December 05, 2019

SOTC Travel Launches ‘Around the World in 70 Days’ - Bespoke Journey across the Globe

Breath-taking and must-see destinations across seven continents

Mumbai, December 05, 2019: In celebration of its 70th Anniversary, SOTC Travel has curated a special journey of discovery ‘Around the World in 70 Days’ spanning 7 continents comprising of incredible destinations and experiences from across the globe. Inspired by a widely beloved travel saga, this holiday experience includes some of the most picturesque destinations, adrenalin-pumping adventures, stunningly beautiful nature and wildlife, natural and manmade wonders that this planet has to offer.

According to the SOTC Holiday Report 2019, the destination is today the key influencing factor for most travellers - 79% for less than 25 years, 84% for 26-35 years, 74% for 36-55 years, and 67% for 56+ years. ‘Around the World in 70 Days’ is designed specifically to take one through a plethora of unique experiences, encompassing the rich culture, heritage, trade, cuisine, and history, of a destination. In Cambodia, these include a sunset dinner on Tonle Sap and a journey to the World Heritage temple Angkor Vat, while Japan offers Samurai Training in Tokyo, the Snow festival in Sapporo, and the hot springs of Hokkaido mountains, along with a spellbinding meeting with the famed Geishas of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Further South, in Australia, a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sydney Opera House, and a Hot Air Balloon ride at Hunter Valley, followed by a delicious gourmet breakfast, are an absolute must-try, along with Hamilton Island, Cairns, and the Field of Light, an incredible light installation in Uluru, by internationally celebrated artist Bruce Munro. North America, on the other hand, offers a diverse array of experiences, such as the Oahu Submarine Scooter Adventure at Honolulu in Hawaii, visit to one of the world’s most active volcanoes during the Volcano Eco-Adventure Tour at Oahu, a visit to the Stroller’s Paradise in Santa Monica, Apres Ski in Aspen and Snowmass Village, Gondola ride at Aspen Mountain, a visit to the Grand Teton National Park, and more. This unique holiday also covers the many awe-inspiring wonders of South America, including the famed Machu Picchu in Peru, the rich history and architectural heritage of Lima, the spectacular Iguazu Falls, guided nature hikes through the majestic Amazon Jungle, and the carnivals in Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo in Brazil, along with a journey to the end of the world at Ushuaia, capital of Tierra del Fuego. Also on the itinerary are the sub-zero wonders of Antarctica, the great wilderness of Africa, the royal history of Europe, the Northern Lights and whale-watching in Iceland, and several more renowned attractions in Norway, Austria and more.

Madhavan Menon, Chairman, SOTC Travel Ltd. said, “For seven decades SOTC has opened the world to travelers and has made holidays an essential part of their lives. Over these years, SOTC Travel has constantly been at the forefront of introducing innovative product offerings, expanding its destination market and creating perfect holiday moments for customers. Indian travelers have evolved rapidly, and are now increasingly seeking curated, experience-led holiday propositions. This launch of the exclusive limited edition offering “Around the World in 70 Days” to commemorate SOTC’s 70th Anniversary, is a “bucket list” once in a lifetime experience - packaged seamlessly to offer new and unique experiences to the discerning traveler. Worthy testament to the millions of customers who have traveled with SOTC over the past 70 years and the many more to follow!”

Vishal Suri, Managing Director, SOTC Travel, said, “The shift in traveller preferences has created a strong opportunity for the growth of the entire travel sector, spanning various continents and countries across the globe. Leisure travel has also evolved to encompass not only the country, but every unexplored corner of the world. SOTC Travel has reinvented its expansive portfolio of holiday offerings, catering to a diverse range of customer archetypes. For travellers belonging to the archetype of The Explorer, The Convenience Seeker and The Family Memory Builder, this holiday experience brings a chance to explore niche destinations, gain new cultural experiences and create remarkable memories. Thus, Around the World in 70 Days inspires the Indian Traveller to choose and explore an experiential journey across spectacular destinations in the world.”

November 25, 2019

SOTC and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) Collaborate To Introduce Indians To The Wonders Of Singapore
Indian travellers are constantly seeking destinations that offer various experiences and an opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family. According to the SOTC India Holiday Report 2019, travel has become a very important part of Indian life. In fact, 59% of Indians take at least one international holiday and 92% take at least one domestic holiday, annually. While shopping, exploration, and taking short breaks play an important role in the decision-making process for holidays, 68% of Indians count relaxation as the main reason for going on a vacation. An average of 64% of respondents across all the mentioned age groups chose ‘Spending time with friends and family’ as their primary reason for going on holidays.

Consumer behavior is changing with travellers preferring experiential activities over traditional itineraries. Travelers are increasingly opting to indulge in memorable experiences while looking for a seamless experience for their holidays.

In an endeavour to introduce Indian Travellers to new authentic ways to explore a destination, SOTC Travel and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have collaborated to invite travel enthusiasts to explore the picturesque island nation Singapore through two immersive videos. These videos aim to show travellers the wonders they can experience in Singapore, through the eyes of both adults and children.

The videos highlight the destinations many offerings for people of every age, and belonging to every category of passion tribes. Whether they identify as The Explorer, The Foodie, Action-Seeker or Collector, they can find interesting and immersive experiences here with ease. Travellers can begin their holiday at the luxurious Marina Bay Sands hotel, where they can unwind in the infinity pool and take a unique tour of the amazing collection of shops via Sampan rides – the boating service exclusive to the hotel. Singapore offers many diverse and innovative ways for tourists to explore the many sights along the city. These include the Singapore Flyer – Asia’s largest observation bay and the Floating Donut – a wonderful boating service designed in the shape of the beloved treat, where travellers can sightsee while enjoying scrumptious delicacies on the boat. Close to the Marina Reservoir, travellers can step into 101 hectares of lush, verdant national park and gaze in wonderment at the different zones, which include flower fantasy, cloud forest, super Grove and many, many more. They can even step onto the 128-meter aerial walkway - OCBC skyway that offers close-up views of the 12 vertical gardens at the Super Tree Grove.

For the younger traveller, Singapore is teeming with exciting activities. A visit to the famed Universal Studios is an absolute must, with experiences like the Jurassic Park Rapids adventure Rides, Shrek 4-D adventure and more. Adventure Cove Waterpark – Asia’s only waterpark that’s integrated with Marine Life, allows travellers to marvel at over 100,000 species of marine animals at the S.E.A Aquarium. The Singapore Zoo is another must-see spot on every travel wish-list, where the rainforest setup provides the chance to enjoy an interactive wildlife experience. A virtual tour of various animals at the Rainforest Lumina is another innovative experience.. Animal lovers can also enjoy the Jurong Bird Park which houses over 400 species of majestic birds.

As the new-age Indian traveller shows greater interest in cultural immersion by way of sampling local cuisine, Singapore is their ideal destination. The island nation’s cuisine is a culmination of elements from a wide range of ethnic groups, who call Singapore home and is widely regarded worldwide for its aromatic blend of flavours. One can also experience the culture and history of this beautiful nation by visiting the Chinatown Heritage Centre, the National Gallery and Tiang Bahru neighbourhood, where the street art depicting the daily lives of natives is a cultural sensation.

Daniel D’souza, President and Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel said, “At SOTC, we endeavour to introduce our customers to new and immersive experiences at every destination, to make their holidays special and remarkable. Singapore remains a popular destination with Indian Travellers. Our collaboration with Singapore Tourism Board enables us to showcase a unique side to the destination. The innovative 3-D art installation campaign in association with STB across various popular malls in India helped us visualise and engage travellers to the types of experiences in Singapore. This was created with the aim of inspiring our travellers to get the most out of their experience in Singapore and enjoy their vacation to the fullest. According to the SOTC India Holiday Report 2019, short breaks are a bigger trend, where 53% of Gen Z, 59% of Gen Y, 50% of Gen X and 32% of senior citizen travellers wish to take the opportunity to visit new destinations, and experience more of the world. With the impressive array of activities, and beautiful sights, Singapore is an ideal destination for spending these short breaks. In association with STB we will provide the best holidays for our customers, who wish to explore the world in the pursuit of discovering different and exciting travel memories. Singapore is a destination that should exist on every traveller’s bucket-list, for the activities and experiences it offers to people of every age.”

To view SOTC New Singapore Videos in Association with Singapore Tourism Board visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJKZxrxrMnU and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDTGFZSIwj8

November 21, 2019

SOTC Travel introduces new F&B offerings with Indian and Fusion Culinary Delights for Indians Travellers
- SOTC India Holiday Report reveals more than 70% Indians prefer a combination of Indian and local cuisine during their travel -

With an increasing number of travellers interested in unique experiences with a feel of the local flavour, culture or experience, SOTC Travel, has reinvented the F&B experience for travelers across its product portfolio in association with an award winning food connoisseur to exclusively curate handpicked menus across all of its business verticals and bespoke tours.

Indian travelers have specific requirements while traveling abroad and food is an essential part of their travelling. A trendy addiction among Indian travelers is ghar–ka-khaana when on a holiday while others enjoy the famed dish of the destination as it connects them to the local culture. They would not compromise on the food and service quality as they travel for the love of food.

The food menus across the business verticals – MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events), FITs (Free Independent Travellers), Group Tours and more will offer a combination of the home-style menus with simple recipes and the local cuisine. Customers can be assured of ease-of-convenience via meals that are of the highest standards, and tailored to their needs.

The initiative is in response to the insights gained from the SOTC India Holiday Report 2019, which revealed that across age groups – 25 years and above – food was a critical factor in determining the success and cognizance of their holidays and is especially top of the mind when going on a holiday. The report reveals that majority of Indians are foodies with 75% seeking a combination of Indian and Local Cuisine while vacationing.

SOTC’s regional group packages like ‘Brahman Mandal’ dedicated to Maharashtrians, 'Gurjar Vishwadarshan' that is dedicated to Gujaratis and ‘Darshanams’ curated specially for South Indians; will offer day wise diverse menus of Indian meals as per their unique requirements and culinary preferences. The menus for South Indian products will incorporate regional favourites like filter coffee, curd rice & rasam and Unniappam while our Gujarati menus will serve specialities like Dhokla, Khandvi. Customers can also relish the taste of diverse cuisines across the world right from Awadhi, Karnataka, Arabic, South-East Asian and many more.

Care has also been taken to provide the eclectic variety of cuisines – both Indian and international cuisine, for MICE travellers as well. With the expertise of the food connoisseur, our MICE tours will offer customized culinary options suited for their palates. From exotic themed dinners to authentic Indian cuisine, Menus on tour will offer a fusion of both local and Indian cuisine for the quintessential native experience.

Daniel D’Souza, President and Country Head Leisure at SOTC Travel said, “Indians have diverse preferences, and they definitely crave home-cooked food a lot, no matter where they go. Additionally, food is one of the easiest ways to immerse oneself in a local culture or community, whether travelling with friends and family, or alone. The new-age Indian travellers have shown a rising level of interest for this type of cultural enrichment, as can be seen by insights gained through the SOTC India Holiday Report 2019. According to the report, 65% of Gen Z, 32% of Gen Y, 57% of Gen X and 49% of Senior Citizen travellers count exploration of local cuisine as their main reason to enhance holidays. We are positive that the food enhancements will transform the F&B experience for our customers, bringing a healthy mix of local and Indian food, across diverse preferences, via delectable cuisines. This will go a long way to ensuring a satisfying holiday experience for our travellers.”

SD Nandakumar - President and Country Head - B2B at SOTC Travel Ltd said, “Personalized food experiences are becoming increasingly important. At SOTC, we aim at finding the right balance for our MICE travellers. Authentic Indian meals have been an extremely important feature that brings us customer delight. Capitalizing on food and beverage trends, our menus are planned with a lot of attention to include handpicked ingredients, sourced from the regions they are known for, to bring in authenticity of flavours. From Live food bars offering a range of food items and desserts with an Indian twist, the food offered is a combination of simple, comforting home-style Indian menus, as well as modified local cuisine, to suit the Indian palate, and specific dietary needs. SOTC has tied up with partner hotels in various international cities, to serve the menus specially created for our travellers”.

Chef Santosh Jori is a culinary expert with a career spanning over 20 years in curating well-crafted delectable menus for reputed brands in the hospitality business, mainly Luxury and Hospitality chains in India and overseas, including the Marriott Group, The Ritz Carlton, Starwoods Hotels, Jumeriah Hospitality, The Leela Group of Hotels and several others.

September 27, 2019

SOTC Unveils the India Holiday Report 2019
-Reveals Insights on the Evolution of the Indian Traveller across Four Generations-

• The SOTC Holiday Report identifies 6 unique traveller archetypes- The Budget Friendly Traveller, The Convenience-seeker, The Family Memory Builder, The Explorer, Mellow Vacationer & Senior Citizen

Key Findings:
• The report reveals that travel has become an indispensable part of the Indian consumers lifestyle- across all age groups
• Indians are displaying an increasing appetite for multiple short breaks/ escapes of 3-6 days:
58% of Gen Z (4-24 years) prefers to take trips of 3-6 days with engaging experiences 56% of Millennials/ Gen Y (25-39 years) prefer short duration trips vs long vacations
Hence international short-hauls like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka and domestic favourites like Goa, Kerala, Andaman, Uttaranchal, North East.
• Seniors & Baby Boomers (55-75) have started embracing International Holidays: 83% take one International Holiday annually
Destinations like Switzerland, UK, France, USA, Canada, Australia & New Zealand and including emerging opportunities like Japan and Korea
• Online bookings are witnessing significant growth across all age groups; highest among India’s digital native Gen Z (76%)
• Indians increasingly opting for cashless modes of holiday payment; 86% in the case of Gen Y
• Indians are value seekers: Attractive packages and offers being a key driver for approx. 50% across all age groups

In this the digital age, social sharing, the increase of disposable income and the braggable rights of travel is power- driving the entire holiday ecosystem - whether outbound or domestic tourism. The Indian traveller has come of age and travel is no longer a luxury, but rather a non-negotiable necessity.

The SOTC India Holiday Report was first introduced in 2015 and has been tracing the evolution of the Indian traveller over the years. SOTC Travel’s recently released India Holiday Report 2019 reveals insightful data to deep dive into the Indian leisure traveller psyche, their preferences and travel behaviours. The was conducted with over 1100 respondents belonging to four distinct age groups: 25 years and below, 26-35 years, 36-55 years and 56 years and above. The findings of SOTC India Holiday Report 2019 are classified into three key categories: Holiday Preferences, Holiday Research & Booking and Holiday Finance.
Holiday Preferences:

• Indians are increasingly opting for multiple short breaks rather than the traditional single long annual vacation. While in 2015, more than 75% respondents had taken a holiday for 7-10 days as compared to 3-6 days, in 2019. This indicates a trend of higher frequency and shorter duration holidays.
The exception is the 56+ year segment that prefers longer vacations of 7-15+ days
• International holidays are a mandatory inclusion in the annual travel plan: All age groups booking at least one international holiday a year.
• Domestic holidays show a marked growth with 92% respondents taking a domestic holiday compared to 80% in 2015. Leisure combined with Spiritual journeys are witnessing as interesting trend. Destinations such as Madurai, Rameshwaram, Dwarka, Shirdi, Pushkar, Mathura, Ujjain & Varanasi featured in SOTC’s Darshans have seen significant growth in 2019.
• 68% of all respondents chose relaxation as a top reason to take a holiday. 73% of India’s work warriors Gen Y/ Millennials opted for travel escapades as a great way to unwind.
• Family Bonding is a key driver for holidays with 64% of respondents across all the age groups choosing ‘Spending time with friends and family’
• 59% Gen Z are adrenaline junkies/adventure-seekers who holiday to fulfill their passion for adventure e.g. Diving Holidays in Malaysia, Kite Sailing in Philippines, White Water Rafting in the Himalayas
• Local Cuisine is a top holiday enhancement preference with 65% of Gen Z and Gen X 57% selecting their travel destination basis its local food. Destinations like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Italy, and France are trending for cuisine and wine journeys. Japan, Korea, Ireland are emerging for their unique local flavours and whiskey trails.

Research & Booking:

• Indians are increasingly on-the-go and impatient. With Internet penetration on the rise, social sharing and easy access to digital travelogues, a majority of the respondents (79% of less than 25 years, 81% of 26-35 years, 78% 36-55 years and 61% of 56 years+) opt for online platforms for their primary research
• While not surprisingly over 70% respondents in the age groups 25- 35 & 36-55 years booked their holidays online, an impressive 48% of the 56 plus segment also felt comfortable booking online
• Destination was the key influencing factor for most respondents (79% for less than 25 years; 84% for 26-35 years; 74% for 36-55 years and 67% for 56+)
• For less than 25 years the second most important influencer were Packages and Offers while Hotels/Experiences/Activities and Travel Websites/Blogs came third. Interestingly, for over 50% of respondents in this age group the decision on holiday travel was taken by the parents
• With age groups 36-55 (47%) and 56+ (35%), Family Demands became a critical factor in influencing holiday plans
• Baby Boomers and seniors are clearly embracing the online world: 62% respondents gave credence to Travel Websites and Blogs
• The holiday decision maker is seeing a shift from husband-dominated to joint decision making

Finance:

• In a major fillip to the digital ecosystem, over 80% respondents use Credit or Debit Card for travel booking and on-ground expenses. The discounts and cash backs being a key driver
• Irrespective of age groups, most respondents still dip into their savings for their holiday travels (92% for less than 25 years; 92% for 26-35 years; 90% for 36-55 years; 96% for 56+)
• Spends on holidays seem directly proportional to age groups, which is very likely a reflection of the increase in income and savings; 93% respondents in under 25 years spend less than one lakh per annum on holiday travel and over 50% of the respondents in age groups less than 25-55 years spend only upto one lakh per annum
• In a marked change, Indian travellers have also begun viewing EMI and loans as an option to fund their holidays with an average of 4% of respondents across all age groups availing of these to enjoy a vacation

Vishal Suri, Managing Director, SOTC Travel said “ I am proud to launch the 3rd edition of the SOTC Holiday Report 2019, that keeps a finger on the pulse of India’s rapidly evolving, digital native demographic. This is the first time we have undertaken a completely online survey for our report. The findings reinforce the undeniable fact that everyone aspires to travel and that travel has become a non-negotiable element in the Indian traveller calendar. Whether it is bespoke adventures, solo or escorted tours, Indians are travelling far more than they have ever before and while they will continue to be quintessential value seekers, their passions like adventure or cuisine play a critical factor. The digital divide is almost non-existent with technology being a great enabler across age groups. As against the single annual vacation, Indians are displaying increasing appetite for multiple short holiday breaks.

He concluded with, “At SOTC, in our quest for customer excellence, the report plays a key role, giving us valuable insights for product and service to better serve the next generation of Indian travellers.”

The India Holiday Report 2019 has also identified the primary archetypes of travellers that stood out in India over the last five years:

The Budget Friendly Traveller - They usually take at least one international vacation every year, and travel with the spouse, or with family and kids. They look for a meticulously planned tour to cover as many sites as possible within the available time and budget.

The Convenience-seeker - This traveller wants everything to be planned and simple, valuing convenience, ease, and transparency, above all, in travel planning. They are even willing to outsource decision-making to a trusted party to avoid having to go through extensive research themselves.

The Family Memory Builder - They aim to build family memories and strengthen the bonds between its members, seeking a combination of both sightseeing and flexibility. This segment largely comprises couples aged 35-45 years, with young children less than 18 years of age, and potentially senior citizens.

The Explorer - With a hunger for authenticity, this traveller is extremely particular about having a flexible itinerary comprising a wide range of unique local experiences. They like to keep a minimum-viable-plan for their trips, as they prefer to discover the rest, on-the-go.

Mellow Vacationer - This segment predominantly comprises couples in the age range of 25-35 or 45-60. They choose to go on vacation without children, looking to unwind, relax, and enjoy the journey as well as the destination. Their expectations consist of low-key experiences at a relaxing pace, and dislike itineraries, with no desire to attempt anything unusual or new.

Senior Citizen - These travellers are generally older, retired couples aged 55 years and above, with above average income. With considerably more free time on their hands, they are quite eager to travel, with an ideal vacation entailing relaxing at a serene location with the opportunity to enjoy the company of others, and spend time with their loved ones.

May 27, 2019

SOTC Travel Launches HOMESTAYS in Partnership with OYO
~Will offer authentic homestay experiences across 16 cities for the first time~
SOTC Travel announced the launch of Homestays in partnership with OYO Hotels & Homes, the world's 6th largest chain of hotels, homes, and living spaces to provide unmatched accommodation for the domestic travelers. Travelers can now book homestays starting at INR 2,400 to have authentic travel experience. This is available across 16 popular cities in India including Kochi, Lonavala, Dehradun, Dharamshala, Pondicherry, Coorg, Udaipur, Mount Abu, Bhubaneswar among others. These properties are located amongst beautiful local neighborhoods and come with great convenience and reliability.

The homes offered are completely private with high-quality amenities and are well serviced for the convenience of the customers. These homes are fully furnished and some of them also have an in-house restaurant. This is to offer travelers an opportunity to try out an array of local delicacies – all in the comfort of a homestay. With this association, SOTC Travel aims to captivate its domestic customers by offering new and engaging experiences. Commenting on this association, Daniel D’souza, President & Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel said, "With the increasing demand for homestays, SOTC in partnership with OYO will offer the experience of a homestay for the first time to its travelers. This would be the most authentic domestic travel experience. The well-traveled consumer today is looking for good accommodation at affordable prices, added facilities, and convenience. OYO will help cater to the demands of our customers across segments that include families, honeymooners solo travelers, millennials looking at a ‘home away from home’ experience at competent prices.”

Puneet Yadav, Business Head, OYO Home said, ”We are pleased to partner with SOTC Travel, a brand renowned for their unique travel offerings. The new age traveler today is showing an increasing appetite for different travel experiences especially with options like homestays becoming very popular. With a common passion to provide guests across geographies memorable travel experiences, we strongly believe that this partnership will be extremely beneficial for the modern traveler.”

May 16, 2019

Experience your first international holiday with SOTC Unbelievable prices, visa convenience and much more with SOTC’s Thailand packages
SOTC Travel has announced three exciting deals for the first time international travelers, to Thailand. Starting at just INR 29,800; the packages will include airfares, accommodation, sight-seeing and on arrival eVisa.

SOTC has crafted this keeping in mind the preferences of its travellers to provide a combination of activities like shopping, beaches and spa experiences. With holiday season currently at its peak, consumers across demographics can visit Thailand at an unbelievable price enjoying its pleasant climate, scenic beauty and pristine beaches.

Travelers can avail of this unique holiday experience through three carefully designed tour packages, catering to diverse budgets, while providing for a memorable first time international trip. Customers will be able to experience the best of Thailand without the hassle of a lengthy visa process. The Thailand eVisa on arrival program will ensure that travelers receive an eVisa on arrival within 24 to 72 hours without having to endure long immigration queues.

The three variants of this package include a 5-Day Tour to Bangkok at INR 29,800 or Bangkok and Pattaya at INR 30,700 or Phuket at INR 31,990.

Commenting on this novel offering, Daniel D’souza, President & Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel said, “With years of experience in providing expert travel assistance, we understand how Indian travellers cherish their ‘first’ international travel experience. The majority of Indian population falls under the youth segment, who aspires to travel. Encouraged by increasing middle class incomes, Millennials have emerged as the newest class of Indian Travellers. Looking at the growth potential, we have introduced this package, for the first time international traveler, making it affordable and unique, while offering the right combination of adventure, thrill and leisure. At SOTC, we aspire to make holidays a priority for every Indian and we understand the concerns surrounding first time international trips. So our objective is to make the experience as seamless and as affordable as possible”.

February 11, 2019

Discover The World ‘On The Go’ With SOTC’s Newly Launched Portal
~On The Go offers travellers a wide range of unique experiences and activities~

For the new-age Indian traveller, planning a holiday abroad, is like going on a personal adventure – a journey that opens the horizons of their mind and provides exposure to the world. They are looking for novel, experiences that translate into enriching memories. Catering to the excursionists who like to tread the path less taken, leading travel and tourism company SOTC has launched On The Go, India's one-of-a-kind travel service for personalised tours.

If you are on your planned holiday but find something that's piqued your interest, then you can now get more of the same trip with On The Go. Find the best value for your time, energy and money, by witnessing the most popular tourist destinations in a completely different light. The portal captures the best a region has to offer and curates an unforgettable trip that’s a perfect coming alive of the travellers’ fantasies. So whether you have opted for a pre-planned SOTC tour and want to add more to your itinerary or simply explore the place in never-done-before manner, On The Go will set it up for you.

Empowered with a thorough understanding of the new-age traveller's mindset and expectations, On The Go offers customised experiences and activities for every wanderlust. Be it trekking through snow-capped Alps, sailing down The Nile, or learning to cook a traditional Bhutanese meal, Gen-Z now has the chance to tick off the next thing on their bucket list.

Mr. Daniel Dsouza, Head - Sales, India and NRI Markets, SOTC Travel said, “The new-age traveller is well-read, discerning and wants excitement, convenience and the best deals, all at once, when planning a journey. At SOTC Travel, the motto is providing a service that is flexible and personalised to match the customer’s needs. Being diverse in terms of the choices is what adds more value to the customer experience. On The Go offers the most exclusive customisation in the holiday category, today. Through On The Go, customers can book their excursions, activities and experiences at their own convenience. They also have access to authentic reviews by other travel connoisseurs that help them make a smart decision."

Explore specially planned culinary tours, art workshops, sports sojourns, and more with India's one-of-a-kind experiential travel partner. Whether you desire to take a free-spirited helicopter ride, float into the clouds on a hot-air balloon with your beloved or head out on a honeymoon with a difference, On The Go is your perfect itinerary planner. Encounter the exhilaration of flexible travel and the ease of expert planning, with SOTC's most dynamic travel service, yet.

Visit: https://www.sotc.in/on-the-go and Explore the World
SOME FEATURES INCLUDE:
• Adding activities to a package (Shows, Concerts, Sports)
• Exclusive Experiences- Air, Helicopter & Balloon Tours
• Arranging Special touches on your honeymoon package
• Spa, culinary, kid friendly tours
• Classes and Workshops (Mask making, Ski workshops, Wine & Painting)

January 10, 2019

SOTC Travel celebrates 70 years of travel

SOTC Travel, marked the 70th anniversary of its founding year in 1949. SOTC’s first office was opened in Mumbai with 5 employees. A major breakthrough came in 1976, when SOTC handled its first tour group visiting the US during the bicentennial celebrations. 1981 saw another breakthrough when SOTC Package Tours began active advertising, with the first creative in the newspapers.

Today it has grown to a network of over 160 touch points in India and NRI markets. Over the years, the company has attained leadership position in various travel segments-Escorted Group Holidays, Customized Holidays, Domestic Holidays, Incentive Travel, Business Travel and Foreign Exchange.

Speaking on the momentous occasion, Vishal Suri, Managing Director, SOTC Travel said, “It is indeed a celebratory moment for us at SOTC. We believe in constantly evolving and adapting to the changing needs and expectations of our customers to create and deliver magical moments and seamless travel solutions. Moving forward, we will continue to focus on Value Creation for all our stake holders – customers, employees and partners, by further enhancing our processes, investing in technology and innovation to deliver delightful customer experiences.”

The company aims to further strengthen its business with an array of innovations and launches across multiple travel categories. The plans include new product formats and extension of premium offerings.

Things you did not know about SOTC
• In Switzerland, the town of Engelberg was renamed SOTC Indian Village in 1999.
• SOTC is the only Indian tour operator to be awarded the prestigious Friends of Thailand Award in 2000.
• In 2003, a customer travelling with an SOTC Bhraman Mandal tour to Europe came back to India and wrote a book titled ‘Parikrama of Western Europe’. The book is an account of his journey – from the decision-making stage to homecoming – and talks of his experience as an SOTC customer.
• Pioneers in introducing the Holiday Now Pay Later facility
• Pioneered in designing and marketing of escorted tours to cosmopolitan travellers in India.
• Introduced the concept of Box Holidays.
• SOTC was the first travel group to create a tour around the Seven New Wonders of the World.
• Pioneers in creating the concept of a Holiday Bazaar.
• Cost Saver Tours were first introduced by SOTC.
• SOTC Travel is the pioneer in Indian travel space to enter the integrated spiritual + leisure segment with the introduction of Spiritual Tours named Darshans.
• Launched easy financing options for customers such as Holidays on EMI, Holiday Investment Plan, tie-ups with banks for cash back options.
• Pioneers in introducing regional tours ‘Darshanam’ for the South India Market.
• Pioneers to introduce SOTC The Enchanted Journey with YRF films that gave the travellers a real-life experience of the magnificent spectacle they had seen unfurl only on the screen.

Milestone

2018
Launched Sales Analytics.

2017
SOTC entered the Travel E Commerce space with an all new sotc.in portal, offering exciting new features. The new website is built on SOTC’s Omni-channel approach which is customer-centric and helps deliver an integrated digital experience to our customers and a desire to use technology to allow customers to engage seamlessly with us across our physical & digital platforms.

First to introduced Travel Merchandise ‘SOTC Holiday Essentials.’

2016
Kuoni India rebranded to SOTC as part of a brand transition post change in control & Kuoni Group exiting Tour Operating entities globally.

Released its new TVC, asks Indians not to postpone their Holidays & make holidays a priority.

SOTC unveiled its new brand logo. The new logo uses distinct tag lines for each of the business segments - For Holidays, For Incentive Travel and For Business Travel.

2015
Launched a brand campaign for Indians to prioritize their holidays. The campaign communicated a strong statement of looking at Vacation Deprivation as a disease and a holiday as the only medicine to cure it.

2014
Received the prestigious Certificate of Registration for operating Quality Management System which complies with the requirement of ISO 9001:2008 for its corporate travel business.

2013
Launched a television commercial in line with the new brand architecture. Commercial highlighted the brand promise of 'We are for holidays' and inspired consumers across segments to stand up for their holidays.

2011
Launched the first ever Holiday Report 2011. Launched Perfect Moments; need based concepts for the Indian traveler that included mind body soul, away from it all, the world is mine, undiscovered destinations and romantic escapes.

2005
First to launch franchisee network.

2002
FIT Holidays was launched to market and operate international and domestic holidays for individual travellers.

1997
Kuoni Group acquired 100% equity in SOTC in 1997.

1996
Kuoni Group entered India by acquiring a 51% stake in SOTC.