At least another 40 jobs in the trade are under threat as TUI Travel and Bales Worldwide announce business shake-ups following further redundancies in the run-up to Christmas.
The latest cuts follow 16 redundancies in December at transfer specialist Resorthoppa and three redundancies at Harvey World Travel, including general manager Andy Tomlinson.
TUI Travel has revealed it is relocating its Coventry based retail team of up to 30 staff in commercial, trading and marketing roles to its Luton head office. The company confirmed redundancies are a possibility if staff affected do not want to move. A spokeswoman said: “It’s a location move. If there are individuals who don’t want to move we would have to look at that and have discussions with them.”
The teams fall under the remit of former commercial and trading director Natalie Hufton, who has extended her maternity leave. Her role has been taken by former head of integration distribution Helen Deegan. A new role will be sought for Hufton.
The relocation comes as the company announces the merger of the management of its First Choice and Thomson shops, creating the new role of retail director across First Choice and Thomson shops.
Meanwhile, Bales Worldwide revealed a fifth of its workforce began a consultation on Monday over potential redundancies as it attempts to streamline the business in the current economic downturn.
A total of 12 staff, including three part-timers, from across the luxury tour operator’s business are in consultation. The Dorking-based company employs just under 60 staff in total.
Sales and marketing director Iain Fenton said: “Like so many other companies, we are having to tighten our belt and make sure we are in good shape for 2009. It’s about cost efficiencies.”
Meanwhile, Resorthoppa’s redundancies just before Christmas followed the closure of the group’s Birmingham call centre. The group, which is being bought by the Lowcost Travel Group, has transferred its call centre functions to its Alicante office in Spain and its product and marketing functions to its East Grinstead office. Of the 18 staff employed at the centre, two moved to work in East Grinstead.
Managing director Stephen Rhodes said the move was linked to driving more bookings online as well as cost efficiencies. He said: “We launched a new website in November which made it easier for agents to book online, and having one office in the UK and one overseas is more straightforward. Given the current climate it would appear to be a good decision.”