Thomas Cook India inks agreement for pilot project with Airbnb

Chandigarh, February 16, 2016: Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company has inked a pilot partnership with Airbnb, the world’s leading community-driven hospitality company. Together, they will offer Indians looking to travel abroad, access to a range of unique accommodation experiences at a variety of price points.

Thomas Cook India‘s internal consumer research has revealed that for today’s Indian traveler, holiday accommodation goes beyond merely hotel categories or room types. Over 25% of the Company’s individual traveller segment has stated their growing preference to explore authentic local stays and a desire for deeper engagement and an immersion into the destination, its culture and its people.

Hence, in an initiative to tap this increasing market potential, Thomas Cook India has signed a pilot agreement with Airbnb to leverage first mover advantage over this yet untapped segment. Thomas Cook India intends to offer significant value and flexibility to families, ad-hoc groups of friends and business-cum-leisure travellers via access to Airbnb’s unique stay options- across apartments, private rooms, castles, boats, manors, tree houses and private islands.

Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Madhavan Menon, Chairman & Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd said, “The Indian traveller is evolving rapidly and for many, standard stays no longer find favour. Our partnership with Airbnb for outbound Indian travelers, aims to address this viable and yet untapped market need.”

He added, “Our strategic focus is to target high potential growth opportunities via innovation in products and partnerships and our tie-up with Airbnb reiterates delivery of this intent.”

Varsha Rao, Head of Global Airbnb Operations at Airbnb said, “We are excited to work with a leader in India’s travel market to give Indian travellers the opportunity to have unique and truly authentic local experiences by staying in one of our more than two million properties around the world.”