| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 16/10/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 3 |
| Copyright: Other |
Travel Choice snubs ruling on displaying links
Report by STEVE JONES
TRAVEL Choice has refused to comply with the new rules on transparency until the Government has given approval to themultiple’s proposals.
The First Choice agency said it will not risk wasting thousands of pounds on printing posters, brochure stickers and stationery that may not satisfy the Department of Trade and Industry.
The vertically integrated companies were given until last Monday to comply with the order and display their ownership links on shop windows.
Lunn Poly and Going Places have gone ahead with their own interpretation of the order, even though their own drafts have yet to be approved.
Both said they were confident it would be given the all clear.
First Choice UK distribution managing director Peter Shanks said: “We are not going to the expense of printing material until the DTI have told us our proposals are satisfactory.
“Other companies may have gone ahead but although the cost is not excessive, we decided it was prudent to hold off.”
The DTI was due to hold discussions with the Office of Fair Trading late last week to discuss the drafts.
A spokesman admitted the deadline had slipped but blamed the vertically integrated companies for not submitting its drafts earlier.
“We wanted to look at them all together,” he said.
Meanwhile, Thomas Cook is still insisting the order does not require it to put posters in shop windows outlining its ownership with JMC.
Shanks said he was unconcerned as First Choice had intended to make the links clear irrespective of what action rivals took. However, a senior First Choice source said a Thomas Cook exemption would be “utter nonsense”.
Lunn Poly did seek legal action but has decided not to take further action.
Airtours head of legal services Andy Cooper said any Thomas Cook exclusion would be “surprising” but declined to comment on what action, if any, it will take.