Thomas Cook Center 0f Learning Launches Its First Franchisee In Delhi - Graduate, Post-Graduate Courses; Destination And Tour Management-

Online, June 16, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Center of Learning, the educational wing of Thomas Cook (India) Limited, launched its inaugural franchisee outlet in Delhi today. Present at the launch were Mr. Gurjit Gill - Regional Training Business Development Manager- IATA, Mr. Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd and Ms. Smeeta Gulvady, Vice President and Head, Thomas Cook Centre of Learning.

The Centre of Learning outlet is located in the North Delhi Campus near the Delhi University- the education hub of NCR. The centre will be technology enabled via classrooms with multimedia support to empower learning through various media.

The Center of Learning, Delhi outlet, will offer a diverse range of programmes from basic to advanced levels, for travel aspirants, students and working executives. Unique undergraduate courses include "My India My Way", a 4 month undergraduate programme where students get an opportunity to master Indian tourist destinations. Also on offer will be a variety of post graduate courses such as a 1 year Travel Professional Programme, 3 month certificate course in World Tour Management, a 2 year International Tourism Business Course in association with the prestigious Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) as well as impactful Destination Management courses both online and offline. The training institute will also provide a wide array of IATA under graduate and post graduate courses.

Commenting on the launch of Center of Learning's inaugural franchisee, Mr. Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd said, "Meeting the ever increasing demand for trained and skilled manpower in the rapidly evolving travel industry, is indeed a challenge. We set up the Thomas Cook Center of Learning unit with a focused intent to facilitate talent management not only for our company but also for the industry as a whole. The institute being certified as a Top 10 South Asia Authorized Training Centre by IATA is recognition of the team's efforts and expanding the operations is a strong reiteration of our commitment to education and training.

He further added, "We planned to go the franchisee route as a local partner provides us with much needed local market knowledge and support. While we benefit by being able to expand at a rapid pace, our franchisees get to partner with a powerful and pioneering brand and leverage a time tested business model with an excellent support network."

About Centre of Learning:
Centre of Learning (CoL) is an initiative from Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. (TCIL) to develop talent for the organization as well as for the Industry. In the context of high growth and increasing customer expectations, talent management will be one of the important challenges to the Travel Industry. This relates to both the shortage of actual numbers and the desired capability levels from both a technical and managerial perspective.

Centre of Learning has been set up with the objective of proactively facilitating the talent management in the travel industry and would strive to grow, harness and nurture the skill sets in the industry. Apart from the under-graduation and post-graduation programmes, CoL has also ventured into Corporate trainings, International Tourism Board trainings & college tie ups. CoL promises its students on the job training by providing them a 3 month internship with Thomas Cook (India) Ltd.

About Thomas Cook (India) Limited:
Thomas Cook (India) Limited is 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 131 years.

TCIL's footprint currently extends to over 204 locations (including 25 airport counters) in 78 cities across India, Mauritius & Sri Lanka and is supported by a strong partner network of 117 Gold Circle Partners and 166 Preferred Sales Agents in over 100 cities pan India.

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has been honoured with the "Favourite Specialist Tour Operator" award at the Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Travel Awards 2011 and was also conferred with the CNBC AWAAZ - " Best company providing foreign exchange" in India for the third year in a row. In addition, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has been awarded 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.

CRISIL has reaffirmed Thomas Cook (India) Limited with the 'CRISIL A1+ and AA- rating. The Brand Trust Report™, India study 2012, has ranked Thomas Cook (India) Ltd as The most Trusted Brand in Services. Recently, TCIL was awarded the prestigious National Tourism Award (2010-2011) for 'Outstanding Performance' as an 'Inbound Tour Operator' in Category I, third position. For more information, please visit www.thomascook.in

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Thomas Cook (India) Limited
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