My goodness, dahrlings, I don’t know if it’s a sense of relief I feel today at finally knowing Sunquest’s fate - or if I’m just hung over. For the hundreds of Thomas Cook staff who have been sold to the Red Tag group, I imagine the feeling must be the kind queasiness one feels at the top of a roller coaster ….
And just when everyone was starting to have some Fun Sun.
Always buy the hand that fed you. Those are words to live by for the De Marinis boys. They sold Belair to TCook (NALG at the time) for millions. Turned around and launched a successful competitor to their buyers (did someone forget a little something called a “n-o-n-compete” before handing over the cheque?) – and now have not only bought the company that bought them, but all the businesses acquired since, all for a fraction of what the boys pocketed in the first place. It’s all very confusing, dahrlings.
If I’d known Intair and Holiday House and Fun Sun were on the block for $5M, I might have rounded up a few neighbours for a block party – sold a couple of tiaras, and started Pink Tag Vacations!
Hindsight is everything.
Looking forward, as anyone will tell you, the boys are good boys. Raised right. But don’t let the smiles fool you, these boys are whip smart. It’s not often a retailer buys a tour operator. What they plan on doing with it is anybody’s guess, but me, I’m picturing a big fat red tag painted on the side of some aircraft. Eh? Mangia that.
As far as who’s really going to be running the joint, the only other known shareholder at this stage is Dean Moore who will continue to bring the business to profitability. It’s a fair guess Craig (Canvin or Kijek?) is also in the picture (you just can’t see him). I do hope neither of them have had to take on the £86.7 million losses TCook North America recorded last year. What does happen to all that money? I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with valuing anything but my next husband. Messy business.
