You heard in Singapore first. The CEO of the Fosun Tourism Group did not deny the company was moving ahead with a larger play for Thomas Cook at Skift Forum Asia. Keep your eyes peeled for what would be one of travel's biggest deals of 2019.
Fosun says a major path to its future is through acquisitions. But Qian Jiannong wouldn't tip his hand on Thomas Cook. It sure feels like a bigger deal is in the works.
Fosun has quietly integrated the companies it has either invested in or bought into its Foliday ecosystem, with the plan to manage and control every stage of the tourism experience.
While Western media tends to focus on the funding moves of corporate venture capital arms of regional brands like JetBlue and EasyJet, it’s also important to see how key investment players in Asia, like Shanghai-based Fosun, are investing, such as in Splitty, a hotel booking startup.
Fosun bets on integrated resorts to address the needs of Chinese travelers, who are showing interest in these types of experiences. Why not use what’s already in the family? Thomas Cook and Club Med should be ever so pleased.
Since 2004, Club Med has tried to change the perception of all-inclusive resorts. Part of this is a move upmarket but it has also meant targeting new nationalities and destinations.