Thomas Cook makes ‘renewed commitment’ to Spain

Thomas Cook has expressed its ‘renewed commitment’ to Spain as it unveiled plans to invest €40 million in its managed own-brand hotels in its ‘number one holiday destination’.

The investment was confirmed at the official launch of Cook’s Club Palma Beach, one of Thomas Cook’s 20 own-brand hotels to open this year.

It comes as the 175-year-old group continues to bump through turbulent times over its financial woes.

Management recently announced plans to transform Thomas Cook into an ‘asset-light’ business following the planned sale of its airline business.

But it has remained commited to expanding its own-brand hotels portfolio. 

Speaking at the launch, chief executive Peter Fankhauser said: "Spain has long been a favourite with our customers – we are bringing more than 4 million holidaymakers to the country this year alone and now employ almost 2,500 people across the country and its islands.

"In a competitive market, we’re proud to be working with our valued hotel partners to upgrade and modernise our portfolio to help keep Spain at the top of the list for the next generation of holidaymakers."

Last year, the group opened a new office in Palma, with 650 staff working in finance, in-destination and hotels divisions.

In total, 10 own-brand hotels will undergo significant refurbishment works as part of a concerted drive by Thomas Cook to ‘maintain the popularity and appeal of its most well-established Spanish destinations’.

The hotels include Casa Cook in Ibiza, opening this summer, Sunwing Arguineguin in Gran Canaria, Sunwing Fanabe in Tenerife and smartline Cala’n Bosch in Menorca, along with a further five hotels in Majorca including Sunwing Alcudia and SENTIDO Cala Vinas.

Cook’s Club Palma Beach opened recently following a multi-million pound renovation to a former smartline Lancaster into a 318-room affordable design hotel aimed at attracting a new generation of travellers to Thomas Cook – and to this region of Majorca.

Enric Noguer, chief of hotels & resorts, said: "Our business in Spain goes from strength to strength as we invest in senior talent in our hotels division in Palma and increase the number of hotels that we manage directly. We employ around 1,600 people in Spain in our hotels and resorts business alone and we intend to grow that over the next couple of years.

"We want to continue bringing our new hotel innovations to Spain and support the continued growth of the tourism industry by investing in great brands and ensuring the well-established destinations are attractive to a new generation of travellers."