Travelopia is consolidating its UK tailormade division, resulting in the loss of Hayes & Jarvis and Austravel as trade brands and about 100 jobs.
Managing director of tailormade Sally Cowdry said the steps had been taken “in preparation for a recovery of the UK travel market”.
Cowdry did not specify which roles were at risk but confirmed trade teams would be reduced as a result of the changes. Head of trade partnerships Simon Garrido and trade partnerships manager Kevin Gaddes will continue with the business.
From June 1, Hayes & Jarvis will focus on complex, multi-centre itineraries to long-haul destinations and be run by Enchanting Travels, the operator which Travelopia acquired last year and is already established in the US, Australian and German markets.
Cowdry said: “It [Enchanting Travels] will launch into the UK market for direct customers under the Hayes & Jarvis brand. They have modern, proprietary technology designed to tailor complex holidays to over 50 destinations.
“The partnering of Hayes & Jarvis’s established brand with Enchanting Travels’ 15 years’ experience in high-end experiential travel and unique technology marks a new and exciting step in our strategic development of the tailormade collection.”
Travelopia’s Australasia product will also be consolidated into the Hayes & Jarvis range, resulting in the closure of the Austravel brand. But Cowdry said the current Hayes & Jarvis and Austravel teams would continue to serve existing bookings and process Refund Credit Notes where issued for both direct and trade sales.
“We don’t want anybody – customers or agents – to be concerned. We are still here,” she said. “The changes relate to any new bookings from June 1.”
Italy specialist Citalia and luxury operator Sovereign will retain a trade focus in addition to selling direct after the consolidation and are being further developed for 2021, Cowdry said.
She added: “Sovereign Luxury Travel portfolio is being built out with a wider range of five-star luxury resorts in the Indian Ocean and Caribbean destinations, with Thailand being added as a new destination for the brand.”