Cook has sadly failed, the trade has not A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


It is scarcely believable that we now have an industry without Thomas Cook at its heart. Our thoughts are with the thousands of staff, hundreds of partners and customers who are in limbo. The industry has once again shown its best traits since the collapse –


from Cook’s amazing frontline staff who continue to help customers, to the companies doing their best to lend support however they can – but the overwhelming perception of the industry has been severely dented. Specific issues such as Cook’s massive debt and the impact of legacy investment and strategic decisions have been well documented in the national media, alongside shorter-term pressures cited by the company itself, such as Brexit, currency fluctuations and last year’s heatwave. A worrying aspect for the industry has been an underlying narrative


that Cook’s business model, high street agents and the package holiday itself are all obsolete. But the facts don’t back this up. More than 25 million people took an Atol-protected package holiday last year and many of these happily booked and travelled with agents and operators, regardless of booking channel. It is also telling that On the Beach, one of the new breed of travel companies that apparently put Cook in the shade, is tipped for further growth partly because of its decision to develop its package holiday product and expand its B2B network of agents. The priority now is to ensure the impact on staff and consumers, and the knock-on effects, are minimised. But we also need to remind consumers that the ‘traditional’ industry has a bright future.


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OLike so many, I stayed up all night on Sunday as the devastating failure of Thomas Cook unfolded.


OModerated the third Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers conference. Speakers included Bruce Poon Tip of G Adventures and Claire Sweeney.


Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group


Top Stories News


COLLAPSE 4


THOMAS COOK


6


Special Report Comment:


Noel Josephides


Interview: Alistair Rowland Get Social


Business News 12 14


18 37 78


CONTENTS NEWS


Cook collapse: staff heartbroken Talks to save Freedom


4 5


Agencies step up for Cook customers 6 Jobless Cook staff offered lifeline


8


Repatriation ‘makes mockery’ of Atol 10 Special report


Travel industry pays tribute to Cook 12


Royal Caribbean reveals 2020 plans 22 Comment


Noel Josephides: Cook collapse


interview Alistair Rowland, Abta chairman


NEWS YOU CAN USE product


Live Cuba, Roma Experience operator


Ramblers, Crystal Ski, First Class Holidays, Grand UK


Cruise Jet2holidays, Virgin, El Al, Adria FOLLOW US: travelweekly.co.uk @travelweekly 27 28


Viking, Cunard, The River Cruise Line 32 aviation


35


BUSINESS NEWS Cook failure; timeline; mistakes


Cook collapse was due to debts travelweeklyuk


78 80


@travelweeklyuk 26 SEPTEMBER 2019 3


14 18


ORan my first 10k with my son Tom at the Disneyland Paris ‘Magic Run Weekend’, courtesy of Disney and Magic Breaks. A truly amazing experience.


FRONTLINE Get Social


Thomas Cook


agent diary Kim Kent: coming unstuck online


spotlight


your stories Chris Lorenzo, Seafarer Holidays


37 40 44


Travel Counsellors’ 25-hour telethon 48 mystery shopper A challenge for Crewe agents


50


DESTINATIONS UK & ireland


Scotland: historic Highlands Six of the best: festive breaks


52 56


Warwickshire: Shakespeare country 63 solo travel


No single supps: tours, cruises, hotels 66 Greenland: Spitsbergen to Reykjavik 72 Q&A: Lynne Maskell, Just You


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