Ramblers Walking Holidays public relations and trade development manager Tony Maniscalco is to leave the operator in September.
Maniscalco’s role is one of seven made redundant across the business as the specialist operator deals with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has had to cancel more than 5,000 holidays for this summer and does not expect to return to profit until 2022 at the earliest, despite more than 60% of cancelled customers opting to rebook or accept a Refund Credit Note.
Maniscalco has worked for the company for 13 years, and previously spent 16 years with Spain and Portugal specialist Mundicolor. Most recently, he has worked alongside Paco Gonzalez to sell Ramblers and sister brand Adagio through the trade for the first time.
He said: “We have achieved so much in the last year-and-a-half and were making some fantastic inroads with the trade. I love this company, but the current situation is far beyond anything I have ever experienced in the travel industry.”
Maniscalco said he hoped to remain in travel with a part-time role working with travel agents or tourist boards.
Kevin O’Regan, RWH managing director, said: “Having put over 50% of the team on furlough leave, reduced marketing and IT spend and not recruited for a small number of vacant roles, we sadly had to look at a small number of redundancies as the extent of the impact on the business became clear.
“In his 13 years of service, Tony has been the face of Ramblers Walking Holidays, building links with the trade and industry partners as we promote our worldwide walking holidays and charitable business ethos. We will continue to work with all the agents that Tony and Paco have set up over recent times.”
O’Regan added: “It is extremely sad to be losing Tony and a small number of others from the business as a result of the impact of the coronavirus. Tony, and the six others leaving, have an incredible history with the business, and whether they were with us for two years or 30, I thank every one of them for all that they have contributed.
“All of the employees in our small team of around 45 are passionate about what we do at Ramblers Holidays, making it hard to make these changes which sadly became necessary as we navigate through these tough times in travel.”