Debenhams to sell Thomas Cook holidays

Operator to build Internet terminals inside high-street chain in order to familiarise consumers with the Web

Debenhams to sell Thomas Cook holidays

Report by STEVEJONES

THOMAS Cook has signed a deal to open multimedia travel agencies in Debenhams department stores.

It will trial the concession branches in Manchester and Southampton from December with a view to extending the scheme across the UK.

Each shop will have Internet terminals along with a selection of brochures and be staffed by consultants from high-street Thomas Cook branches.

Thomascook.com managing director Andrew Windsor said the scheme will be reviewed in three months.

“We will see what demand there is and what customers feel about the concept before taking it forward,” he said. “It will not be judged solely on sales as we are not anticipating a large amount of revenue being generated early on.”

Customers will have access to a limited number of sites, he added.

Staff specially trained in navigating the Internet will be on hand to help customers not familiar with new technology.

The pilot scheme followed an approach by Debenhams to Thomas Cook. Windsor said the department store wanted something to modernise its image and introduce the Internet to customers.

“We feel the customer profile of Debenhams and those who visit thomascook.com are similar,” he said.

“They are slightly older than the average Internet user with more than half of them women.”

Meanwhile, Airtours is still searching for a partner as it also looks at working with a major retail brand. A deal with C&A collapsed earlier this year after the retail chain decided to close all its UK shops.

Retail therapy: customers will be able to add holidays to their Debenhams shopping list