Kuoni committed to retail despite axing concessions


Juliet Dennis


Kuoni has said it remains committed to its network of stand-alone stores as well as third-party travel agents despite announcing the closure of its John Lewis concessions and its Winchester high street branch. The tour operator and retailer has


started a collective staff consultation amid plans to shut its nine John Lewis outlets and one pop-up store at the end of September as part of a company-wide “strategic review”. The company revealed the review


would also see the closure of its Winchester store when its lease ends, but said a new store would open at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol. Kuoni said an undisclosed


number of affected employees will be “fully supported, including finding new opportunities within the business wherever possible”. However, it confirmed some roles would be at risk of redundancy. Despite its decision to “step away”


from the John Lewis partnership after 14 years, the company stressed its own chain of 14 shops on the high street and in shopping centres remained an important part of its distribution and reiterated its commitment to the trade as “a core part” of its sales mix.


9


The entire network of John Lewis concessions to be shut by Kuoni


It has further pledged to increase


investment in its call centres, digital channels, its own network of stand- alone stores and agent partnerships, but has yet to disclose more details. On the concession closures,


managing director Mark Duguid said: “These are never decisions we take lightly; we have a brilliant, talented team and we will take the time to talk through our proposals.”


Cross to join The Travel Network Group in chief commercial role


Former Jet2holidays trade sales general manager Lloyd Cross is to join The Travel Network Group as chief commercial officer on June 1, with current post-holder Vim Vithaldas becoming chief strategy officer. Cross left Jet2holidays last year to become Gulf Air Holidays’ director of agency sales for Europe and the US, five months before the US-Israel war with Iran began.


8 14 MAY 2026 Kuoni’s Manchester store


Mark Duguid


At its peak, Kuoni operated 20


John Lewis concessions. Duguid added: “We’re proud of what we’ve achieved with John Lewis and the amazing worldwide experiences we have helped our customers enjoy. “Our priority now is supporting


our teams to find alternative roles and continuing to provide unforgettable holidays for our customers, who will continue to benefit from all the expertise we have.” The company stressed the


decision to close its John Lewis outlets – the first of which opened in the Oxford Street branch in London in 2012 – was not related to lease renewals. It said there would be no impact on customer bookings.


Stansted workers accept pay


offer and drop strike threat Workers who help passengers with disabilities at Stansted have dropped a strike threat after accepting an improved pay offer. About 100 ABM employees were due to walk out earlier this month. They have accepted a two-year pay deal, including a 3.8% rise backdated to November, plus an extra 1% from this month.


Newmarket offers £21k Renault car in sales incentive


Newmarket Holidays is offering agents the chance to win a new electric car as part of a sales incentive running in partnership with Travel Weekly. The winning agent will be


revealed on stage at the Agent Achievement Awards (AAAs) in London on July 9. Hayley Morris, head of trade


and partnerships at Newmarket Holidays, said: “The night is all about celebration and we are there to celebrate the agents in the industry – we want to bring some joy and some added fun to the night.” There are plans for the Renault 5


E-Tech – which costs from £21,495 – to be on show at the AAAs venue, the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel, after which it will be delivered to the winning agent. To enter the draw, agents


must make Newmarket bookings between May 14 and June 20. Each booking will count as an entry. Ahead of the awards, Lucy


Huxley, Travel Weekly’s editor-in- chief, will join David Sharman, Newmarket Holidays’ chief commercial officer, to draw five names out of the hat – and those five agents will be invited to the AAAs where the winner will be revealed.


Responsible travel specialist agents unite to form collective


A group of agents specialising in responsible travel have formed a collective to equip frontline sellers with more knowledge and commercial tools. The Responsible Travel Advisor Collective has been created with 19 agency members, including founder Ashley Quint, director of TravelTime World, following frustration they are routinely “left on the sidelines of the sustainability conversation”.


travelweekly.co.uk


Renault 5 E-Tech


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