p6 nov7 5/11/08 17:16 Page 6
news
ttglive.com
‘Costly’ websites farmed
out – a sign of the times?
Lee Hayhurst.
He estimated about 40% of a website’s costs
TRAVEL firms seeking to make cost cuts during could be saved. “We are talking to other compa-
the downturn are looking to outsource the nies with sites that are starting to lose money
Travelzest sell-off
running of loss-making websites. because of the downturn,” Endacott added.
‘nears completion’
On Holiday Group this week signed a Outsourcing websites in this way would cost
profit-share deal with Travelzest to run its call centre jobs, but Endacott said jobs would be Travelzest has revealed that the “majority of
holiday.co.uk and
flight.co.uk sites. lost anyway if loss-making sites failed. the due diligence” has been completed on an
OHG chief executive Steve Endacott said he Travelzest’s websites had previously been offer for the company.
was in discussions with two other firms about backed by the call centre of Qwerty Travel, Parties believed to be interested in the firm
similar arrangements. recently sold by
Youtravel.com, but that deal include both Thomas Cook and Tui Travel,
“This is something everyone has got to look at ended in October before OHG took it over. although most sources suggest a deal is more
over the next six months,” he said. An announcement was delayed until Travelzest likely to be agreed with Tui.
“We sat down with Travelzest and it was clear put out its latest stock market report this week. In a statement, Travelzest said a potential
our conversions were slightly better than theirs, Nishma Robb, Travelzest group distribution offer was confirmed on October 31 and that
so if we shut their sites and flipped them on to director, said: “Having discussed the high cost of the remaining due diligence procedure was
ours they could save money.” developing and operating our sites, it became under way and that nothing had been found to
Endacott said savings would come from laying obvious that considerable economies of scale suggest the 115p per share offer would change.
off the call centre staff that support the sites, were available by moving the operation to OHG.” The statement said a deal was “not certain”,
with OHG taking on the web administration and but a final decision is expected in December.
online marketing campaigns. ■ Experts forecast casualties: City, p22
Sitel offers jobs
to 150 Cook staff
CUSTOMER service provider Sitel will safeguard
more than 150 jobs that were due to be lost with
the closure of the Thomas Cook contact centre in
Accrington, Lancashire.
Thomas Cook employed 250 at the site, but
many quit after the planned closure was an-
nounced in June. Those staff still employed are on
temporary contracts that will end in the spring.
Sitel hopes to attract existing and former
Thomas Cook staff and has been working with
the operator to target employees in the area to
its new specialist travel centre after winning a
contract from an unnamed travel brand.
It is also planning a recruitment campaign to
fill vacancies at the centre.
Marianne Fitzjohn, managing director of Sitel,
said: “We are committed to a long-term presence
in Accrington, with a vision to create a world-
class sales and service capability. SKI GLEE: Midlands Co-op Travel took 37 novice skiers to the Tamworth Snowdome for a
“Sitel is very keen to utilise Thomas Cook’s training day, improving the agents’ ski holiday knowledge before they got a feel for the
travel specialists and would like to welcome white stuff themselves. Those taking to the slopes included, from left: Jackie Duffield and
them onboard as soon as possible.” Jayne Cook, both Ilkeston Co-op Sheffield; and Laura Cliffe, from the Rotherham shop.
06 07.11.2008
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