This year the Group Leadership Summit was held in India from 2nd-6th December 2024. It is an annual event, held in different cities in our network, with the last meeting happening in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The Group gathered in Delhi, then proceeded to Ranthambore for two nights, followed by a night in Jaipur. After the arrival at the Imperial Hotel, welcome drinks were hosted by Executive Chairman Madhavan Menon at the 1911 Bar at The Imperial, New Delhi.
So everyone was in ‘high spirits’ from the start!
It was attended by the respective MDs of the subsidiaries of the Thomas Cook Group, and the Group CFO.
Those present were:
Madhavan Menon – Thomas Cook (India) Limited
Mahesh Iyer – Thomas Cook (India) Limited
Debasis Nandy – Thomas Cook (India) Limited
Vishal Suri – SOTC Travel Limited
Dipak Deva – Travel Corporation India Limited (TCI)
Laurent Kuenzle – Asian Trails Limited, Thailand
Peter Payet – Desert Adventures Tourism LLC, Dubai, UAE
Maria NG – Travel Circle International Limited, Hong Kong
K S Ramakrishnan – DEI Holdings Limited, Dubai, UAE
Virginia Barnard – Private Safaris Limited, South Africa
Alexander Spiro – Private Safaris (East Africa) Limited, Kenya
The objective of the meeting was to allow the various MDs to interact with each other informally to develop business connections. It provided a platform where the leaders came together to review the achievements of the past year, and set ambitious goals for 2025. There were business sessions and break-away discussions.
There was a general session about the Group and Fairfax, assessing the current situation and the prospects for 2025. Each MD then addressed the opportunities and challenges faced by them, with others volunteering support and suggestions.
The participants also intermingled one-on-one, getting a better understanding of the different businesses, and discussed how they all could collaborate and support each other’s work.
Adding a touch of leisure and elegance to the agenda, spouses were invited to join the experience, making it a perfect blend of work and camaraderie!
Once the ‘official’ agenda was completed, the highlight of the gathering was the enjoyable sightseeing trips to the majestic Ranthambore, and the vibrant city of Jaipur, ensuring that moments of collaboration were balanced with memories of cultural exploration and relaxation.
The trip was planned and executed by TCI SITA, and handled by Manoj Pamneja.
This happening was more than just a business gathering—it was an opportunity to reflect, strategize, strengthen bonds, and have fun doing it!