Rivals keen to snap up Thomas Cook talent
Tom ParryTravel Counsellors and The Global Travel Group are among a number of companies to have received dozens of job enquiries from Thomas Cook agents affected by the multiple’s latest closures announcement.
Cook revealed last week that it would shut 39 stores, affecting 180 staff. The company has not publically revealed their locations, but said the stores are in areas already well-served. A spokesperson added that a consultation period would last “a number of weeks”.
The move follows the closure of 28 stores between October and December last year.
The spokesperson confirmed last week that the split of Co-operative Travel stores closing versus Thomas Cook shops was “about half and half” and that the company was hopeful “the majority [of staff] can be redeployed across the business to retain their expertise”.
When the closures are complete Cook will have 719 stores.
Other travel firms have been quick to invite affected agents to enquire about job opportunities, both on the Travel Gossip Facebook page and Twitter. Travel Counsellors told TTG that following Cook’s announcement it received “over 20” enquiries “as a result [of the news]”.
Kirsten Hughes, UK managing director, said the homeworking agency had been “proactive in reaching out” to its database of people who may have been affected.
“The last thing we would want is to see talented travel professionals leave an industry that they love because of situations such as this,” Hughes said.
Andy Stark, managing director of The Global Travel Group, said the consortium had received a “significant number of calls over the past week from people affected by the recent news”.
Cook has also announced its first step in consolidating its store network into one high-street brand by refurbishing and rebranding 57 Co-operative Travel shops following the ending of its joint venture with the The Co-operative Group.
Cook will open a new Discovery store this spring in Silverburn, Glasgow, with plans to have 25 Discovery stores by the end of 2019.
Kathryn Darbandi, director of retail and customer experience for Thomas Cook UK and Ireland, said the operator was “continually reviewing” its retail network.
“The changes we’re making ensure that we’ve not only got the right stores where customers most need them but also that we’re creating an experience that they will recommend to their family and friends,” she said.
Comment Alan Bowen: End of the high street or beginning of a new reality?
The announcement that Thomas Cook has begun consultations with staff at 39 of its branches must have been a shock for employees, and has been seen by some as a sign that the high street may not be as healthy as recent statistics would suggest.
But with more than 700 branches including the old Co-operative Travel stores, Cook may have agencies in the wrong place, whose leases are coming to an end.
This is a very good time to realise that signing another five agencies for 15 years makes no sense. Cook itself has reported that 43% of sales are now online and new branches will be opening in shopping centres – often the cause of closures elsewhere.
Just what do these new closures mean? In all likelihood, it’s that Cook is taking a hard look at its rental costs – something every agency should be doing.
For travel agents generally, the outlook remains bright.
Know your customers, develop long-term relationships, keep your costs under control and those that want great advice will continue to flock through your doors.
Alan Bowen, legal adviser to the Association of Atol Companies
Tom Parry
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