Lowcostholidays blames ‘over zealous’ employee for ‘Thomas Crooked’ slur
Lowcostholidays has withdrawn an online ad campaign asking consumers if they’ve been ‘Thomas Crooked’.
It has removed the ads after Ian Ailles, CEO of Mainstream for Thomas Cook UK & Ireland, said Thomas Cook would be taking legal action (see earlier story). Thomas Cook has since dropped any action.
Lowcostholidays chief executive Paul Evans has issued an apology for the ads and blamed an "over zealous member of staff’.
He told TravelMole: “I have apologised to Ian personally – as soon as I saw it. And we have withdrawn it. It was an over zealous member of staff and we have dealt with the issue.”
In a statement earlier today, Ailles said: "It is shocking the tactics some will stoop to. This is totally unacceptable and defamatory and we're taking immediate legal action against them."
ABTA has confirmed that it is investigating the Google advert to see if it breaches the association's Code of Conduct.
Both companies are ABTA members. Under the ABTA Code of Conduct no member is allowed make comments about another member's financial status or bring a fellow member into disrepute.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive