Thomas Cook (India), one of India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company has delivered on its aggressive expansion strategy 2015, with a strategic clicks and bricks model to penetrate Tier II and III source markets via its hybrid solution of technology assisted outlets. The company has setup 33 new consumer centres across the country, including Amritsar, Ahmednagar, Bareily, Nellore, Ranchi, Palarivattam, Ludhiana, Valachery, augmenting Thomas Cook’s pan-India distribution reach to 233 locations (including 23 airport counters), supported by a strong partner network of 116 franchise outlets (Gold Circle Partners) and 112 Preferred Sales Agents.
Thomas Cook’s internal research has revealed the powerful potential of Middle India; a travel hungry consumer base with a clear need for a trust worthy brand to fulfil their travel aspirations. The Company’s research also reveals that while Indian travellers research online and may buy tickets online, when it comes to complex and expensive transactions like holidays, especially international, they prefer to have a human interface. The McKinsey report reiterates the size and exponential growth of Middle India; currently at 8.8 million households; expected to reach 43.6 million by 2025. Hence, in a strategic move to leverage this untapped market potential, Thomas Cook India’s innovation of leaner, more efficient, technology-assisted outlets was deployed.
Commenting on the strategic expansion, Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) said, “At Thomas Cook India, we foresee significant growth emerging from Middle India and hence were quick to transition to online and online-assisted selling via our focused hybrid omni-channel ‘brick and click’ model. Our technology assisted outlets will operate via tablets and mobile apps that enable transactions across the Thomas Cook range of products and services, including domestic and international holidays, flights, hotels, insurance and foreign exchange.”
“Middle India will continue to be a powerhouse in our success story and our extensive network now offering travel hungry customers enhanced access, convenience and the reassurance of human touch via our Thomas Cook experts, is timed perfectly for our Summer 2016 launch,” he added.
