Thomas Cook Group and Asian Trails will create a new joint venture DMC in Thailand, set to begin operating on November 1 and handle over 100,000 Thomas Cook customers visiting the destination annually.
For the Thomas Cook Group, the creation of Thomas Cook In Destination Management represents another step forward in creating greater operational efficiency. Similar operating models are already in place in Spain, Portugal and the US, and the group says this “simpler approach fits the new shape of Thomas Cook” and its strategy for profitable growth.
Michael Scheidler, group destination management director at Thomas Cook, said: “Working with a single partner to create our own DMC, based in this important destination for the group, means that we can take greater control of the quality and consistency of service all our customers will have during their holiday. We already have a successful partnership with Asian Trails in the UK and look forward to building on that for the benefit of our customers from all countries.”
Laurent Kuenzle, CEO Asian Trails Group, shared that the team in Thailand has been committed to a synergistic partnership with Thomas Cook since it entered into “more intense collaboration” with Thomas Cook UK in 2016.
The new company’s administrative headquarters will be in Bangkok, with an operation hub opening in Phuket.
A local working party of representatives from both companies is now working to finalise the preparations, structure and begin recruitment to ensure the new business is well positioned for the start of the winter 2018/19 season.
