Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, marking a significant milestone in the company's regional expansion strategy. The partnership was formalized through a strategic MOU aimed at unlocking India's substantial market potential for South Asia's first and largest integrated resort.

Official MOU Signing Details

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by key executives representing both organizations, formalizing the strategic collaboration between the travel service providers and the integrated resort destination.

Strategic Partnership Objectives

The collaboration focuses on a multi-pronged initiative encompassing product development, knowledge and training, integrated marketing communications, and consumer activations. The partnership aims to accelerate visitation from India to Cinnamon Life by jointly developing enriched travel products and creating elevated, seamless experiences for Indian travellers.

Executive Leadership Statements

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa at Thomas Cook India, emphasized the partnership's potential to deliver differentiated offerings across segments through their strategic omnichannel model and deep market expertise. SD Nandakumar, President & Country Head - Holidays & Corporate Tours at SOTC Travel, highlighted the alignment with evolving expectations of Indian travellers seeking luxury stays, curated dining, and premium lifestyle zones.

Integrated Resort Destination

Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka represents South Asia's first and largest integrated resort, offering luxury hospitality, entertainment, gaming, retail, dining, and convention facilities within a single landmark destination. The resort brings together contemporary accommodation, diverse culinary landscape, premium retail, entertainment, event and wellness facilities, providing Indian travellers with a comprehensive proposition for leisure, business and MICE travel requirements.

Thomas Cook 's wholly owned subsidiary Sterling Holiday Resorts has launched Sterling Valley of Pine, Lansdowne, marking a significant expansion in Uttarakhand's hospitality landscape. The boutique mountain retreat, announced on February 4, 2026, represents Sterling's ninth resort in the state and introduces a quieter, forest-driven escape within the company's hill portfolio.

Strategic Location and Accessibility

The resort is strategically positioned near Gumkhal, nestled amid dense pine forests, and designed specifically for drive-to travellers from Delhi NCR and Western UP. The location offers excellent connectivity to major Uttarakhand destinations:

Resort Features and Amenities

Conceived for purposeful mountain travel, Sterling Valley of Pine offers a view-led retreat with warm pinewood interiors and open terraces. All rooms feature private balconies with far-reaching views across the pine valleys, while select accommodations include access to open terraces overlooking the pool and surrounding landscape.

The guest experience centers around three signature venues:

• Lans Café: All-day dining in a warm pinewood setting with panoramic valley and garden views
• Sky Social: An open-to-sky terrace for sunset gatherings, bonfire evenings and small celebrations
• Sky Vista: A glass-walled meeting venue overlooking the valley and forests, designed for leadership offsites and private workshops

Comprehensive Hospitality Offerings

The resort caters to diverse travel needs including leisure stays, intimate celebrations, and leadership offsites. Additional amenities include:

Management Perspective

Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & CEO of Sterling Holiday Resorts, emphasized Uttarakhand's position as one of India's most enduring year-round holiday regions. He noted that Valley of Pine adds a calmer, more design-forward chapter to Sterling's mountain portfolio, created for guests seeking meaningful outdoor time and restorative yet accessible destinations.

Ms. Meghna Bhatnagar from Dev Bhoomi, the development partner, highlighted their vision to create a retreat that attracts diverse guests from across India while offering refined hospitality. She praised Sterling's deep understanding of India's leisure segment and ability to blend local character with national scale.

Sterling's Expanded Portfolio

Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited operates a portfolio across 57 unique destinations with over 3,600 keys operational. The company maintains resorts at India's premier holiday destinations including Alleppey, Coorg, Darjeeling, Goa, Manali, Ooty, Shimla, and Udaipur among others. As a 100% independently managed subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India) Limited, Sterling is part of the Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited group.