Trade warns of price-matching challenge following Classic closure

Travel agents have warned it will be harder to price-match deals for cost-conscious clients as they work to plug the gap left by Classic Collection’s closure.

The trade voiced shock, sadness and frustration following parent On the Beach’s decision to wind down the tour operation last week. 

In total 26 staff have entered a collective consultation and all trade events have been cancelled.

 

More: Former Classic Collection owner voices sadness over winding down of operator

 

Simpson Travel reassures trade of commitment in wake of Classic closure

Chief executive of The Good Travel Agent Jake Cullum-Hollins was on a top-sellers trip in Marbella hosted by Classic when the news broke.

He said: “It was a big shock for everyone on the trip. I’m now trying to find other suppliers that we can build relationships with.”

He flagged the lack of access to Ryanair flights – offered by Classic since last year – as a concern. “With Classic you could price‑match or offer more competitive prices,” he said, but added his agency, a franchise with 93 agents, had already found another supplier “to fill that gap”.

Seaside Travel head of business and commercial Paula Gleeson, who cited an “absolutely wonderful” relationship with Classic’s staff, said: “We’ll miss them. It will be very hard to get close to On the Beach prices now. We have Tui, Jet2 and easyJet, and maybe we’ll look at Vista and Jetset more for flexible flights.”

 

"With Classic you could price‑match or offer more competitive prices"

Kelly Cheesman, director at Beverley Travel Group, noted: “What Classic offered was flexibility; flights with low deposits to match Jet2.”

Deben Travel managing director Lee Hunt said: “You could search live availability across all budget airlines and book online. Not many do that.”

Citing a change in service since Classic’s acquisition by On the Beach for £20 million in 2018, he added: “It’s a real loss but they were not the Classic Collection we knew.”

Haslemere Travel owner Gemma Antrobus agreed: “Latterly we had to do everything on email with them. I feel for the staff; it’s a sad day.”

John Sullivan, commercial director at Advantage Travel Partnership, mourned the loss of a “much-loved brand” but said the impact was “marginal” with other suppliers offering equivalent product.

Classic Collection Holidays, set up in 1988, built a reputation as a luxury tailor-made operator for Europe, North Africa, Bermuda and the Caribbean. In 2019, after its sale, it launched a second, trade-only brand, Classic Package Holidays, offering mainstream holidays. 

Last year, both were streamlined under the Classic Collection brand.