The tragic deaths of Susan and John Cooper in Hurghada dominated the headlines over the bank holiday, fuelled by the mystery surrounding how they died.
That Susan Cooper was a Thomas Cook agent makes the tragedy especially poignant. Our condolences go to her family, colleagues and friends.
The uncertainty a week on has not helped Cook in a response that it has been desperate to get right.
The problems have been compounded by the Egyptian authorities’ insensitive initial reaction in dismissing it as the “normal death of an English old man and his wife”, and by the linking of the tragedy on social media to the deaths of Christi and Bobby Shepherd, killed by carbon-monoxide poisoning on a Cook holiday in Corfu in 2006.
Accounts of the hotel serving under-cooked meat and reports of high rates of sickness have reinforced the impression of a resort with problems. Yet these come against the background of so many bogus sickness claims that it would be wise to await the evidence.
Cook learned painful lessons from the Corfu tragedy. At this point, it’s hard to see what the company could have done differently this time. Egypt’s authorities will be desperate not to see the destination suffer a backlash. Sadly, that may already be too late.
Honour and pride
I was privileged to help christen Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Pursuit on Tuesday. It was an honour to act as co-godmother of this beautiful ship, and it was with great pride that
I did so on behalf of the UK trade and readers of Travel Weekly, who play such a vital role for Azamara and its sister cruise lines.
Comment from Travel Weekly, August 30 edition