THE Office of Fair Trading is expected to ditch demands that multiples display their ownership links on shop fascias.
It will now only insist on a banner across the window and possibly a list of operators owned by the parent group.
The partial climbdown comes after the OFT appears to have bowed to pressure from the multiples who complained a change to the fascia would be too costly and unnecessary. The change of heart will save companies thousands of pounds.
Thomas Cook finance director for travel-related business Richard Price said: “There is an option of putting up a new fascia or a banner across the length of the window displaying ownership links. I would have thought most would go for the banner.
“It is still achieving the OFT aim of making ownership links clear on the outside of the shops.”
Travel Weekly revealed over a year ago that Thomas Cook will escape any major alteration as the name already appears on fascias (Travel Weekly February 18 1998).
An OFT spokeswoman refused to rule out any action and said stickers comprising a list of all in-house tour operators was still a possibility.
“We are pressing for the undertakings to be signed,” she added.
Airtours non-executive director Roger Davies said: “The OFT wanted a message inside the shop outlining the common ownership so we said why not put it on the window as well? A sticker can contain more information than fascia and would be able to list in-house operators.”
Discussions are still taking place over the inclusion of the parent company name on all brochure front covers of in-house operators.
Once the undertakings are signed multiples have three months to alter brochures and six months to display the links on shop fronts.
First Choice is also certain to be dragged into the saga after unveiling plans to build a 1,200-strong retail network under the branding Travel Choice.
Although no approach has been made by the OFT, rival companies will bring the matter to the Government’s attention.
First Choice retail managing director Gerry Reilly said: “I would be more than happy to put the First Choice name on the fascia or anywhere else. We will be as transparent as the Government wants us to be.”
A Lunn Poly spokeswoman said negotiations are continuing.
The protracted delay in achieving transparency follows a year of continuing change in the industry. It has dragged on so long that Labour MP Keith Darvill, acting on behalf of the Association of Independent Tour Operators, tabled two parliamentary questions on the issue.