NEWS SPECIAL REPORT Thomas Cook celebrates its


The renowned travel company marked 175 years in the business on Monday. Juliet Dennis and Amie Keeley tracks how Thomas Cook evolved from a train journey to Loughborough in 1841 to be the UK’s number-two operator today


Some of Thomas Cook’s longest-serving agents were this week among those who helped recreate the company’s first excursion – a steam train ride from Leicester to Loughborough – exactly 175 years on.


Local schoolchildren and


customers were also invited to board the specially chartered steam train on a journey that cost one shilling a head back in 1841. The event is one of many planned in July and August and follows an anniversary bike ride from the company’s HQ in Peterborough to Paris, which raised £100,000 for its Children’s Charity. “There are not many businesses


that have been going as long as Thomas Cook,” says Kathryn Darbandi, Cook’s director of retail and customer experience. “The anniversary is a great opportunity to educate customers and staff. What is most relevant to me is that 175 years ago we invented the package holiday and we are still doing it 175 years on.” Cook opened its first shop in


1865. By 1965 it had 93 stores, and today it has 796. Darbandi says the company’s heritage helps attract and retain staff and bolsters its brand on the high street. Cook has eight shop staff who have been with the


TIMELINE 1841-2016


1937 Thomas Cook staff hand out flowers to clients


company more than 40 years. “Our longstanding staff are very


proud of the heritage and new starters are inspired by it,” says Darbandi. “Thomas Cook is still well known globally. It was built on


“175 years ago we invented the package holiday and we are still doing it 175 years on”


retail and there is a perception that it has been around the longest.” Darbandi says the values that


were at the heart of the business 175 years ago – customers, service and knowledge – remain core today. On August 25, the company will hold charity events in its shops, from cake bakes to sponsored Monopoly board games. All shop windows will feature the 175 logo. Senior retail staff will also take part in a 12-mile sponsored walk from Leicester to Loughborough.


1865 First shop: Fleet Street


1841 Thomas Cook organises his first excursion


1865 Thomas Cook opens its first shop, in Fleet Street, London


1872-73 Thomas Cook organises and leads first round- the-world tour


1919 Thomas Cook & Sons is the first travel agent to sell pleasure trips by air


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