Expedia has become the preferred hotel provider for Thomas Cook’s city and domestic holiday business.
As part of the new partnership, Thomas Cook’s primary websites, contact centres, stores and distribution to affiliated travel agents will eventually be powered by an Expedia booking platform.
The deal enables Thomas Cook to focus on its own brand and selected partner hotels in sun and beach holidays, while Expedia gets to enhance its position in Europe.
Peter Fankhauser, CEO, Thomas Cook, said the combination of Expedia’s portfolio of hotels and best-in-class online technology will transform Thomas Cook’s city breaks and hotel-only offer for customers. It will also allow Thomas Cook to further simplify systems and processes, “freeing us up to focus on holidays to our own brand and selected partner hotels where we know we can really make a difference to customers,” he said.
Fankhauser also hinted that this “marks the first step in a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship with Expedia”.
Aman Bhutani, president, Brand Expedia Group, said: “We’ve always had profound respect for the Thomas Cook brand and we believe that our coming together will enhance our abilities to help more people to get out and see the world, while enhancing each of our competitive positions in the European market.
