Transparency? Clearly not at Thomas Cook

TRANSPARENCY ISSUE H TRANSPARENCY ISSUE H TRANSPARENCY ISSUE H TRANSPARENCY ISSUE

Transparency? Clearly not at Thomas Cook

Report by STEVE JONES

THOMAS Cook has been let off the hook by the Government’s new laws on transparency – despite in-house operator JMC accounting for 60% of its sales.

Consumer affairs minister Kim Howells has finally told all other multiples – Going Places, Lunn Poly and Travel Choice – to display ownership links on the inside and outside of shops, brochures and stationery.

The move comes nearly three years after the industry was first ordered to be more transparent.

But Thomas Cook only has to explain its link with JMC on the inside of shops, on brochures and stationery.

ADepartment of Trade and Industry spokesman confirmed Thomas Cook will not have to put signs on the outside of shops because it is not part of a larger UK group.

The exemption further undermines the issue which many in the industry feel has become a farce.

Travel Choice managing director Gerry Reilly said it created an unlevel playing field and attacked the entire transparency issue.

“This is entirely cosmetic and shows up politicians for what they are – jobsworths who don’t understand the issues,” he said. “It will not make a jot of difference to the public – their booking habits won’t change whatsoever.”

Referring to Travel Weekly’s exclusive story on January 10 that the Government had lost track of the transparency issue, Reilly added: “Don’t forget Kim Howells was the guy who forgot what the issue was all about a few months ago.”

Lunn Poly said it will refer the Thomas Cook exemption to its solicitors while Airtours is also set to investigate the matter.

Airtours head of legal affairs Andy Cooper said: “It is surprising and goes against what the DTI is trying to achieve. It is creating an anomaly but I cannot say yet what our response might be.”

Thomas Cook commercial director Mike Beaumont said: “We strongly believe we are transparent anyway. It is made clear on the back and front of JMC brochures that it is part of the Thomas Cook group.

“We are unique in the industry as we were already a retailer before breaking into tour operating.”

Consortia which are aligned to major players have also been let off the hook.

Even Worldchoice managing director Julian Foster admitted his members should have been required to display their links with JMC. “It’s reasonable for us to do the same as everyone else,” he said.

Odd one out: Thomas Cook is exempt from displaying ownership links on the outside of shops