Cook collapse raises familiar questions A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
As time passes since the Thomas Cook failure, attention will inevitably turn to what lessons can be learnt from its collapse. It remains to be seen if there is a genuine appetite in Westminster to
address gaps in consumer protection and change insolvency rules to mitigate the immediate impact of travel company failures. But there will also be serious conversations within the industry about the way Cook folded, and the issues faced by those who are still working every available hour to help those affected. One of the positive themes to emerge over the past 10 days has been the way the industry has pulled together, with the online jobs directory and resource centre we set up on
travelweekly.co.uk swamped by those looking for new positions and more than 100 companies keen to help.
But I have also spoken to many industry figures this week who say that the massive sympathy and support they have for Cook staff is accompanied by frustration over the hurdles they have faced in trying to pick up the pieces. The subject of who “owns” the customer and holds their data has been a hot topic of conversation for many years. But the flaws in the current system are invariably laid bare in the case of a collapse like Cook’s when companies throughout the supply chain are left scrambling to reach and communicate with those affected. I have no doubt that this subject will be one of many on the agenda when the industry gathers for Abta’s Travel Convention in Tokyo next week.
WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK
OHosted two Travel Weekly Executive Lunches with Australian author Kathy Lette and blogger and flexible working campaigner Anna Whitehouse as guest speakers.
OCaught up with loads of suppliers and agents at the Advantage Big Celebration Lunch.
Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group
Top Stories News
Round-up Comment Get Social
Business News
COLLAPSE 4
THOMAS COOK
6
10 30 41 78
FRONT COVER
A former Thomas Cook employee protests in
Manchester on Monday, highlighting the fact that the group’s operations in
Germany and the Nordics have been kept in business with the support of banks and government aid
CONTENTS NEWS
Cook: ‘Board had duty of governance’ 4 Cook: CAA ‘will not increase APC’
4
Cook: customers fly back with Malaysia 5 Cook: travel firms rush to recruit staff 6 Cook: Freedom agents join consortia 8 Cook: agents scramble to rebook
10 CruiseAppy ‘like Netflix’; Royal gongs 12
Derek Moore Foundation; Jamaica ad 14 Conference report Atas Conference, Manchester Nine-page Atas photo special
Comment Miles Morgan: Cook staff – go for it 30
16 18
NEWS YOU CAN USE Product
Canadian Affair, Funway, Tui Tours 33 Operator
APT, Kuoni, Leger Holidays, Wendy Wu Tours, Luxury Gold, Cosmos
Cruise
Virgin Voyages, Bahamas Paradise, Royal, Amadeus, Carnival
FOLLOW US:
travelweekly.co.uk @travelweekly 34 36
OPrepared for the three sessions I am moderating at Abta’s Travel Convention: Brave New World, Cruising Asia and Destination Japan.
FRONTLINE Get Social
Thomas Cook: Future Travel, strategy 41 Your Stories
Nicola Davies opens Wales agency 42 Close-up
Viking fam trip, Uniworld, Dom Rep 44 Competitions
Win a week for two in Mauritius Mystery Shopper
DESTINATIONS Short Breaks
Prague: know your neighbourhoods 50 Paris: go off-season to avoid crowds 55 Christmas Markets: 5 of the best
All-inclusive holidays 59
Antigua: Get fit with singer Fleur East 60 Winter Sun: Save, spend or splurge 64 Costa del Sol: Palladium Hotel review 69
BUSINESS NEWS
‘Cook missed rescue deal in 2012’: Clive Jacobs recalls £400m bid
travelweeklyuk 80 @travelweeklyuk 3 OCTOBER 2019 3 46 Chesterfield agents set Mexico poser 48
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