p4 dec19 17/12/08 21:44 Page 4
news
19.12.2008
Christmas Giveaways!
Win flights and three
Cook boss warns
nights for two people
in Dubai
Find out how to enter, p32
of more collapses
Package focus
Lucy Huxley.
Cook is confident customers will
THE UK economy could take up to pay 8% more, claiming they were
three years to recover from the reces- returning to the package holiday
in Thomson ads
sion and up to 15 travel firms could seeking financial security following
fail over the next three months. the collapse of XL Leisure Group.
These are the predictions of “They see the protection and
THOMSON’S turn-of-year marketing campaign Thomas Cook chief executive Manny value for money that a package
will highlight the benefits of its package holidays. Fontenla-Novoa, who warned that offers and they are paying for it.
Launching on December 20, the campaign will any company that had not agreed There are fewer people out there
use the tagline “Every single detail taken care terms with its banks was vulnerable. Manny Fontenla-Novoa now who are prepared to take a
of”. Describing the market as “tough”, gamble,” Fontenla-Novoa added.
Previous Thomson campaigns have focused on he said: “Companies are going to struggle to Cook is still looking to grow through acquisition
the component and DIY aspects of its range. get bank facilities in place. We may see 10-15 in markets such as China and Russia but said it
However, a new minute-long advert will portray companies go over the next three months. If they had now filled the gaps in its UK portfolio.
staff putting together the ideal holiday as though can survive the next three months, they have a Fontenla-Novoa said Hotels4U.com and
they are stage designers. chance as cash will start coming in.” Elegant Resorts had given Cook the bed bank
Meanwhile, First Choice will pitch for the Fontenla-Novoa said Cook had secured a three- and luxury operator it had been missing.
family market with a swimming pool-themed year banking facility in September. “We now have all our gaps covered so any-
new year campaign. He predicted the UK economy might not start thing else in the UK would be bought just be-
Both Thomson and First Choice’s print media to recover significantly until 2010 or even 2011. cause they’re great deals,” Fontenla-Novoa said.
campaigns will emphasise the financial protection Cook’s 2009 prices are up about 8% year-on- Cook is known to be in final discussions about
customers are offered. year, but the market will not withstand them buying Medhotels from lastminute.com and is
Andrew Laurillard, Thomson head of brand strat- going up any further, Fontenla-Novoa said. also rumoured to be in talks with Gold Medal.
egy, said: “We want to stand out with messages Speaking at an annual briefing, he added: “We
about financial protection, especially in the cur- think we’ve got it just about right, but in this
XL fallout: CAA to pay out on claims, p6
rent climate where there is so much uncertainty.” market we can’t put prices up any more.”
Sterling’s drop dents eurozone
THE FALLING value of the pound against the euro wake up to the severity of the situation, but
will seriously affect consumer choice next year, Greece had been “hopeless”.
Thomas Cook chief executive Manny Fontenla- “Within a week of being appointed, the
Novoa warned. Spanish minister had been over to visit us in
The UK market to Spain is already 18% down Peterborough. The Greek minister was over for
on the previous year, while Greece is 20% down. three days for WTM, but too busy to see anyone
Fontenla-Novoa said the situation could from the industry. How can you work with people
deteriorate further if hoteliers did not act now like that?” he said.
to stem the decline. Fontenla-Novoa added that Turkey was up
“Spain has been badly hit and Greece is having 20% and other non-euro destinations such as
a tough time. Cyprus is doing slightly better as Egypt were also faring well.
it’s got some great product and hoteliers have He revealed: “We are deciding whether
been proactive with their rates.” we move even more out of short-haul to our
A stage designer “adds the sun” in Thomson’s new TV advert Fontenla-Novoa said Spain had started to non-euro destinations.”
04 19.12.2008
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