My Business Guide

• Derek Seaton The Local Legacy of Thomas Cook (self-published, 1996) business home internet

• Lynne Withey Grand Tours and Cook s Tours - A History of Leisure Travel, 1750 to 1915 (Aurum Press, 1998) business mlm opportunity

• Andrew Williamson The Golden Age of Travel - The Romantic Years of Tourism in Images from the Thomas Cook Archives (Thomas Cook Publishing, 1998) based business home income

• Paul Smith (ed.) The History of Tourism - Thomas Cook and the Origins of Leisure Travel [boxed set of four volumes] (Routledge/ Thoemmes Press, 1998) based business home internet

• Jill Hamilton Thomas Cook - The Holiday Maker (Sutton, 2005) business homebased opportunity

Key Dates in our Thomas Cook History View the history of Thomas Cook from 1841 - 2002 A Brief History 1808

Thomas Cook is born on 22 November in the village of Melbourne in Derbyshire. 1834 John Mason Cook is born on 13 January in Market Harborough, near Leicester. 1841 Thomas Cook organises his first excursion, a rail journey from Leicester to a temperance meeting in Loughborough. On Monday 5 July a special train carries some 500 passengers a distance of 12 miles and back for one shilling. based business home mlm

1845

Thomas Cook conducts his first trip for profit. It is a railway journey to Liverpool from Leicester, Nottingham and Derby. Fares are 15/- first class and 10/- second class, with a supplementary charge for travelling by special steamer to North Wales business new opportunity

1846

Thomas visits Scotland for the first time. A party of about 350 people travels from Leicester to Fleetwood, then to Ardrossan by steamer, and onwards by rail to Glasgow. Special trips are made to Edinburgh, Stirling and Ayr. business home online

1851

Thomas Cook promotes trips to the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park. More than 150, 000 people from Yorkshire and the Midlands, including a party of 3, 000 children from Leicester, Derby and Nottingham, travel to London under his arrangements. best business home opportunity

The Excursionist

is published for the first time as Cook s Exhibition Herald and Excursion Advertiser. 1855 Thomas Cook s first continental tour. He personally conducts two parties from Harwich to Antwerp, then on to Brussels, Cologne, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and, finally, to Paris for the International Exhibition. 1863 Thomas Cook conducts his first party of 62 people to Switzerland, via Paris. A journal of this trip, kept by Miss Jemima Morrell, survives in the Thomas Cook Archives. business investment

1864

John Mason Cook, aged 30, joins his father in business. 1865 Thomas Cook opens an office in Fleet Street, London, the upper floor of which is used as a Temperance Boarding House. 1866 John Mason Cook personally conducts the first American tour. 1868 Thomas Cook introduces a system of hotel coupons (which he had tested the previous year) in an attempt to get fixed prices for accommodation at selected hotels in all major cities. business home making money

1869

Thomas Cook escorts his first party to Egypt and Palestine. 1871 Thomas Cook Son becomes the official name of the firm when John Mason Cook joins his father as a business partner. 1872/73 Thomas Cook organises and leads the first round-the-world tour. He is away from home for 222 days and covers more than 25, 000 miles. 1873 Thomas Cook Son opens its new head office at Ludgate Circus, London. The first edition of Cook s Continental Time Tables Tourist s Handbook is published. based business free home

1874

Cook s Circular Note, an early form of the travellers cheque, is launched in New York. 1878 A distinct Foreign Banking and Money Exchange Department is established. 1879 John Mason Cook becomes sole managing partner of the company. 1884 The relief force sent to rescue General Gordon from Khartoum is conveyed up the Nile as far as Wadi Halfa by Thomas Cook Son. business internet online

1892

Thomas Cook dies, aged 83. 1898 Kaiser Wilhelm II s tour of the Holy Land is organised by John Mason Cook and his son Frank. John Mason Cook dies suddenly at the age of 65. The company passes into the hands of his three sons: Frank, Ernest and Thomas ( Bert ). 1908 Thos Cook Son issues its first winter sports brochure. 1919 Thos Cook Son is the first travel agent to offer pleasure trips by air. best business opportunity

1922

Thos Cook Son organises the first tour to cover the whole length of the African continent. The tour lasts five months and includes a one-month safari. 1924 Thos Cook Son Ltd is incorporated. The head office of Thos Cook Son Ltd moves to Berkeley Street in London s Mayfair district. 1927 Thos Cook Son Ltd organises the first personally-conducted air tour - from New York to Chicago for the Dempsey-Tunney heavyweight boxing contest. business computer home

1928

Frank and Ernest Cook, the two surviving grandsons of Thomas Cook (Bert having died in 1914), retire, selling the business to the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits et des Grands Express Europ ens. business idea opportunity

1939

Holidays by air on specially chartered aircraft to the French Riviera are included in Cook s summer brochure for the first time. 1948 Thos Cook Son Ltd becomes state-owned under the British Transport Holding Company. 1959 Thomas Cook introduces to business clients a new worldwide credit scheme for travel and related services. 1966 Thomas Cook s 125th anniversary. based business home online

1972

Thomas Cook is privatised and bought by a consortium of Midland Bank, Trust House Forte and the Automobile Association. 1974 Thomas Cook launches a customer protection guarantee in UK retail shops. 1977 Thomas Cook opens its new administrative headquarters at Thorpe Wood in Peterborough. Midland Bank buys out Trust House Forte and the Automobile Association to become the sole owners of Thomas Cook. business federal opportunity

1980

Thomas Cook Travel Book Awards first presented. 1981 Thomas Cook introduces Holidaymaker , a private viewdata system allowing travel agents to access directly Thomas Cook Holidays reservation system. 1982 Thomas Cook purchases Rankin Kuhn Travel Ltd. 1986 Airfare Warehouse is launched. 1989 The long-standing agreement with Wagons-Lits comes to an end and the development of a new worldwide network begins. based business home legitimate

1990

Thomas Cook becomes the world s leading foreign exchange retailer when it acquires the retail foreign exchange operations of Deak International Inc. 1991 Thomas Cook celebrates its 150th anniversary. A 34-day round-the-world trip is arranged to commemorate this occasion, and a re-enactment of the first railway excursion from Leicester to Loughborough takes place on 5 July. business home mlm opportunity

1992

Westdeutsche Landesbank, Germany s third largest bank, and the LTU Group, Germany s leading charter airline, acquire the Thomas Cook Group from Midland Bank. 1994 Thomas Cook acquires Interpayment Services Limited, the travellers cheque subsidiary of Barclays Bank plc, to become the world s largest supplier of travellers cheques outside the United States. business home idea internet

Following a major review of its global activities, Thomas Cook sells its travel management business to American Express. 1995 Westdeutsche Landesbank acquires LTU s 10% share of the Thomas Cook Group, making Thomas Cook a wholly-owned subsidiary of WestLB. Thomas Cook launches its own Internet site. 1996 Thomas Cook acquires Sunworld, the UK and Ireland s fourth largest short-haul tour operator, and Time Off, the specialist European city breaks tour operator. based business from home

Thomas Cook announces plans to form the world s largest leisure travel alliance with the American Automobile Association (AAA), subject to US regulatory clearance. 1997 Thomas Cook On-Line is launched, making Thomas Cook the first UK retail travel agency to offer customers a way to buy holidays, foreign currency, travellers cheques and guidebooks over the Internet. Thomas Cook Direct Businesses open a new call centre in Falkirk. business make money online

Sunworld acquires the Flying Colours Leisure Group, one of the UK s medium-sized tour operators and leisure airlines. Thomas Cook launches its Global Traveller Services business. Preussag AG acquires a 24.9% shareholding in Thomas Cook. 1999 The European Commission approves the merger of Thomas Cook and Carlson Leisure Group s UK travel interests. Thomas Cook s worldwide headquarters in London moves out of Berkeley Street, where it has been since 1926, to new premises in Midford Place. base business home opportunity

JMC is formed (by combining the former operating brands Sunworld, Sunset, Flying Colours, Inspirations and Caledonian Airways) and becomes the UK s third largest tour operator and airline business. business magazine opportunity

Preussag AG becomes the majority shareholder in Thomas Cook Holdings Ltd when it increases its stake from 24.9% to 50.1%. (WestLB retains a 27.9% interest and Carlson Companies Inc. holds 22%.) 2000 Thomas Cook announces the sale of its Global and Financial Services division to Travelex on 8 November. C N Touristic AG, one of Germany s largest travel groups, signs an agreement (on 7 December) to become the sole owner of Thomas Cook Holdings, subject to EC approval. business make money

Thomas Cook completes the sale of its Global and Financial Services division to Travelex on 27 March. C N Touristic AG becomes the sole owner of Thomas Cook on 30 March. C N Touristic AG changes its name to Thomas Cook AG and launches a new logo. Thomas Cook s 160th anniversary. 2002 Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium begins operating in March, serving holiday destinations in the Mediterranean and on the Canary Islands with a fleet of five Airbus A320 aircraft. business opportunity weblog

Thomas Cook is set to become the first fully international leisure brand. The Thomas Cook brand hitherto used as the company s name as well as for its sales and service activities will in future appear in all markets and on all levels of the travel-related value chain. base business home online

Cruise Lines

Cruisethomascook offers a fantastically wide range of cruises from 26 cruise lines. business home income

Featured Cruise lines

All available to book online! P O Cruises P O Cruises P O Princess Cruises Princess Cruises P O Ocean Village Ocean Village P O Cunard Cruise Line Ocean Village Cunard business opportunity unique

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Carribean P O Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Celebrity Costa Cruises Costa Costa Cruise Thomas Cook business home job opportunity

See our full range of cruise lines African Safari Club Carnival Cruise Lines Celebrity Cruises Costa Cruise Lines Crystal Cruises Cunard Line Ltd Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Hebridean International Holland America Line Hurtigruten Island Cruises MSC NCL Ocean Village Orient Cruise Lines P O Cruises Advanced Search

View details of all of the cruise ships in the Cunard fleet. Queen Elizabeth 2, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria. Cruise Cunard business from home mlm

Cunard Line Ltd

Cunard has become a byword for comfort, style and the ultimate travel experience for generation after generation. Today the legendary Cunard Experience continues to exceed expectations - with all its accomplished hallmarks - from the very first moment you step aboard. ameriplan business opportunity

HOT NEWS

- Cunard have just announced that they are building a Brand New Queen Elizabeth Ship - and she will be coming into service 2010. This will be the second largest Cunarded ever built. Queen Victoria will be joining the fleet in December 2007 and when the Brand New Queen Elizabeth arrives this will further increase your choice for Cunard experiences. business internet marketing

Why book now You can save up to 50% on 2008 departures and don t forget you can search, browse and book online with all of your favourite cruise lines with cruisethomascook.com - the cruise experts. Cunard Line ltd business home legitimate

Cruise Thomas Cook Ship Cruise Date Nights Extra Benefit Price from

Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic 22 Apr 08 6 n/a 873 Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic 10 May 08 6 n/a 949 Victoria Norwegian Fjords 20 May 08 7 n/a 1, 025 Elizabeth 2 Summer Getaway 22 Aug 08 5 n/a 1, 082 business home make money

Mary 2 Conniosseurs Caribbean 19 Feb 08 11 $130 obs* 1, 139 Mary 2 Connoisseurs Caribbean 29 Feb 08 11 $130 obs* 1, 139 *obs - FREE Onboard spend per stateroom, based on 2 adults sharing Cunard - QM2 in New York affiliate business opportunity

Cunard Cruises Cunard 1 - 6 night cruises Cunard 7 - 9 night cruises Cunard 10+ night cruises Advanced Search

View details of all of the cruise ships in the Fred. Olsen fleet. Balmoral, Black Prince, Black Watch, Boudicca, Braemar. Cruise Fred-Olsen business income opportunity

Fred. Olsen Cruises - 2008/09 Worldwide now on sale

Fred. Olsen have just launched their Wordlwide 2008/09 brochure and they are now travelling to more destinations than ever before. Their brand new Balmoral joins the fleet in January 2008, and there are cruises to suit all with durations from 2 to 107 nights. This is surely the time to plan your cruise for next year. business opportunity unlimited

As a family-operated company, we are justly proud of our fleet of smaller, more intimate ships as much as our successful art of cruising. Our personable and long-serving crew are well-versed in ensuring you relax the moment you step aboard. By choosing to cruise with Fred. Olsen you ll soon feel part of the Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines fraternity and enjoy a friendly home-away-from-home camaraderie. You can expect the extremely high levels of personal service and care that charcterise the existing fleet and wherever you decide to go, there will always be outstanding attention to detail and the relaxed and friendly atmosphere that has made Fred.Olsen known the world over. business opportunity seeker

The choice is yours, either have a search within our site, or give us a call and our cruise experts will be happy to assist. To join Fred. Olsen on one of their tempting cruises, please give us a call FREE today on 0800 916 0616. Fred. Olsen Cruises business opportunity travel

Advanced Search

View details of all of the cruise ships in the Island Cruises fleet. Island Escape, Island Star. Cruise Island business opportunity turnkey

Informal Island Cruising - Great Cruise Deals

Whether you choose to cruise on the Island Star or the Island Escape, you are in for a treat - a relaxed, friendly and informal holiday experience with a world of choice. Sailing the Mediterranean in the Summer and Brazil in winter. Why wait business marketing online

For further information or to make a booking, please call and speak to one of our cruise experts, FREE on 0800 916 0616 who will be happy to assist you with your booking. Alternatively simply register your information and details of your ideal cruise and we will be happy to contact you. Island Cruising business international

Cruise Thomas Cook Ship Cruise Date Nights Price from

Island Star Med Essence 21 Mar 08 7 579 Island Escape Med Essence 18 Mar 08 7 659 Escape Med Spirit 13 May 08 7 778 Star Med Essence 20 Sep 08 7 799 Island - Island Star in Rio based business home new

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View details of all of the cruise ships in the Ocean Village fleet. Ocean Village, Ocean Village II. Cruise Ocean-Village base business home internet

Ocean Village cruises - Fabulous Caribbean 2007 Deals!

Ocean Village cruises onboard Ocean Village and Ocean Village Two - with prices from just 665 for 7 nights in the Caribbean, of 813 for 14 nights why wait Ocean Village cruises offer the ideal cruise experience - for those who typically don t do cruises. business marketing network

These fantastic late deal prices are only available until Friday the 23rd November, so book today to ensure you don;t miss out! Can you have too much of a good thing Apparently not. Ocean Village s unique mix of dress-down style and upbeat attitude has proved so popular we had added another ship - Ocean Village Two. With both ships taking you to the Mediterranean throughout the summer, and then heading out to the Caribbean during the winter, there s surely something to tempt you. Why book now You can also save up to 45% on 2008 departures. business free opportunity

Cruise Thomas Cook Ship Cruise Date Nights Price from

Ocean Village Reggae Rainforests 11 Dec 07 7 665 Village Two Sugar Spice 12 Dec 07 7 665 Village Toucans Tequila 04 Dec 07 7 684 Village Two Sugar Spice 28 Nov 07 7 684 based business home home

Village Toucans Tequila Reggae Rainforests 04 Dec 07 14 813 Ocean Village Two Sugar Spice Coral Calypso 12 Dec 07 14 813 Ocean Village business florida opportunity

Ocean Village Cruises Mediterranean Caribbean 2007 7 night cruises 2007 14 night cruises 2008 7 night cruises Advanced Search

View details of all of the cruise ships in the P O fleet. Arcadia, Artemis, Aurora, Oceana, Oriana, Ventura. Cruise PO business christian opportunity

P O Cruises - Brand new 2008 Cruise on Arcadia!

Arcadia has altered her dry-dock time in spring 2008 and P O Cruises are excited to announce a Brand New Cruise on sale NOW . This 14 night cruise onboard Arcadia departs on 21st April 2008 from Southampton and takes in Barcelona, Cannes, Rome and much more, with prices starting from just 999 book today as this is sure to sell quickly. based business franchise home

Experience P O Cruises for yourself one one of these beautiful ships. based business home idea

• Arcadia and Oceana

  - Contemporary and Innovative. Modern, flexible and Sociable holidays afloat. business opportunity vending

• Aurora and Oriana

  - Original and Authentic. The stylish and classic cruise experience. business high income

• Artemis

  - Traditional and Intimate. Bringing you time-honoured British cruising. business christian home

• Ventura

  - the superliner designed for Britain. This Brand new ship for 2008 is on sale and you can see Ventura s virtual microsite for yourself. Commissioning the very best British artists and designers, this stylish superliner will unleash the imagination. based business opportunity

Simply select your perfect P O Cruises holiday and continue online or call FREE on 0800 916 0616 to book. P O Cruises Cruise Thomas Cook Ship Cruise Date Nights Benefit Price from Oceana Iberian Sojourn 11 Apr 08 7 50 obs* 491 Oriana Summer Splendours 10 May 08 7 50 obs* 504 best business franchise

Oceana Magnificent Mediterranean 15 Jun 08 13 150 obs* 991 Oceana A Caribbean Odyssey 14 Mar 08 14 180 obs* 1, 084 Artemis Northern Capitals 20 Jun 08 14 150 obs* 1, 121 Arcadia Caribbean Discovery 28 Nov 08 22 200 obs* 1, 577 obs* - Onboard spend per cabin, based on 2 adults sharing based business business home

Call to book- FREE on 0800 916 0616 P O - Oriana off Elba based business christian home

P O Cruises P O Mediterranean cruises P O Caribbean cruises P O World cruises Up to 7 nights this year 8 to 14 nights this year Up to 7 nights next year 8 to 14 nights next year Up to 7 nights this year Advanced Search

View details of all of the cruise ships in the Princess fleet. Caribbean Princess, Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Dawn Princess, Diamond Princess, Emerald Princess, Golden Princess, Grand Princess, Island Princess, Pacific Princess, Regal Princess, Royal Princess, Sapphire Princess, Sea Princess, Star Princess, Sun Princess, Tahitian Princess, Ruby Princess business homebased online

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