The vertically integrated operator is reviving Travelmood later this month with an agent-only website and 55 destinations to choose from as part of its Specialist
Holidays Group.
Managing director Lesley Rollo said: “The trade is an extremely important part of our business and for some time we have been considering how we might strengthen the service we offer to our trade partners.”
However, after years of shrinking commissions and online direct discounts (see opposite page), the operator appears to have its work cut out if it is to win back agents who have formed new commercial relationships.
Peter Goord Travel owner Anthony Goord said he is unlikely to resume dealing with the operator on a major scale, despite its ubiquity in the south-west thanks to the strength of its regional flying programme.
“We are struggling to keep our Thomson clients as they are undercutting us on every single booking,” he added.
“I would like to see a bit more detail before I’m jumping for joy. The one thing about Thomson is they do have good product and clients like the brand. But there’s no question that the new tour operator has to have price parity.”
Kinver Travel owner Sue Foxall said she believed the operator may be too late in its renewed efforts to woo the trade.
She added: “For many independents the times when they [Tui] didn’t want us meant we went off and formed relationships with other operators that wanted to work with us.”
Foxall said Jet2holidays, the Monarch Group and Cosmos Tours have all been supportive of agents in the past as Thomson focused on driving sales in-house.
“In an ideal world I would like to work with Thomson as they have good product,” she added. “But at the end of the day it would be to the detriment of people who have been working with us successfully – and how long would it last?”
Paul Dayson, managing partner at Spa Travel, agreed, adding: “When we speak to the Specialist Holidays Group, which we do for Citalia or Hayes & Jarvis, the levels of service are pretty good.
“But we’ve built too many bridges with other companies now for them to come back in. It is a bit late.”
Haslemere Travel managing director Gemma Antrobus said the operator will need to work hard if it is to win back the trust of agents.
She added: “I don’t know with the independent agent sector how much of a difference it will make. There are independent operators who do work with us and sell that end of the market.”
