CONFERENCE REPORT NEWS
Freedom and CPTA Conference 2016: The Thomas Cook-owned divisions discuss membership, suppliers and Abta. Amie Keeley reports from Club Med Opio en Provence, France
Guest speaker Sir Trevor McDonald Cook groups eye 200 new members
Freedom Travel Group and Co-operative Personal Travel Advisors (CPTA) are targeting up to 40 new members next year – and 200 within five years.
The consortium and
homeworking network, both part of Thomas Cook Group, reported a 4% increase in revenue to £250 million for the year to September 30. Twenty-two homeworkers have
joined CPTA in the past year, while Freedom has welcomed 11 new travel agency businesses. Paul Hemingway, Cook’s financial director for commercial operations, said there was no
Paul Hemingway, Thomas Cook
intention for CPTA to go back to having 400-plus members, as it did when Teletext drove a lot of homeworking business. But he said both businesses
had experienced an “excellent year against a backdrop of market difficulties”. He hopes to attract between 20 to 30 new members to CPTA and up to 12 new travel agencies to Freedom in 2017. Hemingway told members that
average selling prices were up 5%, with cruise sales up 7% and Disneyland Paris sales up 18%. “There is a return to personal
service and contact with the customer,” he said. “There’s a good chunk of consumers who like the personal touch and interaction with homeworkers and agents. “Yes, there is growth online,
but not always to the detriment of agents. It’s never going to
New recruit will build up ‘niche suppliers’ “We’re trying to give members
Freedom and CPTA have appointed Jo Oxer as its dedicated supplier manager to oversee third-party suppliers and build links with more “niche” operators. Cook’s financial director for
commercial operations, Paul Hemingway, said: “We have a lot of partners and, historically, have leveraged off Cook to get the best deals. This new appointment is an opportunity to work with niche suppliers more closely.
as broad a choice as we can to grow in their own areas.” The business has also
upgraded its intranet, which is now “more user-friendly”, allowing members to view events and focus groups, and access training more easily. CPTA produced
The Book of Perfect Honeymoons (pictured) consumer guide for the first time this year and plans to create similar booklets for ski and UK short breaks.
replace the consumers who see booking with an agent face-to-face as the beginning of the holiday experience.”
Commenting on the joint
venture between Thomas Cook and The Co-operative Travel at the conference, a week before it was announced the partnership is to end, Hemingway sought to reassure members. “Whatever the outcome, it
doesn’t change anything in these businesses,” Hemingway said. Freedom and CPTA came under
Cook’s control as part of the joint venture, along with 400 Co-operative Travel stores. Last week, the Co-op exercised
a right to sell its 30% stake to Cook for £50 million, giving Cook until 2018 to phase out The Co-operative Travel brand. As a result, CPTA will also have to drop the Co-op name.
IN NUMBERS
w TOTAL MEMBERSHIP: 269 w FREEDOM: 146 w CPTA: 123 w REVENUE: £250m (year to September 30, 2016)
15 December 2016
travelweekly.co.uk 15
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