TRAVELCARE has pulled out of negotiating commercial deals
with its fellow Co-op Travel members in a move that could seriously weaken the
buying power of the remaining four.
Travelcare chief general manager for specialist retail
brands, Yvonne Rankin, said the separation reflects the 330-strong agent’s new
trading policy that has seen operators banned from paying incentives to staff
and employees banned from going on educationals linked to sales targets (Travel
Weekly March 5).
However, industry sources predicted the four remaining Co-op
Travel members – United Norwest Co-op, Midlands Co-op, West Midlands Co-op and
Leeds Co-op, which have around 270 shops between them – would suffer from Travelcare’s
move.