THE 387 Carlson Worldchoice shops will be rebranded to Thomas Cook by the end of this month.
It will create a 800-shop retail network for the company which could expand further if, as expected, it agrees an alliance with the 650 ARTAC shops.
UK retail and direct business managing director Andrew Windsor said only a handful of Carlson Worldchoice shops will close. “Only in locations where there is an obvious conflict with existing shops will there be closures,” said Windsor. “But most Worldchoice shops are in secondary sites so fewer than 10 are likely to shut.”
No closures are expected in Scotland.
Windsor said negotiations are underway with ARTAC over a possible tie-up with the consortium.
“We will be looking for a long-term arrangement with ARTAC where they will be offered higher commission for increased sales of Thomas Cook products,” he said.
He said there was no question of cherry picking the best producing agents.
Foreign-exchange facilities will also be rolled out to ARTAC shops.
A committee could be set up to run the Worldchoice brand with financial backing from Thomas Cook.