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Bloomberg
Thomas Cook is set to be relaunched by its Chinese owner, who plans to use the 178-year-old British tour operator’s brand on a travel platform targeting European customers.
Fosun Tourism Group, the Shanghai-based company that bought Thomas Cook’s trademark following its dramatic collapse in September, will debut the platform in the first half of next year, according to a person familiar with the plans.
Some of Fosun’s existing travel offerings will be grouped together and re-branded as Thomas Cook, with the aim to lure travelers — particularly those in Europe familiar with the name — to the company’s resorts around the world, said the person, who asked not to be identified as they’re not authorized to speak publicly about the plan.
Tapping Thomas Cook’s former glory may prove challenging after its bankruptcy led to 9,000 job losses in the UK and left 150,000 tourists stuck overseas, with the holiday plans of thousands more ruined. Fosun, which owns resort chain Club Med SAS, had acquired 18% of Thomas Cook but balked at the cost of funding its rescue. The Chinese company paid 11 million pounds ($14 million) in November for the trademark and its two hotel brands — Casa Cook and Cook’s Club — along with their domain names, apps and social media accounts.
Founded in the 1840s as an operator of train trips through the English midlands, Thomas Cook’s demise raised questions about the viability of the packaged tour model as tourists pivot more toward individual and self-directed travel.