Thomson Travel Group
{{Short description|Former business owned by the Thomson Corporation}}
{{About|the formerly publicly listed, Thomson Travel Group|the successor to TUI Northern Europe|TUI Travel plc}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Thomson Travel Group
| logo = File:Thomson_Travel_PLC.png
| logo_size =
| type = Public
| industry = Travel and Tourism
| successor = TUI Northern Europe Limited
| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1965}}
| founder = Roy Thomson
| defunct = {{End date|2002}}
| area_served = United Kingdom
| key_people =
| products = Charter and scheduled passenger airlines, package holidays, cruise lines, hotels and resorts
| services =
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| parent = Preussag AG
| website =
}}
Thomson Travel Group plc was a business formed by the Thomson Corporation of Canada, when it was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1998. It was acquired by Preussag AG, an industrial and transport conglomerate, in 2000. The group continued until 2002 when it was renamed TUI Northern Europe Limited, a full subsidiary of TUI AG.
History
The company was created in 1965 when Thomson Corporation of Canada acquired four tour operators, Skytours, Riviera, Luxitours and Gaytours as well as the airline Britannia Airways, and named the combined business Thomson Travel.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/thomson-tui-uk-biggest-holiday-firm-rebranded-destination-u-emotional-intelligence-a8005971.html |first1=Simon |last1=Calder |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/thomson-tui-uk-biggest-holiday-firm-rebranded-destination-u-emotional-intelligence-a8005971.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=UK's biggest holiday firm rebrands from Thomson to TUI|date=18 October 2017|publisher=The Independent|access-date=22 September 2019}}{{cbignore}}
File:Thomson, Market Place, Wetherby (1st February 2012).JPG, United Kingdom in 2012]]
In 1970, the business was re-launched as "Thomson Holidays" under the leadership of Bryan Llewellyn as managing director.Thomson Holiday changes The Times, Tuesday, 24 June 1969; pg. 20; Issue 57594
In 1972 Thomson acquired Lunn Poly, a small chain of agents which Thomson grew to become the largest chain of travel agents in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/731609/Lunn-Poly-going-away-for-good.html|title=Lunn Poly going away for good|date=6 November 2004|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=22 September 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922000430/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/731609/Lunn-Poly-going-away-for-good.html |archive-date=22 September 2019 }}
In 1981, Thomson Holidays were the first recorded users of Business-to-Business online shopping.{{cite web |last=Palmer |first=C |title=Using IT for Competitive Advantage at Thomson Holidays: Long Range Planning |volume= 21 |pages=26–29 |publisher=Institute of Strategic Studies Journal, London Pergamon Press now Elsevier B.V.|date=1 December 1988|url=http://www.aldricharchive.com/downloads/Thomson.pdf}}
The business was floated on the London Stock Exchange with a valuation of £1.7 billion as Thomson Travel in May 1998.SFA launches Thomson inquiry: Criticism prompts extension of perks for investors The Times, Saturday, 9 May 1998; pg. 27; Issue 66199Quick profit for Thomson fans The Times, Tuesday, 12 May 1998; pg. 29; Issue 66199
In 2000, Thomson Travel was acquired by Preussag AG, an industrial and transport conglomerate.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/farewell-thomson-hello-tui/ |title=Goodbye Thomson, hello TUI – how Germany beat Britain in the battle of the sunlounge |publisher=The Telegraph |date=18 October 2017 |access-date=11 March 2019}} Although Preussag AG, which re-named as TUI AG in 2002, retained the Thomson brand for a while, it was retired completely in 2017.
Thomson Founders' Club
When Thomson Travel was floated in 1998, new shareholders were given membership in the "Thomson Founders' Club" which offered a 10% discount on Thomson holidays. Membership was conditional on retaining a minimum of 294 shares, but when Thomson Travel was acquired by Preussag membership of the Founders' Club was made permanent and unconditional. However, on 31 January 2008 the Club was abolished without notice or compensation.{{cite web|url=http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/faqs/founders-club/thomson-founders-club.html|publisher= Thomson Holidays |title=Thomson Founder's Club}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{TUI}}
{{Tourism in the United Kingdom}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Travel and holiday companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Transport companies established in 1965
Category:Transport companies disestablished in 2002
Category:British companies established in 1965