Tag Archives: weddings

Thomas Cook rolls out Symphony reservation system

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Thomas Cook rolls out Symphony reservation system

by Melanie Hall

Thomas Cook has announced the successful roll-out of the first phase of its new reservation system, with all its winter 2013-14 charter products now sold on the new web-based platform.

The new system, labelled ‘Symphony’ and which has gone live in less than a year, will replace TOS, and Thomas Cook said it “marks a significant milestone” in its IT modernisation programme

Anite’s @com modern browser-based system is quicker and easier for agents to use, said Thomas Cook, and enables component-based holidays and dynamic packaging, alongside package holidays, to be booked from a single selling platform.

Uli Sperl, product and yield director for Thomas Cook UK & Ireland, said: “A new, modern reservation system will make us more competitive by keeping us ahead of a rapidly-changing marketplace.

“It’s a huge step-change and allows many more complex bookings to be completed easily, such as weddings and groups.

“Symphony is also great at allowing customers and agents to manage bookings through the holiday life-cycle, accessing a holidaymaker’s booking from whichever channel they contact us, providing industry leading service.”

Symphony is now being used by thousands of users across Thomas Cook, following an education programme of e-learning, classroom training and Anite-led workshops.

The next steps in the roll-out of the system will see all Thomas Cook’s summer charter products, including Neilson and Club 18-30, go on sale in May 2013 for the summer 2014 season.

Weddings at Sea – How much?! Find out with our exclusive comparison chart!

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Smile Weddings at Sea – How much?! Find out with our exclusive comparison chart!

A big traditional white wedding at home can cost an arm and a leg, so it’s not surprising that more and more couples are choosing to get married abroad or at sea.

Not only does a cruiseship wedding offer great value for money, but for those of us who hate planning it’s a great way to get someone else to organise all the nitty gritty details for you too!

Here is an easy comparison of what the top cruise lines offer and most importantly the costs involved 

The average wedding cost includes the price of the cruise based on 2 adults sharing a balcony cabin on a 12 night Mediterranean Cruise (flights included where applicable), the wedding package, wedding license fee, photographs, hand held bridal flowers and one tier wedding cake.

Please note some of the cruise lines charge dollars onboard so these prices are correct as of 7 October when the prices where converted to pounds.

 Did you get married at sea, or ever attended a cruise ship wedding? Maybe you’re considering it? What do you think of these prices? Who do you think you’d book with?

Thomas Cook denies plans to close ‘hundreds of shops’

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Thomas Cook denies plans to close ‘hundreds of shops’

By Ian Taylor  |  Aug 15, 2011 08:00AM GMT

Thomas Cook has dismissed a weekend report that it is considering “plans to close hundreds of shops”.

A Thomas Cook spokeswoman said: “There is no substance at all to the story” – which appeared in the Sunday Times.

The group is poised to merge its UK retail outlets with The Co-operative Travel and Midlands Co-operative to create a chain of more than 1,200 travel agencies and has consistently said no more than about 75 shops will close as a result. The deal could be signed off by the Competition Commission any time between now and October.

The Sunday Times claimed Thomas Cook “is expected to rethink the number of shops it needs”. However, the spokeswoman told Travel Weekly: “We have said we will close 75 when the deal goes through.” She added: “We have said the strategic review will look at the multi-channel [distribution] business.”

Thomas Cook announced a “fundamental review” of its UK business following a profits warning in July. In a statement in early August – on the day Manny Fontenla-Novoa stepped down as chief executive – the group identified “the efficiency of our retail network” and “the size and structure of the airline” as among the areas the review would examine.

The spokeswoman confirmed the review is looking at the airline, including the size of the fleet, but said: “No decisions have been taken.”

The merger with the Co-ops has been touted as a means to increase both in-house distribution and margins, since more high-margin package holidays are sold through shops than other channels. However, industry commentators have questioned the wisdom of acquiring such a sizeable chain of stores during a consumer downturn.

Members of the Thomas Cook board – led by chairman Michael Beckett, acting chief executive Sam Weihagen and chief financial officer Paul Hollingworth – sought to demonstrate confidence in the group last week by purchasing more than 775,000 shares in the company.

The share price fluctuated wildly through last week along with the market, losing 16% on Monday, regaining 17% on Tuesday and climbing 6% on Friday to leave shares trading at 55.6p at the week’s end – giving Thomas Cook a market capitalisation of just under £487 million. Further fluctuations are expected.