TOUR AND TRAVEL AGENCY OPERATIONS

A Brief History

The Travel Agency Concept

• Born after the industrial revolution• Travel became merchandised and in

easy reach of an emerging working class

• Cox and Kings and Thomas Cook were the pioneers of mass travel

* Mass Travel – travel involving large number of people

Cox and Kings

Cox and Kings• Considered the oldest travel

company in history• Richard Cox – founder of the agency,

Cox & Co. worked for Gen. Lord Ligonier in 1740

• He was rewarded the title of Military Agent

• Has successfully established business connections and went into partnership with Mr. Drummond (London Bank)

Cox and Kings• By late 19th century : Cox & Co. merged

with Henry S. King & Co. after the first world war and later on became Cox and Kings

• The company is now privately owned and has extended its expertise to cover the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, Europe and Australasia.

Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook• Founded the agency by his name in

November 1841• Cook's idea to offer excursions came

to him while waiting for the stagecoach on the London Road at Kibworth.

• On 5 July 1841, Thomas Cook arranged for the rail company to charge one shilling per person that included rail tickets and food for this train journey.

•  In 1844 the Midland Counties Railway Company agreed to make a permanent arrangement with him provided he found the passengers

• In 1846, he took 350 people from Leicester on a tour of Scotland, however his lack of commercial ability led him to bankruptcy.

• found success when he claimed that he arranged for over 165,000 people to attend the Great Exhibition in London.

Thomas Cook

•  Cook established 'inclusive independent travel‘

• With John A Mason Cook, he formed a partnership and renamed the travel agency asThomas Cook and Son.

• Their business model was refined by the introduction of the 'hotel coupon' in 1866. 

• In 1865, the agency organised tours of the United States, picking up passengers from several departure points.

Thomas Cook

• Thomas Cook introduced 'circular notes', a product that later became better known by American Express's brand, 'traveller's cheques

• The firm's growth was consolidated by John Mason Cook and his two sons

Thomas Cook

Top Travel Agencies in the Philippines

• WOW Philippines travel Agency• Rajah Travel and Tours• Blue Horizons Travel and Tours• Scorpio Travel and Tours