A founder of the Freedom Travel Group claimed the agency consortium was “being wounded by the hour” as speculation continued over its future earlier this week.
Peter Healey, owner of Vertical Group, whose companies account for a third of Freedom’s gross turnover, spoke after Midcounties Co‑operative Travel poached Freedom head Alison Holmes to lead the Co-op Consortium.
It is understood Midcounties was previously the frontrunner to acquire the whole consortium from Thomas Cook, though Cook and the Co-op group have refused to comment.
Joanna Wild, managing director of Thomas Cook Retail, sought to allay members’ fears by saying it was “business as normal”, but Healey said the situation was “proving to be a shambles”.
He added: “It’s our businesses that are apparently being disposed of. There’s been a consistent lack of information which has driven some people to resign already. We’re waiting for someone to talk to us; we’ve not got a clue about what’s going on.”
Freedom members have to give six months’ notice to quit, but Healey thought a sell-off could trigger an early-release clause.
“Whoever gets it won’t get it all,” he said. “It’s very sad to see it being wounded by the hour.”
Other members said Holmes would be “greatly missed” and said they were considering their futures.
Quartz Travel owner Paul Smith said Cook had taken its “eye off the ball”, adding: “It’s a mess. If Freedom has no members left there’ll be nothing to sell.”
Wild said in an email to members: “You have my commitment that I will keep you updated with news of Alison’s successor but in the meantime it’s very much business as normal for us all.”