Thomas Cook tweets from the grave
Thomas Cook’s social media accounts were re-activated yesterday by the Chinese investor which bought the brand for £11 million from the liquidators late last year.
A new message on Thomas Cook’s Twitter page to its 142K followers reads: "Following its purchase of the core Thomas Cook brands on 1 November 2019, @ThomasCookUK is now operated by the Fosun Tourism Group."
It is understood the company is preparing to relaunch as an online travel agent, possibly in June. According to media reports, it has hired a dozen former Thomas Cook executives, including former sales chief Phil Gardner, and it is planning to acquire its own ATOL.
Prior to Thomas Cook’s collapse, Fosun was the company’s biggest investor and it had been prepared to pump in a further £450 million to rescue the business but the deal fell through when creditors asked for a further £200 million.
Instead, it bought the Thomas Cook brand together with the Casa Cook and Cook’s Club hotel brands from the liquidators.
At the time the Chinese travel giant, which also owns Club Med, said it had always believed in Thomas Cook’s brand value.
However, its post on Twitter attracted some negative comments, with one user saying the name was ‘a joke’ and another saying the brand will never be trusted following its spectacular collapse.
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
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