Thomas Cook launches ‘Destination Discovery’ platform

An online holiday search platform – Destination Discovery – has been unveiled by Thomas Cook in conjunction with internet travel firm Triporati.

An online holiday search platform – Destination Discovery – has been unveiled by Thomas Cook in conjunction with internet travel firm Triporati.

The technology provides users with detailed country research, in-depth travel videos and photos, street maps showing hotel locations and surrounding areas, and indicates the best time of year to visit countries.

Working as an online travel agent, it can be used by customers at home or by Thomas Cook and The Co-operative consultants to help enhance customer service and add to their existing knowledge and resources.

The site provides data on more than 2,500 destinations using material from 100 travel experts and professional travel writers.

Each recommended destination is supported by a more detailed guides page that includes original content such as videos, expert overviews and ratings, featured travel deals and links to other useful travel sites.

Thomas Cook UK & Ireland sales marketing and e-commerce director Mike Hoban said: ”Surveys show that 49% of leisure travellers don’t know where they want to go on holiday 30 days before booking their annual holiday; by providing expert advice, Destination Discovery offers customers personalised holiday recommendations using information provided by the customer.”

Group chief executive Harriet Green said: “Harnessing technology for exciting new applications like ‘Destination Discovery’ helps our customers create their dream holiday wherever and whenever, sitting in the local café or together as a family at home.

“Our ‘Destination Discovery’ has been described as a ‘holiday dream builder’. It is just one of so many exciting new innovations we are planning at Thomas Cook.

“With ‘Destination Discovery’, knowing where our customers want to travel or not is not a problem, it is equipped to help both. It is like having hundreds of brochures in one location, with an easy search function, just like having a travel agent sitting with you at your tablet, smartphone or desktop computer.

“We were the first major high street travel agency in the UK to offer online bookings.

“Last year we had 310 million visits to our websites, and just last month our new mobile website was said to ‘set the standard’.”