NEW DELHI, 6 March 2018: The who’s who of India’s travel and hospitality fraternity, diplomats and business leaders gathered at a glitzy evening gala hosted by Cox & Kings at the Shangri-La’s Eros Hotel, New Delhi, Monday, to mark the 260th anniversary of Cox and Kings.
Credited with being the world’s oldest travel company, preceding even Thomas Cook, the event was opened by Shri K. J. Alphons, India’s Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, who lauded the company for its continuous service to the tourism industry.
He told VIPs and guests: “I am very happy to be a part of Cox & Kings’ 260th year celebration and congratulate everyone who has contributed to this rich legacy by enabling holidays and spreading happiness into the world.
“The tourism sector in India is looking very positive this year as we have crossed the 10 million mark for foreign tourist arrivals and earned revenue of USD 27 billion through foreign tourist arrivals.”
He told the audience that next three years will see India double foreign tourists inflow and the revenue.
Established in 1758, when Cox & Kings was appointed as the general agent to the regiment of Foot Guards in India, the company has established itself as a premium brand in all travel-related services globally.
Speaking at the event, Cox & Kings Group CEO, Peter Kerkar said: “We are unique in the leisure space with an unrivalled tradition of 260 years of service to our customers. It is with pride that I commend our staff for making our company so successful and more particularly relevant even today. Our longevity is a testimony to their ingenuity and transformative spirit that Cox & Kings remains a world leader in the travel, education and hotel space.”
Touted as a leader in travel innovation, the travel company has several firsts to its name. They include chartering a special plane to view the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century, introducing Russia’s first luxury train ‘Bolshoi Express’, launching state-of-the-art luxury railway journeys in India, revamping many Indian palaces as wedding destinations to facilitate their upkeep, offering tailor-made packages to the world’s largest pilgrimage, the Maha Kumbh Mela, and acquiring a mountain in the heart of the Swiss Alps to boost outbound tourism.
The gala celebration witnessed the launch of a series of year-long events and offers such as the ‘260th Grand Celebration Offer’ that gives customers, who book any of the group’s tours and the opportunity to enter a contest and win 260 free holidays to Dubai, Thailand or Oman, plus optional tours and gift vouchers.
(Source: Cox & Kings)
