TTG Talk


I AM angry and upset by the recent bad publicity and media speculation about Thomas Cook. I am not normally poised to put pen to paper or voice my opinion, however I would like to point out a few issues. In this current climate many


companies have “short term” cash flow problems and as many agencies and operators are well aware, November and December are “quiet months”. Therefore, I am disgusted to read other operators’ advertising with regards to Cook’s plight; this is unprofessional. We cannot predict how the markets and consumer future spend will go, and no-one is safe.


Thomas Cook has 170 years’


experience in selling package holidays and flights, and is obsessed and committed to customer service – which was reflected when there was the ash cloud recently where Cook protected all of its customers, put them up in hotels, gave them food and drinks and flew them back home whenever it was safe to do so. I am proud to work for Cook and know that this will only make us stronger in the future. Thomas Cook employee Name and address withheld


travel trade gazette


uk & ireland edition Issue 2984


Emails, Tweets, Facebook, web comments and your opinions – what the travel trade is saying this week


COMMENTS OF THE WEEK


Cook troubles touch the entire industry


The trade should support Cook through these troubled times. Most agents will have advanced bookings with them that have already been paid for, or deposits paid. If Cook goes down, there will be a lack of stock available as no one will replace that amount of flights and holidays. Not to mention 30,000 staff out looking for jobs. I am sure a lot of them are ex-colleagues or friends to us all. Craig Jay Express Bookers


My local Cook shop regularly sends customers to us, a local independent. It’s anything they don’t like dealing with – last-minute flights, tricky visas and inbounds. They think they are just losing low profit problems, but in fact they are losing customers who might, had they been prepared to help, have kept coming back. Such has been the pattern since operators imposed selective sales policies. John Coldwell Travel Agency Services


It’s not just Tui that will be benefiting from the uncertainty surrounding Cook. At Holidaysplease, we have just firmed up a


£4,000 booking from a client who came to us


because he did not want to book with his usual Cook shop at this time. It’s great to pick up a booking, but I hope Cook is out of the news soon as uncertainty is no good for any of us in the industry. Richard Dixon Holidaysplease


The major chains introduced fierce discounting to generate business when they over-committed themselves, and now they are competing against web-based companies with much lower over- heads giving them a taste of their own medicine. If the major operators have to discount their bottom-end products to fulfil commitments then their business models are doomed to failure. Paul Morris Sunset Travel


TALK TO US! Talk toTTGin whatever way you want to – we want your views. Feedback@ttgdigital.com, twitter.com/ttg_digital, facebook.com/traveltradegazette


EDITORIAL Daniel Pearce editor 020 7921 8008 April Hutchinson ttgluxury editor 020 7921 8440 alhutchinson@ttgluxury.com


NEWS Lucy Siebert news editor 020 7921 8003 Sophie Griffiths reporter (cruise/hotels) 020 7921 8010 Rob Gill reporter (operators/city) 020 7921 8011


Media partner of the ITT


FEATURES & SUPPLEMENTS Philippa Jacks features & supplements editor 020 7921 8038 Katherine Lawrey deputy features & supplements editor 020 7921 8018 Carlie Trotter business writer (features) 020 7921 8004


24 01.12.2011


EDITORIAL PRODUCTION Matthew Parsons chief sub-editor 020 7921 8015 Ben Sneath sub-editor 020 7921 8006


TTGDIGITAL.COM Ciaran O’ Fathaigh digital manager 020 7921 8017


ART & DESIGN Jasveer Mehay group head of design 020 7921 8430 Matthew Leech digital art editor 020 7921 8014


COMMERCIAL & EVENTS Sheryl Makin sales director 020 7921 8023 Louise Napier ttgluxurysales manager 020 7921 8508 Ricky Wilkes sales manager 020 7921 8195 Jodie Collins account manager 020 7921 8022


FRIENDS & FOLLOWERS


@SPENNIY Cook is a good British company.


Help it survive turmoil by booking your next holiday with them. Can’t afford to lose another high street name.


@W_ARMSTRONG Is this £200m rescue deal for


Thomas Cook delaying the inevitable? Some company restructuring surely needs to take place now...


@NACOTRADEUNION £200m finance deal eases


concerns at Thomas Cook. Annual financial results to be published week commencing December 12.


@CARLYODONNELL1 Thomson’s ads in the press are in


bad taste. Understand the need to reassure people, but they sound like gloating.


@FLUFFYLINKS Remember the summer of 1851?


Thomas Cook, Euro 2nd biggest tour operator is having the worst year in its 170-year history.


@PAULLEWISMONEY Thomas Cook is paying 5% above


Libor (1.03% today) rising each quarter (and Libor is also rising) plus fees. Banks can buy 4.9% of shares.


@HACKNEYE I wonder if the cost in jobs of a


general switch to online shopping is fully appreciated? We’re a retail economy #thomascook


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Peter Jones account manager 020 7921 8019 Kimberley Smith events sales manager 020 7921 8025 Vanessa Powell office manager 020 7921 8029


CLIENT SOLUTIONS Sheryl Makin sales director 020 7921 8023


CLASSIFIED & RECRUITMENT Jodie Collins account manager 020 7921 8022


ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION Stephen Miller display production manager 020 7921 8027 stephen.miller@ubm.com Mark Saunders digital production 020 7921 8386 mark.saunders@ubm.com


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