Thomas Cook CEO broadcasts “safe hands” message
Thomas Cook interim group chief executive Sam Weihagen has moved to reassure nervous holiday-bookers with an open letter and video stating the company “is even stronger and more confident” following a new arrangement with its banks.
The company has managed to restructure its finances with its banks with a new £200m lending facility until April 2013.
On the Thomas Cook website Weihagen acknowledges the upheavals at the company and says: “What a week it’s been for Thomas Cook, its people, partners and, most importantly, our valued customers. We’ve received a great deal of attention and many have been voicing their opinions on our company.
He goes on to say: “You can be sure that your holiday really is in safe hands with us and so, we look forward to welcoming you to one of our stores, our websites, onboard our aircraft and into one of our many thousands of resorts worldwide very soon.”
He stresses the longevity of the Thomas Cook brand and adds: “We feel proud and privileged to have been part of the Great British heritage for nearly two centuries and I have no doubt that we will still be in another 170 years and beyond.
The letter came hot on the heels of a press campaign from rival Thomson Holidays that said holiday-makers who booked with the company “were in safe hands” and that “another holiday company may be experiencing turbulence.”
Both Thomas Cook and Thomson had seen the public ’s impression of the companies slide according to YouGov brand data as the former’s financial crisis impacted on the overall holiday sector.
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