Thomas Cook (India) Limited , a leading omnichannel forex services company, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Mastercard to enable contactless cross-border payments through Google Pay for its entire suite of forex cards. This innovative collaboration aims to transform the landscape of international transactions for Indian travelers.

Seamless Integration for Global Payments

The partnership introduces a pioneering initiative that allows Indian travelers to make secure overseas payments using their mobile devices across various categories, including accommodation, transport, dining, and shopping. This integration eliminates the need to carry physical cards, significantly reducing the stress associated with card loss, theft, replacement hassles, or the need for emergency cash.

Enhanced Security and Widespread Acceptance

The new contactless Tap-and-Pay and online features are available across Thomas Cook's range of prepaid forex cards, including:

• Borderless Travel
• One Currency
• Study Buddy
• EnterpriseFX

This integration offers an additional layer of security through tokenization and provides extensive access to more than 270 million Mastercard merchant locations worldwide. Customers can easily add their Thomas Cook forex cards to Google Pay for a simple, swift, and secure payment experience.

Key Benefits for Travelers

Executive Insights

Mr. Deepesh Varma, Executive Vice President - Foreign Exchange at Thomas Cook (India) Limited, expressed enthusiasm about the new offering: "Today's Indian traveller demands simple, real-time and secure digital solutions for their overseas payments. We are delighted to lead the charge in embracing digital innovation via the launch of our contactless payment solutions in collaboration with Google Pay and Mastercard."

Mr. Ravi Datla, Senior Vice President, Products and Solutions, South Asia at Mastercard, added: "Mastercard is at the forefront of transforming the travel experience for its cardholders through innovative and secure payment solutions. The seamless integration of Thomas Cook's forex prepaid cards with Google Pay underscores our commitment to supporting contactless, tokenized, and globally accessible payment solutions."

A Step Towards Digital Innovation

This collaboration combines Thomas Cook's domain expertise in foreign exchange, Google Pay's technological prowess, and Mastercard's global payment network. It creates a powerful, borderless payment ecosystem that aligns perfectly with the needs of India's new-age travelers seeking frictionless experiences across the world.

The initiative underscores Thomas Cook's commitment to driving digital adoption, strengthening security, and delivering seamless access, further cementing its leadership in India's cross-border payments space. As international travel continues to rebound, this innovative solution is set to provide Indian travelers with greater confidence, convenience, and peace of mind in their global adventures.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited , a leading omnichannel services company, has made a strategic move to strengthen its presence in Karnataka's growing travel market. The company has opened its first outlet in Davangere, expanding its network to 19 locations across the state.

Tapping into Karnataka's Travel Potential

The new franchise outlet is part of Thomas Cook India's strategic intent to capitalize on the strong and growing demand from Karnataka. Davangere, often referred to as the "Manchester of Karnataka," is a key smart city with excellent connectivity via NH-48 and serves as a major commercial hub.

Expanding Consumer Access

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, commented on the expansion: "Karnataka is a key source market for us, and with strong travel demand from the state, we have carefully handpicked Davangere for the launch of our new Gold Circle Partner franchise. This strategic choice marks our expansion beyond metros like Bengaluru, enabling us to better serve customers in high-potential markets such as Davangere."

Comprehensive Travel Services

The new outlet in Davangere will offer a wide range of travel services, including:

• International & Domestic Holidays (Group Tours, Personalized Holidays, Cruises)
• Value-Added Services like Travel Insurance
• Access to Thomas Cook's AI booking platform for real-time vacation planning

Catering to Diverse Traveler Segments

The Davangere outlet aims to serve various traveler segments from the city and neighboring towns like Harihar and Chitradurga, including:

• Business professionals
• Agriculturists
• Multi-generational families
• Millennials and Gen Z
• Senior citizens (GenS)

Travel Trends in Karnataka

Thomas Cook India has identified several key travel trends in Karnataka:

• Increase in annual trips from 2 to 4-5 per year
• Longer stays: 5-8 days for short trips, 10-15 days for longer trips
• Growing interest in experiential holidays, including festivals, Northern Lights, and unique destinations like Iceland and Antarctica
• Strong demand for both domestic and international destinations
• Continued popularity of pilgrimage tourism

Strategic Expansion

This expansion is part of Thomas Cook India's broader strategy to enhance its presence in high-potential markets beyond metropolitan areas. The new outlet is expected to improve accessibility and convenience for customers in Davangere and surrounding regions, offering them seamless travel services right at their doorstep.

As the travel industry continues to evolve, Thomas Cook India's expansion in Karnataka demonstrates its commitment to meeting the diverse and growing needs of travelers across the state.