Technology is redefining the travel experience

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd (TCIL) released an industry whitepaper titled - 'Corporate Travel: Convergence of Travel and Technology 2012'. The Thomas Cook India Whitepaper showcases global developments and trends in the travel technology front with its impact to the travel purchase cycle and the travel ecosystem, while drawing parallels to the India context. The Whitepaper was released by the chief guest, Sam Pitroda, innovator, entrepreneur, policy maker and advisor to the Government of India, and widely considered to have been responsible for India's communications revolution.

Unlike industry specific papers (hotel focused or airline specific), the Thomas Cook India Whitepaper offers a holistic view of the impact and relevance of technology across the travel eco-system while focusing on the traveller as the consumer. The survey conducted by Thomas Cook (India) covered travellers at major airports countrywide, with further inputs from leading airlines, hotels and GDS in India.

To discuss this in greater detail, Thomas Cook initiated a round table panel discussion in Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. Veterans from the corporate space like Rakshit Desai - Executive Director, Thomas Cook, Puneet Mahindroo? Corporate Director of Revenue Management and Global Distribution, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, Bill Lawler - Vice President, Global Customers IT Solutions, Amadeus Asia Pacific, Christopher Fordyce ?Regional Commercial Manager South Asia, British Airways, Shankaran Shekhar - Head of Travel, Wipro and Navin Jain - Vice President, Mastercard were panelists at these discussions.

Commenting on the whitepaper, Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd said, "Technology is continuously redefining the way we plan, experience travel and share that experience with others. As the power of computing shifts from the desktop to handheld devices, travellers will increasingly adopt apps, social media and travel tools to plan their travel. Thomas Cook India and the Taj Group are delighted to partner with Amadeus, British Airways, Mastercard and Expense Anywhere to present this study providing meaningful insights to the industry on the convergence of travel and technology."

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