Thomas Cook (India, one of India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial services companies, has announced a strategic partnership with Matrimony Bazaar (a division of Matrimony.com which manages brands such as BharatMatrimony), to tap India’s wedding/honeymoon segment by offering end-to-end honeymoon packages, in a pan India roll out commencing with the Chennai market.
Online statistics reveal that ‘honeymoon’ features as the second highest searched keyword of Google’s holiday category. Thomas Cook India’s internal research and consumer analysis also reiterates the significant and growing potential of the honeymoon/romantic travel segment- a 20 to 25 per cent YoY increase in demand over the last three years. The data highlights that this demand is not restricted to merely the honeymoon, but also includes a fun filled bachelor and hen party for friends of the couple, and a honeymoon, often with family in tow. With clear customer demand for extravagant indulgence in their honeymoon requests- from uber luxury accommodation to spectacular and offbeat destination experiences- Thomas Cook India’s partnership with Matrimony Bazaar aims at addressing this high growth opportune market via a wide range of romantic holiday getaways, at attractive price points.
Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head – Leisure Travel & MICE, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said, “The romantic leisure travel segment is witnessing exponential growth with Indian couples expressing increasing appetite for fresh, new and off-beat locales with engaging itineraries. Our Love Trails packages are aimed at leveraging this high growth opportune segment- be it honeymooners, India’s DINKS, Empty Nesters or Gen-S. Our partnership with Matrimony Bazaar provides us a captive base of target customers; our travel experts extending their valuable guidance to ensure smooth execution of our personalised honeymoon packages. Our distribution and sales strategy will include several synergistic alliances that add value to our customers, including beauty and hair salons like Lakme that are popular with brides, grooms and their families.”
What is noteworthy, is that the Thomas Cook India trend analysis reveals that the demand for romantic travel is not limited to just honeymooners, but also extends to three new opportune Indian traveller segments; 1. An increasing working millennial & DINKS (Double Income No Kids) segment that leverages romantic travel to break away from the monotony of their work routine via romantic weekend breaks or for occasions like Valentine’s Day 2. Empty Nesters with grown up kids and hence free from family responsibilities, rekindling romance with their spouses on a romantic getaway 3. India’s Gen S/Silvers segment with disposable income and plenty of leisure time to indulge in their dream of a decadent romantic vacation.
Thomas Cook India’s focussed endeavour to harness this segment potential has resulted in launch of a unique “Love Trails” portfolio across 19 international destinations, via three categories (Platinum, Gold and Silver), showcasing exotic locales such as New Zealand, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Seychelles, Greece, Hawaii, Ireland, Scotland, Mexico, Germany, South Africa, Maldives; as also favourites including Switzerland, Bali, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Mauritius, with exclusive itineraries to ensure a truly memorable experience. This is in line with Thomas Cook India’s strategic distribution partnership with Matrimony Bazaar tapping India’s wedding/ honeymoon segment as well as the significant opportune travel segments for romantic getaways.
The specially curated Thomas Cook Love Trails includes an array of special experiences like romantic tandem cycling tours amidst Switzerland’s alpine beauty, private waterfall dining in Fiji, grape stomping in France’s Bordeaux or a culinary experience in Provence, a swim with whale sharks in Seychelles, a private love-boat photo shoot in French Polynesia, the unique diversity of glow-worm night trails coupled with the geothermal splendour of shooting geysers and natural hot springs at Rotorua, New Zealand, unique accommodation such as Trulli (a traditional stone dwelling) in Bari, Italy, sun downers on a safari in South Africa, spectacular sea-plane rides or fine dining on luxury yachts on a private island in Australia, romantic add-ons while staying at The Sands’ Macao properties, romantic slow travel against picturesque backdrops at Korea’s Jeju Island, private cable car fine-dining at Mount Faber, Singapore or an unforgettable spa experience at Iceland’s Blue Lagoon.
