| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 15/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 5 |
| Copyright: Other |
Look and book: Internet cafes could replace some agencies
Shops to get Internet cafe-style makeover
INTERNET cafe-style outlets where customers will be able to self-book holidays could replace some of Airtours’ 1,000 shops over the next few years.Initially, Airtours will install self-booking terminals, similar to those pioneered by Thomas Cook in the 1990s, in some Going Places shops and open mytravelco franchises in selected C&A stores.
Airtours Holidays managing director Richard Carrick said the operator is also talking with other retailers with a view to opening franchises in their stores.
If the self-booking terminals prove popular with consumers, the operator will then transform some Going Places agencies into extended hours mytravelco shops.
But Carrick said this would not necessarily lead to redundancies among Going Places’ counter staff.
“Given the level of growth that we anticipate over the next few years, we will probably employ more people,” he said.
“Obviously we will employ fewer people on the same volumes but we don’t anticipate volumes staying the same.”
The leases on Going Places’ and Travelworld’s 1,000 shops have an average of eight years left to run. Only 100-150 of the leases are up for renewal this year.
Crossland said: “If we still see business is coming through our shops, we will renew the leases. If we don’t, we will follow what our customers want to do.”