Mumbai, Sep 1, 2016:Thomas Cook India Limited’s education and training vertical, Centre of Learning, felicitated 270 students of the 2015-2016 batch at its fifth Convocation Ceremony held at the Indian Merchants Chamber, Mumbai, today. The ceremony was graced by the Chief Guest Mr.Craig Astridge,Regional Head, Marketing and Commercial Services, Asia-Pacific International Air Transport Association who delivered the keynote address. Guest of Honour at the event were Mr.Lokesh Matta – Regional Training Business Development Manager, South Asia at International Air Transport Association (IATA) along with Ms. Soraya Homchuen – Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Mr.Abraham Alapatt, President & Group Head – Marketing, Service Quality, Financial Services & Innovation,Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. Gracing the occasion were Ms.Smeeta Gulvady,Vice President & Head- Centre of Learning at Thomas Cook (India) Ltd and other dignitaries from the travel and tourism fraternity.
The Centre of Learning Convocation Ceremony honoured its students who had successfully completed the Travel Professional Program, a Post Graduate Course in Travel & Tourism Management, Certificate Course in World Tour Management, IATA. Scholarship certificates and special prizes were awarded to top performers of Centre of Learning’s Travel Professional Program – a Post Graduate course in Travel & Tourism Management.
Thomas Cook India’s Centre of Learning has played a pioneering role in the education and training field with a focus on building a highly skilled resource human resource pool for the Travel & Tourism Industry. Centre of Learning was honoured with the prestigious “South Asia Top Performing Authorized training Centre 2016” for the fourthtime for outstanding contribution towards helping human capital by reaching out to the next generation, by the internationally renowned IATA accreditation.
Centre of Learning’s vision sees strong synergy with The Skill India Mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which in turn seeks to impart vocational skills to 24 lakh workers this year and to 40.2crore people by 2022; an initiative that is expected to see profound changes in the education and training field in India.
Commenting on Ms. Mona Cheriyan – President & Group Head – Human Resources, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd said, “It is indeed a proud moment for Thomas Cook India’s Centre of Learning, as we felicitate 270 students graduating today. Travel and tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in India. This service intensive industry relies heavily on human capital and we are delighted to see delivery of our strategic intent of education and training in the tourism domain. At Thomas Cook’s Centre of Learning, our mission is to arm travel professionals with world class skills and training – not just for potential careers at Thomas Cook India, but for the entire Indian travel and tourism industry in line with its rapidly evolving needs. Our training programs offer a unique combination of travel academics and managerial courses, coupled with industry skills and hands on work experience to equip our students with a diverse portfolio of skill sets as future torch bearers of the Tourism Industry.”
Mr. Craig AstridgeRegional Head, Marketing and Commercial Services, Asia-Pacificadded,“The potential of India’s aviation market is huge. By 2026, we expect India to become the third largest passenger market in the world.The anticipated growth in travel demand will need to be supported by travel & tourism professionals. Thomas Cook India’s Centre of Learning whichhas played a pioneering role in the education and training field with a focus on building a highly skilled resource human resource pool for the Travel & Tourism Industry will be an important partner in building the required leadership and competencies that are essential forIndia.”
About Thomas Cook (India) Limited:Thomas Cook (India) Ltd (TCIL) is the leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company in the country offering a broad spectrum of services that include Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel, Insurance, Visa & Passport services and E-Business. The company set up its first office in India in 1881.
TCIL’s footprint (exclusive of its subsidiaries) currently extends to over 229 locations (including 16 airport counters) in 91 cities across India, Mauritius & Sri Lanka and is supported by a strong partner network of 111 Gold Circle Partners and 112 Preferred Sales Agents in over 130 cities across India.
ICRA upgraded the long term rating of Thomas Cook (India) Limited’s non-convertible debenture programme to ‘ICRA AA/Stable’. CRISIL has assigned a long term rating of ‘CRISIL AA-/ stable‘ to the non-convertible debenture programme and long term banking facilities, and a short term rating of CRISIL A1+ to TCIL’s banking facilities. Further, ICRA has assigned a rating of ‘ICRA AA-/Stable’ to the company’s preference share programme.
Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has been voted as Favourite Outbound Tour Operator at the Outlook Traveller Awards 2015, Best Tour Operator – Outbound at the CNBC AWAAZ Travel Awards 2015, 2014 & 2013 and Best Company providing Foreign Exchange at the CNBC AWAAZ Travel Awards 2015 & 2014; felicitated with Diamond Award for Exemplary Achievements in Visa Issuance at the French Ambassador’s Travel Awards Ceremony 2015; Thomas Cook India’s Travel Quest was honoured with a Gold Award at PATA Gold Awards 2015; honored as India’s Leading Tour Operator 2014, World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia 2014, Favourite Tour Operator at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards 2015 – 2011 ,recognized as a Consumer Superbrand 2013-14 & 2012-2013 and National Tourism Awards 2013-2014. Thomas Cook India’s Centre of Learning has received IATA accreditation as “Top 10 South Asia IATA Authorized Training Centers” 2016, 2015, 2013 & 2012. For more information, please visit www.thomascook.in
Thomas Cook (India) Limited is promoted by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fairbridge Capital (Mauritius) Limited and its controlled affiliates. Fairbridge is responsible for the execution of acquisition and investment opportunities in the Indian subcontinent on behalf of the Fairfax family of companies.
About Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited:Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investment management. The Company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has a global presence in insurance and reinsurance, including ICICI Lombard (India). The Company, founded in 1985 by the present Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PremWatsa, has, over the past 30 years, demonstrated a strong and consistent financial track record. For the year ended December 31, 2015, Fairfax increased book value per share at a compounded annual growth rate of 20.4% since its inception with a corresponding compounded annual increase in share price of 19.4% and had over US $41 billion of assets.
Fairfax is engaged in long term investments from its own resources, with a focus to delivering long term capital appreciation through a flexible and value oriented approach. Fairfax Financial Holdings through Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. owns 62.6% of the Quess Corp Limited (formerly IKYA Human Capital Solutions Limited), a provider of integrated business services and 100% of Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (formerly Thomas Cook Insurance Services (India) Limited) engaged in time share and resort business.
About Quess Corp Limited (formerly IKYA Human Capital Solutions Limited)
Quess Corp Limited is one of India’s leading integrated business services providers operating in four broad segments: Global Technology Solutions, People and Services, Integrated Facility Management and Industrial Asset Management. Headquartered in Bengaluru, it has a pan-India presence with 52 offices across 27 cities, as well as operations in North America, the Middle East and South East Asia. As of June 30, 2016, it employed over 127,000 employees.For further details on Quess Corp Ltd. please visit: http://www.quesscorp.com
About Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited: Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, a pioneer in vacation ownership and a leading leisure hospitality company in India, was incorporated in 1986 with the vision of delivering great holiday experiences to Indian families. To achieve this vision, the company pioneered Vacation Ownership in India and set about building a network of leisure resorts at some of the best holiday destinations in India. Currently, Sterling Holidays has a total inventory of 1930 rooms spread across a network of 26 resorts in 23 scenic holiday destinations in India.
In pursuance of the Order of Hon’ble High Court, Bombay, dated 2nd July, 2015 sanctioning the Composite Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation between Sterling Holiday Resorts (India) Limited (SHRIL) and Thomas Cook Insurance Services (India) Limited (TCISIL) and Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL) and their respective shareholders and creditors (Scheme), the time share and resort business division and undertaking of SHRIL was Demerged into TCISIL and the residual business of SHRIL was Amalgamated with TCIL.
Post implementation of composite scheme, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (formerly Thomas Cook Insurance Services (India) Limited) continued the vacation ownership and resort business.In March 2016, Sterling acquired 100% stake in Nature Trails (an adventure holiday company) and this will add 93 rooms + Tents and Dorms [400 beds] to the total room inventory of Sterling. The company also has 16 additional sites where it plans to add new resorts in the coming years. For more information visit:www.sterlingholidays.com
About SOTC Travel Services Pvt Ltd (formerly known asKuoni Travel (India) Pvt. Ltd)&Kuoni Hong Kong: SOTC Travel Services Pvt Ltd (Formerly known as “Kuoni Travel (India) Pvt. Ltd.”) is a step-down subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Group; held through two companies, its Indian listed subsidiary, Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL) and TCIL’s subsidiary Travel Corporation (India) Ltd.
SOTC is a leading travel and tourism company active across various travel segments including Leisure Travel, Business Travel, Destination Management Services and Distribution Visa Marketing Services.
TCIL through its step down Subsidiary Horizon Travel Holdings (Hong Kong) Private Limited holds 100% stake in Kuoni Travel (China) Limited (Kuoni Hong Kong), which has an attractive business in the travel sector backed by a trusted brand name, and a stable and motivated professional management team. Kuoni Hong Kong is a premium outbound travel operator in Hong Kong.