consider the best thing about your this partnership, we aim to become one of the leading inward
job with this organisation? remittance distribution networks in India and reaffirm our
consumer commitment as a comprehensive Payment
It’s not a job! I love the challenges and truly believe that Solutions Provider.”
I am a student who is constantly learning.
Now on a personal level and in lighter vein! Naveen Surya, Managing Director of ItzCash Ltd said “From its 19
inception, we have been offering digital payments especially for
Your family comprises of --- My 31/2 year old son (Shlok), the Mass Middle class in the country. Our leadership in this space Tidings Issue 3, 2015
My best friend and companion ( Jeni ) and my parents. coupled with our distribution especially in T2 & T3 locations will
You kick-start your day with -- a prayer and a cup of tea. add lots more value to the end consumer. We are very upbeat
about this association with our esteemed partner –
When you are not thinking of Thomas Cook you chill out Thomas Cook India.”
by – watching movies and enjoying time out with my family.
When you need comfort food you reach out for -- ItzCash is the first company to be issued the Certificate of
Vada Pav and Samosa. I also confess I have a sweet tooth! Authorization by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the
Payment and Settlement area, with an impressive network of
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? over 75000+ consumer touch points.

‘Measure your efforts, results will follow’.

Your style mantra is -- Stay simple ! Stay Real !
You never leave home without -- my Credit Card
and mobile
Your idea of an ideal holiday is – perfecting the Art of
Doing Nothing,... just chilling!

The welcoming reception area WE HAVE A
The Conference Room
From D. N. Road to Marathon Futurex, it has finally happened. Everyone
Smaller meeting stations has comfortably settled into the bright, cheerful and spacious new
premises. It wasn’t easy---it was a ‘marathon’ experience, a herculean
task…. But the transition was relatively smooth, and very meticulously
planned. Kudos to the Administration Team who ensured it happened
systematically, and with minimum glitches!

The team found it a very challenging and interesting adventure---right
from the purchase of property up to the commissioning of the modern
office, but the focus, dedication, grit and determination of our Admin.
squad helped it achieve its mission!

The challenge was to relocate the staff from a heritage property to a
modern building in a seamless manner with least discomfort to the staff.

We asked Rajesh Thakkar, General Manager- Admin, and Sanjay Nadkarni,
Vice-President-Facilities and Admin., to give us an idea of what it entailed to
execute this mammoth project.

Here are some interesting facts and figures they had for us:

This involved:

• Expediting BMC approvals for the interiors

• Fast track ITES registration for our premises

• Quick approvals from the Marathon Building Management

• Receipt of the SFIS Import Licence

• Import of Materials

• Selection and appointment of the Architects and Contractors

• Finalizing the Design

• Tendering/execution

• Managing the site development, despite the site related problems/
objections.

• Shifting 900 staff from DN Road/ Nariman Point

• Contracting and appointment of vendors / contractors for
various services.

20Tidings Issue 3, 2015

The dedicated Team!

NEW OFFICE! The new office ready to be filled
Mini-conference rooms
The success of the project can be attributed to the vision and support
of the Execom, the exhaustive planning exercise, the strong processes
followed for execution, and a dedicated team who managed the
project throughout the cycle.

The assignment, with a scale of 73000 sq. ft. with over 900
workstations, required a lot of effort and expertise for all the
implementation. The entire team worked tirelessly for
6 months right from the beginning to the final shifting of all the
employees to the new office. The Admin Team comprising of Sanjay
Nadkarni, Rajesh Thakker, Jayant Mistry and Prashant Tambe and
their respective team members played a critical role in transforming
the bare premises into a fully functional modern design office! The
office has been intricately designed after taking proper care of the
functionality of the company.

The highlights of the new design include:

• Imported modular furniture.

• Ergonomic chairs

• LED lights

• Collaborative areas

• Media Scapes

• Fire fighting and security gadgets

• Spectacular views on all sides

The pictures alongside say it all! We look forward to a great
future at “Futurex”!

Hungry-kya?

Sunny, cheerful waiting areas The heart and lungs of IT! 21
Spacious outdoor eating spaces Dining room with a view...
Tidings Issue 3, 2015

THOMAS COOK SIGNS AN AGREEMENT
WITH THE STATE BANK OF INDIA TO OFFER

THEIR HOLIDAY SAVINGS PLAN TO THE
BANK’S CUSTOMERS

Thomas Cook announced a partnership with the State
Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest Bank, to offer the
Thomas Cook Holiday Savings Account (HSA) to the
bank’s customers.

Through this offering, SBI’s Online Banking customers will be
able to pre-select a holiday from Thomas Cook and save for it
through a recurring deposit with the Bank. The offer is a top
up installment at the end of the period from Thomas Cook
India. Customers will be offered an inflation-proof holiday as
they pay for a future holiday at today’s prices, while earning
interest on the linked e-Recurring Deposit. Should they change
their mind due to a change in circumstances they can always
opt out of the holiday package at any stage at zero cost.
Those who stay invested will receive a final top up from
Thomas Cook India.

The Holiday Savings Account involves a simple online process: Madhavan Menon, Chairman & Managing Director,., said,
1) Select the holiday package from Thomas Cook India’s portal “We are delighted to partner with State Bank of India, India’s
and 2) log-on to www.onlinesbi.com to start a recurring largest bank, to extend the reach of our unique Holiday
deposit account with SBI based on the cost of the holiday. Savings Account via over 25 million users of SBI’s online
The cost of the package tour is split into 12 monthly platform. The unbeatable advantage of paying for a future
installments with a free 13th installment via a combination holiday at today’s prices, ensures SBI’s customers a powerful
of accrued interest and a top-up from Thomas Cook India. proposition of an inflation-proof holiday while enjoying
The Thomas Cook Holidays offered are all inclusive packages attractive interest rates, a zero exit clause and a free top up
(Domestic and International) with return airfare, transfers, from Thomas Cook in the 13th month!”
accommodation on twin share basis, all meals, sightseeing
and taxes. Rajnish Kumar, Managing Director (National Banking
Group), State Bank of India, said ”We find that people
22 don’t plan their holidays in advance and end up taking
last minute loans to finance the same.
Tidings Issue 3, 2015 Also, they could’ve have saved on the cost of the holiday

had they booked early. To encourage planned savings
and advance booking, we are pleased to partner
with Thomas Cook India, one of India’s leading travel
companies to offer our customers the HSA. In keeping
with our mission of being the Banker to Digital India,

the entire process is online with zero paperwork. We
are certain that our customers will find good value
in this product and enjoy their holidays booked
through this.”

ONE WORLD, ONE CURRENCY

THOMAS COOK INDIA LAUNCHES ‘ONE CURRENCY’ CARD
India’s first prepaid travel card with Zero cross-currency

conversion charges

In a bid to transform the payment-solutions space, Cook One Currency Card, the first of its kind in India, brings 23
Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., announced the launch of the Indian travellers a strong value proposition: zero currency
‘Thomas Cook One Currency Card’ –India’s first prepaid conversion charges in a digital currency ecosystem.” Tidings Issue 3, 2015
travel card with zero cross currency conversion fees, in “MasterCard & Thomas Cook India have had a strong
collaboration with MasterCard Worldwide. relationship over the past few years in providing products
Thomas Cook India‘s internal customer research has revealed to make travel easier & more convenient, via our focus on
that though prepaid cards offer strong security benefits, for value innovation excellence and technology. The Thomas Cook One
conscious Indian travellers, the high cross currency conversion Currency Card is an innovative solution and we are confident
charges (typically between 3-4%) create a strong deterrent. of it becoming the preferred prepaid travel card for overseas
The Thomas Cook One Currency Card offers better value to the travellers in the near future,” said Porush Singh, Division
customers with its USP of a single load currency (USD) and zero President South Asia - MasterCard.
cross currency conversion charges, across the world. The Thomas Cook One Currency Card can be bought or
Added benefits of the Thomas Cook One Currency Card include recharged via thomascook.in, and across Thomas Cook’s
embedded chip and PIN security, locking of funds (to avoid extensive foreign exchange network across 136 locations
cross currency fluctuations), instant loading, emergency cash (including 23 airport counters)
disbursement, encashment of the residual balance or use for
future travel, free replacement card in case stolen or lost and The Thomas Cook One Currency Card
24/7 global emergency assistance available via toll free access 3-pronged benefit
in over 80 countries global access via 2.2 million ATM’s and
35.2million merchant establishments in over 275 countries. 1. Value
Mahesh Iyer, Chief Operating Officer - Foreign Exchange & • Zero cross currency conversion charges
Head – Visas, said, “With exponential growth in multi-national • Valid up to 5 years
travel, the need of the hour was clearly a single currency card, 2. Convenience
sans the downside of cross currency charges. As pioneers in • Easy to use at 35.2 mn merchant establishments
the foreign exchange business, our innovative the Thomas
and 2.2 mn ATMs*
Artwork of one currency card 3. Security
• Built-in chip & pin security
• Free global card replacement
• Fraud protection
• 24/7 global customer support

* Cash withdrawal charges as applicable

Tidings Issue 3, 2015 THOMAS COOK INDIA INKS AGREEMENT FOR
PILOT PROJECT WITH AIRBNB

TO TARGET HIGH POTENTIAL MARKET
FOR UNIQUE OUTBOUND TRAVEL EXPERIENCES

Thomas Cook has inked a pilot
partnership with Airbnb, the world’s
leading community-driven hospitality
company. Together, they will offer Indians
looking to travel abroad, access to a range
of unique accommodation experiences at a
variety of price points.

Thomas Cook India‘s internal consumer
research has revealed that for today’s Indian
traveller, holiday accommodation goes beyond
merely hotel categories or room types. Over
25% of the Company’s individual traveller
segment has stated their growing preference
to explore authentic local stays and a desire
for deeper engagement and an immersion into
the destination, its culture and its people.

Hence, in an initiative to tap this increasing
market potential, Thomas Cook India has
signed a pilot agreement with Airbnb to
leverage first mover advantage over this
yet untapped segment. Thomas Cook India
intends to offer significant value and flexibility
to families, ad-hoc groups of friends and
business-cum-leisure travellers via access
to Airbnb’s unique stay options- across
apartments, private rooms, castles, boats,
manors, tree houses and private islands.

Madhavan Menon, Chairman & Managing
Director, said, “The Indian traveller is evolving
rapidly and for many, standard stays no longer
find favour. Our partnership with Airbnb for
outbound Indian travellers, aims to address
this viable and yet untapped market need.
Our strategic focus is to target high potential
growth opportunities via innovation in
products and partnerships and our tie-up with
24 Airbnb reiterates delivery of this intent.”

Varsha Rao, Head of Global Airbnb Operations at Airbnb said, “We are excited to work with a leader in India’s travel market to
give Indian travellers the opportunity to have unique and truly authentic local experiences by staying in one of our more than
two million properties around the world.”

THOMAS COOK INDIA TARGETS TIER III
GROWTH MARKETS VIA SMALL TECH
ASSISTED OUTLETS

Launches strategic ‘Thomas Cook Mini’

The company has announced the launch Such small Tech assisted outlets give us the opportunity to set
of ‘Thomas Cook Mini’, a strategic up shop, test the waters and expand- with the immediacy that
deployment of small technology assisted was demanded and we are very excited with the initial response
outlets to aggressively harness the growth from our new Kerala Thomas Cook Mini at Pathanamthitta.
potential emerging from India’s Tier III markets. Such small, efficient, technology assisted outlets (equipped
Pathanamthitta, Kerala saw the Company’s with mobile devices or tablets) will provide our customers with,
inauguration of the first of its Thomas Cook both ease in access and convenience of swift foreign exchange
Mini outlets. transactions and we plan to harness this model to scale up our
operations for other ancillary travel related services. Our Thomas
Thomas Cook India’s internal research having Cook Mini outlets also serve as a viable servicing/delivery centre
highlighted the powerful growth potential for our Online Forex Store and Forex App, seeing significant
for retail transactions, including burgeoning growth of over 85%,” he concluded.
remittance opportunities, the Company
conceptualised a quick deployment strategy
of small technology assisted outlets to rapidly
penetrate India’s underserved Tier III markets;
hence the launch of its innovative Thomas
Cook Mini. The outlets have been designed
optimising space, and will be manned by
a small team, equipped with technology
via mobile devices/tablets for seamless
online connectivity to central systems, thus
facilitating quick customer transactions.

This unique model delivers on a 2 pronged strategy of
efficiencies of quick market penetration and scale-up.

While Thomas Cook has chosen its Foreign Exchange business
to pioneer this initiative, its Thomas Cook Mini outlets will see
expansion to include other Travel Related Services, basis the
demand dynamics of the respective location markets.

Mahesh Iyer, said, “With our internal data-analytics clearly
revealing the untapped yet high growth potential of Tier III
markets, a low-cost, rapid penetration model was mission
critical, and our Thomas Cook Mini fits the bill perfectly!

25

Tidings Issue 3, 2015

THOMAS COOK TAPS INTO INDIA’S M-COMMERCE
GROWTH OPPORTUNITY LAUNCHES INDIA’S
FIRST END-TO-END HOLIDAY-APP

Tidings Issue 3, 2015Search, Select and buy instantly over 1,000 India and savvy and impatient), who prefer the ease
International Holiday Packages. and immediacy of buying holidays on-the-go,
We recently launched the Thomas Cook Holiday App, Thomas Cook’s Holiday App offers a seamless
India’s first mobile app that allows customers to search, select end-to-end search-select-buy experience.
and buy their Holidays instantly. Given Boston Consulting Group’s data, that in addition to
booking, 95% of Indians use digital resources equally to
Driven by strong adoption of data consumption on mobile search/plan trips and share experiences, Thomas Cook’s
devices, research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) Holiday App empowers such m-searchers with special tools
expects India to overtake USA as the second-largest global like its Experiential Search, a unique Wish-List to share with
smart-phone market by 2017. And with holidays featuring friends or book later. In addition to its range of international
high on the Indian digital native wish-list, Thomas Cook India and domestic holidays across price points, the Thomas
sees strong value in harnessing this powerfully emerging Cook Holiday App also features a special Deal Section with
‘m-Holiday market’; hence the launch of its Thomas Cook attractive offers.
Holiday App- that offers a range of holiday options (across Unique Features include:
26 tour packages, hotels, flights; together with foreign exchange, • Experiential Search
visas and insurance), backed by online inventory and seamless • Wish-list option
transactions. • View availability of holiday package
• Calculator for total package price (basis room type and
Today’s Indian mobile consumer falls into two key categories: travelers, etc)
the m-booker and the m-searcher, and Thomas Cook’s Holiday • End-to end holiday bookings: with online confirmation &
App is smartly designed to delight both. For m-bookers (tech payment
• Range of over 1000 holiday options
• Booking for services like Flights, Hotels or Buy Forex
• Booking/assistance for visas and travel insurance.
• Branch Locator to nearest Thomas Cook outlet
Amit Madhan, Chief Operating Officer - IT & E Services, said
“With India’s mobile commerce market expected to grow
exponentially by 850%, to $19 billion by 2019, and with Cisco
projecting a near five-fold jump in India’s smart-phone users,
to 651 million by 2019, this translates into a powerful yet
underleveraged market for holidays; hence the launch of our
Thomas Cook Holiday-App is timed perfectly to harness this
potential.” He added, “Our intent is to empower Indians with
seamless end-to-end holiday transactions, also smart tools
like our experiential search and wish list- across an array of
over 1000 plus holiday options.”
The mobile application is currently available on Android
(version 4.0 and above) and will soon be launched on iOS
(version 7 and above)
Download the android app via: https://goo.gl/ztnDFJ

TCIL LAUNCHES ITS EXCLUSIVE MAHARASHTRIAN
REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL TOURS THROUGH
‘HOLIDAY MELAS’

TCIL organized a 3-city promotional ‘Holiday Mela’ to launch Jatinder Paul Singh, Senior Vice President & Head - Sales &
its exclusive Maharashtrian Regional International Tours - Distribution and Maitreyi Salvi – Associate VP, Domestic, along
Avismarniya and Apratim. The ‘Mela’ commenced in Kolhapur, with the stellar star cast of Rajwade & Sons – Atul Kulkarni,
followed by Pune and Thane. Sachin Khedekar and Mrinal Kulkarni.

In 2015, Thomas Cook saw an increase of over 20% in its The Holiday Melas also provided Maharashtrian travellers an
holiday business emerging from Maharashtra. The launch opportunity to interact with our experienced travel experts.
of its Maharashtrian Regional Tours is hence a strategic
initiative to leverage the potential of this rapidly growing Jatinder Paul Singh, Senior Vice President & Head - Sales &
Maharashtrian consumer market. Distribution Leisure Travel (Outbound), Thomas Cook (India)
Ltd. said, “Maharashtra currently contributes more than 25%
These special Tours cover both Europe and Asia and offer of our Thomas Cook Outbound business and given the high
unique features, including: potential, we have identified Maharashtra as a key strategic
focus for our Company. Movies offer us a great connect with
• Local Maharashtrian cuisine elements on tour our Maharashtrian customers and hence our tie-up with
the vibrant Rajwade & Sons. Shweta Rajwade’s passion for
• The reassurance and expertise of an accompanying travel offers us an engaging peg to showcase our holiday
Marathi-speaking Tour Manager product offerings to Maharashtrian families who believe
that holidaying together is the best way to bond/ nurture
• Brochures and itineraries in Marathi relationships! We are delighted with the significant
response we have garnered so far - booked over
To showcase its unique Maharashtrian Tours and target the 200 Maharashtrian customers in less than two weeks of
high potential Maharashtrian consumers, Thomas Cook launching these products.”
collaborated with Marathi actor Atul Kulkarni and his film
Rajwade & Sons. An exciting event for the 3-city Holiday Mela, The promotional campaigns covered the Maharashtra market
was an exclusive Meet and Greet event for its customers and via such Holiday Melas in Kolhapur, Pune and Thane with
the media, where one could interact with the cast of film. marketing across Radio, Print and Outdoor Media.
Present at the event were the joint heads of Thomas Cook
India’s leisure travel outbound business, Shibani Phadkar,
Senior Vice President & Head Products & Operation,

27

Tidings Issue 3, 2015

WHAT HAS MICE BEEN UPTO? A GLIMPSE INTO

Adelaide-India Vs Pakistan

Tidings Issue 3, 2015 The Art of Travel eclectic cuisine at exotic locations. Different types of cuisine
that stimulated the palette, yet had the desi touch. It was a
Right through 2015, our MICE department has been coup in culinary creativity!
active, innovative and busy trying to create a new
and different level of traveling experiences for its Among the locations were the Hilton Adelaide, the ever
customers. Improving existing methods remains a key strategy famous Barosa Valley, the Hotel Waldorf Grand Astoria in
in favourably positioning the company in today’s keenly New York, the Marriott Lisbon and Sintra in Portugal,
competitive environment. The staff has been busy perfecting the Windham Hotel in Istanbul, Hotel Kameha, and also
the ‘Art of Travel’, by introducing a wide-ranging package of venues such as the Albisgutli in Zurich and the Hilton
different services which delighted the customers who were in Cape Town.
looking for something novel and interesting.
All these delightfully well planned and focused culinary
These included tank rides and car crushing in Berlin, in experiences were provided to groups ranging from
addition to a sumptuous desi lunch for a large high end group 200 to 800 people.

There were mini go cars, Land Rovers and UMM pick up with a The Art of Excellence
Rib & Sailing Regatta for 350 clients in Lisbon – Portugal.
Scaling new heights, the facilities provided to our customers
We organised Helicopter Rides in Cape Town, South Africa, for were diverse and unique. It included entry into new locations
over 300 clients at a time, and also for 100 of our very own such as Lisbon, Porto, Geneva Region and Sofia.
ROH stars!
MICE arranged luxurious transfers by Stretch Limo, and hired
The team took 120 visitors to Cappadocia where they stayed multiple camps for the Desert Safari in Dubai for a group of
in a Cave hotel and enjoyed Hot Air Balloon rides. 800 passengers 120 clients enjoyed a match at Barcelona FC’s
Camp Nou football stadium as well as team building on the
15th. February was a special day for many, when Thomas Cook F1 circuit!
took its special clients to Adelaide to witness the excitement
28 of an India vs Pakistan match. We offered repeat clients team building in Thailand at Flights
The Art of Cuisine of Gibbon

Not satisfied with giving our Indian customers the regular dal-
chaval-sabji fare, the Mice team decided to serve their patrons

ITS ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2015

Hot-Air Balloon in Cappadocia Northern Lights-Tromso
Mini Go-Cars-Lisbon
The city of New York offered a great MICE setting with
offerings such as an exclusive Broadway show and the city
tour on a special bus where the seats were facing the curb for
best views.

A small select group went for a Sky Jump in Prague, and
80 pax were fortunate enough to see the breathtaking
Northern Lights in Tromso!

A round of applause for the events team who executed 67 such
events…. With the largest even under one roof being for 15,000
people at Gurgaon. Now that certainly takes some organizing!

MICE’s continual commitment to providing excellent value
in services to its customers, proves it’s not just one of your
standard travel agents, but in fact, creating a NEW standard
for travel agents!

29

Birla Shakti Cements in Prague Tidings Issue 3, 2015

Tidings Issue 3, 2015I - KNOWLEDGE SHARING -

Learning, Connecting, Sharing and Collaboration

“If You have the knowledge, let others light their
candles in it”.

– Margret Fuller

Asuccessful initiative of i- knowledge was the sharing
workshop, where the various markets learned
more about the best products and practices of every
market, and also offered great networking. Sharing
knowledge on this common platform helped each one to
understand the traveling style and preferences of various
nationalities handled at TCI. Peers also learnt about the
unheard experiences in various places across India, and
extraordinary client-handling stories. The initiative also
helped peers to shed their inhibitions in public speaking,
and present their respective markets distinctly and
with confidence.

The i- knowledge sharing workshop commenced on
24th July, 2015 with Blue China followed by The Russian
Diaries, London Ramblers, Desert Warriors, Korean
Souls, Reminiscing Germany, Zooming Japan, Afoot
through France, Kangaroo Chronicles, Alluring Europe
and The American Tales. The last session was held on
25th September 2015 by the Spanish Scoop. Along with
this branch, offices from Agra, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur,
Varanasi and South India also took part in the workshop.

Feedback From The Team

Dear Team,

This was an excellent initiative, which gave us all more
knowledge about other markets and new options
available at different cities. We got to know about
operational challenges, client’s requirements, products etc.
of different markets. I personally liked it very much. It was
an enriching experience.

Best regards,
Amit Chugh

Dear Team,

In my view “I knowledge sharing” was a good initiative
taken by the product team. It was a great platform and
30 opportunity to showcase products and share experiences
with the colleagues.

Thanks & Regards

Pradeep Srivastava

‘THE KNOWLEDGE CAFÉ’

Dear Team,

I-knowledge was a really good initiative
to get acquainted with new products. In
addition, the presentation given by Branch
Offices was very informative, especially the
sharing of unique services/experiences they
can offer in their region.

With regards

Om

Dear Colleagues at Product Team, Dear Team,

It has been good initiative. Through presentations given I Knowledge sharing was a very fruitful initiative to
by each department & QNA at common platform helped understand the other markets. We have learnt to inculcate
to understand the travelling style & preferences of the selling tactics & different itineraries being promoted
various nationalities handled at TCI  & also reflected the by other markets.
way each team operates to handle its business. Some
good interaction happened as well among various teams. Regards

 Thank you & regards, Manish Gandhi

Manoj

Dear Product Team, 31

We are pleased to appreciate your wonderful Tidings Issue 3, 2015
initiative to provide a good platform to share
our market knowledge with other teams as well
.It was really helpful to us to know about the
tourism opportunity in other markets.

Thanks once again for your good initiative for
sharing I-Knowledge .

With best regards

GERMAN TEAM

THERE IS A BUZZ AROUND BT2.0!

The Beginning

Happy New Year – BT2.0!

Remembering the old cliché,‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ Business Travel likes to celebrate the little joys of life,
like Navratri, Christmas, weekly games etc. Employees are encouraged to explore their creative side which in due course helps
them in their everyday work. The entire mantra of `having fun at work’ finds expression through such initiatives…

Exclusive gifts for our valued customers.

This time we acknowledged and celebrated our relationship with our special customers by gifting them a plant as a token of our
appreciation.This strengthens the bond between them and us leading to further interaction and new opportunities for both.
This helps to create a feeling of reciprocity and goodwill, forming new relationships, and promoting the business of the company.
In keeping with our ‘Go Green’ slogan, the gift was thoughtful and environment friendly, and appreciated by our clients.

BT2.0 Celebrates Navratri!

Navratri is a celebration of colour and tradition. It unleashes the creativity and
vibrancy of our culture. The 9-day festival is generally celebrated by wearing
different coloured ethnic outfits. We also had clay pot and thali decoration
competitions among the teams. We marvelled at the talent that surfaced, and
were delighted with the enthusiastic response.

Everyone loves to play Dandiya, right? An exciting mix of dandiya and garba
brightened the evening. The addictive beats had everyone ready to break into
rhythm and dance.. Swirling skirts & clashing sticks!

Tushar from the C2B team won the best dressed award- Males.

Best Dressed - Male Tushar Sharma

Festive happenings in Gurgaon during Navaratri Live performance at Gurgaon

Tidings Issue 3, 201532 Team Mumbai with decorated Thalis

In colorful attire-- Nariman Point

AN UPDATE OF WHAT THEY’VE BEEN UP TO!

A festival to light the way – Diwali

Diwali! The Festival of Lights; the triumph of good over evil !
BT2.0 and HR celebrated it with the usual ethnic wear which set the mood. Various competitions such as hand-
made kandil making, a Bay Decoration competition and a drama competition, kept everyone busy and involved!
For the latter, each team had to act out any scene from the Ramayan but it had to be a ‘Modern’ one! This turned
out to be very entertaining. The winner was the Reliance team
Work stations were spruced up, and the entire office was sparkling and clean!

Nariman Point- Kandil making competition

Nariman Point-Desi dudes - We are the best! Kolkata-Diwali Best Dressed Suchandra!

All lit up and glowing-togetherness at Diwali-Nariman Point 33 Tidings Issue 3, 2015

(Contd. on next page)

THERE IS A BUZZ AROUND BT2.0!

Christmas Time!

’Tis the season to be merry, to spread happiness, and the message of love. It is also the time to exchange gifts, sing carols
and decorate a tree.
And we did just that! A Christmas tree, colourful lights and bells adorned the office space, and the spirit of Christmas was
in the air. Secret Santa went around distributing sweets to everyone. A cheerful Christmas cap has been distributed to
every BT2.0 team member across the country!
We usually celebrate Christmas by decorating the floor and having someone come over dressed as a Santa Claus. However,
this time it was a little different. Christmas is not truly Christmas, unless we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those
who need it the most. We celebrated by giving small gifts to little kids and their smiles were brighter than the lights on
the tree!

Having fun at Nariman Point Mumbai Pune celebrates

Tidings Issue 3, 2015 Christmas at Pune Greetings from Gurgaon
Happy group in Gurgaon
34

Making merry in Mumbai

AN UPDATE OF WHAT THEY’VE BEEN UP TO! (Contd.)

BT2.0 Team Reliance conducted the Annual RIL Team Awards

These activities at work will always keep the employees relaxed and refreshed. Having fun at work will increase
team building, bring togetherness, relieve stress and make the employee emotionally attached to the work place.
Congratulations everyone!
Beautiful “Tiara’ed” girls and Handsome “Tie’d” Boys. Have a look—dont miss seeing the pics!

Congratulations, Ayaz! 35

ACtihoroaFtkraABnyucasezi-nKweLasMss TtorharegvaelunlcSizkpeyedwciaainqlinsuetiszr.oeWxf ctelhuaesriQeveupliryzofauondrdTtohwoaomnnnaosunce
an iPad Mini.

Tidings Issue 3, 2015

CATCHING UP

An NTU session

Global Immersion Program at NTU Singapore

Our Centre of Learning has launched a Global Immersion Program in a strategic tie-up with Nanyang Technological University.
NTU- Singapore is the fastest-rising university in the world’s Top 15 and is ranked 13th as per QS World University Rankings 2015.

The Thomas Cook Centre of Learning 7 day Global Immersion Program at NTU offers students a valuable theory cum application
model: academics coupled with corporate visits and sightseeing. The curriculum is focused on key Global Tourism Management
topics. The first batch of students travelled to Singapore 11th – 17th January for the Global Immersion Program. The program of
study included sessions for the students with the Singapore Tourism Board, and lectures on Digital Marketing were conducted by
Professor Vijay Sethi. The latter was voted the World’s Best Professor -2013 by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Corporate visits to
Marina Bay Sands and Garden by the Bay provided a valuable experience. The students had a ship inspection on the Star Gemini,
where they had the opportunity to see the various sections of the ship, including the cabins, galleys, kitchens etc.

Thanks to the arrangements by the MICE team, the students had a great time.

Studying at the world ranked Nanyang Technological University gave the young participants vital global exposure. On completion,
the students received a Certificate of Participation in The Global Immersion Program signed by the Dean of Nanyang Business School.

Tidings Issue 3, 2015 China Town At the Singapore Tourism Board
The cruise kitchen tour
36

With the chef on the cruise ship

WITH COL

Inter-Collegiate Quiz Competition

An Inter Collegiate Quiz Competition –
“Explore with Thomas Cook” was conducted
in association with the Ness Wadia College

of Commerce at Pune. Ashish Gupta, Senior

Manager Leisure Travel, was the Chief Guest.

It was a unique initiative from the Centre of

Learning with the aim of increasing awareness

of the travel, tourism, service industry among

students. Questions are based on destinations, Participants
including Incredible India, multi choice options,

audio visuals, dumb charades etc. About 100 students from approximately 35 colleges, participated in the quiz. The quiz was

conducted by the students of COL, Pune, under the guidance of the COL team.

Winners with the COL team

COL affiliated to THSC 37

The Centre of Learning is affiliated to THSC as the Vocational Training Provider. Tourism Tidings Issue 3, 2015
and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) is promoted by the Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) with inclusive representation of the Government, Industry Associations and
Training Institutes across India, with financial support by the National Skill Development
Corporation. It aims to develop skilled manpower to fulfill the industry requirement,
and plays a crucial role in bridging this ever-growing gap. THSC caters to all the sub
sectors of the Industry, such as Hotels, Tour Operators, Food Service, Restaurants, Facilities
Management and Cruise Liners.

(Contd. on next page)

Tidings Issue 3, 2015 CATCHING UP WITH COL (contd.)

CSR Pink Day

COL is Involved in CSR

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. strongly believes that Corporate Social Responsible (CSR) is an effective and progressive way of giving
back to society. We at TCIL consider CSR as not sheer legislative compliance, but a great opportunity to bring in sustainable and
viable improvements to socially and financially fragmented individuals and groups. Through a series of CSR activities we look forward
to working on thematic areas of education, capacity building, livelihood and sanitation.  As part of the CSR initiative, Thomas Cook
sponsors free education to 30 under privileged deserving students of the society. The students undergo the 1-year Travel Professional
Program-A Post Graduate Diploma in Travel & Tourism Management at the Centre of Learning without paying any fees. The selection
criterion is through a stringent entrance test, and a panel interview. The sponsorship program of TCIL emphasizes education and
capacity building at both professional and individual levels.

38

CSR Secret Santa

THE MARRIOTT HAS A ‘CHIT-CHAT OVER
CHAAT’ WITH THOMAS COOK!

In the third week of December, the staff of D.N. Road converged on the 2nd floor terrace, and happily tucked
into a feast of chaat, pani-puri and bhel.
The occasion? Every year Marriott International plans a Global Appreciation Week to celebrate their relationship
with their partners and customers. Many fun activities are organized world-wide to show it’s appreciation to
its partners. Considering the business we provide to them every year, Thomas Cook was again selected as
a preferred partner!
Wanting to express it in a novel way, a professional ‘chaat-walla’ was called to serve delicious snacks,
which our staff enjoyed with full gusto. Staff and representatives from the Marriott were there to laud the efforts
of our own staff. There was a felicitation for MICE too.
We thank the Marriott for the recognition and look forward to continued success together.

39

Tidings Issue 3, 2015

Tidings Issue 3, 2015R AND R SQ CHAMPIONS WITH

At our last eBiz and SQ-ORM
review, Abraham, Suzanne and
the team had merely mentioned
to Neeraj that an R&R (reward &
recognition) felicitation for our Call Centre
reps with certificates for those who have
truly helped us close complaints/
concerns with speed and achieve
a 100% closure rate, would be of value.
He immediately agreed, and with Shilpa-
Nirmala-Srinidhi’s (team Service Quality
& ORM) neat coordination, we did a small
session at Serco (Serco is one of our
call centres).

The beaming smiles and excitement of the
Serco Team was a reward in itself.

The fact that Abraham, TCIL’s Senior
Management rep, and his team, had come
to appreciate them in person meant a lot
to our Serco Call Centre Team!

The special touches created a buzz: the
enticingly colourful (and tasty) cupcakes
for each member courtesy Shilpa-Nirmala;
our MC (Supriya D’Silva from Service
Quality); along with a quiz to guess the
40 winner. Of course, the highlight was a
certificate from Abraham to honour each
Service Quality Champion. Neeraj indicated

TEAM EBIZ AT SERCO MUMBAI

that this was a first for them, so even more
special for Team Serco.
The intro session gave each key Serco rep
a special spot in the lime light and also
allowed them to open up.
More valuable though was the
candid feedback with concerns and
recommendations brought up- both at the
open session and our eBiz Review
that followed.
Many thanks to Neeraj, Tauquir and
Jaydeep for making this happen. Special
thanks to Supreet from Serco too.
We place on record the sterling efforts
and delivery by Jaydeep Higne, ably
backed up by Shabnam Mirza & Anita
Shete, in reducing our complaint TAT, more
significantly- in our RCA and preventive.

41

Tidings Issue 3, 2015

THE ADVENTURES OF AMOD!

“Focus on the journey, not the destination.
Joy is found not in finishing an activity
but in doing it.” – Greg Anderson

Tidings Issue 3, 2015Amod Thatte, Head - Product and my parents had finished their 11th Jyotirlinga darshan, while
Innovation, Tour Operating, discovered I had completed my 9th one. It was a landmark for us, and
the truth of this when he went on a one of the most satisfying moments of the trip. Our next stop
vacation with his family during Christmas. was Pandharpur - the holy town of Vithal and Rukhmini! This
He shares with us a first person account of shrine is unique in that there are 2 temples within the complex
his experiences. – one housing Lord Vithal and the other Devi Rukhmini. It is
said that she was cross with Lord Vithal and hence didn’t stand
“It was time to plan our annual family next to him – resulting in the 2 temples – one of its kind! The
vacation. Mulling over which destinations to Lord’s darshan was exquisite. We could actually touch his feet
cover this time around, I hit upon this idea of and seek blessings
doing a road trip. My mother always wanted
to visit our Kuladevi at Ambejogai. The plan Our journey continued to Sangli famous for its Ganapati
that started out as just a visit to this deity Mandir, and as luck would have it we were there on Sankashti
turned out to be a long road journey – the Chaturthi – an auspicious day for Ganapati. The deity was very
best in my entire life. beautifully decorated with flowers and garlands. Nest was a
visit to the Panhala Fort near Kolhapur. Around 4000 people
As I started chalking out the route for the
9 days we had, I started discovering newer
destinations. The planning itself was a very
interesting experience as we would cross
places one had only heard about so far. The
itinerary was fixed and we were off!

Our first destination was Ambejogai. It’s a
quaint town approximately 470 km. East
of Mumbai. The day we reached was the
culmination of a big festival that is held every
year at the temple site. Thousands of people
had gathered to seek the Devi’s blessings.
As we entered the temple, a procession
carrying the Devi made its way in front of us
accompanied by chanting and dancing. We
were fortunate to be present to see this sight.
The darshan itself was memorable. I don’t
remember many occasions in the past where
we have been allowed into the innermost
sanctum of a temple. To offer our prayers
from such close quarters was a chastening experience..

The next 2 temples we visited are a part of the 12 Jyotirlingas
of India. The Nagnath at Aundha is a spectacular sight. As we
stepped inside the inner sanctum of the Mandir we realised
that the deity was actually underground! I hadn’t ever seen
such a temple. A very small entrance about 3 feet X 3 feet was
the way in and out. The temple volunteers were standing to
guide the devotees inside and pull them out. As I entered the
Shiva linga stood right in front of me. It was an awesome
sight. There were priests surrounding the linga in an area
42 that couldn’t have been more than about 30 sq.ft. We had
to either crouch or sit for the darshan. The entire experience
lasted about 15 seconds after which you were ejected back, as
there was a long line of devotees waiting to come in. Another
darshan was of Vaidyanath at Parli. With these 2 darshans

live there. A local guide showed us various important sights of As I reflect upon this special trip, I feel it is important for me 43
this 11th Century fort culminating at the magnificent statue to mention my most satisfying moments and feelings. I had
of Baji Prabhu Deshpande. This Maratha warrior has a special fulfilled my parents dream to visit our Kula Devi and cover the Tidings Issue 3, 2015
place in history as he stalled a 3000 strong Mughal army with 2 Jyotirlingas which accomplished visiting all 12 of them. The
only a handful of soldiers and saved the life of Chatrapati weather was perfect for this long and arduous journey – we
Shivaji. On our way back we took darshan of Devi Ambabai at rarely felt the heat during the day.
the Mahalaxmi Temple in Kolhapur.
Barring maybe 5%, the roads were top class. I single handedly
We now made our way from the great Maharashtra plateau drove 2020 km. in the 9 days on this trip. My kids held on to
to Konkan crossing the Sahyadri range, towards Bharade. This their patience and never once complained about the long
route was scenic as we were skirting the Arabian Sea. There distances! My parents were always there to guide and help
were some magnificent spots overlooking the sea as we drove, us decide on where to stop and what to do – which is so
but due to time constraints we couldn’t stop. We did a quick important on such long journeys.
darshan of Lord Laxmi Narayan and at Adivare of Maha Kali,
Maha Saraswati and Maha laxmi. Many of these temples have Google maps played a most vital role especially in the first
now been restored, yet the peace and sanctity have half of the trip as I was driving through completely unknown
been maintained. territory. I can now vouch for the accuracy of their maps as
well as the time estimate. One can blindly follow them.
Our next stop was a visit to the only Sun temple in India, the
Kanakaditya temple at Kasheli, which was truly spectacular. Lastly, my wife who was sitting next to me throughout this
Its restoration work is also currently underway and the trip guided me with her trusty ipad in hand, and was a great
best quality wood is being used for this purpose. Once the navigator! She ensured that I didn’t miss any roads and
restoration work is complete, I am certain this temple will consequently saving a lot of time throughout the trip.
stand out as a true icon of Hindu culture.
As I end my travelogue, it gives me peace to think God
The resort of Karmayog near Guhagar was the last destination was with me throughout the journey. Without His Will
on this trip. Karmayog is a true home away from home. this trip wouldn’t have been possible! It was a dream
It’s a 12-room resort that only permits those patrons who come true.
are strict vegetarians, don’t smoke or drink as it’s not
permitted on the campus. My wife’s uncle and aunt manage
it so we were made really welcome!. My kids let themselves
loose here as it’s a gated property without any fear of
trespassers. Lots of games and activities kept them occupied.
The huge garden at the back had a fruit and vegetable
plantation. We ushered in the New Year with a camp fire which
was very welcome as the weather was quite cool. On the New
Year’s day we began with the darshan at Bivali of our family
lord – Laxmi Keshav. After seeking his blessings we headed
back home.

AWARDS AND

A TRIPLE WHAMMY!

“Honeymoon Packages”, etc. We were also bestowed
the award for ‘Marketing on a Small Budget’ at the
IMA Awards 2016.

We managed to promote the website really well with small
scale budgets and still made a huge impact on travellers all
over India, allowing them to make their dream vacation a
reality.

We hope this year continues to win us more such accolades
such as these, and more importantly endeavour to make
www.thomascook.in the preferred website when any
customer across India thinks about “Travelling Smooth “.

E-Business had a great start to the year 2016, The team proudly holding all three Awards!
winning 3 DIGITAL awards back-to-back. First there
was the Gold for the ‘Best Travel Website Award’
at the IAMAI’s India Digital Awards 2016. We also
picked up an award for ‘Search Engine Optimization’
at the DMAi Marketing Innovation Awards 2016. This
is for the Search Engine Optimization done on our
website which enables us to gain and/or maintain
our google search rankings on lots of keywords like

BEST TOUR OPERATOR TWICE OVER!

Happily holding up yet

another Best Tour Operator

Award he received on our

behalf is Muzzafar Ali.

This time it was from Air

China and presented by

the General Manager –Air

China Limited, Xia Baohui

Best Tour Operator Award from Qantas & Chairman STIC Travel Best Tour Operator
Muzzafar Ali, GM Air Contracting & Operation Leisure & Subhash Goyal on Award from
MICE All India and Khurshid Jussawalla, Associate Vice 26th October 2015 at the China Airlines
President-Supplier Relations & Analysis, accepting the Leela Palace.

44 award for Best Tour Operator Award from Rohan Garnett It is, indeed, heartening to see our services being

Tidings Issue 3, 2015 the Regional Manager –Middle East, Africa, South Africa, appreciated and applauded by our colleagues in

South Asia & India for Qantas on 20th November 2015 at the industry.

the Sofitel.

ACCOLADES!

THOMAS COOK TOPS THE LIST OF HKTB TAAP AWARDS 2016

The MICE division of Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) recognised the top 10 MICE agents in India, who contributed to
meetings and incentives to the autonomous region of China last year. While Thomas Cook India topped the list, Akbar
Travels and Kesari MICE shared second and third positions. The awards were
given away at a function hosted by HKTB in Delhi by Peter Hoslin, Regional
Director – Europe and New Markets, HKTB.

Other agencies which were recognised at the second Top Agents’ Awards
Programme (TAAP) included Cox & Kings, De Tours, Guideline Travels; Kuoni SOTC;
Shah International; Universal Journeys; and VDOIT4U Event Management.

Speaking on the occasion, Hoslin said that it has been a record year for HKTB in
India with more than 5.30 lakh visitations in 2015. The Indian visitor numbers
has exceeded the visitations from key markets like the UK last year, thus getting
into the top 10 source market list of HKTB, he said. The growth, he said, shows the high exposure the Hong Kong attractions
and meeting facilities has been able to gain in the market. While appreciating the efforts of the Indian travel trade in this
connection, Hoslin said that the number of participating agencies taking advantage of the awards programme has also
doubled this year.

Hoslin said that Hong Kong has high capacity meeting and incentive infrastructure, world-class attractions, and fantastic
transportation that make it easy and cost effective for trade partners to sell the destination for MICE groups.“Hong Kong is one
of the leading MICE destinations connected to 6 Indian cities with non-stop flights, and offers visa free travel to Indian passport
holders for visit up to 14 days. We are sure that India will be one of the growth engines for MICE tourism in Hong Kong,” he said.

Thomas Cook India voted “Favourite Tour Operator” for the
fifth time in succession at the Condé Nast Traveller India

Readers’ Travel Awards 2015

Yes, we have done it again! Thomas Cook was honored as as number one for the fifth time in a row and by Condé Nast’s
the “Favorite Tour Operator” at the 5th Annual Condé Nast highly discerning travellers is a special honour indeed.”
Traveller India Readers’ Travel Awards 2015 for the fifth time in
a row. The event was graced by luminaries from the tourism Madhavan congratulated all the members of the LTOB, MICE,
and hospitality industry, including Chief Guest, Shri Vinod Domestic and E-Biz Teams for their contribution in retaining
Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. this position. There was a special mention of Rajeev Kale,
Meera Charnelia , Shibani Phadkar, Jatinder Paul Singh, Amit
The Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards are globally Madhan, Neeraj Dev Singh and Krishan Singh. He also thanked
recognized as a benchmark for excellence and acknowledged Abraham Alapatt and Suzanne Pereira in their capacity as
as one of the most prestigious in the industry. The awards owners of the the Conde Naste India relationship.
honoring the best in travel, tourism and hospitality, are
rendered even more meaningful as the selection is by the “Now let’s go for year 6!” Madahvan said.
discerning and influential readers of Condé Nast Traveller.

The “Favourite Tour Operator” award reaffirms Thomas Cook 45
India’s outstanding customer-driven product advancement
and service excellence, deeply ingrained in the ethos of Tidings Issue 3, 2015
the organization.

Commenting on the occasion our Chairman & MD Madhavan
Menon, said “We are delighted to be honoured with the award
of ‘Favourite Tour Operator’ at the highly acclaimed Condé
Nast Traveller India’s Readers’ Travel Awards 2015. To be voted

RUNNING THAT EXTRA MILE!

Seventeen enthusiastic sprinters, after months of
training and discipline were all geared up to participate
in the largest and most anticipated road running race in
the country, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2016.

Team Thomas Cook was taking part for the 3rd consecutive Sidhharth - Photo-Courtesy ‘Funsters’
year, and our contingent did very well.. The team comprised of
Siddharth Nambiar, Avinash Janjire, Jayesh Shetty, Neeraj Dev We are happy and proud to report that all our participants
Singh, Gagan Singhal, Joshua D’Souza, Condran Fernandes, finished strong and with flying colours. The hard work had
Kunal Ujawane, Manish Patel, Nilam Phadtare, Dinesh Ahuja, paid off, and all felt a sense of achievement and exhilaration. .
Arshad Budhwani, Avinash Kokate, Shishir Khambete, Aashish
Saxena, Rahul Trivedi and Puneet Mathur.

Siddharth Nambiar from the Marketing Team broke the
coveted 1:45 hour barrier for the Half Marathon (21.1 kms) with
a timing of 1:43:24. He was also the motivating factor behind
all the sprinters! The organising was led by Siddharth and
Maharukh Dosabhai.

Way to go guys!

vvv

‘PAT’ SOMEONE ELSE ON THE BACK?

We had organised a PAT (Praise, Appreciate and Thank) weekTidings Issue 3, 2015
across all branches (Pan India). Employees were given cards,
46 which they could fill in, and give to someone whom they wanted to
praise, appreciate or thank in their workplace. It gave everyone a good
feeling to share these cards with others and were delighted to receive
several themselves.

SITEL AND SERCO TRAINING
BY TOURISM BOARDS

Mauritius

Thomas Cook’s call centres with its outsourced partners
have been operational for 2 years now.  Over this time, we
have had business leaders from Thomas Cook visit the call
centre and interact with the teams. But for the first time, we
had the Tourism Boards visiting the centres to interact with the
teams.  The first to visit was Mauritius Tourism coming down
all the way from Delhi to meet our team and share destination
insights with the sellers.  It was a very interactive session full
of audio visuals followed by a Q&A session in which the sellers
won t-shirts for the correct answers.  Thailand Tourism Board
was the next to visit and gave a completely new perspective of
Thailand to the sellers.  Again, it was another very informative
session with prizes given out to the team.

Malaysia The intent of the training was to integrate destinations closer
Thailand to the front line call centre employees to motivate and drive
higher sales conversions. The entire week was celebrated as
the respective destination week (e.g Thailand Week) in both
the call centres. During this week, Special Offers on respective
destination-Thomas Cook packages were introduced and
floated out to increase conversions.

To make it more interesting for the staff there were spot
quizzes, lively presentations and goodies for everyone.

Although Dubai was unfortunately unable to participate due
to schedule conflicts, they were kind enough to send across
goodies, brochures and flyers for our call centre staff.

The feedback from the sellers and the outsourced partners

(Sitel and Serco) was very positive. They felt a sense of

belonging to the Thomas Cook brand and appreciated our 47

efforts to motivate the sellers and make them feel a part of the Tidings Issue 3, 2015

Thomas Cook family through such interactions.    

We look forward to more such visits from other Tourism Boards
as well.

SAHAYOG- THE CHENNAI FLOOD RELIEF PROGRAM

When we received the news of the devastating effects The staff rallied around remarkably. 50 large cartons,
of the floods in Chennai, Thomas Cook India sprang weighing 60 kgs. each, containing clothes, blankets, bed
into action and launched the “Sahayog” (“Co operation”) sheets, mosquito nets, tarpaulins, non-perishable dry food
campaign to encourage our staff to contribute towards items, etc. were collected at the Head Office, and across the
the flood relief program. For a whole week, employees zonal offices. These were dispatched to the flood affected
were asked to contribute in two ways. ... either in kind with regions in Chennai with the help of an NGO partner
stipulated relief items or through a voluntary
payroll donation. The employees also voluntarily contributed an amount
of their choice, from their salary in multiples of Rs. 100/-,
up to a maximum of one day’s gross salary towards the
‘Chennai Flood Relief Fund’. Through the payroll donation
program, we raised Rs.1,61,426/- from Thomas Cook (I)
Ltd., the Travel Corporation of India, Thomas Cook Visa
Services and Thomas Cook Tours Ltd. The collected funds
were utilized for providing water purifiers and developing
sanitation facilities at the schools in the flood affected
region. Thomas Cook collaborated with the Careworks
Foundation for carrying out relief programs in Chennai.

This proved without doubt that Thomas Cook India has a
big heart, indeed!

HR MUMBAI INVITES ‘SECRET SANTAS’!

Tidings Issue 3, 2015Christmas is the time for celebrations and sharing.

The HR team at the Head office awaited the arrival of
Santa Claus with anticipation. But this time there was
a novel twist. Everyone was asked to pull out a chit and
whoever’s name it read, would be that person’s Secret
Santa. An anonymous gift was beautifully wrapped for

48

each one, and arranged around our little Christmas tree. It
was exciting to share the presents.... and this was the start
of a lovely new tradition which we hope to continue, as it
generates joy and togetherness.

DIWALI DHAMAKA ON D.N. ROAD

There is always an air of excitement whenever a festival
is around the corner... as the HR department sends
intriguing flyers announcing various activities which has
the staff guessing!

This Diwali, the staff on D.N. Road looked forward to the
festive celebration with great excitement.

Colourful rangolis on different themes adorned the
premises. There was a Bay Decoration Competition, where
the creative juices flowed. The winning team-Ebiz had
decorated the entire department using waste material
to spread the message of ‘Go Green’. The Judges - Suhas
Shetty, Deepti Sheth and Rosanna Jacob – did a good job
though they had a hard time deciding the winners!

OUR FOREX APP NOW AVAILABLE 49
ON APPLE APP STORE TOO
Tidings Issue 3, 2015
After the successful launch of the Thomas Cook Forex App on the
Google Play store (Currently rated 4.6 stars), iPhone users can
now download the same from the Apple App store.
Simply click on the image shown and Download the application from
the “App Store”.
Don’t forget to write a review (a positive one!) and rate it. This will help
the app in ranking.

NARIMAN POINT BRINGS IN THE NEW YEAR

The Nariman Point office celebrated New Year’s Eve with
birthday celebrations and games.
A ‘marble’ game involving all the staff at Nariman point was
held on 30th December 2015. The spectators were essentially
staff members from various teams of CT, VISA and Finance
& Accounts. The participating employees in the game were
cheered by the other teams present on the floor.

The props used were simple--- a bowl, some colourful
marbles and 2 buckets

How was it played?

A bowl filled with coloured marbles was placed on the The Final game was played between Himanshu Khanvanshi
floor at one point with a bucket at the other point. The from the CT team and Sandeep Mithbhavkar from the
participants had to take one marble at a time from the bowl Finance & Accounts team.
using his/her toes and drop it into the bucket. During the
whole game, the participants were not allowed to put their
foot down.

The winner was Sandeep from Finance & Accounts who was
applauded for his efforts and presented with a gift by Suraj
G S leading the CT – RIL team.

It was a hilarious sight watching the event with enthusiastic
employees participating wholeheartedly.... and having so
much fun!

Although the games came to an end, it was a good
beginning to another year in the office where the staff
bonded and connected, employee relations were at their
best, and we could look ahead to a happy, productive and
successful year in the office.

50

Tidings Issue 3, 2015