p4 nov7 5/11/08 21:38 Page 4
news
07.11.2008
Future Travel
Travel giants eye
axes 11 roles
FUTURE Travel, the Co-operative Travel’s home- CAA’s XL payouts
working arm, is making all 11 of its home-based
business development roles redundant.
Lucy Huxley.
definition of a package, as set out in new
The decision was part of a strategic review THE CAA was due to start work this week on government guidance in January.
of the division, according to managing director the more complex claims arising out of the Large retailers that were left out of pocket
Alistair Rowland. collapse of XL Leisure Group amid speculation it from the collapse, such as The Co-operative
Describing changes being made as “very pos- could pay some claims to customers of non-Atol Travel Group, Thomas Cook and Tui Travel, are
itive for the business”, he said Future Travel was agents. thought to have told the CAA they could pull out
reacting to developments “that are affecting the Many of the straightforward claims have of the Atol system if any of these claims are paid.
historical business model of homeworking”. already been dealt with by the authority, which However, sources close to the CAA suggest it is
“The role of sales development manager will received tens of thousands of individual claims confident it will able to justify any payouts it may
be more effective operating from a central following the failure of the third-largest Atol make to split-contracting agents.
location,” Rowland said. “It is with regret that holder in September. One said: “Obviously, there are a significant
this decision results in redundancies, but it is in But the eyes of many in the industry are on number of claims and the CAA is getting its
the long-term best interests of the company.” the controversial split-contract claims that procedures in place to examine which ones are
A 30-day consultation with the employees has the CAA will assess against the current legal valid and which ones are not.”
started, although Future Travel said it hoped
other homeworking opportunities may be taken
up by some of those affected.
Homeworkers will be told more about planned
Barrass returns
changes at Future Travel’s conference next week
in Manchester.
to Thomas Cook
■ Travel Counsellors survey, p10 THOMAS Cook confirmed this week that Steve
Barrass, former director of the failed XL Leisure
Group, has rejoined the company as director of
Global Travel runs
Direct Holidays.
On Tuesday,
ttglive.com revealed Barrass had
feedback sessions
returned to the company he left last year after
staying on to help with the integration of Thomas
Cook and MyTravel.
GLOBAL Travel Group will hold a series of nine Barrass, previously managing director of
meetings across the UK for members to give MyTravel’s Airtours Holidays, is believed to have
senior management their views on the future of turned down permanent roles in the newly
the business. merged company before leaving to join XL, along
The first is in London on November 13 during with his MyTravel boss, Phil Aird-Mash.
WTM and each will be hosted by a regional Earlier this year he stood in for XL Leisure
representative and addressed by Andy Freeth, FROM XL TO A2B: Former XL Leisure Group boss Peter Owen at this summer’s ITT
Global’s sales director. group’s regional sales manager, Abbey conference, days after Owen resigned from XL
He said he wanted to hear the “nitty gritty” of Thomas, has joined
a2btransfers.com as after being made personally bankrupt.
issues affecting agents. “We are all ears,” he said. national sales manager. Chief executive Confirming his appointment on Wednesday,
Meetings will take place in Birmingham, Renaldo Scheepers said: “Abbey’s knowl- Ian Derbyshire, Cook’s chief executive for
Bristol, Manchester, Wetherby, Newcastle, edge and experience in the DIY holiday independent travel, said: “Direct Holidays is an
Glasgow and Belfast throughout November. market will be beneficial for a business keen important part of our business and Barrass’s
Agents wanting to attend should email to strengthen our support to the UK travel experience will be invaluable. Our priority is to
katie.bartle@globaltravelgroup.com. trade during these challenging times.” develop a broader business strategy.”
04 07.11.2008
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