Mr. Karan Anand, Head - Relationships and Supplier Management, Cox & Kings Ltd., was conferred the prestigious Gold Medal for Tourism (Médaille d'Or du Tourisme) by the French government during a special ceremony hosted at the French Consulate in Mumbai. This is the first ever Gold Medal given by the French government to an Indian in the tourism industry.

Mr. Yves Perrin, Consul General of France in Mumbai presenting the prestigious Gold Medal for Tourism (Médaille d'Or du Tourisme) to Mr. Karan Anand, Head - Relationships and Supplier Management, Cox & Kings at the Consulate General of France, Mumbai recently

Mr. Anand was awarded the highly coveted gold medal by Yves Perrin, Consul General of France in Mumbai, for his pioneering contribution in promoting France in India.

On presenting the medal, Yves Perrin, Consul General of France in Mumbai said, “We are pleased to give the gold medal to Mr. Karan Anand for his efforts in strengthening touristic ties between our two countries. As the Consul General of France, I would like thank him for his distinguished work towards the promotion of France as a prime tourist destination.”

France has always been an aspirational destination for the savvy Indian traveller and Cox & Kings has been the pioneers in opening up attractions and destinations to suit the Indian traveller. Among the notable achievements, the leading travel group has been the first ones to serve Indian cuisine at the Lido, facilitate exclusive tie-up with the Grevin Wax Museum, introduce Parc Asterix---the amusement park, opened Bordeaux for wine tours and successfully open the Charmonix Mont Blanc region to the Indian market.

Mr. Anand in his advisory role with Atout France has consistently played a key role in advising the French tourism industry on the dynamics of the Indian market and to harness the potential that lay in store.

Sheetal Munshaw, Director – Atout France, added, “We are absolutely elated that Mr. Anand is the first Indian recipient of this prestigious gold medal in tourism conferred by the French Republic. Mr Anand has been a great friend of France since several years and has actively contributed to the evolution of tourism to France. He has lent his expertise consistently and has over the years willingly extended his unwavering support to showcasing destination France in his capacity as member of the Advisory Board for Atout France. Our association with Cox and Kings has resulted in many innovative promotional programs showcasing the myriad experiences France has to offer. The role of Cox and Kings in introducing new destinations such as Chamonix Mont Blanc, the Grevin Wax Museum in Paris has been instrumental in our showcase of France. In 2016, a joint collaboration resulted in the creation of a first ever gastronomic brochure dedicated to France which perfectly celebrated the versatile flavours of French cuisine.”

The Gold Medal for Tourism (Médaille d'Or du Tourisme) recognizes individuals, whether French or non-French, who have contributed effectively to the development of tourism and related activities through their voluntary contribution or professional value and in strengthening bilateral relations.

About Cox & Kings Ltd.: (BSE: 533144 | NSE: COX&KINGS)

Cox & Kings Ltd. (‘C&K’) is the oldest travel company in the world and also one of the leading leisure and education travel group with operations in 22 countries across four continents. It is one of the most experienced travel companies in the world, having been in operation since 1758. Headquartered in India, C&K has over the last three decades transformed itself into a diversified, multinational travel conglomerate with a focus on the new-age global consumer. 

C&K operates in three key verticals; Leisure, Education, Hybrid Hotels.

Leisure—India is best known by the ubiquitous Cox & Kings brand in India, where we are an integrated travel enterprise, offering the best and widest range of travel options to individuals, groups and businesses in the fastest growing major economy in the world. www.coxandkings.com.

Leisure—International operates in multiple countries, mainly under the Cox & Kings brand, with a greater focus on premium-end travel. www.coxandkings.co.uk.

Education operates under the brand names PGL and NST, among others. PGL and NST are market leaders in experiential learning in the UK and we intend to take these brands across the world; we have recently entered the Australian market. www.pgl.co.uk, www.nstgroup.co.uk.

Meininger currently operates more than 8,500 beds across 17 hotels in 11 European cities. The unique hybrid concept of Meininger combines the service and comfort of a hotel with the uncomplicated nature of a hostel; top locations, high-quality amenities, flexible room structure and reasonable prices. www.meininger-hotels.com.

Cox & Kings is one of the founding members of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and also a member of premier industry associations across the world. Over the years the company has won many awards which stand testimony to its excellence in service.

In 2016, it won Hospitality India Travel Award for Best Domestic Tour Operator and Best Experiential Travel Company. Cox & Kings Trade Fairs was recognized as Champions of ChinaPlas for 2016, fourth time in a row. In 2017, continuing with its winning legacy, Cox & Kings won the coveted SATTE Awards and Travel and Lifestyle Leadership Award for Best Outbound Tour Operator. Cox & Kings has also been a consistent winner at the World Travel Awards since years. The title of Asia's Leading Luxury Tour Operator was bagged for the 3rd consecutive time, India's Leading Tour Operator for the 4th time and India's Leading Travel Agency for the 5th consecutive time. The prestigious PATA Gold award 2017 was presented to Cox & Kings for Marketing Media in Social Media SM category.