The sunny heart is beating again. Thomas Cook is back, launching today as an on-line only travel company. And, for now, it is Covid-ready, only selling holidays to destinations on the Government’s safe travel corridor list.
International leisure company Fosun Tourism Group, which owns Club Med, has bought the business after Thomas Cook went into liquidation last year. All the package holidays on thomascook.com will be ABTA and Atol-protected.
Holidays – advertised with cool new posters and slogans – are on offer to popular beach destinations and cities in countries including Italy, Greece and Turkey, in line with the current travel corridors. Customers can choose from room-only to all-inclusive options, across three, four and five-star hotels.
Examples include a three-night break in Rome in November at the four-star Grand Hotel Fleming for £252 for two adults flying from Gatwick. Or a family of four can stay for a week all-inclusive at the five-star Crystal Green Bay Resort & Spa outside Bodrum on October 11 for £1,250, flying from Liverpool.
The new website puts customers in control of their own holiday, with the ability to design their trip according to their budget, needs and specifications. Add-ons will include transfers, car hire, airport parking, currency and travel insurance.
UK boss Alan French said: “We have reinvented one of the most recognisable names in British travel. Our new business will combine fantastic UK based customer service with an updated operating model protected by Atol and with the backing of a multi-billion-dollar organisation.
“We are launching now clearly aware of the short-term challenges posed by the pandemic. We and our Fosun backers are taking the long view and we want to offer choice, customisation, and 24/7 on-holiday customer care to families who wish to travel now and in the future.
“We know Brits are keen to travel but feel nervous about safety and any changes to government rules on quarantine. We are only selling destinations on the travel corridor list and all the hotels are flexible. We also won’t charge customers a fee to change their holidays if government rules change.
“Our passion is travel and we’re focussed on providing great hotels at destinations holidaymakers love, so our customers can design their own break, all at great prices. With flexibility, 24/7 on-holiday care and Atol protection, customers can book a Thomas Cook holiday with confidence.
“We will offer customers choice and a better booking experience. Our website is designed to be fast and simple to use and our priority is to ensure customers can book their holiday with absolute confidence. Thanks to new ownership and a new robust financial structure, customers can be reassured their money is protected.
“We will use a trust model to ring-fence customers’ payments, meaning Thomas Cook only receives customers’ money once they’ve returned from holiday.”
