Sterling Holiday Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India) Limited , has secured 28 Travellers' Choice Awards at the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards 2026. Sterling Kanha received the prestigious Travellers' Choice Best of the Best Award for the fourth consecutive year. The awards recognize approximately 49% of Sterling's eligible resort portfolio, defined as properties that have completed at least one full year of operations.

The recognition spans leisure, wildlife, wellness, pilgrimage, hill, and emerging destinations. Of the 28 winning resorts, 21 have been recognized for two consecutive years, and 12 have achieved a three-year winning streak. Seven resorts joined the winners' list this year, including five recognized for the first time: Sterling Athirappilly, Sterling Brookstone Coorg, Sterling Manali, Sterling Mount Abu, and Sterling Bagh Ranthambore. Sterling Rewild Sariska and Sterling Aravalli Udaipur were also among the new additions.

Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & CEO of Sterling Holiday Resorts, stated that the awards reflect consistency and dependability across the company's portfolio. He emphasized that the recognition reinforces the company's strategy of combining service standards with locally rooted experiences as it expands across India.

Award Breakdown

Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited operates over 3,800 keys across 65 destinations in India. The company is a 100% independently managed subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India) Limited and part of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited has introduced an industry-first cross-border rewards programme for its forex card customers, offering 10% rewards-back on international spends at select global retail brands. Announced on June 18, 2026, the initiative targets the growing preference for digital-first payment methods among Indian travellers overseas. The programme is designed to enhance the value proposition of prepaid forex cards by incentivising everyday purchases abroad and encouraging a shift from cash withdrawals to retail spends.

Programme Structure and Participating Brands

Customers using Thomas Cook's Visa and Mastercard Forex Cards will receive rewards on point-of-sale (POS), contactless, and e-commerce transactions. Participating brands include Grab, 7-Eleven, Starbucks, McDonald's, KFC, Careem, and Burger King. The rewards structure requires a minimum spend of USD 25 per merchant, allowing customers to earn cashback of up to USD 10 per day across participating outlets. These rewards are issued as Amazon vouchers, subject to specific terms and qualifying spend thresholds.

The key features of the rewards programme are outlined below:

Card Compatibility and Digital Integration

The rewards programme is applicable across all Thomas Cook India's Visa and Mastercard Forex Cards. It complements existing card features such as multi-currency capabilities, global acceptance, and integration with digital payment platforms like Google Pay. The company aims to drive greater usage of prepaid forex cards for daily overseas purchases and encourage a shift from cash withdrawals to retail spends.

Leadership Commentary

Mr. Deepesh Varma, Chief Business Officer – Foreign Exchange, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, stated that the programme addresses the expectation for seamless and rewarding payment solutions. He noted that while prepaid forex cards are secure and cost-efficient, the initiative aims to drive greater usage for everyday purchases. The move also supports the broader objective of accelerating the shift from cash withdrawals to secure, contactless, and digital-first payment solutions.

Company Overview

Thomas Cook (India) Limited recently expanded its forex card offering to 28 currencies. The company is a leading omnichannel foreign exchange services provider, offering services including Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel, and Value Added Services. The group spans 28 countries across 5 continents.