Thomas Cook India launches Online Forex Store

MUMBAI, India - March 14, 2013 - PRLog -- Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., one of India’s largest integrated travel and travel related financial services companies, has launched its Online Forex Store offering its comprehensive range of foreign exchange products and services via its portal thomascook.in (http://www.thomascook.in), making it the first company in India to offer all customers the convenience and security of transacting foreign exchange services online.

USPs:

·         Dynamic and real-time display of foreign exchange rates for 26 global currencies available online

·         Range of products: Multi-currency forex prepaid cards (Borderless Prepaid), currency notes, travellers cheques

·         No additional credit card convenience charge

·         Free doorstep delivery or collection at over 213 locations, pan India

·         Request for  Money Transfers and University fee remittance

Mr. Mahesh Iyer, Head – Foreign Exchange, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said, “Thomas Cook India’s internal research had revealed that for today’s traveler who is always on the go, easy access, speed and convenience for his foreign exchange transactions was a critical requirement, as also for the youth who are always looking online for their needs. Hence, we launched our Online Forex Store, to empower customers with the ease and convenience of booking at home without compromising on the famed Thomas Cook India experience & offline compliance. While banks offer online services for their customers only, we have reiterated our consumer-centric approach by offering forex to everyone – existing as well as potential customers.”

He added: “Our Online Forex Store comes close on the heels of the launch of our multi-currency Borderless Prepaid Card and our Send Money Abroad service (Global Money Transfers to over 120 countries)- a testament of our consumer centric focus as also the spirit of innovation that runs through the Thomas Cook India enterprise.”

As a special promotion , for any international flight booked online (thomascook.in), the customer gets Rs 1000 off upfront. The customer stands to receive additional Rs 1000 as a cash back on the flight transaction by booking foreign exchange online for a value of USD 1000 or more. This offer is valid only till March 31, 2013.

About Thomas Cook (India) Limited:

Thomas Cook is one of the largest integrated travel and travel related financial services company in the country offering a broad spectrum of services that include Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel, Insurance, Visa & Passport services and E-Business. The Company set up its first office in India in 1881, and has been providing world-class travel service for 132 years.

TCIL’s footprint currently extends to over 251 locations (including 28 airport counters) in 101 cities across India, Mauritius & Sri Lanka and is supported by a strong partner network of 131 Gold Circle Partners and 162  Preferred Sales Agents in over 100 cities pan India.

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has been honoured with The Most Trusted Brand in Services award by The Brand Trust Report™, India study 2012 and voted Favourite Specialist Tour Operator at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Travel Awards 2011 & 2012. In addition, TCIL has been chosen as the Best Corporate Travel Management Company by World Travel Brands 2012, the Most Trusted Tour Operator Brand by the Times Travel Honours 2011 and also recognized as a Superbrand 2011-2012 by consumers for excellence in travel services. Recently, the Company was selected Retailer of the Year – Leisure & Holidays by ET NOW 2013.

CRISIL has reaffirmed Thomas Cook (India) Limited with the ‘CRISIL A1+ and AA- rating.

For more information, please visit www.thomascook.in

Thomas Cook (India) Limited is promoted by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fairbridge Capital.  Fairbridge is responsible for the execution of acquisition and investment opportunities in the Indian subcontinent on behalf of the Fairfax family of companies.

About Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited:

Fairfax Financial Holdings is a Toronto-based financial services holding company with a global presence in insurance and reinsurance and a portfolio of assets in excess of $30 billion invested worldwide. The Company, founded in 1985 by the present Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Prem Watsa, has over the past 25 years, demonstrated a strong financial track record (http://www.fairfax.ca/Corporate/Financial-Track-Record/de...) to achieve an annual appreciation in Book Value per Share of 24.7% annually.

Fairfax has almost 20 general insurance subsidiaries and joint ventures globally, including ICICI Lombard (India). The portfolio also includes several market leading insurance companies such as Odyssey Re (USA), Crum & Forster (USA), First Capital (Singapore), Fairfax Brasil (Brazil), Gulf Insurance (Kuwait).

Fairfax is engaged in long term investments from its own resources, with a focus to delivering long term capital appreciation through a flexible and value oriented approach.

For Media Enquiries please contact:

Thomas Cook (India) Limited

Suzanne Pereira – B: +91-22-61603333; D: +91-22-66091380; M: +91-9820297665;

suzanne.pereira@in.thomascook.com