Cosmos Tours has confirmed it will continue to use the name and strengthen its customer proposition after the Monarch Group’s announcement to drop the Cosmos brand.

Cosmos Tours says it has refreshed the brand with a new design which is being rolled out across all marketing material as well as the second edition collection of 2016 brochures with a exciting range of touring and cruising holidays.

The tour operator has developed its cruise package programme for 2016 with the launch of a first dedicated river & coastal cruises brochure as well as three more cruise line partners MSC Cruises, A-Rosa and CMV Signature River Cruises. The cruise division reports a strong start to 2016 sales with an overall increase of 25% (year on year) across all seasons which is reflected in the high growth of trade sales of packaged river cruises with French operator CroisiEurope.

Alan MacLean, Cosmos Tours’ managing director said: “Our commitment to the British traveller and the UK travel industry spans over five decades and is at the core of everything we do.The Cosmos name has an incredible heritage not only with British travellers but on a worldwide basis. We are all excited about the future as we look at strengthening the brand and taking the business forward to enhance our customer proposition in all aspects of the service and products we offer. Agents and customers can look forward to an exciting choice of fully flexible touring and cruising holidays as we develop our worldwide programme particularly in all aspects of the cruising industry.”

The touring and cruise specialists include holiday brands, Cosmos Tours & Cruises, Avalon Waterways and Archers Holidays. Until November 1 2014, the company shared business premises and services with the Monarch Travel Group.