Travolution

Web bookings rocket for Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook UK saw online bookings through its website increase by more than one-third for the winter 2008-09 season, accounting for 34.7% of its total mass-market business.

The figures, which refer to departures made during the six months to end of March 2009, represent a 37% hike on the same period last year when the web accounted for 25.2% of the total.

Thomas Cook UK also lifted the amount of business carried out through its own channels to 66.3% from 63.7%.

“Control of distribution and, in particular, growth of sales through the internet continues to be a key cornerstone of our strategy for future success [in the UK],” the statement said.

The half-yearly results also showed a big increase in web bookings in its Canadian unit, although the acquisition of independent wholesaler Triwest last June “heavily influenced’ the figures.

It paid C$114 million for the business, or £56 million at the time. The proportion of Canadians who booked online came in at 34.7%, a 200%+ increase.

Elsewhere, it improved its already strong online performance in Scandinavia, it Northern Europe division, lifting web bookings to 47.5% from 38.3% last time. Continental Europe, primarily Germany and France, saw only 9% of bookings online, an improvement from 8% previously.

Readers' Comments

  Interested Canuck Agent trying to make a buck says...

Interesting how Web Bookings increasing 200+% in Canada is explained as being "heavily influenced by buying TriWest? Yet, the two TriWest companies (FunSun and Intair) don't have B2C engines !! Are we to assume then this is all from Sunquest.ca undercutting us agents (again) ? No wonder Sunwing continues to grow and grow, I know where my business is going.

Posted: 15 May 2009 |   Report Abuse

  nigel mellor apex travel service says...

its not surprising web bookings rocket ! when they undercut every other distribution channel by margins of up and above 10% . It doesnt take a breain surgeon to work out the that the public will follow the lowest prices .

Posted: 15 May 2009 |   Report Abuse

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