First Choice’s in-house retailer Travel Choice saw job applications tumble by 50% during Airtours’ prolonged pursuit of the Crawley-based operator.
Travel Choice managing director Gerry Reilly said the uncertain future hindered the 80-strong chain’s recruitment drive which is only now beginning to get back on track.
“It’s a huge relief now that the uncertainty is over,” he said. “The biggest effect was on recruiting staff. If it had gone on much longer we may have been forced to delay shop openings.”
He added that the ‘floodgates had opened’ on applications since the European Commission blocked Airtours’ bid for First Choice.
n Travel Choice was voted best stand at Travel ’99 by all the other exhibitors at the show. The agent beat its parent company First Choice by just one vote.
Voters liked the eye-catching design and features such as the coffee bar, Relax and Hello area, the bright holiday visuals and point-of-sale material.