Two thirds of travel agents responding to a poll on TWgroup’s Gazetteers.com trade website believe the Co-op Thomas Cook retail merger is a bad thing for the industry.
The poll, which went live this morning as news of the merger broke, asked Do you think the decision of Thomas Cook & the Co-op merger of their retail division is a good thing for the industry?
It has already received almost 250 responses with 64% answering ‘no’.
The two retail giants announced the merger this morning to create the UK’s largest travel retail group but putting jobs and some retail outlets at risk.
TWgroup editor Lucy Huxley said: “This is by far the biggest deal agreed in the travel industry this year and unsurprisingly agents want to have their say.
“Our coverage on travelweekly.co.uk has had an incredible response so far today with all sorts of views being expressed.
“Understandably, many agents are worried for their jobs despite the companies’ assurances. Travel weekly will continue to cover this important development in detail online and in next week’s paper so keep glued to travelweekly.co.uk and make sure you read next week’s edition.”
Gazetteers is the online “bible” for travel agents offering professionally written hotel, resort and cruise ship reviews and attracting 500,000 unique visitors a month.