OV9

Yup

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49791249

Hope this doesn’t affect anyone here

A shame for the staff but they just didn't evolve to stay competitive, as the article says. M&S has similar issues IMO.

It’s been coming a long time. They were lucky to survive this period last year.

If a holiday company is going to go bust, it’ll happen at this time of year because they have to pay the hotels 60-90 days after the end of their customers holidays. Monarch went at this time last year, for example. The other threat is when their ATOL licence is due for renewal. If the CAA doesn’t think they’re solvent enough, they won’t get a licence.

Know someone who has booked their trip of a lifetime with Thomas Cook, due to leave in three weeks. She's rather anxious.

Thomas cook have been quite expensive for years though.

There is a huge Thomas Cook place in Peterborough, the whole area is known as Thomas Cook because of it. People who worked there got incredibly cheap holidays, free gym, childcare etc.

Luckily a friend left there about 2 months ago but there will be a huge hit for the town.

Dave!

Had a piss poor customer service experience with them in the local town several years ago, hadn't used them since. Woman was basically arguing with us, so as truly awful as it undoubtedly is for the staff, and even though she's probably long gone, I won't miss them.

I had a meeting with them a few years ago just after Harriet Green joined as the new CEO, about application modernisation. It didn't go anywhere as a piece of work with them, afaik, or, hey, they might still be around (j/k)

Tbh I'm surprised they've lasted this long. Who even uses travel agents these days? It's as antiquated as sowing travellers cheques into your waistband.

Thomas Cook - All inclusive, surprisingly expensive holidays, sat by the pool, in exotic sounding locations, for council estaters, paid off over many, many “interest free” months

JLv3.0 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 12:37 pm Tbh I'm surprised they've lasted this long. Who even uses travel agents these days? It's as antiquated as sowing travellers cheques into your waistband.

I can't even recall the last time we used one! I know we did in 2002, but I think that might have been the last.

Blockbusters, Woolworths, Thomas Cook... All outdated models.

Was in the pub on Saturday discussing this with two older pensioner folk who had just paid 150.00 as a deposit for their next years hol. They go away once a year and 150 quid is a lot of money to them so while some people will think book another for some its not that easy (dont have credit cards).

Horrible for all the staff too - folk on the news who have worked there all their lives.

Broccers. A man of the people.

Rich B wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:05 pm Broccers. A man of the people.

Yes.

Seems they are the type of loyal clients that were slowly losing.

40-50% of people still use high street, bricks & mortar travel agents.

Broccers wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:04 pm Was in the pub on Saturday discussing this with two older pensioner folk who had just paid 150.00 as a deposit for their next years hol. They go away once a year and 150 quid is a lot of money to them so while some people will think book another for some its not that easy (dont have credit cards).

Did you tell them they'd be much better off after Brexit?

They were leavers now staying at homers

NotoriousREV wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:14 pm 40-50% of people still use high street, bricks & mortar travel agents.

Only one in Seven only, according to Abta quoted in this article...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... r-operator

Rich B wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 12:59 pm Blockbusters, Woolworths, Thomas Cook... All outdated models.

All outdated models - see basically all High Street retail

dinny_g wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:51 pm

NotoriousREV wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:14 pm 40-50% of people still use high street, bricks & mortar travel agents.

Only one in Seven only, according to Abta quoted in this article...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... r-operator

Having worked in the industry for 5 years, I can assure you it’s 40-50%. The last project I worked on before I left was to get our online only products into travel agents for that very reason.