SOTC TRAVEL
Amid Covid & global chaos, Indians’ big fear: Missing that flight
Despite global uncertainties, travel is booming. Summer holiday packages are more expensive this year. Destinations like Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Georgia are popular, but Thailand remains a favorite. Domestic spots like Ladakh and Goa are also in demand. Bookings have recovered after a brief lull. Southern India, Uttarakhand and Goa are seeing increased interest.
Business + leisure = Booming business for travel, hotel companies
Bleisure is gaining popularity in India. Professionals are combining work trips with leisure activities. Travel companies and hotels are seeing a rise in bleisure bookings. Many companies are encouraging this trend. Stays are getting longer. Destinations like Dehradun and Goa are becoming popular. Hotels are offering attractive weekend rates. This trend is improving weekend occupancies for hotels.
Event-led, experiential travel leads Indians' holiday preferences: Thomas Cook-SOTC report
The India Holiday Report 2025 reveals a surge in experiential travel among Indian tourists, fueled by increased disposable incomes and aspirational values. Travellers are prioritizing unique experiences like polar cruises and gastronomy tours, with a willingness to spend more and take longer holidays.
What we watch shapes how and where we travel: How set-jetting turns watchlists into bucket lists
Bollywood's influence on Indian travel is evolving, with 'set-jetting' now a major trend, especially among younger generations. Fueled by streaming platforms, destinations featured in shows like 'The White Lotus' and 'Emily in Paris' are seeing a surge in bookings.
So long, vacation! Time for summer of staycations: Indians dive into shorter, curated experiences closer to home
Amidst geopolitical uncertainties and rising temperatures, Indian travelers are increasingly favoring staycations. Families are opting for short, local, and experiential getaways, driven by convenience, disposable incomes, and a desire for instant gratification. This summer, curated experiences like heritage walks and culinary retreats are defining the trend, blending leisure and productivity for a seamless escape.
Yen for Japan: How Japanese culture is finding a new home in India
Driven by anime and cultural exchange, India's fascination with Japan is surging. From anime film festivals and Japanese cuisine to educational pursuits and tourism, the connection deepens. A growing community of Indian fans, like Divishth Pancholi, are transforming personal passions into shared cultural experiences, fostering a broader appreciation for Japanese culture across the nation.
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5 budget foreign trips that offer fun with value for money
More travellers are now taking shorter, more frequent holidays, often with families or friends. Budgets haven’t necessarily increased, but expectations have. People want more from their holidays—more depth, more variety, more flexibility—and they’re making smarter choices to get it.
Travelling abroad for foreign vacation? Here’s how to save money on flights, stay and sightseeing
Credit card or forex card, DIY or package? Here are some ways in which you can save on flights, stay, commutes and sightseeing while travelling abroad.
From flamenco to igloos: How India Inc is turning work trips into bucket list adventure
Indian companies are increasing employee travel for team building and talent retention. Travel firms like Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel are seeing a rise in corporate travel. Budgets can exceed ₹5 lakh per person. BFSI, auto, pharma, and tech sectors are leading this trend. Companies are planning unique experiences and exploring destinations like Azerbaijan and Australia.
Flying to the US from India becomes cheaper this summer
Good news for Indian travelers! Airfares from Mumbai to the US have significantly dropped, with one-way tickets now starting at ₹37,000 for May 2025 travel. Return fares begin at ₹76,000, a welcome change from previous years. This decline, driven by improved connectivity and shifting airline strategies, offers relief to those visiting family, pursuing education, or traveling for tourism.
Swiss Alps by the day or an evening in Paris? Star execs can work out in style
Companies are increasingly offering extravagant travel-related incentives like luxury cruises, live programme tickets, and business class upgrades to their top performers. This trend, observed across various industries, is aimed at boosting employee motivation, fostering competition, and enhancing team building. Popular travel destinations include Goa, Rajasthan, Thailand, and Dubai.
Zaggle partners with Thomas Cook for unified travel and expense management solutions
Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services Ltd partners with Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel to streamline corporate travel and expense management. Their collaboration integrates AI-powered expense tracking with expert travel services, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and automation for businesses.
Silver, spry & seeking adventure: India's seniors are travelling bolder and farther than ever before
Affluent Indians aged 50 and above are increasingly engaging in adventurous travel experiences, from Antarctic marathons to African wildlife trails. Healthier and wealthier than past generations, they seek immersive trips, spending significantly on exotic destinations and unique activities, facilitated by specialised travel firms.
Indians toast happy hours in Bordeaux, Tuscany
Vineyard tourism and whisky trails are emerging travel trends among India's affluent tourists, with high demand for curated itineraries to famous wine regions and luxury distillery experiences at home. Exclusive wine and spirits experiences range from ₹600-20 lakh per person and include private tours, tastings, and bespoke activities.
On a cultural high: Indian travellers embrace musicals, operas & lit fests
Jayatri Biswas, an ice-cream brand owner, highlights how cultural events are shaping travel preferences in India. With rising demand for trips centered around high cultural experiences like musicals and festivals, even luxury hotels see a surge. Social media plays a key role in spreading awareness.
F1 craze sets off Indians' chase for travel bookings
Indian F1 fans are keen to watch Lewis Hamilton race for Ferrari, leading to a surge in travel inquiries. With upcoming races in Japan and Bahrain, interest is growing. Easier visa rules and better connectivity are helping these travel plans. Young Indian travelers are also combining F1 with vacations, boosting this trend.
February gets a clean sweep as Maha Kumbh drives up travel bookings
February saw an exceptional surge in travel demand due to the Maha Kumbh, a major spiritual event. This resulted in significant increases in bookings for airlines, hotels, and tour packages. The Radisson Hotel Group and travel companies like SOTC Travel and MakeMyTrip noted record growth in February driven primarily by this pilgrimage event.
Latest travel trend: How Instagram influencers are becoming the preferred companions for offline adventures
Social media-driven travel revolution is not limited to Insta influencer-led trips. Platforms like Threads and Facebook are bustling with strangers banding together to create their own adventures, bypassing traditional agencies. “For some, it is about cutting costs. For others, it’s the thrill of trying something new after exhausting traditional travel formats,” says content creator Vanika Sangtani, who has 426,000 followers on Instagram and curates trips through her community page Pink Experiences.
As more women travel solo, the party has begun all over again
Travel companies and hotel chains including Thomas Cook, SOTC and Leisure Hotels Group are increasing focus on women travellers amid a surge in demand for trips abroad as well as within the country.
SOTC Travel aiming for a healthy, double digit growth this year, says MD Vishal Suri
SOTC Travel is aiming for a healthy, double-digit growth in business this year, according to MD Vishal Suri. In an interview with ET, Suri mentioned that their forward bookings for the summer are strong, indicating that well-heeled Indians are traveling more frequently. He also highlighted that industry leaders have observed an increase in travel expenditure and experiences
Braving rising flight fares and visa delays Indians want to travel this summer
While Europe remains on top choice list, a nagging problem with visa delays have also seen the rise of many alternate destinations, especially in Southeast and Central Asia, industry insiders said.
Valentine's Day special: Couples make the most of long weekend, plan getaways to Auli, Ooty & Goa
Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel have seen a 35% surge in demand for travel this weekend.
Cruises riding a resurgent wave as travel picks up
Cruises are “back with a bang” and demand has been picking up from India consistently since border curbs were eased, said Subhash Goyal, chairman of the STIC Travel & Air Charters Group. The STIC Travel Group is the sole agent in India for companies such as Holland America Line and Windstar Cruises.
Thomas Cook India and SOTC ink pact with Air Arabia
"The consumer advantage is significant; an enticing proposition that leverages the strengths of Air Arabia's highly attractive air product-pricing-network with the diverse holidays range and combined buying-power of Thomas Cook India and SOTC - leaders in the holidays domain," Thomas Cook (India) Ltd Executive Director and CEO Mahesh Iyer said.
Thomas Cook India & SOTC partner with Accor to promote safe holidays
The Holiday Safe portfolio in addition to health and safety protocols, offers a range of vacation options such as staycations, workations, drivecations, it added.
SOTC Travel launches homestays in partnership with OYO
Travelers can now book homestays starting at Rs 2,400 across 16 popular cities in India via SOTC Travel.
SOTC introduces new customer app Engage
SOTC said it is the first holiday company to launch a post booking customer app.
Travel Companies, hotels cashing in big time on spiritual tourism
A company survey reveals the latest trend among Indians to be looking for a preplanned, organised and comfortable spiritual travel experience.
Global cruise liners eye strong growth as more Indians set sail
Tirun Travel Marketing, the exclusive India representative of Royal Caribbean Cruises, witnessed a 60% growth in business for the JanuaryApril period from a year earlier.
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