The heatwave and the World Cup may have taken the shine off summer trading at Thomas Cook, but the travel group is poised to inflict further damage to its margins by refusing to sell tickets to killer whale attractions.
Before its third-quarter results tomorrow, Peter Fankhauser, chief executive, has announced a new animal welfare policy under which it will stop selling tickets to Seaworld park in Orlando, where the treatment of orcas has been criticised, and Tenerife’s Loro Parque.
The 177-year-old group has run an audit of standards at 49 animal attractions it works with, removing 29 that did not meet the standards. Seaworld and Loro Parque passed. Its decision will take effect after a 12-month notice period.