Thomas Cook going down the pan ?

[Dedworth]

Shares in Thomas Cook have closed down 75% after it announced it was in talks with banks about increasing the amount of money it can borrow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15832438

I thought they were part of the German outfit TUI but it seems not. I can't remember how many years it is since I walked into a High Street Travel Agent

[grahamw48]

I know I won't be spending any money there.

Such a shame considering their heritage.

The first 'proper' travel company in the world I believe.

[Arthur Little]

Such a shame considering their heritage.

The first 'proper' travel company in the world I believe.

You're right, Graham ... they WERE the world's first. And it IS a shame! But then ... ... I imagine many others in the Travel business are also "feeling the pinch" due to an unprecedented upsurge in the number of holidays booked directly through the internet nowadays.

[grahamw48]

....not to mention the current lack of money in people's pockets.

[Arthur Little]

....not to mention the current lack of money in people's pockets.

And that ... yes!

Current lack of currency.

[Englishman2010]

For me it will be a shame to see them go, as they have a lot of history in my part of the world. For years their HO was in Peterborough, my local city and Thomas Cook himself was from Leicester, my adopted city. I also use their on line flight service www.netflights.com for my long haul flights.
Forgetting the local and personal connections, they were bought out by a Belgian rail company in the 1930's and have been owned by a German bank since the 1990's, and with more and more people booking their holidays independently on line it's no great surprise the High St Travel Agent has had it's day.

[Arthur Little]

Two IMPORTANT factors ... which - when combined - have somewhat "Cooked its goose" so to speak!

[Dedworth]

For me it will be a shame to see them go, as they have a lot of history in my part of the world. For years their HO was in Peterborough, my local city and Thomas Cook himself was from Leicester, my adopted city. I also use their on line flight service www.netflights.com for my long haul flights.
Forgetting the local and personal connections, they were bought out by a Belgian rail company in the 1930's and have been owned by a German bank since the 1990's, and with more and more people booking their holidays independently on line it's no great surprise the High St Travel Agent has had it's day.

I just looked at Wiki and it seems that since 1995 they've been bought and sold untold times by foreign spivs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cook_Group

[Englishman2010]

Another couple of good things about TC's - in 1991 they got me from Heathrow to Sydney and back with BA for £25 and in 1992 I had a 4 day break in New York including a decent Manhattan hotel and helicopter flight over the city all for £75

[lastlid]

.....from Leicester, my adopted city.

Leicester was my adopted city for 3 years in the later 70's !

[lastlid]

I tried to use Thomas Cook to send my wifes visa money a couple of months back and they were most unhelpful. I was most off with them.

And I dont think Jaimie Redknaps adverts have helped their profile too much....

[KeithD]

The problem with TC is that they have their fingers in many pies rather than just the core business. They used to do good priced flights to places like Las Vegas but they pulled out of those kind of flights in 2008, and yet visitor numbers are on the rise

[Englishman2010]

The problem with TC is that they have their fingers in many pies rather than just the core business. They used to do good priced flights to places like Las Vegas but they pulled out of those kind of flights in 2008, and yet visitor numbers are on the rise

They bought Gold Medal Travel (www.netflights.com) for £71M in 2008, they've probably been pushing their flight only business to the USA that way since 2008. I frequently check netflights site and FB pages and they heavily promote flights to most US cities.

[grahamw48]

Leicester was my adopted city for 3 years in the later 70's !

In the mid-70s Leicester was part of my 'patch'

when I was East of England Area Sales Manager with a music company....selling chart cassette tapes.

Just another bit of useless info .

[Terpe]

The problem with TC is that they have their fingers in may pies rather than just the core business........

Now that's very true a major lack of focus on their core business. Probably due to being owned by businesses that have no real feeling for the 'tourism' market.

I'm sure TC would do better to get out of the 'cheaper' holiday market.

[Englishman2010]

In the mid-70s Leicester was part of my 'patch'

when I was East of England Area Sales Manager with a music company....selling chart cassette tapes.

Just another bit of useless info .

I'm blaming you for Showaddywaddy Graham

Another bit of useless info, I once bought a car from Dave Bartrum the ex lead singer of SWW

[Terpe]

Shares in Thomas Cook have closed down 75% after it announced it was in talks with banks about increasing the amount of money it can borrow........

Looks like the shares have now rallied a bit and have strengthened 25% from the low of yesterday.

[grahamw48]

I'm blaming you for Showaddywaddy Graham

Another bit of useless info, I once bought a car from Dave Bartrum the ex lead singer of SWW

Aaah their show at the Batley Variety Club....and me with my blonde lodger.....

....photo to come.

.
.

[Englishman2010]

Looks like the shares have now rallied a bit and have strengthened 25% from the low of yesterday.

Someone must have booked a fortnight for a family of 4 in Toss3r del Mar and their cashflow significantly improved

[lastlid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5rB-7Yr8LI

Good footballer but he should have stuck to his day job.

[lastlid]

Someone must have booked a fortnight for a family of 4 in Toss3r del Mar and their cashflow significantly improved

Toss3r del Mar! I remember it well. Stayed next door in Loret de Mar. Used it just as a springboard to visit Barcelona and the Gaudi stuff and the Sagrada Familae, Salvador Dalis crazy house etc. Didn't use Thomas Cook as it was always more expensive than other package holiday operaters. Still one of my favourite places (Barcelona not Toss3r).

[lastlid]

Just discovered the system autocensors that certain Spanish seaside resort....

[Englishman2010]

Just discovered the system autocensors that certain Spanish seaside resort....

Yeah, I see you tried my method of replacing the e with a 3

[lastlid]

Yep. I couldn't work out why you had used the 3 until I tried to post using an e .......

[Englishman2010]

Yep. I couldn't work out why you had used the 3 until I tried to post using an e .......

numbers 1,3,4,5,6,8 & 9 come in quite useful if you want to replace a letter to bypass the censors

[grahamw48]

No 8hit ?

[lastlid]

Why not the 7?

[Terpe]

Or $hit

[Englishman2010]

Or $hit

That's more like it

or alternatively 5hit or sh1t

[lastlid]

Or shi7