With sporting events being a key focus area for Indian MICE groups, Thomas Cook India had sent several corporate groups for cricket tournaments in Australia and the UK. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/IndiaPix
Thomas Cook India has witnessed strong recovery for its MICE business
in 2022, reporting more than 100% growth in its MICE offer versus
pre-pandemic levels.
The travel operator says positive corporate sentiment is driving
demand post-pandemic, alongside growing requests for curated
experiences, with MICE travel gaining momentum for both international
and domestic destinations. It says it has delivered events for over 200
physical groups, with between 100-2,500 delegates per group.
These include MICE groups travelling to France, Switzerland, Abu
Dhabi, Dubai, Maldives, Australia, Turkey, Singapore, Thailand, the UK,
Italy, Hungary and South Africa. Sporting events were a key focus area
and the travel operator managed several corporate groups for cricket
tournaments in Australia and the UK, as well as the World Cup in Qatar.
Experiences
delivered thus far include Harley-Davidson biking and helicopter rides
with 360° panoramic views; an exclusive flash mob in the middle of
Trafalgar Square and an air show in the UK. Gastronomic experiences
featured cocktails and dinner at the MCG stadium with an Australian
cricket legend, a unique sundown dining tour in Paris and London, with
scenic views via a glass-topped roof and wine festivals.
With corporate groups seeking luxury experiences, Thomas Cook has
managed premium groups with stays at luxury hotels and experiences
including dinner at Michelin-star restaurants, vintage plane rides, and
private sundowner and dinner sailings with curated local elements and
flavours.
As well, cruises represent an attractive value proposition for the
MICE sector, and Thomas Cook India has delivered a cruise trip for over
600 delegates in Italy and also for groups of 30-300 delegates for India
sailings. Popular international cruise liners include Costa Cruises,
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Resorts World Cruises and Norwegian Cruise
Line.
Domestic MICE has also been a key focus for the company with Thomas
Cook India managing multiple events across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore,
Hyderabad, Chennai and Goa. The company’s MICE team has also managed an
inbound group of 400 customers in the National Capital Region and 6,000
delegates in Mumbai from across 130 countries including the UK, the US,
Africa, Australia and Singapore.
Meera Charnalia, senior vice president and head – MICE, Thomas Cook
India said, “We have witnessed the accelerated business revival of our
MICE segment by offering unique experiences to corporates. We witnessed
over 100% recovery versus our pre-pandemic levels for the MICE sector
with our robust forward pipeline reflecting a strong and growing
appetite for MICE travel in 2023 and beyond.”