Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s premier omnichannel travel services provider, and its group company, SOTC Travel, have teamed up with Cricket Australia for the highly awaited Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
As a result of their partnership, the companies have created a collection of outstanding travel experiences for cricket enthusiasts that are centred around the five exciting Test matches that will take place between November 22, 2024, and January 7, 2025. The matches feature the highly anticipated Boxing Day encounter at the renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), as well as the storied Gabba in Brisbane and at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel have been bestowed the rights to operate as Licensed Travel Operators for the 2024-25 International Summer of Cricket, which includes the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The partnership encompasses product development, marketing, and promotions, as well as booking services for vacation packages that include match tickets and related services. The companies seek to target a variety of areas, including leisure, B-Leisure, and MICE.
Cricket is regarded as a religion in India. As a result, the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar series provides a unique chance for not just cricket enthusiasts, but also groups of friends, multigenerational families, couples, and India Inc.’s formidable MICE segment. The strong competition between the two renowned cricketing nations has already witnessed a 7x increase in interest for the Border Gavaskar Trophy this quarter compared to the previous on, as measured by web searches.
To make the most of the association, Thomas Cook and SOTC Travel have created a variety of appealing group and customised tours centred on the five Border-Gavaskar Test matches, including visits to Sydney, Cairns, the Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Thomas Cook and SOTC provide ready-to-book vacations ranging from 4 to 10 nights, with adjustable add-ons. Customers may immerse themselves in exhilarating cricket action while also experiencing Australia’s breathtaking landscapes, wine tours and gastronomy, private yachts, 360-degree helicopter outings, picturesque self-drive tours, and vibrant international culture and nightlife.
In addition to the exclusive Border-Gavaskar products, consumers who have booked Thomas Cook or SOTC vacations to Australia can incorporate tickets to the five Test matches.
Rajeev Kale – President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Cricket Australia for the exciting Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. Building on our successful track record of operating group tours and customized holidays for major global cricketing events and the rising interest in sports tourism over the last few years, we’ve crafted an exceptional Border-Gavaskar portfolio to leverage this demand. This includes not only the 5 Test matches but also unique Australian experiences like sand boarding, sunset kayaking under the Sydney Harbor Bridge, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, vineyard tours, dolphin watching on the Moonshadow Cruise, stargazing, Michelin-star dining in Melbourne, and scenic drives along the Great Ocean Road and South West Edge.”
S.D. Nandakumar, President and Country Head – Holidays and Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel Limited, said, “We are honoured to have Cricket Australia select SOTC Travel as a Licensed Travel Operator for the Border-Gavaskar Test series. As we celebrate 75 years of delivering exceptional travel services, this partnership underscores our commitment to delivering remarkable travel experiences by blending the thrill of cricket with the adventure of exploring Australia. Maximizing on the growing interest in sports tourism across India, our unique tours cater to both metros and regional tier2-3 markets of India.
“Additionally, we look forward to designing premium hospitality programs for our corporate MICE segment. At SOTC we believe nobody understands the Indian consumer better than us and we have and have crafted programs featuring diverse Australian experiences centered around cricket.”
Rich Ostroff, Acting EGM Broadcast & Commercial at Cricket Australia, said, “This collaboration with Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel is all about enhancing the travel experience for cricket fans heading to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series. Our shared love for cricket is a key part of the strong connection between Australia and India, and this partnership is one of many travel operator partnerships that will make that bond even stronger.”
Steph Underwood, Acting Managing Director, Tourism Western Australia, said, “India remains a key market for Tourism Western Australia, and we are proud to partner with Thomas Cook to enhance our engagement with travellers from India and showcase the beauty and diversity of Western Australia – the Dream State. Tourism Western Australia was also proud to collaborate with Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist and his son Harry on our recent campaign promoting day trips from Perth which showcases the stunning landscapes and diverse attractions of the Swan Valley, Rockingham, the Pinnacles, and Perth, inviting travellers from India to discover the wonders of our state. ‘Drive the Dream’ with Adam Gilchrist was launched ahead of the highly anticipated West Test this November, the opening cricket series of the summer between Australia and India at Perth’s award-winning Optus Stadium.”
Shae Keenan, Visit Victoria Chief Marketing Officer, said, “We look forward to welcoming even more Indian visitors to Victoria through our partnership with Thomas Cook and SOTC Travel. There will be simply nothing like the magical atmosphere of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne’s iconic MCG, which kicks off Melbourne’s incredible events – highlights include the Australian Open, Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix and Melbourne Food & Wine Festival showcasing our sporting, culinary and creative credentials.”
