MAM
Thomas Cook India & SOTC Travel launch range of winter holidays
Mumbai: Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel have joined forces to launch an extensive range of luxury, ready-to-book, air-inclusive, land-only, and customizable winter holidays across top domestic and international destinations.
Showcasing winter at its best, Thomas Cook (India) & SOTC Travel have incorporated exceptional experiences: aurora hunting in Sweden; Finland’s husky safaris; stays in an ice hotel or glass igloos in Norway with spectacular views of the northern lights; snowmobiling, snowboarding, and tobogganing in Lapland; and a visit to Santa’s village in Rovaniemi. A diversity of wellness: from Iceland’s geo-thermal Blue Lagoon to the Swiss spa town of Bad Zurzach. Distinctive gastronomic options include fondue aboard Zurich’s Fondue Tram or exclusive winery trips to Chamonix, Burgundy, and California’s Napa Valley.
Thomas Cook & SOTC domestic winter portfolio includes outdoor adventure like biking and camping trips; skiing, rock climbing, and sleighing at Patnitop, Kashmir, or a myriad of winter festivals, including Gujarat’s Rann Utsav, Jaisalmer’s Desert Festival, and Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival. The companies’ winter range includes luxury stays in Kashmir’s Khyber/Qayaam, Tamara/Gateway, Coonoor, or glamping in Rajasthan.
Ensuring customer delight, the companies’ live video connect platform seamlessly connects customers directly with holiday experts via a video call/chat, without having to download additional apps/software.
Thomas Cook (India) president & country head of holidays, MICE, and visa Rajeev Kale said, “Customer confidence in travel is back, driving high demand for winter travel. We have launched our distinctive winter holidays that offer spectacular winter vistas and unique snow experiences, romantic locales for couples, and winter cuisine-wine across India and international favourites. Customers can select from our array of value to luxury, ready-to-book or personalised options – to plan a truly once in a lifetime experience. Our special Buy One Get One Free and cash discounts/vouchers are sure to sweeten the deal!”
Adding to it, SOTC Travel president and country head Daniel D’souza said, “Our consumer data reveals that 68 per cent of respondents are keen to travel during the winter. To capitalise on this demand, we are delighted to present a range of winter wonderland experiences, such as thrilling snow activities, rejuvenating wellness and gastronomic experiences, and a special visit to Santa Claus’ village in Finland. We’ve targeted India’s millennials with exciting outdoor adventure, families with fun experiences, and the HNI-UHNI segment with luxury stays and wellness.”
Brands
DeVANS sparks buzz with self-chilling beer can April Fools campaign
Godfather stunt racks up 7 million impressions, blending humour with hype
NEW DELHI: DeVANS Modern Breweries has stirred up the marketing pot with a playful yet high-impact campaign teasing a futuristic “self-chilling beer can” under its flagship Godfather label.
What began as a seemingly bold product innovation quickly turned into one of the most talked-about brand moments online, before being revealed as an April Fools’ Day prank. The reveal, however, did little to cool the buzz.
The campaign clocked over 7 million organic impressions across platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X, with users debating whether the concept was a genuine breakthrough or clever marketing theatre. Thousands of shares and comments turned the idea into a full-blown conversation, drawing in both consumers and industry insiders.
The hook was simple but effective. A self-chilling can positioned as an on-the-go convenience product tapped into the imagination of younger, urban audiences. Add the timing around April Fools’ Day, and the campaign struck the perfect balance between curiosity and scepticism, keeping audiences guessing.
Marketing experts have pointed to the campaign as a case study in leveraging cultural moments. By leaving just enough ambiguity, the brand invited audiences to participate rather than simply observe, turning passive viewers into active contributors to the narrative.
“Godfather has always been an iconic brand, but iconicity must evolve to stay meaningful,” said DeVANS Modern Breweries chairman and managing director Prem Dewan. “The ‘Self-Chilling Can’ was our way of showing up in a cultural moment with confidence and a sense of humour.”
Beyond the numbers, the campaign signals a broader repositioning for Godfather. Long seen as a legacy beer brand, it is now leaning into youth culture, digital-first storytelling and topical engagement to stay relevant in a crowded alcobev market.
In a space where attention is fleeting, DeVANS has shown that sometimes the coolest idea is the one that keeps people guessing.
