Thomas Cook and TUI launch reassurance campaigns

Thomas Cook and TUI, the UK’s largest holiday operators, have launched national press campaigns in a bid to reassure consumers after a series of operators have gone bust. The ads follow the collapse of XL Leisure Group, the third biggest holiday company, on Friday (September 12).

The ads, which ran in the Sunday papers and again today (September 15), both highlight the two companies’ efforts to help bring stranded holidaymakers home.

The Thomas Cook execution also emphasises the company 160 year history as a holiday operator, and says that it wants to reassure UK consumers and bring back “total confidence” in package holidays.

Meanwhile, TUI has taken a more solemn approach reiterating the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing protection scheme, which allows customer that have booked holidays to transfer the value to another holiday package.

It adds that its two key brands, Thomson and First Choice, are working closely with the industry authorities “to help all those affected get their holiday plans back on track with minimum fuss”. It offers helpline numbers and a dedicated website. It also provides advisory services urging customers to call CAA for more information.

Several travel and tour companies such as XL Leisure Group, K&S Holidays, Seguro Holidays, Travel City and Transatlantic Vacations among others have collapsed because of fuel price rises and pressure on consumer spending.