TUI unveils future plans

The full details of TUI UK’s new structure were due to be unveiled to staff today.

Already former Specialist Holidays Group divisions – apart from ski, lakes and mountains – report into TUI UK’s board. SHG no longer exists as an entity in the new structure.

Today the company will announce its second tier of management within the new structure and outline redundant roles. It will also reveal plans for specialist sun brands, described as "problem children” by TUI UK managing director Peter Rothwell (Travel Weekly September 17). TUI revealed direct-sell villa brand Something Special has been ditched with product switched to Thomson Villas with Pools.

TUI UK retail and commercial director Derek Jones confirmed the new structure is being signed off this week. "We’ll publish the whole structure and it will become clear where the SHG brands sit and the roles within the organisation.”

The integration involves specialist brands moving to the TOP agency selling system. Some Simply brands – including Greece, Crete, Turkey and Corsica – plus Thomson Villas with Pools’ Mediterranean product go live on the system on December 16. Simply brands will only go to 450 agents.

Meanwhile, Thomson Holidays’ new bed bank – already offered online for consumers – will be available to agents by Christmas, earlier than first predicted.