The World Travel & Tourism Council India has highlighted that India is slated to be the third largest travel and tourism economy by 2028, with a significant contribution of an additional 10 million jobs. In line with industry growth and strong demand for skilled professionals, the Centre of Learning, a Thomas Cook initiative, has seen a thirty-five percent YoY growth in its diploma students and a placement of seventy-six percent. 

Ms. Mona Cheriyan, President & Group Head - Human Resources, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., said, ”In the context of high growth and increasing customer expectations, talent management is one of the critical challenges that the travel industry faces. This relates to both shortage of actual numbers and the desired capability levels- from a technical and managerial perspective. We are hence proud of our achievement in bridging the gap by building a resource pool of skilled travel professionals for the sector. What is noteworthy is that our efforts are equipping entrants with both academic knowledge and practical skills via on-the-job training.”

Thomas Cook’s Centre of Learning has played a pioneering role in the education and training field with a focus on building a highly skilled resource human resource pool for the Travel & Tourism Industry. 

At its seventh Convocation Ceremony held in Mumbai, the Thomas Cook Centre of Learning felicitated a strong contingent of over 300 students who had successfully completed courses across the Travel Professional Programme - a Post Graduate Course in Travel & Tourism Management, Certificate Course in Travel and Tourism Management, Certificate Course in World Tour Management and IATA Foundation in Travel and Tourism. The ceremony was graced by the Chief Guest Ms. Helen Silvester, Director – West India, British Council and Mr. Vishal Suri, Managing Director, SOTC India. The Guests of Honour at the event were Ms. N. Bhola, Country Manager India, Tourism New Zealand, Ms. A. Jani, Manager Trade Relations India, South Africa Tourism and Ms. Mona Cheriyan, President and Group Head Human Resources, The Thomas Cook India Group.

Graduating students of the Centre of Learning have been successfully placed at Thomas Cook, SOTC, and TCI-Sita, as well as other leading travel & tourism companies like VFS Global, The Royal Thai Embassy, Veena World, Wel-Travel Australia, Tamarind Global, Red Apple, and Zenith. 

Centre of Learning’s vision sees a strong synergy with the Government of India’s Skill India Mission and has tied up with the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council. The Centre of Learning has been honored with the prestigious ‘South Asia Top Performing Authorized training Centre 2016’ for outstanding contribution towards helping human capital by reaching out to the next generation, by internationally renowned IATA accreditation. 

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. (TCIL) is the leading 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.

The Thomas Cook India Group spanning 24 countries across 4 continents, a team of over 7590 and a combined revenue in excess of Rs. 11,411.6 Cr. (over $ 1.75 Bn), operates leading B2C and B2B brands including, Thomas Cook, SOTC, TCI, SITA, Asian Trails, Allied T Pro, Australian Tours Management, Desert Adventures, Travel Circle International Limited, Private Safaris East & South Africa. The Group is today one of the largest travel service provider networks headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region.