THOMAS COOK TRAVEL AGENCY RESUMES OPERATIONS

Travel brand Thomas Cook, which filed for bankruptcy last year, gets back to the market. One of the oldest travel agencies in the world, established in 1941, so far plans to work exclusively online and will soon begin to sell tickets to British tourists to the places, upon returning from which it will not be necessary to comply with a 14-day quarantine.

In connection with the coronavirus, the government of the UK has imposed rather strict restrictions on the travel lovers, so Thomas Cook will try to declare its new birth by offering holidays in certain regions of Italy, Turkey or Greece.

Leading shareholders from the Fosun Group Company, registered in China, helped to revive the company.

In November 2019, the intangible assets of the British tour operator, including the brand and online resources, were bought by the Chinese holding for £ 11 million ($ 14.1 million).

Experts point out that this time Thomas Cook should learn the lesson that has led the company to bankruptcy. The problems caused by competition with online services like Airbnb or Expedia, as well as with the low-cost airlines, led the travel brand to financial insolvency. Now the company will be able to redefine itself, given the growing Chinese market. It is planned to begin active operation of the Casa Cook and Cook's Club hotel brands, which also became the property of Fosun.

Previously, the company was represented by an extensive network of offices. In the UK alone, the brand's travel services could have been purchased in 560 dealerships, where about 9,000 employees worked. Now Thomas Cook employs fifty people who are planning to complete travel product packages for 50,000 clients annually.

It is known that the new owner of the brand has already formed a team that will promote the online agency.

The former strategic and technology director of the company, Alan French, is among the members of the company and what is more, he’s headed Thomas Cook. The former marketer of the company and the head of e-commerce, Phil Gardner, this time took a position of commercial director. In fact, the chief financial officer Raj Sharma retained his former post.

It is already known that the company received ATOL - CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) license. The package of financial guarantees and personal responsibility of the tour operator adopted in Britain protects tourists in case of unforeseen situations. By the end of this month, the company plans to send 364 clients on vacation. It is noted that this is the minimum that will help to restart sales and enter the market. The company's website is already operational, but so far without the possibility of purchasing a tour.