ON-LINEtravel agents will not have access to Thomson’s product once it’s own bookable sites go live.
Launching Thomson’s e-commerce strategy, chief executive Charles Gurassa said he would be cautious about co-operating with third-party e-retailers.
“I would be very reluctant to let them have access to our product. Why should I when we have our own sites?” said Gurassa.
Meanwhile, he described the year’s trading as very disappointing. Poor millennium sales cost the operator £12m, he added.
Summer 2000 bookings are down 6% on last year although capacity reductions mean it has 100,000 less holidays to sell than at the same time in 1999.
n See Analysis page 8