Thomas Cook organized the first publicly advertised package tour. In 1841, he chartered a train to carry 570 people to a temperance meeting. This first tour featured a number of components that have become standard for many package tours. It included transportation (a 22 mile round trip rail journey); meals (a picnic lunch and afternoon tea); entertainment (a band playing hymns) an event (the temperance meeting); and the services of a tour escort. (Thomas Cook.) The success of this and later excursions encouraged Cook to form the world’s first travel agency and to branch out into overseas travel. In 1856, Cook led the first conducted grand tour of Europe. By the late 1860’s his agency was offering Nile cruises using his own fleet of luxury riverboats, rail trips to India, and guided tours of the United States and the Holy Lands in which they stayed in tents Other firsts’ for Cook included the introduction of travel brochures, travel magazines, passenger itineraries, and vouchers or coupons to speed payment for the services of suppliers. He also introduced the world’s first form of traveler’s cheques that could be cashed at certain hotels and banks.